Mine to Take (4 page)

Misinterpreting his look for one of dissatisfaction, Jenise quickly said, “It is just this one time; you need not—”

“You are untouched.” He spoke tonelessly.

As if he had just discovered that she had committed an unspeakable crime!

Jenise frowned. She had hoped to keep that truth from him. “How do you know that?”

At that point Gian was thinking that he had been captured, chained to a wall, drugged, deprived of female company for days on end, and now this! A
maiden.

He exhaled noisily, slapping the palms of his hands against the wall behind her with a dull thud.

Jenise peeked up at him through her gold-tipped lashes. “Is there something wrong?”

His eyes kindled. He slammed the wall again. “No…no…why would you think that?” He glared down at her.

She bit her lip. “A guess?”

“Do you know anything about Familiars?”

Jenise dropped her eyes, slightly embarrassed. What she had heard couldn’t possibly be true. “Some,” she answered evasively.

He raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

“Very well…little.”

“Fine. Then I will tell you something about the males. We—how shall I phrase this?” His tone was sarcastic. “We prefer to engage in intense loveplay.”

Jenise listened closely, nodding her head slightly. Yes, that was what she had heard. What was his problem?

“Prolonged
loveplay,” he stressed, since she didn’t seem to be understanding him.

“Well, that is not possible. We must make haste to depart—”

“Exactly.”

“—as soon as you are done. It should not take long. You misunderstand me if you think I am interested in pleasure. I am not.”

“I understand you think the first time will not be pleasurable; but I assure you I can make it so for you if—”

“No.”

“No?”

She lifted her chin. “I simply want this done and done quickly.”

Gian’s sharp gaze ran over her determined features. A hissing little cat. His hand cupped her face. “Listen to me, Creamcat. You do not know what you are asking. It would be better for us both if we—”

She shook her head. “No. We had a pact, Familiar, you promised.”

Gian ran his finger down her pert nose, his expression contemplative. He seemed to be weighing his alternatives. And the consequences of those alternatives.

As always, it did not take Guardian of the Mist very long to come to a decision.

“Turn and face the wall.”

“Wh-what?”

“There is not much time; do as I say.”

Gingerly, she turned.

“Drop your cloak.” She did as he asked. A pastel pink diaphanous gown clung to her curves. “Unclasp the gown.”

With a shaking hand, she undid the broach near her shoulder which held the garment up. It slithered to the stone floor.

A deep, growling sound of hunger issued from the male throat behind her.

Jenise closed her eyes, trying to still her shaking. Rumor said these Familiars were half-wild when they made love.

A hoarse, rumbling voice spoke from behind her, near her ear, sending tremors down her exposed throat. “I ask you one last time. Wait until a better moment.”

Jenise opened her eyes, turning to gape at him over her shoulder. “Why would I wait? What purpose would there be in that? The whole point is to get this over with to—”

She gasped, for he had wrapped her hair around his powerful wrist, tugging her head back so their lips almost
but not quite touched. His expressive eyes burned as he looked down at her.

Then he spoke in words she could not understand. Familiar tongue?

“Gian Ren K’tea…

Ei mahana ne Tuan

Gian Ren K’mea sut la.

Ei re Tuan

Taj Gian Ren litna K’shintauk rehan.

A jhan vri re Tuan.”

Jenise furrowed her brow at the strange words. Although it was not visible to the eye, she had an Aviaran translator device implanted in her temple. Apparently it did not work on this dialect.

Was this recital something all Familiars did before they engaged in sexual relations? It was an odd ritual; for truly the words sounded ritualistic.

She didn’t have time to think further about the strange phrases, for it was then she noticed that an exotic, enthralling scent was beginning to encloak her. It took her a moment to realize it was the Familiar’s sexual scent!

She had heard of this as well; of how their scents could entangle a woman and bring her to offer herself up to him.
Offer anything he desired…

Briefly, she closed her eyes, inhaling the luscious aroma. The essence reminded her of rare
krinang
spice, evocative of nights on the high desert plains. Dry, hot breezes and sultry, tropical storms. Crisp, tantalizing dreams.

