He pulled out most of the way then slammed home again, over and over. Relentlessly he pushed her higher. Faster. He gave her no time to recover, just drove her from one orgasm to the next.
She screamed. Flew higher. Harder. Faster. Just like he said she would.
He never lost control. Never grew tired.
He let her rest, but never long enough to fully recover.
One thick, wet finger settled on her back entrance. Slow and steady, he breached the tight ring of muscle. “This is mine, too.”
Then he pulled his cock out and took her with his mouth.
She begged for mercy.
He had none.
Wave after wave crashed over her, one shockwave triggering another.
She screamed. He laughed.
Someone pounded on the door.
He froze. “This better be an emergency.”
From the other side of the door, Bren called out. “Get dressed. C’Nar and his lackey just landed.”
“What does he want? We passed the last test. The Council seat is now out of his reach.”
“Not according to him. He said he’s invoking his right to challenge you, personally, to a duel.”
Reluctantly, Zade pulled away from Ashlyn.Fulack!He shouldn’t have waited so long to come. Now he wasn’t going to get the chance to finish, and he was so hard he ached.
Standing, he slipped his pants on and went to the door, opening it a crack to stare through the opening. “Tell him I accept his challenge. I’ll meet him in the sand pit when the sun has set.”
“Understood.”
Zade closed the door softly and turned back to Ashlyn. She wasn’t going to like what he had to say next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Royal Guesthouse
Zade looked at Ashlyn,lying in bed, waiting for him. She was beautiful. Smart. Courageous. And she loved him. All of him. He’d felt it in the Yielding. There was no doubt, no insecurity. Her love was deep and true, as was his. The knowledge was a gift in and of itself. A gift he would cherish. Safeguard. Protect.
Ashlyn sat up and wrapped the sheet around herself, sarong style. “You don’t have to accept C’Nar’s challenge, you know. The Council has officially voted. No one can take the seat from us. He’s posturing. Trying to lure you into a fight you know he’ll have rigged somehow.”
Zade sat down in the chair next to the bed, away from temptation. And danger. His mate may not have been battle trained, but she had the heart of a warrior and a temper. He’d known that about her from the beginning, the color of her hair a dead giveaway. “I have to kill him,shenga. Had he not come here, I would have tracked him down. You will not be safe until he is dead.”
“You’re right,no onewill be safe until the Ubrions have been completely stripped of power and resources. That isn’t going to happen overnight, and killing one of them won’t take care of the others. We have control over the seat now. Let’s use it.”
“I agree. We will use the seat to neutralize the others. C’Nar, however, must die today.” Zade took a deep breath and charged on. “I want you to leave. Immediately. Before he gets off his ship.”
Ashlyn stiffened. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why?”
Zade’s hands clenched. His eyes found and locked onto hers. “Because you are his wife. You’re wearing his chains of obedience.”
Her body jerked in surprise. Horror. “What?!” she shrieked.
“Why did you run toward the Dark One?”