“No.” Chaya rose to his feet. “You know I will go. Leave Tian here to protect Sharell.” In that moment, he understood how his father could leave for five years to protect his family hierarchy. Chaya would gladly go alone if his mate remained safe with his twin.
Sharell looked at Tian. “I have to go. I don’t think the Ancient can win this fight unless I join you. Somehow, I think she needs a woman from her home planet that has joined the three races to insure her prophecy.”
“No,” Chaya boomed. Tian, stop her from thinking this dangerous nonsense.
“I can’t,” Tian spoke aloud. “I felt the Ancient’s declaration as well. I hate this as much as you do, Chaya, but the battle has no hope of success if Sharell is not with us.”
Chaya looked around the room for support. His mother and Milana were quietly crying, but Laiya had already prepared Sian. Still, the news Sharell was to join them had been a shock to them all. “You can’t fight. You are my mate.”
Sharell stood and looped her hands around his neck. Standing on her toes, she pressed a kiss against his lips, and whispered, “You’d be surprised what I can do.” She turned to the faces looking up at her and smiled. “If you will excuse us, I believe I would like to experience the rest of my ceremony in our private chambers.” She took a deep breath to steady herself, felt a brush of Tian’s support, and led Chaya across the high passage to their pod.
Chaya walked to the window, staring out at the pods, and slowly raised his eyes to the sky. Sharell stood beside the wardrobe with Tian, and she let her robe slip to the floor. Taking Tian’s hand, she raised it to her lips and kissed his palm, then slowly crossed the floor to her dark twin mate. She ran her fingers through his hair and down his back. “It will be all right, Chaya.”
“How can you know this?”
She heard his despair. “Because I will have you to protect me.”
Chaya reached back for her hand and drew it around his waist. Her head rested low on his back. “Chaya, after this battle, you will no longer feel as though you walk in any man’s shadow.” Sharell felt him tense. Despite the fact he had a mate, she knew the injustice of being a second-set twin continued to bother him.
“You will do as I say?” he asked with uncertainty.
“Probably not,” she laughed. “But I will try not to cause you any undue stress. Poor Tian could not stand dealing with both of us.”
A throat cleared from the bed, where Tian waited. “Poor Tian would like to enjoy his bonding. Can we leave this talk of battle for another time?”
“You know, I never asked how this was done with two of you.”
Chaya rubbed his thumb over her hand. “You do as I say, of course.” His thoughts tumbled from visions of battle to the aroused pictures of his mate’s passion. When he turned from the window, Sharell smiled at the soft chocolate eyes looking down at her. He is calmed, Tian?
Calm? No. But he is no longer thinking of the upcoming fight.
Sharell climbed onto the bed, and Tian held her while Chaya removed his clothes. It never ceased to thrill her how amazing her two mates’ muscular bodies were. She saw the shadow of his cock lightly bouncing as he walked to the bed and lay down, and she shivered. Tian began infusing calmness. “No, Tian. I want to feel all of this.”
She felt liquid heat pooling at her entrance when Tian’s arm wrapped around her and his fingers brushed down her belly. Chaya tilted her chin up and she looked into his eyes. The desire in his gaze would have caused her to freeze a few months ago. Now, she accepted it as the natural intensity of her dark mate. Everything about him was passionate and confident. He was a man she could rely on to protect and cherish her, as much as she could rely on Tian to never leave her. Chaya lowered his mouth onto hers and she inhaled his deep scent while he explored her mouth. With Chaya, it was more of a demanding submission, while Tian’s kisses searched for pleasure.
Tian’s fingers slipped between her folds, spreading her wetness along her slit and pushing deep into her channel. Finally, her emptiness would be filled. Near to bursting if she was to take both of them. Suddenly, she felt the need to taste him. So far, they had barely let her brush her fingers on their shafts. They had explored her passion on many occasions, always short of letting her climax. If Tian did not stop soon, that frustration would soon be taken care of.
