Ice Planet Holiday (7 page)

As my ex-mate picks himself up from the snow and stalks away, Ereven turns to me. He cups my face in his hands and scans me as if I’m something precious he’s worried got damaged. “Are you well, Claire?”

I nod.

He leans in and brushes his lips over mine, an act that startles me. Sa-khui have to be taught what kissing is. I’m surprised that he knows to kiss me.

Actually, I’m surprised that he’s kissing me, too.

“Do not go back,” Ereven says, and he sounds as breathless as I feel. “When the others leave, stay with me, in my cave.”

My eyes widen. “I thought you were just pretending.” Now my heart starts hammering all over again. It’s pulsing so loud I swear everyone’s going to hear it over Harlow’s ever-grinding rock cutter.

“Pretending?”

“Pretending to like me. To court me.”

His brows draw together and he looks upset. “Do you think we were pretending, Claire? I asked if I could court you. You said yes.”

Oh. I’m so stupid. He did ask. I’d just assumed…well, that he was doing it to be nice. Not because he liked me. When he pulls away, I grab his hands. “Wait. No, I’m glad.” He pauses, and I rush on. “I thought, you know, that I was liking you and you were just being…nice.”

“Nice?” He releases one of my hands and clenches a fist over his heart. “Nice? The sight of you makes my heart pound as if a dozen dvisti run inside my breast.”

Funny, I’m pounding the same way. And I feel flushed, and excited. Kind of…excited all over. Tingly. On a hunch, I put a hand to his chest, covering his heart.

At the same moment, we both begin to purr.

I
gasp
. It seems unbelievable. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, but there it is.

We’re resonating, Ereven and I. We’re to be mates. My khui has chosen his. My mouth hangs open in surprise, and I’m resonating so loud I can hear the purr coming from my throat. It’s so…strange. Strange and yet, perfect.

Ereven’s hand goes over mine, and he clasps it against his breast. His mouth curves into a smile, and it broadens, wider and wider, until he’s grinning ear to ear. “It seems our khuis have decided we are taking too long to get together.”

I laugh, giggles overtaking me. “I guess so.” Oh, I’m so happy. I feel…complete. And it’s not just the resonance, it’s Ereven. It’s knowing we’re linked, that we’re meant to be together. It feels so right. “I can’t believe it—“

“I can,” he says, utterly serious. He reaches out and caresses my cheek. “I’ve been drawn to you ever since I met you. Ever since you came to this place.”

Ever since…but it’s been over a year. Longer than that, even. My jaw drops again. “But, why did you never say anything?”

“You immediately went to Bek.” He shrugs. “I wanted you to be happy more than anything, and you seemed happy with him.”

I shake my head and put my hands on him. I can’t seem to stop putting my hands on him, actually, and I love the feel of his slightly sweaty skin under my fingertips. “I went with him because I was scared and he seemed interested. I never…saw you.” For some reason, this makes me weepy. Hot tears rush forward and I begin to cry. “God, that sounds so awful, but it’s true. I never saw you, Ereven. I never paid attention. And I spent a year with him—“

“Hush,” he tells me, tenderly brushing aside my tears. “It happened as it did, and I have no regrets, because you are mine now, and no one can interfere.”

I’m not so sure about that. “Bek—“

“Even Bek’s stubbornness is no match for resonance. He has lost you.” Ereven leans in close and pulls me against him, and his nose nuzzles mine. “You are mine and I am yours.”

Oh, I like the sound of that. Impulsively, I tilt my face up to his, and press my mouth against his. He kisses with his mouth closed, which tells me he’s never really kissed before. There’re lots of things I can show this man. My hands twine in his tangled hair as his arms go around my waist, and I coax his lips into parting with small nibbles and flicks of my tongue.

When I delicately stroke inside his mouth, he stiffens and pulls back, clearly surprised.

“Did you not like that?” I ask, hesitant.

His cheeks seem to flush a darker hue of blue. Is he blushing? “I liked it far too much. I just did not know…” his voice trails off. “Can we do it again?” he blurts after a moment’s thought. “With the tongues?”

“We can do it with tongues as much as you want.” And I show him just how much. I don’t think of myself as the world’s best kisser, but with Ereven? It doesn’t matter. He loves every caress of my mouth against his, every brush of my tongue. Even when our teeth clash together, it’s still sexy. He responds with enthusiasm and soon mimics my kisses with his mouth and tongue, and then I lose myself in him, moaning as his mouth conquers mine in a way that leaves me utterly breathless and full of need. Our chests, pressed together, practically vibrate with the force of our humming khuis.

