His Forbidden Diamond

‘Now,’ he instructed softly, holding her firmly as he skilfully tipped her over the edge.

‘Those are the only instructions you’re allowed to give me,’ she teased him later as she snuggled contentedly against Tyr’s powerful chest. ‘But you can give them to me as often as you like.’

‘Was that a hint?’

‘If you need one,’ she confirmed, moving to accommodate him.

Tyr was so big—huge. She would never get used to the way he stretched her and filled her completely, or his ability to bring her so much pleasure. He knew her body and her responses better than she knew them herself. He knew exactly what she needed and how to give it to her, as she hoped she pleased him.

‘What do you think, Princess?’ Tyr stopped moving briefly. ‘Sinking into you is heaven. Working you is bliss. Seeing you come apart in my arms is the best thing in the world for me.’

She smiled as she used her hidden muscles to grip him tight.

‘That’s what I like about you,’ Tyr whispered against her mouth. ‘You’re never at a loss for something to do.’

She laughed with him, loving the way they were so close now, and when Tyr lost control this time, he called out her name and told her he loved her.

‘I can never get enough of hearing that,’ she whispered when Tyr rolled onto his back.

‘You shouldn’t be so amazing,’ he confided with a smile.

‘Is sex the only reason you love me?’

Staring deep into her eyes, Tyr grew serious. ‘The sex is just one wonderful part of it, of you.’

‘Cue violins?’ she murmured, smiling back at him.

‘Must I punish you for making light of my protestations of love?’

‘You can do anything you want to me when your mouth looks so sexy when you talk. In fact, just speak to me, just tell me that you love me, over and over again. I’ll never get enough of hearing it.’

‘You’re in luck, Princess,’ Tyr said as he drew her into his arms. ‘You’re going to be hearing me tell you that I love you quite a lot.’

* * *

The sky over the desert at dusk had turned a sultry violet tinged with gold. A big ivory moon hung low in the sky as Jazz and Tyr watched the villagers fly their kestrels. The sky was so clear, Jazz could see the blackened craters on the face of the moon, and the huge dark shadows on its cream-cheese surface. The villagers had been so thrilled to see them, they had immediately handed Tyr the best bird.

‘Here, Jazz, you take him,’ Tyr offered.

She smiled up into the eyes of the man she loved, thinking how Tyr had changed, but then so had she. He was relaxed now, as well as open and tender, while she was a woman in love.

Tyr handed her the gauntlet to protect her hand from the kestrel’s talons, and then passed the beautiful bird over. The kestrel was quite calm as it was still wearing its intricately embroidered hood.

‘It’s a long time since we’ve done this,’ Tyr observed as they admired the bird.

‘Another time, another world,’ Jazz agreed. Which was why she wasn’t surprised by the weight of the bird on her hand, which was almost literally as light as air, thanks to its hollow bones. ‘But this is the prize falcon and you’re supposed to be flying this one.’

‘They’re bringing another bird over. And be warned, it looks as if my silver lady is around twice the size of your male.’

‘But not half as determined.’

‘Should I be jealous?’ Tyr asked as Jazz stroked her bird’s feathers.

‘When my male bird wins, you can be pleased for me—even relieved that I’m prepared to accept that there might be the odd occasion when a male can prove himself superior to a female.’

Tyr laughed; then someone blew a horn to alert the bait man who was standing on a bluff almost half a mile away. His job was to throw up the meat that the birds had been trained to catch before bringing back their prize to the person flying them.

Tyr and Jazz loosed the cords on their kestrels’ hoods at the same moment, and with their keen sight restored, the birds soared high into the air. Tyr and Jazz watched until the kestrels had disappeared from sight. The villagers were taking bets on which bird would return first, but as Jazz stood leaning her back into Tyr, with his arms around her waist, she sucked in a deep breath of desert air and thought, All bets are off. I love this man, and everything else we have to face, we’ll face together. The only thing that matters is that we are together, and so close in every way.