Abducting the Princess

by Mel Teshco

  “What the fuck?” he growled in agonized disbelief. “You’re a…virgin?”

  She forced back stupid tears. “Does that offend you?”

  “No. Shit, no. Of course not. I just, I can’t believe you’ve restrained the carnal needs of your beast every time you shift.”

  She didn’t tell him she’d never felt compelled to shift into panther, or that her secret fear of the dark and her nightmix traits had helped restrain any demand that may have otherwise developed. The last thing she wanted from him right then was more reservations.

  She deliberately writhed beneath him, aware her inner muscles had adjusted to the impressive length and girth of his cock. At his groan she wriggled some more, glorying in the suctioning pull-push of his shaft and the fact he was planted deep inside her.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered, deteriorating his gallant inner battle at her virginity and making her amazed she’d ever thought his nightmix birthright was a risk. “Please.”

  “Goddess help me,” he breathed raggedly, “I hope you won’t regret this.”

  But then he was stroking inside her, slowly at first, then faster and faster until she was gasping for breath, for sanity, realizing only as she tipped into incredible climax that she no longer had control.

  Her inner panther wanted out.

  Right. Now.

  Chapter Five

  Mahaya roared exultation as he exploded deep into Mira’s tight pussy. Holy fuck. He’d forgo heaven even if he only got to experience this with her once in his lifetime. Fool! He was in heaven. Wave after wave of his seed emptied into her, draining him until there was nothing left to give.

  Nothing but his heart, his soul…

  Then he saw the sudden fear in Mira’s eyes and all exaltation seeped away, leaving him cold, empty. No matter her real feelings for him, her fear of his nightmix would never be overcome. Dread shone through her eyes as if an accusation as she pushed away from him and staggered to her feet, retreating one step, two.

  “What’s happening to me?” She whimpered. “I…I can’t control my beast.”

  “You won’t control it, you know that.”

  He barely withheld his own beast, only years of experience kept him from shifting. But he knew he couldn’t hold out forever. Mira’s shift would trigger his own, whether she liked it or not.

  Mira groaned, bending over double. “I’ve. Never. Shifted. Before.”

  He stiffened. Shocked. Disbelieving. She told the truth. There was no denying her inexperience and genuine anxiety. “Don’t fight it,” he rasped, feeling the biggest hypocrite by fighting back his own shift. “Go with it, let the change flow through your veins, meld with your bones.”

  The first shift was by far the most painful. He could only hope she didn’t go the opposite way and force her transition in an attempt to get the pain over with. To do so could be life threatening, causing the excruciating agony of what was known as a fallout, where the pain caught up minutes or perhaps hours later. The suffering would be immense.

  Mahaya took her in his arms, comforting her as she sobbed intermittently with panther growls. Gods, he’d never felt more helpless. If he could take away all her pain he would. Gladly.

  He’d been more than a little in love with her even before he’d had no choice but to kidnap her. His feelings had flourished when he’d gotten to know the real princess, the woman who was beautiful inside and out. The woman who’d do anything for her people, even with her apparent fear of the dark and being a nightmix.

  Without warning her body suddenly went limp and she fell silent.

  His nostrils flared, his pulse thudding in his ears. At last. The rest of Mira’s shift into panther would come to her naturally and without too much pain.

  Jax threw his head up and blew out a nervous breath before trotting a dozen or so paces away, obviously aware of the danger. It was only the stallion’s strict training and trust that kept him within range.

  Mahaya couldn’t dwell on anything but what was happening between him and the princess. He released her with a growl, pheromones and her escalating panther scent pushing him beyond the edge of self-control.

  It was time to release his nightmix.

  At last the pain was no more. She’d pushed past an agony unlike anything she’d ever endured before, realizing she could no longer fight it, had nothing to prepare herself against it. She’d had to ride with the torture, become as one with the breaking and lengthening of bones and tendons, the ripping and reforming of skin and nails.

