Chapter Thirty-Five
Vaulcron shook with the force of holding back. A fine sheen of sweat covered his body as he fought the need to thrust into Mallory’s wet heat.
She felt better than he could have ever imagined. And he’d imagined quite often.
The sex they’d shared back in that lab remained on the outskirts of his memory. Bits and pieces would come and go, but nothing stuck long enough to get a lock on it.
The feeling of oneness he shared with her now outshone every fantasy he’d had of her before.
He began to slowly pump into her, basking in the feel of her tightly hugging his shaft.
His gaze lowered to the place their bodies connected, and his already painfully hard erection grew harder, if that was possible.
The sight of her small, sweet sex stretched around his much larger shaft, holding him as he thrust inside her, took his control.
Vaulcron backed up a step to prevent himself from penetrating her too deep. “Relax. I will take you there.”
Mallory’s eyes grew dark with passion. “Don’t hold back with me, Vaulcron. You’re not going to break me.”
Gritting his teeth, Vaulcron surrendered to the feeling inside him, demanding he give up control.
Stepping forward, he brought his knees up to the foot of the bed, bending her own knees up toward her chest, and thrust.
Mallory cried out, throwing her arms around his shoulders, holding him in a grip that surprised him for one so small.
She rose up to meet every downward stroke he gave her, giving him all of herself, demanding all of him.
“Vaulcron,” Mallory panted, her head thrown back. “Oh God, don’t stop.”
He couldn’t have stopped if he tried. Lifting up onto his elbows, he watched her through a seductive haze, fighting his own release to prolong hers.
“I love you, Mallory.”
Her back bowed off the bed, and a scream ripped from her throat with the orgasm that rocked her beneath him.
Her vaginal walls contracted around his thrusting shaft, slowing his movements, demanding his surrender.
A shout burst from him with the force of his seed being wrenched from his body. Still he drove into again and again, unable to control his movements, his thoughts, his feelings.
Rolling to the side to keep his weight off her, Vaulcron tugged her with him until she sat atop him.
A shudder passed through him as more of his seed expelled inside her. He stared up at her in wonder. “That was the most incredible experience of my life.”
Mallory rolled her hips, wringing a groan from him. “I’ve never experienced anything like it either, Vaulcron. I want to share this with you, every day for the rest of our lives.”
“Every day?” Vaulcron teased, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. “You would become sore.”
Mallory grinned. “Are you sure you’re not worried about you becoming tender? Poor baby.”
The breath rushed from Vaulcron’s lungs as she lifted her hips and sank back down onto his still erect length.
She appeared wild and fierce with her eyes glittering, her dark hair falling around her face, and her lips swollen from his kisses.
Vaulcron had never thought her more beautiful than he did in that moment.
* * * *
Mallory emerged from the bathroom, wearing the same robe and her hair wrapped in a towel. She stopped short when her gaze landed on Abbigail Sutherland.
“Doctor Sutherland,” Mallory exclaimed, glancing from Abbie to Vaulcron.
Vaulcron tied the sash on his own robe and waved a hand toward his brother’s mate. “I asked Abbie here to make certain that you and the babe are all right.”
Mallory gripped the top of her robe and stepped forward with her hand extended. “I’m Mallory Cahill. It’s nice to finally meet you. You’re a legend back in the States.”
Abbie blushed, a soft smile on her face. “More like a fugitive.”
“Aren’t we all,” Mallory agreed in a quiet voice. “Won’t you sit down?”
Vaulcron watched in contentment as Mallory interacted with his brother’s mate.
He trailed over to where Mallory stood. “I need to speak with Zaureth. Will you be all right while I am gone?”
“Of course,” Mallory teased. “I’m the Great White Shark. Remember?”
Vaulcron bent and kissed her softly on the lips, his body reacting to the mere scent of her.
He snatched up his clothing and turned toward the door before he embarrassed himself in front of the females.
Once in the hall, Vaulcron strode toward Zaureth’s room and knocked on the door. When no answer came, he tried again before turning toward the stairwell.
Vaulcron changed into his sharkskin shorts and vest, tossing the robe over his shoulder as he jogged down the stairs to the lobby.
Oz sat in an overstuffed chair, sipping on a glass of wine as a dark-haired female stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.
“Have you seen Zaureth?” Vaulcron asked Oz, ignoring the female practically draped across his shoulders.
Oz nodded. “He left.”
“What do you mean he left?” Vaulcron persisted, moving to stand directly in front of the guy’s chair.
“Would you mind leaving us, Juanita?” Oz reached into his pocket and pulled a hundred-dollar bill free, handing it to the female.
She snatched it up and sashayed off with a wink at Vaulcron.
Oz stood. “Walk with me.”
Vaulcron fell into step next to Oz as they made their way toward the double doors. The two of them emerged outside and headed to the water without speaking.
“Zaureth is not like us, Vaulcron.”
Vaulcron nodded. “I am aware. You asked me out here to tell me this?”
Oz laughed. “My time is more precious than that, my friend. I brought you out to be sure we weren’t overheard.”
“I am listening.”
“Zaureth is battling something he fears he can’t win.”
Vaulcron stared out over the rolling waves of the gulf. “How is it that you have come to know this?”
Oz shrugged. “He told me.”
It pained Vaulcron that Zaureth hadn’t come to him. Though Vaulcron was older than Zaureth, he’d been close to the healer since they were children. They trusted each other. Or so Vaulcron had thought.
He turned to face Oz. “He told you what, exactly?”
“His energy has grown weak. Not even meditation seems to help.”
“But why?” Vaulcron had never known Zaureth to show or feel weakness. He was the strongest Bracadyte in Aukrabah. “It makes no sense.”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Oz replied. “I’m only telling you this because he asked me to.”
Vaulcron rested his palms on the back of his head. “Where did he go?”
“Home.”
Vaulcron’s stomach tightened. “To Aukrabah?”
Oz kept his gaze on the water as he spoke. “Look. The bombing has been stopped, and all divers have been pulled from the gulf. He’ll be okay.”
“But—”
“He needs this,” Oz insisted, cutting off whatever argument Vaulcron was about to give. “He wanted you to understand, not come after him.”
Vaulcron gritted his teeth in frustration. “He gave you no indication as to what he battles inside?”
Oz hesitated. “Not directly, no. But what I have gathered over the past week and a half, I’d say it has to do with a certain blind girl.”
“Amy?” Vaulcron growled in disbelief.
“Just my opinion.” Oz spun on his heel and strode back toward the hotel.
Vaulcron stood there for several minutes before stepping into the edge of the water and slowly closing his eyes. “Zaureth?”
“Do not follow me, son of my king. This is a journey I must travel alone.”
“What troubles you, my friend?” Vaulcron sent back.
A long pause ensued. “I am not certain. But I must go back to where it first began for me. Hopefully there, I will find the answers that I seek.”
“When you first realized your gift of healing?”
“Among other things,” came Zaureth’s hesitant response.
“What other things?”
Silence.