Chapter Twenty-Seven
I straddled Jucai, facing away from the glass wall. There would be no distractions tonight. Just him and me. No city backdrop or dining hall full of lascivious Sea Dragons. And no more games. I was done playing with him. It was time to get serious and fuck my obsession away.
Yes, I could admit I was a little obsessed with the Sea King. It had to be an obsession. Not enough time had passed for it to be anything more meaningful. And I was glad for that, glad that we were of a like mind on this.
Just seeing Jucai spread out beneath me, his hair wild and shining like a star in the night, aroused me to the point of desperation.
I needed him inside me, but I hesitated.
It felt different this time. His hands moved with reverence up my chest. His eyes shone with a desire that matched mine. Intense. Possessive. Primal.
“The nectar.” Jucai reached toward his clothes, and a vial rose from his jacket in a bubble of water.
I had done many things with my Water Magic, but I'd never thought to use it to transport things.
I grabbed the vial, and the water evaporated.
Sitting back on Jucai's thighs, I poured a few drops of nectar onto his cock and then capped the vial.
As I tossed it into the air, I formed a bubble of water around it and set it down on the bedside table.
My water didn't evaporate as smoothly as Jucai's and left a little puddle on the table.
“You'll get better,” Jucai said.
“Will I?” I rubbed the nectar over him, stroking it up and down, reveling in the feel of velvet skin moving over a hard core until he shuddered and tossed his head on the pillow. “Is this better?”
“Yes,” Jucai groaned. Then he opened his eyes to meet my gaze. “But not as good as I’d feel if you took me into your body.”
“Is that so? Let's see.” I rose onto my knees and moved up his body.
Grabbing his shaft behind me, I angled it toward my entrance and then undulated over the tip. Jucai cried out as I slipped down on him, the head of his cock popping past my outer ring. Squeezing and releasing, I massaged him with my channel.
“You are torturing me!” Jucai grabbed my hips.
Before he could pull me down, I leaned forward and kissed him.
The Sea King settled back on the pillow, moaning into my mouth, his body relaxing.
I worked my way down his cock and then raised myself slowly.
A little further. Down and up. Then I ground myself against his pelvis, taking all of him as I teased his tongue with mine.
Slow didn't satisfy me for long. As I teased Jucai, I also teased myself.
Shivers of ecstasy raced through me until, with a great cry and shove of my hands on the mattress, I broke our kiss, sat up, and rode him faster.
Hands on my hips, Jucai watched me. His lips parted, still wet from our kiss, and his breath quickened.
“You are magnificent, my diplomat,” Jucai said.
I took one of his hands from my hip and lifted it to my mouth.
As I held his gaze, I sucked on his index finger, moving up and down it as I did his shaft.
Jucai's gaze went hot, and his free hand went to my cock.
I cried out at his touch, and he pumped his finger into my mouth.
Letting go of his hand, I sucked on him as he thrust into me. Our gazes met and held.
Then it surged through me—magic.
Jucai cried out, his body bucking.
I looked down at him in horror. It was the mating magic.
There was no denying it this time. My cock tensed for release, and I knew it wouldn't stop for hours.
I'd cover him in my essence, giving him a piece of my soul, and he—if his shuddering body was any sign—would do the same to me. We would be bound forever.
And I'd be trapped beneath the waves.
I didn't pray this time. It was too late, and a part of me was relieved.
The magic had taken away my choice. All I could do was surrender to it, and I wanted to.
I wanted Jucai. Somehow, I had known from the first touch of his hand that he was mine.
He would always be mine. I had tried to run from it, but you can't outrun magic, especially not the magic of the Gods.
Jucai met my gaze, his eyes full of joy. “Nadar, it's you. I knew it was you! You're mine.”
“Jucai.”
He sat up, and we held each other, connected by desire, flesh, and magic. My soul rose, ready to give of itself to my mate. A hoped-for future flashed before my eyes, giving me glimpses of a life fully lived with a man who would love me and only me forever. Why had I fought this? It was bliss.
And then it wasn't.
Jucai and I cried out in pain together, our bodies bucking in protest. He withered inside me, and I lost my arousal as well, my soul sliding back to where it began.
The magic turned on us. Abandoned us. I felt it drift away, taking the physical pain with it, but leaving the pain of broken dreams behind.
“No!” Jucai roared and yanked me into his arms. His head raised, he continued to shout denials as he clutched me—clutched me as if I might disappear with the magic. “No, he's mine! You gave him to me! Why would you stop? Great Karadas, bring it back. Please, give the magic back!”
I lifted my head to watch my lover break.
Something inside me broke with him, but something else grew stronger.
I hadn't wanted a mate, but now that I had felt what it was like, I did.
I wanted it badly, and I wanted it with Jucai.
I would have him or no other, and that decision hardened me toward my goal.
I had to succeed. If I failed, I would never be happy again. And to succeed, I needed his help.
“Jucai.” I took his face in my hands. “Shh, Jucai, stop. It's going to be all right.”
He met my gaze, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
“You're mine. You can't deny it. I felt it. In my bones. My blood. I know you felt it too, Nadar. You are mine, and I am yours. The magic of our Gods brought you to me. It explains everything—the instant connection, our consuming passion for each other and no one else, our inability to give this up. This is not temporary. It never was.”
“Shh.” I stroked his face. “I know.”
Jucai blinked away his tears. “You do?”
“Of course I know. I didn't want this, but now that I've seen what we could have, I want it more than anything. I want you as my mate. Forever. And the Gods want it too.”
“Then why did it stop? It rose inside us both and then tore itself away.”
“Yes, I think the pain was our souls lashing out.
I heard my dragon roar. I don't know why it came only to leave.
Maybe it's because the mating magic is new to Sea Dragons.
Maybe it's something else. It doesn't matter. We may not be mated yet, but we know it will happen. So we can plan for the future.”
“What if it never returns? Or what if it keeps coming back only to leave us every time?”
“Then we'll deal with it. Together. Because we're all we've got. You are mine, and I am yours. It's settled. So, even if the magic never comes back, we will still know who we are to each other, and we will live as mates without it.”
“I don't want to live without it!” He pulled my hands away from his face.
“The mating magic is a gift from Karadas to us Sea Dragons.
A few members of my dread have found their mates, and they say the connection is unlike anything else, stronger than the sea itself.
They won't take any bed slaves. They can't. Satisfaction only comes from their mate.
They see each other, Nadar. Their true selves.
And that's what brings love to a mated couple. I want to see you! I want you to see me!”
“I want that too.” Rising first to let him slide free, I moved to sit beside him. “I want to feel that with you, know you more intimately than anyone else. But if it doesn't happen, we will just have to fall in love without magic. It’s more romantic that way.”
Jucai's expression softened. “I think I'm already falling in love with you.”
“Now that I'm not fighting it, I feel it too. This is worth more than mating.” I took his hand. “We should be grateful to be given this chance.”
He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. “Is it unromantic to say that I want to fall in love with you in both ways? I had a glimpse of your soul, and it was beautiful. I want to see all of it.”
“No, it's not unromantic. I want it all too. And I believe we'll have it, but for now, I'm happy with this.”
Jucai held my hand in his lap, rubbing it with his thumb. “I'm happy too. I may not love you yet, but I feel it building inside me. It's strong enough to make me want to say the words.”
“Don't.” I squeezed his hand. “Not until you're certain.”
“And you as well. I don't want to hear it until it's forever.”
“Then you're all right with waiting for the mating magic?”
Jucai shoved me back on the bed, rolling atop me as he did, and slid between my thighs. “We'll just have to keep trying until the magic relents and gives us what we want.”