The Bonding (12 page)

“There may be some truth in that. I also liked the oblivion,” he admitted with a wry twist of the lips that was nothing like a smile.

“When did you stop?” she asked, returning him to his story.

“About five years ago,” he replied. “It was Jaya who snapped me out of it. She had fallen in love with a man I found totally unsuitable. Not only that, but she had gone from fighting with him to moving in with him in about two weeks. It caused a fair bit of gossip, I can tell you. Well, I went to her and told her I didn't think she should be with Soren, that he was too old for her and would never marry her anyway. She was furious. She told me I had no right to give her any lectures on morals, since I would sleep with anything that moved. I was a hypocrite and she would hear nothing further on the subject. The hell of it was, she was right. I had just broken things off with Kaeli, and she was making my life miserable, and I realized how stupid I was being. Decent girls wanted nothing to do with me, both because of Kaeli's harassment, and because I was a cad, not someone to be trusted, and I had just lost credibility with the last remaining family I had. I vowed that day I would never sleep with another woman again until I found the right one, the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I never did…until you.”

Kiri closed her eyes, her face twisted in lines of remorse.

“I should have told you sooner, baby,” he insisted. “I let my pride get in the way of giving you information you needed. I didn't want you to doubt me, to think I was using you for sex the way I used to do with others. What we shared was…different. Special.”

“Yes, it was,” she replied, lingering over his use of the past tense.

“It will be again,” he told her.

Kiri sagged against Davin's shoulder. He could feel her profound relief. Her composure dissolved again and she cried for long time. The waves of grief and love pouring through the bond between them went a long way towards healing Davin's wounded heart. In time, he knew, they would be able to work this out. What they had was too special to throw away over a misunderstanding.

After a while, Kiri's sobs slowed. He kissed the top of her head.

“Are you okay?” he asked, cupping her face in one hand.

She nodded, and it seemed to be true, as her sobs had subsided to a few hiccups and her eyes had stopped streaming. The hopeful expression in those emerald depths told him more than words ever could.
She loves me as much as I love her. She always has. What a blessing to find her, and to think I almost threw it away.
He trailed his hand up and down her back, and a watery smile appeared on her cheek. A sudden thought occurred to him. “I'm still wondering one thing though,” he said, “why was the council so convinced I had used magic to manipulate you into my bed? I don't understand.”

“I know why,” Kiri said, “they examined our bond. It's wrong, not normal, and they thought you had done it on purpose.”

“What do you mean it's wrong? Feels all right to me.” He prodded the thick cord that connected them with his magic.

“It's too strong,” she replied, struggling to put unfamiliar concepts into words. “Joran called it a triple bond. Apparently, people who are in love are not supposed to bond. It changes the nature of it. We also had sex right after the ceremony, which made it even stronger yet. He said we are bound by love, sex, and magic. But because they didn't know, they thought you had done something to me to snare my will and use my magic for yourself. Actually, I think only Kyla really believed it. The rest weren't sure.”

That sounds right. That woman takes her job as protector of women so seriously, she's always quick to blame men for everything that goes wrong. Even accidents.
“How on earth did you convince them?”

“I let them scan me.” She made a face.

“Ah, oh course; scan your body for magical incursions.”

She raised one eyebrow. “They also scanned my memory. I didn't want them to, but it was the only way to free you. They pretty much know everything about me and our relationship now.”

“Oh wow,” Davin said, embarrassed. “You let them do that, baby? Scan your entire memory?”

“The whole thing.”

He hugged her. “Poor Kiri. What an ordeal. Did you have to relive…”

“Everything. The rape, my punishment,” she gestured toward her ravaged face, “and all that was pretty bad, but I really hated letting them pry into our private moments. Those were not meant to be shared.”

“You did that for me?”

“I had to. It was my fault you were in that position.”

Oh gods did I ever get it wrong.
“Thank you.” He paused to think. “So,” he said a few moments later, “a triple bond. I heard of that once, I think, but it was a long time ago. What does it mean for us?”

“It can't be undone,” she explained. “No matter what, we will always be a part of each other. I know I don't feel right when I'm away from you.”

“I feel the same. This is where you belong, in my arms, my bed, and my heart.”

