Authors: C.A. Salo
“Are you well, my sweet?”
“Yes, tired.”
Rhys stood by her head, his hand on her as he met her eye. “You are beautiful.”
Mari smiled as her forked tongue slipped out and between his legs, liking the desire in his eye as its roughness ran from his ass, under his balls to his hanging cock which was hardening again.
“Troublesome woman,” he said, smiling. “Behave before I make you shift back so I can boink you all night.”
“As much as I would love that, at this moment I can’t. I need to digest before I can shift back.”
Her eyelids fluttered heavily before letting a tired sigh escape as she drifted to sleep with his hand rubbing the side of her head.
* * * *
Mari smiled as she stretched under the warm covers. Rhys had obviously stayed with her until she shifted during sleep and brought her back to their bed.
“I need to ask a question,” Rhys said as he sat down on the mattress.
“Mmmm?”
“When you first arrived here, the night we first met at the border to Alston, you seemed almost afraid when we first saw the darkness coming toward us. Were you really afraid or was it an act so we wouldn’t figure out who you were?”
“Both,” she mumbled, rolling to her side meeting his gaze. “I was planning on playing the innocent until I had a better idea who I’d be dealing with here in Alston as I hadn’t been back to socialize in so long. Whenever I did come back, no one saw me because I’d come in over the ocean and go straight to my sanctuary. Yet the night we met, it did scare me, as I hadn’t realized the darkness had grown so much or absorbed so many souls, making it stronger. Granted I’ve grown in power and strength as well, but the amount of souls I sensed that night inside the darkness was astounding.”
Rhys nodded. “I knew you were hiding something, but I couldn’t put my finger on it and then when I sensed our bonding…”
Mari chuckled as she reached up, dragging him over her body. “Ha, you knew you were in trouble.”
“Trouble wasn’t the word I’d use,” he laughed as she smacked loud kisses over his face. “Woman, behave before I smack your ass.”
“Ha! Now that’s something I’d like to see.” Triton chuckled.
“I don’t think so, fish man,” Mari said as she spotted him leaning against the door jamb.
“No respect, I simply get no respect anymore.”
“Oh, my poor Triton!” Moving her hand, she lifted him off the floor with her powers, bringing him to the side of the bed, she reached up and yanked him down. “I love you, you know that.” Spreading kisses all over his face, Mari chuckled as he tried fighting her off.
“Dragon spit, dragon spit, ewwww gross!” Triton complained as he backed up, grinning at Rhys as he sat back on the pillows. “I’ll leave her and her dragon saliva to you my friend.”
Mari stopped laughing. “Why what’s up, where are you off to, what happened?”
“Dad summoned me this morning, there’s a meeting with the aunts and uncles about the darkness. They want an update on what’s happening and then will decide if they’ll come to help or not.”
“Triton.”
“I know, Mari. If I can’t convince them it’s time to fight, we may be going at this alone.”
Mari knelt, clutching the covers around her body. “Well screw them then! If they don’t want to fight with me this time, they can go to Hades when they want my help.
I
won’t come running when the darkness goes after them.” Huffing she met his gaze. “Well, you know…if I’m still alive.”
“Of course you’ll be alive,” Rhys growled as he yanked her onto his lap. “Don’t you ever think otherwise, do you hear me?”
Mari smiled softly as she cupped his cheek with her hand, “Yes, love, I hear you. Now tell me, my color hasn’t faded with my age has it?”
“Color?”
Triton chuckled as he sat on the corner of the bed. “No you’re still as vibrant red and beautiful as ever.”
“And my tail?” Mari smiled.
“It still shades wonderfully from red to blue, although, it looked like the very tips are now a royal blue color instead of a midnight blue, but still gorgeous darling. Oh and a nice roar that says, ‘hey I’m back and I’m going to kick some ass’.”
Mari shrugged. “What can I say, I’m territorial, and someone is trying to invade on my territory.” Snuggling up to Rhys, she smiled when his arms went around her waist.
“It makes my heart burst with joy to see you happy, Mariwen.”
Mari smiled softly as Triton’s fingers caressed her cheek before he leaned in to kiss her other one.
“You know I will be here for you, my sister, whenever you need it. I must go now, but I will be back. Take care of her well, Rhys Beven.”
“Be safe my brother,” Mari whispered as he rose and headed for the door.
“I didn’t think you two were family,” Rhys asked.
