King of Spades (19 page)

Darronn lowered her legs and released his hold on her thighs, then pressed close without putting all his weight on Alexi. Her pussy still contracted around his cock in small bursts, and she wondered if she’d ever stop coming.

“I love you, firecat,” he murmured as he brushed his lips over hers. “Forever.”

* * * * *

The following day’s journey across the Singing Plains lasted forever as far as Alexi was concerned. Tok and the other
jul
didn’t seem to mind the pace she kept, and Darronn had expressed his amusement at her single-mindedness. She’d even managed to ignore his sensual teasing when he’d ridden behind her on Tok’s back.

Before the trip started that morning, Alexi had also come to an understanding with both Karn and Ty—they didn’t try to boss her around, and she didn’t kick them in the nuts.

Her future husband alternated between riding behind her on
jul
-back, and loping alongside as a tiger. He was beautiful no matter what form he took, and her heart and soul filled with a sense of sheer happiness that she’d never experienced before.

Of course the elation she felt at seeing her sister again made her want to jump off the horse-beast and sprint ahead.

Damn it. I’d probably get there faster if I did run,
she grumbled in her thoughts.

After following the Tarok River for miles and miles and miles across the grassy plains, they reached a jungle. And after hours of traveling through palm trees and vines, they finally reached the Kingdom of Hearts.

Alexi was sure she would bounce right off Tok, she was so excited. “Do you think she knows we’re coming?” she asked Darronn who was again riding behind her on the
jul
.

“We did not send a messenger,” Darronn said as they emerged from out of the dim jungle into a sunlit clearing. “Unless one of Jarronn’s sorcerers foretold our arrival, it is likely they are not expecting us.”

He kissed the bruised skin at the back of her neck as they stopped at a waterfall and a set of tiered pools, several yards from the turreted castle. In an easy movement he dismounted and helped Alexi down. Her legs felt bowlegged after all the riding, her butt was sore, her neck ached and her knuckles were swollen, but right now she couldn’t be happier. She was going to see Alice…and she was in love with Darronn.

Kalina and Kira were still dismounting when Alexi started to head toward the castle. She knew it was the back entrance, but it was magnificent, the white walls rising up into the sky and sparkling in the late afternoon sunshine.

“Wait, firecat.” Darronn caught up to her and grasped her arm, bringing her to a halt.

“I can’t.” Alexi was so anxious and jittery to see her sister she felt wired, like she’d had a whole pot of Starbuck’s French Roast. “
Hurry
.”

“Your sister has changed,” he said as she met his serious green eyes. “Know that she is happy.”

Alexi frowned. “What—” But she stopped as she heard the sound of a woman’s laughter and giggles of small children.

Her gaze cut toward the castle and her jaw dropped at the sight of a beautiful naked woman with long white-blonde hair. A collar of diamonds with hearts made of rubies circled her neck and a ruby and diamond chain swung from one nipple to the other.

The woman wore nothing else but a radiant smile as she trailed a pair of toddlers. Her blue-green eyes sparkled as she said, “Lance and Lexi, go say hello to your uncles.”

The toddlers suddenly morphed into tiger cubs and bounded across the grass toward the men in Alexi’s group. Karn and Ty both grinned as they each gathered a cub into his arms.

“Oh. My. God,” Alexi whispered.

Alice.
The naked woman was her sister.

“It’s great to see you all,” Alice said as her gaze quickly traveled the group. “We didn’t expect—” Her gaze rested on Alexi and her eyes widened. “Alexi?” she whispered.

Naked or not, Alexi was so happy to see her sister that she launched herself at Alice, wrapped her arms around her, and squeezed her tight. “We thought you were dead. Well I didn’t but everyone else did, and I never stopped looking for you.” Alexi’s words came out in a rush, her tears flowing, as she held her sister tight. “A couple of days ago I found out you were here and I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.”

Alice was sobbing, too. “God, I missed you so much.”

For a long time they held each other tight. Alexi didn’t want to let Alice go, afraid it would all be a dream and her sister would disappear again.

