Primal Heat (34 page)

He swiped at her, and she jumped out of his way. Their little dance took them in wide circles on the grass. Her muscles shook with strain, her breath racing in little pants. He lunged forward, slicing into her tunic, obviously expecting to hit skin. His eyes widened as his knife glanced off the mesh armor under her tunic.

“Technology rocks.” She jabbed her fingertips into his throat, crushing it. He hit the ground and she had to brace her hands on her knees for a moment. She was so tired, yet so much adrenaline hummed through her that she felt like her whole body was vibrating.

“Jana.” The low, gritty voice sent ice flowing through her veins.

She spun around, and there he was. Arthur. His craggy features, silver hair, and deep brown eyes might have been warm and friendly on any other man, but she'd seen the evil behind the mask.

Terror so huge it threatened to strangle her bloomed in her chest. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run, but it was far too late for that. So, instead of doing any of those things, she settled into the fighting stance Bren had drilled into her and waited for him to make his move.

His gaze tracked her, anticipation heating his gaze as he looked her over thoroughly. “You're even prettier with your hair short, Jana.”

It was all she could do not to heave her guts up. She arched an eyebrow. “I'll be sure to pass your compliments on to my husband. He's been dying to hear from you again.”

He chuckled, and the sound scraped over her nerves like broken glass. They circled each other, each watchful for an opening. “Oh, we'll catch up later. Don't worry.”

“I won't.” She forced herself to smirk, but sweat chilled on her skin and her teeth chattered a bit. She could smell her own fear.

Apparently, he'd had enough waiting because he charged her. She sidestepped and kicked his legs out from under him. The man was built like a bull, and went down hard. Rolling, he caught her ankle and jerked her off her feet. The breath exploded from her lungs as she crashed over onto her back.

And there it was, her worst nightmare revisited. Arthur on top of her, her helpless beneath him. Weak. But unlike the last time, she didn't lie there and take it. If he was going to hurt her, she was going to hurt him back. She'd go down fighting, kicking and screaming instead of sobbing and begging. A fierce smile curved her lips while she pointed her fingers and drove the tips under his armored vest and into his side. He flinched away from the hard contact, and she took advantage, heaving him off her. She whipped her arm around, slamming her fist in his face. The crunch of bone and cartilage sickened her as his nose gave way.

He coughed and snorted up blood, lashing out with his foot to catch her in the hip. Pain rocketed through her, made black spots swim in her eyes. He rolled, straddling her waist. He slapped her hard across the face, and she felt her lip split. Blood coated her tongue, and her ears rang, but she couldn't give up, couldn't stop now.

His hands closed around her throat and she knew she was going to die. Just when she'd regained the will to live. Panic held her tight in its grip. Her vision darkened around the edges. Oh, God. She couldn't breathe.

She couldn't
breathe
.

Twisting under him, she punched and clawed at him. Anything to break his grip. She bucked hard, lifting them both off the ground. Then her hand shot out and caught him in the balls. She grabbed him in a death grip, wrenching at his privates until the breath whistled from his throat like a teakettle. The harder he squeezed her throat, the harder her fist crushed his gonads. She might die, but she was taking the part of him she hated most with her.

A deep roar ripped through the sound of Arthur's squealing, changed the expression on his face to pure horror in the blink of an eye. The hairs on the back of her neck rose in response, and her muscles tensed even further. She barely saw the blur of Kyber's movement before his black-and-white-striped body hurtled its enormous bulk through the air and tumbled Arthur away from her.

She gagged for air, her throat burning, and she rolled into a fetal position on her side. Forcing her eyes to stay open, she saw Johar and Bren race up behind Kyber, handling the remaining soldiers who tried to shoot at the emperor. Farid and the Kin Guardian helped her shaken, but unharmed, parents to their feet. They all watched the feline Kyber slice into Arthur's torso, ripping open the bulletproof jacket. Then the flesh parted under those deadly talons and fangs, and there was more blood coming from one body than she'd ever imagined possible. The general's screams echoed down the street, all the more terrifying for their helplessness. Bones broke under the weight of Kyber's massive paws. He snapped his jaw around Arthur's neck, shaking the general's body like a ragdoll. The shrieks cut off, and the silence made her shiver.

