[Atlantean's Quest 02] Exodus (23 page)

Jac took a deep breath. “Fine.”

“Take off your skirt.”

Jac flinched, but her voice remained steady, determined. “Promise you’re not going to fuck me?”

“’Tis a promise.”

Jac swallowed hard, but did as he asked. It wasn’t like he and the rest of the tribe hadn’t already seen her naked the day before. She slid the sheer material over her hips and let it sink to the floor. Her eyes followed the skirt, as it settled around her ankles. She felt Eros’s gaze burning over her exposed skin, focusing on the slim thatch of hair between her thighs.

Shoring up her strength, Jac met his gaze. His blue eyes held hers for a moment, then turned molten as he continued to peruse. The muscles in his chest tensed and she could make out the thick outline of his cock as it bulged behind the material of his loincloth. Jac’s heart slammed against her ribs as Eros took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Just when she thought he would reach out and touch her, he stepped around her, walking to the table. He opened up the pouch at his side and pulled several small containers from inside.

Jac watched as he carefully laid the items out on the table. There were brushes and what appeared to be oils neatly lined up. He opened the container and began to slather his hands. Jac had a feeling she knew what he was about to do, but she still felt completely unprepared for the moment Eros placed his large hands upon her shoulders. Shivery tingles spread over her skin, radiating down to her toes. Her nipples kernelled and her pussy wept. He hadn’t moved, yet heat spread over her, lapping at the farthest regions of her desire, fanning hidden flames. Jac pictured Ares.

Eros ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, leaving the delicate scent of vanilla behind. Fire seemed to shoot from his fingertips with razor like intensity. He moved to her back, rubbing, soothing, and stroking. Jac closed her eyes and tried to fight her body’s natural response, but quickly lost the battle. His hands dipped lower, cupping her bottom, then drawing up to circle the tiny indents at the base of her spine. Jac bit her lip to keep from groaning.

She swayed as his hands continued their upward climb, looping around to brush the underside of her breasts. Jac could feel the heat coming off Eros as he stepped nearer to extend his reach, yet he didn’t touch her with his body, which was just as well. The tension thrumming through him was tangible. She could almost taste it in the charged air. Jac imagined it was Ares’s touch, as Eros’s fingertips dipped toward her abdomen, circling the nerves surrounding her belly button until she gasped. He stroked lower, scraping the crisp strip of curls covering her woman’s center.

Jac sucked in a breath and held it, willing his hand to go lower, yet at the same time not wanting him to touch her there. He slid down her legs, covering them in oil, then slowly made his way back up. Jac could hear Eros’s strained breath as he massaged the inside of her thighs. Vanilla mixed with the musky scent of Jac’s sex filled the air. The harder she fought the pull of his hands, the more turned on she became. To Jac’s horror, her legs began to tremble.

His fingertips were hot as branding irons when he finally slid them along her warmth. Shudders rocked Jac, as he spread his fingers, opening her up to his intimate probing. Jac’s channel flooded as one digit came close to slipping inside, then shied away. Her legs clamped shut, trapping his hand. Eros fell forward, his body gently colliding with Jac’s back. His skin scalded her, his masculine scent surrounding, overwhelming, intoxicating. Suddenly Jac couldn’t breathe. She relaxed her thighs, releasing his hand.

Jac felt Eros’s thick cock buck beneath his loincloth, stretching the limits of its bindings. With his free hand Eros parted her nether lips and found her hidden nub. His thumb began making sensual circles around the nerve endings, urging her toward completion. In and out, he continued to work his magic. Eros’s hips thrust of their own volition, matching the rhythm of his massaging fingers. Soon their movements were primal. Jac ground her sex against his hand, seeking release. She could hear Eros’s desperate pant against her ear.

“Please, Jac,” he thrust forward, his loinclothed shaft brushing her back. “Come for me.”

Jac rode his fingers like a runaway horse, imagining Ares large cock buried inside her. Eros slipped his fingers around her entrance and then reached up to pinch her nipple. All the while his thumb continued to work her clit. Jac’s body flared. She writhed in his arms, drawing nearer and nearer to that elusive orgasm.

