Fallen Star (18 page)

Wishing he’d pulled down the covers before
making himself comfortable, she lay on her side and propped her
head against her hand. “Pretending you don’t feel anything is just
as dishonest as pretending you do. I don’t want that sort of
relationship for us.”

He pulled her toward him until she rested
half on and half off his chest. Their faces were only inches apart.
“Is this a relationship or were you just caught up in the
moment?”

Unless she wanted to push him away, she
better find the courage to be brutally honest. “I know this was
more than just sex. Even as emotion-drunk as I was, I felt the
difference.”

“That’s too bad,” he whispered, his lips
brushing over hers.

Her brow creased and she searched his gaze
for an explanation. “Why is that too bad?”

A slow, sexy smile parted his lips and
desire ignited within his eyes. “I was hoping you’d require a more
elaborate demonstration.” He suddenly rolled, sweeping her beneath
him as he went.

She laughed then sighed as he parted her
thighs with his knees and settled between her legs. “I welcome your
most elaborate demonstration if you answer a question first.”

“All right.” He bent and nipped her earlobe,
obviously not willing to indulge her for long.

“You keep calling me gen-nau-ry or something
like that. What does it mean?”

“
Gennari
is the old Bilarrian word
for sweetheart.” Secrets swam in the depths of his dark eyes. A
hint of red flashed for an instant and then was gone.

“Does it have an alternate meaning?”

“It might.” He chuckled then claimed her
mouth and drove all speculation from her mind.

The following morning Odintar woke up
slowly. He felt contented and lazy for the first time in months,
perhaps years. Jillian cuddled against his side, her head resting
on his shoulder. Their second bout of lovemaking had been nearly as
frantic as their first. He wanted to slow down, to savor every
touch and tingle, but their need seemed to explode as soon as skin
met skin.

Determined to awaken her tenderly, he
stroked his hand down her bare back as he rolled to his side. She
wiggled against him, her leg insinuating itself in between his.
Desire hardened his cock and sizzled through his blood. She was so
soft and warm, inviting his touch with breathless sighs and sensual
arches. How could any mortal man resist?

He’d known touching her would be amazing,
but he hadn’t expected the soul-deep ache to join with her
completely. Although he probably should have. He’d called her
gennari
the first time he held her in his arms. What he’d
told her last night was true. Over the centuries
gennari
had
become a generic endearment, like sweetheart or dear, but it also
had a deeper meaning, one most had forgotten.

When a Bilarrian male encountered his soul’s
mate he declared his intention to claim her by calling her
gennari
in front of her family. Then he pursued her, seduced
her, did everything in his power to convince her to accept him as
mate.

Is that what he wanted from Jillian?

He smiled into her soft hair. Could there
really be a doubt when every molecule of his being ached for
her?

Brushing her hair back from her face, he
kissed his way to her mouth. Her lips parted with the first touch
of his. She whispered his name and passion spiraled through his
body, igniting his senses and stimulating his energy.

No! He would not be swept away by his
desire. She didn’t trust his words, so he would show her how
important she was to him and how wonderful the rest of their lives
could be.

His mouth moved over and against hers, his
tongue gently tracing the space between. She allowed the teasing
dance for a few moments then touched her tongue to his. He sucked,
drawing her tongue into his mouth. She gasped and her fingernails
dug into his back.

He rolled, wanting her beneath him, needing
to feel her arch and wiggle for more of him. Her legs parted
automatically and she tangled her fingers in the back of his hair
as he like to do with her. His tongue slid against hers and curled
around hers, finally slipping between her lips.

Their link vibrated as emotions pulsed from
their minds. He sent a scorching wave of carnal hunger across the
connection and felt her shudder in response. Her body accepted the
exchange without question or reserve, but her mind soon registered
the source of the sudden heat and blocked his access to her
emotions.

Refusing to be deterred by her instinctual
reaction, he concentrated on physical sensations. She needed time
to learn to trust him. If he rushed her, he would likely destroy
the progress they’d made so far.

