Page 20 of Forbidden

“Did itlooklike I needed their help?” He sounded andfeltalmost offended.

Anna couldn’t help but giggle. “You were doing pretty well on your own, but they were your warriors. It only stands to reason they would follow you.”

“And did you happen to notice that the majority of them were forming a defensive ring around you, not trying to find an opening to help me?”

“Well, now that you mention it…”

“Anna, the people of Gothe’mar are more adaptable than even I realized. We guard our loved ones zealously and my family has ruled for over a thousand years. Not because the line was unbroken, but because the people loved us enough toallowit. We’ve always held our honor above all else and did the right thing, no matter the personal cost.

“My father and I had a long talk while you slept.” He took a breath. “I’m not sure how to explain all this to you, but I’ll do my best.

“It is a Gothe’maran belief that each soul has one true mate. Each life, the souls seek out one another in hopes of mating yet again. The problem is, there is no predicting where in all the Universe one soul will find the other, therefore the odds of finding one’s soul’s mate are extremely low. But --” he lifted a finger to punctuate his point, “-- if the souls do manage to find each other, they create a bond like you and I share. The more lives they spend together, the stronger the bond becomes.

“Usually, it takes several years of being with a mate before the bond starts to manifest itself. The more lives spent together, the quicker the bond is established. We shared a bond from the moment we first saw each other. According to my father, there has only been one other couple in living memory to have accomplished such a thing: he and my mother.

“It is one of the reasons my family has ruled as long as they have. The very foundation of this belief demands that the ruling family be true to each other. The very fact that we are soul’s mates guarantees Gothe’mar will accept our union.”

“Just how do we go about proving such a thing? Surely everyone won’t just take our word for it.” Anna was enchanted, yet still a bit skeptical.

Kahn chuckled and brushed her nipple through the lace again, lazily. “In part, yes. But should there be a challenge, we will have to prove our link. A simple matter really.

“Anyone wishing to challenge our mating may do so. Once a challenge is made, the couple and the challenger must go to the Chamber of Souls. The Chamber houses souls awaiting rebirth and they alone can attest the validity of the claim of mates.” Kahn tucked his fingers under her bra to gently pinch her nipple, eliciting a groan from her. “What you are forgetting is that Gothe’mar is home to a race of people who value honor above all else. If the people questioned my honor, I would not be accepted as king in the first place. With Mikkril’s disgrace and conviction, there is no one who would question my honor.”

Anna’s senses were beginning to overload again. She loved what he was doing to her body and was not ashamed to let him know. She purred and stretched against him, inviting him to do more. He was only too happy to oblige.

Kahn sank to his knees before her, wrapping his arms around her middle, and took her taut nipple into his mouth through the lace of her bra. Anna’s fingers twined in his hair, hugging him to her as she whimpered in need.

“Feel good,tarae?”

“Oh yes. Sweet God, yes!”

He grunted his approval as his clever fingers found the clasp and unhooked the lacy scrap, pulling it away to reveal the creamy treasures before him. He buried his face between her breasts and kneaded them softly as he occasionally lapped and nipped each ripe peak.

Anna knew the pleasure he could give her and surrendered to it. He would take care of her. He would take care of her and Alex. Everything was going to be fine. She smiled as she hugged him to her. Everything was going to be fine. Except…

“Kahn?” Her voice was a squeak as he started moving down her belly, gently pushing her into a more reclined position as he did so.

“Hum?” His slide southward didn’t hesitate in the least, even when he reached her skirt. He simply pushed it past her hips and slid her panties to the side. Slowly, he swiped his tongue from her opening to her clit.

“You said your family… dear God, what are you doing?”

Kahn circled her anus with his tongue before sliding one finger gently inside. “Making love to you, sweet. Now what were you going to say?”

His voice was annoyingly calm and Anna puffed a breath of air upwards, causing a tendril of hair that had fallen over her forehead to stir. How could he be so calm when he had her tied in knots?

Kahn looked up at her and smiled. “A warrior’s control is almost limitless.”

Anna snorted. “We’ll have to see about that,” she said as she squeezed his finger with her inner muscles. “Just how in control would you be if your cock was buried there instead of your finger?” Their link flashed with heated lust and so did his eyes. Anna smiled wickedly.

“Say what you will so that I can take what you so generously offered.” If talking dirty to him was the key to his lust, then Anna figured she was going to have loads of fun in the future. The not-too-distant future from the looks of things.

“You said your family has ruled for a thousand years. Do you mean passed down from father to son?”

“In most cases, yes.” Kahn slid another finger into her ass and idly circled her clit with his thumb. “If a son is too young or unable to assume rule, an elder sister or uncle is sometimes appointed.”

Anna stilled even though the sensations he was creating were about to drive her crazy with needing him. “What if a king can’t have a son?”

Kahn shrugged. “Such has never happened. I don’t think a man has ever sat on the throne who wasn’t capable of producing an heir.”

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