by Vella Day
Zane’s eyes were closed, and he was swaying. It was almost as if he was praying to some god to give him the strength to last longer. Not wanting him to go off like a geyser, she let up on the pressure, licked him once more, and then stood.
His shirt needed to go; it was in the way of her thoroughly enjoying his body. As soon as she slid her hands under his T-shirt, his eyes opened. “If you stopped, you must know how close I am to exploding.”
“I had faith you could hold on.”
“Not when I’m this close to you.” He sucked in a breath when she palmed his pecs.
She smiled then lifted off his shirt. “I love your chest.” Only then did she notice his amulet. “You found a leather strap!”
“Actually, Rye found it for me.”
“It looks good on you.” Missy fingered the burnt orange stone then let go when it began to pulse a different color. “What happened? It looks alive.”
Zane lifted it up. “This stone can feel things. When another member of my Clan draws near, the entire stone pulses a light yellow. When a demon comes close, it turns almost completely black. It’s our warning system.”
“That’s amazing. But now the center is red. What does that mean?”
Zane leaned closer. “Red means I want you.”
She couldn’t tell if that was the truth, but she liked his story. “Then have me.”
“If you want to see my stone go crazy, how about taking off that bra.”
Missy reached around her back and unhooked it. Wanting Zane to remove it, she lowered her arms.
It didn’t take long before he took the hint and pulled down the straps, his eyes glistening. The stone began to pulse a brighter red as the bra fell to her feet. “You are so beautiful.”
Zane dropped to his knees, and because he was so tall, she only had to bend over a little to enable him to suck on her tits. The first pull had her clamoring for more. She threaded her fingers in his hair and pressed hard on his scalp. The tension sent sparks flying everywhere. “That feels so good.”
“Mmm.”
With each twist and turn, heat raced up her body, making her even more desperate. “Please, Zane.”
When he dropped back on his haunches, she thought he’d stand and take her, but did he? No. He seemed determined to torment her now, like she had just done to him. After undoing the button at her waistband, he slipped both her shorts and panties down to her ankles. She quickly stepped out of them and kicked them aside.
“I can’t wait to taste you,” he said with a growl.
The first swipe of his tongue had her gripping the counter with one hand and his head with the other. When he flicked her clit, she nearly came right then. It was too much, too wonderful, and way too addictive. What was it about Zane that had her libido shooting sky high? Was it that they were mates?
He slipped two fingers into her wet opening, and when he wiggled them around, she stood on her tiptoes trying to control her climax. She thought she could last the onslaught of lustful sensations, but the moment he sucked on her sensitive nub again, waves of ecstasy crashed down on her.
Zane looked up and smiled. “Ready for another one?”
She could make love with him for hours and never tire of him. “Yes.”
Zane stood and lifted her up. On instinct, she wrapped her legs around his waist and placed her hands behind his neck. With their gazes locked, he stepped them over to the refrigerator and kissed her as he pressed her back against the door. Every sense heightened and reeled. It didn’t matter they weren’t in a bed. Right now, all she could think of was that she wanted and needed Zane.
*
Zane had to work hard not to keep from sinking his teeth into her neck. She was his mate as sure as he was breathing. The how and why Missy was chosen didn’t matter. Not that he’d ever return to Cargonia, but if he did, no one would believe his mate was a human or rather a human witch with talents.
Missy opened her mouth, and the moment their tongues touched, flames of desire nearly consumed him. His cock twitched, but he wanted to make sure she was ready before he plunged into her. His need was growing by leaps and bounds as her fingers clawed his back and her legs tightened around his waist. Once he started, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Her groans and huffs had the hair on his arms thickening. When his bones cracked, he was forced to break the kiss. “Get down for a minute,” he pleaded.
She lowered her legs, and as much as he loved her breasts pressed against his chest, he believed she’d enjoy him more if he came in from behind. It would make his entry easier. Missy ran her hands up his chest, and he nearly lost it. “I like touching you like this.”
“I like it too.”
She lowered an arm and latched onto his cock. “And I like this.”
He couldn’t take much more. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he turned her around and pressed on her back. Instinctively, she palmed the refrigerator door and spread her legs. She actually had the nerve to giggle, knowing full well that he was ready to burst.
More bones cracked at her sassy willingness. Not now, he pleaded to his bear. He pressed his chest to her back and cupped her breasts. His inner bear roared, which made Zane’s teeth sharpen and his fur grow even more. He focused on pleasing Missy and not on his needs, but redirecting his thoughts didn’t help all that much.
Unfortunately, he could smell her arousal, making it harder to breathe. When he kissed the shell of her ear, his amulet slid down over her shoulder, no doubt having turned completely red. Other than with his family, Zane had never experienced such acceptance before. As sure as he was standing there, he loved Missy Berta, witch extraordinaire. Even if she hadn’t been his mate, he would have found her alluring and highly desirable. As much as he wanted to claim her for his own, Missy needed to believe that they belonged together. He owed her that much.
“Zane?” she called, her voice thick with emotion.
