Training the Warrior (24 page)

“Do I please you, warrior? Will you be
proud to have me as your mate?”

Taelor couldn’t form any thoughts into
words. His mate was beautiful and she taunted him. He managed a low, menacing
snarl. Claiming lust urged him onward. His marking glands were full, near to
bursting.
Take her. Cover her. Mount her—now.

“Lydia, you please me greatly,” he said
with a growl, a plea mixed with a warning.

“I want you, Taelor.”

Unable to think anymore, he reacted with
pure mating instinct and lunged toward the bed. He landed on top, wrapped his
arms around her and spread her thighs wider with one of his knees. She was his
to claim, his female to mate. He stopped just short of ramming into her like a
rutting beast.

Taelor nuzzled his face against her neck
and took deep, calming breaths while he fought to control his lust. Her skin
was cool against his, taking away some of his heat. As if it had a mind of its
own, the head of his cock pushed against the wet opening of her channel. He
pushed closer to the rounded cheeks of her bottom, the flared head of his shaft
slipped upward into her pussy. She felt warm and welcoming. The feeling was so
intense, he groaned in anticipation. His mate shimmied her hips, trying to
capture more of his cock. As he retreated, she whined in protest.

“Slow, Lydia. I want to pleasure you.” He
gasped as he took back some control.

Taelor gripped her shoulders and turned her
around to face him. She was lovely. No longer filled with tears, her eyes
pleaded with him to continue. She wanted him. As her lips parted, inviting him
to sample a taste, he claimed them with a gentle kiss. Her tongue flicked
across his own, teasing him as she arched toward him. He tightened his embrace,
bringing her flush against him while he deepened the kiss, probing the sweet
recesses of her soft and willing mouth. Her moans of delight, and the way her
fingernails dug into his shoulders as she clung to him, assured Taelor his mate
was ready for more pleasure.

He turned her in his arms and lowered her
onto the mattress until she rested on her back before breaking their kiss. He
immediately nuzzled her neck, breathing in her intoxicating scent while he
shifted above her. He insinuated his hips between her parted knees, making sure
his cock was trapped against the bed, unable to reach her sex.

He left her neck, kissing his way down her
throat, over her chest until he reached a pert nipple sitting proudly upon its
perfect mound. He paused to lick and nip at it while he caressed her other lush
breast, tugging and gently pinching its stiff nub between his thumb and
forefinger. All the while, he stroked his wrists over her exposed smooth skin,
marking her with his scent. Her sweet moans of delight spurred him onward. No warrior
in the empire would ever doubt his claim.

Taelor shifted lower, trailing kisses down
over her stomach until he stopped at the top edge of her mound. Her sex was
clean-shaven and wet with her desire. He wanted to devour her. He darted a
glance up at her. Lydia panted as she stared back at him, so beautiful and desirable.
Holding her gaze, he flicked the tip of his tongue across the top of her slit,
teasing her. She trembled beneath him and her eyes widened as she gasped.

“Please, Taelor. I want you.”

He snarled back. “I’m yours, Lydia. You’re
mine. I’ll taste your pleasure and enjoy the sound of my name on your lips as
you scream in ecstasy each time I make you come for me.”

“Oh yes! Oh…”

Her voice froze as he dipped his tongue
between the lips of her pussy and licked her clit with bold strokes.

Chapter Thirteen

Lydia rode the crest of an erotic wave.
Taelor’s scent surrounded her as she relaxed into the comfort of his masculine
smell. No longer inexperienced in the ways of Tauran warriors, she knew full
well what to expect during a claiming. The addictive power of his marking scent
wove its spell throughout her body and mind. She was his for the taking, and
this time, Lydia was completely aware of each stroke of her warrior’s hand as
he covered her in his own unique essence. His kisses and tongue increased her
arousal as much as his scent. Her body was on fire with raw need, wanting him
to enter her, stretch her until his cock was completely buried inside her
aching pussy.

