Raashh Decisions (Xxan War Book 3) (19 page)

He fisted a hand in her hair and guided her up and down the length, shuddering at her moan of delight. More
Zhigaaal
released into her mouth, and he groaned.

I should withdraw and anoint her with the
Zhigaaal
. It is normally done that way.

Who says it has to be?
All his adult life, Arren had balked tradition. Why should he stop now?

Resolved, he let himself go, allowed Sandy to carry him to the brink and over. He guided her stroking hand to one side, aiming his primary for the foot of the bed.

His
Zhigaaal
coursed into her mouth, and she swallowed, drawing his secondary into her throat, still jetting its potent, binding pheromones into her body. Sandy’s eyes opened wide then slid shut. Her body relaxed into his grip on her scalp, and he eased his secondary out of her mouth, painting
Zhigaaal
in a line down her lower lip to her chin.

Her breathing came in sharp little gasps, and her muscles twitched. Soon those twitches would be a concerted effort to throw him off, he knew.

She licked her lips, then stroked her tongue up the length of his secondary.

I have to hurry. She’ll be in the full frenzy soon.

Arren massaged the base of his secondary, expressing
Zhigaaal
to begin the anointing. To his shock, Sandy moved, taking his length down again. The shock of it was too much for him, and Arren climaxed again.

He lowered Sandy to the mattress and worked more of his
Zhigaaal
up. Before she had time to do more than moan, he’d anointed her pulse points and erogenous zones.

Sandy reached for him, and he slid his secondary to the hilt inside her. She arched against him with a shout, and Arren savored her reaction. In minutes, he was emptying his
Zhigaaal
into her.

One climax led to another and a third. At last, Arren moved on to her tight ass.

Sandy moaned and pitched her head back and forth.

“One more step in the binding,” Arren promised her.

“I’m burning,” she breathed.

“Just for a few minutes.”

She whimpered as he worked his secondary through the ring of muscle. Arren cursed at how good the compression against the head felt. He worked his cock in and out, deeper with every inward thrust.

At last, his primary reached her slit. Arren thrust deep, growling as both cocks partook of paradise.

Sandy cried out wildly. “I’m burning,” she pleaded.

“That’s my
Zhigaaal
, Sandy. That’s my
Zhigaaal
, making you my mate.”

She sobbed.

“Soon,” he soothed her. “The burning will end soon.”

She nodded.

Arren thrust deeper and harder, his breathing going ragged. At last, he released into her.

Sandy’s scream echoed off the walls, and her moans were low and sweet.

“Better?” he asked her.
Seir God
, but he hoped it was. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. No, the last thing he wanted was to have to call SLAL in for her, but hurting her nearly equaled it.

She laid a kiss on his chest. “Much better. Thank you, Arren.”

He smiled at that.
Good. As long as the burning was fleeting, I’m not going to stop until Sandy is mine.

Chapter Sixteen

Three days later

Sandy stretched against Arren, her entire body relaxed and warm. She knew she should get up and go to the bathroom, but moving out of the bed sounded like more work than it was worth.

“Good morning.” Arren’s voice was a rumble that was all male and very appealing. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake.”

“Mmmm… I’m afraid I have to get up for a minute before we do anything else.” She yawned, stretching again.

“How convenient that it is time for us to be out of bed then.”

Sandy opened her eyes, staring at him. “It is?”

He trailed one smooth finger from her lip, down her throat, and between her breasts. “Absolutely. You are my mate, and it is time to show you the care a Xxanian male shows a new mate.”

“That is intriguing.” He’d definitely piqued her interest.

“I assume you need to use the toilet on the way?” he asked.

She sighed. “Yes.”

In a dizzying move, Arren was on his feet with Sandy in his arms. She grabbed at his shoulder, then loosened her grip. There was no way Arren would drop her.

He settled her on the toilet, turned away, and started preparing the stone tub for a bath: raising the temperature, adding agitation, and increasing the filtration. A bath sounded good, and Sandy hurried to join him. Arren lifted her into the hot water, but he didn’t join her immediately. Instead, he collected supplies into a small basket and brought it to the edge of the tub. Then he sank in next to her.

