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  He can come with us. In Tern Terra there are she cats with pussies made to please human males. He’ll find a mate worthy of him there.

  “What about Tioni? She’s going to be angry. We promised not to fuck.”

  I promised not to mate with Jeroni and I haven’t. I didn’t say I wouldn’t make love to you.

  “She’s going to be furious. She may stop us, Hunter.”

  He stopped and turned to look at her. She can’t stop me. I am of Tern Terra, just as she is. I am elder offspring of Seeker, Sire of Tern Terra. I have ways to stop her if need be.

  She thought he was dismissing Tioni far to easily, but remained silent. After all, surely he must know more about Tioni than she.

  As they approached the hut stop, Tioni appeared in the doorway, her eyes dark and stormy, her right hand extended menacingly. “What have you two done?” she demanded. “What of your promise not to mate?”

  Jemi shrank back against Hunter’s body at the other female’s fury, her hand hovering over her right boot where her knife was sheathed. She was really going to have to don her sword from now on. She frowned. She didn’t know squat about wielding a sword. Jeroni was the swordswoman, not her.

  I kept my promise, Hunter told Tioni. This is not Jeroni Teyer. This is Jemi Hunter of Earth. I have taken her as my life mate, as is my right as a Tern Terrian. Stand down, Tioni of Tern Terra. I, Hunter, elder offspring and heir to Seeker, Sire of Tern Terra command it.

  Oh, damn. He’d done it now, Jemi thought. They were both going to be on the ground gasping for breath in seconds. When poor Dioni, sworn to protect her and Jeroni, felt compelled to intervene, he’d be quickly incapacitated too.

  To her complete and utter amazement, Tioni dropped her hand, bowed her head, and dropped to all fours. “As you command, Sire.”

  Rise, Tioni, Hunter said after allowing her to kneel before him for several moments.

  She rose, but kept her head bowed, much as Dioni did when he was in Jeroni’s presence.

  Leave us.

  “By your leave, Sire.” Tioni murmured deferentially and retreated to the hut.

  Jemi stared at Hunter. “What just happened?”

  He sent her an amused thought. I am Hunter, heir to the title of Seeker, Sire of Tern Terra.

  “Are you telling me your father is a king and you’re some sort of crown prince?”

  He was silent and she felt him reaching out to Cody for guidance. After a moment, he gave a mental shrug. I am elder offspring of the Sire of Tern Terra. When Seeker is no more, there will be Hunter, Sire of Tern Terra.

  “And what will that make me?”

  My woman. Is that not enough?

  “Yes. Actually, it is, Hunter or should I say Sire or My Liege?” She grinned at him. “Should I go down on my knee as Dioni does with Jeroni?”

  It is customary, he told her with no trace of humor in his voice.

  “Oh, it is, is it?” She demanded, feeling her cheeks burn with agitation. “Why you arrogant, high handed…if you think I’m going to bow to you, you’ve got another think coming!”

  It is customary, but I would not wish it, he told her his voice a mixture of condescension and amusement.

  Oh, it was just her luck to fall for a big-headed male with delusions of grandeur. “I’ll bow to you when hell freezes over,” she told him angrily.

  Her outburst seemed to amuse him. We’ll discuss it when I return.

  “When you return? When you return from where? Where do you think you’re going?”

  That is hardly the proper tone to take with your…crown prince, he told her, his voice alive with amusement.

  “If you don’t answer me, you’re going to be a crown prince all right because I am going to crown you with the first heavy object I can lay my hands on,” she threatened.

  Mating makes me hungry. I’m going hunting. I will be back tonight to kiss and fuck you some more.

  She shivered at the thought. Just see that you don’t mate with any forest cats while you’re gone, she warned.

  My cock is all yours, Jemi darling, he told her meekly. May I have a kiss before I go?

  No.

  Please?

  Is the Sire Apparent of Tern Terra begging?

  Yes. May I have a kiss? All traces of merriment had vanished from his voice.

  Flushing, she nodded. He used his head to push her back. When she felt the wall of the hut stop at her back, he kissed her leisurely, nipping her tongue with his teeth. Then using his tail to push her skirt aside, he rose on his hind legs and shoved against her. She gasped at the big, pink head of his cock pieced her pussy lips.

