Chapter 41
Emmeric
Although he was slightly ashamed to admit it, Emmeric relished the jealousy on Altair’s face any time the star saw him with Iyana.
She was sharing his horse now instead of Altair’s, and it brought him an immense amount of glee.
His only petty wish was for some trees he could sneak Iyana off to.
That way, he could force the star to listen to her climax, just like Emmeric had to before the Dead Lands.
But, sadly, the terrain didn’t change much.
And with only cacti around, Emmeric was not willing to risk stabbing his ass to make another man jealous.
It didn’t stop him from daydreaming, though, and with Iyana sitting almost in his lap, there were times that, even if she couldn’t see what he was thinking, it would still be obvious. She would shoot him dirty looks throughout the day, telling him to stop. Emmeric would just shrug.
What do you want me to do about it, Mouse? I can’t help that you taste so fucking delicious that it’s all I can think of.
Iyana would blush and turn away, then throw a rude gesture over her shoulder when he chuckled.
Altair watched all of this with a scowl until his brother would distract him with something.
Despite his best intentions, Emmeric was beginning to like Okab.
He appeared to actually have a sense of humor—he and Kaz had become fast friends—and he didn’t accept Altair’s shit.
If Altair ever mentioned or alluded to the relationship between Emmeric and Iyana, then his twin would shut him down hard and fast and change the topic.
After several days of Emmeric tempering his urge to touch the woman who dominated his thoughts, something changed on the horizon. It wavered in the heat, making it difficult to discern what he was seeing.
“Everyone else is seeing that, right?” Kaz asked. “Or is it a mirage?”
Iyana laughed. “It’s not a mirage. It’s an oasis.” Her excitement flowed freely between them. “A bath sounds absolutely divine.”
Emmeric sat up a little straighter. Maybe there’d be enough space to find some privacy. The promise of fresh water meant he could spur Pryn forward to get there faster.
“Hey, Kaz,” he called.
The shifter lifted a brow.
“Wanna race?”
A broad grin was her only answer before she kicked her horse into a gallop.
Emmeric cursed, then did the same. Iyana shrieked and gripped the pommel.
Pryn quickly caught up to Kaz’s horse and Emmeric held them level.
They both knew Pryn was faster—he’d been trained by Zane and it showed.
The two riders exchanged grins, and then, crowing out to the sky, Emmeric urged Pryn to add more speed.
Iyana still clung to the saddle, but Emmeric made sure his arms were tight around her while holding onto the reins.
When the landscape changed from the dry desert to a lush, green forest, Emmeric pulled the reins back, and Pryn slowed to a stop. The horse’s sides heaved underneath them.
“Good boy,” Emmeric said, patting his neck.
Iyana’s entire body trembled in front of him, her hair windswept and gorgeous.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “That was terrifying. Yet also exhilarating.”
Emmeric smiled broadly. “Most of the best things in life are a mixture of both.”
Kaz arrived then, skidding to a stop next to them. Both she and the horse were breathing heavily. Her face was frowning and hard, but there was still a twinkle in her eyes.
“That wasn’t a fair fucking race,” she complained. “You have a royal Athusan horse and I have this nag!” Her horse nickered like it understood Kaz and took offense. “I want a rematch.”
He swung his leg over the saddle and dropped to the ground. “So I can kick your ass again? Sure, you’re on.”
As Altair and Okab trotted into the oasis at a much slower pace, Kaz jabbed her finger at them.
“You’ll be on one of their horses to even the playing field.”
“Yeah, okay.” Emmeric chuckled and reached up to help Iyana out of the saddle. “I’m still going to win.”
Kaz huffed, but she dismounted her own horse and began leading it away.
Emmeric had been so distracted by the race and then lowering Iyana’s body off the horse that he hadn’t been able to appreciate where they were.
But now, he was able to take in the rich green trees with leaves as big as he was, tall palms laden with coconuts, and a nearby turquoise pool of water.
It was larger than he expected, and he could hear a waterfall in the distance.
Birds chirped and swooped through the canopy overhead, creating a tranquil environment.
Iyana was taking everything in, a soft smile on her face. “I’ve always loved stepping into an oasis. It’s like another world.”