He made love to her mouth, sharing his
breath and filing her with his tongue. She rubbed against him, her
nipples distinct peaks abrading his chest. Her hands were just as
greedy as his, moving over his back and squeezing his ass.

He shifted his weight to his knees and
reluctantly released her mouth. Their gazes locked and he smiled.
“Good morning,
gennari
,” he whispered then kissed his way
down her throat.

Her breasts were perfect, wonderfully round
with dark pink nipples. He cupped the fullness of one while he
explored the other with his mouth. Her skin was silky against his
lips, her nipple already puckered. He closed his teeth on the very
tip and heard her gasp. “Too hard?”

She shook her head, her fingers combing
through his hair. “Don’t stop.”

“Never.” He sucked firmly on one nipple and
then the other, loving the way she twisted, increasing the
pressure.

The scent of her arousal reached his nose,
stirring the dark, primitive side of his nature. He released her
nipple, leaving it wet and tightly peaked. Scooting down, he paused
to enjoy the sight of her spread before him, arms raised, legs
open, skin deeply flushed. She watched him through passion-muddled
eyes, surrendered and waiting.

He caught the backs of her knees and pushed
her legs wider. She gasped then caught her lower lip between her
teeth. She obviously knew what he meant to do and had no objection.
Bending slowly, he inhaled deeply then traced her slit with his
tongue. She was already slick and soft, ready for their
joining.

Needing to be inside her too badly to deny
himself completely, he pushed his middle finger into her core. Hot,
wet flesh tightened around him, dragging a moan from his throat. He
watched her face as he slid his finger in and out, teasing himself
as much as her.

“Please.” She squeezed him tightly. “I need
more than a finger.”

He chuckled and eased a second finger in
beside the first.

“No.” She caught his wrist, trapping his
fingers deep inside her. “I need you, all of you, inside here.” She
squeezed him again then released his wrist.

He should make her wait, lick her until she
was screaming, but his desire was just as demanding as hers.
Withdrawing his fingers, he bent for another taste, then thrust his
aching cock into her body. She cried out, clutching him so tightly
he felt himself start to come. Discipline alone allowed him to pull
back from the brink.

This was not what he’d imagined when he
kissed her awake. He rocked between her thighs, shuttling in and
out of her snug passage. He threw his head back, reveling in the
heat and motion. His skin felt electric and his blood seemed to
race through his veins.

She cried out and trembled beneath him and
sparks of her pleasure skittered across their connection. His
hoarse cry echoed hers, but he miraculously held back his release.
He would not allow this to end so quickly. He was stronger than
that.

Pulling out was painful, but he wasn’t
without her for long. He flipped her over and drew up her hips.
Easily finding her entrance, he thrust back in and they groaned in
unison. He pulled back his hips and slid in slowly, determined to
prolong their enjoyment. Her energy surrounded his shaft, caressing
him just as tangibly as her body. He shuddered, knowing he wouldn’t
last long if he continued to move.

Instead he drew her up, pressing her back
against his chest. She turned her head sharply, offering her mouth.
The position thrust her breasts forward and he took full advantage
of both offerings. He caressed her breasts with one hand as his
tongue moved in and out of her mouth.

Soon caresses weren’t enough. He wanted to
feel her come around his cock, know she needed him as desperately
as he needed her. With their mouths still clinging, he held her
close with one arm as his other hand moved between her thighs. He
caressed her folds, accenting how tightly she stretched to
accommodate his thickness.

She grew restless beneath his touch, but he
didn’t release her. His middle finger found her clit and her entire
body tensed.
Come for me,
gennari. He pushed the directive
into her mind with a hint of his consuming need.

Her breasts quivered against his forearm and
her core tightened on his shaft. His finger circled and stroked her
clit until pleasure radiated across their link. He didn’t analyze
the development, just accepted her momentary surrender. With his
finger still covering her clit, he bent her forward, supporting her
until she pressed her hands against the bed. Then he pulled back
and drove deep, pairing each thrust with a pass of his finger.