“Not by blood,” Mari replied as she tilted her head to meet his gaze, smiling as his lips lowered to hers gently. “I need to go to my sanctuary today to gather a few items; would you like to go with me?”
“I’d love to.”
* * * *
“How in the hell am I supposed to get up there?” Rhys asked as he turned to Mari.
Mari chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hold on to me, I’m casting a cloak over us so no one can see what we’re doing. Are you ready?” When he nodded, Mari breathed deeply, smiling when his eyes widened as she shifted enough to change her eyes and expand her wings.
“You can fly.”
“I can fly.” She smiled as her wings swooped once, lifting them up. With her enhanced strength she could easily keep a hold of him and flew up the rocky face to the ledge that looked like nothing more than a small crevice, and landed. Once Mari had them firmly on the ground, she kept a hold of his hand when he went to step back. “Don’t let go until we’re inside. I have a cloak surrounding my sanctuary at all times.”
“Didn’t the Kelpie come ashore near here?”
“Yes, that’s why I called Triton in that day,” she said as they walked through the barrier into her cave. “I knew it wasn’t a coincidence.”
“Holy shit!” Rhys exclaimed as he looked around at the opulence.
Mari chuckled as she released his hand. “What? Did you think I’d leave it a dank, dark, wet cave?”
“Well, no, but I never thought—and you’ve hidden this for how long?”
“Quite a few centuries.” Mari grinned as she walked over to an old wooden chest. Opening the heavy lid, she withdrew her battle gear. “I haven’t had to wear these since the last time I fought the darkness.”
“I thought you said you’d been in many battles.”
“I have, but these were made special for me by my father. They’re made from his scales and skin. Very few Other Kin can break through the protection castings he’s placed, never mind the items themselves.”
“Is the darkness one of them?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” Turning, she set her hauberk down as she took his hand, leading him over to the bed to sit on its edge. “Rhys, the darkness is or was an Other Kin soul. His name was Olipisies, and he turned to the dark arts because my mother turned down his advances—way before she met my father or thought of having me, before she became an ancient. Olipisies wouldn’t stop his pursuit of her even when two ancients made it clear to him that he needed to stop. Olipisies killed them…”
“He killed two ancients,” Rhys burst out. “I thought that was impossible.”
“No, you only need to have the knowledge. Ancients, like anyone else, are susceptible to death. Olipisies went into hiding after that and emerged again years later. He’d been gathering dark powers and tried taking my mother as she was out patrolling her quadrant.” Smiling, she recalled the story as it was told. “She was fighting him and had fallen to the ground after a hit. Olipisies started yelling at how she betrayed him and his love, and that he was going to kill her. Mother was hurt badly and the other ancients were making a rush to get to her, but they couldn’t, not in time. As she watched the death blow coming, she lifted her hand to try and stop it with the little power she had left, when a monstrous roar filled the air—her words not mine,” she said grinning. “And then the ground shook as a full grown dragon landed in front of her, stopping the hit meant for her. She said he struck back, sending Olipisies flying and then went after him. His flames scorched the grounds, setting Olipisies blazing. Mother said Olipisies tried fighting father even while his skin was burning off him to the ground, but father was too powerful and they watched as he disappeared.” Meeting Rhys’ gaze, Mari smiled as she leaned forward, her lips gently brushing his before nipping his bottom one. “So now you know how my parents met and how the darkness was born.”
“So, in other words, Olipisies started this shit because he was jilted?”
“Yep. I couldn’t say anything earlier or in the council chambers because I didn’t trust the protection charms and no one needs to know our life history…well, except you, because you’re to be my mate,” she said smiling.
* * * *
Mari chuckled as she lifted the goblet of wine to her lips. They’d decided to stay at her sanctuary and have a night to themselves away from everyone. She’d made Livi go find Drake and tell him where they were so no one would worry.
Rhys lifted his hand, caressing her arm from shoulder to fingers before he lifted her to his lap.
Mari lowered her glass, sighing as his lips met hers. Slowly, sensuously, his hands caressed her back, side, arms, and thighs as he took his time savoring her lips. “Rhys,” she breathed heavily.
Rhys smiled. “Oh no, love, we go slow this night, for I plan on making love to you, not fucking you. I want you exhausted from multiple orgasms by the time I’m finished with you.”
Mari trembled at his words. “Oh, yeah?” No man had ever made her body tremble from his words or from his sex—no man other than Rhys. “So, I’m good to orgasm at will tonight?”
