Seth’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t considered that she might not want to go with him.
“I can offer you a great deal,” he finally said slowly. “My family is one of the foremost in Saurellian society, and we would have our own estate. You would always be well cared for; our children would have every opportunity to succeed in life. It’s more than you’ll ever get here.”
“But do I have a choice?” Calla asked again.
“Yes,” Seth said tightly. He stared up at her, begging her with his eyes to come with him. If she said no, he was lost.
“Seth, I love you,” she said quietly. “But I don’t want to go with you unless you feel you could love me, too. I’d rather stay here than live with someone who hates me, despite whatever quirk of the Goddess has made us biologically compatible. Can you understand that?”
Seth blinked up at her in confusion. What kind of question was that? She’d felt his response to her a thousand times. What more did she need?
“Of course I love you,” he said after a second’s hesitation. “Why else would I have let you go as long as I did? I would have hunted down anyone else who did what you did and punished them. I would never have let you get away. I only came for you when I realized I had something to offer you.”
“Are you serious?” Calla whispered, still unable to fully believe him. It was too much like a dream, and a part of her expected to wake at any minute.
“Goddess, what do I have to do to convince you?” he muttered. “I’ve traveled across the quadrant for you. I’ve spent three times what the ship was worth to find you. I haven’t been able to think of anyone but you since we parted. What will it take?”
Calla opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything he crushed her mouth against his.
His kiss was hard and harsh, completely different from those light kisses he’d given her just moments earlier. Then he released her mouth, rolling her under him in one smooth motion. His knees thrust between her legs, and he ground his aroused flesh against her desperately. He had to show her, he had to prove himself. If she refused to come with him, he wouldn’t want to live.
Calla tried to speak again, but once more he crushed her mouth against his even as he reached down with one arm to pull up her shift above her br**sts, revealing all that he had been denied for so many months. Unable to speak, she threw her arms around his neck, then brought her legs up to clasp his body. His rock-hard c**k pushed against her moist opening, and she gasped under his movements. Then he released her mouth and dropped his head against her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a rasping voice. “It’s just been so long since I’ve felt you against me. I need you.”
“I need you, too,” she whispered. He looked at her, hope in his eyes.
“Then you’ll come with me to Saurellia?”
“Yes,” Calla whispered. “I would be honored to come with you.”
“I promise, I’ll never mislead you again,” he said, dropping hot kisses across her face. He brushed against her eyelids, then down to her lips again. They kissed for several more minutes, then paused for breath.
“And I promise I’ll never lie to you again, either,” she said.
“I’ll always take care of you, you never need to be afraid again,” he replied touching her face in wonder.
“You’re so beautiful, Calla.”
“I’ll always take care of you, too,” she replied. A smirk came over her face. “It seems like you have a pressing problem that needs urgent care right now.” She moved against him suggestively.
Seth groaned at the sensation, his hips moving involuntarily in response. “What do you suggest?” he asked.
“I suggest you take off your clothes, then come show me what it means to have a Saurellian life-mate.”
“I’m happy to oblige,” he said, kissing her again deeply. He pushed himself up off the bed, standing quickly and stripping off his clothing. Then he reached down and pulled her shift over her head, letting it drop to the floor. She lay before him, open and trusting in the darkness. In what little moonlight there was, he could see her br**sts rising and falling in time with her breath. She was just as aroused as he was, he noted with satisfaction.
He lowered himself to the bed between her splayed knees. He dropped his mouth to her br**sts, but she thrust one hand into his hair and pulled his face to hers.
“I’m way past needing that,” she said thickly. “I want you in me, now.”
“Oh, giving orders now, are we?” he asked archly. “I think that you need to learn a little patience. After all, I’ve been waiting for this very patiently for months.”
“And I haven’t been?” Calla whimpered. “Seth, I need you.”
But he merely smiled, then dropped his head to her br**sts. He laved her nipple slowly, circling the pink nub with the tip of his tongue. Her stomach clenched in tension, and she gasped. Seth lifted his head and gave her a slow smile.
“I take it you like that?” he said. “How about this? Do you like this?”
He slid lower on the bed, dropping small kisses across her stomach as he moved toward her waiting clit.
After what seemed an eternity, he reached the small nub that was the center of her pleasure. Using both his thumbs, he held her exposed to his view, then blew softly on the sensitive flesh. Calla rolled her head back and forth, then lifted her hips toward him, begging for more.
Seth chuckled, then allowed his tongue to graze her flesh. Calla stiffened, pleading with him wordlessly for more. Lowering his head, Seth allowed his tongue to play with her clit, flicking it sensuously. She pressed up against him once more, and with a sigh he sucked her into his mouth.
She gasped. “Oh Goddess, don’t stop,” Calla said, twisting against him. Waves of desire built in her, and she strained to achieve that pinnacle of pleasure she knew was waiting for her.
Seth laughed again, and the vibrations from his laughter stimulated her almost beyond endurance. Then he leaned back abruptly.
“I don’t want to make this too easy for you,” he said. “I think you need to earn your pleasure. Make it worth my while to finish things.”
Leaning up on her elbows, Calla stared at him blankly.
“What do you want?” she finally said, her voice husky with desire. “I’ll do anything for you. Anything.”
Her words sent a twist of agonized longing through his groin. She was so beautiful, lying there with her legs splayed wide open and her eyes glazed with lust. She was fully his, he realized. This was his life mate, right in front of him, and she wanted to bring him pleasure. It was more wonderful that anything he could have imagined.