Her lips trailed down Chaya’s chest and across the hard plains of his stomach. Tian shifted position, continuing to stroke her pussy. Sharell traced her fingertips across the soft helmet of Chaya’s cock and he trembled, the thick shaft trying to jerk away until she captured it in her hand. When her tongue reached out for the slick drop of pre-cum oozing along the surface, he gasped.
Sharell felt Chaya’s fingers stroking through her hair, encouraging her. She smiled as she slipped her lips around the head of his cock and swiped her tongue across the spongy surface. One hand explored the thickness and length of him, while the other brushed along his inner thigh until she cupped the heavy weight of his balls.
The entire time, Tian continued to keep her at a peak of cascading into orgasm. She released her ministrations to Chaya’s testicles and searched blindly behind her for Tian’s cock. It stood proudly in the nest of soft curls, weeping excited slick drops from the crown.
Without warning, Chaya growled and sat up, dislodging her mouth from his shaft and turning her onto her back. In a flash, Tian was at the foot of the bed, pinning her arms beneath his knees. His cock bounced on her cheek and she turned her head, giggling while she searched for the elusive beast. At least, until her thighs were spread open by strong hands and she felt Chaya kneeling between them.
She expected to feel his cock teasing her entrance. Instead, his hair whipped over her torso, covering her breasts like a sheet. Fingers spread her labia, and a rumbled growl came from between her thighs before a tongue swiped along her folds. Chaya lifted his head and across the darkness he said, “You will not come without permission.”
“The hell I won’t,” Sharell gasped.
Tian’s hands found her breasts and he slowly massaged, caressing her nipples and infusing her with calmness. It was in direct contrast with her building passion, and she trembled. “God, Tian. Stop it, please.” She understood what Farisa had alluded to. Chaya could keep her on edge for as long as he wanted, with Tian keeping her just settled enough not to achieve release. “Please, Tian.”
Tian chuckled softly. “Chaya says you have kept us filled with passion since we first set eyes on you. It is your turn to suffer aroused misery.”
Chaya’s tongue lashed her clit and his teeth gently nibbled. Sharell gritted out, “Don’t you think having the two of you teasing me to climax and then deserting me has not been enough? You’ve been doing that almost every night.”
“Yes,” Tian agreed. “But then I always calm you to sleep, while Chaya and I are left with our cocks in our fists.”
“Oh god,” she gasped. Chaya’s finger pumped deep inside of her, and was joined by a second. “Whose fault was that?”
“Ah, but can’t you feel the strong bond of our family?”
“What I feel is an explosion getting ready to erupt.” Sharell never felt such sexual frustration. Her core convulsed around Chaya’s fingers and her clit was sending shockwaves of desire cramping her stomach and thighs. All this was quelled just short of release by Tian. “Oh shit. Please, Chaya.”
I want to be inside her. I want to watch her green eyes flash while she writhes in passion for us.
Tian bolstered his tranquil wash at her, feeling his balls tightening with aroused excitement. Chaya swept her folds one last time with his tongue. Wait until you taste her, Tian. He knelt up and positioned his cock at her entrance and she shifted her bottom, spreading her thighs wider in anticipation. He slowly entered, sliding in and out, a little deeper each time and stretching her tight channel.
“Oh, thank you. Dammit, Chaya. Get in me, all ready.” Sharell was certain she was losing her mind with their teasing.
Cha
ya plunged deep, thrusting into her slick warmth, reveling in the feel of his mate’s channel gripping him. His balls were so heavy with need for her he knew he would not last long. He spread her soft lips with his fingers and found her clit. She hissed and swayed her head, mumbling curses. “Look at me, my mate.”
She could see the shine of his dark eyes, surrounded by shadows. Her face was lit by the moons beaming through the window, the emerald jewels of her eyes flashing in passionate rage. “Please, Chaya.”
Release her, Tian.
The bindings of calm restraint broke free and Sharell shattered, gripping her hands into the sheets and arching off the bed. “Oh god. Oh my god, Chaya. Oh, god, Tian.” Waves of pleasure coursed through her until she finally exhausted herself. Sometime during her release, Chaya’s climax ripped through him. A growling war hoop of victory blended with her cries… and then, it was Tian’s turn.
