Jasmine's Joy (Mach'Doshna Book 2) Read online

  As she backed up, and started to turn away, the man shimmered, and in his place, stood the biggest lion, but not really a lion, she had ever seen.

  Chapter 10

  Okay, hallucination, or not. That was a lion thing, and she wasn’t going to stick around to see whether or not it liked to eat people. With a startled scream, she turned and ran down the beach.

  Jo’siah knew this was going to be hard, but he had no idea it would be this difficult. There was no way he was losing his lifemate, not when he had finally found her. With a loud roar, he chased her down the beach. Just when he was about to knock her to the ground, he heard a startled cry from behind.

  Both turned at the same time to see what had caused the pained cry from their baby boy, who had been sleeping peacefully just a short while ago.

  Jasmine started running back the way she had come when she saw the giant blue green Mach with her baby in his claws. “No! Zander! ‘Siah, don’t let him take our baby! Please, stop him!”

  Jo’siah wasn’t sure what had him the most confused, her pleas for help, or her calling Ki’zander their baby. No matter what, though, nobody was going to hurt that baby boy, not if he could help it, anyway. He pumped his strong legs as fast as he could, then leapt into the air, biting down on the wing of the Mach who thought to take what was his.

  All at once, the Mach let out a howl of pain, and dropped his prize. He fought against the weight hanging off his wing and flew higher in the air. His hope was that if he flew high enough, he might be able to kill the Doshna that was trespassing in Mach territory. Taking a deep breath, he let lose a searing stream of fire.

  Jo’siah knew he was too high off the ground to safely fall to the earth below, but when he saw the Mach inhale, he knew if he didn’t release his hold, he would die in a matter of demicons.

  Jasmine watched as her beast fell from high above the beach, morphing into a man as he did. How would she save them both? She ran faster, screaming at the beast, the baby boy, and her man.

  “No! Zander, please, don’t be dead, oh please baby boy! You bastard! How could you do that— he’s just a baby! Jo’siah, hang on, I’m coming!”

  She dropped to her knees, unable to do more than watch as ‘Siah was engulfed in flames. Zander had fallen into the fire, that had only recently been stoked to put off the most heat. She couldn’t bear to watch; she knew she was too late to save them. How she had grown to care so much in such a short time, she didn’t know, but she did care, she cared a great deal.

  She rose from the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. The last thing she wanted to do was to see their burned bodies, but she had to check, maybe somehow, they had survived.

  Chapter 11

  With a roar of rage, a large purple Mach emerged from the flames and shot into the air, his large talons encircled Jo’siah. The pained shout coming from him tore at his heart. He knew he would have to heal him quickly, or he would die an extremely painful death.

  K’ivan was shocked to see how large Ki’zander’s Mach was, he would venture to say that he even dwarfed Ki’shien’s Mach. He would have to get back to warn him of the danger he faced. They would have to somehow catch him unaware.

  Jasmine watched as Ki’zander sat Jo’siah down on the warm sand just a few meters away from the firepit. She was up at once and running for them. Her cries echoed through the air; her hope soared as she heard ‘Siah call out in pain. If he was in pain, it meant he was alive, and that gave her hope, at least until she reached his side.

  She dropped to her knees beside the charred body of the man who had come to mean so much to her in such a short time. She reached out, searching for some small area that wasn’t burnt beyond recognition. His skin, in most areas was black, cracked and bleeding. He arched his back as his tortured screams tore through her heart. Her fingers pressed against a small place on his cheek where the skin was only a little pink. His beautiful brown hair, what was left of it, was melted against his skull. She suddenly wished she could end his suffering, even if that meant a world without him.

  She looked up when a long pink tongue swiped across his shoulders, causing him to scream, then pass out from the pain.

  “Zander, please you’re hurting him. He’s suffering enough, please, stop.” Tears nearly blinded her as she cradled his head in her lap.

