And that was how she’d learned Marcun had been shot. At first, she’d been furious at him, at all of them, for not telling her. Marcun told her that he hadn’t wanted to worry her. That’s when it hit her. He’d been shot because what he did was so risky. Obviously, she’d already known that. But she’d just been under this illusion that he was indestructible.
That’s when anger had morphed into terror. And that terror kept her awake at night, had her waking with nightmares, and kept her on edge every time he went on a mission.
Sure, the regen chamber had patched him up as though nothing had happened. But it had happened. He’d been shot. He could have been killed.
“I could have lost you,” she whispered, running her hands up and down her arms.
“Come here,” he commanded.
She shook her head even as she made her way closer. When she was about a foot away, he clasped hold of her waist and pulled her onto his lap, squeezing her tight.
“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you,” she whispered. “This last mission, I barely slept the whole time you were gone.”
She’d been a wreck. She’d made Frankie swear she wouldn’t tell Marcun when he returned. He ran his hand up and down her back.
“I am sorry, my mate. I did not realize it affected you so. This is why I did not wish to tell you I had been shot.”
She shook her head. “And that’s why I didn’t tell you what a mess I was this last time. I don’t want you to treat me like some child who has to be kept in the dark or coddled because she can’t handle the truth. I need you to tell me when you get shot. Jesus, that is not something I ever thought I’d say to my husband.” She snorted. “Not unless he was a cop, I guess.”
“I do not like to upset you.”
She sighed and leaned her head against his firm chest. “I know. I just wish you guys didn’t take on such risky jobs. I mean, you don’t even have to work, right? You’re all rich.”
“But this is who we are. We are Sky Warriors. What would we do if we did not do that?”
Which is why she hadn’t said anything to him until now. Because she knew he loved what he did. And she would hate it if someone told her she couldn’t bake. She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a nag.”
“A horse? What has a horse got to do with anything?”
She snorted. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Why did you not tell me any of this?”
“I don’t know. I guess I figured you were indestructible. You’re nearly two hundred years old. I never imagined anything happening to you. Yeah, I used to get nervous when you were away on a job, but nothing too bad. Nothing I couldn’t overcome by baking up a storm. And then you got shot and it came slamming back that you could die.” Tears filled her eyes and she had to blink them back as he looked on in horror. “Sorry, I seem to be rather emotional lately.”
“You cry more. I do not like it.”
“Neither does Nax. I know what to do if he’s annoying me. I’ll start crying and he’ll run the other way.”
“You will not. I do not like you upset. I do not like that you fear losing me so much that it makes you cry. I must think on this.”
“I’m sorry I’m such a worrywart. It doesn’t seem to affect Frankie like it does me.” She yawned. “Guess all this worrying tires a girl out.”
“You should rest. I could help you with that.” A ghost of a smile crossed his lips, although she could see he was still pondering everything she had told him.
“No time for resting,” she told him with a smile, wanting to lighten the mood. She didn’t want to upset him or place stress on their relationship. But she did feel better now that he knew. “I’ve got some gingerbread cookies to bake.” And presents to buy. Although that was a problem since she had no idea what to buy anyone.
Well, except Nax. She’d already bought him a mug that said:
I’m not grumpy. I’m just surrounded by people who are too happy.
Marcun let out a breath. “I do not understand this Christmas thing.”
“I know.” She patted his chest. “But I promise, it will be fun. And if we have kids, we’ll have to do it all for them. Children love Christmas.”
“We never had Christmas. We turned out fine.”
“Did you? Did you really?” She tried to keep her face serious as he stared at her. Then she burst into laughter.
He smiled. Then gathered her close and kissed her. “I love when you smile.”
“You do, huh?” she asked.
Marcun stared down at his flushed mate, smiling up at him from the safety of his arms. He’d been terrified when he had seen her standing at the top of that ladder. And then when she’d fallen…
He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened.
He did not believe it was an overreaction to ban her from getting on any more ladders. Not when it would keep her safe.
But he did not like that he had upset her. He hadn’t realized how his getting shot had affected her, but he should have. She had been quieter lately. And she had not been sleeping well. He felt terrible that this had affected her so greatly.
He was always so concerned about her safety, he had not considered how she felt about him. But he had lived a long time. This is who he was. Who his pack was. He could not change who he was, could he? He was strong and smart. He did not get injured often and when he did the regen chamber fixed everything.
But what if he did die? What would happen to his mate? Should he take more care? He was not reckless. But she was right. What they did was dangerous. He needed to think about this more carefully because he did not want his mate worrying so much. It was affecting her. Not just her sleep, but she had lost weight. And that sparkle in her gaze was somewhat dimmed.
No, this would not do at all.
But giving up his work, that was not a simple thing. It was so tied into who he was that he could not imagine not doing it.
“I’m sorry,” she told him, looking upset. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
He laid her back on the bed. “Of course, you should have. I expect you to always tell me when something is upsetting you. Especially if it is something I have done.”
