by Laurie Roma
“No,” he ordered harshly when she started to protest. “You don’t get to come without my cock inside you.”
Reaching down, he spread her thighs wider and fit the head of his cock against the entrance of her pussy. Without further warning, he shoved deep, parting her slick folds around his massive length, wringing a cry of pure ecstasy from her.
“Too much?” he asked, panting.
“Never too much,” she growled in response, as he gripped her hips hard and began moving inside of her.
“I’m sorry, this is going to be fast. I promise, when I get you back to the palace, I’ll pleasure you for hours.”
“And I promise, I will lick every inch of your beautiful, hard body in return.” She gripped the back of his neck, dragging his mouth to hers. She parted her lips, welcoming him inside so their tongues dueled together in an erotic battle.
A savage, possessive hunger drove him to move faster, shoving his steel-hard cock deep inside her over and over again. Bending down he took her breast in his mouth, sucking her nipple and flicking his tongue over it until she writhed beneath him. Then he switched to her other breast, feeding off her beauty until he felt drunk on her. When he felt her pussy flutter around his cock, he reached between them to rub her clit with his thumb. “Come for me, Katra. Give me your pleasure.”
She threw her head back, closed her eyes, and moaned out his name as she came. The muscles of her pussy clamped down on him, but he kept pumping into her, driving his cock deep inside her with fast, hard strokes, wanting to prolong her pleasure. When her glowing eyes opened again, he commanded, “Do it. Bond us, Katra. Do it now before I spill inside of you.”
Katra watched him as she brought forth the animalistic side of herself and changed her fingernails into long claws. She saw his eyes widen as she reached up and cut herself with one of her claws, right over her heart. The need to bond with him was overwhelming, but she waited, letting him take the final step that would link them together.
“Bond with me, Jaden.”
Jaden hesitated briefly before leaning down to taste her offering. He licked at the thin line of her life’s blood that spilled out of the small cut. He’d never liked the metallic tang of blood, but the taste of her was utterly intoxicating. By the time he reached the wound, it had closed, and he had an uncomfortable desire to bite her and take more of her inside him.
Before he had time to consider that disturbing thought, she jerked his head back and sank her fangs into the soft flesh of his neck, claiming him as her mate. He cried out as she drank from him. Feeling her pleasure mix with his own brought him to new heights of ecstasy, making him thrust into her again with new fervor.
He felt the connection between them snap into place, and when her body exploded around him, his hips jerked as he filled her with pulse after pulse of his hot, thick cream. Together, they were the perfect storm. An unending battery of bliss that he never wanted to end.
Katra closed the wound on his neck, leaving behind two tiny marks on his skin as a sign of ownership. “You are mine!”
“By the gods, I can feel you in me,” he rasped out.
“As you are in me. Mine,” she snarled again. “My mate.”
Jaden was hers…and she would destroy worlds to keep him.
* * *
CHAPTER EIGHT
“We have to go.”
Katra’s head lifted from where it had been resting on Jaden’s shoulder. His arms tightened around her, as if he didn’t want to lose the connection between them.
“I would stop time if I could, and capture this moment forever.”
Her hand reached up to cup his beloved face. “We will share many more just like this over the years to come. But we have other things to deal with right now. A group of males have just entered the mountain, and I fear the females are being hunted.”
The tranquil expression on Jaden’s face changed to one of hard resolve. “Let’s go.”
Pulling his body from hers, he blinked in surprise when he looked down to find both of them were fully dressed again. He shot her a startled look, then said, “This is…”
“Going to take some getting used to?” She peeked up at him through veiled lashes. “Is all this too weird for you?”
Hearing her speak in his mind gave him a little start, but then he gripped her hand in his. “Actually, I like it.”
And he did. He liked having access to her mind, feeling what she did. Knowing exactly what was going on with her helped settle his nerves. After she’d bitten him, the bond that had formed between them made them closer than he’d ever been with another living being.
Instead of feeling intrusive, it felt right.
When she flashed them to the top of the cavern, saving them from climbing the boulders, he shot her another look. “I may like it, my lady, but it’s still a little unnerving.”
“I shall try not to do it too often.”
Jaden squeezed her hand. “Don’t hold back with me. Ever.”
She smiled. “All right. Let us go find those females, then.”
Pushing aside their stolen moment of passion, they both transitioned back into the warriors they were. It took some time, but they made it through three more caverns before they came to a dead end.
“They are on the other side of this wall. I believe they are sleeping, but I can hear them breathing.”
Looking at the sheer wall of rock, Jaden said, “We’re going to have to find a way around this.”
“I hope you meant what you said about not holding back,” Katra breathed out as she placed her hands on the wall. The ground shifted and trembled as the rock wall parted, creating a doorway for them to enter.
Jaden blew out a breath and simply shook his head before placing his hand on her arm. “Stay behind me.”
“Somehow, I knew you were going to say that,” she muttered.
Jaden and Katra slowly entered the large, dark cavern where two females were huddled together in a corner, their dark eyes wide with fear. Katra didn’t bother to use her makeshift ceiling of lights in the room since the females had a few torches with them. She didn’t want to scare the females anymore than they already were by using her magic in front of them.
