His hands slid down her flank in a caress so soft it made her shiver. His mouth left hers, trailing a line of hot kisses along her jaw and down her throat. He nipped at her collarbone, then kept sliding down until his mouth covered her nipple.

Pleasure shot though Meghan, making her back arch off the couch. It was too good. Nothing real ever felt this good.

For one brief moment, she thought she must be dreaming, but then John parted her legs and pressed his erection against her hot center. She could feel the throb of his pulse against her clit as he rubbed back and forth, sliding against her.

Meghan sank her fingers into his thick hair and widened her legs, trying to get him to give her what she needed.

“Please,” she heard herself say in the silence of the cabin.

John looked up at her, his hazel eyes dark with desire. He pushed himself up over her, making the delicious muscles over his chest and arms bunch with strength.

She grabbed his tight butt and forced him forward. She was slick, hot, and ready, and he slid in easily, his aim just right. And he kept on sliding, sinking deep, inch by inch, until there was no room left for him to go.

Meghan forgot how to breathe as the pleasure of being filled consumed her. It had been so long she’d almost forgotten what it was like to feel the heady weight of a man atop her, to feel the steely length of him stretching her. Her whole body tingled and she knew it wouldn’t be long before her orgasm claimed her.

“So good,” he growled against her hair.

She was beyond words, so she simply clung to him as he moved inside her, stroking her higher with each gliding thrust.

His pace sped up and Meghan’s toes dug into the cushions. He slid his arms around her, holding her close as she felt the first wave of her climax break deep inside her.

She let out a gasping cry of pleasure and felt John’s arms tighten around her as his own body clenched in orgasm. They crashed together, their bodies locked inside the glorious intensity of their release. A deep, pulsing pressure let loose inside her, over and over as the last glowing remnants of pleasure began to fade.

Distantly, she realized that this was different from any other sex she’d ever had. What they’d shared here tonight had somehow changed her life. She was simply too spent to care.

As she let fatigue take over, she felt John lift her and tuck her into his bed. He slid in behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and pressed a soft kiss against her temple.

Alexander slipped into John’s cabin unnoticed. The strain of using his power to shield his presence left a grinding hunger deep in his belly, but there was no help for it.

He moved to the bedroom and slid his hand under the blankets until he found the naked skin of Meghan’s abdomen. With a mere whisper of power, he sped the course of time within her womb by a few days—just until he felt a tiny soul spark to life inside her.

His plan to unite John and Meghan had worked. Soon, another strongly blooded child would be born, adding to the dozen other successes he’d had this year.

As tired as he was, the urge to rest was nearly overwhelming, but there wasn’t time. He had three more couples to unite, somehow.

He had to keep the faith, keep working, and believe that Project Lullaby was going to save his people from starvation.

Chapter 13

Nika wasn’t sure what exactly had just happened, but part of her was beginning to think taking that ring off had been a mistake.

Something about Madoc had changed. The way he looked at her now was darker somehow, more dangerous.

It made her body heat and sent a shiver coursing along the inside of her skin.

She splayed her hand against his bare chest, reveling in the feel of his muscles, tight beneath her palm. The branches of his lifemark swayed toward her touch as if reaching for her.

A spike of victory went through her. It was working. Finally, after all this time of knowing they were meant to be together, she had proof.

“That’s supposed to happen, right?” she asked him.

Madoc looked down, saw the motion for only a brief second; then his green gaze went back to her, sliding over her face until it settled on her mouth. “Don’t fucking care. Lie down.”

His deep, rough voice sank into her and she had to stifle another shiver. She had to focus. She had a job to do. She couldn’t simply do as he asked, no matter how nice it sounded.

Nika didn’t move. She wasn’t sure what to do now, but she knew she was supposed to take his luceria.

She reached for it, but Madoc was faster. He gripped her wrist and rolled them over so she was lying under him. He held her there, staring down at her with a look so hungry, she almost wanted to run.

Almost.

Running was no longer an option. Then again, it never really had been. She’d known this moment would come. She’d lain in bed at night thinking about it, dreaming about it, touching herself. After months of waiting for him, she was glad he was finally right here with her.

The feel of his weight on top of her made her body sing. She widened her thighs to make more room for his big body to settle between them. Madoc shifted his hips, rubbing his erection against her in a way that sent zingers of sensation rioting through her.

Nika sucked in a breath and let it out in a soft moan. “Do that again.”

Madoc blinked several times, as if trying to clear his head. His body was still, his face contorted into a mask of painful restraint.

“Madoc?”

“This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be,” he said.

“What?”

He didn’t answer her. He gave his head a hard shake and gritted his teeth.

“Let go of my wrists.”

“Mine,” he growled, tightening his grip.

She looked him right in the eye. “I’m not going to leave you.”

