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The jungle air was hot and dripping with a moisture that made it hard to breathe. Dar watched Tao from his place in the trees. He didn't take to them often, preferring to keep his feet on the ground, but this position gave him the perfect angle to watch Tao. He was talking and laughing with Amara, the healer with whom he'd left Tao the week before. He was animated, his hands flying all over the place as he talked and his eyes were crinkled with warmth and good humor.
The feeling was so slight at first that Dar didn't even notice. His stomach tightened uneasily the first time she touched Tao's arm, laughing at something he said. Fingers tightly gripped the tree branch under him when Amara leaned forward, stepping almost on top of Tao. When her hand rested on Tao's shoulder for a long period of time as Tao continued to talk, Dar's teeth ground together.
He swung easily down to the next branch, keeping his eyes on Tao. If he hadn't been so utterly focused on his mate, Dar might have missed the hint of unease that crossed Tao's face when Amara's hand slid down the Eiron's spine. Though Tao stepped back, the woman followed, her smile changed in some form. Dar growled low in his throat when she didn't release her hold on Tao's waist.
Jumping the remaining distance to the ground, Dar moved swiftly through the underbrush pausing at the edge of the clearing. Tao was still talking but his tone was distressed, his hands fluttering between him and Amara. Every instinct he had told Dar this woman was more of a threat than her simple appearance dictated. If she wasn't, Tao wouldn't be trying to keep his distance.
Amara stepped forward and Tao suddenly had nowhere else to go, backed against a tree. Hissing faintly, Dar slipped towards the unknowing couple, keeping stealthily to the sheltering trees. As he came closer, their words became clear.
"I'm really sorry Amara, I don't ah, don't know where you thought that I'd be interested but I'm very happy where I am," Tao said.
She snorted. "Right. Happy in a half life with the BeastMaster? I can give you a family, children, and recognition for your great skills as a scholar and healer. All he can give you is an eventually painful death at the hands of whatever enemy he's angered."
If Dar had had a neck ruff, it would've bristled furiously at her words.
"Amara, please listen to me. I don't want to offend you but I love Dar. I won't leave him for any reason," Tao explained firmly.
"Oh I don't think so, Tao. I told my father that you were the man I wanted for husband and he agrees that you're an excellent choice. The BeastMaster will come back to find that you are otherwise occupied," Amara said smugly. "Trust me, Tao, this is the best for you. You'll be respected and have a position of power with my people."
Straightening, Tao pushed by her and said, "It is not the best for me and even if it was, that's not for you to decide. I'm not some bauble that you can just decide you want. I'm a rational, thinking person, remember?"
Though pride ran through Dar at Tao's declaration, the feeling was tiny compared to the possessive need blanketing him. A river of jealousy also ran through him, competing for dark attention. Amara was right in her intentions because Tao deserved the best of the civilized world and that was something Dar could never give him.
"Of course I remember that, Tao. That's why I chose you to be mine," Amara said.
The growl became a snarl and Dar burst from the trees, moving to stand in front of Tao, facing Amara with his dagger in hand. She looked up at him, clearly frightened as Dar took a step forward. The only word he was capable of growling was, "Mine!"
For some reason, even though her fear grew, she sneered, "And this is what you want, Tao? Someone closer to the animals he speaks with than a man like yourself?"
Warm hands touched Dar's back, running soothingly along his spine for a moment before Tao tried to move around him. Dar blocked the way, keeping between Amara and Tao. When Tao tried again, Dar blocked again. There was a soft sigh from behind as Tao said, "Yes Amara, believe it or not, love means more to me that anything you might give me. Dar respects me a hell of a lot more than you do."
"Fine."
Dar watched her walk away but didn't take his eyes off her until she was out of the clearing and heading back to the town where she lived. Not trusting her, Dar called to Sharak and asked him to keep an eye on her. The amused reply from the once-human eagle did not amuse Dar in the least. Still tense from someone daring to claim what was his, Dar finally sheathed his dagger and turned around, almost afraid of what he'd find on Tao's face when he did.
"Dar. Look at me."
Reluctantly, Dar looked up. Startled by the intensity he found staring out from darkened eyes, Dar stayed perfectly still as Tao closed the distance between them. Tao captured one of Dar's hands and brought it to rest over Tao's throat. Then he took the other and brought it up to meet the other, spreading the fingers so they were splayed over Tao's neck.
Eyes locked with Dar's, Tao lowered himself slightly, assuming a deliberately submissive position as he whispered, "Yours. Only yours."
Dar's fingers tightened possessively of their own accord, his thumbs stroking the sensitive flesh over Tao's pulse. He stepped even closer and cocked his head, breathing in his mate's arousal like an aphrodisiac. His tongue flickered out to taste the sweaty skin between his fingers. His cock hardened with Tao's moan and he glanced up at Tao's face to find his lover's eyes closed. That was the end to his control. Fingers curling into the dark green shirt, Dar ripped it off Tao in two ragged pulls then threw it aside. Tao gasped in shock but the eyes stayed closed, trusting in whatever Dar wanted to do.
His hands slid down the bared, slick chest, pausing to twist the nipples almost meanly. The caress was heavy handed, hard, and seemed to inflame Tao, the Eiron's muscles quivering to remain motionless. Dar growled once more, softly, as his hand cupped Tao's shaft through the breeches, "Mine."
