Fervent Heart

FERVENT HEART

A rcanthus drummed the fingers of one hand atop his desk, using the other to scroll through the coding on the holo screen before him. The symbols held less meaning to him with every passing second.

He sighed. Each beat of his heart echoed in the quiet, stretching out into infinity.

Not going to do it. Not going to look.

It'll be no different than when I looked thirty seconds ago.

His upper eye twitched to the side.

"Fuck." Dropping his arms onto the chair's armrests, he leaned back and tilted his face upward. Reddish light from the holographic fire at the room's center danced across the ceiling. He closed his eyes and let the dark and silence close in around him. Neither could assuage that impulse, that itch, to look.

"What's the point of resisting now?" he asked. "I already peeked."

Arc snickered. "I do make a good point."

Opening his eyes, he turned his head toward Samantha's desk. With the paint splatters, dried clay, and art tools in varying states of cleanliness scattered across its surface, Sam's desk was a bastion of chaos amidst the workshop's order.

And Arcanthus adored it.

But he wasn't quite so fond of the empty chair behind it.

For years, he'd thrived while working in solitude. Now he could barely concentrate without his mate nearby.

Samantha hadn't joined him in the workshop today, having said she had something to do. That'd been hours ago, and he'd neither seen nor heard from her since. That was unusual for her. It was unusual for them .

What if she'd been stricken by pregnancy sickness again? What if she was alone, on her knees, vomiting in the toilet while he was lounging here on a plush chair? Did he really expect himself to get any work done while his mate, who carried his child, was potentially suffering?

"No. Absolutely not." Arc shoved his chair away from the desk, surged to his feet, and strode across the workshop. He barely noticed the couches and the stone fire bowl hovering between them as he passed.

But as he reached for the door button, he hesitated.

Was he being too clingy, too overbearing? Did she just need time alone?

His chest tightened.

No. He refused to entertain such thoughts. She'd awoken this morning looking more refreshed and vibrant than she had in days, thankfully free of the nausea that had afflicted her lately. She was likely just relaxing in their room or spending time with their friends, having a chat.

"I like chatting," he muttered, "and everyone likes chatting with me."

Resolved to join any chats in which his mate was currently engaged, he pressed the button.

The door slid open to reveal the furry back of a burly azhera.

Drakkal started and looked over his shoulder.

Arcanthus cocked an eyebrow.

"Sedhi," Drak grunted.

"Kitty," Arc purred.

With a huff, Drakkal faced Arc. "What is it?"

Arc and Drak stared at one another until Arcanthus finally said, "You're in my way."

Drakkal glanced toward the hall, ears twitching as though listening for something, before returning his attention to Arcanthus. "You going to start telling me where I can stand now?"

Arcanthus chuckled. "It seems I may have to. Is there a reason you're standing outside my door like a prison guard?"

"Checking security," the azhera said.

"In this specific spot?"

"Obviously."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"Fair enough. But everything appears to be in order here, so if you'd just…" Arc waved the azhera away with both hands and stepped forward.

Drakkal planted his cybernetic hand on Arcanthus's chest, halting him. "We need to talk."

Arc tilted his head. "Talk? I thought you were checking security."

"Maybe that's what we need to discuss."

Arcanthus took hold of Drakkal's wrist and moved the azhera's hand aside. "Not interested."

The azhera grunted. "You going to listen to me or not?"

"Hmm…" Arcanthus tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear and smiled. "No."

Drakkal's brow fell, and his mouth turned down into his signature scowl. "Typical. Always fucking around."

"Me? You haven't given an honest response since I opened the door!"

Nodding, the azhera folded his arms across his chest. "Yeah."

Scrubbing his hands over his face, Arcanthus barely suppressed a groan. "I just want to get past."

"Not my problem, sedhi."

Footsteps from the hallway called Arc's attention past Drakkal to find Shay, the azhera's human mate, approaching.

"What are you doing to him?" she asked.

"The usual," Drak replied.

"Ah. Well, we're all good now. She's ready."

Drakkal drew Shay into his embrace. "Missed you."

