Page 24

King

It took hours to solve a few issues and get things in place to put my plan into action. When I entered our room, Marinah was asleep. I quickly packed a bag for both of us. She didn’t stir the entire time. I was exhausted, but nothing was going to stop me from having this alone time with her.

Beck was attending the funerals in our absence. It was the one thing that had made me hesitate with this mad scheme.

Beck hadn’t let me dwell on it. “Take this time with your mate. You’ve got more problems than simple mating rage. When you come back, you get the hellspawn, and I’m taking Missy away.”

I just hoped Marinah would forgive me for making her miss Ryan’s funeral. His loss had hit her hard. I still remembered the first Shadow Warrior who had died under my command. It never got easier but that one haunted me in a different way.

Once I collected everything we needed, I gently woke her. “Remember I told you I was kidnapping you?” I said when I was sure she was awake.

“I think,” she mumbled groggily.

I scooped her into my arms. “It’s happening.”

With two bags slung over my shoulder and my mate in my arms, I left the room.

“I need clothes,” she whined after a moment.

“I doubt you will, but I’ve got it covered.”

She breathed against my neck. “We’re really getting time alone?”

“Yes, and if I have to kill someone to make sure of it, I will. They’ve been warned.”

“I love you.”

I held her tighter, carrying her all the way to the courtyard. I placed her on the back of my bike and situated myself in front of her. “Hold on,” I told her.

“I’m never letting go.”

“The airport?” she asked, surprised after I made the final turn about ten minutes later.

“If we don’t get off this island, we’ll never find peace,” I said.

The plane was small, and the flight short. We strapped on our parachutes, and this time Marinah wasn’t as apprehensive as she had been during her first jump. I pointed down at our destination. “That’s Jarnines del Rev Island. Maybe you should rename it.”

“You want me to rename an island?” she asked, shocked.

“I think you should. We’re claiming this island as our own, and whenever we need to get away, this is where we’re coming.”

“Love Island,” she said with a grin.

I smiled inwardly. “Now let’s get on with the loving part of our island.”

She laughed and didn’t wait for me before propelling herself out of the plane. She had no idea what was in store for her. We landed about a mile from our destination and gathered our chutes.

“I just realized we don’t have any way to get off the island,” she said.

“That’s the plan.” I gave her my most wicked grin.

She replied with a tempting smile. “Quite a plan,” she teased, licking her lips as we picked up our bags and started jogging.

I had sent a team to the newly christened Love Island before we left for the U.S. Alden had assured me everything was ready, just as I’d requested.

A few minutes later, she pointed ahead. “Is that a cabin?”

“It’s our cabin.”

She took off running full tilt. “Wait,” I called after her, running to catch up. I scooped her into my arms. “I’m carrying you over the threshold.”

“You’re a silly man,” she giggled.

I set her down inside, and she glanced around, her eyes wide. “It’s beautiful.”

“Maylin decorated it for us.”

“It’s perfect, and I love it.”

“I love you.”

Marinah turned and walked into my arms. I scooped her up again and carried her to the bedroom. When there was nothing between us, I lifted her and placed her gently on the bed. Her hair was its usual wild mess, and I brushed it back from her eyes.

“Hi,” she whispered.

Our lips met, and the restlessness that had dogged me for so long faded. We were tired, but none of that mattered. What mattered was this connection, the pull I felt whenever she was more than a foot away. Now, I was whole.

My hand found one of her breasts, and she sighed into my mouth. “More,” she groaned.

“We’ve only just begun,” I murmured.

Her groan grew louder this time, and her fingernails dug into my back, trying to urge me along. That wasn’t happening. I wanted to savor every inch of her, to feel every detail, and I wasn’t about to let this end before it truly began. Ignoring her insistent hands, I focused entirely on her body.

I took her nipple into my mouth, sucking gently until she bucked beneath me. Then I turned my attention to the other, eliciting a gasp of pure bliss.

“King, please,” she begged desperately.

Marinah would be doing a lot more begging before I was through.

When neither of us could stand it, I slid inside her. She always felt new and sweet, and damned sexy. We rocked the bed as my powerful strokes filled her. She finally let out a scream of completion, and I could hold back no longer.

The electrifying thrill ran through my entire body.

Finally, I sank down on top of her and rolled us to the side, circling her in my arms, our sweaty bodies entangled.

∞∞∞

Marinah

I was too tired to sleep. My finger twirled absently through the hair on King’s chest. He was awake too. “Why did the men take a knee when I went into Nova Warrior form?” I asked.

King rolled over so we were facing each other. My hand slid to the side, but he caught it and placed it back on his chest.

“You won’t like the answer,” he said. “I can tell you when we’re ready to leave, and then you won’t need to think about it until it’s time to return.”

That didn’t sound good, but I had no idea why. “You’re scaring me.”

“We should enjoy our time together.”

“How am I supposed to enjoy it with this hanging over me? You need to tell me now.”

He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. For several long minutes, he didn’t say anything. If his eyes had been closed, I might have thought he’d fallen asleep. Even though it killed me, I gave him the time he needed.

“Shadow Warriors were different on the home planet,” he finally said.

“From what I read; they were homicidal maniacs.”

“That about covers it. Only the strongest became leaders.”

“Okay, that’s something I know,” I said, my unease growing.

“There were different levels of strong. The Nova Warriors were far above others, and they are the ones who ruled.” He stopped, letting the words sink in.

“What exactly are you saying?”

He rolled back toward me and gently brushed hair from my cheek. “You’re our king. Or, more precisely, our queen. You lead the Shadow Warriors by default.”

What did he just say? I lay there stunned for a moment.

“Do I have a say in this?”

I saw his slight smile in the darkness. “You have a say on everything. Your word is a command.”

I covered his mouth with my fingers. “Stop. I’m not ready for this nonsense.”

His hand moved to my breast, and my fingers dropped from his lips.

“Are you ready for more of this nonsense?” His eyes sparked with desire.

I groaned when he put pressure on my nipple. Only one more thought entered my head before I gave into temptation.

If I thought the world was crazy before, it was completely insane now.