The King and I: Celestial Soul-Mates, Book 1 Read online

  What if Tai’s was the real link? What if what Zander felt was the reflection of Tai’s link with Aria rather than the other way around?

  The thought unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

  Aria watched out the small portal in the bedroom. A great orange ball of a planet loomed outside.

  Several hours had passed since Tai had left her alone. Casey had come by to tell her they would be arriving soon and Aria should get ready.

  Aria’s heart sank. Soon she would be transported from this ship and handed over to the king. Tai’s brother. She would be expected to fall in love with him and live happily ever after, just like in a fairy tale. This fairy tale would have no happy ending, however. Tai would disappear into space to pursue whatever mission his brother commanded and forget all about Aria, or at least suppress thoughts of her—probably quite successfully. He seemed very good at it.

  She sighed, wiping away a tear. She’d been torn from her family at a young age and thrown into homes with no real connection. She would cope here. She would be a queen, or a concubine, or whatever this planet did with arranged mates for their king. She had no doubt she would be well cared for.

  She would certainly learn to cope.

  The door slid open and Tai stepped inside. “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” She wore her power suit once again. Ironic, since she’d never felt so powerless.

  He led her down the corridor to the lounge where she and the other women had first appeared on the ship.

  “Where are the others?” she asked.

  “They’ve already transported down.”

  She nodded. He led her to the door of the elevator—or rather, transporter. The door swooshed open.

  He hesitated.

  “Aria.”

  She turned to face him. “Yes?”

  Did he have instructions for her? Would he tell her how to behave in front of the king? Give her some last minute etiquette tips?

  He touched her cheek tentatively. “I’ve…this has meant a lot to me. I…” He stared for a moment, his silver eyes full of disquiet, then he tugged her into his arms and kissed her. His lips moved on hers with a quiet desperation. She fought to stay immune, but lost the battle. She slumped against him, her arms curling around his neck.

  “Gattra, Aria, what will I do without you?”

  Before she could respond, his hand slid to the small of her back and he pressed her into the transporter. The immediate feeling of movement and the resulting nausea overwhelmed her. Dizziness slammed her against the wall, then everything went black.

  Chapter Nine

  Wakefulness came slowly, along with the awareness of a warm, hard body pressed against her. She glanced around the room, trying to get her bearings. The light seemed clearer than she was used to and the air fresher. She lay in a huge bed covered by a thin, sage green sheet with no other blankets or coverings. As she ran her hand along the silky, smooth fabric, she realized it was warm to the touch, as though infused with sunlight. The walls seemed to shimmer, until she watched carefully and realized they were constantly changing color, a very subtle shifting of shades through a range from pale moss green to amber gold.

  Hands encircled her waist and lips nuzzled her neck.

  “Tai?”

  “Yes, my love.” His voice rumbled through her, caressing her insides like a silk scarf.

  My love? She must be dreaming. She snuggled against him. If so, she intended to enjoy every lovely moment of it. Shifting his hands to cup her breasts, she let her eyelids fall closed, enjoying the intense feelings of arousal his loving touch brought her. Her nipples peaked, thrusting into his palms.

  The mattress in front of her compressed and her eyelids snapped open. Another man sat on the edge of the bed.

  Tai. She stiffened. But if Tai sat in front of her, who was behind her? She glanced around. The man behind her also wore Tai’s face.

  There were two of him. His hands tightened around her breasts, sending shimmering heat through her. Oh, God, this was shaping up to be the best dream she’d ever had.

  “Hello, Aria,” said the new Tai.

  She turned to face the sitting Tai.

  “Hello, Tai,” she murmured in a throaty purr.

  He smiled, that familiar devilish smile she’d come to love so much.

  “I’m not Tai. I’m Zander. Tai’s twin brother.”

  She stiffened. Tai’s twin brother? That would explain the link Tai talked about between them.

  Maybe this wasn’t a dream after all.

  “You’re right, Tai.” The king’s gaze washed over her face. “She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  She remembered what she’d said to Tai earlier.