She beamed. “There's nowhere else I want to be.” One strong, dexterous hand came to rest on his wrist. This time he felt no compulsion to shake her off.
The draw between us is so strong. It was before we bonded.

He leaned forward and kissed her lips. She cupped his cheek and kissed him back, humming at the luscious contact. He hummed. The closer they were, the better he liked it.
I can't get close enough.
“Baby?”

“Yes Davin, what is it?” She only backed up a fraction, and the vivid green captured his senses.

“I think we've talked enough for now. We have a lifetime to figure out the rest of the details.”

“What do you have in mind?” she asked, though it was clear she would be up for anything.

“I think a little sex might be in order.”

Her eyes lit to brilliant brightness. A sense of eager joy pulsed through their bond. “Yes please,” Kiri said, making him smile. He leaned in again, but she placed her calloused index finger against his lips. “There's one thing I want to say first. I think we need to stop trying to slow this down. We're bound with an unbreakable magic bond. I think it's best if we just go with it. Let the pace set itself. By being together more, we have a better chance of dealing with any situations that might arise.”

“I agree. So, Kiri Taconowa, will you move into my home, be my love and my lady?”

“Yes, I will,” she replied without hesitation.

“Good. Excuse me a moment. I have something for you.” He walked out of the room.

* * *

Kiri enjoyed watching the muscles ripple in his backside.
This is going to be very nice indeed,
she thought. Relief washed over her. Though the conversation had been nothing short of harrowing, now that it was over, she felt profoundly grateful Davin hadn't abandoned her.

When he disappeared into the bedroom, Kiri contacted Miranda telepathically. “My lady,” she sent out the call, “may I speak with you?”

“Yes dear,” came the echoing reply.

“I won't be needing that apartment anymore.”

“I completely understand,” the chief elder replied, and Kiri could have sworn she could hear the woman smiling. “So, he has accepted your apology?”

“Yes. My lady, I know a lot of people are going to disapprove of what we are doing. May we…” she hesitated. “May we have your blessing? It would mean a lot to me.”

There was a pause, and then, “Yes, child. You have my blessing. Be happy.”

Miranda snapped the connection, but not before Kiri could hear a faint chuckle. A moment later Davin returned with something shiny in his hand.

He held it out to Kiri. It was a necklace, a thin but rigid gold band, circular, but with a single bend into a point. On the point, a small diamond glittered in a round setting.

“How beautiful,” Kiri breathed. “What is this?”

Davin sat down beside her and took her hand in his. “In Koralian families, the oldest son is given a necklace, which is passed down over generations. It's meant to be given to the woman he wants to marry. They're called betrothal collars. This is the Colorian family betrothal collar. It signals to everyone that we're an exclusive couple.”

“Betrothal means rather more than that, doesn't it Davin?” Kiri pressed. “It means we're going to marry.”

Davin grinned sheepishly. “Yes, baby. I'm still afraid of rushing you, but I can't help myself. I got this out of the family vault the day you were at magic class. I'm afraid I was a little overcome at seeing our heirlooms, and I stayed longer than I planned. That's why I missed you. At any rate, if you're not ready for this, I understand, but would you think about wearing my collar, someday?”

Kiri gently took the collar from Davin and opened the clasp at the back. Looking into his eyes, she whispered, “put it on me.”

Davin nodded. He laid the golden band across her chest and leaned over her shoulder, fastening it at the nape of her neck. Kiri held her braid aside while he worked. At last, it was in place. She looked down at the jewel dangling just above her breasts.

“Look at you, baby,” he breathed. There's only one thing missing.” With skilled fingers he opened the fastenings of her clothing. Kiri allowed him to undress her until she stood before him, bare and proud.

Davin slowly nodded. “There's some Koralian love poetry that talks about a beautiful woman wearing nothing but a collar.

Davin smiled. “I think they got it about right.”

“Thank you,” she replied demurely, though a combination of love and desire were beginning to heat her body and heart. “Now about that sex? Only I think a little might not be enough.”

Davin laughed. “Still greedy, aren't you?”

“Only for you Davin,” she vowed.
The rest of forever will only be a start.

