Bliss (27 page)

“Darius, I can’t believe it’s you! Please come in,” said the sweet, very feminine voice on the other side of the dwelling. Kassandra felt instantly jealous.

Like most of the dwellings
, there was no door to keep out intruders. Only Darius’ family had incorporated the human concept of a formal door, not that it was needed.

When Kassandra glided inside
, the sight caused a lump to form in her throat.

“Kassandra this is Ferra. Ferra meet my
Sokhan
, Kassandra,” said Darius, embracing the young woman in the traditional way.

Did he just introduce me as his soul
mate? Her insides felt like jelly, and that scared her. It was only once the siren backed away that Kassandra noticed the very small bundle cradled at her breast.

“Is that...
?” She couldn’t finish her sentence. Her hands moved protectively over her own stomach as the twins chose that moment to move. Immediately Darius was at her side. Concern was etched throughout his features and in his voice. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. When I get nervous or excited
, they like to do flip flops in my belly,” she admitted, pasting a smile on her face.

“Where are my manners?
Please have a seat Kassandra. I know exactly how you are feeling. This is Tina, our latest
freshling
. She’s a week old and can’t seem to get enough milk. Oh, and here comes Trisha, our three-year-old. Tashya, our one-year-old is still sleeping. Please have a seat,” said Ferra, ushering them both forward. “Aaron should be back soon. He would love to see you Darius,” she continued, placing sliced sea cucumber in front of them.

Kassandra couldn’t pry her eyes away from the young mother. Without thought
, she moved the newborn from one breast to the other while giving a snack of fresh sea urchins to the demanding three-year-old. The newborn was beautiful. Dark black hair framed her small head which was only the size of a grapefruit. The thought of holding an infant terrified Kassandra. A screeching wail from the back chamber told them that Tashya was awake.

“Would you mind, Kassandra?” asked Ferra, gently depositing the newborn into her arms before she could utter a protest.

An immediate sense of warmth radiated throughout her system. Instinctively she brought the young
freshling
close to her beating heart. Then the baby woke up, and two piercing emerald eyes appraised her. A soft coo from the newborn melted her heart.

“Darius
, she’s so soft,” said Kassandra in awe.

He
moved forward. “Just think, Kassandra, you are carrying two of these special beings within you. Do you have any idea how much the idea of being a father thrills me? I want to teach them the magic of my undersea kingdom, but first I need to find a way to stop this plague. Jamie said I should trust your powers, so I’m asking for your help,” he said, reaching out to gently stroke the baby’s soft, downy cheek.

Tears slid down
Kassandra’s face. Her emotions were rubbed raw. It’s my hormones, she tried telling herself. She forced herself to take a calming breath. Seeing Darius like this, a Titan awed by the beauty of a newborn, and hearing his yearning to be a father, undid her. More importantly, he was asking for her help. Kassandra fought the flood of emotions which threatened to break free.

“Don’t cry
, my love. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Kassandra knew Darius was puzzled by her reaction. As was she.

Ferra reappeared before she could speak. “So sorry about that. I’m going to have to stay with Tashya for a bit, so I’ll take Tina. Thanks again for holding her. And, Darius, you really don’t know anything about pregnant Sirens, do you? We cry at anything and everything. I’m sorry I don’t have more time to chat, but I’ll try to come by tomorrow to see you, Kassandra. Aaron said he’s going to be late, but that’d he touch base with you tomorrow, Darius,” added Ferra, efficiently taking the baby from Kassandra’s arms.

“Thanks again
, Ferra. That reminds me, Jamie asked me to see if you might have any more milata green for the soothing balm she’s been making for Seth and Mother,” said Darius.

“Most certainly. I’ll gather the herb and bring it along to her tomorrow.”

Kassandra watched as the newborn immediately latched onto one of Ferra’s breasts. Absentmindedly, she let Darius lead her away from the domestic family scene.

“There’s one more place I’d like to show you,” he said. The glint in his eyes should have been her warning.

A short time later they arrived at a strange-looking undersea cave. The outer walls of the cave had dark blue crystals, which shimmered as the current from the sea moved over them.

“These are the lava waters that flow throughout the kingdom. They help relax the muscles. Let’s soak and talk for a few minutes,” he said, drawing her deeper into the cave.

Kassandra let him drag her into a pool of warm water.
Talk? I just bet.

Kassandra let
her body slide into the warm water and immediately began to relax. Darius moved to the opposite side but his eyes remained glued on her. It was a look she recognized. Even though she knew sexual hunger clawed at him, Kassandra shook her head. She was determined to not give into the bone-melting desire to touch him.

“So, will you help me?” he asked, lazily licking his lips as his broad shoulders spanned the back of the pool.

Did I have to notice his lips? Why couldn’t I have been looking at the bubbling water. That would have been better. Anything but those lips of his which are so good at kissing. Not that I’m thinking of getting kissed or anything like that.

In a blink Darius closed the space between them.

“You forget, my love...” he licked his lips slowly as he eyed her. “Your thoughts are now in my head. Your desire is in my heart, and you have no idea how hard it is for me not to make love to you,” declared Darius, leaning his head in close, his mouth an inch from hers.

He is such a tease,
thought Kassandra, not giving into the desire to tilt her head up.
No, no, no. That’s just what he wants.

“You bet it is, sweetlips,” replied Darius, moments before his hands cupped her face forcing her mouth up to meet his.

“Let me love you like a Titan. Let me give you pleasure you can’t imagine.”

His words were creating erotic images inside her head
, causing her breathing to come hard and fast. Then his mouth claimed hers and she lost track of all her rational thoughts.

