Untamable Lover (Worlds of Lemuria: Earth Colony Book 2) (29 page)

Trailing kisses down her throat, his teeth grazed over the tiny scar he’d given her on her neck. His lungs swelled as a sense of contentment filled him, making him smile. He licked the tender skin. The slight taste of her sweat tickled his tongue. A slow groan eased from her throat, and she relaxed under his gentle assault. 

She threaded her hands in his hair and freed the strands from his short queue. Her nails scratched his scalp, her fingers raking along his sensitive nerves. She pressed her firm breasts against his chest, but their clothing prevented the skin on skin contact he craved. He gazed into her eyes. “Aramie…you are so beautiful…” 

She bit her bottom lip, and his shaft jumped in response.

My female.
His heart swelled. He loved her deeply. 

She pushed against him, forcing him back. He released her, and the insurmountable distance seemed like a giant crevasse between them.

A sexy smile pulled at her lips. The skin around her eyes creased, and the yellow slits of her irises gave away her own need. She gripped the bottom of his T-shirt and gently tugged. The back of her fingers grazed his abdomen and tickled the fine hairs that led to his genitals. Her touch woke up more than his nerves, further hardening his already enlarged member.

He raised his arms, eager to shed the confining cloth. The shirt flew over his head and landed on the floor.
Good riddance.
Now—her turn.

He ran his hands along her arms to her shoulder. Her chest rose and fell with each hurried breath. Using his index finger, he traced the edge of her shirt along her collarbone and circled the spot near the dip in her neck. With a sly smile, she pulled off her own shirt in a slow tease.

His gaze followed the pink strap of her bra to the bright yellow cups. Despite her slender frame, her firm breasts filled the brassiere to capacity. He glanced at her eyes. She watched him, waiting for his reaction.

He smiled, and he raised his eyebrow, giving her an appreciative stare. He placed his finger under one of the straps and lifted it off her shoulder. The loose material dangled on her arm, revealing the rounded edge of her breast. His erection jerked in response. 

“Release me,” she whispered. 

Warmth spread throughout his body, and his skin prickled along his arms. He couldn’t deny her request. Placing his palms on her waist, her warm, smooth skin was soft to his touch. He trailed his fingers up her back and unhooked the clasp. The bra slid to the floor.

He leaned back to admire her breasts. Dark areolas circled taut nipples that begged for his mouth. She shivered and goosebumps formed on her skin. 

Before he could act on his thoughts, she placed her hands on his pecs. A slow smile broke across her pretty face, and she shook her head. 

Her hands slid down his chest to his abs, lighting up his skin everywhere she touched. She stopped at his belt and tugged.

Oh, gods, yes.
He helped her with the buckle and the buttons of his fly. His pants—they couldn’t come off fast enough. 

She stared at him, her eyes wide. His cock, strained tight, reached for her as if the appendage could get to her without him. He swallowed, and his shaft bobbed at the movement.

“Oh, my…” Her grin was all feminine appreciation. 

His heart and his shaft swelled with pride.

She kneeled in front of him, trailing her fingers down his thighs. With the tips of her fingers, she played with the fine hairs around his balls. She purposefully didn’t touch his shaft, teasing him, making him ache for contact.

“Aramie,” he groaned, “you torment me.”

She giggled, and her mouth was so close to the tip of his shaft, he felt the vibration. The sensation drove him mad. Considering all the torture he’d been through, this was the only kind he craved.

She blew a soft breath across his erection. His skin tingled and he tightened his grip on her shoulders. A low moan eased from his chest.

Starting at the base of his shaft, she licked him, her tongue lapping him all the way to the tip. A bead of arousal glistened on the end. He shuddered. “Aramie…”

She took him into her mouth, easing him in and out in a slow rhythm. With a quick flick, she swirled her tongue around the tip and he couldn’t take anymore.

He pulled her to a standing position and kissed her. His salty taste mixed with her strawberry essence. His cat howled inside, eager for more. When he released her, their combined pants echoed in the room. He kissed the tip of her nose, and she smiled, determination forming in the lines around her eyes.

He pointed at her pants and raised an eyebrow.

She giggled. Kicking off her shoes, she wiggled out of her black pants, swirling her hips, teasing him in a sensuous dance. Naked, she about brought him to his knees.