It was a scent that provoked feminine sexual surrender. Compelling, commanding, promising…

The aroma hinted of his luscious flavor.

Jenise moaned, trying not to fall prey to his overwhelming allure. How would she ever forget this scent? Would
she dream of it in future? Be cursed to want him whenever a touch of its elusive essence teased her memory?

Curiously, she noted that his mysterious eyes were dilating yet more. That was odd, considering that it had been a while since he had been drugged and the dilation should be lessening, not increasing.

Jenise did not think this dilation was the result of the drugs. It seemed to be some prelude to—

He captured her in his hypnotic gaze and she could not seem to look away! Green and gold depths, sensual and lambent, became her entire universe. She found herself looking into the man’s soul of passion.

There was a wildness to him that would never be controlled.

He was feral at heart.

Jenise shivered again. He was more alien than she had initially thought. What was more, she realized that rumors rarely circulated without having some basis in fact. And some of those stories! Even if only a quarter of them were true…

She had made a mistake! A grievous mistake.

She was no match for him; he would consume her with his ravenous Familiar appetite! Jenise tried to pull back, but it was too late.

His
mouth descended firmly to claim hers.

Velvet lips parting slightly, he captured her in a taking that seared her with animalistic passion. He tasted of the untamed.

Panicked, she struggled under his mouth, trying to break the overwhelming contact.

The Familiar held her fast to him.

He inhaled her rapid exhalation deep into his lungs as if he were taking her very life into himself. Jenise blinked. She could not breathe!

Frantic, she tried to turn all the way in his arms but
he held her immobile. The room began to swirl around her as she grew faint; she wondered if she had been a fool to trust him, after all. What did she know about his capabilities? Could these Familiars kill by stealing one’s breath?

A sound of despair flowed from her mouth into his.

Once again, he surprised her.

With a surge of force he respired into her mouth, giving her back her breath, which was now mingled with his own spicy scent. At least, she assumed it was partly her breath.

Greedily, she inhaled this rush of warm life, clinging to his tenacious lips. At her action, he
pur-r-red
deeply into her mouth.

He lifted his lips from hers. His white teeth captured her bottom lip, which he then released gradually as he pulled back from her. Murmuring something resonant and sultry, he turned her completely away from him so that she faced the wall again.

“Place your hands against the stone.” He breathed huskily in her ear, his mouth skirting around the lobe, his tongue swirling its delicate folds.

With her hair still tightly wrapped around his wrist, he continued to hold her fast. Tangled in the strands, his strong fingers splayed against her scalp. A muscular arm came around her waist to pull her back taut against him.

The length of him was hard and hot.

Jenise couldn’t seem to stop her trembling. “Please,” she whispered, willing him to finish and be done with it. He gave her one final chance.

“Tell me to stop,” he growled. Short, hot gusts of his breath skittered along her shoulder blade.

As much as the confines of his strict hold on her would allow, she shook her head no.

A snarl escaped his lips, a cross between anger and satisfaction. With no hesitation whatsoever, his teeth clamped down on the back of her neck to grasp her sharply in their grip.

Jenise cried out in alarm.
What was he doing?
Frightened, she tried to writhe free but could not.

Decisively, he thrust forward.

In one swift movement, he pierced her maiden’s membrane with a powerful stroke. Jenise’s knees buckled as shock and pain hit her.

The Familiar released her hair to clasp her hands in his. He steadied her against the wall, still deeply embedded in her.

Jenise gulped in air, trying to find her breath against this terrible invasion. She felt him above her and behind her and in her as he, too, fought for his breath and, perhaps, his control.

They seemed to stay like that for an eternity, yet in actuality it could only have been a few moments. It was curious but Jenise noticed that they were starting to breathe together. In and out, in and out, their breaths were the only thing moving between them, like waves flowing together…

Her tense muscles gradually began to relax, liquefying into him. It occurred to her that he might be deliberately calming her with his even pacing. His rugged chest rose and fell against her back; his compelling scent gently lulled her now.