There was nothing like it. He demanded and took, never once letting up. Forcing her mouth to comply and open wider, forcing her tongue to duel with his, and forcing his breath to merge with hers. The wildness and ferocity of it drew her in, heightening her own sexual pleasure.

“That’s it, sweetlips, let it happen. Let the Siren you are come out to play.”

Again, his words taunted her while she fought against the new bubbling desires that threatened to swamp her body. She could feel her breasts swell even more. She felt wet with desire as her body all but opened to his words, practically screaming,
“Come, take me! Take me right now.” She felt wanton.

And
she ached to take control. She yearned to do the taunting, but she wasn’t sure how to go about doing that. Pushing him back against the pool’s polished stone surface, she brazenly rubbed her aching breasts against his chest. His answering guttural groan told her she was on the right track. His enjoyment gave her the courage to do even more.

With one sweep from her powerful tail she moved to tower over him so that her breasts
were now a hairsbreadth away from his lips. Looking deep into his eyes, she took her own breast in her hand and cupped it into his offering mouth. The look of pure desire that flared in his eyes gave her a momentary sense of panic.

Maybe I’m asking for more than I want.

Then he took a long hard suck on her breast, and she saw stars. She had always had sensitive nipples as a human, but now, as a Siren, all of her senses were heightened. Having Darius’ hot mouth suckling her while his tongue licked her pebbled nipple caused her to whimper in ecstasy.

Her head fell back in bliss when his other hand went to play with her other nipple.

“Ohh, Darius, I didn’t know...” she tried to finish her sentence but it was no good. She was beyond coherent speech. After pebbling her other nipple hard with his free hand, he moved his mouth to it and took a long, hard suckle. At the same time, he reached lower to finger her midsection.

She felt hot and cold at once. The hard ridge of her midsection that connected her tail to her belly button almost rippled in mind-shattering pleasure.

“That’s it Kassandra, give into your nature. Don’t fight it.”

He said the words as his tongue lazily licked her neck. She had to fight the urge to buck against him. Her body ached for his. Shyly she moved her own hands lower
, seeking the rock-hard bulge that was now pressed hard against her midsection.

She felt his hands move lower over hers and then she felt all of him as he fitted her hands around his throbbing erection. Both of her hands closed tightly on him.

“You’re killing me,” he groaned

“I’m sorry,” she instantly replied.

He laughed. The rich timbre of his voice sent shivers down her tail.

“You’re killing me in a good way, sweetlips, don’t stop,” he said, drawing her hand back to his erection.

New to the game of seduction and sexual play, she let him set the pace.

Kassandra’s eyes darted lower. She really wanted to see him – all of him. As if on cue, Darius grinned wickedly and then brazenly raised himself up onto the edge of the pool. In
his natural form he was magnificent. Unabashed, he leaned back which provided her with an amazing view of his complete anatomy.

He’s huge, bloody huge and
how the hell can and did that fit inside me?
Even as Kassandra thought that, her body began to pulse with an answering cry to his desire. The sight of him gloriously aroused to the point where she could actually see the veins of his shaft standing out and calling for her attention undid her.

Moving forward she took one last look into his passion
-stricken eyes before her courage faded. Then, without hesitating another second, she moved forward and calmly took the tip of him deep into the recess of her mouth.

She
reveled in the taste of him. He was male. Musky and salty and so much more than that. She fought to find a word to best describe his unique taste. She yearned for her cells to absorb the taste of him.

“By the
gods, Kas, you’re good,” said Darius, his voice husky with need.

That was all the encouragement she needed. Using her tail to keep her in place, she was able to take most of his shaft into her mouth. Darting her tongue around the large tip of him, she wickedly licked her way down and then back up. Then she cupped him. His ragged groan caused an answering pool of wetness to form within her own body.

“I can’t take much more of this, sweetlips,” he said.

Flicking her eyes up, she noted that his head was thrown back and a small tick had started in his jaw.

I’m doing this to him. He’s in my control for a change.
That idea thrilled her.

Then
, before she could ponder what to do to him next, the tables were turned. Moving faster than she could have anticipated, he had her back in the water, with her tail pressed up hard against his. His hands flanked hers as he positioned her arms on either side of her.

When he slid inside of her, his eyes seared her. He didn’t break eye contact as he slowly made love to her
. He might have already branded her, but this…this passionate, intimate moment was unique. When the climax came, Kassandra screamed out his name, pleased when he roared his own satisfaction. Settling next to her, he playfully rubbed her belly.

“Hope I didn’t hurt you?” he asked, with a cautious look at her stomach, which was beginning to look anything but elegant.

Kassandra took in his worried look. While a part of her longed to tease him, she realized he’d been through enough strain. “I’m fine. They were quiet. I can’t believe how big I’ve become already. It truly is a miracle.”

“It is. They are. You are. I had no idea that Rylan had it in him to do something good for a change.”

“And what’s that?”

“Zap me into a book that you’d find and set
me free. Look, Kas, I know things have moved really fast with us, but you continually amaze me. My sister mentioned you’ve learned more of your own unique history. I’d love to hear it.”

Sighing, she settled her head into the cro
ok of his shoulder. “It’s very complicated. Basically the life I knew was a lie.”

“You sure about that?”

“My father was a Titan but he committed an unforgivable crime. He murdered his own father.”

She felt Darius hold her tighter. “That’s a very unusual crime
, and I’m sure there’s more to the story than you’ve been told.”

“That’s just it. I haven’t been told anything. My father basically got banished to life on land and left all of this behind. I don’t really know him
, and I feel like now I’ll never get the chance to.”