Chapter 15
Hazel:
It had been the longest day and the strangest day. She was at once exhausted and too ramped up to rest. She followed Seeran docilely to their quarters and then through their rooms, letting him lead her by the hand. She couldn’t find the words to understand what she saw.
Seeran sat her down in the comfy chair and brought a mug of the pungent, spicy tea he preferred. He crouched at her feet and removed her shoes. His strong fingers worked into the tense muscles, finding knots and releasing them.
“What troubles you, mate?”
She sat the mug down. “What’s going to happen to Mia?”
“If pregnant, she will return to Cen’s family. If he has none, she will remain here. The clan will provide for her and the young warrior. If not, she can be matched to another if she chooses, or she can return to Earth.”
“You sound like he’s going to be executed.”
“That decision rests with the warlord, but yes. Death is the only end for traitors.”
Given the way Mia fell to her knees, begging—begging—for Cen’s life to be spared, she wasn’t going to want a new husband. Mia had been devoted to Cen, traitor or not. “Does he get a trial?”
“My evidence is conclusive. His guilt is known.”
Oh. Mia was about to be a widow. She felt so callous for even thinking it.
“You are worried for your friend.”
“I didn’t like the guy but I didn’t want him dead. And now Mia…” She trailed off. Her husband rubbed her feet and looked up at her with compassion. Her husband broke a few laws but the warlord found it to forgive him. Why was she the lucky one and Mia would suffer? She had to ask, “Why won’t the warlord spare Cen when he spared you?”
His eyes softened. “It is good that you have a soft heart.”
“Doesn’t feel so good right now,” she said.
Crouched at her feet, Seeran smiled up at her, the tiniest bit of a fang peeking out over his bottom lip. There were several things she wanted to feel at the moment, most of them involving skin on skin contact.
“You didn’t answer the question,” she prompted.
“The warlord had use of me.”
“So if Cen could be useful, he might not die?”
“No one has use for a known traitor.” He kneaded the arch of her foot a bit too firmly.
They could sit in silence and go through the motions of the day, and that would be perfectly comfortable. He’d continue to be emotionally distant and she’d carry on with her hidden fears and insecurities.
This moment felt important. She could shape their relationship, make it stronger or make it worse. Potential welled up in her, waiting to be shaped.
Hazel once chose the perfectly comfortable life and it turned into misery. She wanted something better with Seeran, something true and meaningful.
“You haven’t rejected me, have you?” she asked.
“Eh?”
“Because I’m not Sangrin? I know your first wife was but if me being human bothers you so much—”
“Not another word on that.” His hands worked up her thigh, brushing the back of his knuckles against the black fabric of her pants. She shifted in her seat and widened her thighs. His hand stopped at the apex. He leaned in, eyes cold and serious. “There is nothing about you that does not appeal.”
“Am I defective?” she asked in a small voice, finally uttering her fear.
Seeran withdrew his hand, the lack of it sparking an ache, and sat back on his heels. “Do you believe me to be broken?”
Her gaze shifted to his missing horn but she said, “No. Absolutely not.”
“But my actions on Earth broke the honor of the clan. I bear the signs of this. What is between us will always be tainted by that.”
“Is that why you haven’t claimed me? Because of guilt?”
He stared at a point over her shoulder. “I am unworthy.”
“What you did on Earth was amazing. Fuck the rules. Fuck those cops who wouldn’t do their damn job.” Hazel grabbed him by his one horn and pulled his face to hers. “Never doubt that you’re my hero, Seeran Rhew.”
She intended the kiss to be light, reassuring, but he met her with such enthusiasm it grew in intensity. A hot flush spread over her and she needed to feel him against her.
He pulled away reluctantly. “There’s something I’ve waited to show you.”
He moved to the paper and lattice wood panels. Embedded lights behind the panels gave the illusion of sunlight. “Open it.”
“I thought you said these panels weren’t real. They’re just for show.”
“Most are but these are real.” He waved his hand in front of an invisible sensor and the panel slid open, revealing a cleansing room.
No, that wasn’t right. Their suit already had a standard cleansing room, this was something extra.
The room was compact but not claustrophobic. At the center was a circular wooden tub, filled with steaming water, on a raised platform. A stream of water trickled out of a bamboo pipe, filling the room with the gentle sounds of falling water. Potted bamboo lined the wall behind the tub, the delicate green leaves refreshing against the simple wood paneling.
A table near the tub held fluffy white towels and opaque white glass canisters. Hazel ran an appreciative hand over the towels and opened the canisters, discovering soap and lotions.
“Turn around.”
Hazel did as instructed. With the doors closed, a view screen took up the entire wall. A vista of verdant green hills and a distant mountain rising above the mist stretched across the wall. Pale purple flowers like cherry blossoms clustered at the edges of the screen, as if they were looking out a window from a private retreat.
Hazel spun in a circle, taking in the steaming tub with it’s tempting hot water, the thick towels waiting nearby, the jars of lotions and sweet-smelling soaps, and the breath taking, if artificial, view. This was a spa. Her too-serious warrior indulged himself with a spa.