“Just trying to calm down a bit.”
She reached between her legs and managed to grab half of his cock with her fingertips. When she squeezed his hard shaft, Zane’s control shattered. With her sex so close, he slid out of her grasp and right into her wet channel. Even without any lube, he was able to enter easily. The foray took him close to oblivion.
When Missy moaned and thrust her hips back, he clasped her waist and drove right back in. Her blue aura grew until she was completely surrounded in light. As much as he wanted to ask more about that strange phenomenon of sexual excitement, he was too consumed to stop now.
Missy lowered her head, and when she clamped down hard, his world tilted on its axis. She then let out a series of moans and grunts that ended in a scream. It was when her voice reached a crescendo that he spilled his seed into her.
The stars he saw in front of him weren’t coming from her. It was almost as if the Cargonian witch had cast another spell, only this time it was to make sure the two of them never parted.
Zane wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his cheek against hers. “You are so fantastic.”
Missy lowered her arms and lifted up a bit. “Ditto.”
As soon as he slipped out of her, she scooted over to the kitchen drawer. Once she retrieved a cloth, she wet it and cleaned herself. She then soaked the other end and placed it over his cock. “We Earthlings like to be clean.”
He chuckled. “As do we Cargonians.”
Missy dropped the towel into the sink and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I like you, Zane Barons.”
Lies should never occur between mates. “About that. My full name is Zanedar Barons.”
She chuckled. “For real? Zanedar? Is that what I should call you?”
“Have you ever met another Zanedar?”
“No.”
“Then Zane is good. I am trying to fit in here.”
Missy lifted the amulet from his neck, and her touch made the stone pulse again. “I really like this. It’s almost like you’re a Wendayan and have sparks. All I have to do is check out the c
olor of the stone to see if you’re excited.”
He kissed her briefly, unsure whether he could keep from taking her again. “You don’t need to look at the stone to know that. I always want you.”
“I am curious about one thing,” she said. “Why did it flicker when I rubbed it? Do you know why?”
Tell her, his bear demanded.
“Yes.”
“Why’s that?”
Chapter Seventeen
‡
Before Zane would tell her what was on his mind, he insisted they dress first. He said it would help keep his mind on what he needed to say, making Missy curious as well as cautious. Zane had already admitted that he’d killed a man; what else could he possibly tell her now that required this much care?
She sat down on the sofa and folded her hands on her lap. “I’m listening.”
Zane sat next to her and lifted her hands to his lips. “I’m not sure where to begin since I’ve never done anything like this before.” He looked off to the side. “I wish I could speak with my dad, but I can’t.”
Unease rolled off him, but she wasn’t sure how to help. Because his amulet had returned to its original orange color, this wasn’t about sex. “Just tell me. It can’t be that bad.”
He huffed. “No, it’s not bad. At least to me it’s not.”
The suspense was killing her, and she slipped her hands from his. “Zane, please.”
“Okay. When I was asleep in the cave, I told you it was your voice that roused me.”
“Well, I thought I heard a noise, so I did yell to see if anyone was there.”
“Yes, but I also felt you before I woke up.”
Her heart pounded. Ophelia had said that a spell like the one placed on Zane probably could have only been broken by the presence of a mate. Is that what he was trying to tell her? “What do you think it means?”
Please say I’m your mate.
Asking outright might cause more issues between them if it weren’t true. Most likely, his mate was long gone, but he wanted her despite them not being fated. Oh, hell. She needed to hear what he had to say before going off the deep end thinking the worst.
“It wasn’t just that I awoke because I heard you. My body, as well as my bear kept telling me that you were my mate and I had to wake up.”
It was true! “Really, I’m your mate? Are you sure?” Missy was deliriously happy.
“Yes.”
She tilted her head, waiting for more of an explanation.
Zane lifted her hand again, and when together they touched the stone, the amulet started to pulse at a rapid pace and then stopped, holding steady with a bright glow.
“My amulet is a part of me, and it recognizes my mate. That is why when you touched it alone, it pulsed. When we touch it together, it glows brightly, showing that we, as fated mates, have found each other.”
Missy’s gaze remained on the amulet. “Wow. I’m speechless.”
He tucked a finger under her chin and gently lifted it until her gaze connected with his. “I’m excited, but how do you feel about all this?” Zane cupped the side of her face and rubbed his thumb across her cheek.
Missy leaned into his touch and smiled. “As soon as I saw you in the cave, I felt this draw between us. It was something I’d never experienced before. I know fated mates exist since I’ve seen it with my sister and a ton of my friends, but I’ve never had those kinds of sensations running through me like when I first saw you.”
“Well, I was naked, and not to brag, but I am…”
She punched him. “Be serious.”
“Fine. Why didn’t you say something?” he asked.
“I didn’t know what those feeling meant until I consulted one of our witches. Ophelia said the only way a curse that powerful could have been broken was by the presence of a mate. So I was waiting for you to bring it up. After all, shifters seem to know for sure. Wendayans only feel the tug of attraction.”
