Was she awake? He couldn’t tell. Her face lay hidden beneath her hair. The steady rise and fall of her chest hinted she was not. Tempted by her intoxicating womanly scent and the fantastic feel of her bottom pressed against him, he ventured further in his inspection of her body.
Long legs caught his gaze. Her odd-looking clothing was flipped up around her hips, exposing more of her than he knew he should see. The sight of a light-pink material covering her sex made his balls tighten. That wasn’t something the women of his world were known to do. No female hid their sex from their men. It remained uncovered at all times beneath their robes so mating could happen without hindrance. The continuation of their race depended on it.
You’re not her man. You shouldn’t think of sex with this creature,
a nagging voice at the base of his brain insisted. He knew he should heed the warning. No matter how much he wanted her, he couldn’t claim this woman as his. One sniff and he knew she was not of his race.
Tor froze when the woman moved. Those gorgeous breasts jutted forward, making his mouth water for a taste. Her long legs brushed enticingly against his and an instant vision of them wrapped around his waist nearly fried his brain. Stretched to her full length, she was no match for his hearty height of near seven feet. For the males of his race, his height was normal. Was her height the average for her people? She seemed petite and fragile lying in his lap.
He knew the moment she became fully awake. She shot upright, flipped over and scooted off his lap, crab-crawling backward until the wall stopped her escape.
Brilliant-blue eyes peered at him from beneath strands of her tangled hair. The breath stilled in his lungs. Pure beauty met his gaze. Those eyes outmatched the azure blue from the mirror. Her mouth looked primed for kissing, making him lick his lips with need.
When her eyes widened, he realized the hem of his mid-thigh-length day robe had risen to his waist in the fall. Since the men of his world wore no undergarments either, he sat exposed for her perusal. Knowing she stared at his cock made it stand proud for her inspection. The sight of her tongue darting across her lower lip nearly melted the last of his resolve. He grappled for the strength not to pounce and claim her.
He knew nothing of this woman. What if she died during the mating ritual? That was something he wasn’t sure he could risk. As the new leader of his world, it was his job to help her, not use her as a science experiment in an effort to find a cure to the curse, which plagued him and his fellow clansmen. Women were scarce and bloodlines were threatened by extinction.
In one swift movement, he leapt to his feet, tugging the hem of his robe down. It didn’t help. The woman had him hard and hungry, making the front of his robe tent. Turning away from her, he grabbed his cloak from the wardrobe and wrapped it around his waist. He knew he looked ridiculous, but it couldn’t be helped.
Tor walked over to the woman and extended his hand. He read the hesitation in her eyes before she conceded and laid her hand in his. Pure heat filtered through their connection, filling every molecule of his being with her essence. He wanted her. He had to have her. But couldn’t.
She was a pleasure he wouldn’t allow himself to partake.
Without warning, she fisted the front of his robe and jerked, causing him to bend at the waist. She stood on tiptoe and captured his mouth in a passion-soaked kiss. Her hand slid under his cloak, slipped up the hem of his robe and cradled his hard-on in her palm, weakening his knees.
He silently prayed to the Goddess Nirvana, the Goddess of strength for his people. This woman was going to kill him.
Deveney’s head swam with confusion. Was she dreaming? A gorgeous man stood before her. Deciding it had to be a dream, she kissed him. Resistance met her lips as she acted on impulse. Solid steel covered in skin soft as silk filled her palm. The healthy cock twitched as she stroked its length and wrapped her fingers around its girth. Deveney hungered to sample the drop of pre-cum that coated her fingertips when she caressed the plump head.
An audible moan rumbled up his throat, across his lips that caressed hers, sending a shiver down her spine. Though his stance was taut, his mouth responded as she plunged her tongue inside for a taste. Pure masculine flavor coated her taste buds, enticing her hunger.
God, this man felt real. Never had she actually tasted his lips or seen his face in her dreams. Even the slick sensation of a drop of his juices on her fingertips seemed real as she caressed the head of his cock. This felt so good she hoped never to awaken from this dream.
When his teeth nipped her lower lip, Deveney’s eyes opened wide. Realization hit her like a cold November wind. Chills skittered along her skin, making her stiffen. She pried her mouth from the wondrous connection with his and stepped backward, dragging the length of his cock in her palm until she reached the end and released it, dropping her hand to her side. Never had she been so bold as to grab a stranger in such a way, nor would she have if she hadn’t thought she was dreaming.
Oh god, this wasn’t a dream. Oh god, she’d just accosted a man.