Jenise closed her eyes, leaning back into him.

A murmur of approval rolled from his chest. His large, skilled hands dropped to the curve of her hips. The tips of his fingernails scraped up over her hipbones. Simultaneously the edges of his clean teeth grazed up the sensitive side of her neck.

It was an incredibly erotic ploy.

Jenise shivered, but not from fear. The arousing action had whetted her interest in what was to come.

Which was as Gian intended. There was a pulling friction as he abruptly withdrew from her.

Shocked, she stared at him over her shoulder.

He released her, stepping back, away. “There is not much time,
taja.
We must leave now.”

Jenise was stunned. “But you…that is…you have not…”

Strong fingers cupped her chin. He smiled faintly. “No, I have not.”

A small line of puzzlement furrowed between her brows. “Why?”

“Because you have said you do not want pleasure and so I cannot take mine either.”

Jenise flushed. She hadn’t meant that he should not find his own satisfaction! It would have been too cruel to expect that of any man. “Surely you did not think I meant you!”

Gian grinned. He couldn’t help himself. How little she knew about his kind.

Well, that would change soon.

This creamcat was very engaging and the journey to Aviara would be most entertaining. Not to mention enlightening. For both of them.

He bent over to whisper against her mouth, “I thank you for being so considerate of
my
welfare.” His lips brushed hers teasingly. He sipped the pink skin delicately. Just a hint of touch. “But I never said I was
finished.”

It took a moment for the meaning of his words to sink in; Jenise was drowning in the expert touch of that succulent male mouth.

She blinked as her sanity returned. “Unfortunately, Familiar, you
are
finished. You have done what I asked
and now I will honor the rest of our agreement. We will attempt to make Tunnel point together. As for anything else between us, that is over.”

Gian gave her an amused, knowing look which calmly refuted the statement. In the past, he had often told his younger blood relative Rejar that a Familiar was never finished until he was good and finished. Gian was far from good and finished.

In fact, he had not yet begun.

“I will be glad to explore this unique interpretation with you later; now, am I to assume one of these keys opens the door?” He held up the key chain, dangling it from his fingers.

The man made such a splendid picture standing there—sleekly muscled and completely nude, with tawny golden skin and magnificent hair, which was slightly tousled—she was inclined to let his assumption rest until she had a chance to clarify her position.

Jenise smiled slowly. At least she would have the pleasure of looking at him during this portion of her adventure, especially if he continued to go about without clothes on.

Her eyes traveled the length of him. He was, to say the least, extraordinary. A surge of unbidden desire startled her. Was it because of what they had just done or
not
done?

She gathered her wits about her. “No, they do not open the door. I am supposed to call to the guards.” Retrieving her garment and cloak, she quickly donned them. A lingering tremor assailed her; she would think about what had occurred in this room at a later, safer time. For now they must focus on escape.

Gian’s green/gold eyes flashed in secret knowledge. He knew exactly how she had been looking at him. And
why.
“How many guards are out there?”

“Three.”

“Good.” He placed himself behind the door. “Now scream, woman who seeks no pleasure.”

He was going to be difficult, of that she was certain. Jenise rolled her eyes and screamed as loudly as she could.

The guards came rushing in.

In the blink of an eye the Familiar took all three down. He moved so fast, she couldn’t even distinguish the individual motions. Never had she seen anyone move in such a way, with deadly accuracy and feline grace.

Impressed, she raised an eyebrow as she caught his eye.

Nonchalantly, he held the door open for her. As if he hadn’t just rendered three highly trained men unconscious without ruffling a hair on his gorgeous head!

As she strolled through the door, Gian took the opportunity to run his palm over her cloaked backside.

Stopping short, Jenise gasped. Up until a short time ago, she was the heir apparent. Men did not do such things to women who had that kind of power.