Eros released Jac long enough to spin her around in his arms. His mouth closed over a ripe bud, sucking the nipple between his teeth. He lifted Jac from her feet. She automatically wrapped her legs around him. Jac closed her eyes and pictured Ares’s starkly handsome face. Eros’s fingers once again sought her hidden pearl.

He pulled away from her nipple then stuck out his six-inch tongue and flicked each peak, at the same time his thumb stroked her clit. Jac’s body jerked back as she came, but Eros didn’t release her. He continued his assault until Jac’s screams of release filled the jungle. Then, and only then, did Eros quit rubbing her clit. He gave each peak one more quick brush with his tongue, then pulled his drenched fingers from between her legs.

Jac could still feel Eros’s cock, straining for relief. In her euphoria, Jac actually considered offering to ease his discomfort. Then she opened her eyes, her senses coming back to her in an instant. Jac once again realized who she experienced intimacies with, and sobered quickly. She pushed away from Eros’s chest. He slowly lowered her to her feet, making sure she could stand before releasing her and stepping back. For some reason, despite all they’d shared, Jac felt a little on the shy side. A feeling she decided she could definitely do without.

Eros dropped to his knees before Jac. “Thank you for doing me the honor of allowing me to prepare you for the mating ceremony.” He kissed first one of Jac’s nipples, then brushed his lips across the other. He rose to his feet and started gathering the items, placing them back into the pouch at his side. Eros turned to leave when Jac placed her hand upon his forearm stopping him.

Jac crossed one arm over her chest. “Did Rachel have to go through this sort of preparation?”

Eros’s face hardened and his jaw clenched. He blew out a ragged breath. “Yes,” he bit out.

Jac knew she wasn’t going to like the answer, but she had to ask the question. “Who was given the task of preparing her?”

His eyes flared and then Eros seemed to calm. “The task was left to Ares. ‘Tis long been an Atlantean tradition, yet it does not make it any easier on the mate.” He gave her a half smile as if he finally understood what Ares had gone through.

Coridan’s words from the day they met, rushed back to her. She hadn’t known what preparation was at the time.

Jac shook her head. The full weight of the situation hit her and she was too shocked to actually speak. Her mind raced as she imagined her friend Rachel being stripped down and oiled up. That must have been quite an ordeal for her, knowing Rachel the way she did. Jac didn’t want to think about the fact Ares had touched her friend the way Eros had touched her. No it was best to ignore that altogether or else she’d never make it through this ceremony without shredding someone. Jac glanced at Eros. Given the circumstances she and Rachel would have to call it even.

Eros picked up Jac’s black skirt. He ran his hands over the length, changing the color to a beautiful jade green. “Put this on. I’ll be waiting outside to escort you to the ceremony.”

Jac clasped the cloth to her, the silky fibers brushing against her nipples. She watched as Eros slipped through the door, his broad back glistening with sweat. If this occurred before the ceremony, she couldn’t imagine what would take place after.

Chapter Fifteen

Jac dressed quickly. Her nerves were skittering beneath her skin like thousands of tiny ants invading a picnic basket. She walked to the water barrel and wet her fingertips enough to slick her hair back from her face. Jac took one last steadying breath, then proceeded out the door.

Eros grasped her hand, placing it on his arm, and led her along the trail toward the village. The jade in Jac’s skirt sparkled in the sunlight, and the air seemed particularly fragrant, as if all the flowers had bloomed for her big day.

Jac shook her head as she considered the magnitude of what she was about to do, but a promise was a promise. Besides, she really didn’t want to go back on her word. When she’d almost lost Ares yesterday her scattered, self-centered life and the priorities in it had clarified, becoming crystal clear in a nanosecond.

She glanced around, luxuriating in the warm air and the mild day. She had gotten so used to the jungle that she didn’t notice the animals chattering, even though truth be told they never really shut up. Jac thought about the preparation ritual she’d been through, unfortunately her mind jumped to the next logical conclusion.

“Does Ares go through a
preparation
?”

Eros glanced down at her and smiled. “Not like you’re thinking.”

She arched a brow. “What then?”

“Ariel chants over him.”

“And?” Jac’s gaze leveled.

“’Tis all. I swear.” Eros put his hand on his heart.

