Marcael: A Terraneu Novel, Book Five (13 page)

Brennae wasn’t sure what caused the wicked smile to light up Marcael’s
face, but she was suddenly spellbound. His features had shown some strain still
from his recovery, which was to be expected. He had almost been tortured to
death and he was lucky to be alive after all. She hadn’t realized how truly,
devastatingly handsome he was until just this second. His eyes were dancing
with devilment and his face was softer and flush with a faint blush of color.
His lips were parted softly and she couldn’t help but remember the feel of them
against her skin. Before she could get distracted, she decided to keep the tour
going. Taking his hand in hers, she pulled him along.

“Moving on then.” She hurried toward the exit from the swimming pond that
went to the New Haven side of Terraneu. “If we go through this gate we end up
on the paths to New Haven, which is one of the communities I told you about
earlier.” She motioned with her free hand around her at the living domes just
ahead. Explaining as she went about the domes and their space it wasn’t long
before they had made it back to the industrial area of Terraneu. She suddenly
had an urge to go to The Watering Hole, the dome that offered different flavors
of drinking water.

“We are back where we started. Along here are the singles living domes
and the industrial ones.” She waved around at their surroundings. “As you know
I work in the sorrem holding.” She pointed toward a group of domes, “I thought
you might like to try The Watering Hole. They serve flavored water that you
might enjoy.”

“I will follow wherever you lead.” Marcael said softly his fingers giving
hers a gently squeeze. Brennae smiled to herself and squeezed back. It was nice
of him to say, but she had a strong feeling that Marcael was not the
“following” type.

They continued their way along the path, Brennae saying hello to friends
and introducing them to Marcael. When they got to a dome he might be interested
in she pointed it out. As they passed the training dome, she remembered that
the STARR had left him a going away present in one of the rescue pods and he
hadn’t had a chance to see what it was yet. When they entered the dome, you
could hear the men cheering and they followed the sound until they were in
front of one of the mats. She pushed her way through the men with Marcael
following to see what was going on.

“It is CABB!” Marcael’s surprised exclamation rang over the shouts of the
men. “Colle is it safe to be training with him?” She recognized his friend as
the male on the mat with the training bot. She had stayed to watch over Marcael
as he healed, and Colle had visited and stayed to talk a few times.

“CABB cease.” Colle yelled and the training bot instantly froze. “Marcael
you are out of medical.” His friend hurried over and Brennae moved out of the
way so they could have their space. The other men from Marcael’s group hurried
over too. She supposed they were going to be easy to spot. They were the only
males on Terraneu with the pure white hair. Thinking about his men, she
wondered how Baylech felt about the possible mission to Earth. He must be torn
between his duty to his friends from the Elyon and his friends and family here
on Terraneu. She made a note to ask her mother if the women’s council could
talk to his mate, offer her some support if she needed it.

“I am sure you have heard the rumors about a mission for us.
 
I want to meet tomorrow in the park, first
thing in the morning to discuss what I know.” Marcael moved to her side and
introduced her to the men around him. “If you will excuse us I am taking a tour
of Terraneu with Brennae.” They all did some shoulder slapping and then a fist
to chest salute thing. Finally, he was maneuvering her toward the door.

“If you want to stay and train with your men I understand. We can finish
our tour another time.” Brennae offered when Marcael kept looking behind them.
“I really don’t mind. I can take you to The Watering Hole for a nice flavored
water afterward.” She laughed at the look of happiness on his face, “I will stay
and watch for a few minutes, and then I need to check in with Iesti. I will
come back here when I am finished with the sorrem. How does that sound?”

Marcael gave her a quick kiss, “That sounds very nice. Thank you
Brennae.”

“Just remember that you are newly healed and take it easy!” She gave him
a stern look but it was wasted on him, he was already turning back to his men.

“Colle, change of plans.” She heard him yell.