“Most definitely.” Lifting her with him, Rhys rose and strode to the bed. Setting her on her feet, he averted her hands when she went to take her clothes off. “No, Mari, let me.”
Mari shuddered, lips parting on a gasp as he barely kissed her neck, his hands sliding under her t-shirt, fingers gently caressing her naked skin. Mari moaned when his mouth joined his hands, kissing his way up past her breasts. She groaned with want. “My nipples, play with my nipples,” she gasped.
“In good time,” Rhys muttered, taking her hands in his and bringing them behind her back. “Slowly, Mari. I will not let you rush me tonight. I want to love you right.”
“You do love me right, Rhys.” Mari met his gaze. “I love how my body reacts to you, it’s never done that with anyone before. You’re the only one who’s ever been able to make me burn, literally. You are my soul mate, my other half. Never doubt yourself when it comes to you pleasuring me.”
Rhys smiled as he kissed her softly. “I don’t, but we always seem to love each other hard and fast, which is fine, but I like slow sometimes. It helps me show you how much you mean to me, how much I love you.” He whispered the last, letting go of her hands.
“You…”
“Yes, does that frighten you, Mari, to know that I’ve fallen in love with you?”
Mari wrapped her arms around his neck. “No,” she whispered as she gently kissed him. “I’ve fallen for you as well. I was so scared at first, but then I got to know you, to feel your real self. I love you, Rhys.”
“Will you bind yourself to me this night, Mari? Will you let me claim you as mine forever?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
Rhys drew her flush against him and captured her mouth. Her tongue lifted to tangle with his and he kept it slow and sensuous, loving how her body trembled for him as he slowly kissed every inch of her. Removing her clothes, he lowered her to the bed. He began a journey with his mouth from her lips to her inner thighs.
When his hot breath passed over her clit Mari gasped, her hips lifting closer to his mouth. “Don’t tease, Rhys.” His tongue darted out, striking the engorged little nub several times. Her body tensed, a moan escaped, and Mari groaned when finally his lips settled around her clit. Her body trembled as he drew her into his mouth, sucking, nibbling; his ministrations slow as she fought the rising climax. A tremor shook her core as he continued his slow, steady pace. Shards of light scattered behind her closed lids.
Rhys knew she was moments away from an orgasm. “Yes, my love, at your will.” Lowering his mouth to her clit, he sucked, his hands lifting to keep her thighs from crushing his skull as she writhed on the bed; her fingers clutching the covers as she arched up; her body jerking as she cried out with her orgasm. Rhys suckled and licked her as she came down from her pleasure, his movements in rhythm with hers. He finally lifted her head when she lay breathing heavily. His lips pressed to her inner thigh as he worked his way back up, taking a pebbled nipple into his mouth.
Mari’s body twitched as he revived her need for him. Her hands roamed his body, her fingers digging into his back before moving a hand to his erection.
Rhys grasped her hand moving it to the bed. “Not yet,” he breathed. His lips covered her nipple again, as his thumb and forefinger tweaked her other one. Mari groaned and arched her back, lifting her breasts up closer to his caresses. When she went to grab his cock again, he held her hand to the bed as her body arched against him with her desire. Leaving her breast he traveled down, kissing and nipping lightly. Her stomach muscles twitched as his fangs pressed against her slightly, enough to prick, but not pierce her skin. Her moans were louder, her body was heating, and he knew she was close to another release. “I can’t get enough of you, Mari,” he rumbled, his nostrils flaring at her musky scent as he slowly ran his tongue over her pussy and clit. Her pussy was so wet from her earlier orgasm and his continued strokes, that his dick hardened even more—if that was possible.
“Rhys, please, I can’t wait anymore, I want your fat cock in me,” Mari growled.
“Is the beast coming out, love?”
Mari growled as he rolled her onto her stomach, lifting her ass in the air, the cool air hitting her hot pussy. “Rhys!”
Rhys groaned when she arched her back, lifting her pussy higher, offering its sweet heat to him. Lowering, he slowly ran his tongue from her clit backwards, spearing it into her heat as he would his cock. Her taste was sweet and musky, absolutely the best thing he’d ever tasted in his life. Thrusting his tongue in and out of her until she screamed his name, he lifted himself, lowering his hand to her clit as he nipped her ass cheek before licking her puckered anal star.