[Atlantean's Quest 01] The Arrival (11 page)

Eros sighed.
I have waited so long
.

And you will wait longer. Your woman has not been prepared.

He fisted his hands in frustration. Eros didn’t want any of the males of their tribe near his woman, even if it was just for the simple task of preparation. Goddess forbid, if his friend Ares was chosen. Not that he or Ares had a say in the matter, custom was custom.

Who has been given the task of final preparation?

I have seen in my latest vision
…Ariel paused as her gaze met his.

Eros held his breath.

The corner of her mouth twitched at his obvious impatience.
It shall be you.

“What?” he said aloud. His jaw dropped and surprise rang out from his deep voice.

Ariel clasped her hands patiently behind her back and lowered her gaze. “My visions are always clear, my King. ’Tis you who must prepare your woman for the ceremony.”

“How can I touch her,” his voice cracked with emotion as the muscles in his massive body flexed and tightened, “without claiming what is rightfully mine?”

“You will find a way.” She shrugged and dismissed his concern with a slight wave of her hand. “Perhaps you can woo her.” Ariel picked up the loose herbs on her table and dropped them into a cooking pot.

Eros slashed a hand through the air. “I’ve never had to
woo
anyone. This is my kingdom, I take what is mine.” He slammed his palm down on the table, almost toppling the brew.

Ariel jumped, but said nothing for a few moments. She let out a slow breath and proceeded. “I fear if you try such with this woman, you will lose her, as well as the son I’ve prophesied. Do you wish that?”

“No!” Eros ran a shaking hand through his sweaty hair, and instantly it was clean.

“I’ve prepared the claiming rings for your pre-mating time. I must first apply yours, then you may apply your mate’s.” Ariel held up two gold hoops for Eros to view. “Are you ready for me to place them upon you?”

He nodded and sent a jolt of energy through his body to numb the skin. The seer clamped the first gold hoop through his right nipple. The second hoop pierced his left nipple a moment later. Eros sent another burst of energy through his body, healing the wounds as if they’d never existed.

“’Tis done,” he confirmed, glancing down at the proof that showed the tribe he’d been claimed. His chest expanded, swelling with pride. The gold hoops glowed in the dim lighting, rasping his nipples with each exhalation.

“Very well then.” She clapped her hands together. “Tonight you start.” Ariel hesitated, before handing him another set of gold hoops.

Eros palmed the metal for a few seconds, feeling the cool rings caress his hand. Now all he had to do was convince his intended that piercing was part of the preparation. He didn’t think that was going to go quite as smoothly.

He rolled the gold between his finger and thumb then placed them in a pouch on the side of his loincloth that contained Rachel’s undergarment. His thoughts were turbulent as he imagined the fight ahead.

Ariel giggled.

His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

“To make sure you are in the right mindset, my King, I will relieve your discomfort.”

Before Eros could respond, Ariel dropped to her knees before him. Her gentle fingers lifted his loincloth and untied the leather strap, freeing his straining cock. She slipped his staff into her mouth, wrapping her full lips around him and began to suck. Her hand closed around the base, gloving him, massaging, pumping.

Eros sunk his fingers into her thick hair for a few seconds, guiding her rhythmic movements. He closed his eyes as he imagined his woman, Rachel, on her knees before him. He saw her tentative smile as she took his length inside her welcoming mouth and sucked his cock, drawing out the seed. Eros pulled Ariel away, taking himself in hand. He needed his mate, not the seer.

He groaned as he envisioned Rachel’s sable curls clutched in his hands. He’d gently guide her head up and down on his cock, while she took him deep inside her mouth. His breathing grew ragged and his balls drew up. At this rate he wouldn’t last much longer. Eros squeezed the base of his cock, attempting to prolong the sweet misery. In his mind, he saw Rachel’s pink tongue dart out and lick the length of him. That was all it took to send Eros over the edge.

His eyes flew open and he spurted, his seed falling to the dirt floor. His body shook as he released his cock and resettled his leather straps.
Forgive my rudeness, seer. I know not what ails me.