  And in the blink of an eye, the world had changed. Everything around her was monochrome, fresher, sharper and more alive.

  She pushed to her feet—her paws—and looked down at her silver-white furred legs. A shuddering growl pushed past her throat. She wasn’t nightmix!She was a silver panther! A true larakyte now in every way.

  Warmth radiated through her body right along with joy. She’d half expected a rush of inner darkness to precede her change into a nightmix. And now that she knew she’d had nothing to fear all along, it was all she could do not to do a crazy jig on her paws. She turned her head, intensely aware of Mahaya in his panther form. Her heartbeat accelerated faster still, passion all but wiping out every other emotion.He was huge and black as coal. But he was so much more than that too. She lifted her snout and breathed deep, tasting him on her tongue, scenting his lust with her every inhalation.

  Another rumbling growl built in her chest and spilled free from her mouth in a roar. As Mahaya’s big cat voice echoed hers, challenged her, she swung away from him and broke into a sprint that was as natural to her with four legs as two.

  Adrenaline surged through her blood as Mahaya chased her, though she knew she had no hope at outrunning his great strides. He easily caught up. Despite his huge size, his coat was almost invisible in the night, his paws seemingly barely touching the ground.

  She’d always felt a connection to him, but right then in her big cat form it was as if it was just the two of them in their own private world. Breathing the same pine and decay scents, seeing the same monochrome visuals of shadowy, towering trees with glimpses of moonlight in the heavens and pungent pine needles underfoot.

  It was thrilling, a freedom she’d never experienced before. She’d fought Mahaya when he’d taken her from her people and everything she’d ever known. But he’d opened her eyes to another way of life. She’d been a woman scared of her own birthright, scared of the dark. Not only had he saved her from the larakyte dissenters, he’d exposed her to what she’d been missing out on in her controlled existence. He’d allowed her to discover her true self. Her identity.

  Panting for breath, she slowed into a trot and then a walk. He slowed with her. When she stood still, he turned back to face her. She stepped forward, pushing against him with a purr, brushing her head against his before swiping her body, her tail along his length.

  It had ceased to matter what she’d mistakenly believed about him, or that he could never truly be hers. All she knew right then was that no matter what form she was in, she wouldn’t ever get enough of him.

  He’d given her more than he’d ever know.

  He’d taken her virginity and made her a woman, and in doing so had triggered her first ever shift into a larakyte. The moment she’d discovered she wasn’t a nightmix had been the moment all her self-doubts had faded away.

  How have I ever lived without him?

  Her ears flattened. How was she ever going to live without him? Sooner or later her father’s soldiers would find her and life as she knew it would resume to normal.

  Her tail swishing in sudden animalistic need, she turned and gave him a nip. She tasted blood before Mahaya turned around sharply and snarled warning. Gods, he was so magnificent and huge.

  And dark, don’t forget about dark.

  Somehow his darkness made her want him all the more. And he wanted her too. His primeval response sent arrows of lust straight to her loins.

  But only as people would they unite as one. Lar
akytes never joined in animal form. Her own body’s lust was forcing her back to woman just the same as Mahaya’s lust was forcing him back to man.

  Agony gripped her as desire triggered a shift from beast to human. She crumpled onto her side, panting and mewling as her bones, skin and flesh once again made the transition.

  Don’t fight it, go with it.

  Mahaya’s recent advice somehow penetrated her subconscious until she surrendered to the pain once again, distantly aware he too was going through the shift. And somehow knowing she wasn’t alone made it much more bearable.

  Even when the pain was no more, she didn’t fully comprehend she was human once again. Not until she looked up to find Mahaya crouched—his shift fully complete—before he rocked to his feet and strode toward her.

  His arms moved around her body and, cradling her, he carried her the way they’d come. His eyes intent, he asked gently, “Are you okay?”

  “I’m not really sure,” she said in a small voice, “so much has changed.”

