Atlantean's Quest Volume 1 Read online

  She stretched, letting out a loud yawn. Her fingers scrunched the furs beneath her. Her muscles felt well exercised, Ares saw to that. She couldn’t help but smile at the lengths he’d gone to, to keep her in shape. It still didn’t excuse the fact that he’d basically been keeping her isolated here in his hut. She knew it had to do with the challenge, but it still didn’t make sense. Jac glanced down at the furs and calculated whether she could fashion clothes from one of them. After struggling with the hides for about an hour she gave up and lay back down. Nobody could ever accuse her of being Suzie homemaker.

  As it did of late, her mind wandered. Jac thought about the Professor and wondered what had become of him. She prayed the caimans had gotten him, but it was probably too much to hope for. The poor beasts would take one bite and spit him back out. She giggled as she pictured a caiman wearing Rumsinger’s glasses. Her laugh turned to a frown. Since when did Jaclyn Ward giggle? Like never.

  The flap covering the door of the hut was pushed aside. Jac bolted up, her hands automatically crossing over her breasts. Ares stood in the frame, staring at her, his eyes unreadable.

  “How’d it go?” she blurted, not sure why she asked or even if she wanted to know.

  He stepped inside and dropped the flap. His gaze wandered around the room, observing the changes she’d made. “I like what you’ve done.”

  Jac bit her lip. “Are you going to tell me or not?”

  Ares opened the pouch at his side and pulled out a snake skin over twenty feet long, still damp with blood. Then a spark of amusement lit his eyes. “’Tis a fine day indeed for a competition.” He smiled.

  “You won.” Jac jumped off the bed, then realized that she was about to throw her arms around him to congratulate him. She stopped mid-stride and added with less enthusiasm. “That’s nice.”

  Ares frowned for a moment, then let it pass. “The challenge is not over, yet.” He glanced down at the snakeskin. “Tomorrow we duel with energy bursts.”

  Jac’s chest tightened. She’d been dreading that day all week. The Seer’s warning of possible death rang in her ears. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Jac didn’t think she’d be able to handle it if she lost Ares. She’d grown fond of him over the last several days. “Are you sure we can’t call off this nonsense?”

  His gaze hardened. “Not without admitting defeat.”

  Jac reached out, her fingers trailed lightly over his bronzed skin. “Would that be so bad?” she asked, hoping she could talk him into it.

  Ares grabbed her by the forearms, pulling her forward. He forced her gaze up to meet his. “It would mean giving you up.” He paused. “Is that what you wish?”

  Jac tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t release her.

  “Answer me,” his voice was cold, demanding—fearful.

  She took a deep breath and debated again whether to lie. “No,” she whispered.

  He gave her a curt nod, the tension easing from his ruggedly handsome face. Ares released her and stepped back. “Good, because I will not give you up. Not even if you wish it.”

  Jac hated to admit it, but something inside her swelled at his admission. A perverse thrill shot through her. Ares wasn’t going to give her up without a fight. Hell, according to him, he wouldn’t give her up period. Why didn’t that sound as horrible as it had a few days ago? She decided to examine the question later, much later. Right now Ares needed to get some food inside of him. He must have worked up an appetite if he’d been off battling anacondas.

  They sat at the table eating pieces of camu camu and mango fruit, along with nut filled bread. For a few moments Jac said nothing, she simply enjoyed his company. She’d never been around a man who didn’t require conversation. Most of the men she had dated had been so intimidated by her strength, they felt the need to fill every gap of silence with words. None of them lasted long. No man ever lasted long in her life. In fact, if she’d calculated right, in a few days Ares would break her personal long-term record for being with one man. This jungle had to be affecting her mind.

  “Tell me about the snake.” She prompted, wanting to listen to anything but her own thoughts.

  Ares’s eyes flared and for a moment he said nothing. Then a smile started at the corners of his firm lips. He put down the mango he’d been eating and swiped a hand across his mouth, dispersing the juice. “I was making my way along the river bank, when I spotted him.” Ares used his hands to show how he wound his way through the brush. “He lay perched on a thick branch above the water, waiting for prey to come and drink.”

