Untamable Lover (Worlds of Lemuria: Earth Colony Book 2) (11 page)

“What’s your name?” he purred.

Her muscles strained against him. She didn’t want to give in to this male, but she couldn’t break his hold on her.
Bastard. Fine.
She’d play along. “Aramie. Now let me go.”

Instead of releasing her, he pulled her further under his body, his control complete. “Aramie. Such a fine name. Now, what are you doing in my territory?” 

Although he’d pinned her in place, he hadn’t hurt her. The truth was he’d been extra careful with her, protecting her with his own body from the sharp rocks that littered the path. 

Her muscles ached from the strain of fighting against his hold, so she exhaled and relaxed. “My sister and I are on the run. Our pride was attacked by Gossum. We are the only ones left.”

Demir released her and stood. Strong hands lifted her from the ground, and she faced him for the first time. His deep brown eyes and full lips made her still. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way.

As he studied her, his gaze roamed from her eyes to her shoes, taking in her tattered shirt and mud-stained pants. His focus returned to hers, and his features softened. “I am Demir, and my Pride lives in this territory. Where was your Pride?”

“On the Eastern border of the Rockies. We’re passing through.”

“Take your hands off me.” Sidea’s voice was like a melody to Aramie’s ears. 

A large male crashed through the trees, his hand wrapped around Sidea’s arm. Aramie’s nerves calmed at the sight of her sister.

“Where were you headed?” Demir asked.

Aramie didn’t have any idea. Away from the Gossum was the only answer that came to mind, but she wasn’t going to tell him. 

“By your silence, I assume nowhere.” He raised an eyebrow. “We recently merged with a Pride who suffered a similar fate. We could use a couple more females. You shall join our Pride.”

His arrogance flared the flames of her anger. She narrowed her eyes at him. “We are warriors. What makes you think we want to join you and your Pride?”

He laughed. Despite her anger, she enjoyed the deep resonance of his voice and how it sent a tickle down her spine. Aramie didn’t want to be in a Pride, but something about Demir called to her.

“Because you have nowhere else to go.”

She held his gaze. He was right, and that galled her. “We’ll stay, but as warriors, not as some male’s mated female.” 

“Aramie? What are you doing?” Sidea’s voice wavered.

Aramie didn’t look at her sister, but held up two fingers, their sign for “trust me.”

“If you can best the warriors who try to make you their mate, then I agree. Are you up for the challenge?” Demir smirked. The diamond stud above his lip glinted in the light.

“Accepted.” A drop of trepidation raced along her spine, but she and Sidea couldn’t run forever. They needed the protection of a Pride. It might as well be this one. 

“Aramie, did you hear me?” 

The sound of Demir’s voice pulled her out of her reverie, and she wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Say again?”  

Demir stroked his goatee, his gaze tracking her. “I think I’ve pieced together what’s happened over the past few weeks—from your visits.”

Aramie’s breath caught in her throat. “Um. Y-you heard me?”

He studied her. Close enough for her to see her own reflection in his eyes. She swallowed, afraid of his response.

“I did. You led the Pride in my absence. I couldn’t have asked for a better second in command.” 

Her cheeks heated as a mixture of delight and disappointment coursed along her nerves. She glanced at the ground to hide her reaction. What did she expect him to say? He’d pined after Melissa for so long he’d never noticed her standing by his side. Not that anything would ever happen between them. She was a warrior and would stay that way. 

Demir’s unique scent of musk and incense crept into her system. She trembled, unable to suppress the shiver. Memories of her mother, controlled and dominated by an endless string of males, skipped through her mind. Chantre had escaped one bad relationship only to end up in another while towing Aramie and Sidea along for the ride. That was a path Aramie refused to walk. 

She’d had one relationship with a male as a young adult, but he’d become possessive and tried to claim her against her will. Fear had driven her adrenaline to the point she’d bested him and escaped. After that, she’d fought off every male who had attempted to claim her. Demir had never tried. Thankful he hadn’t, a part of her wondered what it would it be like to be his mate. She shook her head to clear her rambling thoughts.

