and unfastened it. He pushed his breeches down just far enough to free
his cock for action. Her fingers glanced over the turgid flesh and he
nearly came.
Rurik grabbed her wrists, holding her arms to her sides as he finally
leaned down. Worshiping her with his tongue and mouth, he licked and
kissed her stomach and breasts, moaning softly just to taste her. Ari
wiggled beneath him, her body so warm and eager. Not letting go of her
arms as he dragged his tongue down to the apex of her thighs, he
moaned louder as he tasted the sweet cream of her pussy.
“Ah,” she gasped. Rurik closed his mouth around her sex, licking and
nibbling along her folds, only to suck her clit. “Oh!”
When the sound of her voice turned into incoherent pleas and her
body was thrusting in rhythm to his tongue, he knew it was time.
Crawling on top of her, he slid her arms up, keeping her hands from
exploring.
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Talons: Seize the Hunter
Leaning over, he pressed his mouth to hers. She jolted in surprise
and he used the chance to kiss her deeply. Her hands slipped from under
his hold, reaching up to capture his neck. She kept him to her mouth as
he spread her legs wider in invitation. In all his wildest dreams, he never
imagined that Ari would be in his bed.
He hesitated, feeling a wave of guilt. The uncertainty was as
unfamiliar to him as losing and he didn’t know what to do. Rurik started
to pull back. With a few words, he could drive her away forever. She
wasn’t his. He knew that. They came from different worlds, were born
into different worlds. She was born to rule, he was born to fight.
“Nae,” she whispered. “Stay.”
Ari ran her hand down to his cock, rubbing it as she drew the tip
forward to her sex. She offered her body to him, so sweet, so soft. He was
powerless against her. She seized a part of him, a part that she’d always
held, a part that kept him from all others throughout the many years.
Rurik hadn’t wanted to admit it his whole life. Once, he’d dared to hope,
but he now knew how foolish hope was.
Once, he thought, taking what she offered. He thrust forward, sliding
in her cream as he pried her body open to his. The tight feel of her
squeezed him and he groaned in pleasure. His wings beat slowly, as he
thrust, their subtle yet strong movement propelling him steadily in and
out.
He couldn’t take it. She jerked, tensing as she came. Grunting, he
joined her in the blissful surrender of release, letting his seed spill within
her, claiming her as his, marking her. Without thought, he collapsed
forward, sure he’d never felt so scared or so happy in all his life. He tried
to cling to the moment, knowing that it couldn’t last, no matter how
badly he wanted it to.
25
Michelle M Pillow
CHAPTER THREE
Ari couldn’t believe how blessed she was. Her body sung with the
intensity with which she came. The pleasure she’d given herself in the
silent hours were nothing compared to the feel of live, confident flesh.
The Chalice had indeed chosen wisely for her. Her mate was strong and
fit. By his girth, she knew that it wasn’t Lynus, or Ger, or any number of
the men she’d considered over the last year. Nae, this nobleman was
most likely a stranger to her. His voice held a trace of the familiar, but
she couldn’t place it.
She stretched her arms, feeling her loose hair about her shoulders.
The crown had disappeared when she was brought to the bed. All that
hard work for just a few moments in the hall. Such was the life of a ruler.
She could spend hours getting ready for a ceremony that only lasted a
few minutes.
Her heart pounded with the knowledge of what she’d done. She’d had
sex with a man and didn’t even know his name. Nae, not just a man, her
mate. It was right that she was with him. The Chalice would not choose
wrong for her. She had faith in that.
Ari didn’t like how he held her hands down during sex, but maybe he
was nervous. Perhaps he had a scar he didn’t want her to feel, or maybe
he wasn’t the best looking of men. It didn’t matter. With a body that
moved like his did, she could well get past an ugly face. Things like faces
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Talons: Seize the Hunter
didn’t matter to her. All she cared about was that he was kind and
faithful and of a good noble family.
Lightly, she ran her hands over his shoulders, curious to know more
about him. He was breathing hard and she smiled in giddy pleasure.
“Mm, the Chalice chose…” Just then, her hand struck a protrusion along
his back.
What…? A wing?
Jerking back, she pushed at his chest to get him off her. “What are
you? A soldier?”
Suddenly, light flickered. Ari screamed in protest, knowing that light