She tossed back her hair and arched, taking
him deeper into her body. Her energy swirled again, stealing his
breath for a moment. He wasn’t sure if she was doing it
intentionally and he really didn’t care. Nothing had ever felt more
amazing than her essence caressing his cock.

Finally lost in the storm, he moved both
hands to her hips and increased his speed. She went down to her
elbows, creating a better angle for his forceful strokes. Hard and
deep, he claimed her body, all the while aware that something was
missing.

Her body couldn’t have been more perfect or
the pleasure more intense. Still, he would always hunger for more
than these physical sensations.

Looking down, he watched his wet cock moving
in and out of her willing body. Lust surged, burning away regret.
Energy gathered at the base of his spine, making his balls
constrict in preparation for an explosive release. The pleasure was
so overwhelming he nearly forgot that she wasn’t ready for his
seed.

His fingers dug into her hips and he gritted
his teeth as he forced himself to pull out. He squeezed his
painfully engorged shaft then frantically stroked until his seed
jetted onto her back.

She collapsed onto the bed with a frustrated
hiss. “I hate it when you do that.”

Her voice was muffled by the covers, but he
understood every word. “I’m protecting you.”

“I know.” She looked back at him, her gaze
sad. “And I appreciate it.”

Unable to conceal his disappointment, he
crawled off the bed and went to the bathroom for a washcloth. He
couldn’t force this. She would open up when she was ready and not
before.

Her arms wrapped around him and she pressed
against his back. “Are you mad at me?”

He turned around and drew her tightly
against him. “I’m not angry.” He wiped up the mess he’d left on her
skin then tossed the washcloth into the sink. “This is hard for
you. I understand that and I’m trying to be patient.”

She ran her hands up his chest and locked
them behind his neck. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met
and I’m so glad you’re in my life. My reluctance has nothing to do
with you.”

He bent and kissed her as his fingers combed
through her hair. “I’ll wait as long as you need and we’ll move
forward as slowly as you like. Just don’t push me away.”

“It’s a deal.” She pushed up to the balls of
her feet and kissed him with tender affection. “Now tell me what
gennari
really means.”

He chuckled as she nibbled at his earlobe.
“It’s a declaration of intent.”

She pulled back, her expression quizzical.
“You’re intent to do what?”

He laughed then lightly slapped her luscious
behind. “I would think that was obvious.” She obviously needed to
hear it and he needed to say it. “I feel a connection with you that
I’ve never felt with anyone else. I want you as my mate.”

Much to his relief she didn’t tense nor did
she pull away. “You’re much too tempting when you’re naked. This
isn’t fair.” She pushed him toward the shower. “And we both smell
like sex!”

Jillian raised the coffee mug toward her
face and inhaled. The coffee shop might be new to her, but the rich
aroma was soothingly familiar. “If we’re finished with the double,
does that mean I can go home?”

“That’s not my call,” Elias told her.
“You’ll have to ask your handler.” His smirk told her he knew just
how well Odintar had “handled” her lately. It didn’t bother her.
She’d handled Odintar just as thoroughly by the time they’d fallen
into an exhausted sleep. And this morning had been even better, an
overwhelming combination of intensity and tenderness.

I feel a connection with you that I’ve
never felt with anyone else. I want you as my mate.
As
proposals went it was rather oddly worded. Still, the possibility
of spending the rest of her life with Odintar was much more
tempting than she expected it would be.

Distracted by the development, she’d
lingered in the shower after they’d finished washing each other.
She hadn’t come to a definitive conclusion, but she hadn’t talked
herself out of it either.

When she finally emerged from her bedroom,
she found Elias and Odintar at the kitchen table deep in
conversation. Odintar made the introductions, explaining that Elias
was part of the human taskforce that was assisting the Mystic
Militia. Elias seemed annoyed by the description, but he hadn’t
argued the point. Instead he told her about a tattoo shop the
Shadow Assassins had been patronizing on a regular basis. They
needed her to apply for the receptionist position and gather as
much intel as she could.