Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  Now, even as she felt his need pressing against her, he laid over her making sure not to press too heavily, concerned he could harm her. He was a true gentleman.

  And she wanted all of him.

  "Jotham... you're teasing me again."

  The look she received, when Jotham stopped teasing her other nipple, made her breath catch.

  "You think I am teasing you?" His amazing violet eyes were nearly black, his voice nearly a growl.

  "Yes!"

  "Well we can't have that now, can we?"

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda's words burned through Jotham's system. Driving him on. He thought, for a moment, that he would need to be gentle with Jacinda. It was their first time together and she had been injured, but he had underestimated her.

  Jacinda was a mature woman.

  She didn't play around.

  She told him exactly what she wanted and it was the same as he did.

  He was going to give them what they both wanted.

  With regret, he abandoned her breasts but that regret quickly turned to an amazing new discovery as he moved further down her body. He kissed a faded scar that he would ask her about later, and the red marks he knew were left from having her children.

  Each spot he kissed drew him closer to her instead of away, as it might have in his younger, stupider cycles. Now he saw them as symbols of a life well-lived and he wanted to be a part of it.

  Jotham was a King. Before that, he had been a Prince. Yet even then, he had never kneeled. Before anyone. It wasn't done. As he gazed at her dark chestnut curls, trimmed so beautifully, he found himself sliding between her legs and sinking into them, knowing it was the only way to honestly worship at the most feminine altar.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda's eyes widened when Jotham went to his knees between her legs. Yes, Stephan had gone down on her, but for Jotham to do it? He was the King. Kings never kneeled, not even for their wives. It was an urban legend that while a King might satisfy a woman this way, he always laid across the bed, his knees never touching the floor.

  "Jotham..." she rose up to her elbows, looking down at him.

  "Shh," he said, his thumbs gently separating her damp curls. He knew they were that way because of him. It made him want to see how damp he could get her with just his kisses. He decided to find out.

  Finally revealing her woman's nub, he leaned forward to taste the budding fruit.

  "Jotham!"

  His eyes shot up and felt his heart stutter. Jacinda was on her elbows, her head falling back, her long, lush hair streaming behind her. The breasts he so enjoyed moments earlier were thrust up forming full and proud peaks as she lost herself in what he was doing to her.

  He had never seen anything so beautiful.

  Never felt so powerful. He wanted more.

  Closing his mouth around her, he tugged harder on her nub, his tongue licking causing her to groan.

  "More please, Jotham."

  And he gave her more, attacking her nub as if he as a starving man and she was the only thing that would sustain him.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda couldn't believe what Jotham was doing to her.

  What he was making her feel.

  Never in her life had she felt this... need, coming from a man. All centered on her.

  It was powerful.

  It was humbling.

  She didn't want it to end but already she could feel her orgasm building.

  It had started when he kissed her, then the marks left from her accident. When he turned his attention to her breasts, every tug of his mouth had felt directly connected to her womb.

  Now he was driving her higher with that same mouth and she was so close. She just needed a little more.

  As if Jotham knew exactly what she needed, he slid a finger along her wet folds before slipping the thick digit slowly into her. Moving as deep as he could before retreating to add another, filling her, stretching her.

  When his fingers twisted, finding that exact spot she needed she cried out, her heels digging into his shoulders as the orgasm exploded through her.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham could feel how close she was.

  Could feel it in the tensing of her muscles, in her breathless cries and the tremors that were growing stronger. It wouldn't take much to send her over and he knew what it was.

  Sliding a finger along her lush, full, lower lips, he coated it in her juices then slowly pressed against her opening with a finger demanding entry and she granted it. He pressed as far as he could into her tight softness then withdrew adding another finger stretching her as he knew she'd need to be to accept him.

  Twisting his wrist, he crooked his fingers rubbing that spot he knew would send her over the edge and was rewarded by her cry of release.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda's eyes tried to focus when Jotham rose from between her legs. She heard the unmistakable rustling of clothing being removed and then he was moving her to where he wanted her on the bed and slipped back between her legs.

  The pressure as the head of Jotham's shaft demanded entrance finally had her eyes clearing and her breath caught at what she saw on Jotham's face.

  "Jotham..."

  "I need you, Jacinda." His voice was rough and so full of such restrained passion that her heart, that was just starting to return to its normal beat, sped up again.

  "Then take me. I'm here."

  She was shocked at what her words unleashed. With her permission, Jotham surged forward filling her completely with one stroke. His balls slapping against her with the strength of the move as he caged her beneath him.

  "I'm not going to last long," he warned, capturing her lips as he pulled nearly completely out then quickly surged back into her.

  "It doesn't matter," she gasped when he finally released her lips, lifting her hips to meet him thrust for thrust.

  "It does." Jotham continued to thrust into her and felt that tingle he hadn't felt for cycles start down his spine. He felt his balls draw up and knew he was moments away from heaven. He refused to go without her and reached down between their bodies, caressing her nub in a way he somehow knew would drive her crazy.

  "Jotham..."