Zane’s stone pulsed red just as he leaned down to kiss her. It was the kind of kiss that was deliciously soft and sensual yet so full of passion. “I was so afraid that you would think I was crazy. I mean, there is so much of this world I know little about. You may find it’s too much work teaching me all the time.”
She smiled. “That’s where you’re wrong. You are strong, wonderful, and caring. Why in no time at all, those things will become second nature to you. I have complete faith in you. You truly are an amazing man, Zanedar Barons.”
He stroked her cheek. “You better watch out. Any more compliments and I’ll have to make love with you again. I’ve heard that women here are more delicate than the Cargonian women.”
She didn’t want to think about him making love with anyone else, even though she had slept with her share of men looking for Mr. Right. To think, all she had to do was wander into a cave and find him.
“I am a bit sore. How about a rain check?”
His brows furrowed. “Is it raining?”
She laughed. It was one of the many things she adored about him. “A rain check means I’ll take you up on your offer later.”
Zane scooted closer. “With a few well-placed kisses, perhaps I can convince you to make it sooner rather than later.”
She grinned. “You are welcome to try.”
*
Raymolt had spent an interesting if not frustrating week on Earth’s realm. For years he’d had his kit ready should he need to come here. Forging a driver’s license was as simple as hiring the right person to create it. As for money, Cargonia used the ink and plates similar to those used by the US Mint. It made moving between the realms seamless for the gods, which was why they chose the dollar for their currency. He’d heard of slight problems when the gods visited other countries but that was not his issue today. His goal had been to learn everything he could about Zanedar—his habits and the identity of his mate—and then eliminate both.
Finding his prey had been easy. Before Raymolt had left, Winslod had stayed by the monitors night and day, tracking the werebear. Knowing where the man went on a daily basis was all well and good. It was getting Zanedar alone that was hard. Silver Lake was more crowded than he would have liked. It wasn’t like he could walk up to the man and attack him. While no shifter here could take him down, even a demon would be punished by his kind if he caused a stir in another realm.
Those in charge of the demons were constantly warning them about exposing Cargonia’s existence to Earth’s realm. It was why access to the portals had been restricted, but he’d fooled them. Raymolt had stolen an instrument that helped him detect the portals, and his lineage was just powerful enough to allow him to pass through it.
Today, he would be setting his eyes on his brother’s killer for the first time in one hundred years, and he couldn’t be happier. Just this morning, he’d learned of this big race that everyone in town liked to attend. Knowing Zanedar, he’d be there. The werebear always did love water and boats. Given his size and werebear stench, the shifter would be easy to find regardless of the crowd size.
He parked his rental on the river’s edge far from the others because he wanted to be able to leave should Zanedar spot him.
Once Raymolt learned who was near and dear to him, he would come up with a plan to get Zanedar’s mate alone. He was fairly confident that once confronted with the possibility of her death, Zanedar would do as Raymolt asked—engage in a battle. The final victory would be so sweet. He chuckled to himself. He still couldn’t decide whether to drive a stake through Zane’s heart or just rip it out with his bare hands. Setting him on fire might be more fitting though. Raymolt had always loved fire. It didn’t matter really which way Zanedar died. Janoc would finally be able to rest once his killer was tortured and put down. The only negative was that Zanedar would be reunited with his family once and for all, but that was better than letting the werebear live in bliss.
*
For the last six days, Zane had barely kept focused on work. His thoughts had centered around Missy and not o
n cleaning the firehouse. He had feared that all would be lost once he told her they were mates, but Missy seemed to think he was a great catch. Disappointing her now was not an option. And that meant fitting into this world.
She’d mentioned she’d gone to a library to do research on his world after her friend Jackson Murdoch mentioned Cargonia might be real. If she could find information about his realm, he could only imagine what he could learn about Earth. That was why he’d asked Rye about the library’s location. Since then, every day at lunch Zane had studied what they had to offer. The information had been mind-expanding. The books on technology fascinated him the most. The librarian was even kind enough to show him how to find articles on the computer. That alone was worth missing a meal. While he had a long way to go in catching up on a hundred years of progress, he was making great strides, and he was determined to prove to Missy that he was worthy of being her mate.
By the time Saturday rolled around, he was doubly thrilled because the town was having its annual regatta at Turkey Point, a location on a river that ran through the west side of town. Cargonia had many boat races, and he was looking forward to seeing what Silver Lake had to offer in the way of boat construction and talent.
For the last few nights, he’d stayed with Missy at her house, and he’d never been happier. Each time they made love, he believed he was more comfortable with the idea of mating with her. He was ready, but before he made it final, he wanted to make certain she wanted it too. Love swelled his heart to epic proportions, and from the way she liked to rub up against him, she too was having a hard time keeping her hands to herself.
“We don’t want to be late,” Missy said as she bounced out of the bedroom wearing short shorts, sandals, and a green top that barely reached her waist. His woman looked fucking hot. That was his friend Tanner’s favorite expression. He’d say it every time he spotted a nice looking woman, and it described Missy well.