  Jac ripped off a piece of bread, took a bite, and began to chew. Her eyes remained locked onto Ares as he reenacted the hunt.

  “He didn’t yet see me, nor sense my presence until I pounced upon him.” His emerald eyes widened for emphasis. “I sprang from a nearby branch, knocking him from his perch and we both fell into the water.”

  The bread in Jac’s mouth lodged in her throat as she imagined Ares in the river battling the anaconda. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on her skin as she realized he could have been killed pulling a stunt like that. She couldn’t bring herself to speak.

  “At one point, he wrapped his mighty body around mine and attempted to squeeze. Fortunately, I released an energy burst before he bound my hands. Had he encircled my wrists first—” he shrugged again. “I would not be telling you this story.”

  Jac rose from the table and walked the short distance to the water barrel. She cupped her trembling hands and drank deeply, trying to wash away the fear threatening to overthrow her control. Ares had made the whole thing sound like some big adventure, when in fact he’d almost died.

  She cupped her hands again and splashed some water over her face to calm her nerves. The cool water dripped down her back and over her buttocks, sending a delicious chill spiking through her. When she’d finally gathered herself together, Jac turned to face Ares, her mind made up. He stared at her with a strange look in his eye, one she was unable to read.

  She took the few steps needed to cover the distance, placed her hands on Ares’s cheeks, and slowly lowered her mouth to his. The kiss started out tentative at first, testing, seeking, searching for something more. Jac deepened the embrace, swiping her tongue along his lower lip. He growled, then opened, inviting her in. She dipped inside, her kiss growing more urgent. She sucked on his tongue, tasting the sweet mango he’d been eating only moments before. Jac groaned. Her hands wandered down his neck and over his shoulders, her fingernails biting into the thick skin on his back. She pressed forward, her nipples brushing his chest.

  Jac couldn’t seem to get close enough. She had no idea how close she’d come to losing him. His hands remained at his sides, letting her explore to her heart’s content. She brushed her fingers across his nipples and felt him tense. Her palms dropped further to the ties at the side of his loincloth. Jac pulled at the laces, without breaking the kiss, until they slipped free. Then she stepped back, heaving in a lungful of air. She reached for his arms, pulling on his biceps, which was equivalent to trying to lift felled logs. Ares smiled at her and stood. His loincloth slid down his muscled thighs, like a slow striptease, onto the floor.

  She leaned in close to his ear. “I want you now.”

  Ares sucked in a startled breath—then he growled.

  “But first I’m going to tie you up.”

  He stilled, uncertainty swimming in his eyes, then he acquiesced.

  Jac led him to the bed of furs, running her hand over one of the scarves still tied to the stakes. She arched a brow and looked at Ares, taunting, teasing, daring him to let her bind him. He hesitated but for a moment, then lay upon the bed, arms and legs outstretched.

  She blinked. Jac couldn’t believe it. Ares was actually going to allow her to tie him to the furs. Just the thought of having this great big muscled man at her mercy thrilled her. Ares was hers, all hers and she’d never let him go. What am I saying?

  Jac slipped one scarf around Ares’s thick wrist and then waited to
see if he would protest. He simply watched her and grinned. She quickly secured the other bonds before he changed his mind. Her body thrummed with excitement. With his legs spread and his enormous cock standing at attention, Ares looked like a delicious pagan sacrifice. And she planned to worship that massive cock of his for the next hour.

  “I have you right where I want you,” she purred, ignoring the flip her heart gave in her chest. Very carefully Jac climbed onto the bed and straddled Ares’s flat stomach. His muscles jumped beneath her.

  Jac rotated until her bottom rested on his chest and she faced his cock. She leaned forward until her lips were an inch above his pulsing head, then blew warm air over his shaft. Ares’s cock bucked, urging her on. She slipped the tip of him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the thick crown. She heard him groan and pull against the restraints, but she didn’t stop. Jac firmed her lips and began to suck in earnest.