The females whimpered softly, but they held daggers in their hands, even though exhaustion made them sway on their feet. It was a weak defense, but Katra had to give the females credit for trying. By the looks of it, they had made camp in the cavern, and had been staying there for some time.
Jaden’s froze when he got a good look at one of the females. “Lady Kylie?”
“Jaden! Thank the gods!”
The female ran to Jaden, skirting around a few small boulders in her way, but Katra stepped in between them before the other female could reach him. Lady Kylie drew to an abrupt halt, staring at Katra’s glowing eyes with alarm. Katra could feel Jaden’s amusement through their bond, and it made her want to snarl at him, but she never took her eyes off the female who had tried to touch her mate.
“I know her,” Jaden said.
“Then you can talk to her without touching her.”
“Jealous much?”
It was silly, she knew it, but Katra’s reaction had been instinctive. Still, she swallowed her pride and tried to explain. “I have never been jealous before…but I do not like the thought of her touching you.”
Understanding, Jaden reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back against him. “Lady Kylie, this is my consort, Lady Katra. Kylie is the daughter of my friend and ally, Lord Pirus Lomar.”
If possible, Kylie’s eyes widened even further. “Your consort? But she’s not Tarin!”
“No, she’s not.”
“Holy hellfire! You’re a Dragon Warrior, aren’t you?” the other female asked as she lowered her hand holding the blade.
Katra noticed that while Kylie was wearing a dress, the one who asked the question was dressed in ill-fitting warrior’s apparel. Confusion and fear flickered over the female’s face when Katra an
swered in the affirmative, and the female took a quick stumbling step back. “What did I do? Why is she growling at me?”
Katra sighed. “I do not think she can understand me.”
“Most Tarins don’t have language converters,” Jaden explained. “How do you know about Dragon Warriors?”
The female dressed as a warrior cast a wary glance at both of them before answering. “I…I don’t, really. I just like to learn things.”
Kylie moved back until she was standing with the other female. They were both dirty and looked malnourished, but it was obvious that Kylie was higher born than the other female was. “Lord Tor, this is Teya. She is the one who helped me escape.”
“Escape?” Jaden looked at both females. “Tell me all.”
“Explanations will have to wait,” Katra said. “We are going to have company soon.”
Jaden turned to her. “How many come?”
“I hear more than a dozen males heading this way.”
“Someone is coming? Dear gods, they’ve found us?” Kylie cried out. “We need to flee!”
Jaden ordered the females to the back of the cavern. Kylie was quick to comply, but Teya stood her ground. The scent of her fear made Katra’s nose itch despite her valiant attempt to conceal it. Still, it took profound courage for the smaller female to say, “I c-can help.”
“No. Stay with Kylie.” Jaden’s sword cleared its scabbard as he placed himself in front of everyone. When Katra moved to stand by his side, she ignored the glare he sent her.
“Katra—”
“Nay, I will not stand behind you,” she snapped before he could finish.
Jaden saw that she had her own sword in her hand. “I don’t like this. It is my duty to protect you.”
Giving him her best and most haughty stare, she simply said, “I do not need your protection. You are really going to piss me off if you keep insisting on treating me like I am not your equal. I am a warrior, Jaden. Remember that.”
“But you are my warrior,” Jaden growled before pulling her to him for a quick kiss. “Having you in harm’s way goes against my very nature.”
“Learn to deal with it,” Katra said dryly.
Giving up when he knew he wouldn’t win this argument, he turned back to glance at the two terrified females who were looking over the boulder they were hiding behind. “Who is after you?”
“My cousins have probably sent warriors after us. We have been evading them for weeks now, but…please, my lord. Don’t let them take us back,” Kylie implored.
“We won’t,” he promised. “But why would your cousins send anyone after you?”
“It’s…a long story. My father is dead…murdered by Ellion and Telok. We’ve been hiding out, trying to make our way to your palace to speak with you, but we had help that should have made a false trail leading far from here—” Kylie’s words were cut off as they all heard the sound of people in the passageway leading into the cavern.
Fury and grief filled Jaden at the startling news that his old friend was dead, but he didn’t have time to deal with his own emotions at the moment. A sensation of comfort settled over him, and he could feel Katra’s warmth surrounding him, even though she hadn’t moved. The bond he now had with her was a wondrous thing. He was able to beat back the worst of his sorrow with her help, then he channeled the rest of his turbulent emotions into a cold, murderous rage.
“I am sorry about your friend,” Katra said softly.
“Thank you. He—” Jaden paused, then said, “He was a good lord…and friend.”
“They will pay for what they have done.”
“Yes, they will.”
He would make damn sure of it.
“Stay there, and keep your heads down,” Jaden ordered the Tarin females, getting quick nods of agreement. He raised a brow and glanced over at Katra. “Why can’t you be as agreeable as they are?”
“Keep dreaming, Tarin,” Katra said with a snort. “We may be able to learn more if we do not give away our presence.”