Chapter VIII
Sharell woke to sunlight streaming through the windows. Tian stood staring out over the finions. She knew better than to disrupt him until he had balanced and grounded. Every muscle felt stretched and rubbery, aching in a very good way. She smiled and tried to stretch the kinks out.
“You will feel better after I lead you to the baths.”
“That sounds absolutely wonderful right now. Though I’m not sure I can even stand at the moment.”
Tian turned and the smile on his face would have caused her to falter, anyway. If there was a portrait of love, she was looking at it. No story she had ever read could describe it as well. “Where’s Chaya?”
Tian sat down and rubbed her long legs, working to lengthen her tired muscles. “He has been called to council with the other dark twins, to listen to the Ancient.” Tian leaned down and kissed her. “I am certain he will try to tell her of your vision, in hopes she will tell him it is a mistake.”
“It’s not, Tian.”
He sighed. “I know. Deep within himself, Chaya does, too. Still, as protector, he will try. I have seen the warriors of the other mates, and I think it will help him to know they are not pleased either.”
“I’d like to meet Rue and Tempest. If they are the other two women going into this battle, I’d like to know their thoughts on it.”
“Laiya was arranging a tour for the warriors and their mates after council. I guess they are curious about the finions.”
“I can imagine the tree houses caught their interest. We lived pretty much on the ground back home.”
Tian smiled. “Let’s go to the baths, and I will see if we can join them later while they explore.”
“Will Miranda be with them?”
“No. Zulien is taking her back to Vallistara after the council meeting. As far as I know, this is the first time she has left the temples since she rebuilt them.” Tian led Sharell down to the communal baths, and Milana waved at her from her seat between Sian’s legs. It was obvious she had been watching for her. Sharell was distracted by a man’s deep bellowing voice.
“My mate has been invited to your communal baths. I will wash her hair, caress her breasts with soft soap, tend to her…”
“Cripes, Tali. I just want to get this space dirt off of me before the damn pelach lizards show up tonight.”
Sharell stifled a laugh at the spikey haired woman, standing with her hands on her hips and looking up at her warrior. “Tempest?”
“Oh. Hi. Sorry, my big guy always goes on like that. Cripes, the battle will be over by the time he finishes his pronouncements.” She held out her hand. “Sharell, right?”
Sharell nodded.
“Yeah, your big guy’s going on to Miranda about how you are too fragile to join us.” Tempest laughed. “Bullshit. She won’t have any of that nonsense, so you’re in.”
The two women waded into the water with their mates trailing behind them. “Exactly what am I ‘in’ on?”
“Can’t say until we have our covert operation meeting.” Tempest rolled her eyes. “These big guys like to think they’re in charge of everything.”
“So I noticed.” Sharell felt an instant camaraderie to the intriguing young woman. She looked across the water for Janella and saw her speaking with Dawn. The only one missing seemed to be Rue. That is, until a squeal came from behind the waterfall. Rue came dashing out, naked and clutching her clothes, with her breeches clad mate chasing behind her. The visitors seemed to be enjoying their time on Actana, and Sharell felt a strange sense of pride.
Tempest could see it in her eyes. “Yeah, I know. It’s weird, but Rue says Lameria has become more of a home than Earth was. I guess something’s rewired inside of us, because I feel the same way about Shallistar and Vallasteria. Cripes, I hope you get to see the temples before all this stuff is through. You’ll see how awesome Miranda really is.”
Sharell chewed on her bottom lip while Tian washed her hair. “Do you know about Earth?”
“You mean that it’s kaput?”
Sharell nodded.
“Yeah. We ended up in some kind of time warp. From what I gather, we actually left there around the same time you did, but we’ve been gone almost ten years. Rue left about ten years earlier than us, and yet she ended up with the Lamerians only five years ago.” Tempest shrugged. “It’s the other Earth people we need to worry about, the slip-streamers who ended up on different planets. Strangely enough, women like us slipped onto the planets around the time the rogue ancients began to destroy these worlds.”
“Slip-streamers?”
Tempest looked up at Tali’s scowl. “Oops. Part of the big guys’ covert pow-wow.” She pinched her fingers together and zipped them across her lips.
