by Nicole Hall
She’d really have to thank Felicité for her foresight.
Like he’d done earlier, Seth held out a hand to her, and she took it to carefully step out of the very expensive puddle. Once clear, she wiggled out of the skimpy thong that had come with the dress. Naked save for the awesome stilettos, Keely propped her hand on her hip.
“Your turn.”
Instead of undressing like she’d hoped, Seth picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. If she hadn’t already been on fire for him, she might have swooned. He set her on the bed and made short work of his tux.
Keely propped herself on her elbows and enjoyed the show. He flexed a little taking off his dress shirt, and she purred in the back of her throat. Seth raised a brow, but Keely stood by her reaction.
She bit her lip as he kneeled between her legs at the edge of the bed and ran his hands up her thighs.
“I’ve wanted to see you like this since that first day.”
“You mean when you doused me with the sprinklers and could see through my shirt?”
He chuckled and reached for her ankle. “It was the highlight of my day.”
Seth removed one stiletto, then the other, and kissed his way up her leg in agonizing slowness. Her body tightened as he got higher, but instead of putting his mouth where she wanted it, he switched to the other leg.
Keely groaned and dropped her head. She felt his smile widen and lifted her hips to urge him on. Seth gripped her inner thigh to hold her in place and swiped his thumb along her slit. She whimpered when he didn’t do it again. Her body ached, and pulsing need had her reaching between her own thighs, but Seth nudged her hand aside.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
Keely sank her hands into his hair and tugged until he looked up. “Seth, what are you doing?”
“I want to see if I can get you to say ‘fuck, yes’ again.”
“I…” Her words trailed off in a satisfied moan as he lowered his head, no longer teasing her. He used his tongue and his hands, and before long, Keely gripped his hair in a fist as she arched off the bed.
“Fuck, Seth…”
He grinned against her. “That’s better than ‘fuck, yes’.”
Keely panted, lightheaded. “Let’s see what else you can get me to say.”
“Challenge accepted.” Seth rose and brought her with him as he shifted to lay fully on the bed. In one smooth motion, his weight came down on her, and his mouth took hers.
Keely could taste herself on his tongue and feel him hard against her where she still quivered from his last foray. She lifted her hips in a slick slide against his cock, and he growled into her mouth. His hand slid underneath her, gripping her ass like a vise, and lifted her again and again, rocking them together as he devoured her.
The bond bounced their hunger for each other back and forth, until Keely whimpered. She wanted this uncontrolled, wild Seth more than her next breath.
On the last slide, Keely tilted her hips as he hit her entrance. Seth stopped, his body shaking with tension as he held himself immobile.
He lifted his head far enough to meet her eyes. “Do you trust me?”
“Absolutely.” Staring into his golden eyes, she acknowledged the strength of that claim.
“Trust me to protect you.”
“Yes.”
The word hadn’t fully formed before he thrust home. A broken sigh left Keely as he filled her. For a long moment, they lay still, connected outside and in, then Seth began to move. Keely draped a leg around his hip and dug her heel into his ass to meet his thrusts.
As their bodies strained together in a fury, Keely wrapped her hand around his arm and sank her nails into his bicep. She pressed her mouth against his feverish skin, tasted salt, and cried out.
Seth. The only word in her mind as she shattered a second time.
He drove into her and held there, his face buried in her hair as he curled around her. My Keely.
10
SETH
Once Seth could move again after the most fantastic sex of his life, he rolled to his back, taking Keely with him. She curled up with her head on his shoulder and promptly fell asleep.
Her hair covered both of them, and Seth couldn’t resist threading his hand through the soft mess. With her arm draped over his middle and a leg tucked between his, she seemed determined to make sure he stayed through the night. Seth had no problem with that. He’d meant it when he’d told her she wouldn’t wake up alone. If he had his way, she’d never wake up alone again.
His eyes closed with a sigh. Leaving after Felicité’s had been a mistake, but he’d needed time. This is the one. He’d looked up into her island eyes, watching her boldly take her pleasure, and his magic had clicked into place. She’s the one.
He stroked her back, much like he’d done then, then up into her hair again. Somehow, he’d found his mate, and he didn’t deserve her. Already, he’d pushed her into a bond on the flimsy excuse that she’d be able to let him through her shields. From the beginning, when he’d watched her as a hidden llama, he’d wanted her tied to him.
And now he planned to use her to reclaim his place in the clan. His magic had accepted her, and if they completed the mate ritual in Aecantha, there would be no reversing it. The idea of having her be his and only his fed his possessive urges, but she’d only agreed to a short-term pairing.
Would she give up her life here—her family—to stay with him in a strange world? Why would she? After his parents had died, even his kin hadn’t wanted him. They’d accepted his banishment without argument.
Except Aiden. He’d followed Seth right into a trap.
Keely stirred, nuzzled closer, and relaxed back into sleep. Seth kissed the top of her head and covered her hand with his. Aiden had endured decades of slavery because Seth couldn’t find a way to free him. Even the Wood, their elemental forest, had prevented him from joining the final battle. He’d been afraid for Aiden, and even Maddie, but more afraid for himself. The Wood had sensed his selfishness and trapped him in the trod.