Brennae watched as he moved into the circle of his friends. They laughed
and she could have sworn she heard Colle say, “You never could resist
training.” Then they were out of earshot and she grimaced when she saw Marcael
taking off his vest. He was planning on going on the mat with CABB? She had
just warned him to take it easy! She moved to the side so she could watch
Marcael train without being in the way. Marcael took to the mat the only
covering was his pants. He had taken off his vest and boots. She almost yelled
out that on Terraneu training was done with protective gear. Grabbing a blunted
dagger, he faced off against the CABB. As he warmed up, she became mesmerized
by his physique. His shoulders were wide, his chest and ab muscles nicely
defined. When he bent and flexed, his thighs and gluts strained against the
material of his pants. With her mouth slightly drooling at all that pale
perfection she almost missed when the training combat started.

Two minutes later if someone had asked her if she had ever seen the likes
of that sparring match she would not have been able to answer. She was
literally speechless. Marcael had asked Colle what level the CABB was set on,
the answer to that was “the highest of course” like there was any other
setting. Marcael had nodded that he understood and then the fight was on. The
battle bot was extremely fast, moving first to the left then feigning right.
The incredible thing was Marcael was faster. He bent and dove, doing things she
didn’t know were possible. Before she could blink, the match was over. Everyone
was cheering, asking Marcael to spar with him and to show how he did that.

Brennae just shook her head and left the dome to hurry back to work. She
had left Iesti this morning with hardly a word when she went to walk with her
brothers. He was usually very easy going, but she wanted to make sure there
wasn’t anything she needed to do. When she got to the dome, she found Iesti
inside one of the stalls.

“How’s it going?” She looked at the sorrem and noticed he was taping its
leg. She knew it could be tricky so she hurried to help. “Sorry I left with my
brothers and didn’t come back sooner.”

“It’s okay Brennae.” Iesti smiled, “I have heard the rumors about the
Earth mission just like everyone else. I also heard if there are men going it
would probably be the newcomers, Marcael and his men.” Iesti paused in what he
was doing and the sorrem happily munched on grass. “I have never seen you like
this for a male before.” He looked into her eyes, “Even when your brothers were
hurt, or one of your uncles got on the wrong side of a training partner. You
were always here working or off with the sacath. You didn’t spend a day at
their bedside, much less three days. Meetings, dates, gatherings...all of those
things could wait for after working hours. Not that I mind you going off, I’m
happy you found someone worth playing hooky for.” He grabbed the sorrem’s foot
and continued wrapping. “If it comes to sending them to Earth for that mission,
I know how hard that will be for you.”

“Thank you Iesti. As my mother is fond of saying, I will cross that
bridge when I get to it. For now I am going to get some work done, and then we
are going to The Watering Hole later.” Moving around the dome, she got lost in
her work, making sure that her duties were done. Before she knew it, Iesti was
waving her out the door. He had been asked to tell her to meet Marcael at The
Watering Hole. All of the men from the training dome were there.

“Thank you Iesti. I would ask if you want to come along but you always
have a dinner date with your mate.” Brennae smiled at her friend.

“That is true Brennae.” He smiled back, “That tradition has served me
well in all these years with my Fiona. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Good-night.” Brennae called as she headed down the path to The Watering
Hole.

“Good-night.” Iesti called as he headed to McPhersonville. He had chosen
to live there with his mate because he “liked the sound” of the place.

Brennae hurried along the path, stopping to talk with friends and the
occasional sacath blocked her way until she gave it a good head rub. When she
finally made it to The Watering Hole, she was easily able to spot Marcael and
his friends inside. She had been correct that the white hair would stand out.
She worked her way to their table and smiled as they all stood up from their
seats.

“Please, sit down.” She waved them back down, “I will try to find a chair
to bring over.”

“That will not be necessary.” Marcael stated just before grabbing her
around the waist and pulling her to sit on his knee.

Brennae had opened her mouth to protest, and then snapped it shut when
she realized that being settled on his muscular thigh wasn’t such a hardship.
Waving at Emma, she yelled for her regular choice. Emma brought the cherry
tasting drink, along with re-fills for the males since they had been here longer.
Brennae was happy to let the conversation flow around her. Frankly, she was
paying more attention to the way Marcael’s thigh muscle flexed and hardened
when he moved on his seat. She had just finished her water when Marcael stood
up and assisted her to her feet.