  Are you going to hold me down while he takes me?

  “Don’t look so terrified, Aria,” the king said. “Tai and I had a long talk and he told me in no uncertain terms that you are his tanash’ae, not mine.”

  Rather than looking angry, he smiled broadly.

  “You really are a good influence on him,” he continued. “I sent him on this mission to bring you back knowing his link to you was real, not a mirror of mine as I’d led him to believe.”

  “Why did you do that?” she demanded, her voice a little shaky.

  “When I was put on the throne after our parents’ death, my brother learned to defer to me. Although it was appropriate under the circumstances, it took something from him. He never learned to be himself. To depend on his own judgment where I was concerned. It’s wonderful to have such a loyal subject, but I also wanted my brother. I wanted an equal to help me rule. With you, he learned to speak up for what is his, and I respect that.”

  Hope flared inside her. “What will happen now?”

  “Well, that’s between you and Tai.” He shrugged. “I assume you’ll marry and live happily ever after, but I can’t speak for my brother.”

  Tai’s arms tightened around her. “I’m never going to let you go. I want to marry you. But I’ll give you time to—”

  She twirled around and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes!” She didn’t need time; she needed him. Her lips crashed against his in a spine-tingling kiss. His hands stroked up and down her back and she moaned in pleasure.

  “Ahem. I’m still here, you know?”

  Tai relaxed his hold on her and she slumped onto her back. She gazed up at Tai, then at his brother. My God, looking at the two striking men, both wearing the face of the man she loved sent her head into a spin. What would it be like to kiss two of him? What would it be like to be held by two of him, one in front and one behind? What would it be like to make love to two of him at the same time?

  Heat flooded through her. Shocked at her thoughts, she lowered her eyelids, her cheeks burning.

  Tai and Zander exchanged glances. Tai smiled and nodded.

  “Tai, may I kiss the bride-to-be?” Zander asked.

  “Aria?” Tai asked.

  A delicious tingle danced up her spine at the thought of being kissed by Tai’s twin. “Well, I guess…”

  She sat up, keeping the sheet securely wrapped around herself, and Zander’s hand settled on her shoulder. Warmth spread through her, radiating from his touch. He leaned forward slowly, ninety percent of the way, then held, waiting for her. She closed the remaining distance, watching his glimmering silver eyes.

  When their lips touched, lightly and with tenderness, she melted. Awareness zinged through her. A deep, strong, emotional well opened within her.

  This was the same feeling she had with Tai. Except, stronger. Intensely stronger.

  She became lost in his lips, drawn into a depth of feeling that surpassed comprehension. Her mouth blossomed, her lips shimmered in delicious, tingling need. Her body quivered in excitement, yearning for his lips to explore every inch of her.

  The feeling was so powerful she recoiled at the intensity.

  As his lips parted from hers, thoughts sparked through her brain like lightning. />
  How could she have made such a disastrous mistake? She had convinced Tai she was meant to be his when in truth she was meant to be Zander’s after all.

  “Yes, I feel it too.” His words reached her in a barely audible whisper, one she was certain Tai could not hear.

  So it was true. Her teeth tugged at her lower lip.

  No matter what, she would never betray Tai. She knew what it was like to be abandoned by someone who claimed to love her and she would never do that to someone else. Especially Tai, the man who had risked so much to be with her. She couldn’t hurt him like that. But as she stared into Zander’s intent, silver eyes, her heart ached as she realized she had betrayed him. By choosing to stay with Tai, she condemned Zander to life without his one true soul-mate. How would he cope with the rejection?

  Goose bumps quivered up her arms as she realized he might not give her a choice. As king, he could command her to do whatever he wished.

  He nuzzled her ear, murmuring quietly, “Don’t worry, my love. Everything will work out fine.”

  She wished she could believe him. Before she could dwell on it, his lips swooped down on hers again and thought dwindled.

  He stroked her cheek as he released her lips, holding her gaze as he spoke to his brother.

  “Tai, I think your beloved is curious about what it would be like to experience us both in her bed.”

