Jac"s gaze strayed to Ares"s face. He seemed to be resting comfortably. She turned back to look at Coridan, not attempting to hide the contempt she felt for the man.
He stepped forward and lowered his head. "I have chosen to exile myself from my people in punishment for my deeds. I hope someday you will accept my apologies and be able to forgive me, Jac." With that he stepped back and left the hut.
Eros watched Coridan leave, then turned to Jac. "He came to us, full of fright, desperate for our a.s.sistance. We picked up his psychic cry before he made it to the village. He told us what he"d done and begged for our forgiveness. I granted it on one condition." Eros"s face looked pained. "That he exiles himself from the village."
"I"m sorry," Jac said. It was a shame so many lives had almost been ruined because of what started out as l.u.s.t for revenge.
Eros stared at Jac. "I think it best that you both get some rest. Tomorrow"s ceremony will be a long, drawn out affair."
"Ceremony?" Jac"s brows furrowed.
Eros smiled. "Ares has told me you have decided to stay."
"But how?" Jac"s head jerked around.
A devilish smile curved Ares"s lips.
"He couldn"t of...no way... he was dead." Jac looked up to get confirmation from Eros, only to see the hide flap on the door fall. He was gone.
"I"ll leave you two to work it out." Eros"s departing words were followed by peals laughter.
Jac let the King"s comment wash over her as she snuggled into Ares"s side, too grateful to get upset.
Jac awoke the next morning, her head resting on Ares"s chest. She could hear the steady thud of his heart as it beat against his ribcage. She smiled without opening her eyes, the sound, music to her ears. She encircled his waist and curled up tighter around him. Jac didn"t think she"d ever be able to let him go.
"Ah, but you must release me, my love." His voice rumbled, snaking around her, settling deep within her stomach, before dropping lower.
Jac smiled again and shook her head in protest.
"Today is our mating ceremony. We must be prepared."
She sat up to look at him, bracing herself on her elbow, her sculpted brow slightly arched. "That reminds me...how in the h.e.l.l did you know I said I"d stay?"
Ares grinned. "I may have left this realm, but I could still hear the words that were torn from your heart, for they spoke to mine."
Jac smiled back. She couldn"t help herself. "I think that"s a load of c.r.a.p, but it"s still nice to hear."
Ares laughed. The hardy sound rolled over her, embracing, lifting, and gathering her close.
"Just because I agreed to stay, don"t think things are going to change." Her gaze leveled on his handsome face. The bruises had already started to fade and the cuts had scabbed over.
"I"m counting on that." Ares rubbed the rough pad of his thumb along her sensitive spine. "My fierceness." His eyes sparked fire as he glanced down at her nakedness, peeking out from beneath the furs.
"You"ve got to be kidding." Jac felt her nipples respond, tightening into tiny nubs.
Ares growled, his expression turning feral. "You deny a man who"s been ripped from the jaws of death a little pleasure?"
Jac"s c.l.i.t ached and began to twitch. Even though it had only been a day, it felt as if it were a lifetime, since she"d last lain beneath his pressing weight. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips and was instantly captured by Ares"s mouth in a searing kiss.
"Mine," he growled out against her lips and then he dipped deeper, swirling and sparring, tasting and tempting, seeking out her moisture like a man deprived.
His teeth nipped at her lower lip, teasing, drawing out her desire as only he could. His hands gripped the round globes of her a.s.s, pulling her up and over until she was spread and lying on top of him. He kneaded her bottom as if it were dough, rolling and grinding her skin beneath his fingertips. Jac"s s.e.x dripped upon his staff, singeing him with her liquid heat.
Ares"s muscles tightened in antic.i.p.ation. He stroked over her outer lips, her channel moistened, readying her for his c.o.c.k"s arrival, all the while intensifying the embrace. Ares felt his shaft lengthen, growing thicker with each pa.s.sing second. Jac reached down and grasped his throbbing member. Air hissed from his lungs. Ares pulled away from the kiss and clamped his jaw down. His fingers sought her entrance, then slipped inside.