He gripped her elbow, and when she looked into his eyes, a strange compassion burned in the brown depths, something she’d not seen from him before. “Tell my about your sister and Kitani. What happened?”

She swallowed, but her throat was dry. “They died…” An image of Ram slicing Sidea’s throat filled her mind, cutting off her words. 

Demir focused his attention on her. “Aramie, tell me.”

Like a flood cresting over the river’s boundaries, she couldn’t stop the words as they tumbled from her mouth. “They went with me to search for the sacred crystal. Jonue and I found the stone hidden in a chamber underneath a dry waterfall. Sidea and Kitani kept watch—”

Demir’s grip on her elbow tightened. “You chased after the blue sunstone to bring me back, but two of our Pride lost their lives to obtain this…crystal. You should never have taken such a risk.” His voice became tight, strained.

Adrenaline fueled by her fear and anguish raced through her veins. She couldn’t control the fluctuation in her voice when she spoke. “You are our leader. How could I not do whatever was necessary to bring you back?” 

“Your desire to revive me is admirable, but I have to live with the shadow of those females’ deaths. Why were Kitani and Jonue—mated females—with you in the first place?”

What could she say? She’d broken his rule and let the mated females spar and fight. If he was mad before, wait until he realized what she’d done. She raised her chin and held his gaze. “I did what was necessary to lead this Pride while you were in a coma. I allowed the mated females to train for battle. Kitani and Jonue were ready to fight.”

“You did what?” His face reddened and a tick pulsed in his jaw. “You trained the
mated
females and purposefully took two into the forest prepped for combat? Let me guess,” he rubbed his goatee with his fingers, “the Gossum found you. Didn’t they?” 

Her own ire built in response, but the deaths hung heavy on her spirit. “Demir. It’s my fault—”

“No. It. Is. Not.” He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Although he’d regained his composure, the way his muscles bunched let her know his control was razor-thin. “As Pride leader, the responsibility lies on my shoulders.” 

His pressed lips and creased brow revealed his torment and pain. “Aramie, as you have broken my rules and lives were lost as a result, I have no choice but to strip you of your role. You are no longer my second in command.”  

She gaped at him. A deep pain built inside. Her vision swam. A soft whimper escaped her lips turning into a single word. “Nooooo.” 

She reached for the wall to steady herself. His powerful hands gripped her arms, and she fell against him. This male she’d respected and cared for had ripped her insides to shreds, tossing her pride and sense of self-worth on the ground like scrap, yet she couldn’t help her need for
his
comfort.

“I’m sorry, Aramie. I had no choice but to mete out punishment.” He massaged her scalp at the base of her neck with his strong fingers. She trembled in his embrace, her devastation and humiliation complete. When he spoke, his words were a harsh whisper. “You knew better, yet you took this chance—for me. Why?”

I care about you, more than I should.
Unwilling to look at him, she pulled away and focused on the ground. He let her retreat only so far then lifted her chin. She expected to see pity, but instead raw desire burned in his eyes.

Heat flooded her core, the warmth a gentle surprise. He traced a finger down her jawline, and around to her bottom lip. His gaze riveted there. She licked her lips, and a shiver made her tremble in anticipation.

With a slow grace, he pulled her to him, nearly brushing his lips against hers. A slow moan eased from her parted mouth.

“If I kiss you…I may not stop.” His smoky words stoked her desire.

She knew he was trouble, but she couldn’t resist him. 

“Kiss me,” she whispered. 

Chapter Nineteen

Demir held Aramie tight. The walls in the infirmary closed around him, pinpointing his vision on the female in his arms. The sunstones dimmed and illuminated her face in a soft radiance. Her sweet scent filtered into his senses. Although he didn’t understand what drove his sudden desire to taste her plump lips, he couldn’t resist the pull she had on him. He’d given her one last chance to deny him, but instead, she’d spurred him on.  

