Dream of Me (18 page)

What did he do? Most women would be excited with the idea of their chosen mate fighting for her. Apparently his mate didn’t understand the honor.

“Put me down!” Elena repeated through clenched teeth as she began fighting his hold.

Tightening his arms around her, he lowered his face to hers until their noses nearly touched. “I will release you when I wish to.” At her silent glare he released a slow breath through his nose. “Now, why did you faint? Are you ill?" His gaze turned worried. Perhaps she wasn’t fully healed from the attack the other night.

Scoffing, Elena shoved against his chest. "Nothing is wrong with me. It was the only way to stop your idiotic macho display up there."

His expression hardened. It was an act? Growling, he narrowed his eyes at her. "Never do that again," He scolded. "Explain to me why you sought out another male’s attentions?” his question hissed out between his sharp teeth.

Her lips pinched together a second before her hands shot upward; gripping both of his ears she gave them a sharp tug toward her. Eyes widening, Kieran shouted as pain shot from his abused ears. He struggled to pull his face away from his mate’s vicious grip, but with his arms holding his mate — there was no way.

“Do you
wish to release
me now?” she sneered, tugging on his captured ears again.

Reluctantly yet quickly, she found herself lowered onto her feet. His hands jerked her wrists down from his abused ears. Releasing her, his hands rubbed at the abused skin while keeping a watchful eye on his scowling mate.

Taking a step back from his overwhelming presence, she crossed her arms over her chest. “And just for the record bud — I didn’t seek out anyone, not that it’s any of your business.”

“It is
my business!
” he hissed out stepping closer to her. “
You
are my mate! I will fight any one that thinks to take you from me! It is my right!”

“You both are being a bunch of cave dwelling, chest beating idiots!” Taking another step forward she stabbed a finger into his bare chest with her next words. “If I don’t want someone touching or talking to me, I’ll handle it myself! Leave Rurik alone!”

Just as the words left her lips, Rurik dropped down on the other side of Elena, his chest heaving with exertion and rage. His skin was shiny with sweat and blood from the claw marks crisscrossed over his chest.

His hard gaze cut from Kieran’s stern ones directly to hers, causing her heart to freeze in her chest. “I do not need defending from a female — unlike
your
male,” he stated with a conniving leer. Slowly he took a step closer to Elena, his gaze softened. “Perhaps you should take my offer and consider another male — a more
worthy
one.”

At the last of his words, she watched as his gaze lifted over her shoulder, no doubt directing the words to Kieran. With a low snarl at her back she could feel Kieran move closer to her. Turning to see the danger brewing between the snarling two, she turned to the side and stretched her hands out toward both.

“Both of you freeze right there!” Dropping her arms, she exhaled, spearing a hand through her long hair.

There was only one way to end this, because if they decided to go back to ripping into each other — there would be no stopping them a second time. She still was conflicted over how Kieran kept the truth from her, but it didn’t change her growing feelings for him. Kieran had chosen her before his people; maybe it was time that she did the same. Slowly she turned around to face Rurik’s smug face. Nervously, she moistened her lips.

“Rurik, I decline your offer.”

His expression darkened as his lips thinned into a thin line. “Even after what I offered, you would still choose
him
?”

Kieran instantly reacted to Rurik’s words. Placing a protective hand on her shoulder he edged to her side, keeping his hard gaze on Rurik’s.
“What offer?”

When Rurik gave nothing away, Kieran turned his gaze on his mate. Her shoulders stiffened under his watchful gaze as her eyes flickered nervously away from him. What had Rurik offered her in order to lure her away from him? His chest squeezed with the thought. All this time he had wanted to win his mate — win her respect and win her love — but was there something that could make all that count for nothing?

“My answer remains the same, Rurik. I choose Kieran and I always will.”

“We will see,” Rurik sneered with a smile. “I won’t stop until you’re mine.” His dark promise sent chills of fear down her limbs.