Pleading for sexual completion from a warrior
who was in the midst of claiming lust wouldn’t deter him from his goal. At the
moment, Taelor was intent on exploring her body, memorizing, tasting, touching
and marking every inch before he claimed what was already his. She let go of
her own will, allowing him to lead the way to ecstasy.

His tongue swirled her clit, making her
writhe in response. He snarled, the vibrations from the deep tone sent chills
of delight racing outward from the bundle of stimulated nerves he teased
mercilessly. Lydia moaned as she fisted her hands in his thick mane. He shifted
slightly and lifted her legs, placing them over his wide shoulders. The new
position opened her sex more and he took advantage by delving deep into her
soaked channel.

Each swipe hit places inside her that made
her gasp for breath. After he withdrew to continue licking her, he plunged two
thick fingers into her opening. He stroked them in and out, picking up the pace
as she drew in panting breaths faster and faster with each thrust. His lips
sealed around her clit, sucking the swollen nub into his mouth as he flicked
his tongue rapidly across the tip. Every muscle in her body tensed as he drove
her to the apex of desire and beyond.

She screamed his name as she shattered
under the impact of an orgasm she’d only dreamed about. He prolonged her climax
with several swipes of his wrist along the seam of her pussy, massaging her
sensitive clit with his marking scent. As her body absorbed her warrior’s
stimulating essence in the most private of places, she screamed his name once
again as she came.

Before Lydia recovered Taelor flipped her
over on all fours and hooked one massive arm underneath her lower abdomen. He
shoved his groin firmly into her bottom and crouched over her, bracing his
other hand on the bed to hold his body above hers. Knowing his intention, she
spread her knees wider apart as she sank onto her elbows to submit to his
mounting.

His cock plunged deep into her channel with
his first thrust. He growled as he thrust once again, burying his thick length
to the hilt inside her. Lydia couldn’t suppress a small yelp as her vaginal
walls strained to encompass her mate’s enormous shaft. The sensation wasn’t
exactly painful, but it was frighteningly filling. And since Taelor was of royal
blood, his blades were larger and more lethal than a normal warrior’s so it
stood to reason in her mind that during claiming lust his cock might follow
suit. She stiffened, anticipating pain if he should start to move.

“Please, Lydia. Don’t be afraid. I’ll be
gentle.” His deep voice sounded assuring, but Lydia could detect the
instability of his control. “You feel so good.” He groaned before pulling his
cock back slowly.

Every inch slid over sensitive points
inside her vaginal canal. The feeling was exquisite, prompting a lubricating
flood of moisture to pour into her filled pussy.

“Yes! Taelor, oh yes.”

At her response, he took longer strokes, in
and out, slowly building up speed until she moaned in pleasure. He curled
closer, nuzzled her hair aside and kissed and nipped her neck as he changed
pace, fucking her slow and steady. She loved how his long, glorious mane
cascaded down each side of her face as it blended with her own hair,
intensifying his arousing scent.

He released his one-armed hold around her
body and slipped his hand between her thighs, delving into her slit and twirling
one fingertip over her clit. The sensation was enough to send her over the
edge. She practically came apart under him, howling his name as her orgasm
spiraled out of control.

Her vaginal walls clamped down tight around
his cock. Taelor reacted instantly. His finger left her pussy and he grabbed
her hips with both hands, locking her to him as he rose to his knees and thrust
inside her with more force. If she hadn’t been transfixed by the rapturous
sensation of his immense cock pounding in and out of her, Lydia would have
marveled at her mate’s incredible strength. As it was, she could only surrender
to him as he shifted her, allowing his shaft to angle inside her channel to
stroke against places rarely visited.

Abruptly, Taelor released her to hook one
arm under her hips while he braced himself with his other arm, elbow straight
and palm on top the bed. He curled his upper body over her back, burying his
face against the side of her neck while he continued fucking her. Lydia braced,
preparing for what she knew came next.