My khui isn’t the only thing humming. My body feels pulsing and alive with Ereven’s touch. I feel as if I’m waking up for the first time - being with Bek was nothing like this. Not even close. It’s like comparing Kool-Aid and wine. One’s rich and velvety and delicious, and one’s just…red. My nipples ache under my clothing, and there’s a tingle between my thighs that feels as if it’s been a long time coming. I want this man, horns, blue skin, sharp teeth and all. We continue to kiss, devouring each other with our lips.

As if he can read my thoughts, Ereven hefts me into his arms, lifting my feet from the ground. Our mouths are still locked together. He starts walking up the ridge, and I pull my mouth from his hot kisses, surprised. “Wh-where are we going?”

“We are going to mate,” he tells me, and nips at my lower lip.

It sends a tingle shooting through my body and I have to bite back my moan. “Where?”

“Somewhere private. I am not going back to that cavern, not while it’s brimming with people.”

He’s got a point. But I’m cold, and I haven’t exactly dressed for the elements. “Somewhere warm?”

The look in his eyes is scorching. “I’ll keep you warm.”

I shiver with need. I just bet he will.

Resonance hums through us and each step seems to take a million years to complete. I can’t stop kissing him; my mouth moves against his jaw, his cheekbone, his neck, his ear. I never want to stop kissing him. Then I’m filled with joy when I realize that he’s mine now, and I never have to stop kissing him. Ever.

I look up from tonguing Ereven’s ear when I realize we’ve stopped moving. We’re in a small copse of the pink, flimsy trees, with the high walls of the cliffs surrounding us. The wind is less here, but there’s still snow and open air. Is this where we’re stopping? I open my mouth to ask, and as I do, Ereven pulls me against him and buries his face against my breasts.

And I moan, forgetting all about my reservations. I don’t care where we have sex, just as long as it’s
soon
.

Ereven sets me gently on the ground, and his hand goes to the laces on the sides of my tunic that fit it close to my body. While he pulls at them, I rip at the laces on his leggings. I’m desperate to touch him. The moment I free his cock, I moan again, because God, he’s got some nice equipment. I’m no shy virgin - wasn’t on Earth, either - and I love the look of a gorgeous cock. His is perfection itself, slightly curving up so it’ll hit me in all the right spots. The head is thick, and as I stroke his shaft with my hand, I notice he’s nice and thick, a vein tracing along under the skin. His spur is longer than any I’ve ever seen, and I feel a shiver of excitement at the sight of it. Now that? That has potential.

Like all sa-khui men, his cock is ribbed (for my pleasure!) and ridged. My mouth waters at the sight of it. I want to put my tongue all over him, but there’s time enough for that later. For now, we need to satisfy our khuis - and our own longings.

His breath hisses out as I touch him, and his mouth captures mine again. My tongue slicks along his and I match my strokes of his cock with the movements of my mouth.

“Your hands,” he murmurs into my mouth. “Never did I think I could imagine such pleasure.” He pushes into my leggings and finds the wet heat of my sex, and slides his fingers into me.

I cling to him, desperate for more. “Please, Ereven.” My khui’s throbbing so hard in my chest I feel as if I’m about to split apart. “Need you.”

“Take off your clothes,” he tells me.

I release him and do as he asks, tearing at laces and stripping away leather as fast as I can. I need him. I want him. I’ll die if I don’t feel his warm skin against mine in the next moment. By the time I finish stripping, he’s naked, too. I press my body against his, not caring if he thinks my tits are small or my hips too wide. Somehow, I suspect he’ll think I’m just fine. I know I can’t find any fault with his long, lean body and the taut muscles under his blue skin. I itch to put my hands on him, imagining how soft and velvety his skin will feel against mine.

Then he pulls me against him, and drags one of my legs up his thigh, holding it against his hip. It forces me to change my balance, until I’m pressing against his cock, and my pussy is open and ready for him.

He grabs a fistful of my hair with his other hand and tilts my head back. “My beautiful mate,” he murmurs, and licks the cords of my throat gently.

Oh God, I’m going to melt against him. I cling to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. My breasts push against his chest, and the soft suede of his skin contrasts against the rough, thick plating that protects his arms and the center of his chest.

“Want you inside me,” I pant. I’m desperate and greedy for him, and I absolutely do not care. I need him like I need air, and if I don’t get stuffed full of him in the next moment, I might start screaming. I’m sure some of that is my khui. I’m not sure if I should thank it or grind my teeth with frustration.