He led her through the apartment and into his room. Then he tumbled her onto the bed and opened his mouth on hers in one of his signature deep kisses, the kind that made her heart melt and turned her insides all liquid. This time, after hearing his story, she recognized this kiss for what it was. Only a man with a tremendous amount of experience could manage a kiss this deep without turning it sloppy and unappealing. He made love the same way, with great skill, treading the line between ecstasy and excess. He deepened the kiss even more, using a ridiculous amount of tongue, sweeping deep inside her mouth, swirling, making little thrills shoot through her.
I'm glad to be healthy and strong again.
His hands cupped her breasts, caressing, squeezing the soft mounds, massaging them, teasing her pink and swollen nipples.

Kiri made a soft sound. She felt a little sore there, no doubt due to her pregnancy. She would tell him soon… but not yet. This was not the time. He was right, they had the rest of their lives to work out the details. For now, Davin was moving lower. He released her mouth and moved down her body, kissing his way down, tasting each nipple in turn, then pulling back to look at her.

“Gods you're beautiful,” he said. “Loosen your hair. I want to see it spread out across my pillow.”

She complied.

“Perfect.” He kept his eyes on her as he stripped off his own clothing. Her mouth watered at the sight of his thick, straining erection. She remembered several giggly conversations she'd had with other girls in the barracks, more adventurous ones, and the desire to taste him grew suddenly overwhelming. “Davin?”

“Yes, baby?” He climbed onto the bed and took her in his arms.

She trailed a gentle finger down his chest and closed her had around his erection. “I was wondering if you might like… for me to…” she broke off, face burning.
This is hard.
She stroked him a couple of time.

“What, honey? Don't be embarrassed. I want you to enjoy us being together.” He stroked her cheek with his palm, feeling his silver stubble.

“I'd like to, um, taste you,” she said, eyeing his sexy with a hungry gaze.

“Oh Kiri, I would love you to, but I don't dare let you. I'm not in very good control right now, and if you put your mouth on me, well, I just might go all to pieces.”

“I think I might like to see that.” Kiri said. She gave his shoulder a hard shove, knocking him off balance, and when he fell onto the bed, she was on him, lightning quick, straddling his legs, enveloping him in warm wet sweetness.
Hmmmm, he tastes amazing.
She tormented him with long, slow lick.

* * *

Davin moaned. Kiri's mouth felt unlike anything he had experienced before. His father had been right. Making love with the right woman was nothing like bedding women one didn't love.

Kiri teased Davin's sex with her mouth, lips, tongue, giving him the gentlest edge of her teeth. With her free hand, she caressed the soft sac beneath. Davin was undone. He was about to lose control completely, and he couldn't make himself care, not when Kiri was ministering to him so sweetly, her long hair trailing across his belly. He considered whether he should just let himself go in her mouth. He knew she wouldn't mind, but no, he wanted to be inside that deliciously tight sheath.

“Enough, baby,” he said, “that felt really good, but I want to be inside you so you have to stop for now.” Grasping her hips, he moved her up along his body until her sex was over his face. Kiri struggled a little.

“Don't fight, Kiri. You've had your turn…now it's mine.” He pressed her down and devoured her. Kiri's head fell back and she moaned as Davin feasted on her most sensitive flesh. He brought her to orgasm quickly, knowing he was a heartbeat away from losing control and wanting to be sure she was ready for him. When he heard her wail and tasted her moisture on his tongue, he slid her back down, still on top of him, and positioned her so his sex rested at the opening of her body.

“I'm sorry, baby,” he whispered against her, and thrust up, penetrating her completely in one hard stroke.

She gasped at the invasion. It was not like him to be so rough, but his control had snapped. He took her hard and deep, thrusting into her with more force than her inexperienced body could handle. Davin controlled Kiri with his hands on her lovely, round hips, sitting her upright so he could take her even deeper. He anchored her in place with one hand while the other slid to her clitoris, massaging it with two fingers, tenderly, trying to bring her a little pleasure, to ease his rough taking. He succeeded. Kiri's cry of pleasure was nearly a scream. Davin thrust deep once more, twice, and finally succumbed to his own climax, groaning loudly as her spasming body milked his seed from him.