Growling a primal warning, her mate clamped
his canines firmly into her upper shoulder near the base of her neck without
breaking her skin. He held her, subduing her beneath him. With each savage
thrust of his hips, the head of his cock stroked across the entrance to her
womb. Her climax began at that juncture and spread outward through her body in
waves of pure pleasure, which continued to escalate with every one of his
powerful thrusts. A continuous orgasm took hold of her and didn’t end until her
mate released his bite and his mighty roar of gratified satisfaction echoed
against the bedroom walls. Hot jets of his climax shot deep inside her pussy,
bringing her back to reality.

“Mine!” He snarled, then growled softly
with each jerk of his hips as her hungry channel drew out the last drops of his
essence.

Sated for the moment, he fell to his side,
dragging her with him as they collapsed onto the bed. His heated body wrapped
around her, blanketing her in his scent. Comfortable in his embrace, Lydia
drifted off almost instantly. Large hands tenderly stroking her body, marking
her, was the last thing she felt before sleep made its claim.

* * * *

With his mate tucked safely within his
arms, Taelor had dozed off, allowing her to sleep for a while. His stiff cock
strained to reach the moist warmth of her sheath, but he held back, patiently
waiting until she awoke. She was his, his female.
Mine. Never let her go.
The mantra of the mated warrior played over and over inside his mind, making it
impossible for him drift off to a deep sleep. He pressed his face into her long,
black tresses. The combined fragrance of his scent with hers reassured him that
she truly belonged to him. The raging beast he kept controlled within him was
content for the moment, tamed by the presence of their mate.

It was a fanciful idea to think of his
inner conflict as a distinct being, but it made sense to him. Before claiming
his first mate, he’d struggled daily to keep his savage brutal side in check.
It was the same for all young warriors. Then, after mating with Norlana, his
beast was soothed and easily controlled. Now, after a year of torment, he’d
found a new mate. Not many warriors were so lucky. Lydia’s presence eased the
aching need in his heart, and her acceptance of him renewed his hope. He’d
never leave her or give her a reason to want to be free of him. Whatever it
took, Taelor was determined to keep her alive and happy. After all, for
whatever reason, she hadn’t killed him.

Lydia shifted in his arms, rousing from
sleep. He opened his eyes to catch her peeking at him.

“I hope that scowl isn’t there because of
me,” she said.

Taelor quickly gave her a half smile. “Never.
I was just thinking.”

“Then stop. It isn’t a good look on you.”

“Insolent female.” He snarled, but found he
couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “I’m actually grateful to be alive.”

“Oh, about that. I do seem to have
misplaced my dagger.” She stabbed a sharp-nailed finger against his chest,
right above his heart. “The blade should be buried right about here, don’t you
think?”

“It isn’t your dagger, and the blade is
stuck in a thisha
melon. Jarrok will object. His daggers draw blood, not
fruit juice.” Taelor laughed as he imagined his partner’s expression on
discovering his dagger had killed a melon.

“So you smelled that, did you?”

Taelor nodded smugly. “That and your sweet
arousal as you delivered the death blow.”

“Warriors!” She rolled her eyes.

“Why did you allow me to live?”

Taelor held his breath, waiting for her
answer. He hadn’t meant to ask, but before he could stop it, the question came
out of his mouth unrestricted. Her lovely gaze locked with his and her
expression turned somber. Long silent seconds passed until she finally spoke.

“You’re mine, my mate. I’ll miss my friends,
but my work here is finished, Taelor. I belong with you.”

He groaned, wanting to believe her, but
still unsure. “The claiming makes you feel this way now and say these things.
You could have stopped me, Lydia. Why did you allow the claiming?”

“I have feelings for you. I believe I
always have, ever since you gave me a helping hand the day I fell at your feet.”
She turned her face away and shook her head. “You were mated. I was a new teacher.
It was a chance meeting, but one I’ve never forgotten.”

Taelor was convinced she spoke the truth.
He reached out and cupped her delicate chin in his rough palm, turning her face
back to his. “I was mated, happily. I shouldn’t remember the incident so
vividly, but I do, Lydia. If I hadn’t been a mated warrior at the time, I
suspect I would have claimed you at that very moment.”