Emma

EMMA

It was over.

It was over, Conii was gone, and Tazhr was with me, holding me so tightly, I knew he'd never let me go.

The others were talking, bent over the remains of Conii's desk. Whatever they planned, I couldn't care.

I was too busy lost in the heat of Taz's touch. He came for me. I knew he would.

That beautiful, deadly killing machine would never let me down.

"What do you want to do now?" he said when we finally broke apart. "You can do anything you want, anything in the universe."

I leaned forward, falling into his eyes. "I want to stay with you. I don't want us to be separated, ever again."

His fingers tightened on my arms. "Do you know what that means? Are you certain?"

I swallowed hard, but didn't take my gaze from his.

I heard the rumors about Vinduthi mating, seeing the truth in Sophia's eyes, in the marks that danced down her skin.

As Makar's mate, she was changed forever.

And she didn't look unhappy about it in the least.

Stretching up on my toes, I whispered against the skin of his neck. "Take me home." I kissed the gold tracery. "Make me yours." Another kiss, and his breathing grew ragged. "Claim me as your mate."

Maybe I pushed it a little too hard. In a moment, Tazhr lifted me into his arms, striding out of the room, his eyes fixed again.

"Hey! Where are you off to?" Makar shouted.

"I have business to take care of," Taz yelled back over his shoulder.

"Aw, shit, we have another one, boys," Razov commented while the rest of them laughed.

Did I pay attention to where Tazhr carried me?

No.

I wasn't collecting clues, or trying to deduce anything.

Logic flew out the window.

I barely noticed when we entered the Fallen Star, going up a lift to the living quarters above.

I'd investigate later.

Right now, there was only one mystery on my mind.

What would it feel like to be claimed?

He opened the doors to his quarters, and his scent immediately let me know that this was home. This was where I belonged.

He spun me around in his living room, and he carried me in the back to the bed. I expected a bachelor's rundown apartment, but his bedroom looked more like a sanctuary. The bed was enormous, with gold and red brocade sheets and blankets.

"These will not do," Tazhr said, pulling the uniform I still had on from work.

He tore it in half, literally ripping them from my body, his slate gray muscles bulging.

"You will never, ever be forced to wear anything against your will again," he said as he knelt down and kissed my neck. His whole body glowed, especially the molten gold tracery vibrating and pulsing in time with the beat of his heart.

A wicked grin lit his face. "If I had my way, you'd never dress at all."

He slid off his shirt and trousers, and led me to the bathroom, turning on the shower, adjusting the water to a perfect warm cascade.

"Let me care for you, my treasure," he murmured, guiding me under the steaming spray. I sighed in pleasure as the water sluiced over my skin, washing away the lingering taint of my ordeal.

Tazhr gently massaged sweet-scented oil into my hair, his claws tenderly scratching my scalp in a way that made me tingle. I leaned into his strength, tension melting away.

When I was fully lathered, he drew me back under the water to rinse, his hands gliding reverently over every curve and plane of my body. My nerves sparked wherever he touched.

Unable to resist, I turned in his embrace, pulling his mouth down to mine. Our kiss quickly deepened, all the passion and fear of the last days pouring out. I felt his rigid length pressing urgently against my belly.

"Emma, are you certain?" Tazhr rasped, breaking the kiss to search my eyes.

"Yes," I breathed. "But not here. Take me to bed."

Scooping me up, Tazhr swiftly carried me to the expansive bed. He laid me across the decadent golden covers and gazed down hungrily.

"You are exquisite, a goddess and I intend to worship every inch of you properly."

He began a sensual exploration of my body, tasting, teasing, stroking every sensitive spot he discovered in our past trysts. My back arched and pleasure mounted as he lavished attention on my breasts, my throat, the tender insides of my thighs. I was soaked and aching for him long before his clever mouth found my center.

When his tongue finally stroked through my slick folds, I cried out, tangling my hands in his hair to pull him closer. He growled approvingly, the vibrations intensifying the delicious sensation. My peak crashed over me in moments, legs clamping around his head as I wailed his name.

But Tazhr did not stop, carrying me higher again with his lips and fingers until I thrashed mindlessly from the ecstasy. Only then did he rise over me, my juices glistening on his grinning mouth.

"Please, I need you inside me!" I begged shamelessly. Chuckling, he guided my legs around his hips and slid home in one smooth stroke, every flange that ran the length of his huge cock hitting my clit with each thrust.

