Page 36

36

As You Wish

*Jalen*

R en fell asleep exhausted that night after letting me tend to her wounds. With each scrape I bandaged, I wished I could kill those bastards all over again. Luckily, she hadn’t been through worse.

I’d snuck up on her captors shortly before I’d struck. I’d heard the way they’d spoken to her. The vile things they’d planned to do.

Fear nearly paralyzed me then. A worry so strong that the trust I’d cultivated with Ren would wither in the face of my error.

I should’ve never left her alone.

What kind of guide lets their charge be captured by slavers?

What kind of male lets his mate be taken by rapists?

Ren deserved better. My heart clenched as the realization spread through my soul. Perhaps she’d be better off without me…

As her eyes fluttered open and connected with mine in the morning, I tried to bury my worries. “Hey.” I smiled softly. “How are you feeling?”

She levered herself up on the pallet and winced. “Sore.” Her head slanted as she performed a cool once-over on me. “You look like hell. Did you sleep at all?”

“Couldn’t. But don’t worry.” I forced my smile to brighten. “I won’t let it slow us down. We ought to reach the old ruins today. Unless you don’t feel up to it? We can rest here—”

“No. I’m okay.” She swung her legs off the pallet and grabbed her boots. “I’m sure my muscles will feel better once I start walking.” She paused before sliding them on. “Is it just me, or is it darker than it should be in here?”

“You’re not wrong. It’s raining today. Less sun shining outside and seeping in.” Her nose wrinkled, and she looked so annoyed—and downright cute—laughter burst out of my throat. “Don’t worry. It shouldn’t slow us down. It’s only a light rainfall.”

“If you say so.” She set down her boot and grabbed her pack. “Think I better put my skinsuit on today.”

“As you wish,” I drawled, watching with interest.

Her cheeks pinked adorably, and she circled her hand. “Turn around, you perv.”

I chuckled but did as requested. “Pretty positive you confirmed I wasn’t one of those, right before you showed me everything you’re hiding now.”

She scoffed, and the rustle of fabric made my pulse race. “Yeah, well, I reserve the right to take that back if you stop acting like a gentleman.”

“You won’t ever have to.” The words settled between us, filling the silence with the weight of their promise.

Shortly after she announced, “I’m ready,” we set off. I tore a piece of haldi bread in two, which we chewed as we walked, the rain coating our skin with the lightest mist.

“It’s actually kind of nice.” Ren lifted one shoulder in a lopsided shrug. “I’m not as hot as usual with the rain falling.”

I grinned. “True. Just be thankful it’s not a heavy rainfall.”

“What happens then?”

“The paths turn into mud quickly. You spend the whole hike soaked to the bone and sucking each boot out of the muck after every footstep.”

“Yikes.” She gazed at the sky. “Think we’ll get hit with a storm like that?”

“Undoubtedly. This is the rainy season on Dionus. Light rain like this is typically a precursor to bigger storms. But if we’re lucky, it won’t start until nightfall.”

“Great. More fun to look forward to.” Ren grimaced and hastened her steps.

I chuckled, following with a spring in my step that likely had her internally cursing me for frolicking again. “What’s the rush?”

She glanced at me with a grin. “There’s only one thing I want sucking on me today, and it isn’t the damn mud.”

Harlx’s bane. That mouth of hers was bound to drive me to insanity if I wasn’t careful. “Let’s get a move on, then, and we’ll see if we can’t make that happen later.” I winked, leading the way while planning exactly what I wanted to do with my feisty mate.

*Jalen*

“This is it.” I halted at a break in the tree cover, waving Ren forward.

She squinted. “Where? I don’t see any ruins.”

I pointed to a small mound that looked like a typical hillside to the untrained eye. “It’s hard to see from here, but once we duck behind those trees, we’ll find the entrance to the old ruins. The jungle sprang up around it, but the construction was sound. It was built around the same time as the caves—we think.”

A fat raindrop splattered my nose. I scanned the darkening sky with a frown. “Seems we arrived just in time.” I held out a hand, catching another drop in my open palm before Ren clasped my palm with hers. “It’s about to start pouring. We need to hurry.”

“Race you there?” She wiggled her brows, and I couldn’t help smiling in response.

“All right.” I dropped her hand and counted. “On the count of three. One. Two. Hey!”

She bolted on two with a devious cackle that made my skin tingle with joy. I sprinted after her, laughing. Just before we reached the entrance, the sky opened, spilling rain in a sheet that drenched us both within seconds.

“Ren!” I shouted, my vision blurring as water poured into my eyes.

Her fingers slipped into mine, clenching tightly. “I’m here. Fuck, you weren’t kidding. It’s like a damn monsoon!”

“Come on!” I tugged her with me the last few steps to the ruins’ entrance. We sheltered under a small overhang as I worked the lock, and it was almost like we’d found a hidden cove to hide in behind a waterfall.

I cursed under my breath when I spotted Ren shivering. Why wasn’t the stupid lock—there! “Inside. Quick, before we let the wet in.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. Ren hurried inside as I dug my lighter out of my vest pocket. Within moments, I’d slammed the door behind us and lit a lantern, washing the chamber in soft light and shadows.

“Wow. Big step up from the caves.” Ren scanned the building, awed. “This looks so… modern.”

Banks of cabinets lined the walls. Tables held rusting boxes filled with what might be ancient tools or medical equipment. And in the far corner, a strange blank monitor overlooked a huge seat surrounded with crystals, each of the multicolored gems shimmering dimly in the lantern light.

Who built this place? What was it for?

Yet, as Ren shivered again, I forced the questions aside. “Let’s get you out of those soaked clothes and into something warm.”

