Page 42 of Tavarr's Mate

I try to remain still and accept my spanking, but it’s hard when he’s lighting a fire across my flesh, spanking so fast that I don’t have time to catch my breath between slaps.

The sting intensifies and I’m soon openly sobbing.

“I’m so sorry, Tavarr, so-so sorry,” I utter a string of apologies that soon become incoherent as I cry harder.

But just as I think I can’t possibly take another strike on my sore ass cheeks, he stops spanking and simply holds me over his lap, rubbing my inflamed skin.

“Do you understand what you did wrong, sweet human?”

“Yes, sir,” I sniffle.

“I hope the next time you think about disobeying me, especially by touching what belongs to me, that you will have more self-control. The next time I catch you in the act of stroking yourself to bliss, you’ll receive another sound spanking, just like this one. Is that clear?”

I nod into the covers and say, “Yes, yes, Tavarr. I understand, and I’m so very sorry. Please…do you forgive me?” The desire to have his forgiveness and once again be in his good graces is so overwhelming, that I would willingly submit to more punishment if only all would be right between us again.

“Of course, I forgive you, sweet human. Now, come here,” he says in a voice tightened by emotion.

When I turn over in his arms, I’m stunned by the storm that’s raging in his dark gaze, and I suspect he didn’t like having to hurt me, but he carried out the punishment anyway out of his strict sense of duty. I remember what Helena told me about Kleaxian males punishing their females. In his culture, to leave an errant female unchastised means the male cares nothing for her. He sees it as his sacred duty to punish me when I’ve been naughty.

He gathers me against his chest and strokes my hair with one hand, while his other hand continues rubbing my sore ass cheeks. The spanking had been painful but quick, and already the sting is starting to fade.

“I love you, Katrina.”

“I love you too, Tavarr.”

I peer into his eyes, my heart full of affection for my mate, and once again I thank the universe for bringing me exactly what I needed during the most difficult time of my life.

A dominant, but loving, Kleaxian male named Tavarr.

Epilogue

The windows are open, allowing a fragrant breeze to enter the library. I finish placing a few dozen romance novels on a shelf and step back to admire the large room. The library in Cempha is nearly completed, and I have boxes of books to bring with me to Hehna, to create the library in what will soon be my permanent home.

Two Tallian moon cycles have passed quickly, and we leave tomorrow at dawn. Though I will miss Joanna, Helena, and Laylah dearly, Tavarr has promised we will visit now and then.

Joanna and Helena have both promised to oversee the library during my long absences, and I am confident they will maintain the shelves and make it a welcoming place for all the human women in Cempha, and the children they will eventually have.

A noise in the doorway draws my attention, and I turn to see Tavarr standing there holding another box of the children’s books he’d ordered from the booth in the market. His support means the world, and I know the books will one day be put to good use. In addition to Laylah, there are several other heavily pregnant human women in Cempha, and I imagine the situation is the same in the surrounding mountains. Tavarr has promised we can distribute the books to other towns once we are settled in Hehna.

He sets the box on a table and approaches me, his eyes wide as his gaze sweeps up and down my body. A shiver ripples through me, because I think he plans to sweep me into his arms and carry me up to the bedroom. He likes to ravish me as much during the daytime as at night.

“Like something you see?” I say, swaying my hips as I approach him.

“Your aura,” he breaths, before his face widens in a smile. “Your aura has changed since I left you sleeping this morning. It’s now a beautiful shade of dark blue, Katrina.”

My heart leaps and I throw my arms around him. He catches me and kisses my forehead, then draws me hard against his chest and runs his fingers through my long locks.

“You’re with child, sweet human, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“I’m happy too, Tavarr.”

He places a hand on my stomach and kisses my forehead again.

Our eyes lock and the world around us fades.

He leans down to capture my lips in a passionate yet tender kiss.

“Mine,” he growls against my mouth. “My sweet human mate.”

~THE END~