Braced above me, Tazhr set a steady rhythm, rocking deeper with each thrust. I moved with him, our bodies perfectly in sync. His ridged length massaged my sensitive walls with delicious friction, pleasure coiling tighter.

"You feel incredible, Emma," Tazhr gritted out between pounding strokes. "So hot and tight and wet for me. I can never get enough of you."

"Yes, more, don't stop!" I sobbed, raking my nails down his flexing back. I was so close again, balanced on a knife's edge. His golden eyes burned into mine as our movements became frenzied.

"Come with me, my mate," he commanded. "Let me feel you shatter."

Reaching between us, his fingers found my throbbing clit, rubbing in firm circles. The added sensation hurled me over the brink with a wailing scream. My spasming release triggered his own, hips driving forward powerfully as he emptied himself inside me.

We clung together, shuddered through endless waves of bliss. But even in the afterglow, desire still simmered. I needed more of him.

I pushed Tazhr onto his back, straddling his waist to take control. Leaning down, I caught his earlobe between my teeth, nibbling the sensitive tip. He groaned, talons reflexively kneading my hips.

"I want a ride now," I purred. Understanding my intent, his cock hardened rapidly beneath me.

Bracing my hands on his sculpted chest, I took him inside my slick channel. We both moaned as I sank down his thick cock.

Finding my own rhythm, I rolled my hips, grinding my aching clit against him on every downward stroke. His ridged cock hit new angles inside me, sparking explosions of pleasure.

"Emma, you feel incredible," Tazhr gritted out, eyes slitted with bliss. His big hands roved my skin reverently as I pleasured us both. "So perfect having you above me like this."

I increased my pace, chasing another shattering release. When my movements faltered from sheer sensation, Tazhr gripped my hips, thrusting up powerfully to meet each downward slide.

The combined friction quickly pushed me over the edge again with a breathless cry. My writhing inner muscles locked down, coaxing Tazhr's own climax from him.

Utterly spent, I collapsed atop his broad chest. Tazhr's arms wrapped around me securely as I drifted, his rumbling purr of satisfaction lulling me.

But even satiated, I craved more—the ultimate union to bind us eternally. I tilted my head, baring the smooth column of my throat in offering.

"Make me yours fully," I whispered. "I'm ready."

Tazhr stilled beneath me. Slowly, he shifted us until I lay cradled in his embrace, trusting gaze fixed unwaveringly upon him.

"My beloved, Emma," he murmured, tracing my lips tenderly. "It will hurt, but only for a moment. Then we will be one forever."

At the first prick of his fangs against my skin, I shuddered, then moaned as the tingle of his saliva worked its magic, making me crave more.

Crave him.

And then I was swept away into the dark, unable to do anything more than cling to him.

I floated back to awareness slowly, a pleasant ache suffusing my body. Blinking against the dim lighting, memories of the passionate hours with Tazhr flowed back. Our joining, the rapture of the claiming bite...

Was it real, or only a feverish dream? I shifted slightly, wincing at the lingering soreness between my legs. No, we definitely made love with quite vigorous enthusiasm.

But what of the bond? Did I imagine the mystical merger of our essence in the throes of passion?

A rumbling chuckle answered my unspoken question. "Welcome back, my mate."

I rolled toward that beloved voice to find Tazhr watching me, eyes tender. Tracing my cheek, he smiled. "How do you feel?"

I considered, taking stock. "Different..." I murmured. Was my hearing sharper? I could make out the hum of generators many levels away. And the room seemed brighter, details more vivid to my eyes.

Sitting up, I glanced down and gasped. Lacing across my side were swirling patterns of metallic gold, mirroring Tazhr's own glowing markings. I trailed a wondering finger over the shimmering tracery, feeling it tingle at my touch.

"It's real then? I sense you, here." I pressed a hand over my heart. Through our link, his emotions resonated within me—joy, desire, protectiveness.

Tazhr clasped my marked hand, interlacing our fingers. "We are one now. My strength is yours." He drew me against his chest and I sighed, feeling complete.

I was changed, inside and out. But I never felt more like myself. We belonged together, two parts reunited. I sent my own love and contentment through our bond, seeing his eyes light up as he received it.

Whatever came next, we would face it side by side, our shared power unbreakable. No secrets or fears could come between us any longer. For the first time since arriving on Thodos Station, I was truly home.