He continued to drag his prey around by the neck long after it was dead, shaking the carcass crushed between his curved fangs.

“Kyber,” she whispered, but no actual sound came from her bruised and swollen throat. She coughed, and agony screamed through every inch of her. Stumbling to her feet, she swayed for a moment before she got her balance. Her father reached out to steady her, but she held up her hand to stop him.

Limping over to Kyber, she set her hand on his shoulder. Even at his most monstrously feral, at his most enraged, at his least controlled, she trusted him not to hurt her, not to turn on her. And that, finally, was the answer she'd been waiting for. This deep, unquestioning faith in him. She tangled her fingers in his silky fur and tugged. Her voice was barely more than a hoarse croak, but she knew he'd hear her. “Kyber, stop. Drop him.”

His hackles raised and he growled low in his throat, but he leaned ever so slightly into her touch. She stroked her fingers down his neck, crooning reassurances to him. “It's all right, my One. It's over. Put his body down. It's over. He can't hurt us anymore.”

He gave one last vicious shake before he flung Arthur's corpse far from them. Tears of relief streaked down her cheeks and she collapsed to her knees beside him. She smiled when he turned to her and buried his muzzle in her chest, a shudder wracking his body. It was over. It was finally,
finally
over.

Whatever happened to them, whatever they did to each other, she knew they'd never damage each other the way they had again. They had survived the worst. Arthur was a nightmare they could put behind them.

Staying with Kyber was one thing, but she was ready for the whole bond whenever he was. Even with the white noise blaring, she knew the wall on her side of their connection crumbled to nothing. She trusted herself to make it through whatever came at them and trusted
Kyber
with her life, her heart, her soul.

She loved him, she always had, she always would. The truth she had known the first time her eyes had met his hit her full-force. It was staggering in its simplicity. Kyber belonged to her, and she belonged to him.

The rest they would conquer.
Together.

K
yber didn't know how long he'd slept, but it was deep, peaceful, dreamless slumber. He awoke in his bed, naked and wrapped around his equally naked mate. Jana's feminine scent made him hum in the back of his throat, and he buried his nose in the crook of her neck. The sheer feline lassitude that lulled his body into boneless relaxation beckoned once more, and he closed his eyes.

When he came to alertness again, it was to see Jana's beautiful face bathed in starlight from the skylight in their quarters.

He propped himself on one elbow, content to watch her sleep. Her chest rose and fell in the rhythm of deep slumber, and their link told him that she dreamed of him and the last time they had loved. His cock came to rigid attention at the erotic images flowing through her mind. A smile that was entirely smug crossed his face. Was there anything sweeter than knowing your woman had been well-satisfied and would likely be so again as soon as she awakened? He couldn't think of anything that could please him more at the moment.

Except, of course, renewing the bond with his One.

But there was time for that. Relief, profound and deep, wound its way through him. He hadn't earned any second chances, but destiny had blessed him more than he could ever have guessed, certainly more than he would have supposed when he'd been on his knees in chains. That was the past, and it would remain there. He had his One in his arms, his enemy lay dead by his hand, and he had
time
. Time to win her again, time to heal from all that he had suffered, time to help his people grieve for those they had lost.

“Mmm.” Jana stretched her arms above her head, pointed her toes and arched her back, her body bowing off the gelpad. Her gray eyes opened and a grin curved her lips when she looked up at him.

He smiled at her, stroked back the dark flames of her hair, and dipped forward to kiss her. She hummed again, her palms lifting to cup his face. Their lips clung for a long moment before he let her up for air and grinned down at her. “Hello, my One. Did you sleep well?”

“I did.” Tears misted her eyes, and a smile trembled at the corners of her mouth. “You make a wonderful body pillow.”

“A profession the prophets never envisioned for me, I'm sure.” He tried to keep his tone teasing and light, but the sight of moisture welling in her eyes made his chest tighten. He brushed his thumb over her cheekbone. “Something has upset you. Tell me and I'll make it right.”

“You already did.” She ran her fingers up his arm.

He shook his head. “I don't understand.”

“You saved me.” Her nails dragged gently over his shoulder, raising goose bumps on his skin and hardening his dick even further. “You made everything as right as it can be.”