Ereven releases my hair and his other hand goes to my hip. He grips me, and before I can demand that he throw me on the ground and screw me, he lifts me up and then sinks my spread pussy down onto his cock.

All the breath escapes my lungs. Just like that, I’m speared deeply onto him. My entire body jerks in response, and my arms tighten around his neck. He’s so much bigger than I am, and so strong that it’s nothing for him to lift me up and hold me like this, to fuck me standing up.

And oh God, just being like this is amazing. A thousand sensations are going off inside my body, and I cling to him, overwhelmed. My khui’s purring encouragement, and I can hear Ereven’s breath rasping in my ear. He shifts on his feet, just a little, and my entire body lights up again. His spur presses up against my clit, and I want to squirm against it. Actually, I want to squirm against all of him, just because how good it’ll feel.

Instead, I lock my feet behind his back, holding tighter onto him. “Please,” I whisper again. My mind’s going to explode from sheer pleasure if he thrusts even once, but I need it.
Need
it.

He growls my name out and lifts me, then thrusts me back down onto his cock.

A scream erupts from my throat. Pure sensation flares through my body, and I’ve never felt anything like this. Even the smallest twitch of his body against mine sends me flying. When he rocks into me again, it’s like I feel every ridge dragging through me, and my eyes nearly roll back in my head from the pleasure of it.

Ereven thrusts into me over and over, and each one feels better than the last. I cling to him with all my strength, my entire body tightening as sensation builds. I’m going to come soon, and I’m going to come really hard. I can feel my entire body tensing in preparation for the orgasm, and yet I’m still shocked when it explodes through me with the force of a hurricane. I hold onto him for dear life as my pussy clenches around his cock, and when he rams into me again, it sends me into an entirely new spiral. I cry out as the second, even more violent orgasm rips through me.

He growls and then the next thing I know, I’m on my back in the snow with my legs in the air. He bends over me, cock still buried deep inside me, and claims my mouth in a breathless kiss. I barely have the strength to kiss him back before he thrusts into me again. His spur rubs my clit, and oh God, I’m going to die from orgasms, because I start to lock up around him all over again. He’s close to coming, though, and with his next thrust, Ereven pushes my legs up until my knees are practically at my ears. He hammers into me, over and over again, and then I’m screaming yet again as I come for a third time, unable to help myself. I barely hear my name hissed out on his breath as he comes, but I feel his body shudder over mine, and the hot wash of his come inside me.

When he collapses on top of me, I feel utterly dazed. Like someone broke me apart and left the pieces in the snow. My khui’s purring cheerfully, as if my entire body wasn’t just decimated by lust not five seconds ago.

Those were, individually, the three best orgasms I’d ever had in my life. To have them all three together in rapid-fire succession? My brain can’t process it. All I can do is cling to Ereven’s warm body and thank all the stars in the sky that I have this man.

This? This is what resonance is. Anything else is a pale second to it.

Ereven drags himself up on his elbows and gazes down at me. I’m sweaty, my backside is cold thanks to the snow, and I’m probably drooling on myself, my brain is so spent. “My beautiful mate,” he murmurs, and leans in to kiss me gently. “This is my happiest moment ever.”

Mine, too.

W
e return
to the tribal caves several hours later, hand in hand. My tunic has a few rips from our enthusiasm, and Ereven has to hold the waist of his leggings up because I might have torn the cords in my haste. Not sorry. We’re both grinning like loons and I feel happier than I’ve ever been.

Tired, too, but that doesn’t matter.

“When Vektal gets back,” Ereven tells me, “We will let him know we need a cave of our own.”

“Maybe one of the new ones Harlow dug out,” I say, feeling shy but excited about it. Sharing a cave with Bek felt like being trapped. But the thought of spending my days and nights with Ereven fills me with joy and hope.

As we walk inside, I can hear someone singing a Christmas carol at the top of their lungs. It’s Ariana, paired with Josie. The scent of cooked food fills the air, and everyone’s gathered around the tree. People eat the feast and I see presents everywhere, along with more sprigs of leaves. Looks like we’ve missed a lot of the holiday celebrations. I can’t say I’m terribly sad about it, because I’ve gotten something much better.

“There you are,” Aehako says, coming up from behind us and clapping a hand on Ereven’s back. “I was about to send a party out to search for you two. There’s a creature howling like a rabid snow-cat off in the hills. Best be careful.” He grins at Ereven.