Page 62 of Forbidden

“Always. I know you can handle yourself.” She pushed him over and lay with her upper body covering his. “But I can’t imagine losing you.” She smiled at him as she drew lazy circles on his chest with a finger. “It’s funny. I always promised myself if I was ever able to get away from Gamin, I’d never again let a man have any influence over me.” She dipped her head to kiss the line of his jaw. “Now, I only feel fortunate to have finally found my true mate.”

If he thought anything about the comment, he didn’t say anything. Which was probably a good thing. Akahana wasn’t sure she could explain. But she had no doubt in her mind that Gamin was not her true soul’s mate. How he had managed to be able to get inside her head and project his thoughts to her, she couldn’t even begin to imagine, but somehow he had. What she could communicate with Taber went deeper than simple thought. It was feelings, understanding of those feelings, and a blessed union that her soul rejoiced in.

She crawled over Taber’s body, straddling his hips. His jaw clenched as he stared at her breasts. His hands rested lightly on her hips.

“You are such a giving lover, Taber. You can’t imagine how big a difference that makes to me.” She reached between her legs to guide his semi-erect cock inside her pussy. “I never imagined pleasure such as this existed.”

“You’re worth anything I’ve given you and more, Dearheart. And any man who would say otherwise is either a damned fool, or the biggest liar in the universe.”

She moved slowly, rotating her hips in little circles, enjoying the slowness and deliberateness of her play. Taber didn’t hurry her, or encourage her to move faster. He simply rubbed her legs in feather light touches from hip to knee. Akahana used her link with him to gauge his reactions, and when she sensed he was close to coming, she sped up her motions slightly.

It wasn’t long before her own orgasm started building. As Taber neared his release, Akahana pushed hers back so she could come with him, take the fall together. She opened herself up to him completely. He could feel her pleasure and her growing love for him.

When he gripped her hips harder and thrust against her firmly twice, her body tensed with her own release. She shouted once and collapsed onto Taber’s chest, wrapping her arms around him as best she could. It was only a moment before she fell asleep.

Sated, satisfied…

And happy.

Chapter Six

On the trip to Gothe’mar, Taber felt the nervousness he always associated with a coming battle. He paced the small cabin he and Akahana shared and finally left her to jog around the deck when the pent-up energy became too much. She had been a constant presence in his mind. Though she didn’t say anything, sensing he needed quiet, her presence, both physical and mental, comforted him as much as anything could.

When they reached the spaceport orbiting the planet, Taber was a bundle of energy. The thought of the two-hour ride planetside in one of those ridiculously small shuttles was intolerable.

“Can’t we use a transporter?” He sounded whiny. He wasnotwhiny.

“I’m sorry, my friend.” Taber could tell Khan was trying valiantly not to laugh at him. “Space around Gothe’mar is too crowded to risk it. You could end up in a different location altogether, or with another man’s legs.”

“Or as a woman.” Mikkarn’s attempt at a joke wasnotamusing, and Taber gave him a scathing look. It didn’t faze the other man in the least.

“If I didn’t need you on the planet, I’d have to kill you just for the tension release.”

Mikkarn shrugged. “Mara might have something to say about that.”

Kiril snorted. “Yeah, like ‘don’t look at me, you deserved it.’”

Taber barked a laugh before he could stop himself. These three men, and their women, had come to mean a great deal to him. They had proven themselves invaluable in protecting Akahana, and in making things easier for him to handle in a culture and society he was unfamiliar with. He felt like he needed to say something, but he didn’t know what words to use.

Khan simply grasped his shoulder and looked at him as if he were a commanding officer sending a soldier into battle. “All will be well. See to your mate. The priest and I will deal with Davin.” His softly spoken words gave Taber encouragement. Taking care of Akahana was his job, his part in the mission. Others would take care of the rest. As when he was in the field, he had to place his trust in the ability of other soldiers, and he could not think of a better soldier than Kahn the Merciless. It made the wait getting to the planet tolerable.

Akahana remained silent, and, though for the most part her mind was closed to him, she was never far from his side. Always close enough to touch if he wished. He could feel her fear of what was to come, but it was him she was worried about.

When they disembarked, Kahn led them toward the Temple Beyond -- a great housing complex where the Chamber of Souls was located. Taber reached to his left, and he took Akahana’s hand without looking in her direction. Her grip was cool and firm. He knew there would be no emotion showing in her face, no hint of what she was really feeling.

She was Gothe’maran. Part of a warrior race. The ideal companion in battle.

As he looked at her then, she looked back.No fear, my love. Only desire. And love.

Her words were a mere shadow in his mind, and he wasn’t sure he’d actually heard them, but she was right. If Khan was right, and there was no reason to believe he was wrong, there could be no room for fear or doubt.

“Davin should already be inside the temple,” Khan said softly. “Should he challenge, as is expected, the arrangement is for an invisi-cell to confine him while inside the Chamber. The priest will set the timer as you enter so you and Akahana will have a chance to get deep inside the Chamber. Davin will only have a few seconds before the cell activates and stops him immediately. He will only be able to go a few steps before that happens. That should give you time to prepare.”

“Prepare.” Taber grunted. “Howdoesone prepare for this?”

Khan smiled. “You don’t. Just do what the souls tell you. They will not harm you if you are true mates. It is Davin who should be worried.”

The structure was the most imposing Taber had ever seen. Great pillars dominated the entrance, and there was a reverence about the place Taber had never before witnessed. This place was at the heart of this people’s most sacred beliefs. The imposing superstructure looked like it was encased in gold and diamonds as the sun’s light reflected from it, creating elegant shadows and sparkling reflections on the pool in front of it. Above all, there was an air of anticipation. If Taber didn’t know better, he’d swear the temple itself expected him.

---