Jeremy was beyond worry. They were taking another break, but Jewels wasn't doing well. She was almost lifeless. That was not something he'd ever seen her be. It was frightening. He felt the tiredness and her pain. He tried to soothe her, but she waved him off. Jeremy knew what the problem was. During the second phase, he had felt Dex and Jewels' minds entwine and bond. No matter what anyone else did, it was useless. The two were mated.
He knelt by the cot and touched her head. She was burning up. "Jewels, I'm going to get Dex."
She feverishly grabbed his hand. "No, the rules. Remember the rules."
"The rules can kiss my..."
"Jeremy! Please, I'm fine," Jewels insisted.
"No, you're not! You don't get it, Jewels, because it's never happened to you before. It's the bond heat. It only happens when you're with a psionic who completes you. You only get it once in a lifetime." He didn't hide the bitterness behind his words.
She interlocked her fingers with his, her eyes glazed with pain. "Tell me."
Jeremy snorted. Even though she was hurting in a big way, she still worried about him. It was humbling. She needed to hear his words so he told her his story.
"I was about your age, and there was this girl. I fell for her, but she, she didn't want me. In fact, she ended up marrying my best friend. We were all psionics. I almost died because of her refusal of our bond heat. It took a lot of effort and some dedicated healers to save my life. I went into the military after that, and here I am today."
"Jeremy, that's awful!" Jewels whispered.
"I don't need pity, I want you to understand. Knowing Psi-Ops, they didn't educate you about the matter. And you're suffering because of it. The only way to ease the heat is for you and Dex to be intimate. And no, I'm not talking just about a joining of the minds."
She clamped her mouth closed and shook her head. "I can't. What if he doesn't want me in a forever kind of way? What if I'm just a diversion?"
He smoothed her damp hair back from her forehead. "Trust me, you're not, Jewels. You're the kind of gal a man would willingly shackle himself to. And if he didn't think that way, then he's a fool."
Jewels giggled, grimaced, and then moaned in pain. Jeremy looked at her and made a decision. He hadn't forgotten the rest of the orders he had been given when he and Jewels were first assigned this mission. He had been sworn to secrecy, but time was against them. He untangled their fingers and stepped away. "I'll be right back, Jewels."
She didn't answer. She had slid into a fitful sleep. He hurried to the waiting room and shooed the guards away. He opened the door and beckoned for Dex to come to him. When Dipaw and Nipaw moved to follow, he waved them back.
Jeremy waited until Dex joined him in the hall and closed the door.
"What is it, Human?" Dex demanded.
"Jewels needs you. You need her. I'm about to do something to help you both. It'll probably burn out my gift, but Jewels means that much to me."
Dex gave him an interested look. "Go on."
Jeremy grinned. "I have a talent that is classified above top secret. I was given authorization to use it at my discretion should the need arise. I figured this was what they meant."
"Who is 'they' that you speak of?" Dex frowned.
"Doesn't matter. Hold on to my shoulder. And whatever you do, don't let go."
"Understood."
Traveling back in time was harrowing and dangerous. Jeremy had to be completely one with his gift or risk losing himself in the streams of time. He concentrated on when he wanted to be. He felt the familiar burning in his mind and ignored it. It was always strange watching the surroundings blur into a swirl of colors before becoming normal again. He gasped and stumbled backward.
Dex steadied him and stared with wonder. "You humans continue to astound me. Even we do not possess this talent."
Jeremy gave a rueful laugh. "Yeah, well, I don't use it often. Go in there. Give her what she needs. I'll be back when you're done."
Dex extended his paw, and Jeremy shook it. "You are a true friend, Jeremy Lingley."
Jeremy smiled and walked away.
Dex stared at the door and went in, anticipation humming in his veins. This was it, and he couldn't wait to show Jewels how much she meant to him. He saw her on the bed, moving restlessly. Dex knew she was aware of him. Her mind called to his. He reached out, blanketing hers with his shielding. He was buffeted by the raging heat of desire that consumed her mind and body.
He gasped. Suddenly, a lot of things made sense. His father's insistence that he see the royal healer, his extreme possessiveness of Jewels, and his own awakening desire meant only one thing. The mating bond had started between them. He had to sate it or go mad. Apparently, she was having the same problem as he. Dex was thrilled. He knew Jewels felt some lust toward him. He didn't want to settle for just lust. He wanted it all.
He stopped at the cot and knelt. He slowly pulled the thin sheet off her. She was scantily clad, and he wondered if she normally slept without clothing. If she didn't, he would make sure she started.
