To Collar and Keep (15 page)

Arabella nodded. “I think he’s more pleased to get rid of Bastian. My father never really cared for any of us past our worth to the clan.”

“Sounds like Boris and me, though at least you knew where you stood with him.”

She smiled, nodded and leaned in. “May I kiss you, Master?” she said with a cheeky twinkle in her eye.

Harley growled and nodded. “I shall never deny you something that will bring us mutual pleasure.”

She kissed him softly. “Such a perfect Satyr.”

Harley chuckled and went back to his meal. Things were looking up. Tempest was now their world, and the world was theirs.

Epilogue

The nights in
Missouri
were a lot different than in
Massachusetts
, where he had lived almost all his life. They were less cold and more sultry, the heat creeping up from the lower states well into moonrise. Harley liked the change. Arabella was adjusting from the sweet sea air still, but it wasn’t affecting her in any visible way.

Things had been quiet for them since leaving
New York
, and they had settled into a nice routine at the Tempest compound despite all the craziness that had transpired before. Arabella was enjoying herself and had become even closer with Minerva, if that were possible, and Harley was looking forward to the future with her by his side. He had promised Arabella the world, and while he was still in a position to give it to her, he wasn’t going to be the one calling the shots and that was a load off his mind.

Harley looked up from his desk to see Bella walk in, wrapped in a towel from the bathroom. Seeing him, she smiled and dropped the towel, then sauntered over to him nude, except for her collar. With a change in clans, Harley needed to change her jewels to reflect that, and he had received her new keystone just hours before. It was part of the surprises he would give her tonight.

Now she was just wearing the leather collar, but soon she would be gifted with a piece to attach to it that would represent both Tempest and their bond. The piece had the fire opals that Tempest considered one of their stones, as well as quartz, to balance. The third stone was the largest and the centre stone, and it was the one Harley had chosen to represent his claim on her. The milky, creamy jade enhanced the sparkle in the fire opals and the glitter in the quartz, and he knew she would be beautiful with it gracing her perfect neck.

He pushed away from his desk and let her get between him and the furniture. Sitting on the flat top, she crossed her legs and propped her foot on his thigh. With a grin, he scooted forward, and her foot went from his thigh to his groin.

“Good day today, pet? I like the way you decorated the living room. You sure you’re a geneticist? I mean, you’ve got an eye for colour,” he teased.

“It’s not hard.” She smiled, squeezing him with her foot. “Unlike other things I could mention.”

“It’s always hard for you, love…” He opened his pants quickly and pulled her down into his lap, so that her sweet heat hugged his shaft. Her legs draped over the arms of his chair, giving her a very delicious angle.

“Oh, this should be interesting.”

“When isn’t it? So,” he said and tipped the chair forward, allowing him to change his angle and with a quick thrust slipped into her. Gods, did she always have to feel like heaven? “Umm, that’s better. So we should talk.”

She gasped, her back arching. “Ummm…much better…” She let out a soft moan. “But this position isn’t very conductive to talking.” She shifted her hips, taking him deeper.

“Not for you,” he groaned and leant down to nuzzle her nipple. “I like this though…and I know you can feel every inch of me.”

“Oh, yes… I sure can.” She tightened on him.

He groaned and chuckled. The woman knew him so well already. She was the perfect woman for him. “So I was thinking… You should consider going back to school.”

She blinked at him, pausing her body’s movements, clearly she’d not been expecting this conversation. “So soon?” she asked.

“Why not? I mean you wanted to go, and I promised you, you could. You don’t have to go to school just yet, maybe take some classes over the ’net, some distance learning. Bastian told me you had qualified for a fellowship, and I looked into it. If you want to, it is still open to you, and you can work from here.”

“I’d love that.” She grinned madly at him, “I would, really… How did you manage it?”

“The Donahue name goes a long way in the scientific community, even if I’m not associated with Rummer anymore. I was even offered a spot with a competitor that I plan to take once Tempest is all squared away. That will teach that bastard.” He leant down and licked a slow line down her chest.

“Ummm, my hero,” she gasped, wriggling under his tongue.

Harley chuckled and nipped her smooth belly. “Ben even set aside some space for a lab here in one of the buildings, though I’m sure it’s not altruistic. You do work in genetics… But that’s not the only surprise I have for you, my love.”

“Oh?” she gasped, her body tightening on him.

He nodded and worked her body hard without another word. She shuddered under his touch, his lips and his sure, deep strokes. Making his way back up her body, Harley triggered her collar and lapped at the blood that trickled from it. He could feel her getting closer and wanted nothing more than to feel her little tremors around his shaft.

