Page 37 of Forbidden

Kiril turned his furious gaze to her and spat, “I don’t mean you! Why would I be upset about him fuckingyou?” His eyes found Mikkarn’s again when he shouted angrily, “I’m talking about Mara, youbakkara!”

Mikkarn silenced anything Tamche was about to say with a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s discuss this later, Kiril. You’re being disrespectful.”

Tamche brushed aside Mikkarn’s hand and turned to Kiril. “Why would you care if he’s fucked Mara? She’s nothing but a silly Earther who thinks she can pick up a few tidbits of knowledge. Andwhydidn’t you come in my ass? You sounded like you got off nicely.” She grinned at him as she slithered from the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know I’m very wealthy. Promise to master me in the bedroom like that every night and I’ll take you as my consort until I find a male worthy of me to take as a mate.”

Mikkarn winced. He had begun to feel very sorry for Tamche, but remarks like that reminded him the woman could fend for herself. She was on her own now, and it was time she was on her way as well.

“I don’t mean to offend you, Tamche, but something urgent has presented itself. We must cut our week’s end short,” Mikkarn said, still trying to be diplomatic. Women might be as ruthless as men, but he believed they should be treated with respect. After all, it was from them that their children were birthed and nurtured.

“No. I’m not leaving until this weekend is over. You promised me I’d be fucked until I couldn’t walk straight.” She lay back and spread her legs. “So fuck me again. Now, Mikkarn.”

Mikkarn could see the woman expected to be obeyed. She had closed her eyes once again and grasped her knees, pulling them to her chest. Her cunt glistened with her juice, and her musky scent wafted in the air. It made Mikkarn slightly nauseated.

“No, Tamche. You may rest here if you wish, but our involvement sexually is over.” He turned to Kiril. “Out. Go to the pool and wait for me there.” When Kiril snarled at him, looking like a wild beast with his teeth clenched and his hair in such disarray, Mikkarn said softly, “She remains untouched by me. We need totalk.” The tension seemed to lessen somewhat in his friend. It must have been pretty heavy because Mikkarn actually felt lighter. Not much, but better.

“You will not leave!” Tamche screeched. “Isay when this is finished!No oneleaves me without my permission!” The skinny woman looked furious. Mikkarn could feel a headache coming on.

He sighed. “And how do you propose to keep us here? I don’t think you canmakeus perform.”

“You will. Or perhaps I should concentrate on Mara.” A contemplative look crossed her features. “Yes, I think perhaps it’s time for Mara to realize she’s a guest on this world. A guest who istolerated, not wanted.”

Yep. No doubt about it, there was definitely a headache in Mikkarn’s future. He watched Tamche dress, not sure exactly what to say. Warning her against doing anything to Mara was out. That would only increase its likelihood. She moved with all the grace of a queen and looked at him over her shoulder.

“I want Kiril, and I intend to have him. He won’t make a suitable mate, but he will be one hell of a consort. Tell Mara she can have him when I’m finished.” She turned to leave then but paused as the door slid open at her approach. “That is, unless I decide to keep him.” She smiled, then walked out.

Mikkarn watched her walk to her personal shuttle and pause when she would have slid into the cockpit. Tamche looked to Mara’s house, where the other woman stood gazing out her living room picture window. Tamche waved to Mara then turned to the pool area, where Kiril presumably waited, and blew a kiss. Then, thankfully, she left.

Mikkarn took his time going to Kiril. The other man needed to cool down, and Mikkarn needed to talk himself into telling Kiril what he thought wasreallygoing on. Grabbing a tube of lubricant as he headed to the pool, Mikkarn had a feeling he’d probably need it.

Chapter Five

Mara watched with a heavy heart as Tamche’s shuttle lifted off. She hadn’t missed the intimate gesture directed poolside as Tamche left, and she definitely hadn’t missed seeing Kiril lower himself, naked, into the water. No doubt about it. Mara needed to find a way to distance herself from both of them.

She could leave. She had definitely thought about that, but she had come to love and respect the people of this beautiful world, so it wasn’t just the two infuriating men in her life here she’d miss. Besides, she was never one to quit.

She’d given as much as she had taken. Hopefully, the Gothe’mar would remember doctors needed hands-on knowledge of their patients. All the technology and automation was great -- wonderful -- but there had to be a balance, and she had proven that on Earth. Her goal was to combine both approaches to medicine, and she felt pretty sure that would be accomplished.

She was about to ready herself for bed, again, when she saw Mikkarn step out the pool-side patio door, strip, and get into the pool with all the grace his sleek body implied. The light from Gothe’mar’s moons created a silvery glow around the two men in the water, and her mouth went dry, her heart rate skyrocketing. What would it be like to be equally naked and in that pool right now?

She couldn’t help herself. She was mesmerized. There was no way in the world she could have stepped away from that window if her life depended on it. Shehadto watch them, even if it was something as innocent as an evening swim.Innocent. Yeah, right.

?* * *

Mikkarn knew Kiril was hurting. He also knew Kiril was confused. The other man was starting to put everything together and he wasn’t sure he liked what he saw.

How could they have been so blind? Mikkarn had had a “connection” to Kiril almost from the moment they’d met. He had never considered it was anything more than a deep, abiding friendship. Now, he was convinced it was more. Was it possible both Kiril and Mara were his soul’s mates? One thing was certain, Kiril would probably fight it. He was nothing if not traditional.

“She wants you, Kiril.” Mikkarn removed his own clothes to join the naked man in the pool. “She’s just fighting it because she wants me, too.”

Kiril snorted. “She is my soul’s mate. She cannot have you.”

“And what if I were to tell you she was my soul’s mate, too? How would you feel about that?”

Kiril slowly turned to face him. “Impossible. There is only one mate for each soul in the universe. It is common knowledge.”

“Is it?” Mikkarn asked, quietly.

“If that is true, there could never be balance in our relationship!” Kiril was becoming angry, something that Mikkarn felt acutely. It was the last piece of evidence he needed to convince himself he was right.

---