He didn’t release her. His mouth came down onto hers in a fierce kiss.

Nika’s toes curled and she opened her mouth against his so she could taste him. As the tip of her tongue met his, his body tightened like he’d taken an electric shock. A noise too rough to be a moan rumbled through his chest, vibrating against her nipples. She felt them bead up tighter, and rubbing against him was too good to resist. The only thing better would be if she could feel his bare skin against hers.

“Need my shirt off,” she whispered into his mouth.

Rather than pulling away from their kiss, he reached between them and shoved the fabric of her shirt and bra up over her breasts, baring them.

The first contact of her nipples against his chest sent a shocking, sparking sensation into her skin. It didn’t hurt, but it was too intense to be called pleasure. She’d never felt anything like it before, but she knew she wanted to feel it again.

Madoc had gone still above her. He’d felt it, too.

She took his head in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “Don’t you dare stop,” she warned him. “I need this.”

A slow, dark smile curved his lips. “There is no stopping now.” He lifted his left hand, showing her the ring of the Theronai. It was nearly white, but the faint colors left were moving, swirling frenetically within the band. “See. You were right. You are mine.”

He reached between them and pressed the ring against one nipple. It was vibrating, and the feel of that humming against her sensitive flesh made her cry out.

“Like that?” he asked as if he already knew the answer. “Then you’re going to love this.”

He slid his hand down over her stomach and unbuttoned her loose jeans. The ring left a trail of tingling skin in its wake. Nika’s breathing sped up and her body heated, going liquid. Despite the cool air, sweat broke out along her hairline.

Madoc’s fingers found their way inside her panties and he cupped her mound, his big hand covering her completely. The ring settled right over her clit—near but not touching, not nearly close enough. The shimmering sensation humming from the ring set her nerves on fire and made her writhe beneath him.

She spread her legs wider, opening herself up so he could make direct contact. Her hips moved, seeking what she needed. And then suddenly, his hand was gone.

She looked up, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. Madoc knelt between her knees, his body beautifully naked, his penis thick and stiff, jutting out from his body.

Nika’s mouth went dry and the need to touch him overwhelmed her. She reached out and wrapped her hands around him. He was smooth. Soft skin stretched over rock hardness. The contrast was completely surprising and totally intriguing.

A drop of liquid leaked from the tip of his erection. She touched it with her finger, sliding the slickness over his skin.

Madoc let out a sound so low she could barely hear it. But she felt it vibrate through her arms and settle in her chest.

She looked up at him, opening her mouth to ask if he was okay, but the words got stuck in her throat. He was staring down at her, his jaw tight, his muscles clenched. The look of need darkening his eyes was so intense it made Nika’s insides melt. She wanted to give him whatever he needed, whatever he wanted. Forever.

She scrambled to her knees and jerked the shirt and bra over her head, tossing them to the floor. They were going to get in the way of feeling his skin against hers.

He watched her with those hungry eyes roaming over every section of skin she revealed. Nika knew she was no great beauty. Years of suffering and starvation had left her flat-chested, too skinny and bony, but Madoc didn’t seem to mind. He looked at her like she was everything he’d ever wanted, like the rest of the world had ceased to exist.

She slid her arms around his neck, feeling the hum of his luceria as she grazed it. Her nipples pressed into his chest, his erection throbbed against her stomach, and the intense warmth of his body everywhere it touched hers made her groan in delight.

“Take off your pants,” he told her.

Nika ignored him and kissed him instead. His wide hands gripped her hips, then moved up to her waist and over her back. He pulled her hard against him, nearly driving the breath from her body, but she didn’t mind. Who needed oxygen when she had Madoc’s mouth on hers, his tongue licking along her lips and gliding against her own?

Her head spun and she was breathless when he finally pulled away from her. His cheeks were dark and his powerful chest rose and fell with his uneven breathing.

His mouth moved like he was trying to say something, but no words came out.

He wrapped his arms around her and eased her body down to the bed. Instead of coming over her as she’d hoped he’d do, he moved to her feet, gripped the open waistband of her jeans, and pulled them down her legs. He gave a rough jerk, and socks, underwear, and shoes all went flying.

He surveyed her naked body and pulled in a deep breath, making his nostrils flare. “All mine.”

And she was. She always had been. “You’re mine, too.”

He gave her a dark smile, then prowled up her body on his hands and knees. He braced himself over her, shoving her legs apart with his knee, and leaned down to flick his tongue over her nipple. Nika sucked in a breath and arched her back, pulling his head down for more.

He drew her into his mouth, creating a suction so good she dug her nails into his scalp so he wouldn’t pull away. His hand stroked down her side, over her stomach, and his fingers slid between her labia. She was slick, and as hot as his skin was, his fingers felt cool against her heated flesh.