“I told you that you weren't allowed to die until I said so.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “Nothing has happened to change that, my empress.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” A grin flashed over her face. Her hand stroked through his hair, and he leaned into her caresses. Her gaze searched his face and her smile faded. “Thank you. I don't know if I ever told you that. I'm glad you stopped me from killing myself, I'm glad you took me with you to Earth, and I'm glad you saved me from Arthur.”

“I wish I had saved you from him the first time, that he had never had a chance to touch you.” He bowed his head, allowing himself to feel the regret of all the things he hadn't managed to do, accepting the parts of this horror that had been his doing, and then set it aside. He couldn't erase the past, couldn't bring back those who had needlessly died, but he could learn from his mistakes and vow to embrace all of himself—man and beast—embrace his future, his destiny, and never to repeat those errors again. He owed it to all of them, and to his father who had sacrificed his life for him so long ago, to be the best emperor he could be, the best mate to his One, the best
man
he could be.

“Shh.” She ran her palms down his chest, her fingertip circled his nipple. “There's no room for sorrow and regrets between us. There's only tomorrow and all the days after that to strengthen our bond.”

“Yes. I want that, too.” He nodded, meeting her beautiful eyes. More kindness and understanding shone in them than he could ever earn. Gratitude gripped him tight.

Lust followed swiftly on its heels as she curled her leg over his hip. He could be half-dead and he'd still react to her. He wouldn't have it any other way. The scent of her moisture reached him, and he dipped the head of his cock into her passage, rubbing himself over her slick lips. She was drenched for him already, and he groaned. He sank into her, his cock stretching her channel until he was hilt-deep inside of her pussy. “Jana.”

Her eyes flared wide, her breath catching. She arched herself into him until her breasts pressed to his chest. “Kyber.”

“Jana.” This time his voice was little more than a satisfied purr. Her passion pumped through their connection, and he clenched his teeth, his fangs clacking together.
I crave you, my One.

“Me, too.” Her eyes grew damp again, but she tightened her leg around his waist.

He went utterly still, fearing he'd hurt her. Sucking in a breath, he tried to regain control of his rampaging desire. The beast struggled against the restraint. “And that's why there are tears in your eyes?”

“No. Yes.” She gave a soft, breathy laugh. “I like that you called me your One. Not long ago, I never could have imagined you calling me that again. I want to be your One in every way.”

He stared at her in stunned silence for long moments. When he spoke, it was slowly and carefully. He didn't want to make any assumptions that would scare her into withdrawal. They had already come so far in so short a time. “You mean…that you want to open our bond again? Fully?”

Her chin dipped in a nod. “Yes.”

Uncertainty assailed him. He knew what he wanted, what he was willing to endure to have back what he had taken for granted the day he'd met her. Anything. For her? Anything. Except losing her again. He had to be sure. “You realize that we'll do other things to hurt each other, don't you? That I might make more mistakes that bring you pain?”

“Kyber, you're not perfect, I know that. I don't want someone who's perfect because God knows
I'm
not. And that's just fine by me. I don't need some fairy tale.
This
is better than that.” She squeezed her inner walls around him, and he hissed. She grinned. “We both made mistakes and we'll probably make a lot more, but the kind of man I want to spend my life with is one who'll set things right when he finds out he's done something wrong. You've done that every time. You're who I want, mistakes and all.”

“We are so alike, you were right about that.” He brushed his lips over hers. “We will do the wrong thing sometimes. But we can learn from those mistakes as well. We can grow together, love together, live together. That's what Ones do. That's what I want for us, even though horrible things can and will happen again.”

A tear streaked down her cheek, and her hands rose to clutch his shoulders, rocking herself against him. “You said…you said
love
together.”

“Yes, I love you. I've always loved you, even when I hated that I couldn't escape that love. Never doubt that.
I love you.
” He brushed the tear away, lifted his hips with her gentle movements, and held tight to his sanity as the feel of her stimulated every one of his senses. His psychic gifts were irresistibly drawn to her, his feral nature demanding its mate be reclaimed.

“I love you, too.” Her breath hitched on a little sob, but she kept writhing against him. “Bond with me again. Give me all of it. I want you. I love you.”

He felt the last of his resistance, the final barrier in his mind, give way at her words. Anun, but he loved her. A hiss exploded between his clenched teeth. “Are you sure?”

She chuckled. “That's what I just said, wasn't it? Do you need me to draw you a map?”

