"It's been too long," he muttered, pulling his head back. She laughed up at him.
"Silly, it's been less than a day," she replied.
"Too long," he repeated, covering her again. He thought he was going to explode from the exquisite pressure of her body pressing up against his. Her hips moved rhythmically, and he groaned. He had to get inside her. If he didn't, he was going to die.
Her other leg came up, and they both clutched his waist. The soft opening between her legs cradled him, and without thinking he thrust against her. But his briefs and her shift blocked his motion, and he groaned in frustration.
"I hate this damn thing," he said, raising his body and pulling her shift up. "Sarai, I'm getting you all new clothing. I never want to see this thing again. It's caused me too much frustration over the past weeks."
She laughed up at him, then reached down to work on his briefs.
"And what about these?" she asked archly. "They seem to be in my way right now. Do I get to throw them away, too?"
"Yes," Jax replied with a grin. "I'll never wear clothing again. We'll just live naked in your bed, happily ever after."
Then her shift was up around her waist, and his briefs were down around his knees. With a sigh, he reached down to position himself against her. She wrapped her arms around his neck again, pulling him down into her softness. The feel of her hot, moist flesh closing around him was almost more than he could take, and after his initial thrust he stopped for a moment. He rested his forehead against hers, breathing deeply and trying to control himself.
She squirmed against him, kneading him with her inner muscles and pulling him down into her body with her legs. He kissed her, then started moving slowly.
Neither spoke as he thrust into her, his strokes hard and steady. There was a purpose, a tension in their mating that he had never felt before. Almost as if the Goddess herself was there, blessing their union.
Even if Sarai wasn't ready to fully admit what was happening between them, he knew they would never be separate again. No matter how far they might be physically, they would always share this connection.
Lifemate.
He kissed her again, deeply. He wanted to mark her as his, make her realize that she would never feel another man's lips again, that his body would be hers for the rest of his life. He thrust harder, and she moaned into his mouth. He took the sound deep within, reveling in it.
Her legs gripped him tightly, and he could feel her body stiffening as she approached her climax. He was close to coming himself, but held back. When they went, they would go together. He wanted to feel her exploding around his cock, to shoot his seed into her body and claim her.
Her nails were digging into his back now, scraping against him and leaving trails of fire in their wake.
The slight pain helped him focus. Down, back. Again. Harder. He twisted his hips, deliberately scraping the length of his arousal against her most sensitive spot. She convulsed in response, and he grunted with satisfaction. She needed him every bit as much as he needed her.
He started moving faster, close to the end of his strength. It was time to push her over the edge. He thrust deeper, harder, again and again. She whimpered, and every muscle in her body stiffened. Her face was twisted with the intensity of her feelings, and she whimpered.
Then she exploded around him, clenching him hard inside and out. He stifled her moaning noises with his mouth, taking them inside and allowing her pleasure to wash through his body. Then he slammed down hard into her and exploded himself, pinning her against the sand with his hard c**k and emptying his seed into her body. As the joy and release of his orgasm swept through him, he marveled at the gift he'd been given. This woman was his, and she would be for the rest of his life. He collapsed beside her, and together they gasped for breath.
After what seemed like hours, she stirred against him.
"We should get up before the children see us," she whispered. "But don't think you're getting away from me. We'll continue this tonight, after they go to bed."
"I think they should go to be early," he said, deadpan. She nodded sagely.
"I agree," she replied. "It's been a long day for them. They need their sleep."
* * * * *
Sarai felt light and happy as she they walked back toward town. Able and Mali walked between them, Mali hanging on Jax's hand and giggling. She talked the entire way home, and more than once Able rolled his eyes in disgust.
"She talks too much, Mom," he said for the fourth time. Sarai laughed in response, unable to get upset.
She started to reply, but before she could a flash of bright, white light blinded them.
Jax dove, pushing all her and the children into the ditch, covering them with his body. Then sound roared around them, and a terrible wind rose. Sarai wrapped her arms around the children, desperately confused. She could feel herself screaming, but couldn't hear anything. Her ears were ringing, and in an instant she wondered if the world was ending.
Then something hit her head and everything stopped abruptly.
Chapter Nine
She came awake slowly.
The air smelled funny, sterile. She opened her eyes, but she couldn't see anything. She took a deep breath, trying not to panic. What had happened? They had been walking home from the river; how did she get here, and what was wrong with her eyes?
"Please lay still," a smooth female voice said. "You have been injured, and are currently lying in a healing cocoon. If you lay still, I will free you."
"Who are you?" she whispered, her throat dry.
"I am the ship's medical unit," the voice replied in calm tones. "You have been injured, but you are now healed."
"I can't see," she whispered. "And I can't move my arms. Am I blind?"
"No, there are med patches covering your eyes," the voice said. "I am now giving you a sedative. Your heart rate is rising in response to the conditions in which you find yourself, making it difficult for me to extricate you from the healing cocoon. Sleep well."
* * * * *
She woke again, but when she opened her eyes this time she could see. The dim light hurt her eyes. She was lying on a cupped, cushioned bed against the wall. Above her was a canopy, covered in blinking lights.
"You are now free to get up and move around the ship," the disembodied voice said. "Please exercise caution, as your muscles may be slightly stiff from inactivity."
"Where am I?" she asked, leaning up experimentally. Her arms felt strange, weak.
"You are on board the Serendipity," the voice said. "The Serendipity is a class four cruiser. Our current destination world is Saurellia."