I believe I do
. Ariel laughed, then stood before him, saying no more. Eros kissed her on each nipple, then left her quarters.

He had only been able to take the edge off his desire for Rachel momentarily. He’d hoped release would alleviate his need, but if anything he wanted her more. As of this moment he was claimed, no longer allowed to join with another female. He waited to feel a moments discomfort at the thought, but none came.

The time had come to claim his woman.

* * * * *

Rachel awoke with a start. Her giant stood over her holding clothes and a small bowl, his sexy mouth quirked in a lazy smile. His eyes burned like molten lava. Clean blond hair hung past his waist in waves.

She sat up, trying to blink the cobwebs from her sleepy head. His face had been painted in a tribal design similar to those found in Polynesian cultures. She looked out the window. The sky was pitch-black. A few stars were visible where the night breeze blew the leaves apart in the dense treetops. A small fire burned in a kiva, set in the middle of the room.

How long have I been asleep?

“Not long,” he answered aloud.

Rachel’s jaw dropped. “You speak English.” It wasn’t a question. He’d shocked her, not only because of the language he used, but because he’d answered her…
thoughts
.

“Do you prefer we converse in another dialect?” He raised a teasing brow.

“No.” She stared at those mesmerizing eyes. “English is fine.”

“Good.”

“What…why…where am I?” Rachel looked around the small hut, as she tried to get her thoughts in order.

Thoughts
…
he can read my thoughts, all of my thoughts
. She grimaced as she recalled exactly where her thoughts had been earlier. “Hey, why didn’t you answer me when I tried to talk to you earlier?”

His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“I bet you’re getting a real kick out of all this.” She waited, but he said nothing, so she continued. “I didn’t mean what I was thinking earlier.”

“Which thoughts were those?” He put the bowl down on a little table and crossed his arms over his wide chest, the clothes still tightly in his grasp.

Rachel flushed as all the carnal thoughts she’d had involving him rushed back into her mind.

“Oh, those.” He smiled, giving her a knowing look. “I rather liked those in particular, especially coming from you.”

“I just bet you did, pal.” Rachel stood up and put her hands on her hips. Her embarrassment faded into anger. “I want you to take me back to the expedition.”

The giant’s face closed down, hardening into an unblinking mask. “There will be no returning.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“I mean you shall not leave this place to return to your world.”

“What? I have to go back,” she shrieked. “You don’t understand. I have a life, a job—friends. I can’t give that up.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“You mean you aren’t giving me one.” Rachel snorted. “I’ll escape, you know.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I will the first chance I get.” Rachel knew she sounded petulant, but she couldn’t help herself.

He shrugged his massive shoulders, as if her threat meant nothing. “I’m here to prepare you for your new position.” He picked the bowl back up and began stirring the contents.

“What position is that?”

“You will take your rightful place as our new Queen.”

Rachel’s jaw dropped as she stared at him, incredulous. “I don’t want to be Queen.”

“The position is not one of your choosing. Destiny chose long ago.” He walked across the small room and picked up a brush from a side storage area that she hadn’t noticed earlier.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Prepare you.”

“You prepare food, not people.”

“Remove your clothes.”

Rachel froze. Surely she heard him wrong. He didn’t just tell her to take her clothes off. “Now wait just one minute.”

“If you don’t remove your clothes,” he paused, giving her a daring smile, “I’ll remove them for you.”

He shifted, his muscles flexing and bunching in taut lines. Rachel stared open-mouthed at the giant. She didn’t have to read his mind to know he meant what he said, but she refused to be pushed around.

Rachel walked to the bed of furs and plopped down. She put her back against the wall so that she faced him. He stared at her for a few seconds, surprise plainly written on his handsome features. Then a fire sparked in those gemstone depths. He stalked toward her, his gaze never leaving her face.

“You wish to test me?” he growled.

It took every fiber of Rachel’s being to keep from fleeing from the blond Adonis. Her heart thudded as he reached the edge of the bed and stopped.

“I’m not taking my clothes off and you can’t make me.” She hugged her arms around her knees in a protective ball.