Deveney darted a quick glance from side to side and realized she had no clue as to where she was or the identity of this man standing a few feet away. What happened? How had she gotten here? And where was here? Her heart pounded and her breathing shifted to shaky gasps. The last thing she remembered…
The mirror… She touched the mirror.
As if guided by some unseen force, Deveney turned to the mirror. The brilliant-blue light faded. Nothing but her reflection appeared when she stepped in front of it. Had it somehow transported her to another place? And if so, where? Did she dare touch it again?
Most of all, did she believe she teleported through space via a mirror? Deveney swallowed hard, trying to tamp down the mounting anxiety clawing at her. A few months ago she didn’t believe she possessed magic. Now she held a tentative control over it.
Anything was possible, she decided.
Her fingers shook as she lifted them to trace the mirror’s edge. Before making contact, a strong grip wrapped around her wrist and words of a strange nature graced her ears.
“
Nadda un touke.
” The meaning wasn’t lost on her as he reinforced his words by yanking her hand away.
Great, not only had she transported to another place, it turned out to be a foreign-speaking country. Just wonderful. Deveney sighed as she stared at the deepest blue eyes she’d ever seen. How in the hell was she going to get home? The heat of his touch seeped into her skin, sending waves of electrified sparks to pebble her nipples, and she shivered.
The man released her wrist, unwrapped the cloak from around his waist and, faster than she could blink, placed it around her shoulders. He thought she was cold. An unstoppable smile tugged at the corners of her lips. At least he was a gentleman, whoever he was.
“Who are you? Do you speak or at least understand English?” Deveney asked on the slim chance he would understand. The pursed-brow, confused look that greeted her gave her the answer. He didn’t.
Wonderful. She’d fallen into the lap of a gorgeous hunk and neither understood the other’s language. Typical dumb luck. Deveney rolled her shoulders beneath the heavy cloak and tugged the front closed around her. She wasn’t cold but she needed a safe haven and the warmth of the thick velvet seemed to help. Not to mention his scent permeated the garment and filled each breath she took, adding to the unsettled ache of desire that lingered in her core from their kiss.
* * * * *
Tor had no doubts the magi Maven disobeyed his orders. When the strange woman had latched on to his lips, he was lost. Her taste rushed his senses and commanded his blood to pool in his cock, jutting it outward even more. It had been many years since he’d held a woman, much less kissed her lips. Her exotic flavor enticed him to plunder her mouth. Her hand on his cock fueled his desire to mate. Was his body’s reaction to this strange, beautiful creature wrong? Was it selfish to want to live as a man?
With women being scarce, men were in danger of turning
Proprius
Bestia
and being exiled to live in the badlands of Dystopia. The reality of his situation warred with his own needs as he relished a few moments of her touch. If any of the other clan leaders of Eximius Mundus found out about this woman’s presence, it would strain the fragile treaties between them and quite possibly lead to war. As it was he dealt with the problems of possible extinction of their race of Morphionians on a daily basis. The magi overstepped her bounds by sending this woman here. She disobeyed his direct order concerning the Mirror of Azure.
As ruler of Eximius Mundus, first and foremost he needed to configure a strategy for ending the plague of his people. The problem of finding suitable mates for the men in order to prevent them from turning
Proprius Bestia
lay upon his shoulders, not the magi’s. Her disobedience wouldn’t look good for him in the face of the other clansmen. Tor’s reign was less than a year old and there were those who thought him unfit to lead. If it became known he couldn’t control his own magi… He didn’t want to think on that now. Another issue tortured him.
The thought of turning
Proprius Bestia
tightened his chest. At the ripe young age of one hundred, if a Morphionian hadn’t found his lifemate, his inner beast took control. Confined to
bestia
existence drove the mind trapped inside insane. He couldn’t imagine the extent of frustration and pain one went through knowing they’d never be whole again. But he’d witnessed the uncontrollable creature they became. It saddened him to think of the losses of many great men to this curse.
Being six months from the hundred-year mark, Tor debated his stance on the situation. Enjoying the tender caress of her hand from the tip of his cock to the base, he felt his resolve weaken. The cupping of his balls had almost done him in.
No. He shouldn’t enjoy this. Every ounce of him wanted to continue, to take her to his bed and fuck her. His conscience roared. There were many men in great need for a mate and he was supposed to concentrate on finding a way to help them, not gratify his own sexual hunger. Though her touch left his cock hard and every molecule of his being was rankled with unrequited desire, he needed to remain in control, to remain focused on the goal.
He wanted to know who she was, where she came from and why she was here. And most of all, did the magi have a hand in her teleportation? He needed proof in order to confront her. He should’ve known Maven was up to something. For the past couple of months, her presence had been scarce. She only appeared when summoned and on several occasions, she didn’t come in person. She’d manifested herself magically in his office in holographic form. Did that mean she wasn’t even on the Isle of Avalonia?