He stared at her solemnly. “You are my mate now, Sandy. You know what that means to me. Nothing in life will be more important to me than you, from this moment on.”

She nodded, though the concept made her head spin. She couldn’t remember a time when she was first in anyone’s life, let alone a man’s.

“After mating, the first thing a male does is bathe his mate with
Saahaal
. Clove is the English word for the spice.”

“Okay.” Something told her it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

Arren nodded. He plucked a bottle from the basket and opened it. The liquid pooling in his hand released the smell of clove into the room, enticing her senses.

The clove stung like his
Zhigaaal
had. In fact, the
Zhigaaal
smelled faintly of clove, which might explain the slight sting.

What started out as a simple bath turned to more quickly. Arren cupped her breasts and smoothed the oil over her nipples, bringing them up against his fingertips.

Sandy reached out and snagged the clove oil out of the basket. She poured a handful and started working it up Arren’s primary cock.

His pupils dilated in pleasure. “I’m supposed to be bathing you.” It wasn’t a complaint. Clearly, he liked what she was doing.

“Maybe I want more.”

“If you were willing, this was supposed to end with more.”

She chuckled, working him more avidly. “Obviously, I’m willing.”

Arren stroked his hands down her body, arousing her to a potent edge before he thrust inside her. Sandy placed her hands on the side of the tub, levering herself up and down on his cock, breaths rasping in and out of her lungs, scorching her senses.

It was over in moments, Sandy holding tight to Arren’s shoulders, her harsh breathing stirring the steam from the bath. Arren followed her over, every muscle tightening, even the ones that raised his ridge plates.

Sandy laughed in the release of tension, her body going lax as it had when they’d been binding.

“Yes?” he asked archly.

“When do we…?”

One eyebrow went up, and he cocked his head to one side.

“When do we use the secondary and when do we use only the primary?”

“Any time we have the time and you wish to experience another frenzy, we can use the secondary.”

“In that case…” Sandy reached for him, intent on stroking him up.

Arren guided her hand away, then laid a kiss in the palm of his hand.

“But you said—”

“The next time we have a frenzy, I intend to have you dressed in silk, as you should be.”

“You have silk. I’ve seen it.”

He shook his head. “Those are
S’suumea
. I’m going to buy you your own silk clothing. Today.” He started working the clove oil into her legs. “But first we eat.”

“What do you have in mind for silk clothing?”

Arren chuckled. “Conveniently enough, Spice has a clothing department, and you can have anything you want from our clothing line.”

“Oh, can I?” she played along.

“I have it on good authority. I happen to know the owners.”

****

“Good afternoon, Mr. Raashh,” the clerk called out, offering a smile that Arren knew was fake. Few employees liked to see the owners of the company walking through the door.

“Good day. Sandy and I will be shopping for her today.”

The clerk scanned her gaze up and down Sandy’s body. Just when he would have protested the rude behavior, she started speaking again.

“A medium, I would think.”

Sandy nodded. “Usually, yes.”

“And what sorts of things will you be looking to purchase today?”

“On my account,” Arren interjected. “Sandy has no limits.”

The clerk shot him a look of surprise. She focused on Sandy with a false smile that turned Arren’s stomach. Sandy squirmed uncomfortably.

“Very well. Do you know what you’re looking for, Sandy?”

“The S’su…” She looked at Arren for help.

The clerk beat him to an answer. “
S’suuhhea
?”

“Yes,” Arren answered for her. “Also lingerie, bath products, and silk daily wear.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I really liked the blue and silver print that was in the catalog.”

The clerk performed a turn around her, making an examination Arren wondered at. “Yes, the blue and silver…and probably also the green and gold. Let’s take a look at what I have in the back.”

She led the way, and Arren took Sandy’s arm and accompanied her to the work room.

The clerk’s eyes went wide. She looked as if she meant to protest. Her gaze snapped to Sandy’s hand, and she composed herself. “I see. If you would.” She motioned to a chair.

