Oasis of Eden (11 page)

“Please, Eli—”

“Shhh, Zsa-ninah. I’m almost ready.”

“I’m more than ready.” Her voice sounded like a sobbing fool’s.

He repeated the entire pattern of bites, and Jade was positive she would die from three different causes of death at once: the pain, the pleasure, and the anticipation.

Placing his hand on the inside of her thigh, he pushed her knee to a bent position and slid his fingers up her leg. He circled her soaked opening and groaned. Jade raised her bitten bottom a few inches in invitation.

“Oh, yes,” he murmured, and as if she were nothing more than a rag doll, he flipped her onto her back, his fingers delving into every crevasse of her creamy folds. A fluffy pillow beneath her head allowed her to watch him play—no, worship—her body.

“Use your tongue, Eli,” she pleaded just above a whisper.

He positioned himself so that his mouth hovered over her. His excited breath heated her mound, the humidity adding to her moisture. Bracing himself on his elbows, he spread her wide with his thumbs, exposing her flesh to the air. One of his thumbs slowly rubbed back and forth over her sweet spot, and he watched it pop back into place each time.

“You are so stiff and hot,” he said as if it pained him to admit it.

“Eli,” she moaned. “Stop teasing me and get to it.”

He chuckled. “Just a few more kisses?” His lips kissed the tip of her clitoris with just enough pressure that she noticed.

“Eli!” she called out, her voice demanding his attentions. At once his mouth covered her, drawing her swollen skin between his lips, and tonguing her so fast she could have died.

With a primitive cry, she came. Hard.

Chapter Nine

During her recovery from the little death, Eli had rested his cheek on her mound, his hands cradling the sides of her still-stinging bottom. The weight of his head sustained the buzzing between her legs and left her feeling like she’d been stealing sips of brandy—her skin heated, her head fuzzy, and her body randy as spring time.

He hadn’t moved for some time, and she feared he’d fallen asleep. “Eli, you alright or have you left us?”

Eli nuzzled her kitty with his cheek, causing her breath to catch. “I remain.”

Jade laughed. He was so literal sometimes. “Good, because it’s your turn.”

Lifting his head, his languorous gaze met hers, and a wicked grin spread across his lips. “I agree, Zsa-ninah.”

She couldn’t help but smile when he rolled over and drew her to rest upon his chest. Memorizing the sharp angles of his face, she watched him. Would he ask her now? Jade adjusted her position and hoped he didn’t notice that she had inched herself lower on his body. That beautiful cock of his must have been mere inches from the juncture of her thighs. She brought her knees together for a blind assessment.

Eli groaned when she trapped him between her legs, the head kissing her neither lips. His breath hissed inward when she arched her back and applied a bit more pressure, reaching for him, longing to take in his thick length.

Still no question tumbled from his lips as she thought it would. Jade ached for him—ached to hear him ask her for it. His cock twitched, dabbing at her opening, and Jade’s heart beat soared, her breath drawing in and out of her lungs in soft pants. There was no turning back now.

“Are you trying to drive me mad?” Eli’s voice rasped.

She could only pant. Her speaking voice couldn’t be trusted.

He appraised her face with a sweeping gaze, and after a few long, torturous moments of silence, he placed his hands on her hips and held her with a fierce grip.

Jade squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the impact that would surely be rapturous, but still he held himself from her. She felt him tremble and peered up at him, first with one eye then both. He watched her, a question coupled with frustration and longing etched lines across his forehead.

“I-I…”

What could she say that he couldn’t already see on her face?

“What, Zsa-ninah?” he said through clenched teeth. “What is your desire?”

Unable to hold back, tears filled her vision. She took a shuttering breath. “I want y-you.” Her voice trembled in sync with her pounding heart.

Eli brought his cock in contact with the warm juncture of her thighs again, his strong hands still gripping her hips tight. She could see the arrogant triumph in his eyes. “What was that? I didn’t hear you.”

Gads, but he was beautiful even when he dominated her like some alpha wolf controlling his mate. Her own wild imagination excited her all the more. “You! I want you!” Her voice shook, but she didn’t care.

He teased her again, sliding his cock over her smooth folds. “You want only me?”

Jade could say nothing, so she just nodded.

“Say it—say you want only me.”

She groaned and tilted her pelvis toward his, but he pulled her hips away enough so that she couldn’t reach him. “I want you, Eli. Only you.”

Satisfaction flashed in his eyes a heartbeat before he spiked into her.

The sensation was so pure, his aim perfect. Jade’s orgasm rocked her entire body as she reeled above him, calling his name with reckless inhibition.

Stars burst behind Elydian’s eyelids. She was so tight, he could feel every inch of her slick walls as they surrounded and milked him. Her exquisite song rang in his ears—his pride gloried in the fact that he’d provided the subject. He pumped into her as she came, her luscious breasts bouncing upon his chest.

Elydian lost all reason. He had given her an exquisite end, and now he would take his. Releasing a sound that left his throat raw, he gave into the pleasure and found paradise.