Tor stared at the beauty in his bedchamber. Fear permeated the air with each inhale she took and washed off her in waves. He watched her back away and her gaze scanned the perimeter in a nervous rush. He knew the moment she realized she was no longer in her own world. Her eyes widened, her heartbeat increased, as did her breathing. His inherent
bestia
instincts were never wrong. This woman had no idea where she’d landed and he doubted she understood how she got here.
When she’d turned and attempted to touch the mirror, he’d reacted. He couldn’t let her touch it, not without making sure she’d return to her own world. To learn that, he needed to find the magi, but he sensed the old magic woman wasn’t in the palace. Heat filled his palm when he’d clasped her wrist. He read the despair as she stared up at him. Her body’s reaction didn’t go unnoticed and it was all he could do to rein in his desire to sample her hardened nipples with his mouth.
The sight of her shiver slapped his senses and made him aware of her needs over his. In a flash, he wrapped her in his cloak, all the while wishing it were his arms and his body giving her warmth. The language she spoke he did not understand. Never had he heard the likes. It didn’t match any of the native tongues of his clans.
He needed the Amulet of Perception. Would she wait quietly while he retrieved it from the magi’s chambers beneath the palace? This was a risk he wasn’t sure he should take, but knew no other way to communicate with a foreigner. Before she reacted, he led her to the chair at his desk and motioned for her to sit. Not knowing what else to do to get her to understand, he placed a finger to his lip and shook his head to emphasize his meaning. The woman stood when he reached the door. Tor spun to face her with both hands held in a stop position in front of him, his brows pursed in an angry face, and shook his head again. She sat. He turned, scooted out the door and then locked her in.
Being of the Bear clan, he was master of his race and ruler of his world. What would his people think if they knew the magi defied his wishes? Proof sat in his room. All it would take was for one person to let it leak and the situation would escalate. Would he be able to control it before it became a full-scale civil war?
Determined not to let it come to that, Tor made a quick decision. Her existence would be kept a secret until he found the magi and made her return the being to her own world. When that would be, he had no idea. For now, she’d have to remain his secret prisoner.
Chapter Three
Deveney watched the door close and heard the latch click. Locked in. Why? What had she done? Was she that bad of a kisser? Maybe her kissing had nothing to do with it. What if she hadn’t fallen through the mirror as she thought? Maybe he was a robber who broke into the shop, snuck up behind her while she looked at the mirror, conked her on the head, and took her captive. Questions tumbled through her brain one right after the other until she clasped the sides of her head and massaged her throbbing temples. Be realistic, she chided herself. What was real and what wasn’t?
Control that imagination and think this through.
“Deveney.”
She shot upright. Fear stiffened her spine. Had she imagined Maven’s voice? Or was there someone else in the room? Before she could take a look around, the whisper repeated in a hurried, desperate tone. Her focus narrowed on the mirror.
“Deveney, come to the mirror.”
She knew she heard it. In three large strides, she stopped in front of the mirror. Maven stood looking out at her. A blue glow emanated from the glass, shadowing the older woman’s petite frame.
“Is he gone?” Maven whispered as she strained to see into the room past Deveney.
“If you mean the gorgeous hunk, yes. He left but not before he locked me in here. And by the way,” Deveney asked, “where is here? How did I get here and how do I get back home?”
“First things first,” Maven replied. “You must keep your voice down. I’m sure he locked you in to keep the others from finding you.”
“You mean there’s more like him?” Deveney lowered her voice. A picture of a world full of men with phenomenal physiques, handsome faces and healthy-sized cocks flashed inside her head. If that was the case, this place held tremendous possibilities.
But there still was that little problem of her magic preventing her from losing her virginity. Deveney chewed her lower lip. That put a damper on staying and being disappointed by her inabilities at sex, especially with
that
big blond hunk around. Thinking about him made her tug the cloak tighter around her shoulders and wish things were different.
“There are others, yes. But you were meant for one. I sensed it when I first met you. Now listen, we don’t have much time before he returns.” Maven paused, glanced around and then continued. “You are in my home called the Isle of Avalonia, which is located in another universe called Eximius Mundus. It is a place of magic and mysteries the likes of which you’ve never experienced. Look, listen and learn the ways of the people. It is in your best interest to open your mind and believe the unbelievable. Your world tainted your intellect. Magic runs through your veins. Use what I’ve taught you. Your survival depends on it. And no matter what Tor says, do not touch the animal carved on the mirror that transported you.”