The sound of Kieran’s deep growl was enough to shake her up enough to awaken her temper. Brushing off Kieran’s hand she moved forward so fast that she startled Rurik enough that he took several steps back. Fisting her hands at her sides, she clenched her jaw.

“Go on,” she taunted, her face clenching in anger. “Open your stupid mouth and say one more thing. I may not have wings but I have my own brand of claws and I am more than happy to use you as my personal scratching post!” She ignored the restricting feel of Kieran’s hands as they gripped her shoulders from behind, holding her immobile.

Stepping up beside his friend as Kieran struggled to restrain his suddenly vicious mate, Dajran narrowed his eyes at Rurik. Placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, he uttered a warning, “Leave now while you can, Rurik.”

Rurik’s eyes flashed with hate as his gaze shifted from Dajran to Kieran before settling on Elena. The muscles along his jaw clenched tightly as he spun away. Taking a few steps away, Rurik’s gray wings appeared just before he launched himself into the air. They kept their eyes on Rurik as his form shrunk in the distance as he flew beyond the fortress walls.

“Would you really have attacked him?” Dajran asked turning to Elena.

Smirking at this bewildered tone, she nodded, “Absolutely.”

Using his grip on her shoulders, Kieran spun her around to face him. "You human females are more vicious than you seem."

Choosing to take his words as a compliment, the corners of her lips curled upward. “Don’t you forget it.” Jerking her eyes to Dajran, whom was watching their exchange with amusement, she added. “You should think about that if you are thinking about kidnapping your own mate.” Though he smirked at her warning, she saw his eyes harden as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Smirking, Kieran took a step closer until he was up against her. Bending down, he brought his face within inches of hers. She hated at how his smirk widened into a smile as she arched away from his hovering face. "Tell me what Rurik said to you."

"No," she replied stubbornly.

"Why not?" he growled in displeasure.

"Because it isn’t important." Not about to be swayed from his course, Kieran gripped her chin in his hand, raising her face to his.

"I have ways of making you tell me," he whispered in warning. His warm breath feathered against her face as his lips hovered above hers.

Licking her lips with anticipation, a single red brow rose at his warning. "Do your worst," she taunted.

Smirking down at her, he held her face as he did exactly that. His lips crashed down over hers, stealing her very breath from her lungs. As his lips dominated her own, his hands moved around to her back, jerking her flush up against him.

His desire for her pulsed with need against her stomach causing her to gasp. Her fingers curled against the hard muscles of his chest as her body came alive with need. She hungered for him more than anything in that moment.

Breaking away from his sinful lips, Elena gasped as a hot ache of desire burned through her; she struggled to fight what she was feeling. Her breasts rose and fell as she panted in the aftermath of his claiming kiss. Like the right puzzle piece fitting perfectly with another, she knew no one would ever make her burn with need as he did now.

Whether it was the unseen bond between them or her own blossoming feeling for Kieran, she just knew. Her earlier anger for the secrets that he’d kept from her suddenly didn’t matter in that moment. All she knew was that she was powerless to hold herself or her heart from him any longer.

Reaching up her arms circled around his neck as she pressed her curvy body against his hard one. Stabbing her hands through his unbound hair, she pulled his face down to her as her lips covered his. His lips instantly responded, dancing against hers, hungry and demanding. Slowly breaking away, her glazed eyes met his hungry ones.

“I’ve claimed you, Kieran,” her voice whispered husky. Her hands slid down the hard muscle of his chest before his hands covered hers, pinning them to the warm skin of his abs. “Do you know what that means, Kieran?”

She almost laughed at how still he was holding himself like a deer in headlights at the impact of her words. When he slowly shook his head while watching her every move like a hawk, she smiled coyly and crooked a finger at him. Understanding, he bent closer to her as her lips brushed against the skin of his ear as she gently whispered.

“That means, tonight… I plan on claiming you… as my
sou’tali
.”