“Aramie…” His words stuck in his throat.

With feline grace all bottled up in her body, she sauntered toward him. Placing her hands on his pecs, she encouraged him to back up, angling him toward the bed. 

Understanding her direction, he gripped her arms and pulled her along. They landed on the bed in a heap. 

The bed broke beneath them. Small splinters of wood from the split headboard rained down upon them, prickling the skin on his thighs and arms. He inhaled, and the scent of oak permeated his sensitive nose. 

Aramie’s laughter reverberated in her chest, the gentle rhythm pulsing against him, making him smile.

“Well, good. I hated this bed anyway.” He rolled on top of her, caging her between his arms. His arousal pressed against the soft hairs at her entrance. The fine mane tickled him, stroking his desire. 

She ran her fingers up his arms, the contact lighting his skin on fire. As her hands passed over his shoulder, he stiffened, his reflexes honed from years of practice.

Wide-eyed, she stared at him. 

His need to control every aspect of their lovemaking burned in his gut. He’d never willingly allowed anyone to touch the scars on his back. But she wasn’t anyone. She was his mated female. He swallowed. A part of him wanted to give in, let her touch him, but the centuries of hiding the emotional damage still weighed on his soul, like a bad memory.

Her eyes filled with unshed tears, but her smile was all pride. She trailed a finger over his cheek and caressed his goatee. The sensation calmed him, reminded him how much he’d enjoyed her touch when he’d been in his coma.

“You are the strongest male I know, in here.” She placed her hand over his heart. “I’m so proud of you.”

His chest swelled. Her love for him almost broke him apart. He’d do anything for her…anything.

“Can I touch them?” 

In the past, her question would’ve angered him, and he would’ve refused her request. But somehow, she’d tamed him. He let go of his fear, and a great weight lifted from him. The scars on his back would never heal, but the emotional wounds on his soul would be mended by Aramie’s love.

He couldn’t speak, so he nodded.

Her fingers trailed over his shoulders and down his back. When she reached the tip of the first scar, she traced the raised skin over his hip and buttocks. Goosebumps rose along the path in her wake, but not from distaste. On the contrary, her touch lit a fire inside him. 

She purred as she explored him, touching everywhere on his back and buttocks. When her hands finally stilled at the base of his neck, she pulled him to her and gave him a powerful, possessive kiss. He responded in kind, matching her intensity, stride for stride. 

She accepted him for who he was, flaws and all. He’d never known a love like this. It humbled him. 

“Aramie—” 

She nipped his bottom lip.
Shhhh. 

Taking over, she pushed him, forcing him to roll over. She straddled his hips, taking him deep inside and rode him like she owned him. A high like this he’d never experienced before. He pushed into her, letting her scent and her touch drown him. Her soft breaths turned into shallow pants, and her sheath contracted around his cock, squeezing him with her release. A soft cry escaped her lips. He couldn’t hold on any longer and joined her with his own surrender. 

When they were both spent, she lay on top of him, her sweaty skin mixing with his own. Their combined scent was heaven to him. He petted her hair, twirling the short ends between his fingers.

For the first time in his life, he felt whole, healed. There wasn’t a better feeling in the world than holding his female in his arms. She relaxed and her breathing slowed. The last thing he remembered before drifting off was her barrette, the bright red spot peeking out between the sheets.

*****

“Good evening, tough stuff.” Demir’s baritone voice stroked Aramie’s nerves, awakening her from the best sleep she’d had in years. Must be the ramifications of their day together. They’d flipped between great sex and cat-napping over the past several hours. A warmth heated her insides at the memory.

His strong arm wrapped around her waist, cuddling her body next to his, the sheets tangled around their entwined legs. The obvious press of his erection against her bottom let her know how awake he was. A rush of excitement pooled in the warm spot between her legs.

She rolled onto her back so she could gaze into his chocolate brown eyes. What she expected to see, she wasn’t sure, but his eyes twinkled with amusement. His lip curled into a mischievous grin, revealing a pointed fang. 

She purred and rubbed her face against his chin, marking him with her scent. His answering growl was all she needed to hear to set her heart racing. “Demir, my mate, my love.” 

