Emmeric coughed. “Ah, no, that would be me.” Zane’s eyes widened in surprise, and Emmeric practically saw the thoughts whizzing about in his head. He explained—truthfully, this time, other than leaving Altair out of it—about his time in Imothia. How Imo had explained that their destinies intertwined, but he didn’t want to believe it. Then he’d left her, but felt the soul bond more and more the further away he ventured.
“That explains why you were so protective of her on the ride to Athusia.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Emmeric attempted to evade revealing too much about his own personal feelings. “Yeah, exactly. The bond can really mess with me.”
“Well, and he lo—” Emmeric kicked Talon in the shin before he said any more. “Ow! Fucker…” Silence reigned for several minutes except for the sound of Kaz’s light snoring.
“Is there anyone else on our trail?” Emmeric asked Zane.
“Not that I found, but I’m sure there are some behind us. My father wouldn’t put all of his faith in me.”
“Then we should leave tomorrow.” Emmeric glanced about the room, the other four men agreeing with him. Then he took in Kaz’s gigantic sleeping form and wondered how to get her back to the room. Should he wake her? Would it really be wise to awaken a slumbering leopard? Maybe he could leave her in Tal’s room…
“Don’t you leave the pussy cat in here,” Talon said,reading his mind.
Emmeric sighed, leaning down to whisper filthy promises in her ear. Kaz sprang up, shifting back rapidly. She grabbed his hand and ran out the door, dragging him along.
Iyana
Zane was up to something. He had to be. Iyana paced the length of her room, back and forth, back and forth, thinking furiously. Outrage burned hot within her. Everyone had practically ganged up on her, deciding to invite the prince along—the prince who had snatched her off the street for no reason other than his father asked it of him. The prince who had watched placidly as she was thrown into a dungeon cell and tortured. The prince who had raided her village and killed her people.
Also, what had Emmeric done back there? Her emotions had been overtaking her—hurt that the others would gang up on her, especially Emmeric; fearful for the future, curious and annoyed by the connection between Zane and Talon—all those swirling together into a panic threatening to make her scream. And then she just…didn’t. A comforting, calming warmth filled her, and she tasted lemons on the back of her tongue. She knew he had donesomething, but she was mad at him, so she refused to ask. The reason she was angry…she didn’t want to examine that too closely.
Altair sat in a chair, one ankle crossed over his knee, observing her pacing. It was infuriating.
“Are you going to sit there all day watching me?” she asked, finally stopping her pacing to stand in front of him with her hands on her hips.
“I could watch you always,” he said, voice low and husky.
Iyana scoffed. “Not the time, Altair.”
“I would respectfully disagree, my star.” He stood in one fluid, graceful motion. A thrill ran through her as he prowled towards her until her back hit a wall. He placed his hands on the wall around her head, effectively caging her in. A small bolt of fear struck her chest at the thought of being caged again, but she reminded herself this was Altair. Iyana trusted him, and should she ask him to stop, he would. But she didn’t want him to stop—her body came alive with him so close. An ache to touch him, to grab his face and kiss him for eternity, overcame her. Especially when he lowered his head to nuzzle her neck, trailing small kisses up to her ear before nipping at it.
“There is never a wrong time to worship you, astalle,” he murmured in her ear. “You are a goddess and I will bow down at your feet.”
“Then kneel,” Iyana said, breathless. Altair’s golden eyes darkened.
“As my lady commands.” He sunk to his knees, his gaze intense as his fingertips skimmed their way over her curves. Iyana marveled at the sight of this powerful star kneeling before her. Rubbing down her thighs, he teased at touching where she wanted him the most, then massaged his way down her calves. It still felt amazing; she never wanted him to stop touching her, but she ached for him to be inside her.
“Altair…” she whimpered, grabbing a fistful of his blonde hair.
“Needy little thing, aren’t you?” He chuckled deep and low in his throat, continuing to tease her with his fingers barely at her waistband, touching the soft skin there. Slowly—so slowly—he lowered Iyana’s breeches, planting light kisses to her stomach and thighs, then tossed them aside as she stepped free. He grazed his fingers at her core and moaned at the wetness he found already there.
“So wet and ready for me. Do you want me inside you, my star?” he asked, nipping her inner thigh.
Iyana gasped and nodded.
“I may be the one kneeling at your feet, but you aremine,” he growled. “And I’m going to ensure you never forget it.” She swore her heart rate tripled with his claim, and then quadrupled as he tossed one of her legs over his shoulder, kissing the inside of her knee gently.
He licked and nipped his way up her thigh, inching closer and closer to her center. Iyana leaned her head against the wall, restraining herself from jumping on Altairand tearing off his clothes. It was something he would punish her for, and she wasn’t sure she could endure more teasing. He squeezed her ass, hard.
“Eyes on me, love, I want you to watch me devour you.” Peeling her eyes open, she saw Altair’s smirk just before he licked up her core excruciatingly slowly. A loud moan burst from Iyana, and she threaded her fingers through his hair, urging him closer. But she kept her gaze on him. “Good girl.”
Then he was upon her. His tongue inside her was bliss, soon replaced by his long, graceful fingers while his mouth found her sensitive bundle of nerves and sucked. Gods, he was magical. Pushing her firmly against the wall, he flung her other leg over his shoulder and stood. Iyana was now over six feet in the air. She squeaked in surprise, but Altair never broke his pace, continuing to nudge her towards the edge. Iyana clung tighter to his hair, and he moaned into her, the reverberations crashing through her.
Her release took her by surprise, waves of pleasure coursing through her body, her inner walls pulsing against Altair’s fingers. She felt as though she were flying.
Altair dragged her down his body, settling her with the tip of his cock poised at her entrance. Iyana was dizzy with desire. She kissed him hard, tongues moving in tandem, and she tasted herself on his lips. He rocked into her in one smooth motion, both of them gasping at the sudden sensation. Then Altair tightened his grip on her ass, and leaning her into the wall, he moved her up and down his shaft in a slow, methodical rhythm. Iyana dug her nails into his shoulders, reveling in the knowledge that she was his, he was hers, and they could do this whenever they pleased.