“Tomorrow then, first thing.” He said his good-byes to his men then
grabbed her hand and together they walked toward their domes. As they neared
his dome, he slowed. “This is me.” He did not let go of her hand, he just stood
there with his fingers rubbing circles against her skin.

“The one with all the flowers next door is me.” Brennae smiled up at him.

“Would you like—?”

“Would you like—?”

Brennae laughed, “You first.”

“Would you like to come —?” Marcael trailed off his sentence.

“I would love to come in.” Brennae waited for him to open the door and
together they walked into his living room. Remembering what she had said
earlier about making as many memories as possible with Marcael, Brennae knew it
was now or never. Marcael went to walk towards his bathroom and Brennae took a
deep breath.

“Do you remember what I said earlier about making memories?”
 
He stopped walking and turned back toward
her.

She walked to Marcael and softly suggested before he could answer, “Let’s
start with dancing.” Moving so that she her arms were around him, chest to
chest she stated, “Computer play slow songs...volume at twenty-five
percent...play in every room.” The sound of music filled the dome. A slow song
like the one she had requested, the soft strains of a guitar and the lead
singer’s voice full of sorrow and need.

“Since you
might
have to go to Earth in three days, and the
celebration dance is in
four
days...well I will have to dance with you
now just in case you miss it.” She held him tightly, afraid he would pull back.
“Computer, lights to twenty percent.” She sighed when he didn’t pull away or
argue. To her delight, he put one arm around her waist and pressed even closer,
moving sinuously to the music.

Marcael knew it was wrong to get close to Brennae when the future was so
uncertain. He knew it...but did not care anymore. He was desperate to hold onto
something warm and full of life. To that end, he pulled Brennae closer.
Following her lead, he wrapped his arms around her and moved to the music.

He did not know how many songs later he felt Brennae’s lips against his
chest and the warm brush of her fingers at the back of his vest tugging it down
his back. He lifted his arms away from her so that the vest could fall to the
floor. His fingers found their way into the loose strands of her hair, while
her mouth went back to work trailing kisses along his chest and jaw.

“Brennae.” His grip tightened in her hair, “If you stay with me are you
prepared for what that means?” Looking at her plush body straining against his
he fought the urge to pick her up and carry her to bed. He needed her to
understand that this was not going to be a fleeting affair, and he definitely
was not going to share her! He had heard enough of the rules to know that a
sexual encounter might not mean the same to her as it would to him.

“What would it mean to you Marcael? Tell me.” Her mouth was making
progress along his jaw then moving to gently suck the side of his neck. He
noticed she was on her toes trying to reach higher, so he pulled her against
him with one arm under her generous butt to hold her up. The other stayed
twined in the soft strands of the hair at her neck.

“I will not share you. If you choose to have a physical relationship with
me, I have to be the only male you are with.” His eyes flashed to hers, his
intense stare holding her captive.

“It seems like I have waited forever to feel an attraction like this. You
are the only male I want.” She had used the fact that he was holding her up to
her advantage. Wrapping her legs around his hips and her arms around his neck
she asked, “Is there anything else?” Pulling his head closer, she moved her
mouth to his ear to torment him by nibbling on his earlobe. With a shudder, he
shook his head and moved toward the bedroom.

Laying Brennae on the bed, he drank in the sight of her glorious hair
flowing across the bedding. Her dress had pulled up so that he could see the
material of her thong peeking out at the junction of her thighs. She was
watching him with passion-lidded eyes.

“Do you have a fondness for that dress?” he asked. His voice came out
deep and husky but he did not care. Something had stirred inside of him when
she had been propped on his thigh. He had fought the urge to position her to
straddle his leg and rub her against him. Now the closeness of dancing, the
sweetness of her kisses and that slow melody playing all over his dome, his
arousal was waking up again. He suddenly remembered how sweet she would taste
and the straining of his shaft in his pants was a reminder that it had been a
long time for him.

“Yes it is one of my favorites.” She whispered her eyes going wide.