Jaden’s mouth tightened as he thought that over. “Can you shield yourself and hide from view?”
“Aye, but why not you as well?”
“Because I’m hoping they won’t be able to hold their tongues when they see me alone. I want to learn as much as I can from them before we end this.”
Katra sighed. She didn’t like waiting, but she would do as he asked. To her, any male who hunted down females and terrorized them deserved swift justice. But this was his planet, and she needed to learn how to follow his lead…even if she would rather destroy the males and ask questions later.
“Blood-thirsty little warrior...”
Sending Jaden a small smile, she sent him the mental equivalent of a shrug. Katra shifted a little to the side to give both her and Jaden more room to maneuver, then used her magic to make herself invisible. She heard the startled gasps from the females behind them, but she ignored the sound, focusing on the coming threat instead. Deciding to take the advantage of a surprise attack, she moved so she was to the left side of the passageway entrance, further away from Jaden, who stood in the center of the cavern. From her position, she would be able to cover her mate better before anyone attacked.
“Stop. I don’t want you that close to them when they come in, and I don’t need your protection either, mate.” He pinned her with a hard look. “At least I can see you now when you make yourself invisible.”
She shot him a cocky grin as she took two exaggerated steps backward. “Is that better?”
He grunted. “If you get hurt, I’ll be very angry.”
“Back at you, mate.” She paused, then said, “Here they come.”
Jaden felt the hum of anticipation running through his veins at the thought of the upcoming battle. He remained perfectly still, waiting in the center of the room with legs braced apart and his sword at the ready. Casting another quick glance at Katra, he prayed to the gods that he was doing the right thing, when what he really wanted to do was shove her back into the empty cavern they’d come in from, where nothing could hurt her.
It was impossible not to worry about Katra, however insulting she might find it. She was his, and he would take care of her the best way he knew how. Not that taking care of a Dragon Warrior was turning out to be easy.
The light from torches reached them first, then fifteen armed warriors swagger into the cavern. Jaden saw the shock on their faces as they saw him, then came the cocky confidence and incredulity that he would dare stand alone facing all of them. He ignored the boisterous jests and jeers from the group, instead, focusing on the male leading them with eyes of a hunter.
Jaden had known Lord Pirus Lomar for years. When he was young, he had spent some time in Lomar Palace, learning from the seasoned warlord. When Jaden’s own father had died, Pirus had been there for him, acting as a confidant and mentor, then later as a friend. Because Lomar Palace was located high on a mountain top on the other side of the planet, Pirus’s domain remained isolated. Because of that and other duties, Jaden and Pirus had seen each other less and less often.
The last time Jaden had spoken to his friend had been five months ago, when all the lords in the Coalition of Eight had gathered together to discuss the war. Ellion and Telok had been there, acting as Pirus’ guards. When their father had died, Pirus had taken the two boys in and raised them as his own. Ellion had always been hot-tempered and shortsighted, while his older brother, Telok, was much more calculating. The treachery that was involved with the brothers turning on their lord after all he’d done for them was staggering, but if they had done it, Jaden was sure it was Telok who had planned the entire thing.
Still, if Ellion Lomar did indeed have a hand in killing his own uncle, then he would pay for his sin in blood.
Ellion strutted forward to the front of the group of warriors and sneered at Jaden. “Ah, the mighty Lord Tor. Looks like the traitor has returned from his trip to Earth earlier than expected.”
Jaden raised a brow. “Strong words
coming from the coward that murdered his own uncle.”
Ellion’s face paled a bit, then he grinned. “So, my little whore of a cousin told you. When I get her home, I’ll have to find something better for her to do with her mouth than talk.”
He grabbed his crotch in a lewd gesture, and Jaden had to fight back his fury when he heard Kylie muffle a whimper from behind him as the other males laughed.
“Vile, disgusting, loathsome little fucker…”
Jaden’s anger dissolved as two things occurred to him. For some reason, hearing the utter disgust in Katra’s voice made him want to laugh. She felt exactly the same way he did about Ellion and his threat, and that alone made Jaden feel like he wasn’t alone anymore. He now had a partner to share his burdens with, and that was something he’d never thought he would find. Facing off with fifteen warriors should have had him worrying about the outcome, but with Katra on his side, the odds were in his favor.
His other realization, however, was a bit more startling. There was no way he should have been able to hear Kylie from where he was standing. Years of training kept him from wincing, but the sheer shock he felt when all the noises in the cavern were suddenly amplified left him speechless.
“Calm, mate. It is just part of our bonding,” Katra explained softly. “Just imagine turning down the volume and your hearing will go back to normal.”
“This is something that would have been good knowing sooner,” he said, gritting his teeth as he struggled to do what she told him. Just the sounds of so many people breathing around him was getting unbearable.
“Oops.”
“Oops? Mate, we are going to have words later.”
“Where is my bitch of a cousin and the other whore? We’ve wasted far too long tracking those females. How stupid they were to come to you for help. And you…so arrogant to come alone, as if you’re invincible.” The bitterness in Ellion’s voice was clear, and Jaden used it to his advantage.