"I know you did." She pecked a kiss on his lips before pulling back to look at Arcanthus. "Go on, Arc. Sam's in your room."

Arcanthus glanced between her and the azhera. "What. The. Fuck?"

" Vrek'osh , sedhi." Without releasing Shay, Drakkal stepped aside. "Your mate is waiting. Go."

Arcanthus stared at him. "Why the fuck do I pay either of you?"

"Because you love us," Shay replied in a mockingly saccharine tone.

"Or I just love suffering." He stalked past them and turned down the hall, leaving their laughter behind.

Sam's in our room. She's waiting for me.

That thought banished his frustrations and sped him onward; he was nearly running by the time he reached their room. Only by mustering all his willpower did he manage to stop, straighten his robe and loincloth, and comb back his hair before he tapped the door control.

The door slid open, and Arc sauntered through with a grin.

Only to come to an abrupt halt.

Holographic flames flickered in sconces on the walls, bathing the room in a flickering red and orange glow that left deep shadows in the corners. But it was Arcanthus's mate who commanded all his attention.

Samantha stood in front of their bed with her hands on her hips and one knee bent. A seductress, a temptress, with her long, thick brown hair hanging loose around her shoulders, her large brown eyes outlined in black, and her lips painted a sultry red, beckoning him for a kiss.

His gaze dipped along her body. She wore a red and black corset which pushed up her breasts and accentuated her waist and hips. Only a scrap of black cloth covered her sex, mostly hidden behind the corset's ruffled trim.

His cock stirred, pushing out of his slit as his eyes followed her shapely legs, which were encased in thigh-high fishnet stockings, down to the black heels on her little feet. He longed to have those legs wrapped around him as he thrust into the welcoming heat of her body.

A low growl rumbled in his chest as he met Samantha's dark eyes. He walked toward her. "So you are waiting for me."

Her eyes flared, and she thrust a hand toward him. "Stop."

Arcanthus paused, the corner of his mouth quirking. "Haven't we been apart long enough, my flower?"

She hesitated before pointing at the floor at his feet. "You are going to stay. Right there." Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin and locked her eyes with his. "Will you obey?"

He'd never heard such firmness in her voice, such command. But as much as it excited him, it stirred something else within Arcanthus, an unsettling knot in his gut that had formed every time anyone had ordered him around. A feeling that had been at its worst during the part of his life when he'd been helpless but to comply. "Is this…a game, Samantha?"

Her confident posture faltered, and her worried eyes searched his. "You can trust me, Arcanthus." She drew in a trembling breath and took a step closer. "But we…we can stop if you want to."

That vulnerability made his heart ache. He knew she would never make him do anything he didn't want to do, that she would never hurt him. His legs tensed, and he nearly succumbed to the instinct to go to her, to embrace her; he swayed toward Samantha but did not move his feet. "I trust you."

She quietly studied him before offering a soft smile. "Okay." Clearing her throat, she again squared her shoulders and raised her chin. "I asked you a question. Will you obey me?"

This was his mate. His flower, who had bloomed despite the hardships she'd endured, who had found the confidence that had always been hers to claim. His mate, who felt safe and loved in his presence, who made him feel the same.

She was his everything.

And she was so beautiful.

Heat pumped through Arc's veins, coalescing low in his belly. "Yes."

Samantha smiled. "Good boy."

His cock twitched.

Fuck. Me.

She picked up something small from the bed, crossed the distance between them, and stepped behind him. He shivered when her fingertips trailed across his back.

"Would you like me to take control of you?" she asked.

How easy it would've been to run his tail along her calf, to slide it up between her legs. He curled it around his own leg instead to ensure it behaved. "Very much."

She pressed her lips to his left shoulder. "Do you surrender to me?"

That soft kiss was like a brand against his flesh, fiery and fierce. "Gladly."

Samantha circled Arc, stopping in front of him. "Then I have your consent?"

Arcanthus clenched his fists, battling the urge to take hold of her. This was a challenge he'd not expected—a challenge he welcomed. He dipped his chin, holding her gaze. "I am yours."