She screamed, giving him just that as she came, her body exploding around him.

He grinned at her. “Fantastic Bella…so fucking good,” he said as he followed her over the brink and panted into the soft skin of her stomach. “Ummm, we will have to save this position for when we only have a few minutes. Fuck, that was good.”

“Ummm, very good.” She stroked over his chest, smiling. “I love you, Harley.”

“I know, pet, I love only you.” He nuzzled her again then sat up and smiled. “And that collar has been naked too long.” Slipping his hand under her leg, he came up with a small pouch from his pocket and placed it on her still quivering belly.

She lounged back on the desk, her elbows holding her partially up as she quirked an eyebrow. “What?” she asked, puzzled.

“Open it. As I said, it’s been too long that you haven’t had your jewelled collar, but I’m remedying that now.”

He watched as she gingerly shook the piece out of the bag. It glittered on her pale skin. “See? It’s Tempest, but it’s also me. That’s the jade in it.”

“It’s always you.” She grinned, reaching up and hugging him. “Thank you. Add them…please.”

Harley quickly attached the jewel cluster and clicked it into place, then smiled. It looked so beautiful on her, and he told her so.

She beamed, her fingers moving up to fondle the jewels. “You think?”

He nodded. “Oddly it suits better than the old ones did. Just proves this was meant to happen.” He winked. “So tell me, love, are you happy?”

“Very.” She grinned at him.

“That’s all I need to know.” He kissed her soundly and held her close, pulling her up to a sitting position on his lap. She cuddled to him, and he sighed, smiling. Things couldn’t get much better than this.

Corbin walked in and smiled at them.

Harley shook his head and nuzzled Bella’s throat. “Something up, Corbin?”

“Yeah, Ben wants to see us, he’s got the info on the next clan meeting. He’s taking back Tempest’s job of arranging it.”

Well, that was interesting. He slipped Bella off his lap and kissed her softly as he tucked himself away and stood. “You wanna dress first or just show off the sexy new jewels?”

“I could slip on a robe.”

“Up to you,” he said as he turned to Corbin. “So what’s the big deal?”

He shrugged. “No clue, but I’ve been translating the old diaries, and I think Ben’s spotted something that didn’t add up.”

“Well then, let’s see what he’s figured out.”

Bella walked in from their bedroom with her black silk robe on, and the three of them made their way to Ben’s study, which was already full of the new Tempest Satyrs and their women. Mina was sitting on a divan on the side of the room. Bella kissed Harley and went to sit with her friend.

Harley looked at Ben, who was smiling. “So? What’s the good word?”

“That’s for me to know.” He grinned. “In the meantime, we have a meeting to arrange.”

“Fair enough. Where? Just for Tempest?”

“Just for us.” Ben smiled. “A sort of get to know each other. But of course, we will have to work out this winter gathering for the other clans.”

“You’re the boss. So where are we going?”

“Well, that is your job. I’m delegating.”

“Son of a bitch.” Harley grinned. “Well then, we have something to plan, don’t we? Some place hot? Or cold?”

“Cold, may as well.”

Harley smirked. He knew of just the place. The Hall of the Twelve Moons was open to all the Satyr Clans, and it would be the right place to have the winter celebrations. Tempest being there after so long away, well, it would be extremely satisfying. “I’ve got it all taken care of then. So what is it that Corbin said you found that doesn’t add up?”

“Probably nothing.” Ben shook his head. “Just a mention of some names that I recognise. I’m going to have to talk to my cousin to firm things up. Murphy’s already pledged his help.”

That was a damn good thing. Harley nodded and smiled at Ben. “So why the meeting? You could have just told me to find a place for a party.”

“And miss seeing your Beloved’s new jewels?”

Harley grinned and puffed up just a bit with pride. He looked over to Bella where Mina was admiring her new jewels. “Always thinking, cousin.” He chuckled as Mina looked over and nodded at his cousin, then snuggled with Bella.

Life was good. They were free and embarking on a completely new life for both of them. His expectations of the past would not colour their future, and he and his Beloved were where they needed to be. They were young, and they wouldn’t have to conform to what the elders wanted. He would have her and keep her for all time.

About the Author

Stella and Audra Price are sisters who have always shared their love of writing, even as children. Now in their twenties, they have created a complete world from the voices in their heads, which they have deemed the Eververse. They both have similar interests in makeup, horror movies, dogs and a love of a good bottle of wine; they rarely disagree, unless it's over the last glass of that wine.

Email:
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Stella and Audra love to hear from readers. You can find their contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.total-e-bound.com
.

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