She smiled up at him. There was something he thought he could do to help her rest.
“I do wish you to rest, though.”
“I don’t have time to rest.” She tried to sit, but he pushed her gently back. “Marcun, I can’t rest now.”
“You can.”
She shook her head. “I’m not even tired.”
He knew that was a lie and gave her a stern look. She rolled her eyes at him. So, he leaned in and kissed her. She immediately softened beneath him, opening her mouth so he could sweep his tongue inside to play with hers. When he drew back, her gaze was clouded with arousal, her lips red and glistening.
“I have a way of making you relax.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes. And all you have to do is lie there.”
“That sounds a bit selfish.”
“Eden, you have never been selfish in your life.”
Tears filled her eyes again. He stared at her in panic. “It is meant to make you feel better not make you cry.”
“These are happy tears.”
He shook his head. “Will I ever understand you?”
“Maybe in twenty years.” She smiled at him.
“Somehow I doubt this.”
“I promise. I’m happy. It’s just sometimes you say really sweet things and it’s unexpected. And also, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a bit of a mess at the moment.”
He nodded. “I had noticed.”
She whacked her hand against his arm. Then winced.
“Did you harm yourself?” He grabbed her hand rubbing it.
“If you weren’t made of bloody concrete it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Do not hit me again. You will harm yourself.”
“You’re not su
pposed to agree when I say I’m a wreck.”
“I’m not?” He raised his eyebrows.
“No. You’re meant to say you are more beautiful than the day I met you and you could never look like a wreck.”
He nodded. “I will take that under advisement.”
She snorted but grinned.
“Now, raise your hands above your head and keep them there.” He reached for the bottom of her T-shirt and pulled it up, over her head. She was wearing one of those contraptions that confined her breasts.
A bra.
“I thought I got rid of all of these,” he half-growled.
She rolled her eyes. “I need to wear a bra or in a few years, my boobs will be down around my waist.”
“It gets in my way.” He pulled her up then reached around to undo the clasp. It had taken him a while to learn how to do this. Why did they make them so difficult to undo? It was frustrating having to wait to get his hand on her firm globes.
She ran her hands over his shoulders as he undid the bra. He drew it off then pressed gently on her chest, giving her a firm look. “Lie back. No touching.”
She pouted. “But I like touching you.”
“And I like when you touch me. But right now, I want to please you. So, I expect you to keep your hands over your head.”
He reached for her pants and quickly drew them down her legs. She was now naked, her curves on display, her creamy skin in easy reach of his touch.
She was all his.
He ran his hands over her body, feeling each curve, worried that she seemed to be getting thinner. Had he not been taking care of her as he should? That would all stop. He would ensure she took care of herself even if he had to feed her by hand and pleasure her each night until she fell asleep.
Hmm, that didn’t sound like much of a hardship at all.
He kissed down her neck, loving the way she shivered. He nipped at the skin behind her ear and she let out a small cry. “You are delicious.”
He cupped one breast and circled her nipple with his tongue. She cried out, raising her hips up as though searching for his touch. But he didn’t move lower. Instead he just lapped at her nipple, watching her arousal grow. Her face grew flushed, her breathing came faster. He wondered if she could come from nipple play alone. He had not tried that yet.
He reached over with his hand and plucked at her other nipple.
“Marcun! It’s too much. I’m too sensitive.”
He drew her nipple into his mouth, sucking on it before he pulled back and pinched the tight bud lightly between his finger and thumb. She screamed. She was close. He moved over to the other nipple and did the same, only this time sucking more strongly.
“Marcun, Marcun, oohhhh.”
He increased the pressure. Then flicked at her nipple with his tongue, teasing her other nipple with his fingers. Plucking at it. Tapping it gently. She let out a small scream as she came apart in his arms. He gentled his touch, satisfaction filling him.
She opened her eyes, staring up at him. “I didn’t know I could come from just nipple play.”
“Now we know you can,” he replied.
But it wasn’t enough. In fact, he was just getting started.
“Please fuck me,” she begged him.
“No. Not yet.”
She whimpered. He left her sensitive nipples, running his tongue around the base of each breast as he moved his fingers down her stomach towards her pussy.
“Spread your legs,” he demanded.
She moved her thighs apart and he cupped her, feeling her moisture burning against his palm. He loved this part of her. The taste, the feel, the sight of those puffy lips just begging for him to touch and lick her. He circled her swollen bundle with his finger. She shuddered.
“Not yet. It’s too soon.”
He did not think so. Not with how wet she was. He kept his movements light, though. He would drive her up slowly. But she would find her release again. He flicked his finger up and down. Then around. Up and down. Then around.
Soft noises were now coming from her. He leaned in and suckled on her nipple.
“Marcun. Marcun. It’s too much.”
