Nikhil(80)

"I would kill the Emperor himself if he were to try and take you from me, Mackenzie. Kaliszian or not. It does not matter. You are mine. Not because of my bead, but because you say you are."

Mac felt her eyes fill again knowing Nikhil was telling her truth, but she still had to ask. "Even though you will never wear my True Mate bead? Even though I will never have a Dasho bead to offer you?"

"Even so, Mackenzie. I don't need an outward sign that you are mine, but..." he trailed off.

"But?" she asked, her gaze searching his.

"But I would still like to offer you my Ashe bead," he told her quietly. "I greatly desire you to be my Ashe, for you to willingly and knowingly accept it and all that it means."

"What does it mean... to you, Nikhil?" she asked quietly.

"It means you have chosen me. That you have found me worthy and love me as much as I love you."

"You love me?"

"With all my heart and soul, Mackenzie. For I am nothing and my life is meaningless without you in it now."

Nikhil slowly rolled, sitting up he lifted her so she was straddling him before he removed his Ashe bead, and slowly presented it to her.

"Mackenzie Wharton, will you be my Ashe? I vow if you accept this bead that I will always provide and care for you, that I will protect you with my life. I will love you with all my heart and soul, and when the Goddess calls my name to enter the Promised Land, I will still fight to remain at your side."

"Nikhil..." Mac reached out taking the bead as she searched her mind for what her response should be. Finding nothing, she gave him her words. "I, Mackenzie Wharton, accept you, Nikhil Kozar, as my Dasho and True Mate. With or without your bead, I am yours and only yours. I will love you with all my heart and soul, and when the Goddess calls my name to enter the Promised Land, I will fight to remain at your side."

Mac leaned forward, meaning to seal her vow with a kiss, only to have Nikhil stop her.

"Put it on first," he whispered, his eyes glowing.

"Help me. Show me where," she whispered back.

"It goes here," Nikhil told her indicating the ends of the strands of hair that held his True Mate bead. He was surprised to find the hair had already started to braid even without her wearing a Suja Clip or an Elemental Bead. The bead was halfway up the strand, displaying for all to see, how strong their bond already was. Together they set the Ashe bead in the proper position, and it immediately attached.

"That really is so cool," she whispered, watching as the green swirls on the white bead began to move as if it felt her pleasure at being Nikhil's Ashe.

"Cool? That is good?" Nikhil asked.

"Very good," she assured him. "Now, I think the moment needs to be commemorated with something more than a kiss."

"More?" Nikhil asked, not sure what she was talking about but trusted his Ashe and True Mate.

"Yes," she gave him a secretive smile. "Now I want you to lean back and just enjoy."

Mac began at his hard square chin, refusing to let herself kiss his lips because she knew if she did she would become distracted from her mission. Slowly, her lips followed the path of the tense muscles running down his neck giving them each little licks and nips.

"Mackenzie," Nikhil said in a strained voice.

"I want to show my Dasho how much I love him, Nikhil. Will you let me give you something I'll only ever give to you?" She waited until Nikhil gave her a jerky nod then let her lips continue their journey.

She'd never gotten to really explore Nikhil's incredible body. Oh, she'd touched and kissed it, but Nikhil was such a large, dominant male that she'd always given in to his demands and needs, but not this time. This time, she wanted to be the one in charge. Would he allow it?

Kissing her way over the bulging muscles of his massive chest, her hands skimmed his shoulders, then down the arms still holding her. Reaching a hard, flat nipple she sucked it deep into her mouth and couldn't contain the small smile when she felt his body jerk beneath her. After circling it with her tongue several times, she worked her way to the other one, giving it the same attention as her hands moved down along his sides.

Bracing her hands on his thighs, she slid her lower body down between his legs as she kissed her way along the hard muscles of his chiseled abs, only lifting her mouth when his shaft bumped her chin. She'd been here once before, but Nikhil had pulled her away and taken over before she'd been able to complete what she wanted to do. Not this time.

Her gaze took in his long, heavily-veined shaft, inhaling his unique scent deep into her soul. This was Nikhil at his most basic. A powerful male who was still gentle, was spicy yet comforting, with just a hint of danger. Easing back slightly, her eyes took in the glistening bead of pre-cum hanging from the tip of his engorged head. Her tongue reached for it just as it started to drip down his slit. Following its path, she made sure she got it all. Her effort was rewarded with more of his spicy essence pulsing out.