“Then get it off before I lose control and rip it off.” He whispered
back. To his amazement, the little minx did the most amazing thing. She put her
hands against the tops of her thighs and his mouth went dry. Lifting the edge
with her fingers, she very slowly pulled the material up, inch-by-inch
revealing the tanned skin underneath. The gentle curve of her hips was revealed
followed by her slightly indented waist. His mouth went from dry to watering
when she arched her back off the bed to pull the gown higher to her chest. He
barely noted the scrap of material covering her sex, then returned his focus to
her chest. He fisted his hands at his sides, waiting for her perfect breasts to
be revealed. When the material made it to the peaks of her nipples, it stuck
for one second then they sprang loose. With one last tug, the dress was over
her head and thrown away.

“Your turn I think.” She gave him a wicked smile and sat up to watch. He
was about to break the seam of his pants from her strip tease when she licked
her lips. His shaft answered with a jolt and he knew he had better get moving
or he would have a release without even touching Brennae.

Bending over so she got a good view of his ass cheeks, he released the
fastening of his boots. He laughed when she gave each cheek a hard smack. He
used his feet to get his boots off while his hands undid the clasps on his
pants. Hooking his thumbs in the back, he slowly pulled until the pants were at
the tops of his thighs. He heard Brennae sigh softly and shifted to the side.
When she saw his erection peeking out of his pants she gasped.

“How is this going to work, I didn’t know they got that big!” She had
lost the teasing in her voice and blushing furiously she added, “I mean...I’ve
been exposed to animal husbandry at the sorrem holding, and with sacath running
around it’s not like I don’t know the logistics. I’ve just never seen any of
the males in Terraneu looking like that.” She pointed at his erection and
Marcael responded to the uncertainty in her voice.

That she had not seen an aroused male took the edge off his desire, he
knew she had not had sex. The innocent passion in her kisses was enough to tell
him that. That she had not even experimented enough to have seen a naked male
was surprising. She had taken the fifth about being in the sex pod at the
swimming pond, so she had to have experienced something. It made him full of
pride that Brennae had not felt this way with another male. Turning fully
around he let the pants fall to his knees. Stepping up to the bed, he pulled
Brennae to the edge. His hard thighs forced her knees wider until he had pulled
her against his stomach. His shaft wedged between them, throbbing and hard from
excitement. The only thing between him and what he wanted most was her thin
piece of underwear.

“I cannot promise there will not be pain.” Marcael groaned when she
shifted her hips against him, “But I can promise there will be pleasure.”
Taking her head between his hands, he kissed her with all the passion he was
feeling. His lips moved against hers begging for some response. He was glad
when she did not hold back. She opened her mouth to receive his searching
tongue. Taking things slowly he pulled her thong down her hips and when she
lifted her bottom off the bed he got them past her knees where they fell off
and hit the floor.

Ending their kiss Marcael gently pushed her onto her back then leaned
over her to trail kisses along her neck to her collarbone then further down to
her breasts. Nipping and sucking at first one nipple then the other he lavished
attention on both peaks. When she gripped his head in her hands and her
fingernails lightly scraped his scalp he figured it was time to move on. Taking
a random path down her stomach, he paused to press a hot kiss to her belly
button. Looking up her body, he saw that she was watching him with heavy eyes.
Her mouth parted slightly and breathing heavy. She was the most arousing partner
he had ever had and he wanted her to enjoy their lovemaking as much as he was.

Blowing his breath against her moist heat he saw her eyes widened then
slanted closed. “Keep your eyes on me.” Marcael blew another puff of air and
saw gooseflesh rise on her skin. “Watch me.” Before she could protest or make
any move to block him, he fastened his mouth over her warm flesh. She let out a
sharp groan and he increased the pressure of his tongue. Rubbing over her slick
flesh, he waited until she started to move against him before adding a finger
to his sweet torture. He knew that his erection was larger than a finger, and
she was going to have to adjust. Adding a second finger when she had slicked
down the first, he moved them in and out, mimicking sex. When he felt her
movements were frenzied and she was close to release, he kicked his pants off
and moved over her. Bracing himself on his forearms, he placed the tip of his
shaft against her wetness. Pushing ever so slowly he soaked the tip of his
arousal then pulled back. He repeated the process repeatedly, only working the
tip into her, his body straining for control.