He lay on his stomach and drew the lips of her pussy apart to stare at her pink folds. She was so moist that he could not resist dipping one finger into her and drawing it up to his mouth.
She groaned and he looked up to see her watching him. Hmm, that was a good idea. He held her gaze as he licked at his finger.
“Jesus save me,” she muttered to herself. But he knew she did not mean it. She did not want saving. Her head fell back and he realized she could not hold that position for long. He rose and grabbed a couple of pillows, putting them under her head.
“Is that comfortable?” he asked.
“Yes.” She bit at her lip. “Fuck me, please, Marcun.”
He leaned in and kissed her. Hard and fast. When he drew back, they were both panting hard.
“Soon. After you find your release again.”
She let out a cry of protest, but he ignored her. He wanted to feast. To play. He lay between her spread legs once more. Then looked up at her along the length of her body.
“Do not look away from me,” he told her.
“Fuck.”
He hid his grin as he took a long, slow lick of her juices. Her taste sang against his taste buds.
He would never grow tired of this, of that he was certain. Bringing his mate to pleasure was his favorite past time. It relaxed him. These humans had their sport and their drinking.
He preferred to give his mate orgasms.
He flicked at her clit, holding her gaze. Her eyes widened. Her mouth drew open, her lips rosy and slightly swollen from their kiss.
“Marcun, please. I can’t look.”
He pulled her lips further apart, drawing her swollen bud of nerves out into the open. Then he nipped it gently. She screamed.
“You can. You will.”
Then he gently lapped at her clit as he pushed first one then two fingers up into her passage. He kept them firmly inside her as he played with her clit, circled it, flicked it. Her breathing came in sharp pants. Her eyes stayed on his face, although there were a few times where she closed them and he had to remind her to open them again. Sweat coated her trembling body. He knew she was close. He moved his fingers. Driving them in and out of her warm, soft channel.
“Find your release, my mate,” he ordered. Then he firmly licked at her clit until she came, screaming his name as her whole body tensed. She pulsed around his fingers, clenching down on him firmly. His cock strained against his pants, wanting freedom, wanting to feel her coming around him. He drew his fingers from her, giving her clit one last kiss before he stood and reached for his shirt.
“Finally,” she said. “Fuck me.”
“Your wish is my command, mate.”
She snorted. “I wish that was true.”
He quickly stripped and moved towards her, crouching on the bed between her spread thighs.
That’s when he heard the sirens.
“Please don’t stop,” she groaned.
“I will not, my mate.” He could not. But a sense of urgency drove him. He pushed his way inside her as she wrapped herself around him, holding on for dear life. She still pulsed around him, squeezing him.
He drew back, drove forward. She was so hot. So slick. He grit his teeth, trying to hold back. It was not long until he was on that edge, until he knew he could not hold on much longer.
“Eden!” he yelled as he succumbed to his own shattering release.
2
Sacaren and Frankie
Sacaren gaped up at his mate.
“Francesca, what do you do up there?”
“I figured it was the perfect place to get a tan. Even the old bat wouldn’t be able to see me if I decided to strip off and sunbathe up here.”
His eyes widened as he stared at her in disbelief. “You were going to take off your clothes? To be on the roof naked?”
�
�Sacaren, have I taught you nothing about sarcasm yet?” she complained. “Of course I’m not going to sunbathe naked.”
Relief filled him. He had gotten much better at understanding her sarcasm, but it was not always easy.
“There’s no sun today. In fact, it looks like it’s going to rain again.”
He looked up at the gray sky. It seemed that all it did lately was rain. And when it wasn’t raining, it was usually blowing a gale. Today was quite mild, weather wise. Eden kept hoping for something called snow. She said they rarely had snow at Christmas anymore. Personally, he did not think it sounded all that appealing.
It sounded cold and wet.
Why would she wish for icy white stuff to fall from the sky? Of course, she also kept going on about a male named Santa Claus who brought gifts by entering their house through the chimney. Which seemed impossible to him, considering the size of the chimney and the pics he had seen of this Santa Claus. He looked like he would benefit from a strict diet and exercise regime.
And he did not care who he was, if any male tried to enter their house without permission, he was going to throw him right back out again.
Eden had looked appalled as Frankie had tried to explain to him that Santa wasn’t real. It made no sense whatsoever. They told children that this jolly fat man left them presents when they were good. What about if they were naughty?
Sacaren had never been all that fond of being good.
“So, you would have lain up there naked had the sun been shining?”
She just grinned and rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”
“Then why say that?”
“Because you got that horrified look on your face. It was funny.”
“I am not smiling.”
“That’s because you have a weird sense of humor. You laughed for hours when Nax punched Brogan in the nose for eating the last piece of chocolate cake.”
He smiled. That had been amusing.
Still, that was not the point. “Mate, you will not ever strip your clothes off when you are outside.”
“No? That’s a bit boring. Could spice things up, you know.”
“Spice what up?”
A Sky Warrior Christmas Page 2