“What?” Deveney managed to eek out. “Why?”
Maven looked as if she didn’t want to answer, then did. “If you touch that animal, you will return home. Be sure it is what you wish, for once you return here you shall never go back to the Isle of Avalonia.”
“But I want to go home.” Deveney’s voice cracked.
“Do you?” Maven asked. “Search your soul. You were destined to be where you are. Find the animal that called to your heart and led you on this journey through the Mirror of Azure. Find him and you’ve found the match to your magic, your lifemate.”
“But…”
Maven vanished. Her voice reached Deveney’s ears on a hollow echo from within the mirror. “I sense Tor is coming. If you need me, stand before the mirror alone and call my name. I will come to you but no other.”
“Maven,” Deveney whispered hurriedly. “Please let Tiara know I’m okay.”
“I’ll tell her you’re on a little business trip for me.”
The sight of the latch turning made Deveney dash to the chair and resume the position she was in when he left. What had she gotten herself into? What would happen to Tiara?
Deveney swallowed hard, closed her eyes and prayed.
Lord, please keep Tiara safe.
Not sure what to expect, Tor eased the door open and peeked around its edge. Wide, bright eyes stared at him when he met her gaze. Good. He released the breath he inadvertently held as he stepped inside and locked the door. She followed orders and stayed where he left her. That was a good sign. At least one female listened. Considering Maven wasn’t in her chamber, he felt certain his suspicions were right.
He walked to the desk, laid down the case he carried and opened it. Brilliant shades of red, blue, purple, pink and green sparkled in the light as he lifted the amulet from its resting place. This was the first time he needed to use the magi’s magic to communicate with another. Would it work without the magi’s presence?
The amulet looked small in his hands and his fingers shook as he fumbled with the magnetic clasp that connected the solid silver, two-inch round choker. Located in the center of the choker’s front were three precious gemstones. Each stone cast a different shade and held a precise magic. Tor fingered the smooth round surfaces in the same manner he’d watched the magi touch them in order to call their magic to the surface.
First, he rubbed the stone left of center. The deep red rhodonite glowed and he knew he was on the right track. Second, he rubbed the center stone. The tri-colored watermelon tourmaline consisted of layers of purple, pink and green, which sparkled from the heat of his touch. Last, he rubbed the stone right of center. The blue topaz glimmered and the three gemstones melded into a circle of multi-colors. Each different in its magical properties but combined to aid the person wearing it, giving them the ability to perceive, understand and speak the language of the world around them.
Tor tugged the silver circle apart wide enough to fit around the woman’s neck. When he tried to place it on her, she leaned back and grabbed the amulet, wrapping her fingers around the large stones.
“What are you doing?”
It was the first words she’d spoken he understood. Even though it wasn’t around her neck, the magic worked because her fingers were wrapped tightly around it.
“Woman,” he stated in the gruff authoritative tone he used with his men, “this is the Amulet of Perception. Wear it and we shall communicate.”
Her eyes widened, she gasped and he knew she understood him. She released the amulet as she rose to her feet. At first he saw the confusion in her face as she stared at him and the glowing jewelry in his hands. Moments passed as they stood silent, each watching the other, sizing up the situation.
No man in his ranks ever defied a direct order. But this foreign female did and that heated his blood. Not in a bad way either, he decided as he waited. No. Her presence created this desperate need to mate and ignited this fire within his veins, though he did not understand why.
Deveney couldn’t believe the immense beauty of the necklace in his hand. Surprise gripped her. He’d left the room and came back with a gift, but why? Maybe she wasn’t such a bad kisser after all, she mused.
Watching the way he caressed the stones made her wish he touched her breasts in such a tender manner and not some necklace. Each gemstone glowed then seemed to blend into one glamorous color. Her eyes widened. What magic did he possess?
When the gentle giant of a man turned to her with the necklace held open as if he intended to place it on her, she panicked. Would it control her? If she let him put that thing on her, would she ever escape this world and return home if she decided to? Fears flashed through her brain faster than greased lightning. On instinct, she’d grabbed the necklace, lacing her fingers tight around the three round stones, and demanded to know what he was doing.
When he actually answered and she understood, her mind warped. A whole new fathom of magic whirled around her. How did she understand him? How did he understand her?
He’d spoken. Did she understand? Yes, she realized, thinking through his rough words. Amulet of Perception. Wear it, communicate. Was that a lie or the truth?
Maven’s voice reiterated in her head on a whisper.
Learn the ways of the people. Your survival depends on it.
