her breast, cupping him around her.
When she was satisfied his breath was quick, when his cock flooded with blood and inflated with need, she pulled the covers from him and grabbed his erection, then climbed on top of him, impaling herself on his cock. She stared straight into his eyes as she moved up, then down. Continuing in a delicious rhythm, she pumped him, squeezing without mercy. He twitched inside her. She sped up, thrusting up and down, feeling his huge, rock-hard cock stroking her insides, sending her to heaven. His breathing increased and she knew he was close.
“I won’t make love with anyone but you. I love you. You said I would know my tanashay when I felt his touch. Well, I have felt his touch. There is no doubt in my mind. You are my soul-mate.”
“No, Aria,” he mumbled, then gasped as she spiraled her hips and pulsed her vaginal muscles around him. “You’re wrong.” But his words held no conviction.
Then he stiffened and held her tight. She felt his sperm shoot into her, filling her with his life-giving seed.
She kissed him, rough and hard, then slid her calves under his knees and thrust harder. Rapture erupted inside her and she screamed her release. His hands wrapped around her waist and he moved her up and down, extending her pleasure. Pure joy washed over her, melting her senses into one gargantuan wave of ecstasy. An orgasm so complete, it became the entire universe, consuming every synapse, every atom of her being. As it subsided and she became mortal again, she felt as if she had been reborn. Changed in a fundamental way.
As she stared into his eyes, she knew he was her tanash’ae. And he knew it, but for some reason denied it to himself. The knowledge lay buried deep inside him and something in him would not let it emerge.
He drew her close to him and she snuggled against his chest.
“Don’t you see, Aria? I must deliver you to the king. Whatever you think you feel for me is just your mind reflecting your growing awareness of him.”
She leaned back so she could see him.
“You don’t really believe that.”
He stroked her cheek, as if he couldn’t stop himself from touching her.
“Aria, maybe it will help you understand if I tell you the king is actually my brother. He and I share a very strong connection, a sort of psychic bond. I am deeply affected by you, but it’s because I feel his link with you. But it’s his link, not mine.”
“How can you be sure?”
Something flickered in his eyes and she wanted to believe it was uncertainty. “I just do.”
They sat for long moments staring into each other’s eyes. As he grew more distant, Aria felt hope drain away. Finally, she eased off him. His flaccid penis slipped out of her, leaving her feeling empty.
She slumped back onto the pillows and stared at the ceiling.
A few moments later, he pushed himself from the bed.
“I’m needed on the bridge. We should be arriving on Sa’oul within the next few hours.”
He disappeared into the bathroom. When he emerged several minutes later, he was dressed in his uniform, his dark, wavy hair damp from a shower. He paused at the door, his back to her for a long moment, then he proceeded forward without looking back.
Once the door slid closed behind him, Aria sank into the pillows and let her tears flow. Her mother had loved her other children more than Aria, giving her up for adoption. Aria hadn’t been important enough to love. Her chest clenched painfully. Now Tai felt the same way. His love for his king—his brother—was greater than his love for her.
Chapter Eight
Tai marched from his quarters, jagged emotions twisting through him. Loyalty to his brother, who was also his king. Knowledge that Aria was to be Zander’s wife, not Tai’s. Compelling need to be with Aria, to hold her in his arms, to join with her, to have her in his life always.
The memory of her soft, supple body in his arms, responding to his lovemaking, tore through him, ripping at his heart. His