Free A Twitch of Tail by R. E. Butler Page B

made a face.  “I asked you if I needed something nice and you said no.”
    Tahlon trailed his fingers down her arm.  “I know, and I’m sorry.  I’ve never seen her dress for dinner like that before.”  He frowned, wondering what was going on.
    “I’m sure she’s just being difficult,” Melo said.  “I think she was surprised that Tahlon is mated now.  She probably had plans to try to talk him into staying with the ambush.  She’s clearly upset that he’s leaving, and she’s being a bitch.”
    Tahlon took Tera’s hand.  “Let’s get out of here.  I’m sure I can scrounge up something for us to have for dinner.”
    Tera smiled at him, but it wasn’t a real smile.  Her face was far too expressive to fool him, and the tightness around her eyes and mouth told him that she was worried.
    Leaving the house, he swung her up into his arms and sat in the back seat with her on his lap.  The drive to his house was short.  It was the home that he and Melo had shared.
    Melo parked in front of the tiny two-bedroom house and turned off the engine.  Tera hadn’t said a word since they left the king and queen’s home.  Brushing his fingers across her forehead, he said with a low voice, “You okay, love?”
    She blinked tear-filled eyes at him.  “I made things worse by being here, didn’t I?  I insisted on coming, and I’m going to get you killed!”  She started to cry, burying her face in his neck and squeezing her arms around him tightly.
    Tahlon met Melo’s eyes in the mirror. Shushing her gently, he cuddled her closer.  “You didn’t, love, I promise.  She was pissed off from the start and looking for a fight.  I wish you’d never been exposed to her.  She had no right to behave that way towards you.  I wanted to rip her head off.”
    Tera shuddered, her breath hitching as she tried to compose herself.  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
    Tahlon leaned back, cupping her chin and turning her face towards him.  “Don’t be.  It’ll be alright, baby, I promise.”
    She didn’t seem convinced, and Tahlon wasn’t entirely sure that it was going to be okay, himself.  But he did know he was the best fighter in the ambush, and he’d do anything to be able to leave with Tera.
    He carried her into the house and when he tried to put her down, she clung to him, struggling to remain in his arms.  “Make love to me, Tahlon, please.  I need you so badly.”
    Melo said quietly, “Go spend time with Tera, Tahl.  I’ll make dinner and start packing.”
    Tahlon nodded his thanks at his brother, striding quickly to the master bedroom and kicking the door shut.  He laid Tera down on the bed.  Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her hands fisted in his shirt.
    Placing his hands on either side of her head, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead and then both eyes, the tip of her nose and her flushed cheeks, before nibbling on her bottom lip.  Her hands slid through his hair and cupped his head as she angled her head and plunged her tongue into his mouth.
    His fingers flew down the thin blouse she wore, opening the buttons hurriedly and popping the last two in his rush.  He fisted his hand in the back of his shirt and jerked it over his head, crushing his mouth back on hers again.  Their tongues slid together in a hot rush, touching and tangling, dancing together as her body moved under him.  The apex of her thighs rubbed against his erection that strained against the suddenly tight confines of his jeans.  As she arched under him, her body flushed and her eyes were bright with passion.
    Undoing her slacks, he stepped back far enough to pull them and the tiny lace panties off.  He shucked his own jeans, his body shaking with desire.  He stepped from his clothes and straightened, drinking in the sight of his mate’s lush, naked body.  She arched up and turned onto her stomach, moving up on the bed on her hands and knees.  She glanced over her