Rue came splashing up to them, still holding her clothes. “Damn, Tempest. You should see the walls of the cavern under the waterfall. There are all sorts of jewels stuck into the rocks.” She held her hand down to Sharell. “Rue. Welcome to the irreverent mate club.”
“Um…”
“No sense denying it. I figure it’s one of Miranda’s qualification requirements. She needs ladies who can think on their feet, despite their big guy’s protection.” Rue watched the golden angel sitting behind the young woman massaging her shoulders. “Geeze, and you’ve got two to mess with you.”
I don’t mess with you. I take care of you.
“Please get out of my head, Tian. We have guests and it’s rude.” Tempest and Rue stared at her, obviously waiting for an explanation. “Tian is sort of psychic, but only with his twin and me.”
“Cripes, how cool is that?”
“Depends on how you feel about someone playing your emotions,” Sharell answered.
You did not seem to mind last night.
“Out. Now, Tian.”
“Yes, Sharell.” Tian smiled and sent a burst of passion into her. Her thighs slammed together while liquid shot down her channel and her cheeks flamed. Is that better?
Rue and Tempest watched her strange reaction. Tempest said, “You are so going to tell me about that when the boys get together and we have our girl time.”
The couples left the baths and dressed. Laiya returned and led them on a tour of the finion trees. Just passed noon, Sharell, Tempest and Rue were summoned to the edge of the outlands. They followed the procession walking behind Miranda as Zulien led her to their shuttle. They stood outside the bay, and Miranda stretched up to whisper something to him. He nodded, and stepped aside, waving to Chaya, Tian, Tali and Isari to follow him. They watched closely while Miranda led their mates to the side of the path.
Miranda bent down and picked up a piece of amber, two emerald gems, and three blue sapphires. She held the small stones in one fist, and raised it to the sun. “Goddess, protect my sisters and help us fulfill the prophecy.”
Rue and Sharell gasped when a beam of light seemed to shoot through the petite woman’s hand. Tempest chuckled, and whispered, “She does that stuff all the time. Believe it or not, you get used to it. After the building of the crystal temples, nothing surprises me any more.”
Miranda
opened her fist. She handed Rue the amber ring, blended with sapphire. Tempest and Sharell both received emerald and sapphire rings, matching the color of their eyes and melded with the color of the Ancient’s. “Tempest, you know what to tell them?”
“Yes, Miranda. Keep an eye on the kids for me.”
“I’m sure your mother has them well spoiled,” Miranda smiled. She gave Tempest a hug, and whispered, “I know I will see you again.”
Tempest leaned back and looked into her eyes. “You sure?”
“Yes.” It was true. Miranda could see both Tempest and Rue in the future. It was Sharell’s future that was cloaked in a black fog of mystery.
Rue and Tempest hopped into their shuttles and flew back to their orbiting battleships. “How long do we have?” Sharell asked.
“We join with them in three days,” Chaya answered.
His shoulders were slightly slumped while they walked down the path, and Sharell pulled him to a stop. She looked up into his dark eyes. “I know you tried to change her mind. It took great courage for you to approach the Ancient to try to keep me safe. I’m not afraid, Chaya. I’ll be with you and Tian, so I’m not afraid. Trust Miranda. She would not put Tempest, her dearest friend, in danger.”
His eyes still held the look of failure. Sharell smiled. “Besides, are you already tired of sharing your bed with me? I should think you would have a few more training tricks to teach me. If not, we could refer to the books on my tablet.”
Chaya smiled. “Diane and Larry. I must speak to Tian about them.”
Sharell was not crazy at the thought of sneaking to trysts around various spots of the ship, but at least Chaya seemed to be out of his funk. They spent two more nights exploring their limits, and then headed with other second-set twins towards the shuttles. Other than Tian, it was only dark twins going to battle. Light twins remained on Actana with their mates.
Farisa stood with Danilo and Enilian under the portico, and they waited for the elder councilmen to come out from the vault. Chaya needed to be officially assigned as a battleship commander for the mission. This was declared without hesitation.
Collateral Trade Page 17