  His stride didn’t falter. “Everything has changed,” he corrected. His gaze gleamed in the darkness. “We’re mated now…for life.”

  Her jumbled emotions knotted harder still. Her every atom might burn with agreement at his words, but reality ensured they’d never be more than lovers. She bit back a sudden urge to sob with injustice. “Mahaya, I—”

  “Don’t say anything,” he murmured huskily. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But I know in my heart we can make it work.”

  Her chest ached. Didn’t Mahaya know she belonged to another? She’d made a public vow that she would marry to preserve the monarchy. She wouldn’t, couldn’t go back on her word. No matter how much she wished otherwise. “What you’re asking is impossible.”

  He strode through whatever shortcut he’d taken before stepping into the clearing. The moonlight was blinding after the comparative darkness. And she saw all too easily the hard glitter of determination in his stare.

  “Nothing is impossible, my Mira.”

  He splashed into the waterhole, wading deep. Her hands slid behind his nape as they sank into the water that was gloriously refreshing after the relentless sun and fierce sandstorm. But she didn’t take the time to appreciate the water’s silken touch that washed away the sand and all traces of blood from between her thighs.

  She closed her eyes and sucked in a shuddering breath. It tore at her soul knowing this man was her perfect mate in every way, if only she’d not made the vow to her people to marry Jarvias. Her eyes opened. If only conceiving with this amazing nightmix was possible.

  Even though falling pregnant to a larakyte was little more than hopeful, at least she had a chance. At least her people could have some faith she might one day produce an heir to the throne. One of Mahaya’s hands cupped beneath her chin, drawing her gaze to his. “I know your heart belongs to your people. But it might ease your mind knowing that many of your subjects already love me for protecting their princess.”

  His words rang with honesty. She searched his open stare, everything starting to finally make sense. “That’s why my people didn’t try to stop you from taking me away,” she murmured. “That’s why the crowd shielded you from my own soldiers…they knew you were protecting me from the dissenters.”

  “Yes.”

  She sighed, taking a moment to think everything through. Mahaya’s name had niggled at her memory because she’d heard rumors about a man and his followers who’d decided the royal soldiers weren’t sufficient to protect the kingdom.

  It had seemed laughable at the time and she’d once again shrugged off the rumors and focused all her attention on the peoples’ daily issues and dilemmas.

  Goddess, when had she become such a narrow-minded fool?

  He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Not that I expect to match your father’s greatness.”

  He underestimated himself. She felt certain he would indeed be a great king, just like her father. But it was madness to even contemplate such a thing. Their being together was never going to happen.

  “What I do know is that I’ll understand the people and their needs.” His eyes burned. “Just tell me you’ll at least think about it?”

  When he kissed her again, soft, tender butterfly kisses on her lips, her throat, then back to her lips again, she sighed with surrender, unwilling to spoil the moment by reminding him of her oath to another man. He’d been there when she’d made the vow, he had to know that the future he spoke of couldn’t come true, no matter how much they both wanted it to.

  Feeling heartsick but refusing to dwell on it, she moved even closer to his powerful body, her curves fitting perfectly against his.

  She had nothing to be afraid of anymore. Besides the fact being with Mahaya took away all her fears of the dark, she was secure in the knowledge she hadn’t inherited her father’s nightmix gene.

  And it was all thanks to the man before her.

  Her legs wrapped around his hips as her hands glided up the silky smooth skin of his back—his shift had fully healed him—before curling around his nape. Anchored to him. Not letting go.

  His cock pressed against her belly, rock hard and insistent.

  She smiled with his lips sealing hers. For as long as she lived, she would never forget this man, this moment. Never forget his scent, his touch, his taste. Never forget his beautiful form and his brilliant mind.

  Mahaya dipped low until the water slid over their heads and they were both submerged, cocooned in a whole new silky cool world. Wondrous. Magical.