Chills raced up her bare arms as she slowly took several steps back while keeping her eyes on her pursuer. Her eyes danced with delight as she watched Kieran’s dark form step through the balcony’s archway. The moonlight at his back created a dark silhouette around him as he slowly approached. Every step he took, she mirrored with a slow step back until there was nowhere else for her to go. With cold stone at her back, she tipped her head back as his hands planted on the wall at both sides of her head.

The utter stillness that swam in the depths of his eyes gave her pause. There was hunger. A deep, all consuming hunger that she never knew existed, let alone that it would be directed at her. Her body trembled at feel of his heated proximity as he fully caged her with his body. One of his hands lifted to her face, his fingers skimmed along her cheek before sliding down, his thumb smoothing against her soft lips. She froze, gasping against the new awareness that leapt to life at his touch. His hungry eyes caught her response with a smile of approval. Breaking from the welcoming sight of her flushed face, his gaze roamed down the creamy expanse of her throat to the swell of her breast.

Cupping the side of her face he tilted her face up to meet his lips as they descended over hers. His kiss was soft, but at the same time it breathed a new life of awareness into her body. As though her next breath was only because he was near. She wanted nothing but to get closer to him — in any way possible. Urgently she reached for him to draw him closer, but he refused to rush.

All air left her lungs as his lips slid down to the underside of her jaw to her ear before his hot mouth engulfed the lucky lobe. She felt her inner walls tremble with need with every brush of his mouth against her flushed skin as his hands slid and roamed further down her body.

Her heart pounded, her stomach clenched with flight of butterflies. Her breasts grew heavy with desire causing her to arch toward his powerful frame. Every fiber of her being was coiled tighter than a spring. She couldn’t stand it; she didn’t think she could wait any longer.

So why was she?

Dragging her nails down the front of his chest, she grinned as a groan of desire vibrated against the skin of her neck. Lifting his head from the crook of her neck, his glowing eyes bore down on hers. Licking her lips playfully, she rose up on her toes until she was a breath away from his lips.

“Did you forget? I’m the one doing the claiming tonight.” Whispering the words, her lips barely brushing his, she settled down onto her feet. Keeping her hands on his chest she pushed him toward the bed to the side of them.

As his legs hit the edge of his bed, Kieran felt his legs fold without thought, causing him to sit down abruptly. He marveled at his mate. She was more beautiful than the Goddess herself and unlike the females of his kind, that would expect the male to lead them in the bedroom, his mate seemed to take control. The idea of her leading him caused his desire to rise. His primitive side could barely stop from grabbing her and pulling her onto the bed with him. Instead he waited to see what would come next.

Inwardly she felt like she was trembling like a leaf, but on the outside she prayed that she looked confident. She wanted tonight to be special. Not some exciting roll upon his bed — tonight had to be more than that, more than her past. Shaking off her nervousness, she focused on the only person she wanted to be near. Kieran. Tonight was the night that her life would change forever.

Refusing to let her ghost of her past experiences hold sway over her present, she did something she never would have done before. Reaching up with trembling hands, sliding the thin straps of her gown over each shoulder she allowed the thin silk to cascade to her ankles. Keeping her eyes trained on Kieran’s, she welcomed the shivers that came as the air of the room caressed her bare skin.

His eyes boldly took in every inch of her. Her full breasts that would no doubt fit perfectly in his large hands. Her waist and stomach were curvy while her plump buttocks and meaty thighs were perfect and held his attention fully. Acting on instinct, he stood and pulled her naked form against his, allowing her to feel his desire for her.

“Oh no you don’t buster,” she scolded with a negative shake of her head. Planting a hand on his chest she shoved space between their bodies. This time she did laugh at the confused and pouting expression that overtook his face. “I’m the one doing the claiming tonight — not you.”

Still confused, his brows rose in question, “What would you have me do?”