::Hello, little human. Do you trust me?::
::Dex? I'm so sleepy and hot. What's wrong with me?::
::I need to quench your fire. Do you trust me to do that?::
::I trust you. Help me, please. I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. I ache, Dex.::
::I know, my little human. Let us get you out of your clothing, and we shall go from there.::
::Yes, please, it's hot in here.::
::Not as hot as it will be.:: He purred deep in his throat and unsheathed one claw.
Dex studied her clothing and decided the easiest way to remove it was to cut it down the center. He started with the one covering her breasts. It was no match for his claws. Her breasts were fuller, more round than the females of his kind, but he didn't mind. Hers were perfect and his. He buried his face in them and heard her gasp.
Her fingers wove their way into his fur, and she tugged, none too gently, pulling his head closer. Dex snaked out his tongue and licked one nipple slowly, laving his tongue around it. She moaned as her hands restlessly ran down his fur.
::Do you like this, my human Onugra?::
::Yes, I didn't know it could be like this. I need you.:: She wriggled beneath him.
::Have you mated before? If not, I must go more slowly.::
::Yes, but only twice, and never worth remembering.::
::That is a shame. You should be pampered and cherished.:: His nose twitched, and he happily filled it with her sweet honey arousal. He moved his mouth from her nipple and heard her protest.
::I will make you roar, my little human. First, I wish to savor every inch of you.:: He nuzzled and licked his way down her chest, to her belly, and laughed when his whiskers tickled her, and she giggled.
Dex buried his nose right above the little scrap of cloth that covered her womanly core from his gaze. It was soaked with her juices. She was more than ready. Growling, he took it in his teeth and tore it from her body, leaving her bare. He repositioned himself between her thighs and looked at her. Her eyes were on him. She was ready and expectant.
::I will rage inside you, fill you, and not stop until you scream your heat to the heavens.::
::Will it hurt? Felines here have barbs on their...members. Are you the same?::
::We control ours, my Onugrass. We use them only when we wish to have young.:: Dex really wanted to sink into her depths, but he held still, waiting for her to choose.
::Please, take me! I want you to be one with me. Love me, Dex, love me.::
::Gladly, little human.:: He pulled the string that bound his loincloth around his hips. It dropped, and he set it aside. His member sprang free, stiff and full of life for the first time since he came of age to be a male. This human female was giving him a special gift.
::For you, Jewels, my precious gem of life.:: He slid into her slick, hot, welcoming core and felt the tight grip around his shaft. He purred low, vibrating them both with the sound.
Her mind wrapped thoroughly with his. He began where she ended, and she completed him. He set a slow, languorous pace that drove their inner fires higher to an all-consuming blaze. His fur glided along her body with his thrusts. She curled up and pulled his head down, kissing him as the new position sent him deeper. He was nearing climax as was she.
::Come fly with me. Ride the wave,:: Dex urged as he increased his pacing.
"Dex!" Jewels cried, tears of happiness running down her face, as she gasped and rocked her hips. Her head flung back, and she gripped his fur tightly. Her mewling, longing cries filled the room.
The pain from her tugging his fur was nice, and he growled loudly. "Now, I mark you as mine." He thrust hard, and his roar of triumph mingled with her scream as she came hard, her inner muscles clamped him, squeezing him and sending shudders of orgasmic waves through her. He felt his seed fill her, and he shuddered with the ripples of pleasure that sang through his mind and body.
He wrapped his arms around her as their bodies tried to remember how to be separate beings. "My mate," Dex purred contentedly and licked her nose.
"Silly male," Jewels whispered, but her eyes shone with love. "What time is it?"
"Doesn't matter. This was our time. We are now mate-bonded. In your human speech, we are married."
"Married! What? Now wait just a second, Dex," Jewels started to protest, and he kissed her silent.
"Shh, little human. I am yours, you are mine. I will be your shield and protector. There is no other. Now, I must leave you. Sleep, and when you wake, we will do the final phase of this Choosing and leave this place."
"Dex, I just can't leave," she retorted, but her eyes were closing.
"Sleep," he ordered and forced her body to rest. He carefully slid from her, feeling for a moment bereft. He started licking the mating fluids off her. Dex even cleaned his whiskers, wanting to savor every drop of his mate. He would never get enough of her. Once he finished, he pulled the sheet up and covered her.
Dex put his loincloth on and kissed Jewels' forehead, a huge grin on his face. She was truly an Onugrass. He went out to the hallway and nodded to Jeremy. "Thank you."
"No problem. She deserved at least one moment of happiness."
Dex grew wary. "What do you mean by that?"
Jeremy shook his head. "Can't tell you. Laws of the universe and all that jazz. Remember that Jewels' love is a powerful thing." He clamped a hand on Dex's shoulder.
"But!" Dex didn't get to finish, for the world spun and he lost consciousness.