  Their mouths still joined and her lungs beginning to burn, Mahaya abruptly kicked upward and they broke through the surface. She gasped for air, aroused and a hundred kinds of emotional.

  Their hands clung tight, thighs brushed and stares locked. Though no words were exchanged, there was a shared intensity between them that couldn’t be denied. In silent admission they waded back to the shore.

  Mira turned and moved back into his arms. He laid her down on the bank that was clear of the sharp pine needles. Her breath caught in her throat at the intensity in his eyes when he leaned over her before he kissed each corner of her mouth, his lips warm and gentle.

  Her head fell back as his lips brushed down the column of her throat, lingering in the hollow before moving lower. When his tongue swept over her nearest nipple before gently nipping and then soothing with a series of gentle suckles, she couldn’t help but cry out with need.

  Goddess, what if she never experienced this again? What if this man was the only one who could bring her body to ecstasy? What if feeling this way would one day be nothing more than a faded, wistful memory?

  Do you really think Jarvias will bring you to orgasm? An insidious voice asked.

  She stiffened and Mahaya’s head reared back, his stare purposeful, watchful. She jerked at the touch of his questing fingers between her thighs, then softly moaned as he spread apart her vulva and worked her tight, sensitized clit.

  She let loose with a little sigh, allowing selfish needs this once to take control as Mahaya massaged her into a mass of quivering desire. It would surely be better to experience the wonder of true bliss with this man in what little time they had than to never know true pleasure?

  She gasped at the increased pressure of his hand, the thick night air coming alive with her involuntary little cries. Until she had no choice but to succumb completely, climaxing with a sharp moan, her hips pushing off the ground and her thighs splaying wider still.

  Then he was moving over her, his mouth covering hers once again, as if he was sealing his ownership of her. Doubts for one moment dissolved all the giddy delight within. A moment that was gone as soon as he guided his cock into her moist pussy and slid into her with a groan. She closed her eyes at the feel of his long, impossibly hard cock, aware he was seconds away from climaxing too.

  Wrong. He stroked in and out with an ever-increasing pace, their flesh rhythmically slapping and the musk of their joining assailing the air. Oh gods. She held on for as long as s
he could before he pushed her right to the edge again, then over. She came with a barely repressed scream, her lashes fluttering and back bowed as ecstasy carried her away.

  Mahaya’s forearm muscles bulged, his jaw clenched. His eyes glazed over, then his warm seed released into her as his breath expelled in a rush.

  He stared down at her long minutes later, his eyes filled with an odd emotion before he whispered, “I love you, Mira.”

  Her pulse skipped a beat. A strange ache filled her chest. Though everything within her yearned for his love, it could never happen. “Don’t,” she whispered instead. “Please, don’t say that.”

  “I’m not going to pretend anymore,” he said hoarsely. “I loved you before you even knew I existed.”

  She frowned. “I…I don’t understand.” She resisted a whimper as he separated from her wet heat. She missed him being inside her already.

  “I watched you from afar for many months, making certain you were safe from the dissenters.”

  The ache inside her chest expanded. How was she ever going to leave him now? He’d been taking care of her long before she even knew of him. Sorrow jabbed at her soul and wrenched it in half, causing her to blurt almost desperately, “You know I can’t go back on my word.”

  His perplexed gaze held hers. “What word? Mira, what are you talking about?”

  She took a deep, steadying breath, her body taut. “Mahaya you were there. You must have heard. I’m—”

  Jax abruptly bounded away from where he’d peacefully grazed. He swung around, snorting with flared nostrils, his eyes wide.

  Shit.

  Men on foot, easily distinct by their red turbans, emerged from the trees.

  She closed her eyes, her pulse crashing wildly in her ears. She’d distracted Mahaya, weakened his usual alert vigilance. After everything he’d done for her, she’d put the man she loved in danger.

  The leader’s face was flushed with triumph, his hard stare glinting with lust as he stared at her. “I was right.”