Bakra Bride

by N. J. Walters

  A small smile played around the corner of her mouth before spreading into a wide smile. “Yes, it did.”

  It took a moment for her words to make sense to him. His heart pounded in his chest as he stared deep into her eyes to see the truth. “You chose to stay?” He still couldn’t believe it.

  Walking up to him, Jane shot him a saucy grin, went down on one knee before him and took his hand in hers. “Zaren Bakra. Will you marry me?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jane’s heart was beating so hard her chest hurt. She’d just taken the gamble of her life. The lifeline back to her own time and her own world had come and gone. But she couldn’t find it in herself to regret her choice. She had chosen love and that could never be wrong.

  Zaren dropped to his knees in front of her, bowed his head and placed his hand over his heart. “You are the heart that beats in this chest and in this home and if you would take me for husband I will give you my love, loyalty and devotion for as long as I live. With me, you gain the love, loyalty and devotion of my brother as well, who will be lover to you, and would also be your husband should I die before you. In return, I ask for your love, loyalty and devotion and any children that the gods see fit to gift us with.”

  Tears welled in her eyes at the formal declaration, but she blinked them back. “I asked you first.”

  He raised his head, his eyes solemn. “I accept your proposal. You have given up much for me and I will never forget it. But I still wanted to ask you in the formal way of my people.”

  “It’s a beautiful pledge and I accept.”

  Cupping her face in his hands, he gently skimmed her lips with his. “You will never regret it.”

  “Zaren, this was my choice.” She needed him to understand. “Yes, I could have returned to my own time and have rebuilt my life and had a long and happy one. But I’ve discovered that what I’ve been looking for all my life is here.” Lifting his hands from her face, she laid them over her heart. “I’ve always wanted love, acceptance and a family of my own. And I can have that here. With you.”

  She laughed. “Yes, you can be stubborn and maddening at times when you get that stern ‘nothing really affects me’ look in your eyes, but deep inside you is the man I’ve come to love. A man who loves his brothers and family. A man who takes care of his land and his people. A man who protects those weaker than himself and does not abuse his power. And a man who, when he lets down his guard, will laugh and smile and love.”

  Pushing away from him, she stood. Ever so slowly, she inched her pajama top over her head and dropped it at her feet. Then she skimmed the matching pants down over her hips and legs and kicked them aside.

  “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” There was no mistaking the reverence in Zaren’s voice. Jane felt herself responding to his praise. Her shoulders straightened, thrusting her breasts forward. They were high and firm and her nipples were puckered. Already, she could feel the cream between her thighs.

  She’d never felt sexy or quite so sensual in her life until she’d come here. Something about the place and this man in particular made her feel like a goddess. With Bador and Zaren, she had finally discovered and embraced her own sexuality in a way she’d never dreamed possible.

  Naked, she knelt in front of him once again. He looked like a pagan god with the firelight shimmering on his tanned skin. His long blond hair looked golden and his chest gleamed. The muscles in his arms rippled as he clenched and unclenched his hands at his side. It was obvious that he was letting her take the lead. Her hands itched to touch him, to claim him as hers.

  When her hands went to the laces in the front of his pants, he sucked in his stomach. Jane undid the laces and pushed the leather plackets aside. His cock sprang from a nest of golden curls, thick and hard. The long blue vein pulsed, and as she watched, a pearly white drop seeped from the tip.

  Licking her lips, Jane lowered her head and licked the top, swirling her tongue around the bulbous head. “Jane.” His voice was hoarse as he gripped her head and held it steady in his hands. She knew what he wanted. But she wasn’t ready to give it to him. Not yet.

  Gripping the base of his cock with one hand and cupping his testicles with the other, Jane used her hand to pleasure him. At the same time, she licked her way down the length of his penis and back up again. His fingers tightened. His grip almost stinging.

  “Jane,” he groaned again. This time she gave him what he wanted. Opening her mouth wide, she took him as deep in her mouth as she could. Then she started to move.

  Sucking her way to the top, she plunged her mouth back down over his cock, taking it as deep as she could. Zaren held her head steady and began to thrust his hips back and forth, fucking her mouth. Jane gently squeezed his balls.

  He startled her when he pulled away from her. Tumbling her back on the fur spread in front of the fire, he spread her legs wide and plunged his cock into her pussy. He felt so huge that she had trouble taking all of him at first.

  She tried to wrap her legs around him, but he wouldn’t let her. Instead, he hooked his arms under her knees and planted his hands firm on the floor by her shoulders. The movement opened her completely to him and left her vulnerable to his thrusts. He was in control now.

  Pulling back until only the head of his cock was still inside her body, he thrust forward. It was too much. It wasn’t enough. She wanted all of him. “Harder!” she cried. “Oh, harder!”

  Zaren’s thrusts got quicker and deeper until he was hammering into her. His hips pumped as his cock plunged all the way to her womb. It was incredible. Her vaginal muscles were clamping down hard with every thrust.

  The fire crackled and the air was filled with the sounds of their heavy breathing and the slap of skin against skin as they fucked wildly. The air smelled of sweat and sex as Zaren drove both of them higher. There was no finesse, no technique, no gentle caresses or stimulation. This was mating at its most basic. Sex to sex, driving hard for completion.

  Jane could barely breathe. She was so close. Lights seemed to flash in front of her eyes as she came. Spasms shook her as her release gushed from her depths. Zaren yelled and continued to pump into her as she felt the hot spurt of his cum deep inside her.