Jac considered asking again, but before she got a chance, they reached the clearing. A crowd had gathered in the center of the compound, their eager voices murmuring in hushed tones. Jac and Eros left the cover of the trees a second before all eyes fell upon them. Ares stood next to the seer, draped in a jade loincloth, his tanned chest bared, showing his impressive muscles. His ebony hair had been plaited at the sides, with the back hanging free. It gleamed in the dappled sunlight, a striking shade of midnight blue.

Jac’s breath caught as their eyes met and held for a second. Rachel stood off to the side, dabbing at her tear filled eyes with an aqua cloth. Jac immediately looked away from her friend. There was no way she would cry again. She’d done enough of that yesterday. Eros brought her forward until she stood beside Ares. Eros dropped to his knees and kissed her nipples, his aqua eyes glittering with amusement as he rose.

“Good luck,” he whispered to Ares.

“I heard that.” Jac shot him a censoring look that she hoped said I’ll get you later. Eros strode to Rachel’s side. He slid his arm around his wife’s shoulders, lending her his strength, and gazed on in innocence.

Jac’s attention returned to Ares. He grabbed her hand, giving it a quick squeeze. Ariel stood before them with her hands in the air. The crowd quieted.

“We are here to witness the joining ceremony of Ares and Jac.” The words came out strong and clear as she spoke. “’Tis been a long time coming.”

There were muffled giggles from the crowd behind them. Jac fought the urge to turn and glare. She knew the added comment had been aimed at her. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction today. Jac kept her gaze forward, ignoring the fact she was so close to her rival for Ares’s affections. As soon as the thought left her mind, in the peripheral Jac saw Ariel’s lips twitch, as if she were fighting back a smile.

The seer bade them both to step forward and face her. She placed her hands on both their heads and began to chant. Jac heard a loud pop in her ears. Her palms immediately flew to her head, covering her ears. She waited for pain to appear, but there was none. The seer continued to speak about the love and bonds of the joining. Jac blinked, when she realized Ariel’s lips no longer moved, yet she would swear she could hear every word. She glanced at Ares in confusion. He smiled and grabbed her hand again.

Do you hear me, Jac?

“Yes.”

Good, then the ceremony is complete.

“Are you some kind of ventriloquist or something too?”

The seer laughed.
Not exactly
.

“Then how can I hear you?” Jac glanced around at the villagers, but no one seemed to think anything was amiss from the gleeful expressions on their faces.

‘
Tis the same way you were able to hear Ares, when he spoke to you. Your mind has been opened—expanded.

Everything they’d been saying was true, the planet, Atlantis—everything. Jac tried to smile, but the thought of anyone messing with her head without asking, really pissed her off. She felt heat surging in her face, as confusion vied with anger. Ares must have sensed her turbulent emotions, for he gave Jac a quick brush of his thumb along the back of her hand, as if to remind her of what was important here. The innocent move created a fire all its own within Jac.

She turned back to Ariel, her jaw set with impatience. “Aren’t you going to say, kiss the bride or anything?”

Ariel’s lips curled up in a smile.
If you wish
…

“I do.”

You may now kiss the bride.

It’s about time.
Jac heard Ariel laughing in her head. She frowned.
Can you hear my thoughts?

The laugh came again.
Of course I can hear you thoughts, we all can.

Jac glared at Ares.
You’ve known what I’ve been thinking the whole time.
It wasn’t a question.

My fierceness, ‘twas for your own good, I meant no harm. I only sought your happiness.

She took a step forward.
It’s a damn good thing I love you. But just so you know, this conversation isn’t over by a long shot.
Jac opened her mouth to reiterate her stance
.

We can fight about it later, my fierceness.
Ares held his hands up in surrender.
I believe the seer said I may now kiss the bride.

Without preamble, Ares pulled Jac into his arms, sliding one hand low on her waist and the other to the back of her neck. He felt the crush of Jac’s breasts, the erotic scrape of her nipples, as she melded against his muscled chest. His lips were firm and insistent as they pressed against hers, coaxing her into opening for him. She did and he slipped inside, tasting, tempting, and luxuriating in the fact she was now his mate. He would not lose her to another. And best of all, his family name would live on. Ares pulled back and smiled. Jac’s face held a soft glow to it, while her blue eyes shone bright in the afternoon sun.