  She screamed when the enormous Mach pulled the charred body into his large mouth, his teeth closing. She ran toward him, screaming. She was torn between wanting Jo’siah’s suffering to end and wishing she could have him there for just a little while longer.

  “No! Zander, please! Don’t eat him! I can’t live with that!” She collapsed on the ground behind Ki’zander. The baby boy she had grown to love, had just eaten the man who had stolen her heart. She wasn’t sure how she could survive this. It suddenly seemed as if what Marcus had done to her paled compared to what she was going through right now.

  Through her cries, she heard what sounded like moans coming from Ki’zander’s mouth. Rising to her feet, she walked around to face him. She could see the hurt and sadness on his little face, and then knew that she had been wrong to think that this baby boy would hurt what he had come to consider his brother.

  She watched as an arm reached through the large teeth, then a leg stretched out the other side.

  “Will you please, Ki’zander! Do you know how weird it is for me to be inside your mouth!”

  The huge mouth opened, and the long pink tongue deposited a nearly bald, but completely healed Jo’siah on the beach in front of him.

  From behind, the baby boy spoke, “Sorry, ‘Siah. You were burned so bad, that my tongue wouldn’t have been enough. I had to take you in my mouth.” A little head poked out to glare at Jasmine, “I don’t eat people, that’s gross!”

  She threw her arms around Jo’siah and smiled at the baby boy over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Zander. Again, huge Mach, what was I to think?”

  Jo’siah’s mind was reeling from his near-death experience. He had been sure when the flames engulfed him that he would be joining his ancestors that day. Instead, he had awakened inside the huge mouth of a Mach. He suddenly realized that he no longer felt the connection to his brother and Felisha. The Goddess had intervened and freed him so he could at last claim his mate.

  Jo’siah was shocked when Jasmine threw herself at him, he didn’t expect that. He felt dirty, covered in the healing saliva from Ki’zander’s mouth, all he wanted to do was jump into the water and rinse himself off. He also didn’t want to release the woman who clung to him. Standing, he realized there was no reason he couldn’t have both. He hooked one arm under her knees and carried her over to the water, and into the waves beating against the beach. He didn’t stop until the water lapped against his chest, washing away the slimy remnants from his time spent in the Mach’s maw.

  Jasmine pulled back to look into the face of the man she had feared lost to her only moments before. His gaze remained on the ocean until she felt the spray against her cheeks.

  He could feel her gaze on him, as he bent into the waves, then turned an apologetic smile on her, as he dropped them both beneath the salty currents.

  When he stood again, he stared down into the beautiful face of his lifemate, while she fought against his hold. When her eyes finally opened, he could see the anger she felt over their sudden dunk in the water.

  “Sorry,” his gaze turned up toward what used to be his long beautiful hair. Whatever was left was now floating in the water around them.

  “Your beautiful hair! Jo’siah, I’m so sorry for what happened to you! But I’m glad Zander was able to heal you; I just don’t know—” Her voice broke as the tears tumbled down her cheeks.

  “Hey, it’s okay now,” he spoke in almost a whisper, as his lips met hers. His kiss was tender, sensual, his tongue slipped against her lips, seeking entrance. She opened to him, with a soft moan.

  He released her legs and pulled her closer, then deepened the kiss. He started walking them back toward the beach. While
one hand held her head in place, the other came down, kneading her rounded ass, then pulled her closer against his growing erection. The need to claim her, to make her his, overwhelmed his senses, as he lowered her to the beach. His hips pumped against her core, seeking entrance. Her moans encouraged him to continue with his need to claim her. He broke the kiss long enough to lock onto her neck, sucking and nipping, he started pulling on her pants.

  “Hey, what are you guys doing?”

  Chapter 12

  Jasmine stared up into the big blue eyes of their baby boy, she blinked a few times until comprehension took hold. Then she drew her knee up, as she planted her foot on a broad chest and sent Jo’siah sailing across the sand.

  She brought Ki’zander into her embrace, raining kisses all over his face. “Oh, Zander! I thought for sure I had lost you. I was so scared!” She pulled him close and started rocking.

