Unforgettable Lover (3 page)

Nicholai averted his gaze. He wanted nothing to do with the couple in the bushes, but his body responded, his pants painfully tight from his erection. Adjusting himself, he concentrated on tracking his female.

Hour after hour she led him on the chase, but he refused to give up, to search out another. She was his prize and he wouldn’t stop. The full moon taunted him, as if laughing at his progress, or lack thereof. He clenched his teeth. Down by the river, he paused by a boulder to catch his breath.

Her unique scent became stronger.

She was close by. 

He almost surrendered to the urge to shift into his beast, but he held fast. Larger than most of the Stiyaha, he didn’t want to hurt her in his beast form. Besides, he wanted to minimize the risk of a bonding and staying in human form increased his odds.

Movement behind a tree caught his eye. His pinpoint vision picked up a wisp of blond hair turned silvery in the moonlight. The delicate locks appeared soft like the tufts of milkweed seeds. The tips of his fingers tingled as if eager to touch the silken strands. 

His beast roared inside, but he didn’t make a sound, not wanting to give himself away. He tracked her, the scent of honey filtering into his soul, burning her brand on him. As he got closer, his need to rut caused his shaft to harden in his pants. The strain made him edgy, eager. 

She must’ve sensed him, for she bolted, leaving the safety of her hiding spot behind an old oak.

The chase was on, but they weren’t alone. 

Another male burst from behind a giant fir, hot on her trail. Determination burned in Nicholai’s gut—he wouldn’t let the other male win. He focused on the competition, taking him down with a swift tackle. In beast form, the other male was stronger, but Nicholai used his quick hands to bash the male’s ears. The beast let out a howl and scrambled away, into the forest.

As his opponent retreated, the surrounding quiet enveloped Nicholai. He searched for the female among the trees. Her scent indicated she was still near. He crept between the giant firs, eager for another glimpse. Not far away, she sprinted from behind a large boulder.

As they raced through the trees, Nicholai caught glimpses of her fine figure. A dark short sleeved shirt fitted her body, accentuating her firm breasts. Long, elegant legs couldn’t hide beneath the short skirt that accentuated her hips. Black gloves covered her hands, extending mid-way up her forearms. Each time he spotted her, he learned more about the female he pursued. She intrigued him, and he intensified the hunt. 

He closed the distance in a matter of moments. The excitement of the chase and the thrill of the catch were like a drug in his system. He craved more.

As he took her down, he expected softness and curves. Instead, her delicate skin covered a muscular build that took him by surprise. His beast responded, eager to couple with this strong, virile female. At the last moment he spun, using his own body to cushion their fall.

Ahhhh.
Her cry rang in his ears and burrowed down into his soul. A sense of masculine pride and possessiveness filled his chest, a need so raw he couldn’t deny its power over him. A thin veil of red blurred his vision, the power of the full moon on the summer solstice taking its toll on his psyche.  

The spongy earth, covered in moss and small bits of grass, provided the perfect blanket of softness. Cradling her in his arms as he lay on his back, he gazed upon her masked face for the first time. 

Vibrant blue eyes encased with long lashes stared back at him through the holes in her disguise. High cheekbones, flushed from her exertion, were visible beneath the edge of her mask. Although her nose was hidden behind the tip of the material, ruby red lips provided enough details to spark his imagination. 

On top of him, her chest rose and fell in tune with her panted breaths. The skin on her bare arms rubbed against his chest causing the nerve endings to tingle. She struggled against him, her lithe body pressing into his crotch and his hard, hyper-sensitive cock. Apparently, she wasn’t done with the chase even though he’d already caught her. 

Her lips pursed and her eyes glowed with her determination, yet a slow smile curved at the corner of her mouth. His cock jerked at her play. 

Using his preternatural strength, he flipped her over, encasing her in his arms. A small giggle burst from her throat. That was all the invitation he needed. He captured her lips in a bruising kiss. She wrapped her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer. 

Her boldness enveloped him with a sense of euphoria. She pressed her lips against him with a force he hadn’t anticipated. A surge of desire raced through his body, pumping more blood into his already engorged organ. 