Smiling, she moved closer. Her body heat radiated into him, and her intoxicating fragrance filled his nose as she slipped her hands behind his neck, wrapping something around his throat. She clicked it into place.

A collar.

His muscles seized, and his skin itched beneath the leather.

"We can stop at any time," she whispered, caressing the nape of his neck.

That flash of anxiety bled away, no match for her soothing voice and gentle touch. "I know. It will take more than a strip of leather to make me quit, Samantha." He nuzzled her temple. "Keep going, my love."

Her grip on him tightened before she lowered her arms. There was a gleam of delight in her eyes when she said, "You will call me mistress."

"Yes, mistress."

"And you will obey my every command. Is that clear?"

Arcanthus grinned. "Yes, mistress."

Samantha stepped back. "Undress."

His tail whipped out behind him, and his hands flew to his robe, tugging it down from his shoulders.

"Slowly," she said.

He stilled his hands. The fabric of his clothing had never felt so rough, so restrictive, so burdensome. "As you command, mistress."

Keeping all three of his eyes on Sam, he peeled the garment off, hyperaware of it brushing across every centimeter of skin it touched along the way. The flames sparking in her eyes made the discomfort worth it and encouraged him to slow down further.

The robe fell away, and he brought his hands to his chest. He trailed them down over his abdomen. The way she was staring, biting her lip, and pressing her thighs together had his cock throbbing and battling the confinement of his loincloth. His fingers reached the clasps at his hip. He unfastened them, letting the loincloth drop to the floor.

He could not hold back a groan as his cock pushed out of his slit, its tendrils writhing. It took all Arcanthus's restraint to keep himself from grasping it to combat the pressure.

Samantha didn't take her eyes off him as she flattened her palms on her outer thighs, pressing her nails into her skin. "How badly do you want me?"

"Painfully so, mistress."

"Show me. Stroke your…cock."

Arcanthus closed his fingers around the base of his shaft and squeezed, forcing the tendrils together. He gritted his teeth against the flare of pleasure and agony. Keeping his grip tight, he worked his hand up and down.

"Good boy," Samantha said. "Keep going."

His tail flicked erratically behind him. Pressure compounded in his core, and his secretions wet his palm. Arc's desire grew exponentially with each pump of his fist.

When he'd gone to Earth without Sam, it had been the hardest point of their relationship. Being apart from her for days had been unbearable torture. This was impossibly harder. Having her right there, not even a meter away, but being unable to touch her?

How would he survive this?

Samantha raised her hands to her corset and undid the hooks one by one. "What are you thinking about?"

"You," he said through clenched teeth.

The corset parted. "And what do you want to do to me?"

She removed the garment, baring her breasts. Her nipples were hard little points.

Arcanthus growled. "I want my mouth on you."

Cheeks pinkening, she dropped the corset and almost bashfully cupped her breasts. "You want these?"

"I do, mistress. I want to tease those pretty nipples with my tongue and suck them until you're begging for more."

She massaged the soft mounds, pinched their peaks, and moaned. "What else do you want to do?"

"Fuck you. Hard and fast."

Samantha squeezed her breasts. "Stop. Hand off."

Arc halted his hand. Opening his fingers took as much physical effort as it would have to pry open a vise, but he managed it, forcing his hand away. His tendrils parted again, and his hips twitched. His chest swelled with a ragged breath, and he clenched his jaw as his cock pulsed with echoes of that pleasure-pain, dancing on the edge. So close to release, so close to her, and yet so, so far away.

Fuck.

Samantha's breath was shallow. "Get on your hands and knees."

Muscles taut, nostrils flaring, and eyes locked on his mate, Arcanthus lowered himself onto the floor. His cock hung heavy, dripping secretions.

"You're doing so well, Arc." She dropped her hands, hooked the straps of her underwear with her thumbs, and stretched them outward, pulling the fabric tight against her sex. "Shall I reward you?"

The memory of her delectable taste danced on his tongue, and seed seeped from his cock. "If it would please you, mistress."

"You always please me." She bent forward, slowly pushing her underwear down her legs. When she straightened, she kicked them aside and toed off her heels.