"Yours," Tao agreed in a ragged whisper.
Pulling out his dagger, Dar sliced through the laces on Tao's pants then threw it into the ground to quickly free his hands. Tao's heavy breathing told Dar that the other man knew exactly what had happened and a feral smile graced his face. Tao wriggled his hips and the pants fell to the ground. Dar steadied Tao with a hand on his now bared hip as his lover stepped out of the fallen clothes.
Tao's shaft was full, throbbing with life as Dar caressed it with his knuckles, goosebumps fleshing out over the breadth of the dusky skin. Dar carefully pulled his naked lover into the trees to a secluded spot covered in sweet, soft grass. Tao's eyes remained closed as he relied completely on Dar to lead him safely. After directing the Eiron lovingly to the ground, Dar unraveled his loincloth and tossed it aside.
Straddling his lover, Dar sat on Tao's abdomen, his backside brushing Tao's cock as he ran possessive hands over the lightly defined chest muscles. His thumbs ghosted over the nipples and more goosebumps erupted, along with a whimper. Lowering himself, Dar tasted the flesh that had so willingly been given to him, paying particular attention to the pulse beating on Tao's throat, sucking and biting hard at it until his mark was left.
Reaching behind, Dar gripped the erection and slowly pulled on it. He wrapped his hands completely around it to get slippery with the fluid now leaking in earnest. Using the slick fluid, Dar pushed his fingers inside himself, groaning as heat slammed into him, his own cock jerking in response. Unable to wait any longer, Dar rose just enough distance to brace himself above Tao's cock and slowly but steadily sink down.
"Mine," Dar growled as he sat flush against Tao's groin.
A low, guttural moan of agreement escaped Tao before he pleaded, "Please, Dar, please, I need to see you, let me see you! Oh Gods, yes, please, move it like that, so hot, so tight."
Dar leaned forward, one hand pressed firmly to Tao's chest to keep the other man in place. For several minutes, he just shifted back and forth, drawing out moan after moan from his mate. Tao's hands locked together beneath his head to avoid the temptation of reaching for his lover. Dar rose a few inches then sat back down quickly, drawing out the incredible sensations for them both.
A steady litany of need passed Tao's lips which both inflamed and soothed Dar. It told Dar exactly what Tao was feeling and sent hot shivers through him as surely as any physical caress his lover could have made. He used it to gauge Tao's intensity level. He'd learned the hard way how to tell when things were too much, too overwhelming, for Tao. The few times it had happened had resulted in a kind of meltdown for Tao from which it took days to recover. Dar had no intention of ever making those mistakes again.
When a gasp half turned into a sob, Dar stilled his hips and leaned forward to capture his lover's mouth for a long, tender kiss. Dar's hands circled Tao's shoulders to pull him up into a sitting position. Tao's arms instantly surrounded his waist and he sweetly, eagerly, joined the kiss. Dar pulled back and whispered, "I love you, Tao."
Tao's eyes flew open at that and Dar drank in the sight before recapturing his lover's mouth. They stayed like that for several minutes, devouring each other, until Tao suddenly rolled them over. Dar obligingly spread his legs as far apart as possible, legs pushing him off the ground as Tao began moving inside him. This time it was his turn to give himself over to sensation and he did so wholeheartedly.
Every drip of sweat that fell on him, every brush of Tao's lips over his, each thrust of Tao's cock inside him. The slippery grip he couldn't maintain on Tao's back. Tiny grunting noises that escaped the mouth covering his own. It was mere minutes until he couldn't distinguish anything and he shouted his ecstasy with the pounding of Tao's cock into him, splitting him, healing him, taking him, possessing him.
His fingers gripped Tao's ass hard enough to leave bruises, encouraging his mate to go harder, faster, to take his pleasure and add to it. His release was explosive and Dar shouted once again to the spurting of his seed. Tao slammed one final time into him, adding his cry, mingling their voices as he came inside Dar.
For an instant and an eternity they were motionless save the seed spilling between them, binding them once more.
Then Tao collapsed bonelessly and Dar brought his own arms limply around his mate. Though he could already feel the ache beginning, Dar sighed in regret as Tao softened within him. Gentle lips pressed to his chest before Tao withdrew altogether and shifted to his side. Though he was exhausted and more sated than he could ever remember being, Dar's thoughts wouldn't quiet enough to let him sleep.
"What's wrong?" Tao asked softly.
"She's right you know," Dar answered, just as quietly. "I was jealous because I know that you would have a much better life without me. I can't give you any of what she can."
There was a long pause before Tao leaned up on his elbow to look down at his lover. Loving fingers brushed golden bangs from Dar's face as Tao tenderly asked, "Can you give me a new shirt?"
Startled and confused by the unexpected question, Dar nodded.
Smiling before he snuggled into Dar's arms again, Tao said, "Then I have everything I need."
Dar couldn't help but smile in joy and pressed a kiss to the top of Tao's damp hair. It probably wouldn't be the last time he lost the battle with jealousy but he could always trust Tao to remember the important things: love, trust, a shared life and a new shirt.
"Beastmaster: The Legend Continues" is the property of Tribune Entertainment Co.
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