A soft whimper escaped her lips. He licked the soft tissue at the opening to her mouth, requesting entrance. She opened to him, and their tongues joined together. The sensation drove him mad with lust. 

She relaxed under his ministrations, her arms letting go of the tension, her body conforming to his. He became aware of her blouse and the skirt covering her bottom and thighs. The annoying material needed to go.

He leaned back onto his knees, straddling her body with his legs. She ran her fingers up his arms, lighting up every nerve along the way. She stilled then through the gloves, she raked her nails down his chest. When she reached his abdominal muscles, she traced every line with a single gloved finger. His sensitive skin warmed at her touch. Behind the mask, her eyes sparkled in feminine appreciation. Her admiring gaze made him smile. 

While she continued her exploration, he worked on the buttons of her blouse. His fingers fumbled with the small fasteners, and his blood pressure spiked along with his frustration. Unwilling to continue this struggle, he ripped the shirt in two. 

He stilled. A seashell lined with gold hung from a chain around her throat. As pretty as it was, the bauble couldn’t compare to her natural beauty. As the cool air hit her exposed skin, visible goosebumps formed, and her nipples peaked. His gaze roamed her face, taking in every visible detail outside of the mask. He wanted to rip that off, too, but held to the ritual’s rules.

He ran a finger down the side of one of her breasts, circling the skin until he reached the center. He gave the delicate bud a gentle squeeze. A low moan escaped her lips, and she arched her back beneath him. Her gloved fingers dug into his biceps, increasing his desire. He captured her left hand and tugged on the mitt.

She jerked from his grasp, her index finger moving back and forth. Her pursed lips amused him, but he’d abide by her decision.

He tugged at her skirt, his beast rooting him onward. She wiggled beneath him, helping to rid herself of the confining garment. He moved down as he released her from the material, and she kicked the mini-skirt into the air. The clothing landed on the branch of a nearby tree. Her shoes slipped off her feet, leaving her naked except for her gloves and her mask.

Her laugh was like the gentle calm of a bubbling stream. He’d remember the soft twitter forever. His heart clenched. He forced the strange feelings to the back of his mind. This was all about the ritual, nothing more. He couldn’t allow himself to get attached, not for her sake. 

He kneeled at her feet, taking in her luscious body. His eyes riveted to the small tuft of curls at the opening of her sex. All thoughts except one fled his mind. His cock strained against his pants, eager to be freed. 

His beast wanted to transform and take this female as the night demanded. He wouldn’t take her that way though. He wanted to experience her in human form, but he couldn’t remember why. Whether that was to maintain control of his beast or remember their time together, his fogged mind didn’t know. His reason mattered not for he couldn’t deny what was in his heart. 

His breaths came hard and fast as he compromised, allowing the beast to rule him in human form. His beast wanted to mark her, brand her as his. A loud guttural cry broke the night air. A moment passed before he realized the sound came from his own throat.

She must’ve sensed his frustration, for she pulled at his belt to free him. Her fingers worked fast, the buttons of his pants undone in mere moments. His cock sprung forth, released from the torturing confines of his trousers.

She brought her hands to her lips and scooted away, onto her knees, her eyes wide. Did she fear him? Would she reject him now? He held his breath, unwilling to move even an inch.

Chapter Five

Leonna stared at the fine male specimen kneeling before her. At almost seven feet tall, he was large, even for a Stiyaha male. Muscular arms and wide shoulders tapered down to well-defined abdominal muscles. His long, firm shaft stood out from his body, as if begging for her touch. The length and breadth of him had sent her scurrying to get a better look. She wouldn’t deny him, or herself. 

She extended her hand and froze. Her breath caught in her throat. She still wore her gloves. If she took them off, he’d see her missing fingers and could easily identify her. 

His body tensed, and his abdominal muscles clenched tight, making his cock bob in invitation.

She glanced at his face. Behind his mask, the perfect blue eyes she’d seen earlier were now flecked with bits of amber. He frowned and moistened his plump lip with his tongue. 