Arren kissed Sandy’s cheek and obliged the woman. The clerk showed Sandy style after style of dress, robe, nightgown, undergarments, and assorted frilly objects he had no name for. Her eyes lit up, and she looked his way.

“Anything you want,” he assured her. “Everything you want.”

Sandy smiled shyly. “And if I want you to wear the S’suum…” Again, she faltered.

“
S’suumea
,” he provided. Arren considered it. “I will wear the informal
S’suumea
for you, if you wish.”

“The one that looks like a silk kilt?” she asked.

“That is the informal,” the clerk supplied.

Arren tipped his head, and Sandy smiled.

“I’ll add it to the order then?” the clerk asked.

“In colors to match whatever Sandy picks out,” Arren instructed.

Her smile said he wouldn’t regret it.

“While we are making the order,” Arren inserted, “I will need a case of
Saahaal
and a second sent to Evan and Zondra Duncan at Daahn’s nest. I will write a note to include with it.”

The clerk nodded to him in acknowledgement and went back to Sandy.

“You’re thanking her for introducing us, aren’t you?” Sandy asked.

Arren chuckled. “Do you think that’s not warranted?”

“No. I agree with you. Maybe I should send her something, as well.” She pointed out a scandalously brief nightgown that would fit over Zondra’s very pregnant form. “This in green and gold to match her eyes?”

“As long as the note makes it clear it comes from you. If Evan thinks I picked that out, you would very quickly find yourself a widow.”

****

“Hello, Deidre,” another woman called out. “What have we here?”

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Raashh. Mr. Raa… Oh, dear. Having more than one is rather confusing isn’t it?”

Sandy looked around at the petite, honey-haired woman staring at Arren. The deep blue silk sheath dress caressed her body.

“What a surprise,” the new arrival exclaimed. “I’ve never seen you in here, Arren.”

He stood and offered a bow of his head to her. “Joy. A pleasure.”

She turned to Sandy. “And this must be… I’m sorry. I don’t know your name yet.”

Sandy’s heart stuttered at that. This woman was Arren’s family, but she hadn’t heard of Sandy? She forced a weak smile and mumbled her first name.
I don’t even know what last name I should be using.

Joy surveyed the dress, then focused on the ring on Sandy’s hand. “Preparing to take Sandy to the nest to introduce her, Arren?” Her tone made it seem she was teasing him.

“No. Dressing my mate in a manner appropriate to her place in my life.”

Sandy looked around at him. It hadn’t been her imagination. The tease had irritated or angered him. Arren’s eye slits were narrowed, and his ridge plates pushed lightly out at his pale skin.

Joy’s brow furrowed. “But…you’ve mated now. Haven’t you? That’s why you haven’t been at the office the last few days. Daveed said—”

Arren tipped his head. “Yes, but we are just becoming established in our nest. The moment to visit my
seir
will come in time.”

If Sandy was gauging her expression correctly, Arren’s announcement had caused Joy distress.

At last, Joy composed herself. “I understand.”

His expression said she didn’t, but Arren didn’t correct her.

“Should I send your regards to Raashh and Daveed?” There was a note of formality in the response that put Sandy’s nerves on edge.

“You may,” he responded crisply. “Inform them that I will return to work in the next few days.”

“No rush. Daveed doesn’t expect you to leave your mate immediately.”

Daveed…
The name resonated in Sandy’s memories.

“I won’t be leaving my mate. Sandy will be joining me at Spice as a second personal assistant. Betty will enjoy the help.”

“That’s good. I find working with my mate wonderful.”

“Daveed,” she breathed. “Oh!” Sandy strode to the table she’d left her purse on and rifled through it. The manila envelope in hand, she turned to Joy. “I forgot in the excitement. I was supposed to deliver this to Daveed.”

Joy reached to take it, but Arren’s hand was there first. He took the envelope, opened it, and flipped through the pages inside. “Daveed would have sent this to me to deal with anyway. I will take care of it.”

“But your mate,” Joy protested.

“It will only mean a phone call.” It was clear that had been a dismissal.

Joy didn’t miss it. She offered a weak smile to Sandy and left the room.