Samantha smiled and smoothed a palm over her belly to her pussy. Arcanthus didn't miss the flicker of shyness in her eyes before she slipped her fingers between her slit, where she circled her clit.

"Do you want me?" she asked.

His gaze fixed upon her pussy, and he curled his fingers against the floor. "Need you."

"Then crawl to me."

"You are so fucking sexy, Samantha."

Her finger stopped, and she narrowed her eyes while seeming to fight a smile. "What was that?"

"Mistress," he amended, crawling toward her. "You are so fucking sexy, mistress ."

"Good." She resumed stroking her clit, and a small moan escaped her. "Would you like a taste?"

"More than a taste."

She withdrew her glistening finger from her sex and traced his bottom lip with it. "What if a taste is all I allow?"

"I will take whatever I can get of you." Arcanthus closed his mouth around her finger and sucked. He groaned. He'd drunk from her hundreds of times, and he would do so countless more; her flavor would ever be the sweetest to grace his tongue.

She pulled her finger away far too soon. "Do you want more?"

"Yes," he growled.

Grasping his horns, Samantha guided his mouth to her sex. "Show me how much."

Arcanthus obeyed with immense enthusiasm. Wrapping his arms around her legs, he drew her closer and devoured her with lips and tongue. Samantha's little sounds of pleasure urged him on and made his cock thrum with need. He drank her nectar greedily, knowing his thirst would never be slaked.

Her pelvis undulated, and she tugged him even closer, guiding him into the exact rhythm she needed.

He loved it when she lost herself in passion, when she seized her pleasure, when she held nothing back. Loved it when he made her come undone.

But Arc was the one on the verge of losing control now. His cock was about to burst, and it was all he could do not to buck his own hips against the sensation.

Her taste, her pleasure, were about to make him come.

With a soft cry, she released one of his horns, delved her fingers into his hair, and gripped it at his scalp, pulling his head back. "Enough."

Arc snarled, his fingers flexing. His every instinct demanded he take what he wanted. Demanded he conquer her.

Breasts rising and falling with her panting breaths, Samantha arched a brow. "Was that defiance? On your feet."

She pulled him upward, surprisingly gentle despite the firmness of her hold. With a lingering glance at her glistening slit, Arcanthus rose.

Samantha released him and thrust her arm out, pointing to the wall. "Stand over there and face the wall."

Gritting his teeth, he walked to the place she'd indicated. Each step—each tiny movement of his body—sent a ripple of sensation through him, all of it building into an agony that would soon have him desperate for relief.

It felt fucking amazing .

Samantha's warm palms settled on his shoulders, and she kissed the center of his back between them. "I should punish you…" She placed another kiss lower, trailing her lips down his spine. "But it pleases me how much you want me."

She ran her hands down his sides as she kissed lower still. A shiver swept through him. He squeezed his fists and let out an unsteady breath. His mate knew exactly what she was doing, knew exactly how she was teasing him, and that only enhanced every sensation.

When her lips touched the base of his tail, it twitched, bumping her leg. She was straddling it. All he'd have to do was curl it upward and—

She sank her teeth into his ass cheek.

" Fuck !" He slammed his hands against the wall as his pelvis bucked. Seed spurted from his cock.

Samantha gasped and gripped his hips. "Did I hurt you?"

Arcanthus chuckled. "Keep going, my flower."

She brushed her thumbs over his skin. Even that soft, comforting touch added to the inferno raging in his core. After placing a tender kiss where she'd bitten him, she stood. "Turn around."

His body tensed. Obedience was growing only more difficult. He wanted her, desperately so, and it was becoming a matter of instinct, of primal desire. It was a fight he would not win, not after all this, but he wasn't going to give up. This was much too thrilling.

Dropping his hands from the wall, he turned to face his mate.

Her red lips curled in a sensual yet endearing smile. "I think you deserve a reward for being such a good boy." She leaned her soft body against his, trapping his cock against her belly.

Arc gritted his teeth against a wave of pleasure as his tendrils writhed over her skin.

Samantha skimmed her fingertips up one of his arms. "Hands behind your head."