Better that than hurting his cousin again. If he wasn’t worthy of a battle, how could he possibly be worthy of Keely?
The thought of hurting her caused a sharp pain to tear across his chest, the promise he’d made her reminding him of the consequences. He didn’t make promises lightly because breaking them caused physical pain. The ritual wouldn’t take place for two more days, so he had time to figure out a way to convince the elders of his innocence before tying Keely to a life she didn’t want.
In the meantime, he’d be right next to her every time she woke up.
Seth breathed in Keely’s scent—more a mix of images than actual smells—before he was fully conscious. Light and compassion and mischief and eyes the color of clear tropical water, underscored with a heaping dose of possessiveness. My Keely.
He pulled her closer without opening his eyes and enjoyed the press of her soft skin.
Keely skimmed her fingers over his chin and dropped a kiss on his cheek. “I know you’re awake.”
Contentment filled the bond, and Seth smiled. “Nope. Still sleeping.”
“You don’t grow facial hair?”
“A benefit of my kind. No shaving. Our forms are fixed in our minds, and once we reach maturity, they don’t change much. What you see is how we imagine our deepest selves.”
“Fascinating.” Her lips trailed over his shoulder as her hand skimmed down his stomach. “And how do your kind feel about sharing a morning shower?”
Seth finally opened his eyes to Keely’s naughty grin. “We’re big fans.”
Her hand closed around him. “Well, that’s good news.”
Seth sucked in a breath and let her play for a bit before flipping her underneath him with a fervent kiss. On the verge of convincing her the shower could wait, Keely pushed against his shoulder, and he pulled back immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
She blushed a pretty pink and stared at his bicep. “I just remembered that I clawed you las
t night.”
Seth glanced down at his arm. He recalled a minor sting at one point, but he’d been busy with other—way more interesting—parts. Her concern touched him, but he’d long ago healed any injuries she’d caused.
“Don’t worry, you can’t hurt me like that.”
She ran her hand along his unmarked skin, wincing. “I’m glad, but I’m still sorry. I’ve never dug my nails into anyone during sex before.”
“Worth it.”
She laughed and smacked him playfully. “What did you mean last night about protecting me?”
Seth accepted that the moment had passed and rolled out of bed to stretch. “A contraception trick I learned from the Fae. Pretty handy when there’s not a condom around.”
Keely’s smile slipped away. He extended his hand to her, but she ignored it and stood on her own. “Used it much, have you?”
Seth knew a dangerous question when he heard it. She crossed her arms, and he sensed the jealousy stirring in her as well as her attempt to control it. He wasn’t the only one feeling possessive. Satisfaction threatened to spill into the bond, but without an explanation, that would probably make it worse.
Instead of dropping his hand, he swung her up into his arms, resting his forehead against hers. “Only with you. About that shower…” He carried Keely through the bathroom and into the massive shower before letting her slide down his body.
He’d never felt this constant urge to keep someone close to him, but his hunger for Keely went beyond the fantastic sex. Her sharp mind and her courage and her open heart all made him want to hold on tight and never let go.
Instead of saying the words circling inside him, he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her, slow and deep. Her fingers wrapped around his wrists, and she opened herself to him, letting him take what he needed.
The intense moment of connection showed him what could be, and deep inside, Seth ached for the loss of it. But that moment wasn’t here yet. For now, Keely was his, and he’d treasure her.
She shrieked when he turned on the water, but the cold quickly warmed up, and they took their time getting clean.
“It’s really a portal.”
Seth chuckled as Keely stared wide-eyed at the shimmering magic enclosed in an ancient-looking stone arch. “You’re lucky. Not many humans get to see this, or the world beyond.”
Around them, Aiden’s garden bloomed as if it were mid-summer. His cousin’s power maintained the garden and the arch, and Seth had figured out some time ago that the portal couldn’t easily differentiate between their familial magic. The doorway would open for him, and he could pass through, but he’d only have a short time to find Keris before it would calibrate and expel him again.
He’d explained as much to Keely, but a little reminder never hurt.
Seth stepped between her and the portal. “It’s going to be even more different inside. I’d love to take time to show you my world, but we need to hurry.”
She lost the enchanted look and raised a brow at him. “I told you I wouldn’t slow you down.”
He believed her. In jeans and a tee shirt, she looked every bit the goddess today that she had last night in the gown, and he doubted anything could stand in her way when she dedicated herself.
Doubt squeezed his chest even as he nodded. He didn’t deserve her, but maybe proving his worth in Aecantha could change that. That was the goal, wasn’t it? Right his wrongs. Find the truth about his parents. Show the elders their mistake, preferably in a dramatic, public fashion.
Keely smiled, and Seth tipped her face up to press a quick, hard kiss against her mouth.
Passing through the doorway proved anti-climactic. Keely held his hand in a firm grip, but she never showed signs of hesitation. The familiar tingle of magic came and went in a few steps.
Once on the other side, Seth left the power stone in the arch. He had no reason to close the doorway just yet as he knew from experience it wouldn’t prevent him from being ripped back to the human world if they waited too long.