He thinks I’m rejecting him.
 

He’d saved her from the other male. To deny him was the last thought on her mind. That he refused to force himself on her spoke volumes about his character. Her heart melted for this wonderful male.

She glanced at the marking, the one she’d seen as soon as he’d caught her. Three dark, concentric rings circled his shoulder—courage, conviction, and duty. Each male was born with a unique design on his body that portrayed the values most important to him. Only one male in the Keep had these lines—Prince Nicholai. 

Thankful for the mask and the gloves, she could never let him know that he’d rutted with a merchant’s daughter. She clamped her lips tight. She mustn’t speak for he’d be able to recognize the timbre of her voice. Eager to enjoy Betram and the gift of this beautiful male, she committed herself to him, just for tonight. She wrapped her gloved hand around his shaft and squeezed. His body jerked in response and a low growl emitted from his chest.

He gripped her arms and pulled her into his embrace. His unique scent of cloves and fresh rain permeated her senses. One hand trailed up her back to the base of her neck, capturing her head in his palm. His fingers from his free hand traced over the curve of her bottom and pulled her against his hot, hard cock. A surge of desire moistened the spot between her legs. 

He brought her mouth to his and gave her a gentle kiss. Under the heated conditions of Betram, his tender onslaught broke through her thin veil of control. She wanted this male, needed him inside her. Her own beast took control. A growl vibrated from her chest. He responded in kind, and their combined rumble melded together.

When he broke the kiss, she stared into his eyes. Now a deep amber, they glowed with the fire they’d built between them. With a quickness born from his beast, he removed his pants, his shoes coming off in the process. 

He stalked her, crawling forward. A smile crossed his lips. With the grace born from his warrior skills, he flipped her around, and her knees dug into the soft earth. In her surprise, she latched on to his arm that wrapped around her waist.

Pressed back to front, his hard shaft lay against her inside thigh. Born of need, a soft whimper rose from her lips. He kissed the back of her ear, the nerves in the tender skin flaring from his touch. Working the fingers of his free hand down the base of her neck he lingered for a moment on the neck chain, tracing the links to the shell that rested between the creases of her cleavage. Cupping one of her heavy breasts, he tweaked her nipple with his finger. 

The dampness between her legs increased. He slid his cock between her thighs, rubbing against her sensitive folds. The tip of his shaft poked through her soft hairs and emerged between her legs. She rubbed the exquisite end, enjoying how he jerked under her care. 

He hissed, and the sound built the sexual tension between them. As he continued to pump back and forth, rubbing against her warm, wet flesh, she shuddered with delight. She matched his rhythm, riding him like a powerful animal. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against his shoulder.

Her breathing increased as she let her excitement build. He touched her clit, and she jerked. His deep chuckle resonated from his chest, and she adored how it settled into her own, stroking her on the inside. He circled her bud with care while his shaft continued to slide between her creases. The rush of blood from her head to her core brought stars to her eyes. As the orgasm crested, she cried out, unable to contain her pleasure.

He held her close, kissing the soft spot behind her ear as she calmed. His lavish attention was something she’d never experienced. She longed for more, but all they had was tonight.

She pulled away from his embrace and placed her hands on the ground. Turning to look at him, she gave him a sly smile. She arched her back, rubbing her wetness all over his shaft. His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed, focused solely on her.

He gripped her hips, holding her in place. Thrusting forward, he rubbed over her tender clit. She let out a hiss at the strong sensation. He pulled back and when he thrust again, he teased her by pushing against her opening. The head of his cock stretched her, but then he pulled back. He approached her again, this time going in a bit further. He slid along her folds, and she tingled on the verge of another orgasm. 

His grip on her hips tightened, as if he were on the edge himself. She arched against him, and this time he entered her all the way to the hilt. He stretched her, his fullness almost more than she could bear. He stilled, letting her adjust to his size. 

When she’d accepted him, she moved in a gentle rhythm. He matched her and together they picked up speed. Faster and faster, until the sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the night air. The shell beat against her chest to the rhythm, and, for a brief instance, she wanted the good luck to be about them.