When they finally pulled away, Alexi saw that her companions had slipped away with the tiger cubs, apparently giving the sisters time to themselves.

Alexi shook her head. “You look so
different
. You’ve always been beautiful, but now, you’re absolutely gorgeous.”

Instead of denying it like she always had when complimented in the past, Alice simply smiled and said, “Thank you.”

“And you’re naked.”

“Like you haven’t seen me naked before.” Alice gave a mischievous grin. “As kids when we were growing up, in the locker room, when we went skinny dipping—lots of times.”

Alexi rolled her eyes. “Oh, like this isn’t
totally
different.”

Her twin grinned, but then her gaze rested on Alexi’s throat. Alice’s expression turned horrified as she reached up with her fingers and lightly touched the bruised area. “What happened? Who did this? I’ll have them executed or something.”

Alexi almost laughed as she imagined the Queen of Hearts crying out “
Off with her head!”
But the look on her sister’s face kept her sober. But if Alice offered her some strawberry tarts, Alexi knew she’d giggle for sure—and she wasn’t the giggly type.

“I’m all right. Really.” Alexi shrugged, not wanting to make this moment serious. “Yesterday Darronn saved my life from some witch named Mikaela.”

Alice dropped her hand and straightened. Her aqua eyes flashed an incredible fury that Alexi had never witnessed in her sister before. “Ooooh, that
bitch.
It was bad enough she went after me, but you?
I’ll
kill her.”

“Not likely,” a deeply masculine voice said from behind them. “I would never let Mikaela near you.”

“Yes, Milord,” Alice murmured, her expression changing to one of pleasure as she lowered her eyes.

Alexi’s gaze cut to the gorgeous man with brilliant green eyes, hair black as nightfall, and a light beard. A heart tattoo crossed his biceps and she realized at once this was Darronn’s brother Jarronn, the King of Hearts.

He studied her as though expecting her to lower her eyes like Alice had. Instead Alexi tilted her head back and glared at him. “What have you done to my sister? How dare you treat her as though she’s subservient to you?”

“May I speak, Milord?” Alice asked before Jarronn could respond.

“Of course, love,” he murmured as he put his fingers under Alice’s chin and raised it so that their eyes met. He brushed his lips across hers and she smiled…a sort of melty-totally-in-love smile.

Alexi gritted her teeth and clenched her fists at her sides. She couldn’t believe that Alice allowed him to treat her this way.

But Alice’s smile was luminous as she turned to Alexi. “I love everything about my life here, Lex. I like being dominated by Jarronn. I wouldn’t put up with it from anyone else. But with him, it turns me on and it feels right.”

“Did he drug you or use that
tigri
stuff on you to make you feel this way?” Alexi asked, ready to deck Jarronn. “I don’t care if he’s considered a god here, he’ll regret it if he did.”

“It’s probably a good thing you don’t have your can of mace.” Alice laughed and darted a sensual look at Jarronn. “Although I’ve seen you smash a few nuts on occasion.”

“So I have heard,” Jarronn said, the corner of his mouth quirking. “Darronn and Ty gave me fair warning to guard my bollocks before I joined you.”

Alice burst out laughing and said, “You didn’t!” then clapped her hand over her mouth.

Alexi nodded and cast Jarronn a look meant to let him know how serious she was when she told him, “And if I find out this guy has done anything to you that you didn’t want, then he certainly won’t be having any more kids.”

Jarronn winced and Alice snickered behind her hand. The king gave her a commanding yet sensual and utterly adoring look as he murmured, “Is punishment in order, wench?”

Alice bit her lower lip and her nipples grew so hard that Alexi swore she saw the diamond and ruby chain levitate between them. “If it pleases you, Milord.”

The king reached up and tweaked one of Alice’s nipples. “That it will.”

Amazed that her sister obviously got off by all this, Alexi shook her head. “It’s a damn good thing Alice is happy,” Alexi muttered. “A damn good thing.”

Chapter Fourteen

A Tarok week after their arrival in Hearts, Darronn and Alexi returned to Spades to be joined as King and Queen. Not only did Karn, Ty, Kira, and Kalina accompany them back, but Alice, Jarronn, Lexi and Lance, along with a small army of warriors who escorted them.