  “I love you, baby boy, don’t ever scare me like that again.” She looked down into his sleepy gaze as she continued to rock. She laid a soft kiss on his forehead as he drifted off to sleep. Then she looked up from the boy and over to the scowling face of the man who had just kissed her silly moments before and whispered, “Can you lay him down over there?” She nodded toward the dying fire a short distance away.

  Jo’siah took the boy from her arms and laid him down by the firepit. When he started to stir, he rubbed small circles on his back until he relaxed. Then took a few pieces of wood and brought the flames alive again.

  “We can’t let the fire go out while the flamethrower sleeps—” The words died when Jasmine threw herself into his arms and kissed him passionately. Somehow between him taking Ki’zander and putting him on the soft sand, she had managed to completely divest herself of her clothes.

  She walked him backward until they found themselves inside a small cavern. He lifted her into his arms and lowered her until they were laying on the warm sand just inside the cave. His hand rubbed up her body until he reached the swell of her breast. His fingers pulled on the distended nipple, twisting and pinching, while his other hand came down to the juncture of her legs. He brushed his hand across her curls, then down to part her folds, as one finger dipped into her warm moist heat. Moaning, she pushed her hips to meet his thrust. His lips worked his way down her neck, sucking, and nipping, his teeth latched onto the area where neck met shoulder, biting down, but careful not to break the skin.

  As he worked his way down to take her nipple between his teeth, another finger joined the first. That was when he learned of her innocence. It was all he could do to not roar with the joy he felt knowing he was her first, and she would never know another. He pumped into her with his fingers, stopping just short of breaking the barrier that guarded her womb. The womb that would one day carry his young. At once, he knew he couldn’t hold back, as his fingers pushed through, causing her to cry out. He pulled back to stare down at her, he saw a single tear trailed down her cheek. Kissing her softly he doubled his efforts to bring her to release. He wanted to bring her pleasure, to erase the pain he had caused just a micon ago. From this day forth there would be no more pain between them, this he vowed.

  Lowering his head, he took her nipple into his mouth, lightly bit down, then licked and sucked. When he felt her hands enclose his rod, he nearly came. He started pushing into her fisted hands, his teeth bit down harder on her nipple, then his fingers started pumping in time with his shaft. His thumb came up and pressed down on her clit, then rubbed light circles, pressed down again, then circles. She cried out when he stopped all at once, only to scream as he plunged his huge member deep inside. Her nails dug into his shoulder, while she shook through one of the most intense orgasms she had ever experienced. He continued to pump into her, his lips locked onto her neck as he slammed home again and again. He reached between them and started strumming her clit in time with his thrusts. His teeth locked on, at last breaking the skin, claiming her as his. His fingers pressed against her swollen nub, then shot his seed deep inside.

  She came so hard, she swore she saw stars, the scream echoed off the cavern walls, before everything went black.

  Jo’siah laid her head down on the soft sand as he licked her neck, savoring her taste. “My mate, my love. At last we are together.”

  Chapter 13

  Jo’siah reached over to where he had left Jasmine sleeping the night before. Already he could feel his need for her growing. His hand came down onto the cool sand, brushing it upward, he still didn’t find what he sought. There was a slight niggling at the back of his brain, telling him something wasn’t as it should be.

  Finally he opened his eyes, only to find Jasmine wasn’t where she had been once they passed out after an exhaustive night of lovemaking. When he rolled over onto his back, he stared up into the glaring eyes of his enemy. He started to rise, when he heard Jasmine cry out in pain.

  “Ah, if it isn’t the heir, himself. And,” he looked at someone behind Jo’siah, “who do we have here? She’s not Mach, and she’s not Doshna. Hum, perhaps she is like Felisha. I wonder if she will be as skilled as Felisha is. I may have to bring her into my chambers and have a little taste.”

  Jo’siah let out an angry howl and tried to stand. A large foot pressed onto his chest, preventing him from achieving his feet.