Shoving at his chest again, she smirked at him while pointing at his lower half. “Take those off.”

Following the direction of her pointing finger, he found himself surprised. Garmorian females were timid in the bedroom; never would they direct their males to undress like Elena was doing. This sudden surprise heightened his desire for her more than he thought possible. Not wasting a moment, he moved to do her bidding. Fumbling with the laces of his trousers he growled in frustration as his rushed movements only caused him to knot the laces. Quickly loosing what patience he possessed, he lengthened his claws and slashed through the laces. Shoving the sudden tight material down his strong legs, he stood proudly before her.

Elena struggled to conceal her reaction to him as he now stood as clothed as she was. Against her will, her eyes widened as they fell on his straining cock. In the back of her mind she had worried that they would be too different to
be together
. He looked very much like every male did; only he was thicker than any cock that she’d seen before and she saw that he didn’t possess testicles. Instead, beneath the base of his thick cock was a square shaped lump.

Mouth watering, she jerked her eyes from his erection to his face to find him watching her with amusement.

“What now do you wish me to do?” he asked with a teasing arch of his eyebrow.

“Lay down,” she ordered, pointing at the bed. As he did as she ordered she felt sweat gather at her palms. She was really going to do this. Taking a calming breath, she moved over to the bed.

Crawling over the dark fur bed coverings on her knees, she moved to lie at his side. Fitting her chest against the side of his ribs, her hands reached up to cradle his jaw as she gave him a soft kiss. As she predicted his hands instantly moved to pull her closer. Sliding her hands down between them, she gripped his hands and pulled them away from her. Still holding his hands she came up on her knees again to straddle his wide chest. Shoving his hands against the bed above his head, she smirked at his look of confusion.

“Keep your hands here until I tell you otherwise.”

“No. I want to touch you,” he practically growled at her like she had taken his favorite toy from him.

She remained firm, “I’m claiming you tonight. You can touch me later.”

Not taking his eyes off of her, he did as she said. What was she doing? Was this how humans claimed another? Perhaps the females of her species were more dominant than the males? His question was at war with the memory of the other day in the bathing chamber. At the time, his mate was shy about him seeing her fully; now, she kneed over him proudly in all her glory. He didn’t know what had brought this change in her, but his raging desire wasn’t willing to question it.

Elena watched him patiently, waiting to see if he would do as she told him to. To her surprise he did. Meeting her gaze head on, she could see a multitude of questions flickering behind his eyes. Taking a slow breath her hands slid over the hard, tempting muscle of his chest, gliding upward to his triceps, all the while bringing her closer to his mouth once more.

Her lips caressed his all too eager ones. At first touch he lunged more into her lips, as if the light touch wasn’t enough to feed his need of her. Coyly, she pulled back, holding her face barely an inch from him as his neck strained forward. She found herself biting her bottom lip with amusement as his chest vibrated with an inward growl.

Moving to rest one of her hands on his chest she pushed his chest back down to the bed. Following him down, her lips smoothed over his once more. Sinking her nails into the muscle of his chest, she felt a feminine power flood her being as he gasped into her lips while his body beneath her strained upward.

Slowly, her lips trailed from his lips to his jaw, leaving small nips at his jaw in her wake. Moving down his neck, her body sung at the rough, masculine scent that floated from his warm flesh. Sliding down his body till her lips were able to meet his chest, her hips settled on either side of his groin. His pulsing erection settled in between her warm thighs, drawing another dangerous growl from him. Her clit hummed at the feel of his pulsing length against her, leaving her weeping with need. But she refused to allow herself to be distracted from her task.

Resting her hands on his ribs, she lowered her open mouth over his left, flat nipple. Circling with her tongue first, she then allowed her teeth to lightly nip at it. Beneath her, his hips thrusted upward against her, bringing his pulsing shaft to stab against her weeping clit. Her mouth was jerked away from him as she gasped with desire. Her inner muscles flexed as need pooled in her lower stomach.