Jac moaned.
He pulled her higher until he could push another digit in beside the first, then he began to finger f.u.c.k her. Jac"s breath came in gasps, her vision clouded, as a haze of desire spread through her. Ares pushed deeper and she ground her hips against his hand. His thumb sc.r.a.ped her c.l.i.t and Jac cried out. He continued to ma.s.sage the hidden b.u.t.ton, flicking his nail enough to intensify her pleasure. Jac sat up and began to ride his fingers.
Ares watched her creamy b.r.e.a.s.t.s bob up and down. The rosy peaks at the tips mesmerized him, capturing his full attention, as they engorged, stabbing out in search of his hungry mouth. He sat up, popping a bud into his mouth and began to suckle hard. His teeth nibbled and tugged, then he released one nipple and moved to the other. Jac"s hips bore down, frenzied. She tried to increase the speed of the movements, but couldn"t in her current position. So Ares released her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and sat back.
He slipped one moist finger from her c.u.n.t and slid it over her a.n.u.s. The muscles in Jac"s thighs clenched and her eyes widened in surprise, but she made no attempt to stop him. Ares circled the tight opening, moistening the edges, preparing it for his intrusion. Then slowly, very slowly he slid inside, matching the motions of his other fingers. Jac threw her head back and screamed, shattering against his hands in a violent o.r.g.a.s.m. She collapsed forward onto his chest, her lungs laboring for breath.
Ares c.o.c.k bucked beneath her, demanding entrance into her tight sheath. It had taken every fiber of his being not to drive his length into her awaiting body, but he knew he must hold off, saving his energy. He should wait until after the mating ceremony, when he"d be potent. He knew then nothing would be able to keep him from pounding into Jac"s willing p.u.s.s.y.
Jac saw stars. She"d never allowed anyone to get near her a.s.s during s.e.x. She hadn"t realized what she"d been missing-or maybe it was Ares"s magical touch. Jac swallowed a couple of times, trying to slow her maddening heartbeat. Her body trembled and shook as the last of her o.r.g.a.s.m rippled over her, shattering her nerve endings, igniting her desire, fueling her love. Ares"s skin moistened beneath her mouth, with a quick flick of her tongue she tasted the salt from his sweat.
The air filled with the odor of musky s.e.x. His skin heated to a raging inferno as she touched him. She tried to steady herself, regain her thoughts. She"d wanted Ares to f.u.c.k her so bad she hadn"t been able to see straight. Yet, he hadn"t. Why? When she could form coherent words again she"d ask.
They lay in silence for a few moments. Jac could feel Ares c.o.c.k, hard as diamonds, beneath her belly. She started to rise up so she could take him inside of her, but he stopped her movements as if reading her thoughts once again.
His voice graveled when he spoke. "We cannot." Ares shook his head.
"Why not?" Jac couldn"t help but sound petulant.
His jade gaze locked on her face. "The mating ceremony will take place in a few hours."
"So." Jac sat up. "You pleasured me. Why can"t I take care of you?"
""Tis different."
Jac frowned. "Don"t give me that chauvinistic bulls.h.i.t."
Ares"s lips thinned, but his eyes sparkled with amus.e.m.e.nt. "Since we didn"t get to spend the night apart, as is tradition, we must abide by this aspect if we hope for the ceremony to be a success."
"Successful?" Jac frowned. "I don"t know if I understand, all we have to do is say, I do." Jac dropped onto her elbows and rested her chin in her hands.
"Is it not a tradition for the bride and groom to spend the night apart in your culture?" He tilted his head.
"Yes." She admitted grudgingly.
Ares face pinched with strain. "Given the circ.u.mstance, this is the best we can do."
Jac really didn"t agree with his reasoning, but she figured it wasn"t worth arguing about. Besides, her heart rate had sped up the second he mentioned bride and groom, and she couldn"t seem to slow it back down. She pushed off of Ares and slid from the bed. Her finger trailed along his heavy length before stepping away.