“Oh.” Brennae sighed, “That feels good.” She was running her hands along
his back and hips. Her bottom lifted a little and Marcael groaned.

“Not too much...” he was concentrating hard, sweat filming his brow, “I
do not wish to hurt you.”

Brennae just groaned again, “It’s okay, I trust you.” Her hips lifted
again just as he was pushing forward and it was his turn to groan.
 
He had gone a couple of inches deeper this
time and she was killing him. Her walls were squeezing him like a glove, the
heat and wetness calling for him to go deeper.

“Did that hurt?” He asked quickly, worried he was causing her pain.

“Marcael stop teasing.” She grabbed his hips and when he flexed forward
this time she met his thrust and he was pulled deeper again. She had taken
about half of him and he was losing the battle to go slowly.

“I am determined to make this good for you.” He kissed her before she
could argue. Pulling back then thrusting forward he was able to sink another
inch. Deeper and deeper he sank his length. She was actively participating in
their kiss, and when he thrust, she would lift her hips to meet him. Her
fingernails were digging into his back and he broke the kiss to look into her
face.

“Okay, that stings.” She was panting slightly, “Is that all of you?”

He arched his stomach to look between them. “Almost.” Looking into her
eyes, he pulled back and then pressed slowly until he was as deep as he could
go. “You have all of me.” Holding still so she could adjust to the feeling, he
moved his mouth lazily on her breasts. “Tell me when you want me to move
again.” He played with the taunt peaks, his teeth nipping lightly. He was not
surprised when her body squeezed him with each nip. She was adjusting to him
buried to the hilt in her warmth, now he just needed her to enjoy some
movement. Kissing her feverishly, he hoped she was feeling some pleasure.

Arching her hips she sighed, “I think you can move now.”

“Tell me to stop if it hurts.” Marcael was straining against the instinct
to pound away at her welcoming flesh until he could not move anymore. Gently
flexing his hips he moved against her until she was meeting his thrusts. When
he felt she could handle it he pulled further back and pushed into her again.
She was still moving under him, so the pain must be subsiding. Using his whole
body, he got into the serious business of making love to Brennae as he wanted
to. Rubbing his chest against her breasts, he flexed his stomach and hips. When
he felt her knees move wider apart and her heels dig into the back of his
thighs he knew he would not last much longer.

Kissing her with a final desperation, his hips flexing madly against her
Marcael felt his balls tighten. Suddenly she dug her nails into his back. He
groaned and let himself find his release. Her arms and legs were at his sides
clutching tightly when he collapsed, he just had enough sense to roll to his
side so he would not land on her.

When they were able to catch their breath he groaned, “I am so sorry
Brennae. I was not thinking.” He was such an idiot. What if he had gotten her
pregnant?

“Marcael, what’s wrong?” Brennae asked softly, “Did I do it wrong?” Her
voice sounded hurt.

“Gods no Brennae, if you were any better I would die from it.” Marcael
hurried to reassure her. “I am just worried that I could have gotten you
pregnant.”

He was nonplussed when she started laughing. He was not sure what to make
of that response. Should he be worried about his virility? Trying not to sound
offended he asked Brennae, “What is so funny?”

She worked her finger around one of his nipples, as she answered, “You
can’t get me pregnant. The change makes you sterile until the council approves
a reversal of the procedure.” She used her fingernail to scratch lightly at
this chest and other nipple, “We have as long as we want together as a couple,
mated or otherwise to decide on when to have children.”

Marcael leaned up on his elbow. “You know what it meant to stay the night
with me Brennae. I will not be dating other women. I ask only that regardless
of the rules, you do not date other men. Regarding asking for mate status I
just ask that we wait and see what happens on Antilles before making any
declarations.”

“There are no other men for me either Marcael.” She whispered, “We can
talk about mate status another time if that is what you want. My feelings for
you won’t change.”

He held her tenderly against him. His thoughts were everywhere as he
tried to fall asleep. Only one thing was certain, he would do whatever he could
to make her happy.