The clearing containing the doorway remained as it ever was, full of wildlife and surrounded by a sunny forest. Compared to Terra, as they called it, the plants and trees here grew massively larger, but the only predators they’d find in the woods were his kin.
The magic began to pull on Seth before they’d taken more than a few steps.
Keely didn’t speak at first as they jogged through the forest, but he could feel the curiosity burning inside her.
“Go ahead and ask your questions. We need speed, not silence.”
“How long have you guys been here? Where did you come from originally? Why is everything here so big? Are there other worlds?”
Seth slanted her a look. “In all the time we’ve been together talking about Aecantha, you didn’t wonder about any of those things?”
She shrugged. “They didn’t seem important at the time.”
Seth shook his head and smiled, his eyes back on the path. “As I told you before, our history is complicated. The leaders of this clan come from the ancient Mediterranean. There are other clans from other areas, but as far as I know, all live in this dimension. People are free to leave and take their chances with another clan, but it doesn’t happen often.”
“Why? Don’t you guys want to spread the genetics around?” Keely kept pace with him, but the pull from the doorway increased with every step, forcing him to slow.
“Genetics have never been a problem, but we don’t have many children. Magic, physics, the universe, whatever you choose, needs balance. My kind are extremely hard to kill because our bodies heal, but that makes it difficult to sustain a pregnancy. That’s why the mate bond is so revered. We don’t know why, but those pairings usually result in a child.”
Seth struggled to lift his legs and move forward, but he could see the edge of the trees up ahead. He’d hoped the info dump would keep Keely preoccupied, but she slid an arm around his waist and added her slight weight to his forward momentum.
“Keep talking,” she added.
“My family is native to this clan, but I have friends—former friends—whose parents came from others. My father and his brother found their mates here, but only my aunt is left now.”
“I thought you were hard to kill?”
“Hard, not impossible. Some still die. Some live long enough to learn how to halt the healing, usually the elders, but there are exceptions.” Seth stumbled, and the pull yanked him back two steps.
Keely brushed hair out of her face and renewed her grip. “What’s going on, Seth? I thought you said you’d done this before, and we’d have time to find your aunt.”
Sweat dripped down his back as they finally cleared the trees. “I did, but last time, I was a cat. I didn’t account for the increased pull on my human form.”
“So change into a cat.”
“First, too late. Second, I’m not leaving you defenseless.”
She swatted him on the chest with her free hand. “Don’t be stupid. I can take care of myself.”
He clenched his teeth against the ever-increasing pressure threatening to draw him back. “Not relevant. I said I’d protect you, and I will.”
A new voice spoke from the trees to their right, and Seth shoved Keely behind him. “A noble sentiment, if somewhat misplaced. She has nothing to fear here.”
Keris walked out of the forest, and Seth narrowed his eyes at her bright red dress. Yes, he’d been distracted, but the trees didn’t provide that much protection. He should have seen her.
She smiled at him, though it didn’t reach the eyes that matched his. “Hello, nephew.” She waved her hand at him, and the pull stopped. “Why do you return wearing my son’s magic?”
Seth nearly sagged at the release, but Keely’s hands on his back kept him upright. “It was the only way past the restrictions on the doorway. Aiden is fine.” Seth sighed, knowing what she expected. “Keris Morgan, goddess of chaos and leader of the clan, meet Keely Cole, my mate. We’ve come for the ritual.”
She lifted one haughty brow and stared past his shoulder at Keely, who’d gasped at the word goddess. He’d planned to get to that before they reached the village, but he should have known nothing went according to plan when Keris involved herself.
Goddess? Keely shouted into his head.
Seth winced. I was working up to that.
What the hell have you been keeping from me, Seth?
I’ll explain later. Hopefully.
Keris spoke softly, oblivious to their internal conversation. “Another mate…so soon after the last. I must keep a closer eye on Oren and the others.”
What’s she talking about?
Aiden found his mate last year. We’re of the same generation. There are five of us in total born within a few years of each other.
That’s a lot of babies born around the same time for a group where children are rare.
Yeah. I’d noticed that too.
Keris cleared her throat. “If you’re quite through. Mind speak is rude when not everyone is privy to the conversation.” Not as oblivious as he’d thought. Seth had forgotten Keris’ cleverness somehow. He blamed a century in another world.
Seth clasped Keely’s hand, keeping her close to him. “Not that I’m not grateful, but why did you stop the pull of the banishment?”
“The elders request your presence.”
One movement of her hand, and he’d be back in Terra, potentially without Keely, but he wouldn’t roll over blindly. “I won’t leave my mate.”
Keely sent him a strange look. After all, they’d come so he could talk to the elders, but Seth had other priorities.
Keris rolled her eyes. “No one will hurt your mate. You know the clan. Why would anyone interfere?”
Seth met her gaze. “Why, indeed? I seem to remember some trouble when Aiden brought his mate home. How is Oren?”
Power crackled in the air around them, but Keris didn’t flinch. “He’s well. It might do you good to remember that he was once a trusted friend, like others here.”
