Page 51 of Forbidden

Kiril took a step forward, but it was Khan who spoke up.

“Two things, Davin.” Khan stepped slowly toward the other Gothe’maran. Taber was surprised by the vehemence in his voice. He considered himself a fearless warrior, but he would have thought twice about facing Khan in battle at this particular point in time. “First, you will leave Earthside Medical Command immediately and not return until I personally contact you withpermission.” Standing almost a head taller than the other man, Khan looked down at him and bared his teeth. “Second, you will learn to respect these people both in public and private. You are, currently, leader of a sizable number of warriors. Don’t make me relieve you of your command.”

Taber didn’t dare breathe. He readied himself mentally to protect Akahana at a moment’s notice, but he wasn’t in the best position to get to her. Still, the tension in the air was too thick to risk igniting it by moving. Mikkarn stood between Davin and Mara with Kiril moving beside him. Mara and Anna were between Akahana and everyone else while Khan stood nose to nose with Davin.

Gothe’maran and human alike, banding together to help a soul in need.

When this war had started, Taber was certain he’d never witness anything like this event. Now, he trusted everyone involved to help him protect a woman who might just change his life forever.

Taber was certain Davin would protest, but after a few moments spent eyeing the warriors lining the room, looking as if they were hoping he’d try something stupid, he straightened and brought the knuckles of his right hand to his forehead. “As you command, General.” He spun on the ball of his foot and left the room without a backward glance.

“Yeah, I’m real sure he won’t be back.” Mara crossed her arms underneath her breasts. “We need to move her to a high security area, Mikkarn.”

“I know.” Mikkarn looked at Taber. “You’ll need to stay with her, night and day.”

“That’s not a problem.” Taber looked at Khan. “If you have time, can you find someone who can explain this Chamber of Souls thing to me?”

“I’ll take that job.” Anna smiled as she wrapped her arms around her husband’s waist. “You’ll need firsthand information.” She gave Khan a sidelong look. “Which is more than someone gave me once upon a time.”

“I thought we’d talked about you showing me respect in public.” Though Kahn tried to look stern, Taber could see the obvious affection the very large man had for Anna. He hoped he and Akahana might look at each other like that one day.

“Yeah, well. I never was a very quick learner.”

Akahana, who had been silent through most of the conversation, shook her head. “Is it always like this with all of you?”

Mara grinned. “No. It’s usually worse.” When Akahana opened her mouth to speak, Mara sat on the bed beside her and pressed a gentle finger to her lips. “We need to talk, my dear. I have just as many questions for you as you have for me, but you need rest. You’re still not over the worst of your injuries, and I have a feeling you have a long road ahead of you. You’re going to need your strength.”

Taber’s heart swelled with pride when Akahana’s mind turned to him, along with her gaze, as if seeking his opinion. “Mara’s right. But don’t worry. I’m not leaving your side. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Safe,” she said, her voice trailing off. “I’m not even sure what that means anymore.”

“Let me put it this way.” Taber knelt beside her bed and took her small, delicate hands in his own large, callused ones. “Once this is all over, if there is any way I can prevent it, you’ll never spend another minute in a healing tube again. From a new injury, at least. Those days are over.”

“We’ll see.” She managed a small smile. “Gamin will try his best to keep me, even from his grave. Davin won’t give up as easily as you think.”

“I know, Dearheart.” Taber gave her his most charming smile. “But we’ll all be ready for him.”

Chapter Three

Akahana wasn’t really sure what to think. After moving to a more secure medical suite where everyone left her to rest, it hit her that the women she’d met lived a life she had never dreamed existed. Her mother had submitted to her husband, as Akahana had submitted herself to her own husband. She was only now beginning to figure out how sheltered she’d been. It was just one more reason she found it hard to honor Gamin’s memory.

She also wasn’t sure she wanted to put herself in that position again. She didn’t want any man to have a say in her life. And as nice as Taber was to her, that included him. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy her time with him.

As she fingered the delicate white petals of yet another vase of flowers, she couldn’t forget their shared dream. She’d never before enjoyed sucking cock, but she had picked that out of Taber’s mind and she couldn’t seem to help herself. Oh, she’d tried to blame it on Taber -- he’d wanted her to perform that act, he was in control of the dream, so she had.

But deep down, she knew she’d wanted to. She had enjoyed it! His cock was magnificent! Even in the distorted images sometimes present in a shared dream, Taber gave her an impressive image of himself. His cock was as dark as the rest of him, with a thick, purple mushroom head. It had glistened with her saliva as she’d taken him into her mouth.

Thinking on it now, her hand wandered to her own cunt. Deftly, she manipulated her clit, dipping her finger to her pussy. She was surprised at how wet she found herself. Her stomach clenched as she stroked herself again. Oh, that feltgood.

After a brief pause, she stroked herself again, this time dipping two fingers inside her pussy. She sighed and arched her back, relishing the pleasure she’d been denied for far too long. Even on the occasions she managed to block Gamin from her private thoughts, she had never truly enjoyed herself for fear her block wasn’t strong enough. The one time he’d caught her…

No. She wouldn’t think about that. It was over. He couldn’t hurt her anymore.

And she wouldn’t let anyone put her in a position where she’d ever be hurt again. She was learning about the choices she had in the “real world,” and she liked what she’d found out.

I would never hurt you, Dearheart. The drowsy male voice was deep, seductive, sexy.Your pleasure is the only thing that concerns me.

Get out of my head! Her blocks were set. He shouldn’t have been able to penetrate them, especially given his novice skills.

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