With a snarl, Kieran’s chest rose up as his hands shot from their forced position to grip her by the hips. Heart stopping in a moment of delight, her mouth parted as she found herself rolled into her back with Kieran above her. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as he appeared like a beast, finally loose from his cage. Gasping in surprise at the quick moment, she pressed her pale hand against his dark chest, finding that she couldn’t help but marvel at the contrast of their skin as he moved over her.

Bracing his weight on his hands, he glared down at her. His nostrils flared as he drew a deep inhale before speaking in a dark tone. “My turn.” Swooping down, his lips encircled the nipple of her right breast exactly as she had done to him moments earlier.

“Oh!” She cried out as his hot mouth began pulling against her breast, sending sparks of heat to her pulsing channel. Her pleasure seemed to radiate from her very pores into the air around them. At the feel of his rough hand cupping her neglected breast, her hips surged up against him as his strong hand caressed her aching breast.

Pulling his suckling lips from her breast, Kieran rose over her. His hand speared through her long tresses to grip them tightly. Holding her immobile against the bed, he covered her lips in a desperate kiss as though her lips were the source of his very air. His tongue flicked against her lips causing them to part in a breathless moan. Breaking away, out of breath, her heavy lidded eyes looked up at his eyes as they glowed with need.

His hot breath fanned against her face as he rasped, “I cannot wait a second longer.”

Nodding frantically in agreement, she watched both of his hands slid down to grip her thighs that still lay bent on either side of his hips. Lifting them, he forced her to curl them around his waist as he lowered himself into the cradle of her hips. Her hips jerked with delight as her lips parted at the touch of his hard desire against her wet entrance. Breathing heavily, his lips covered her once more as his hips glided forward. Her body opened under his, welcoming him into her hot depths.

Groaning, Elena arched her hips into his slow thrust, quietly urging him to move. Her muscles burned and stretched to accommodate his size. It had been years since she’d had sex with another and that had been her first time. Kieran was thicker than her last partner and longer, but she was determined to finish what they had started.

“More…” she moaned breathlessly. Her hands gripped his forearms as he gripped her hips in a restraining hold.

Sweat beaded his forehead as Kieran struggled to hold himself still inside his mate. Her silky channel was tight and her walls fluttered and caressed his shaft, nearly causing him to lose his mind. Slowly pulling back he was jerked back as Elena tightened her legs around his hips.

All thoughts of worry about harming his soft mate flew from his mind as her hips lifted into his second thrust, panting for more. Tentatively he moved deeper into her, bending to capture her gasp of delight as he pulled out only to drive back home.

Jerking her mouth from his possession, Elena glared up at him as she could feel herself so near completion and yet it was out of her reach. She wasn’t some delicate flower and it was about time he knew that. Reaching up to his back, she purposely dragged her nails down his back, causing his eyes to close as his mouth parted in a moan.

His dark eyes opened above her to meet her determined expression. “Tonight is about claiming, Kieran,” she whispered softly. “Claim me or I’ll claim you.”

He needed no further words after that. Smirking dangerously down at her, his hips began driving into hers. Driving into her, his lips bit lightly down on the vein in her neck before lavishing it with a warm kiss.

“I claim you as mine, until my last breath leaves me and even then I will always be yours and you mine,” his words were harshly whispered through stabbing thrust of his hips.

She eagerly met his thrusts, seeking, craving more of his touch. Opening her lazy eyes, she watched as his thick member moved in and out of her, driving her higher and higher. Her heart quickened as she drew closer to the edge of her climax.

“Oh… Kieran… Kieran!” she cried out.

Her breath caught, trapped deep in her chest as her vaginal muscles clenched tightly with overwhelming desire. Pressing her head against the side of his neck, she gasped out his name over and over again as she was swept over the edge. She rode out her orgasm, her hips continuing to thrust against his hard, plundering flesh.