Slipping out of her pussy, he eased back in, a single centimeter at a time to draw out the satisfaction for both of them. “No, this is territory I know well. My One.”

“It'd be even better if you moved a little faster.” She sighed, pleasure, both hot and sweet, in the sound. “And maybe…a little deeper.”

“I think that can be arranged.” His hand moved over her thigh, her back, every inch of her supple skin he could reach. Heat erupted deep inside him, and he had to concentrate on not coming every time he buried his cock inside her wetness.

She laughed, but the sound ended in a soft gasp as he rolled his hips, changing the angle of his penetration to make it even more perfect. “Good.”

“Yes, it is.” Her walls closed around him and he groaned, his muscles straining as he flexed himself deep inside her, purring low in his belly so she would feel the vibrations against her clit. She cried out, and he grinned, giving her a taste of the power within him. Digging deep into her mind, he plunged into the areas that would bring her to orgasm swiftly.

She thrashed in his embrace, her thoughts scattering into incoherent begging and pleading for surcease. He sank his cock and his mind into her, and she screamed, her ecstasy coalescing as her inner muscles fisted tight around him.

He groaned. “I can feel…how good it is for you. How much you like this. I forgot—” He shuddered, thrusting a little harder without her having to ask.

The connection snapped tight between them, and she opened herself to him completely. The link told him how she liked to be touched, where, and when. His passion fed hers and soon her body had loosened, molding itself to his, heating until he thought her dampness would drive him to feral madness. The need cycled back and forth, a hot ebb and flow between them that built until it was as much pain as pleasure.

“Oh, my God.” Her fingers curled over his shoulders, digging into the muscles there. He watched purple sparks flash in her eyes as his power filled her. “Kyber?”

“Yes?” He groaned, pushing himself deeper into her. He couldn't get enough of her. He never would, but he could try. Every day for the rest of his life. He purred, grinding himself against her hard clit.

A whimper slipped from her. “Tell me.”

“I love you.” He didn't hesitate, giving her everything, all of him.

Her breathing hitched every time his slammed deep inside her, her pleasure becoming his pleasure. “I might…need to hear that every day.”

“Then I'll tell you every day.” Rolling her beneath him, he pressed her thighs flat to gelpad and thrust hard. Anun, but she felt good. Perfect. Sleek and hot and so tight he thought he would die, but it was too good to stop.

“Maybe more than once a day.” Her slim legs wrapped around his flanks, her feet pushing down on the backs of his thighs to sink him even deeper inside her with each plunge.

“If that's what you need.” He dipped his head, slanted his mouth over hers, and kissed her. “Since we are so well matched, I think it might be fair to say I need to hear it, too.”

Her nails dug into his back, and she arched until she could gasp in his ear. “Every day, more than once.”

“Yes,” he growled, and even he didn't know if it was in agreement or because he could feel orgasm roaring through him. The beast clawed for freedom, and he let it loose.

He sank his fangs into her neck hard enough to leave a mark. She screamed, her wetness soaking his cock as she dampened even further. She raked her nails down his back, giving him the wildness he craved. “Love me, Kyber.”

Her pussy flexed around his shaft, and he groaned in helpless response. “I do. I will. Always.”

She clung to him, her desperate need echoing his, and her low cries told him she was as close to orgasm as he was. She laughed, but it erupted as a sob. “Always sounds just long enough to me.”

Pulling back for the briefest moment, he grinned down at her. “Good, because it's all I'm willing to give you.”

“Kyber,” she breathed. There was no need to ask for what she wanted; he knew. Driving his cock into her at just the right angle and just the right speed, hitting her in just the right spot to make her scream, opening the connection between them wider with each thrust, he shoved them both over the sheer drop into orgasm. She bit his shoulder hard, her pussy milking the length of his cock over and over again until he felt like he was going to explode out of his skull.

Fire shot through him, the heat and passion they generated together all he would ever truly need. He rammed his dick deep, their skin slapping together, their breath mingling as their consciousnesses did the same. He came hard, spilling his cum inside her, a deep roar echoing in their room as beast and man claimed their mate. Forever. His thoughts stroked over hers, tangling and untangling until neither of them knew where his awareness ended and hers began. It was exactly as it should be with them, as it was destined to be.

They were One.