Emmeric leaned over until his nose brushed the shell of her ear. He smirked when she shivered.
“Come with me,” he said, his voice low and husky. Threading their fingers together, he tugged her into the surrounding brush and followed a small trail uphill. The sound of the waterfall became steadily louder until they walked out into a clearing and stood before it.
Water poured heavily off the rocks and pounded into a pool below.
They stood on a rocky precipice above the pool, and while it wasn’t a far drop, toppling over the side would still hurt with the pressure of the falls.
Plus, it was impossible to tell how deep that pool was, especially as it snaked down into a river that most likely fed that tranquil pond where they had entered.
Emmeric glanced over the edge and swallowed hard.
“Scared of heights?” Iyana asked, a teasing tone in her voice.
“No,” he said, frowning. “I just don’t enjoy falling.”
She tugged on their still connected hands. “Come on, it looks like there’s a cave or something behind the waterfall. I want to check it out.”
“I don’t know, Mouse…”
Iyana smirked as she sauntered back to Emmeric and slid her hands up his chest and behind his neck, playing with the hair at his nape. Her heated gaze dropped straight to his cock.
“Afraid, Sully? After everything we’ve gone up against, a waterfall will best you?”
With a resigned sigh, Emmeric said, “Fine.”
Iyana grinned with her victory and carefully picked her way across the slick rocks to the edge of the falls.
Once, she slipped, and Emmeric’s heart lodged in his throat, but she righted herself with those bare, deft toes of hers and continued on.
Frigid water sprayed on their faces as they neared the side.
At first, only a light sprinkle, but soon it was enough to actually sting his skin.
They edged around the waterfall, their backs pressed against the rocky wall, and they inched slowly into the grotto.
It was small, but curved slightly, and as they followed the bend, the deafening roar of water was dulled.
There was an outcropping of rocks in the back of the cave, but otherwise, it was completely empty.
“Wow,” Emmeric drawled. “I’m so glad we risked our lives to see this.”
Hopping onto the outcropping and sitting down, Iyana reached a hand out to him. “I could make it worth the risk.”
The full force of her lust barreled down their bond, hitting him in the chest, so hard that he almost stumbled backwards a step.
Then he was prowling forward until he stood between Iyana’s legs.
Emmeric gripped her face between his hands and looked into her beautiful, wide eyes for a moment before kissing her deeply.
She moaned and opened for him, their tongues swirling together.
Gods, he would never taste anything better than her.
He wrapped her hair around his hand and tugged her head back to deepen their kiss.
Their wet clothes were molded against each other, and Emmeric ground his hard length into Iyana’s hips.
Her hands began to roam down his chest towards his straining cock, but Emmeric wasn’t ready to let her touch him yet.
Capturing her hands, he secured them behind her back with one of his own.
Then he kissed and nipped his way across her jaw, down her neck, and over her collarbone.
His free hand began to swirl little circles over her wet pants, making her buck into his touch with a moan. Emmeric smirked against her skin.
Deftly, he peeled her trousers off with only one hand and took a few precious seconds to take in the sight before him. Iyana was half naked, panting, her caramel-brown eyes pleading with him to touch her. If Phaedros had stolen Emmeric away right then, he would have died a happy man.
Releasing her hands, he dropped to his knees before her and spread her legs wide. Emmeric ran his hands up her thighs, his thumb teasing where he knew she wanted him the most.
“You’re already so wet for me, Mouse.”
“It’s the waterfall,” she gasped.
Emmeric nipped at her thigh, then smirked. “Don’t lie to me.”
He kissed and licked a trail up her skin.
First on one leg, then the other, until she was a squirming, whimpering mess beneath him.
Only then did he allow himself to lick up her center, sucking her clit into his mouth.
Iyana moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair, tugging slightly.
Emmeric relished the small bite of pain.
Multiple times, he brought her right to the edge and would back off, flicking his tongue over her slower and with less pressure. It was too fun to tease her. Finally, Iyana had enough and tugged on his hair until he looked at her. She was a gorgeous, panting mess.
“Em, please,” she whispered.
“You know I can deny you nothing. Especially when you beg so nicely.”