He held her there, their clinging bodies misty with sweat, until her ribs expanded and contracted steadily in sleep.

Falk
.
He’d been so enraptured by Jade that he’d forgotten to use the Bliss Plant membrane for contraception.

He smiled to himself. She’d probably make a pretty baby with him, with her large green eyes, silky brown hair and skin the color of fine, virgin sand. And hadn’t he heard Me-Ma complain several times that she missed having little ones around to coddle?

Elydian shook himself mentally. Children had no place in Jade’s life—let alone that he’d not spoken to her about what her future held. He disentangled himself from the beauty who lay so peacefully upon his chest. She sighed and rolled onto her side. Drawing the thin cover over her body, Elydian snuggled up behind her and settled his head upon a pillow.

“Eli?”

Such a sweet voice—he hadn’t meant to wake her. “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

He slid his hand up her thigh, stopping to rest upon her hip. “I should be thanking you, my Zsa-ninah.”

She giggled. “Welcome to the Mutual Gratitude Society.”

Grinning, he pulled her closer. “Will you attend the feast as my special guest tonight?”

Jade cocked her head sideways. “Are you asking me out on a date, Bub?”

“I don’t know what a
datebub
is,” he chuckled, “but if you are wondering if courting is involved, then yes.”

After a few agonizing moments of silence, she answered. “Sure, why not.”

Elydian couldn’t be positive if her stated reply conveyed enthusiasm or not, but he’d take what he got. For now. “I’ll send Me-Ma to you. She’ll see that you are properly attired.”

She nodded and murmured her thanks.

He took a deep breath that sounded more like a sigh to his ears and asked himself why he suddenly seemed so discontented with the arrangement between himself and Jade.

Likely because it was only temporary.

* * * *

“What is taking her so long?” Elydian murmured into his water glass from the head of the long table before sloshing back the final sip. The half-moon shaped celebration tent, illuminated with glistening glass shades over dancing flames, was filled with almost every one of Omari Amun’s people. Elydian, proud to bursting, missed the one set of eyes he longed to see enter and claim her seat next to him.

“Whom, Omari, may I ask, are you waiting for?”

Elydian slid his gaze to his the right of the formally set table to one of his oldest friends. “Ageit, I am awaiting the arrival of my new friend, Jade.”

“Ah, so the rumors are true. I’d heard you had been sheltering a new female.”

Ageit-Kabeed, Omari Amun’s one and only scientist and full-fledged eccentric, could not resist an offered slice of gossip—even if it was about himself. “You’ve heard correctly,” and then Elydian added, “for once.” He grinned, teasing the man who was like an uncle to him.

Smiling, Ageit lifted his glass to Elydian. “To fresh faces.”

Seemingly out of nowhere, Havliah appeared to refill Elydian’s drink. She poured a slow stream into his goblet and spoke to him in dulcet tones as if to entice him. “Are you holding that open seat for me, my Omari?”

Elydian had had no intention of interacting with the banished Lambish that night or any other for that matter. He gritted his teeth, his annoyed gaze burrowing into hers. “Did I ask you to be my guest at this feast, Havliah?”

“But I always—”

“The only answer I seek from you is ‘no’. Now, finish serving and remember, I no longer have need of your presence here.” Elydian had taken his stand. He’d said it loud enough so that everyone in the tent could hear. Now she’d have to leave Omari Amun after the feast, or be shunned by all.

Havliah swallowed audibly, spun on her heel, and left the celebration tent. As she went, a hush settled over the table for a few moments and then grew to the normal jovial ambiance of the celebration.

“Did you have to be so harsh, my son?” Ageit murmured so that only Elydian could hear.

“You have no idea what maliciousness that woman is capable of,” he replied in the same quiet tones.

A bushy gray brow rose over an inquisitive yet wise brown eye. “Indeed?”

Elydian’s frown melted into a grin. “And that’s all you’ll get from me on the subject, Ageit.”

“You would deprive an old man of innocent chitchat?”

“Innocent?” Elidain chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll leave you with this: I am glad of Lothar’s nonappearance tonight.”

“That’s not news, he hasn’t returned from what he promised to be a short trip to Anuk-dye yet, and besides, everyone at this table would concur with you.”

Elydian chuckled at his friend’s honesty.

Ageit leaned close to Elydian. “But what I want to know is, do his travels have anything to do with Havliah’s exile?”

“That, my friend, you will have to get from Lothar-Canute’s own mouth”

“I want nothing from that foul beast, especially from his mouth.”

At that moment, Jade slipped through the entrance to the tent. Me-Ma had worked magic in attiring the green-eyed beauty in formal dress—the traditional flowing blue gown of the Feast of Moons which reached to the floor and sported long, ruffle-cuffed sleeves. The best part of the dress, at least for Elydian, was the plunging neckline that dove between her soft, fleshy breasts. He longed to press his face there and lose himself in her scent. Tearing himself from the sensual fantasy, he noticed her hair was different tonight. Most of the dark silk sat atop her head—ringlets fell to frame her face, emphasizing her creamy skin.