  She pushed against his sides, trying to wiggle away. “Hunter! Wait! What do you think you’re doing?”

  He grunted and sent his entire hard length into her body, impaling her on him. Showing you how much I love you.

  She wasn’t prepared for him and when he began to fuck her hard and rough, it hurt. Balling her hands into fists at her sides and gasping for breath, she felt the tears fill her eyes and spill down her cheeks. When he bent his head to kiss her, she turned away. Hunter, please. Stop. This hurts too much. You have to stop. Now. Please.

  As abruptly as he’d entered her, he pulled out. He backed away from her. I did not mean to injure you.

  She felt his confusion and regret. I know, but Hunter, you can’t just back me up against a wall and ram into me. You’re far too big for that. I have to know you’re coming so I can get ready.

  You’re angry.

  I’m sore and tomorrow I probably won’t even be able to walk properly. Go hunting and while you’re out, you’d better get some forest pussy, because I can’t take anymore tonight.

  He kissed her gently. I don’t want any forest pussy. I want you. I’ll wait and I won’t hurt you again. I promise.

  She nodded, brushing her nose lightly against his. “I know. Go hunting. I’ll be waiting when you get back.”

  I love you, Jemi Hunter of Earth.

  She smiled. And I love you, Hunter, elder offspring of Seeker, Sire of Tern Terra, my crown prince.

  We will discuss your duties as my subject when I return, he told her, sending an amused, but affectionate thought her way.

  “Dream on, buddy,” she retorted, smiling.

  He made a low, rumbling noise deep in his chest and she realized he was laughing.

  “Hunter, you’re laughing. How?”

  Why not? My mother is a human, he reminded her. When we reach Tern Terra, I’ll learn to shape shift into a human and mate with you in that form, as my father used to do for my mother.

  She surprised herself by shaking her head. “That might be nice, but it’s not necessary. I can and do accept you, just as you are, Hunter. You don’t have to change anything about yourself for me. You’re big, handsome, super sexy, and I love you just as you are.”

  Are you sure? I know that in your world humans and carnivores don’t mate.

  She sighed. Cody had been right about just being here changing one’s perception of things. “No, they don’t,” she acknowledged, “but then carnivores in my world can’t communicate with humans. Nor do they share the same level of intelligence with us, as you do. Anyway, we’re not in my world. We’re here where Tern Terrians and humans have blissfully mated for many hundreds of seasons. I can’t help or change how I feel about you, Hunter. I love you and I don’t care who knows it.”

  Her statement was greeted with a long silence. Finally, he bowed his head. You honor and humble me, my darling Jemi.

  She leaned forward and they exchanged a long, tender kiss. She caressed his head and drew back, grinning. “I like you better haughty and horny as hell.”

  As you wish, my sweet Jemi.

  “I’ll be waiting for you when you return, my handsome prince.”

  He turned and trotted off.

  Man, but she’d never been so sore in all her life. But then she’d never made love so physically or so many times in one day before. What she wouldn’t give for a Jacuzz
i or a removable, massaging shower head. Still, as she watched Hunter disappear into the forest, her smile widened. She’d had a great Valentine’s Day after all. She didn’t know if or when she could return home. It didn’t matter because there was nothing waiting for her there. Her only regret was that she hadn’t said goodbye to her friends or Jeff.

  Cody had always believed that things happened for a very specific reason. She looked around her. Maybe he was right because no matter what happened to her in this strange new world, she was one lucky woman. She had two handsome males prepared to die to protect her, and she had discovered a love like none she had ever dared hoped to find.

  Somewhere, on a primordial level, she knew she’d been born to mate with and love Hunter. To think that she had spent so much of her life unaware of his existence and the joy that awaited her as his woman…

  She had loved and adored Cody and still did, but what she felt for him paled in comparison with the depth of feelings she had developed for Hunter. Whatever new experiences and adventures her future held, she would bravely face them with the big, handsome male she’d fallen so desperately in love with at her side.

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