Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

question him, too caught up in his sexual web. Whatever the pull
     of lifemates, the physical attraction between them sizzled and she didn’t want to
     miss one intoxicating moment.
    She knelt.
    He nodded approvingly. “Sit back on your heels and open your thighs.” As he gave her
     the command, he held the flower cupped in both palms, solemnly, as if it was of great
     importance.
    Heart pounding, she complied. He placed the flower exactly at the junction of her
     legs, petals whispering against her open, jean-clad thighs.
    “Tied vagyok.” His gaze for the first time left hers, to drift possessively over her. “Sívamet andam.” The flames in his eyes leapt high, while the multifaceted diamonds glittered and
     burned. “Te avio päläfertiilam.”
    His softly spoken words sounded beautiful, but more, she recognized a ritual quality
     to the presentation and knew he was telling her something important to him. Her entire
     body had reacted to those nearly whispered words. His voice was a weapon, she decided,
     especially when he spoke in his own language. The tone was as hypnotic as the words
     and she found herself straining to understand. “In my language please,” she asked.
    “Tied vagyok means . . .” He frowned, searching for the words in a language he’d just acquired.
     “‘Yours I am,’” he said simply.
    Her heart jumped. This amazing warrior, so beautiful, so protective and sexy was hers ?
    “ Sívamet andam would be, ‘my heart I give you.’” He touched her face gently, tracing her cheekbones,
     her jawline and chin and then back up to the curve of her mouth, as if memorizing
     every detail.
    Blood surged hotly through her veins. She felt him inside of her, a part of her. Riley pressed her lips tightly together. Something
     important was happening, but she didn’t know what. She didn’t want to say or do the
     wrong thing. A part of her wanted to run. She had no doubt Dax believed exactly what
     he was saying—he was giving her his heart. He was larger than life. One of the heroes
     from a movie who could save the world. She thought of herself as . . . ordinary. Here
     in the rain forest where there was no one else, she probably looked like a great find,
     but there was an entire world waiting for him.
    “There is only one lifemate for our species, Riley,” he said.
    Her entire body clenched. Wept. Electricity sang in her veins. She wanted to believe
     that she could have him, but truly it was absurd. They barely knew one another. He
     was from ancient times. She was caught in some kind of intense dream she didn’t want
     to wake from.
    “What does te avio päläfertiilam mean?” Was that her voice? So husky and sensual?
    He frowned, concentrating, trying to come up with a suitable translation. “You, wedded
     wife, my.” He shook his head. “‘You’ is equated to lifemate. Wife is your closest word. Your marriage ceremony is the closest to the binding ritual
     I can find in Gary’s memories. I am saying you are my lifemate.”
    She blinked at him. “Is this a marriage ritual?”
    He shook his head, a flash of white teeth sending another surge of desire skittering
     through her body. His teeth looked strong, straight and just pointed enough that she
     found herself a little frightened, which only added to the exhilarating experience.
    “When the ritual binding words are said, that is equivalent to your marriage vows—but
     more. That cannot be undone. This is more like . . .” He broke off, clearly searching
     Gary’s memories for an analogy. “This ceremony is important for us both.”
    He rubbed the bridge of his nose, a gesture she found endearing. “I’ve courted you
     in the way of my people and this ritual ensures fertility and acceptance.”
    Her heart jumped again. Her body burned. “Fertility?” Her voice sounded squeaky even
     to her own ears.
    “Our women don’t have many children in spite of the longevity. This flower is important
     to our preserving our future.”
    “It is?” She glanced around her, keeping her voice low. Their conversation seemed
     so intimate—so sexy. As always, she and Dax were secluded away from the others. When
     he arrived, he always seemed to find a way to isolate her before waking her.
    “You need to repeat the words back to me,” he said, his voice dropping an octave lower.
    He shifted to his knees, opening his thighs wide. Her breath hitched in her lungs.
    “Take the flower in both open palms and place