  She trembled at his words.

  “Really?” Tai’s smile brightened.

  “What do you think, brother?”

  Tai stroked her lower back under the covers, sending tingles up her spine. “I think it is quite an exciting prospect.”

  Chapter Ten

  Tai sat up and began kissing the back of her neck and shoulders, his lips sending quivers through her. His hands slid around her ribcage and stroked her breasts. Zander stroked her shoulders, then captured her lips again.

  If she had wanted to protest, the time was long past. The erotic feel of Tai pressing close behind her, her breasts cupped securely in his hands, pressed tightly between Zander’s body and her own, swamped her with intense, physical need.

  Tai teased her nipples to full, rigid arousal while Zander’s tongue stroked the inside of her lips. Tai tugged her backward, pulling her on top of him, urging her to lie back. He stroked her hair to one side, arranging it over her shoulder as his fully erect penis stroked between her legs. She felt her vagina grow moist and slick.

  Zander leaned forward and licked one nipple, then the other. She moaned. As Zander kissed down her belly, Tai lifted her with his groin, then caught her legs and held them wide. Zander’s mouth slid down past her curls to her vulva and he kissed her lower lips. Tai’s hands slipped over her breasts and held them in his warmth, pulsing his fingers around them. Zander licked the length of her opening, then his tongue swirled around her clit. She gasped at the sharp but gentle stimulus. He dabbed and sucked and cajoled. Her pulse pounded loudly in her ears and heat washed over her in erotic waves. Heat on her breasts. Heat in her vagina. Heat blossoming from her clitoris. Moisture dripped from her. Her internal muscles clenched, demanding something long and hard to grasp. Zander’s skillful tongue increased her arousal.

  “Oh, God,” she whimpered. Giving in to the ecstasy, she felt the explosion inside her. Her breathing came in gasps as pleasure erupted through her in a cascade of bliss. She wailed with the intensity of it.

  His tongue slipped away and he stared down at her, smiling.

  Tai eased out from under her, then kissed her deeply. She touched his cheek tenderly, knowing she could never hurt him. And abandoning him would hurt him.

  He leaned down and captured her nipple in his mouth. Aria started as a second hot mouth planted over her other nipple. The sight of two of her beloved, each sucking on her breasts, paired with the exquisite pleasure of being doubly pleasured, stormed through her. Without warning, she plummeted into another orgasm. Their mouths pressed and squeezed, sucked and licked. The waves of pleasure swept her away on a long, swirling journey of delight, where time stretched and contracted in a rhythm all its own. When she finally collapsed in sated bliss, they both smiled down at her smugly.

  “I think she’s enjoying herself,” said Tai.

  “You’ve known her longer than me, but I do believe you’re right.”

  She couldn’t believe they were teasing her. She reached out and grabbed Tai’s rigid cock and squeezed. She held out her hand to Zander, sending him a look of expectation. He rewarded her with a grin, then stood and quickly shed his tunic and pants. A second later, she felt the weight of his huge cock drop onto her hand. Hot and heavy. She closed her hand around him and stroked. He groaned.

  Tai kneeled in front of her, his huge, throbbing cock sliding across her belly, and he kissed her. She continued to stroke both penises as his tongue slipped into her mouth. It thrust in and out, driving her wild. When he released her mouth, Zander drew her hand away from Tai’s rod and wrapped his own hand around it, then positioned the huge head against her slit. Zander slid Tai’s rigid flesh up and down through her slick moisture, then eased the tip into her. She groaned at the exquisite feel of Tai’s cock stretching her as he slipped inside.

  Zander’s hands covered her breasts as Tai thrust into her, fully immersed. He drew out, then thrust in again. He spiraled, then tilted sideways, then spiraled again, stimulating the walls of her vagina in an erotic massage.

  Her muscles contracted without conscious thought and a warm eruption of pleasure started low in her groin, then blasted through her. She moaned, long and loud, gliding on an elastic ribbon of joy. His grunt of pleasure sounded in her ear as her moans subsided. Her gaze locked on Tai’s face, sweaty and glowing as he gazed back, love lighting his silver eyes. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him tight against her, loving him with all her heart. He stroked her hair, then kissed her cheek.

