Sarim's Scent (9 page)

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, his mouth pressed against her sensitive flesh. The vibration of his lips against her skin made her thoughts hazy.

“Yes,” came out a croak. Clearing her throat, she answered, “I want to do this.”
More like I need this!
If he were half as good in reality as he was in her dream, she wanted all he had to give.

He stood and helped her to her feet. Quickly scooping her up in his arms, he carried her to his bedroom. She barely had a chance to admire the big and tastefully decorated room. He laid her on his enormous king-size bed. With his eyes pinned to hers, he began to undress. She watched him take off his T-shirt, followed by socks, and then his lounge pants. Her mouth fell open when he stood commando in front of her.

He chuckled. “I need to feel free.”

She nodded in agreement, eyeing the instrument that needed freedom. Something that size would need quite a bit of space. He joined her on the bed, and all thoughts left her mind. His big hands ran over her body, quickly removing the rest of her clothes. She was on fire, burning up. She became his instrument to play with. Starting where he’d stopped in the living room, he kissed her belly button and then licked it. He then kissed her pubic hair and inhaled.

“God, you smell good,” he whispered softly before kissing her private lips. He then kissed a little lower, closing his mouth over her pleasure button. She jumped, and he held her down while he feasted on her. Her feminine muscles clenched before a spasm of pleasure shot through her body. She heard someone scream, not realizing or caring that it was her.

She was vaguely aware of Ivan entering her, stretching her, and filling her completely. He began moving, sending delicious sensations through her. Her body responded, and soon she was lifting her body, instinctively meeting his thrusts, caught in the swirl of ecstasy. She became his instrument again, and he played her like a clarinet. She gave herself to him completely. She was his to command.

Closing her eyes, she lost herself in the wonderful sensations filling her. She felt the tension begin to build deep within her again. She called Ivan’s name after he gave her another achingly satisfying thrust. Unable to slow the process, another orgasm rocked her body. Ivan let out a hoarse cry as he found fulfillment and released his seed inside of her. Spent and boneless, Victoria closed her eyes. A tender kiss brushed her forehead, and for the first time in her life she slept sated and comfortably at peace.

Ivan curled an arm around Victoria’s nude body. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the guilt and inner turmoil raging inside of him. He could not make love with her anymore until he told her the truth. If she had opened her eyes while they were having sex, she would have seen the mate’s glow, and he could offer her no explanation without revealing everything to her. At this point, he still couldn’t tell her the truth because he had given his father his word.

He didn’t realize the full extent of his lies until he heard her screaming “Ivan” during her release. His mate did not even know his real name. She only knew him as Ivan, a character he was playing. Guilt ricocheted through him. He knew from experience the sex shouldn’t have been that intense and sensual. However, as mates the sex would be mind-blowing each time they came together. Every instance of lovemaking would strengthen their bond and mental connection. Of course, Victoria couldn’t know that. There was a special place in hell for him.

Victoria woke up feeling tired. She yawned again and laid her head back on the pillow. Making love with Ivan must have really taken something out of her. Rolling over, she prepared to nuzzle against Ivan’s chest when she realized she was alone. Pain and anger were about to engulf her until her eyes landed on a note sitting on the dresser beside the bed. Nervous, she sat up and read it.

Had to go out and take care of some business. May be gone until dinner. Go shopping and buy yourself something nice. My treat. My credit card is in the drawer. See you later.

Ivan

P.S. Catch a cab to Triangle Mall. Cab fare in drawer.

Opening the drawer, she picked up his platinum American Express card. Her heartbeat picked up. This could be fun. She did need more clothes. Spring was in the air and all she had with her was heavy winter wear.

Her eyes misted at Ivan’s thoughtfulness. He knew her funds were limited and that she lacked clothes suitable for warmer weather. How sweet of him to do this.

Placing the credit card on top of the note, she dropped back in bed and allowed her mind to drift back to last night. After their amazing first time together, she had fallen asleep in Ivan’s arms. She had woken up in the middle of the night with him whispering in her ear, hard and thick inside of her. She was surprised to find her body ready for him, and they enjoyed another intensely pleasurable experience. She fell asleep again, tired, but deeply satisfied and content.

Her smile faded as an important thought occurred to her. She shot to a sitting position, a ball of uncertainty forming in her stomach. Ivan hadn’t used a condom at all last night, and she wasn’t on birth control.

Sitting up straighter, she tried to remember when she last had her period. It wasn’t due for another two and a half to three weeks. She should be safe. But she couldn’t take any more chances. She had to get on some form of birth control. Rubbing her belly, she allowed herself to imagine being pregnant. The thought of having Ivan’s baby was pleasant. She was sure the child would be beautiful, but right now was a little too early to be contemplating such ideas. She needed to make an appointment with a gynecologist and soon if last night were any indicator of Ivan’s sex drive.

Figuring she had enough of lying around, Victoria got out of bed and winced, her body a little sore from the new activities she had been involved in. She went in the bathroom and turned the shower on. Stopping in front of the mirror above the sink, she studied her reflection while brushing her teeth. Her eyes sparkled and for the first time in a long time, she looked happy. Hell, she was happy. What woman wouldn’t be? She was starting a relationship with her dream man, who was considerate, thoughtful, and amazing in bed. She felt secure and cherished for the first time in her life.

She rinsed her mouth out and studied her reflection again. Her skin was clearer, which was unusual. She usually had breakouts of some kind. They were small, but they always cleared up in one area of her face and reappeared in another. Her teeth looked whiter as well. She was overdue for a cleaning, yet her teeth looked sparkly white. Come to think about it, Ivan had sparkly white teeth as well-must be the toothpaste. Further inspection showed her tattoo still on the side of her neck, and more pronounced than before. The colors were deeper. The hands were a deeper brown color, darker than her brown skin, and the flower in the palm of the hands was a deep purple. It kept getting weirder and weirder. No wonder Ivan had asked her where she had gotten it done. She sighed and walked back to the bedroom to towel off. Now was definitely the time to tell him the truth about who she was looking for and about the tattoo. She would do it tonight when he came home and had had a chance to unwind.