“How is this here?”
Seeran shrugged. “I’ve been here long enough to make modest improvements. Do you like it?”
“Some modest improvements? This is amazing.” She took a step toward the water, then hesitated. She glanced at Seeran, waiting for his nod of permission.
“This is yours. You do not need to ask permission, my sweet one.”
She blushed, not feeling so sweet at that moment.
She was tired of being sweet and waiting. Seeran kept coddling her like she was a blushing virgin, all a flutter to be kissed when she wanted more. Needed more. His attraction wasn’t the issue—there is nothing about you that doesn’t appeal—but maybe she needed to get the ball rolling.
She looked up, a grin tugging at her lips and climbed the steps to the tubs. “So I can jump on in?”
Seeran cocked his head to the side. “What are you planning?”
“Strip on down to my skivvies and hop in?” She lifted her shirt off over her head and tossed it in his direction. He caught it with ease.
“I’m not opposed.”
Hazel shimmied out of her pants, hurling them in his direction. Standing in just her underwear, she had a moment’s doubt. Did she read the mood correctly? She wore a bikini when they met, yes, but underwear seemed so much more intimate; vulnerable. She should have worn something better than plain cotton but stripping for her husband—or anyone, really—wasn’t a normal part of her daily routine. Seeran didn’t seem to mind.
His eyes ate her up from head to toe. “What are you doing, female?”
“Seducing you.” If she had to explain, it clearly wasn’t working. Time to ramp it up.
“Are those skivvies?”
“Yes,” she said, “but I think I’d rather skinny dip.”
He followed her movements as she slid her panties down her thighs and stepped out of them. She kicked them in his direction. He snatched them out of the air and brought the plain cotton fabric to his nose. He inhaled deeply, eyes fluttering close like her dirty panties were the greatest thing in the universe. His gaze was riveted on her as she unhooked her bra. Using one arm to shield her chest, she tossed the bra to him.
Shielding herself, she eased into the water. This moment was more than desire. This was two people coming together to banish their ghosts, two people forging a new life together.
No more waiting.
“You made me a promise, warrior.”
He shed his clothes and sank into the water. He hooked his arms over the edge of the tub and watched her, drinking her in. Normally she might feel shy under such scrutiny but she understood that Seeran did not seek out flaws or an extra five pounds on her hips. He desired every imperfect ounce of her. His gaze was as soft as the brush of fingertips over her aching nipples, electric and sending a charge of need through her. To think she once questioned her appeal because his first mate was from Sangrin and she was not.
“Claim your mate,” she said.
He moved fast, lunging through the water to her. In one motion, she was lifted, her belly pressed over the edge of the tub to the floor and her butt exposed. One hand, planted in the middle of her back, held her to the cold tile. The other hand explored her sensitive folds. Wet and aching, he spread her desire, fingers probing her entrance.
“You make me lose control,” he growled in her ear, breath hot on her neck.
“Good, because I’ve been trying to seduce you for weeks now.”
He chuffed, pressing his face into her neck. He licked the skin there. “I won’t be gentle.”
“Did I ask you to be gentle?” She rocked her hips, grinding into his hand.
Needing no other encouragement, he knocked open her thighs and wedged himself in. He held onto her hips as he pushed in slowly, allowing her to adjust to his size. With no preparation, Hazel expected burning and stretching and savored every moment.
Fully seated, he drew back and slammed forward. Each thrust gained speed, pistoning with force. Hazel cried out her encouragement. Finally, the ache she felt from the beginning was soothed. Her own hips moved, matching his rhythm and growing erratic. She pushed against him. Water sloshed over the side.
A hand stretched over her, grasping her wrist firmly but not so tight as to bruise. Even now, covering her, losing himself in her, he thought of her comfort.
“My mate. You’re mine now. Only mine,” he growled, his mouth pressed against her ear. “I will not share you with a ghost. Or with worry. You are mine.”
“My husband,” Hazel managed to say between moans.
“You’re only. Say it,” he urged.
Her body responded to his demand, she couldn’t not say the words even if she wanted. “Only yours.”
His mouth pressed down at the curve where neck met shoulder, and she felt the sharp sting of teeth. She came all at once, her core clenching tight, and with a groan, his fangs sank into her flesh.
Warmth spread from the bite and he released deep into her. Seeran stopped moving and held her in place while he pumped into her. Hazel followed her instinct and held still. Seeran was, in that moment, pure instinct. He had his fangs on her neck. For the moment he was content to lick the bite marks and soothe the bleeding wound, all the while with his cock inside her. The bite didn’t hurt. His saliva must have had numbing properties. The universe narrowed to just them. No worries. No past. Just them. She could live in this moment, completely content and surrounded by her man.
With a sigh, he pulled away. His cock slipped free and Hazel felt the loss.
He sat and pulled her into his lap. Hazel curled right up, letting the water lift her over his thighs.
Her fingers danced over the glowing tattoos on his chest. Silver in color, they were cool to the touch. “How many sons did you want again, Mr. Rhew?”
“Many.” His arms tightened around her.