“Aramie.” He trailed kisses over her cheek to her throat. His breath tickled her ear, sending a shiver along her nerves all the way to her buttocks. 

She never felt so loved, so cherished in her life. Trusting him with her life, he’d proven himself to her. She loved him more than words could say. As his kisses continued down her body, she arched into him. He was as much a part of her as she was of him. Mating to a male was the last thing she’d ever wanted, but he was everything she’d ever needed. 

He glanced at her, his lips tenderly pressing against the soft spot between her breasts. Love and passion radiated from his eyes.

She held her breath as a sense of completion and well-being filled her. “I love you,” she whispered.

 Her favorite smirk played along his mouth. “Tough stuff, I love you, too.”

As he captured her lips with his own, she drifted along with him, forever in his embrace.

Chapter Fifty-One

Aramie leaned against a tree trunk and stared at the moon. The giant orb seemed larger tonight, brighter, clearer. She inhaled, and the ever-present smell of pine and dampness that permeated the forest made her smile. With deliberate care, she traced the scar at the base of her throat. The two round puncture wounds were rough against the tips of her fingers.
I’m a mated female…
Her heart swelled with a newfound sense of peace and contentment. 

Demir had agreed to meet her after his check-up with Gaetan. He’d be along soon and they’d go for a run. She kicked at a small rock with the tip of her shoe, overturning the stone. Worms squiggled in the fresh loam, and a spider ran for cover under a nearby fern. Aramie tensed, but then relaxed, a soft giggle easing from her throat. “Little creature, to think I once feared you.”

The crack of a breaking twig echoed in the forest. Aramie’s senses went on high alert. She glanced around and inhaled, reading the scents of the forest. The whiff of an unknown Panthera caught her attention. “Show yourself. I know you’re there.”

A male Panthera, one she didn’t recognize, appeared from behind a large boulder. He was bigger than most, his broad shoulders bulging with firm muscles. Yellow eyes peered from beneath his furrowed brow. The cat took several steps forward and stopped.

Aramie swallowed, her hackles rising along the base of her neck. “Who are you?”

The panther transformed into a man. He wore ragged blue jeans and a torn, white T-shirt. Thick, dark hair covered his head and the shadow of a beard coated his strong jaw. Deep brown eyes reflected the moon’s rays. “My name is Aramond.”

She stared at the male and couldn’t ignore their shared resemblance. With tentative steps, she approached him.

“You must be Aramie.” He had a deep, soothing voice, one that called to her. A smile of pure adoration crossed his face, and his eyes moistened.

“How do you know who I am?” She could barely speak the words through her tight throat, and they came out a whisper.

“Chantre…your mother. I ran into her a few months ago. I never knew I had…a daughter.” He clenched his teeth and visibly swallowed. “I’m sorry. Had I known, I would’ve raised you, protected you.”

Aramie’s chest constricted and tears blurred her vision. An urge to race into this male’s arms overwhelmed her, but her past got in the way, preventing her from seeking what she so desperately wanted. Her fingers trembled, and she balled her hand into a fist. “How did you find me?”

“You weren’t easy to locate, believe me. Your mother said she’d heard from a few other strays your Pride had headed this way. I searched for months before I stumbled across your scent. Strawberries, your mother said it was always her favorite.”

Her stomach twisted, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Light-headed, she wasn’t sure how to respond. “This is happening so fast. I don’t know what to say…” 

He raised his hand. “I don’t want to interfere in your life, but I had to…” he visibly swallowed, “come meet my daughter.”

At his words, the walls around her heart tumbled, and she took a step forward, then another until she was close enough to smell his unique scent—earth and fresh rain. He enveloped her in his arms, and the floodgate of tears broke, spilling over her lashes. Her chest ached from bittersweet happiness, and her throat constricted. She fell into his embrace, soaking up the attention she’d craved for so many years.

“Aramie, my little Aramie.” He stroked her hair, caressing her. “From the looks of you, you’ve turned into a fine female—a warrior…and a mated one at that. I couldn’t be prouder.” 

She pulled back and stared into his eyes. “Father…” The unfamiliar word lodged in her throat. A tear crested over her lash, and he wiped it away, his own escaping from the corner of his eye.