She arched a brow. “Why do I get the feeling the only thing you intend to warm me with is body heat?”

I chuckled softly. “While that is certainly an option, there are some blankets around here somewhere…” I grinned as I spotted the hall that was half-hidden behind a table piled high with boxes. “This way.”

Ren trailed me through the hall toward the far end. “Seems like you know this place pretty well.”

“I’ve been here a few times. It always fascinated me.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

I shrugged. “I suppose I enjoyed wondering about who built it and why.”

“Your people never figured it out?”

“No. Just like with the caves, the knowledge is lost to the ages.”

She twisted her lips. “There’s stuff like that on Earth, too. Big monuments built out of enormous rocks that should’ve been impossible to move with ancient technology.”

“Guess we aren’t so different.” I eased open the door to a small bedchamber, dusty but otherwise tidy, with a proper bed instead of the simple pallets we were used to finding in the caves.

“No. We aren’t,” Ren said, her voice lowering to practically a whisper.

I hung the lantern on a ceiling hook. Then I lifted the blanket off the bed and shook off the dust. “Wrap yourself in this. I’ll wait in the hall.”

But when Ren reached out, it wasn’t to take the blanket. Her small fingers wrapped around my forearm and pulled me closer. “And if I don’t want you out in the hall?”

My pulse turned molten as her sultry voice reached my ears. I’d been so worried she’d want nothing to do with me. Thank ellios I was wrong. “Then you can have me wherever you want me.”

Her fingers slipped to the nape of my neck and pulled my head down. Her lips crashed into mine, and I was gone. Lost in the bliss of her hands tracing my skin and the sweetness of her tongue in my mouth.

She shuddered again, and I couldn’t be certain if it was from my kiss or the wet cloth clinging to her curves.

I can fix that. I snagged the zipper at her throat and slowly dragged it down, moving slowly enough she had time to stop me if she wanted to. When she tugged at her sleeves, helping me shuck off the offending cloth, I sighed into her mouth. But as I reached her waist, I was forced to leave her tempting tongue behind.

Leaving a trail of kisses down her neck and between her breasts, I dropped to my knees, working the zipper down until I could finish stripping her. She toed off her boots, her stomach hollowing and chest heaving as she stood before me, her hands in my hair, and her back pressed against the wall for balance.

Then it was just that puny triangle staring at me again. Hiding the treasure I craved with every fiber of my being. My fingers traced up her inner thighs. “Is that all that’s wet?”

She moaned, spreading her legs wider. Her head fell back against the wall, her eyes closing in anticipation.

“Is it?” I asked again, feathering the lightest touch on the edge of her panties.

Ren’s gaze shot to mine. The hunger in her eyes made my cocks throb. “My panties are wet too. Take them off.” She groaned as my fingertip slid under the elastic. “Please, Jalen.”

It was my turn to groan as her nectar coated my fingers. “You’re right. They’re soaked.”

Ren mewled, her hips jerking as I circled her clit with my thumb. Then she gasped as I pulled my hand free, and her expression turned murderous.

“Just doing as ordered,” I said as I hooked the band in my fingers and tugged her panties down.

I stared, entranced with the perfection before me. At this angle, I had a phenomenal view of the slick paradise between my mate’s thighs. A fluffy mound of hair, the same shade of blonde as on her head, topped the juiciest lips I’d ever seen. My mouth watered, and I couldn’t resist dipping in for a taste.

“Jalen!” She bucked against the wall, grinding her pussy on my tongue.

Ellios, yes! A wicked thrill shot through me. With canines as sharp as my species possessed, few females let their partner taste them, too frightened that their tender parts would be accidentally sliced in the heat of passion.

But Ren wasn’t scared at all. She rode my mouth fearlessly, and I loved it. All the same, I was careful to keep my teeth tucked back, resolved to never hurt her. My heart swelled even more than my cocks. Ren trusted me to keep her safe. To bring her pleasure. And I wanted to give her everything she deserved.

Through it all, I watched her. I studied every move she made and memorized every gasp and moan. Soon, my exploratory strokes became more precise as I discovered what drove her crazy.

As soon as her thighs started to quiver, I slipped a finger inside her. She gasped. “Jalen, yesss!” But there was one last thing I was dying to try. Now would be a good time, while she was on the verge of coming.

I slicked a second finger inside her, coating it with her nectar. Then I slipped it down, wondering if the move would set her off or make her recoil. Either way, I had to know. My cocks ached painfully as I ringed the wet finger around her asshole.

Ren’s eyes shot wide, but she didn’t tense up. As a small smile lifted her lips, I took that as a sign and sank in to the knuckle.

With my mouth on her clit, one finger in her cunt, and another in her ass, Ren screamed and came—hard. Her hands clenched in my hair as her legs clamped down on my face. I stayed with her through it all, loving the way her walls clenched around my fingers and she chanted my name like a litany.

“God, Jalen. That was incredible.” Ren beamed at me as I pulled back, licking my lips. She traced my tongue with her gaze until I sat back on my heels. Her breath caught as she spotted the bulge in my shorts straining to be set free. “There’s one problem, though.”

My brow furrowed. “What problem? Did you not like it when I—”

She squeezed my shoulders. “Jalen, I loved every second of what you just did. The problem is that we’ve been ignoring that bed.” She patted my cheek once, then stepped around me, hopping up on the mattress.

I grinned as I stood, following her to the edge. She stopped me with a naked foot pressed to my chest, her finger wagging. “Uh-uh. You can’t come to bed all wet. Strip.”

If she insists… “As you wish.”