His mouth was on her again with renewed fervor. Inserting two fingers into her soaking wet pussy, he continued to lave and suck at her clit until he felt her tightening around him.
“Oh, gods,” Iyana moaned, her grip in his hair increasing.
Emmeric curled his fingers inside her while sucking and flicking at that sensitive area, and she came undone.
He needed her now. Without giving her a chance to recover, he stood and removed his own pants.
Taking her hair in his grip, he dragged her towards him and kissed her thoroughly, allowing her to taste herself on his tongue.
He buried his throbbing cock into her in one swift motion, then stilled.
This beautiful creature was his. Emmeric couldn’t contain the surge of love he felt for her, nor would he want to block that from her.
Although he hadn’t said anything out loud—and wouldn’t until she was ready—he needed Iyana to know how much she meant to him.
He started rocking into her slowly, building up a friction between them, until she was gasping and lifting her hips to meet his.
Iyana’s little moans of pleasure would be his undoing.
Unable to hold back any longer, Emmeric pulled almost completely out before slamming himself back in.
After that, he set a relentless pace, the beginnings of his orgasm building at the base of his spine.
Iyana’s breathing had become erratic, and Emmeric could feel her walls tightening again around him.
Reaching between them, he rubbed small circles around her clit and nipped at her ear.
“Come with me, Mouse,” he demanded.
Two more strokes and he was pulsing inside her, pushing down on Iyana’s clit and gently biting her neck, making her come again, calling out his name.
They clung to each other, exhausted. Emmeric kissed her lips gently, slowly.
Pouring every intention he had for their future into that kiss so Iyana could feel it and know he’d always be with her.
And he swore then and there that they would have a future.
It didn’t matter what measures he had to go to in order to secure that for them—any price would be worth Iyana’s happiness.
Altair
Watching Iyana walk away hand in hand with Sullane broke something inside of him. Once they had disappeared into the jungle, Altair stalked after them, only to be stopped by a hand around his arm.
He whirled on his brother with a snarl.
“Let her go, Altair,” Okab said.
“She is my astalle, and you’re telling me to let her go?”
The gentle pity on Okab’s face was quickly replaced by anger.
“How many times do I have to tell you that you ruined this for yourself? You cannot fault her for finding comfort in another man. Especially not after you killed her grandmother, almost killed her, tried to kill the man she is currently fucking, and succeeded in killing her friend. Not to mention you’re the reason her entire species is now in danger. ”
“Why are you taking her side on this? You’re my brother.”
Okab pulled his twin close, his grip tight on Altair’s arm. “I’ve gotten to know her a bit these past few days, and I actually like her, brother. I would have loved to have her as a sister-in-law. But you fucked up the only good thing you’d ever had in your life, and you need to deal with that.”
Altair’s brother released him and angrily led his horse to the water. Kaz had already shifted and prowled off somewhere to do gods knew what, and Altair was silently grateful she hadn’t been there to witness that exchange.
He sighed. Okab was right, of course. It was so difficult, though, to let Iyana go. Altair wanted her to be happy and safe above all else, even if she wasn’t with him, but it didn’t make it any easier to watch the woman he loved slowly fall for another man.
Just when he thought nothing could be worse than Iyana walking away with Sullane, Altair was proved wrong.
No, it turned out the worst was seeing them return with each other—disheveled, tired, and grinning, still holding hands.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out they had fucked, and the fire that Altair expected to feel at the sight was actually only a cold sadness.
The pair began to set up their camp, and Iyana wouldn’t even look at him.
Altair knew she could sense his intense stare, but any time her gaze wandered towards him, it bounced away again without recognizing his presence at all.
It hurt, but Altair understood he had hurt her much worse.
Still, it didn’t change his love for her.
Altair saw two choices moving forward—either let this jealousy consume him and turn him bitter, or he could release Iyana from his heart, allowing her to find her own joy without him.
He realized that if he chose the first option, he’d run back to Rigil and turn her over.
No matter what Iyana did, that was the last thing Altair wanted for her.
He wanted the Alpha Centauri nowhere near her.
So, he’d let her go, but not too far. She still needed his help and protection, and Altair silently promised to provide that for her.