  “You are killing me, my fierceness,” he groaned out. Ares legs strained as he tried to wrest free.

  Jac giggled, vibrating the length of his shaft. She continued to work, her head bobbing while she sucked and swirled, allowing her teeth to gently scrape his sensitive skin. Every muscle in his body tensed. She wrapped one hand at the base of his shaft and began to pump, following her mouth’s movements. She could feel Ares clench and strain beneath her. She moved her other hand over his groin, threading it through the nest of curls at his base, until she cupped his heavy sac. His balls were like two velvety goose eggs that she lovingly massaged. Jac didn’t slow her actions, only continued to stroke and add pressure.

  “Let me up,” Ares warned, attempting to buck her off.

  “Uh uh.” Jac clung tight and sped up. Ares’s sac drew up and every muscle in his body seemed to tighten. The pressure continued to build. She stroked a few more times and Ares bellowed. His body tensed and his cock pulsed as he came hard. Jac swallowed his essence until she’d drained him, then sat up, a satisfied smile planted on her face. She tossed a glance over her shoulder in time to see Ares’s hands come free. She had about a second to shriek before he had her. He didn’t try to roll her beneath him. This time Ares pulled her hips back toward his face, his fingers digging into the soft skin of her thighs.

  “You have tortured me enough. ‘Tis my turn to love you.”

  She blanched at his choice of words, but only had a moment to dwell on them, before her clit was enveloped. She tried to rise, but he pinned her down with one hand. Before she realized what he was going to do, Ares had her above his face. He stiffened his tongue and entered her. Jac’s sheath closed around him and she moaned. She’d never get tired of this man. She could return to New York tomorrow and never escape the memory of this moment. Somehow he’d branded her soul with his touch. She spread her thighs a little wider, giving him full access to her body, her heart. He twisted his tongue like a corkscrew over and over, repeatedly hitting her G-spot. She had no idea how he managed it and she didn’t care as long as he didn’t stop.

  Ares pulled out of her channel only long enough to tease her clit. He laved her, sucking the tiny bud into his mouth, worrying it with his teeth. Jac shuddered and pushed down, smothering his face with her sex. Ares growled and continued to feed. Her juices ran freely, dripping over his chin. He lapped them up, catching every drop. Just as she neared her peak, he released her clit. She groaned and hit him in the side. He laughed, then plunged back into her, drawing in and out, fucking her with his tongue.

  She leaned over, her nails sunk into his sides, as her lips locked once more onto his hardening cock. It was his turn to groan. Like crazed animals they ate at each other, nipping, tonguing, and sucking. He couldn’t get enough of her wild musk, her scent was everywhere, surrounding, enveloping. Ares picked up speed as he felt Jac’s walls begin to spasm. He swirled his tongue, then sent an energy burst into her greedy body. Jac let out a strangled scream, before once again latching onto his cock and pumping furiously. It took but a moment for Ares to follow her into the abyss.

  * * * * *

  Several hours later, they lay sprawled over the furs, too exhausted to move. They’d made love so many times that Jac had to cry uncle or she’d never walk again. She was loath to admit it, but she couldn’t take another orgasm. Her body still quaked from the last three. Excess energy radiated over her body and out of her pores. Ares should bottle that energy burst. Women would line up around the world to get a taste of it. They’d fallen asleep for a while, but were now content to lay in each others arms. Jac ran her fingers over Ares’s chest in lazy circles. She felt well and truly sated.

  “Ares?”

  “Hmm—”

  She shifted until her chin rested on his chest. Her eyes found his and her breath caught. Jac didn’t think she’d ever get over how beautiful his emerald-colored eyes were. Like the jewels, they were mesmerizing and flawless. They caught the light and flashed fire.

  “I want to go into camp tonight.” Jac tried to sound restrained. She figured if she could convince Ares that he’d tamed her, she’d have a better chance of getting her way. If this tact didn’t work, she’d try another.

  His face tensed, but his gaze never wavered. “Why?”

  Jac looked to the side, playing demure, before returning to his face. “I haven’t seen Rachel or anyone else for that matter. I’m going crazy waiting in here all day.”