With the strangeness of her issues, she was sure he wouldn’t hold it against her for not divulging them earlier. It wasn’t like she was hiding some big agenda from him or had been lying about what she was doing. She valued truth and loyalty. She hoped he would understand her hesitancy in revealing everything to him.

Victoria had spent the last few hours hitting all five levels of the mall, and she was almost shopped out. Her arms were tired from lugging all her bags around. Yep, this would be the last shop before she went outside and caught a cab home.

As she was passing the food court, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Someone was watching her. Glancing around, her eyes stopped on an older gentleman sitting at one of the nearby tables with a plate of food. He stared at her with a peculiar expression on his face. He looked to be in his forties and was very attractive in a way that reminded her of someone else. She couldn’t put her finger on who, though. Was he watching her? She continued walking, a little faster this time. Feeling eyes on her again, she spun around. The man was reading a newspaper. She shook her head at her wild imagination. Thoughts of being watched left her mind as she was greeted by a sales clerk standing outside of Elizabeth’s Secret.
I need some sexy underwear.
Victoria stepped inside the store, unaware of the eyes following her.

Sarim watched the woman enter the clothing store. He believed she was his heir, but since there were so many humans and other overwhelming smells, he could not be one hundred percent sure until she was away from the crowds. He had left host quarters as soon as he’d finished migrata. Once he stepped aboveground and was in fresh air, he recognized the scent.

After making sure he wasn’t being observed or trailed, he had pursued the smell and arrived at the mall. Once there, the scent mixed in with odors from the other dozens of people milling about. He recognized the various illnesses, lust, human food, blood. Not to mention other irritating smells, like the sewer for instance. He was almost about to give in to the temptation of tasting the sweet, powerful blood flowing so freely around him when the delicate scent reached his nose. Thoughts of draining the pretty young girl who walked too close to him left his mind. He let the scent lead him inside the mall, through stores, up and down escalators until he sat near her at the food court.

Now he watched her wander through the racks of intimate clothing near the store’s entrance. He could not believe that months of searching had led him to this moment. She was perfect. She was tall for a female, but not too tall. She looked about 5’9”, and had a solid build, not too slender and not too big. She would be an excellent breeder. Her attire was not appropriate for a female Taalib Duma, but she would be convinced to wear what was custom for Soga women of rank. Just as his thoughts turned to ways she could be convinced, the woman looked up, and he got a direct view of her face. All the ways he could ensure her obedience flew from his brain. She was the mirror image of the female he had cohabited with during his time in the human world. What was her name? He searched his memories for the moniker, but couldn’t recall it. Oh well, at this point it didn’t really matter. What mattered was the product of that union was standing less than a hundred feet away from him. If they were not in such a crowded place, he would snatch her away and inhale her scent fully before taking her into his world, her new home.

Standing outside the mall, Victoria attempted to hail a cab. A difficult task to accomplish without losing the numerous bags she held. She had gotten more than enough items to see her through spring and probably summer as well. She was happy with her new selections and couldn’t wait to get back to the condo to show them to Ivan, maybe even model them. A cab finally responded to her frantic waving and stopped before her. As she loaded her items into the backseat, she shivered. Goose bumps covered her neck and arms. Turning warily, she had the feeling she was being watched again. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she scanned the area and didn’t notice anyone or anything out of the ordinary. She got inside the cab, slammed the door, then leaned up to give the cabbie the address. She sat back in her seat, unable to relax and shake the eerie feeling she had a stalker.

Sarim had gotten close enough to watch her load her things into the car, get in, and watch her ride away. The scent was stronger, and he was almost certain it was her. There was only one way to be sure and that was by getting her by herself; away from other humans. On a hunch, he decided to follow the cab. There was no room for error and too much was riding on the female being what he needed. Moving faster than the human eye could see, he ran behind the cab, weaving in and out of traffic.

Sarim slowed as the cab entered an affluent townhouse neighborhood. How did she live in such a nice area? Was she single or married? Did she already have children? He let his mind wander over these thoughts and how they would formulate in his plans. He watched the cab stop and the woman unload her bags and pay the cab driver. After the cab left, she dragged her bags to 14F. She patted her pockets and then kicked the mat in front of the door aside. She seemed to have lost something. Ahh, her keys it would seem. He looked around, not seeing anyone and decided the time was perfect. He inhaled deeply. Elation filled him. Yes, she was his heir! The exact same scent had haunted him during resting periods and his dreams. Success was his!

What would be his best move? Now that he was one hundred percent sure, he needed to execute his plan flawlessly, requiring a more careful plan than he had originally anticipated. He would observe her for a while longer to find out more about her, which would help him ascertain the best husband and help him learn enough to gain leverage over the situation. Sarim felt more certain than ever the Soga Brotherhood would retain control and there wasn’t a damn thing any other Taalib Dumas could do about it.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn’t see the tall male walking up behind her. His heir turned around and smiled at him. He must be her significant other. Too bad, Sarim thought, he may have to kill him if he became a problem. As if sensing someone was nearby watching them, the male turned around in his direction, allowing Sarim a complete look at his face.

They stared at each other. Sarim could feel the shock streaming from his blazing eyes. Khafil returned Sarim’s stare with a smile and smug satisfaction. For the first time in his immortal life, Sarim was shocked. No words came to mind. He watched his loyal protector Khafil turn toward his heir.