  "You will come for me again, Jacinda." He rubbed faster as he continued to pound into her.

  "Jotham!" Jacinda couldn't believe that she was about to come again, it hadn't happened since she'd been such a much younger woman.

  "Come!" he ordered. "I command it!" And she did.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jacinda was boneless. She could tell by the way her body melted around Jotham when he pulled her with him as he rolled onto his back after shouting out his release. There wasn't a part of him she couldn't feel. Not his chest pressing so firmly against her. Not his arms wrapped so securely around her. Not his lips pressed against her temple. With an arm around his waist, Jacinda let her mind absorb everything that had happened, and as she did she began to chuckle. A chuckle that turned into a full-blown laugh.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham rolled onto his back pulling Jacinda with him, having just experienced one of the most explosive releases of his life. It had felt so amazing that he found he didn't want it to end, not so much the release, but the feeling of being so connected with another living being.

  He was sure Jacinda felt the same way, especially with how her leg settled so intimately between his, the way her arm wrapped around his waist as her head rested on his chest. That was until she started to laugh. He frowned when she looked up at him, her eyes full of mirth.

  "I command you?" she chuckled. "Seriously?"

  Before he could comment, she buried her face back into his chest.

  "Praise the ancestors, Jotham, only you could have said something like that."

  Jotham felt his color rise as he thought of how arrogant that must have sounded, but then again she had obeyed him...

  "It seems to me that you liked it."
/>
  Jacinda's laughter trailed off. Resting her chin on his chest, she looked back to him.

  "I did like it," she admitted, blushing. "I liked it a lot. I can think of only one thing you did that I didn't like."

  "I did something you didn't like?" Jotham was instantly frowning.

  "Mm-hmm." Pressing a hand against his stomach, she sat up unconcerned about her nudity.

  "What did I do?" Jotham asked trying not to let her touch distract him from this all important answer. He wanted to please Jacinda, always.

  "You stripped so quickly that I didn't get to enjoy the show."

  "I... What?"

  "I wanted to watch you strip." Her hand caressed the well-defined muscles of his chest. "You have no idea how many women have fantasized about seeing you naked."

  "What?!!"

  Jacinda smiled at the shocked look on Jotham's face.

  "They talk about this chest." Leaning down she scattered kisses across it, paying special attention to each flat dark nipple until they pebbled with pleasure. "They wonder if it can be as magnificent as it looks in your jackets or if it is just the tailoring."

  She'd never doubted it was him.

  "They talk about this trim waist of yours." She eased her way down his body, kissing each individual muscle with her touch, as they became even more pronounced.

  "We have all seen that incredible visual of you at the Academy. The one of you coming out of the pool, grinning, in those tiny trunks that revealed more than they covered. Including these abs."

  Hearing Jotham groan, she looked up at him through her lashes.

  "I hate that visual," he told her. "I tried to have it destroyed."

  "Generations of women on Carina would have revolted." She knew they would have, for that visual was legendary. "I know for a fact that it still hangs, framed, in the girl’s dorm at the Academy."

  "Tell me you’re joking."

  Jacinda chuckled at the horrified look on Jotham's face but continued to kiss her way down his body.

  "I'm afraid not, and every woman on Carina wants to know if you still have all eight of those incredibly tight abs."

  Jotham arched up, groaning as her fingers just grazed the head of his rapidly recovering shaft.

  "As you can tell, I don't," he groaned.

  "No, you don't." Jacinda gave him a sassy little grin. "Just six. I am sooo disappointed." Sliding further down his body, slipping between his legs, her mouth replaced her fingers.

  "Jacinda!"

  She ignored him as she took his large, bulbous head deep into her mouth. She'd seldom done this for Stephan. Not because she didn't enjoy it, but because as their marriage went on, Stephan didn't. She'd never understood it, but she'd respected his wishes.

  Jotham didn't seem to feel the same way. If the way his fingers were sinking into her hair, guiding her movements was any indication. Fisting the base of his shaft so he wouldn't choke her, she took as much of him in as she could. While her other hand cupped his heavy balls, gently rolling them.

  Her tongue glided along the bulging vein on the underside of his shaft, feeling its rapid pulse before swirling around its head, capturing the pulse of essence he gave her. Moaning at his sweet taste, her cheeks hollowed as she sucked harder, wanting more.

  "Ancestors! Don't stop, Jacinda!" Jotham pleaded, his breathing ragged, his fingers tightening in her hair as his hips pumped faster and deeper into the hot moist heat of her mouth. She felt his balls tighten in her hand and knew he was close. Going back down, she took him deep into her throat, swallowed, and Jotham exploded.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham collapsed onto his back, trying to regain control of his breathing and his mind after what Jacinda had just done to him. He would have never expected... never thought.... Praise the ancestors! How could a day have gone from terrible to incredible in such a short time?

  His only thought after being told about her transport accident was to get to her side. To make sure she really was alive. When he'd been en route to Lata's accident, they only told him that it was serious. No one told him she had no chance of surviving it.