"If you say so," she teased.
Ares"s muscles tightened, straining beneath her fingertips.
"You better get going. You don"t want to be late for the ceremony." She smiled and let her lashes drop to half-mast.
Ares took a ragged breath and pushed aside the furs. His body flexed and stretched as he got up from the bed, his enormous c.o.c.k standing at attention. His gaze dropped to the floor. He picked up his loincloth, quickly slipping it on. He walked to the hidden panel and opened up, withdrawing a new black skirt. Ares handed it to Jac.
"Put this on," he said, then made his way to the door. He gripped the hide covering the entrance like a lifeline, before turning to face her one last time. His expression was grim.
"Later today, Eros will come to prepare you. I know I have not explained all, but please allow him to do this, my love. It is part of the ritual."
The pain on Ares"s face showed clearly. Jac wasn"t sure what he meant by prepare but was sure by the emphasis he"d placed on the word, she wasn"t going to like it. At least Ares didn"t seem to be any happier about the idea than she did, which was a small consolation. He gave her a half smile and then slipped through the door.
Jac paced the length of the hut, her imagination going overboard. She envisioned every possible scenario that could be included in a preparation and had come to one conclusion. She wasn"t about to f.u.c.k Rachel"s husband. No way. No how. So they"d have to come up with some other way to get her ready for the mating ceremony.
In fact, it kind of p.i.s.sed her off that Rachel hadn"t mentioned any of this when they"d gone down by the stream that first day of her arrival. Jac ran her hands through her hair. But then again, it wasn"t like she"d actually given any indication she would stick around, so Rachel might have figured what"s the point. Jac nodded, citing the likeliest scenario. By the time Eros got here there would be a rut running the length of Ares"s hut from her pacing. Jac"s nerves skidded across her skin, making her painfully aware of every creak, snap, and brush against the dwelling.
By the time Eros reached the door, Jac was going out of her mind. She glared at him, arms crossed over her chest. "I don"t know what this is about, but if I have to have s.e.x with you, you can forget about it, ritual or not." She sliced a hand through the air.
Eros"s aqua eyes widened and the corner of his mouth curved in amus.e.m.e.nt, but he said nothing. He simply continued to stare at her, waiting for her to finish.
"Have you told Rachel what you"re planning on doing?" She began to pace again. "I"m sure if you had she wouldn"t be very happy."
With the mention of Rachel, some of his amus.e.m.e.nt faded.
"You did tell her, didn"t you?" Jac stopped to face him.
Eros looked decidedly uncomfortable. "The Queen is well aware of the duties I must perform concerning my station."
Jac laughed. "You didn"t tell her."
"There is nothing to tell." He snorted, shrugging his broad shoulders.
"Chicken."
His eyes narrowed, bulleting on her face, but his expression wasn"t as confident as his voice implied. "Let"s get on with this."
Jac took a deep breath. "Fine."
"Take off your skirt."
Jac flinched, but her voice remained steady, determined. "Promise you"re not going to f.u.c.k 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 c.o.c.k 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 p.u.s.s.y 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 b.r.e.a.s.t.s. 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 b.u.t.ton until she gasped. He stroked lower, sc.r.a.ping 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 ma.s.saged the inside of her thighs. Vanilla mixed with the musky scent of Jac"s s.e.x 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 c.o.c.k 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 ma.s.saging fingers. Soon their movements were primal. Jac ground her s.e.x 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 c.o.c.k 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 c.l.i.t. Jac"s body flared. She writhed in his arms, drawing nearer and nearer to that elusive o.r.g.a.s.m.
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 c.l.i.t. Jac"s body jerked back as she came, but Eros didn"t release her. He continued his a.s.sault until Jac"s screams of release filled the jungle. Then, and only then, did Eros quit rubbing her c.l.i.t. 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 c.o.c.k, 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 circ.u.mstances 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.