  “Although, if you prove too troublesome, we may just decide to leave her broken body here on the beach. However, since I can scent that she is your mate, I strongly advise against giving me any problems.”

  He looked over to where Ki’shien’s second was holding Jasmine, her delicate neck held firmly in the crook of his elbow, while one hand locked her head firmly in place. All it would take was one jerk, and she would be no more. He immediately relaxed his body, not wanting to give them any reason to hurt her.

  He heard a whimper coming from the entrance of the cave and raised his head to see what it was. There, on the ground was a large cage, and inside that, Ki’zander laid curled into a small ball, shaking and crying.

  “Ah, my little brother. It seems my mother was able to sneak away to have one more baby before she met with an untimely demise. You see, there’s not many things that can kill a Mach. But if you put them inside a small container, specially enchanted to withstand the change, while injured—” He looked back at the cage that held Ki’zander, “Well, let’s just say it isn’t pretty.

  “Take him back to the castle, we can wait there for when the urge to change becomes too much.”

  Then he looked at someone in the shadows behind Jo’siah, “Bring him, and if he even hints that he wants to fight you,” he looked over at K’ivan, “Kill her. I only need one female to bare my heir.”

  He turned around, and as he passed from the cave onto the beach, in his place, a large red Mach flew away. Knowing his orders would be carried out, he never looked back.

  K’ivan looked at the one behind Jo’siah, “You take him and get back to the lair.”

  “What about her? He said—”

  “Do you wish to challenge me?”

  Without another word he pushed Jo’siah to the entrance of the cave, and then the Mach gripped him and leapt into the air.

  K’ivan just glared at the other Machs standing around until he was left alone with Jazmine. He released her then waited until she turned around. “I need your help.”

  Chapter 14

  Jo’siah hung limply from the shackles, his cell was in the lower portion of Ki’shien’s lair, deep in the depths of the cavern. The heat was stifling, and he could hear the moans and screams of others who had fallen prey to the madman who ruled the Mach shifters.

  In the far corner sat a covered cage, every now and then he could hear something shifting inside. He could only guess it was another unfortunate Mach that he had caged and planned to torture later.

  Unless, “Zander?”

  The movement in the small cage stilled, he could hear someone breathing inside.

  “I can hear you, and I can scent you. I know that you are Mach, and as Doshna, I am
your sworn enemy. But I swear to you, should I manage to get out of these shackles, I will do everything in my power to set you free.”

  “Lies.” He was shocked to hear the voice of a female coming from the cage hidden in the shadows.

  “I do not lie. I am Jo’siah Li’Asher, heir to the throne, it is dishonorable to lie.”

  A warm laugh came from the box, “And Ki’shien is heir to the throne of the Mach, and yet here we are.”

  “You do not have to believe me for it to be so. When I have not returned in a timely manner, they will come for me. All that stand with Ki’shien will perish, all that are imprisoned shall be freed. Then there shall be one, who is just and honorable placed in his stead—”

  An angry roar came from the cage, the bars shook, and it bounced away from the wall. “You shall not dictate to me who shall rule the Mach! There is but one who shall sit upon the throne, and even now he is hidden deep in the swamps, away from the evil that stands in this place.”

  “Quiet in here!” A Mach stepped into the room carrying a cage that was also covered with a blanket. He sat it in another corner, far from both Jo’siah and the other cage.

  He could hear the child weeping, and his heart ached, he should have been more diligent, he should have protected him better.

  “I’m sorry, Ki’zander, I failed both you and Jasmine.”

  “Ki’zander?” The whispered words were just loud enough for him to hear.

  “Momma? Is that you? I thought you were dead!”

  “Well, well, well. Don’t we have quite the reunion going on in here. I guess you can see that I lied.” Ki’shien stepped into the room, behind him K’ivan walked in carrying an unconscious Jasmine. “I want her over there,” he pointed to the wall across the room from where the Doshna prince was shackled. “I want them all to be able to see each other, but unable to touch, unable to help the other.”