  Today, Deffand had said Jacinda's accident was serious too, but that Jacinda was okay. He hadn't believed it, not until he really saw her. Held her. Kissed her. She'd changed his world. In more ways than one.

  Feeling her move, he raised his head to look down at her and felt his world shift again. Her amazing teal eyes where luminous, her cheeks flushed. His fingers were still intertwined in her chestnut curls. Carefully shifting his grip, he encouraged her to move up his body until he could capture her lips in a tender kiss.

  "You are an amazing woman, Jacinda," he murmured against her lips.

  "Hmmm," she curled up into his arms, kissing him back. She was about to say more when her stomach spoke instead.

  Jotham's eyes filled with mirth. "Hungry?"

  Jacinda blushed slightly, "A little." Pressing a hand against his stomach she sat up, then heard his stomach rumble. "I'd say you are too. Come on, let’s go see what's in the kitchen."

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jotham watched as Jacinda moved efficiently around her kitchen. Making coffee, getting plates and cups from the cupboards, selecting ingredients out of the cool unit. When was the last time he'd actually sat in a kitchen and watched someone prepare a meal?

  Had he ever?

  Searching his memory, he realized it had been back when he was a boy. He had been at the Zafar cabin and Will's mom had made them all first meal.

  Since then his meals had always been brought to him.

  He found he liked watching it be prepared, especially when it was by Jacinda who he knew was naked under that thin, silky robe she wore.

  "What's put that look on your face?" Jacinda asked as she set a plate of fruit and pastries in front of him before turning to retrieve the pot of coffee. Sitting down, she poured them both a cup then slid the sweetener toward him.

  "What look?" he asked innocently, taking a sip of the coffee he'd sweetened.

  Jacinda just raised an eyebrow at him and he chuckled.

  "Alright. I was just thinking how I liked watching you make me a meal, especially when I know what's under this robe or should I say isn't." He reached out to run a hand over the golden skin of a leg that had been exposed when she crossed them as she sat.

  Her lips twitched and she raised her own cup to take a sip. "You, Jotham Tibullus, are incorrigible. Eat," she ordered.

  Jotham did, but he kept his hand on her knee the entire time and the meal passed in a comfortable silence.

  "How are you feeling?" His hand tightened on her knee, turning her swivel seat so she faced him. He saw her grimace a few times while eating.

  "I'm fine."

  "Jacinda." He gripped her chin, searching her eyes and saw the pain she was trying to hide from him. "Did Portman give you anything for pain?"

  "Yes, he gave me some pills."

  "Where are they?"

  "On the nightstand, next to my bed."

  "Stay here, I'll get them for you."

  "Alright," she put a hand on his chest, her fingers caressing the skin left bare by his unbuttoned shirt. "Thank you."

  Leaning down he gave her a gentle kiss. "Anytime. Now stay put."

  The pills were easy to find and Jotham was quickly returning to her when he heard her moving around in the kitchen. He should have known she wouldn't listen to him. As he got closer, he realized she was actually talking to someone.

  "I'm fine, Danton. Really. There’s no need for you to come over."

  Entering the kitchen, he found her facing him, talking on the comm.

  "Mom, you were in a serious accident last night." Danton's voice filled the room.

  "I know that, Danton, I was there."

  "What were you doing out at that time of night?" he demanded.

  "Excuse me?" The coolness of her tone along with Jacinda’s raising that expressive eyebrow of hers at the screen should have warned Danton that he was treading on thin
ice.

  It did Jotham.

  "There is no reason for a woman your age to be out that late." Danton continued, seemingly unaware he had just insulted his mother.

  "A woman my age?"

  Jotham literally cringed at Danton's words. Did the boy have a death wish? No man said something like that to a woman, mother or not.

  "Mom, you know what I mean."

  "No, Danton Lee Michelakakis, I do not. Why don't you just explain to me why a woman my age shouldn't be out at that time of night?"

  "It wasn't night, Mother. It was past midnight!"

  "And your point?" Movement in the doorway had Jacinda looking up to see Jotham silently standing there.

  "Where could you have possibly been at that time?"

  Jacinda took a deep breath and forced herself to calm as she turned her attention back to her son.

  "Danton, I am a grown woman and I don't need to explain to you where I go and who I see. No matter what time it is."

  "Are you saying you were... with someone?!!" The last two words were whispered in disbelieving horror.

  "I am not saying that. What I am saying is that if I were, it would be none of my son's business. Now I thank you for coming and getting me last night, Danton, and I thank you for your concern today, but I'm fine and I'm ending this conversation before one of us says something truly hurtful. I'll talk to you later this week. I love you, Danton." And with that she disconnected.

  Jotham walked over to the sink and filled a glass of water before he moved to stand in front of her. "Are you okay?"

  "Yes." Reaching up she squeezed his hand holding her pill bottle. "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

  "I'm not. You could have just told him you were coming from the Palace." He set the glass of water down and after reading the instruction on the bottle shook out a pill and handed it to her. "Take that."