The giant reached down, snatched her by the shoulders and pulled her to her feet. Rachel’s body exploded into a typhoon of energy. She kicked and screamed, even managing to bite his thick arm before he dropped her back onto the furs. He quickly followed, blanketing her body with his.

Rachel squirmed and squealed to no avail. He pressed her into the bed, his thighs wrapping around her own until she couldn’t move at all. She opened her mouth to bite him again and he took the opportunity to plunge his tongue inside, knocking the fight right out of her with a scorching kiss.

His tongue laved at her, teasing, enticing, and inviting her to taste him back. Rachel shuddered. She heard her shirt rip and felt it being pulled away from her body. The sound turned Rachel on more than it should. Something primal came alive within her.

Clinging to his mouth for her next breath, her fingers sought out his sides and she grabbed hold of his slick skin, letting her nails bite deep. He groaned, attacking her ravenously. Rachel surrendered to his sensual assault.

He inserted a knee between her thighs until he’d spread her legs far enough apart to seat himself. Rachel moaned when his rock hard cock came in contact with her clit through the material of her pants. Her hips bucked of their own volition. His teeth nipped at her lower lip, trailing down her jaw and over to her ear.

He bit down on the tender lobe, sending shockwave after shockwave through Rachel’s body. She ached with need. Her body responded to his touch as if she’d lain with him a thousand times before.

You have…in your dreams.

He thrust against her and Rachel’s channel flooded with her own juices. She had to have this man, right now. She opened her mouth, then closed it, when she realized she was about to beg him to fuck her.

Confused and panicked she pushed him away. “Enough!”

Eros stilled. He’d been so out of his mind with lust that he had almost not heard her plea. What was he doing? This was no way to prepare his woman. Did he want to destroy the only chance his people had for getting off this planet?

Disgusted with his lack of control, he sat up. His body screamed for release, but it would not have it tonight. He stood on shaky legs and held out his hand to Rachel. She placed her fingertips in his and rose.

Her lips were swollen from his kisses and her chocolate colored eyes were glazed. A rosy flush covered much of her skin and her breathing was labored. The shirt she’d been wearing lay in tatters around her shoulders. The scent of her arousal reached out to him, entrancing, enticing, luring. He inhaled and closed his eyes against the temptation.

His voice was graveled as he spoke. “Please, remove your clothes.”

Chapter Nine

With trembling fingers she unbuttoned what was left of her outer shirt, pulling it off quickly and dropping it onto the hides. Rachel felt the heat rise in her face as she unzipped her pants. She slipped her T-shirt over her head and toed off her boots. Standing in front of the giant with just her trousers and bra on, she hugged her sides in a futile attempt to cover herself.

“I’ve seen you bare before.” He gave her a slow, sensual smile. “You have nothing to hide, my Queen.”

Rachel blushed and waved a hand in the air, dismissing his words. “Yeah well, I didn’t know you were there so it kind of changes things.”

His smile tuned into a devastating grin. “You were aware of my presence.”

“I was n—,” Rachel stopped. She
had
known he was there. Maybe not consciously, but subconsciously she’d known it was her dream man lurking in the darkness of the jungle.

“’Tis so, no use denying.”

“Okay.” She blew out a ragged breath. “But I don’t see why I have to remove my clothes.” The color drained from her face. “Are you going to rape me?”

The giant looked horrified. “I have never raped a female, and never would I. Your safety is my highest priority. I could never harm you.” He ran a frustrated hand through his golden hair. “Women come willingly to my bed furs.”

“I just bet they do.” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm from oozing out in her voice. “Then why do you want me naked?”

Rachel waited, half excited and half terrified by what his answer would be. She tried to ignore the lump that formed in the pit of her stomach at the thought of other women in his bed. It shouldn’t bother her one iota, but for some reason it did.

He held up a cloth. “This is the only type of clothing you’ll ever need.”

Rachel stared at the scrap of material in his outstretched hand. There wasn’t enough there to cover one of her thighs, much less anything else.

“You’ve got to be kidding, Mr…Mr…what is your name?”