Visions of Fire and Ice (The Petiri) (38 page)

She stared at him for a long time, and he wondered what she saw. Did she see a man who loved her? Or did she see someone from another world who she could never understand? He wanted to find the words to convince her to be his, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t do that to her. She had her entire life ahead of her. Maybe, if she didn’t want him now, perhaps in a few years... He dropped his eyes to the blanket he’d snuck outside while she’d been distracted. The one on which he hoped to make love to her. One more moment gazing into those beautiful golden blue eyes, he’d say things she wouldn’t want to hear. It wasn’t his pride stopping him. Hell, no. He’d grovel if he thought it was what she wanted.

But he wouldn’t force her to choose what she wasn’t ready for.

“What do you want, Ramose? Tell me. I need to hear the words.”

His eyes lifted to hers. Ah hell. She had to go and ask. “I want you at my side, as my...” he searched for the word she’d understand, “
Jetoyat
,” he finally said. “As my
Mryt
, forever more.” He dragged a hand through his hair. Now he understood why his brother had always done that. It helped to distract oneself from uncomfortable emotions.

What happened to the man who knew how to be so controlled?

He’d died. Killed by love. In his place was a mass of uncontrolled confusion. “But I’m not ready to force you into accepting something you’re not ready for.”

“
Mryt
,” she repeated. “Your wife?”

She didn’t sound quite as horrified as he’d first thought she would. He nodded. “As my
Jetoyat
, my queen, forever more.”

Her eyes changed. He hoped he wasn’t reading too much into them, but he could swear he saw relief in their blue and gold depths. Then she laughed. Like delicate harps, the sound played down his spine. Gods, he hoped that was pleased laughter and not the ironic type.

“I’m really not into the royalty thing, Ramose, but,” she caressed his cheek, “I will be your wife.”

* * * *

Tamara couldn’t help mirror the joy crossing his face. His eyes glittered with happiness.

He lowered his head, his lips so close his breath brushed across hers. “Forever,” he murmured. When at last he claimed her mouth, she moaned into his, hungry for his touch. He was right. The future would be, no matter how she worried. For years, she’d dreamed of him, but it wasn’t until he forced himself into her life she realized how vibrant, how powerful, and how damned sexy he was. Her pulse spiked, and fire seared her veins, melting her body with its intensity.

She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, to answer the one last mystery. “I have a question.”

“Oh?” he asked.

“Yes. Why is it I can’t see your aura any longer?”

His brow arched, and he cocked his head. “When did it stop?”

Tamara frowned. “Not long after the first time you kissed me.”

Ramose’s eyes widened. “That was when recognized you for who you were.” Laughter edged his voice. “Once I accepted you as my
Kha-Ib
, our auras would have merged. I don’t suppose you see your own, do you?”

Tamara grinned and shook her head, relief rushing inside her. She’d really worried she’d lost part of one of her gifts. “I wondered because I could still see everyone else’s. It was strange, not being able to guess your emotions.”

Ramose smiled, his green eyes soft and liquid. “Do you need anything more to convince you we should be together?”

Tamara tangled her fingers in his hair and kissed him, devouring his hot, masculine flavor. He returned the kiss, with masterful strokes of his tongue. She opened to him, hot and hungry. His taste exploded over her tongue, chasing away any doubts. A soft sound caught in her throat as she molded her body to his. Her breasts pillowed against the powerful muscles of his chest. Tamara groaned, hungry for his skin against hers. Her fingers moved to the buttons on his shirt.

He pulled back, his hands grasping hers. “Not yet,” he murmured, giving her one more soft kiss on her forehead.

Tamara’s breath came in gasps, and she waited while he dragged the domed tray closer. He raised the domed lid and inside lay an array of cold sliced fruit.

He reached into the fruit tray, choosing a slice of pear, and took a deep breath. He nodded to her, as though preparing her for something special. Tamara held her breath.

“I offer you this fruit freely, the way I offer myself to you. Will you accept this, accept me as I am, join our souls and hearts together as one? Will you accept me as your
Kha-Ib
, as your true mate?”

It didn’t take a genius for her to understand what he was doing. This was the Petiri version of a wedding.

Alone. In private, with only the two of them to share. The erratic pulse in her throat seemed to dance to its own tune in response.

Slowly, reverently, she leaned forward and took the offered sweetness from his hand. Juice trickled down his fingers. Her gaze still on his, Tamara leaned in, feasted on the nectar dripping from his hand, following the trail of sticky sweetness with her tongue.

This time, it was he who caught her hair and dragged her to his mouth. His mouth took her, possessing her. She groaned, but pushed herself away.

“Not yet,” she whispered into his ear.

Tamara leaned across him, picking up her own selection of fruit from the tray. While her fingers lifted the slice of juicy pear, she sent her thoughts into his, something she’d never done with anyone other than family, searching for information on this ceremony. She found it, tucked behind a swell of powerful, warm emotion.

Tamara blinked at the sudden surge of emotion blending in her heart from Ramose. She moved to her knees, sliding even closer. Swallowing the thick lump in her throat, she took a deep breath.

“I offer you this fruit freely, the way I offer myself to you. I accept you as you are. I join our souls and hearts together, merged together as one. I accept you as my
Kha-Ib
, I accept our covenant, and I accept you as my mate.”

Like sizzling lightning, energy roped around them both, tying their hearts the way their souls already linked. Tamara jolted in shock, while Ramose pulled her close.

“What—”

“The bonding.” He gasped the word as if it surprised him as well. “I hadn’t expected you to know the words of the ceremony and did not expect the full bonding.”

Her body sizzled with pure fire in a way she couldn’t begin to understand. “What does it mean?” Tamara managed to grind the words out. The tremors weren’t painful, but, instead, sent wave after wave of lust rushing through her body. Unable to hold back any longer, she reached toward him, pulling him close, her mouth on his. When she pulled back, he spoke.

“It means I love you, Tamara. Forever. Here, or on Petiri, it doesn’t matter. You are mine. And I am yours.”

For the first time since her parents died, Tamara belonged. She belonged with this man who made her feel like a woman. Who made her feel loved.

Sensual heat burned as his cool touch caressed her. Even now, all these touches later, she still couldn’t understand how his cool skin was so arousing. She unbuttoned the shirt he wore, hungry for more of his flesh. Her mouth closed on his.

Her hand grasped another piece of fruit. She didn’t even know what it was, but she knew it would do what she wanted. With careful precision, she traced a pattern over his flesh. She released his mouth. He growled his hunger, but she didn’t ease up. Tamara pushed him backward until he lay on the blanket, her lips and tongue tracing the pattern of the juices.

“Forever,” she whispered.