  Ares muscles tightened, raw emotion played over his features. “Do you wish to see anyone else in particular?”

  She started. For a second, Jac wasn’t sure how to answer, then she realized he thought she wanted to see Coridan. A smile teased at the corners of her mouth, before turning into a full-blown grin. “Are you jealous?”

  He shifted her off his body. “I know not what you speak of.”

  She laughed. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Jac nudged him with her elbow.

  “If you want to see Rachel tonight, then you must be prepared.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Prepared, how?”

  It was Ares’s turn to smile, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. Jac decided she didn’t like his expression. It made her nervous—very nervous. The last time he looked anything like that she’d end up tied to the bed for two days.

  God only knew what he was up to now. Was he going to put a collar around her neck and make her walk through the compound naked, on a leash? She had a feeling it would be much worse. But she also knew one more thing, if she didn’t go along with whatever he wanted, she’d find herself back tied to the bed and stuck here for four more days until this challenge had been completed.

  “Okay.” She released a breath. “Give it to me straight, what do I have to do in this preparation?”

  His smile widened. “I must mark you before you can be presented to the tribe.”

  “Mark me?” She raised a brow. “Mark me how?”

  Ares carefully moved over Jac and rose from the furs. He walked to a small compartment in the wall that she hadn’t noticed before and withdrew more items, adding them to the ones he’d brought from Ariel’s hut. They looked like tools of some sort.

  “What are you going to do with those, build a birdhouse for a cockatoo?” Jac tried to joke, but her heart raced in her chest as if she were running a marathon.

  He shook his head slowly, then curled his finger, beckoning her to come.

  Jac couldn’t seem to move a muscle. Every fiber of her being operated on red alert and there was no standby. She glanced from Ares to the table where he’d laid out the items and then back.

  “F-first tell me what you’re going to do,” she stalled, trying to give herself enough time to come up with a plan of escape.

  “The sooner I put the markings on you, the sooner you’ll get to see Rachel.” His tone dropped. “And whoever else you seek.”

  She hadn’t thought about Coridan since she’d arrived at Ares’s hut. She’d all but forgotten about their plan. Strange how things change in a few days. Jac swallowed hard and forced herself to move. Her legs trembl
ed, threatening to give out on her, as she slipped from the bed. She took a deep breath and her chin shot up, her gaze unwavering. She strode the few steps needed to reach Ares with as much strength and pride as she could muster. She felt as if someone forced her to walk to her own execution. Jac doubted Ares would do anything to harm her, but she didn’t like the look of those tools. Knowing Ariel, the bitch had probably forged them to be used as some demented form of gynecological torture.

  She squared her shoulders. “Get on with it then.”

  Ares smiled, pride showing in his green depths. He picked up the first instrument, resembling a thick knitting needle and dipped it into a small bowl containing black liquid. He raised the tool, bringing it toward Jac’s abdomen. She flinched before he touched her.

  “It will not hurt.” He reached out with his free hand and drew her back. “You have my word.”

  “I can take the pain,” she protested. “I wasn’t ready.”

  Ares stared, but said nothing. He raised the instrument once more to her stomach and began to draw strange symbols onto her skin.

  “What do those mean?” Jac pointed, trying to watch his movements, but it was difficult to see from this angle.

  He didn’t look up, but continued to work as he spoke. “They tell a story of sorts. One of bravery and honor. Dominance and submission.”

  Jac glared and started to step back. Ares steadied her. “Don’t move, it is crucial I get these symbols right.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to breathe shallowly. She had a feeling Ares wasn’t telling her the whole story behind the symbols. The design he created looked exactly like his own. She decided once they arrived at the village she’d seek out Rachel to find out if she knew anything about them. Surely someone in the tribe would be able to explain what they meant.

  He continued to paint, making bold strokes with the black dye. When he’d completed the area beneath her belly button, Ares moved onto her lower back. By the time he finished, Jac looked as if she wore a thin intricately woven belt. She shyed away when he laid the needle like tool down.