Her panted breaths tickled his skin. The slight breeze of her exhalations tingled the hair on his goatee. Her mouth beckoned to him, and her tongue glided over her bottom lip, stirring a craving he’d never encountered. A strange need to claim her filtered into his mind. He didn’t hesitate, capturing her lips with his own. Her wet, warm mouth greeted him, and she moaned under his onslaught. 

He wasn’t gentle with her, his kiss bruising in its intensity. His heart pounded, pumping blood through his veins. Her fingers trailed along his neck and into his untamed hair. With a tight squeeze, her nails bit into the skin on his scalp, marking him in her own way. A fire burned to life in his chest, fueled by her brazen attitude. Male Panthera were the aggressors, the females passive and submissive. For her to be so bold was unheard of in their culture. Despite the traditions, or maybe in spite of them, he reacted to her with his own need to claim.

A low growl erupted from his throat, and he broke their kiss. He gazed into her eyes and bared his fangs in a sign of dominance, a traditional move before he bit her and marked her as his. Her eyes dilated in response, but she stiffened in his arms. The contradictory message confused him. He closed his mouth, shielding his fangs, and let her go.

Aramie stepped away. Her furrowed brow and clenched fists made him wince. 

Beads of sweat broke out on his skin. His mind fogged. What was he doing? He’d almost bitten her and claimed her as his mate. The temperature in the room plummeted as the Keep reacted to the emotions in the room. A soft rumble shook the walls. The sweat on his arms and back sent a chill racing along his skin. Tension held his muscles taut, along with the realization he’d almost tied himself to a female without much thought. He swallowed the lump of ice-cold fear that had lodged itself in the back of his throat. 

Aramie stood her ground and stared at him. “Why…did you…” 

Up until now, she’d been a loyal warrior, and from the day they’d met, she’d made it clear she had no intention of becoming a mated female. Then, why had she begged for his kiss, and why did he kiss her? Better yet, why did he want to mark her as his? He shook his head, giving her the best answer he had.

Her cheeks reddened and her lips pursed, but she didn’t break eye contact. Her will and determination sent bolts of desire through his body. He didn’t want this. She was nothing like Eleanor. Eleanor had been the best mate a male could ask for—contrite, willing, subservient, quiet—all excellent traits for a mated female. Aramie had none of those qualities and never would. Deep in the recesses of his mind a single word echoed—
good
. 

Aramie held his gaze for a moment then closed her eyes. Her shoulders visibly tensed, as if shuttering herself from him. “Gaetan is waiting for us. We should see Noeh.” She raised her chin, creases lining her forehead. Despite it all, she still had her pride.

He nodded. “Yes, the king. I’m sure he has many questions.” 

He didn’t want to face Noeh, not after everything that had happened with Melissa. From Aramie’s constant litany while he’d been comatose, he’d learned Melissa had bonded with Noeh and was now his queen. She’d born a son, the new prince. He cringed at how he’d treated her. Once the fluid in the dart had filtered into his bloodstream, his warped mind had cleared. His obsession over Melissa had gone too far. He needed to make amends to both the king and the queen.

“After you.” He waved his hand toward the door.

His prior second in command passed in front of him. Her strawberry scent lingered and reminded him of their passionate embrace. A part of him longed to kiss her again. Frustration built in his veins, and he slammed the door on his way out.

Chapter Twenty

The bare bulb in the middle of the room cast an eerie glow around the cellar. Ram raised his arms and extended his claws. Against the bare wall, his shadow distorted his true size, making him appear bigger, his claws longer. Euphoria caused his skin to prickle. 

The syringes filled with the female’s blood leaned against the back of the rickety table like little soldiers ready for battle. Ram had perfected the dosage, duplicating the red blood cells until he’d created enough serum for his entire brood. Unwilling to share the first dose with anyone else, he’d taken the initial hit. A shiver ran down his arm. The new power he possessed would turn him into a creature like his menacing shadow.