  When it was over, Zaren slumped on top of her, burying his face between her breasts. At first, she didn’t hear him because she was panting so hard for breath. But as her breathing calmed she could make out his words. “I love you,” he repeated over and over.

  Using one hand, she cradled his head tight to her. “I love you too,” she whispered back.

  Silence fell between them, but it was a comfortable one. Jane didn’t think she could move, but Zaren was getting too heavy for her. Finally, she poked at his shoulder. He raised his head slowly, looking like a sleepy, sated golden lion. And when he made a rumbling sound low in his throat, she laughed.

  He grinned at her as he carefully withdrew his softening penis and dropped to the fur beside her. “We have to go and tell Bador.” Jane was starting to feel guilty for not telling him right away.

  “I think he already knows.” Zaren captured her chin in his hand and turned her face towards the bed. There seated at the end of the bed watching them was Bador. Naked, he pumped his swollen cock with his hand as he stared at them.

  Jane groaned and closed her eyes. Her sense of humor began to get the better of her and she began to giggle. Her giggles soon became uncontrollable laughter. Zaren smiled indulgently at her. Bador scowled at her, but she could see the laughter in his blue eyes.

  She looked at Zaren and knew he understood what she was asking him. In answer, he leaned over and kissed her. It was a long, lingering kiss that curled her toes. “I love you, Jane.”

  “But you’ll stay,” she whispered. Now that she was committed to Zaren, it was harder to think about being with Bador without him there.

  His smile warmed perceptibly. “I’ll stay.”

  Nodding, Jane turned back to Bador who was now sitting as still as stone. All signs o
f humor were gone and his hands were clenched on his knees.

  Smiling, she held out her hand to him, remembering the lost and lonely look on Marc Garen’s face. She never wanted to see that expression on Bador’s face. In her own way, she loved him. Not in quite the same way as she did Zaren, but it was still love. “Come here, Bador. There is always room for you with us.”

  The shadows left his eyes as he stood and walked towards them. He sought his brother’s face and what he saw there must have reassured him because the corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled.

  He stretched out alongside her, supporting himself on his forearm as he leaned over her. “Thank you, Jane.”

  She nodded as she slipped her hand behind his neck and pulled him down to her. She could feel Zaren sliding his hand over her stomach and up towards her breast. Relaxing, she gave herself over to the pleasure of being loved by these two incredible men.

  Epilogue

  Their wedding was delayed a month. Zaren wasn’t happy about it. A fact he made clear to her every day. But Jane was just as determined to get her own way. And in the end, he couldn’t really argue with her reasoning. Besides, Bador was on her side and he took great pleasure in taunting his brother.

  Jane wanted to wait until the whole family could be together. Jarmon finally came home yesterday. He was still weak and had a long way to go to recover his former strength, but each day showed an improvement. He’d been exhausted when he’d finally arrived yesterday evening. His face was deathly pale and she could see the lines of strain around his eyes and bracketing the corners of his mouth. The hair hanging around his face had started to turn white during his recovery and now it was streaked with the pale color. It was actually quite striking. But beyond the tiredness, his eyes had reflected his happiness at just being home.

  Olena had alternated between hugging Jane and crying and then hugging her some more. The older woman had made it abundantly clear just how happy she was to have Jane as a daughter-in-law. They hadn’t spent much time together, but they had exchanged long, emotional letters during Jarmon’s recovery.

  Garrik had swept Jane into his arms, planting a quick hard kiss on her lips before tossing her high into the air. She’d screamed when Zaren had plucked her right out of the air while at the same time admonished his brother to be more careful with her.

  They were a boisterous and emotional family, loud and raucous and loving. Quite naturally they’d admitted her into their ranks and Jane soaked up every bit of attention and care. Her former life was but a memory now. This was her real life.

  She’d quickly made a place for herself among the people. Her willingness and eagerness to learn had endeared her to everyone. She was thrilled that the women were willing to teach her to spin and to weave. Jane had also started a tapestry of her very own. She wanted something to immortalize her fantastic tale.

  “It’s time.” Jane stepped away from the window where she’d been gazing out over the land. She smoothed her hands over the long skirt of the beautiful blue dress that she wore. Although she usually wore pants and tunics that had been specially made for her, she didn’t mind dressing up on special occasions. And it didn’t get any more special than today.

  Zaren stood in the doorway, patiently waiting for her. Behind him, she could see Bador. The noise from the crowd below drifted up the stairwell and into the room. From the sound of it, they had already started to celebrate.

  Jane walked towards them and they both smiled. Her heart swelled with love and pride as she left her past behind for good and went towards her future. Today she embraced her destiny. Today, she became the Bakra Bride.

  About the Author

  N. J. Walters had a mid-life crisis at a fairly young age, gave notice after ten years at her job on a Friday, received a tentative acceptance for her first novel, Annabelle Lee, on the following Sunday.

  Happily married for over seventeen years to the love of her life, with his encouragement and support she gave up the job of selling books for the more pleasurable job of writing them. A voracious reader of romances of all kinds, she now spends her days writing, reading and reviewing books. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to do it.

  N.J. Walters welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310-3502.

  Also by N.J. Walters

  Annabelle Lee

  Awakening Desires: Capturing Carly

  Awakening Desires: Erin’s Fancy

  Awakening Desires: Katie’s Art of Seduction

  Dalakis Passion: Harker’s Journey

  Dalakis Passion: Lucian’s Delight

  Heat Wave

  Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift

  Tapestries: Christina’s Tapestry

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

  www.ellorascave.com