As Alexi prepared for the joining ceremony, she couldn’t get over the fact that Lexi and Lance were only six Tarok months old. They seemed so much older. In Earth time, the children would be only about nine months old, and probably not even walking yet. Being werecubs, though, they were growing so much faster than if they were fully human.

Home.
Alexi ran a brush through her auburn hair as her thoughts turned toward the Kingdom of Spades and her husband to be.
It really
does
feel like home here in Spades.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the lack of “modern conveniences,” but the magic people had here made up for most of what Alexi would miss.

By her own request, she was alone in the king and queen’s chambers preparing for the ceremony. She’d promised Alice and Kalina that she would call for them soon, but she needed a few moments to herself.

I can’t believe I’m getting married.

And Alexi certainly was having a hard time getting used to the idea that one day she would become part of the weretiger family. Every time they fucked and Darronn released his tigri pheromones, she was coming closer and closer to becoming a weretigress. The thought more than excited her. How cool it would be to shapeshift like Darronn, and to live for centuries.

After setting the gold handled brush on the dressing table, Alexi moved before the full-length mirror and studied her reflection. Thoughts of the “wedding” whirled in her mind. She’d never truly believed she would get married. Never thought she would ever meet a man like Darronn. Yet she had.

And he’s all mine.

Yeah, she’d have to agree that she was getting everything wonderful
in spades
.

Smiling at her image, Alexi’s gaze traveled over the beautiful outfit Darronn had had specially made for her to wear for their joining day. With a few modifications, he’d had the seamstress pattern it after the clothing she had worn when he brought her through the looking glass. She brought her fingers to the sparkly gold midriff top and lightly touched the fringe made of black diamonds and gold beads. The fringe was absolutely stunning and probably worth more than all her assets combined back in San Francisco.

At the thought of her home, she couldn’t help but wish Annie and Awai could be here for her joining day. She shook her head at her reflection as she remembered what she had said to Annie in the bar,
“It’s nice to have someone looking after me for a change.”
It certainly did feel good having Darronn to watch over her.

Alexi turned slightly so that she could see her image from the side. Instead of cap sleeves, the top had billowy sleeves that were slit along each side, revealing her slender arms. The front of the blouse just covered her breasts and was fastened beneath them with a spade made from a black diamond. Her flat belly was exposed and her gold tiger charm glittered at her navel. The mini skirt was made of the same fabric as the top, and barely covered her ass and her mound. She didn’t have any underwear on, since no one in this world seemed to even know what bras and panties were. Jeez, if she dared to bend over, anyone looking would get one hell of a view.

Not that half the village hadn’t witnessed her Lady Godiva ride the day she arrived in Spades.

She had to grin at the memory of how Darronn’s attempt at “training” her had backfired on him.

The bruise around her neck had faded quickly, thanks to one of the healers in Hearts, and her voice was no longer hoarse from being almost strangled to death. The healers had also treated the claw marks on Darronn’s face, but scars now crossed his stubbled cheek. Apparently they could do nothing for the scars because the wound had been so deep, but Alexi thought they only made him even more dangerously handsome.

Alexi’s gaze moved from her throat, down her image’s length, then rested on her high heels. Somehow the magicians here had taken her lipstick red stilettos and had made them into the same beautiful gold as her blouse and skirt and then had put black diamond spades at the fastening. After that first time together with Darronn, her thigh-high nylons had been put away until now. He loved the way the line ran up the back of her leg, and she couldn’t wait for him to see the accessory she’d added to her wedding wardrobe.

All the gold she was wearing went well with her auburn hair which flowed long and loose about her shoulders, and the gold bracelets she wore at either wrist. Alexi smiled. Maybe afterwards Darronn would fasten her wrists together and then tie her up.

The week that Alexi spent with her sister in Hearts had sped by so quickly that she felt as if she’d just arrived. She loved her niece and nephew, and when she was around them she often felt something stir inside her, like she might enjoy having children of her own, too.

Damn biological clock, anyway.