  “I love you, Aria.”

  She sighed, her eyes falling closed. He drew back from her and she gave him a final vaginal hug as his cock slipped free. Her eyes snapped open as an erect penis filled her again.

  Tai already? No, Zander’s smiling gaze captured hers.

  He stroked inside her slowly, in and out. She glanced at Tai and saw the broad smile on his face as he watched. Her eyelids fell closed as the pleasure built again.

  Her fingers curled around the rods of the headboard, then held on tight. Tai captured one of her nipples in his hot mouth. Fierce pleasure spiked through her.

  “Oh, yes,” she cried.

  Immediately, she was right back in that delicious state of knowing climax was within reach. Zander slowed, then sped up. Fingers found her clit—Tai’s fingers—and lightly dabbed at it.

  She groaned in exquisite joy as the first waves of the orgasm overtook her. Zander corkscrewed inside her. A sharp, intense orgasm slammed through her. She screamed in ecstasy.

  She rode the short, intense wave in gasping pleasure. She felt him spurt into her. A feeling of completeness she’d never known filled her, knowing she had semen from both the men she loved inside her.

  Zander slipped out, then rolled onto his back, sliding her on top of him, her buttocks tightly pressed against his thighs. He hooked his knees within hers and spread them wide, opening her to Tai. Fully erect again, Tai slid his engorged cock inside her. Two hands covered her breasts, stimulating the nipples. Pleasure rings spiraled through her. The cock filled her insides. The feel of being sandwiched between these two incredibly hard and hungry men, filled her with feelings of power and pleasure.

  The three of them moved together, undulating, thrusting, moaning, crying out in pleasure. Her orgasm started in her groin and rose through her body like a geyser. She spasmed and shook, screaming in primitive, unadulterated pleasure.

  She stayed pressed between them for long moments, enjoying the heat, the hardness of their bodies, the exquisite feeling of being fully sated. Finally, Tai slid off the top of her and drew her into his arms. Zander curled into her body from behind, wrapping hi
s arms around her waist.

  She drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  Aria awoke still cradled between her two hot, incredible men.

  She rolled onto her back and took a long cock in each hand and stroked, wondering who would reach full length first. She sat up to lick and fondle first one, then the other. Two pairs of silver eyes watched her intently, glazing slightly as she stroked them to full erection. Drawing one into her mouth and urging the owner onto his knees, she positioned him beside her pillow as she lay back, continuing to suck on his penis with all she had. She spread her legs wide, inviting the other cock into her warmth. The owner obliged her by sliding inside.

  He thrust as she sucked. She stroked as he twirled. She moaned, muffled by the hard flesh in her mouth, as he grunted. Warmth spurt inside her mouth and she swallowed, sucking him dry, then she fell back on the bed as waves of bliss flooded through her, mind-numbing in its intensity. He thrust and thrust as she screamed in wonderful agony, then burst into a world of pure sensation. She felt everything at once, as though she were the universe. Every cell of her body seemed activated, and connected to every other cell in the universe. Bliss. Total knowing. Complete understanding. Which slowly faded.

  She felt greedy now. Impossibly, both cocks still stood erect. She opened her legs and one of them—Zander—obliged her by sliding into her, deep and hard. He pulled her against his body, then drew her to a vertical position as he shifted to his knees. She wrapped her legs around his waist.

  She felt a cock nudge at her backside. Tai’s. Oh, God, she wanted to feel it plunge into her, to fill her anal passage at the same time as the other cock filled her vagina. But as she felt his enormous erection push against her, she panicked. “No, it’s too big. I’ll never be able to—”

  “What about this, love?” Tai asked.

  She felt something the size and feel of a well lubricated finger push between her cheeks. “Yes.” She sighed as the finger—larger than a finger, actually—nuzzled her small opening. “Oh, yes,” she sighed as it pushed into her a little.