Deveney swallowed hard, took a deep breath, gathered her resolve and stiffened her spine. She landed in this world for a reason. Until she knew why, she couldn’t go home. Scattered thoughts speared her brain. Find the animal that called to your heart—whatever that meant.
Find your match to your magic, your lifemate. In order to accomplish any of this, she needed to understand the language and if that glowing thing helped, then so be it. Apparently it was a way of this world’s people. Determined not to fail the mission given to her by her mentor Maven, Deveney forced her legs to work and stepped forward.
She lifted her hair off her neck and slowly turned, giving him her back. Hopefully he understood. If not, maybe he’d just put her out of her misery and kill her where she stood, because she’d rather be dead than live in this world of hunks without sex.
That
would be sheer torture, to be surrounded by gorgeous men and not be able to control her magic long enough to complete the sex act at least once with the large buff blond behind her. Deveney chewed her lower lip and waited.
Tor’s slow smile couldn’t be stopped when she lifted her hair and turned her back to him. His cock throbbed as he stared at the milk-white skin hidden beneath her thick hair. A vision of him taking her in the natural mating position of his kind, from behind, had him hungering to nip at that sensitive flesh while delving his cock deep within her heat, claiming her as his.
Tor swallowed hard and forced the erotic vision from his thoughts. She couldn’t be his. It wouldn’t be right. Not when there were others ahead of him in more desperate need of a mate. Spine straight, he closed the gap. The heat of her radiating off her back warmed his flesh through the thin material of his clothing.
His height easily towered her shorter frame. When he reached over her head to place the Amulet of Perception around her neck, the clean essence of her hair filled his senses. The soft texture tickled his nose, making it twitch. Every ounce of him tuned in to this beautiful creature.
When his fingertips brushed the soft flesh of her neck, its delicate feel taunted him. It shook him to the core to rein in his desire to guide her onto her knees, bend her forward and take her. The visible throb of her life force in the vein transcending her neck had his mouth watering to lick its length and feel her blood pump beneath her skin as he claimed her for his own.
Tor fought his inner beast. With a shake of his head, he tried desperately to clear his thoughts as he set the clasp and released the amulet to lie perfectly around her throat. Never had his legs trembled as they did now, stepping away from this creature of pure erotic temptation. In three strides, he settled on the corner of his desk, with his arms crossed over his chest and gaze leveled on the foreigner. With the amulet in place, the interrogation began.
“Tell me,” he commanded. “Who are you? Where are you from?”
The moment the necklace was around her neck, heat filtered through her entire being. Tingles skittered the length of her spine, along her arms to the tips of her fingers, skimmed her legs all the way to her toes and bounced back to pool in her pussy. The phenomenal sensation pulsating in her clit made her shiver.
Wow.
Deveney hovered on the edge of orgasm, locked between climax and reaching the ultimate goal. Her body hummed. Her breasts throbbed and it was all she could do not to turn and ravish him. But a little voice at the base of her brain reminded her it would end in disaster. With the strange amount of power rippling through her at the moment, she feared that if she touched him, he’d explode into a million pieces.
When he spoke, the tone of his voice didn’t agree with her, yet the deep rich timbre thrilled her. Slow and deliberate, she turned to face him, tugging the cloak tight to hide the renegade reaction of her body. No need for him to see her rock-hard nipples and think she was easy—even though she did grab him by the cock earlier. Deveney shrugged that little mishap off and prayed he didn’t mention it. She took a deep inhale and concentrated on selecting her words carefully so as not to let slip she’d spoken with Maven. For some reason, Maven wanted that bit of information kept secret.
“If you wish to speak with me,” she stated in a calm, controlled tone, though nothing on the inside equaled the definition of calm or controlled. Her gut knotted and it took a great effort to keep her voice from cracking. “You will do it in a nicer manner. I’m not exactly sure how I got here, where I am or who you are. The least you can do is pretend to be hospitable.”
Deveney squared her shoulders and hoped she hid her fear. Until now, she hadn’t truly noticed his massive size. Even though he leaned against the desk, she estimated his height at well over six feet tall, maybe even closer to seven. His shoulders were broad and his biceps were huge, especially flexed in that crossed-arm position. If he meant to intimidate her, it worked, even if he was dressed in a short golden robe that reminded her of an ancient Roman warrior. Her insides quaked and her leg muscles quivered as she forced another step in his direction.
Refusing to back down, Deveney tilted her chin and held her gaze level on his. Survival instincts kicked in.
Think of this as just another transfer to a new juvie home.
She drew on the strength Tiara shared with her each time they’d faced another set of foster parents. She’d be damned if she’d let some overgrown, ego-driven male enforce anything on her. He’d change his tone or she wouldn’t answer.