His cybernetic fingers thrummed as he fought the impulse to take her by the hips and thrust into her. The heady light in her eyes, the confidence of her commands, those silken touches; it was all too much.

And fuck, he craved more.

Arcanthus raised his arms and laced his fingers together behind his head.

She lowered herself to her knees and caressed the underside of his cock. Arc groaned, hips straining toward her.

"Keep your hands there," she said. "If you move them, I'll stop. Do you understand?"

"Yes, mistress."

She closed her lips around one of his tendrils and sucked along its length. Arcanthus threw his head back, pinning his hands between it and the wall. Every muscle in his body strained to keep them there. His tail thumped against the floor. She moved from one tendril to the next, giving all four equal attention, before licking the slit at the center of his cock and the seed gathered there.

Consuming need roared inside him.

Sam grasped the base of his shaft, forcing his tendrils together, and took him fully into her mouth. He squeezed his eyes closed and hissed. His cock pulsed as pleasure coiled tighter and tighter at his core, amplified with every drag of her tongue.

She pulled him free of her mouth and kissed the tips of his tendrils. "Do you know how wet you make me?"

He opened his eyes and gazed down at her. "How wet?"

"Use your tail and find out."

Curling his tail between their legs, he grazed its end over her pussy, gathering her dripping essence. He found her entrance and eased into her. Her breath hitched.

She was so hot, so tight, so fucking perfect.

"Yes. Good boy. Just like that." Samantha wrapped her mouth around his cock and bore down on his tail, moaning as she undulated her pelvis. Her pussy clenched.

The vibrations, paired with the feel of her sex taking his tail, were overwhelming. He wanted his cock inside her, wanted her legs wrapped around him, wanted to feel her body taking him deeper and deeper.

With a growl, Arcanthus dropped his hands to her head.

She immediately drew back, shaking him off. "Ah-ah. Hands up."

Snarling a curse through bared teeth, he slammed his hands against the wall. The impact resonated through his whole body. After the heat of her mouth, the air was frigid around his aching shaft.

Samantha's large, beguiling eyes belied the innocence of her smile as she ground herself upon his tail. "Do you want me that badly, Arc?" She loosened her grip on his cock, allowing his tendrils to spread, and swirled her tongue around one. "Do you need me?"

His fingers bent, scraping the wall beneath them, and his body trembled. It felt like the only thing keeping him upright was that little hand around his cock. " Yes ."

She kissed his stomach. He could feel her quivering, could feel her movements faltering, and he knew she was close. Knew that she craved him as vehemently as he did her.

"How badly?" she rasped.

"Words will never convey the depths of my need."

Samantha released his cock. Grasping his tail, she whimpered, brow furrowing as she withdrew it from her pussy. Rising on unsteady legs, she pressed against him. Her eyes held his as she reached behind his neck and unclasped the collar, tossing it aside. It clattered on the floor.

She cradled his jaw. "Then show me."

"You're fucking mine ." Arcanthus slanted his mouth over Samantha's and wrapped his arms around her, sweeping her up against him. Her legs banded around him. He reveled in her taste as he strode to their bed.

Without breaking the kiss, he laid her upon the bed, lowering himself over her and nestling his hips between her thighs. She arched into him. The tendrils of his cock stroked her pussy, caressing her wet folds and clit.

"Arcanthus," she moaned.

Reaching between their bodies, he grasped the base of his shaft and poised himself at her entrance. "Did you like it? Did you like seeing me on my knees for you, worshipping you?"

She cried out as he thrust into her, tilting her head back, closing her eyes, and digging her fingers into his skin. "Yes," she breathed.

Her hot sex clamping around him was the most delicious torment.

Arcanthus curled his arm around her and cupped the back of her head, forcing her gaze to meet his. "My wicked little mate, my beautiful flower. I love how you have blossomed."

Samantha twined her fingers in his long hair and held him closer. "I love you."

"You are my universe."

To readers who are familiar with Arcanthus and Samantha and their story, we hope you enjoyed seeing this new side of Samantha on her personal journey to healing. If you're new to these characters, you can read the beginning of their love story in Shielded Heart (The Infinite City #2). The series is full of action, adventure, and spice.