Parallel Seduction by Deidre Knight

that.
    "Absolutely, Commander," she teased, glancing down at him with what could only be called a coy expression.
    Gods, he adored her. Gods he wanted her, now, now, now. He felt something highly irrational skip through his brain, something about possessing her on every planet. He thought even to murmur it to her, but stopped himself, sliding deeper into the hot, beckoning cauldron of steam and water.
    "Ah." He sighed in deep pleasure, leaning back against the rocks, and then stretched his arms across the slick stones, watching his mate with lusty arousal. First her gloves tumbled to the stony ground, then her sweater and scarf and little knit cap, and at last her pants. Socks? Underwear? "Hurry," he begged, aware that he sounded as breathless as a fledgling. "Please, love."
    She stood before him, curving and pure in the misty midday light. "Jared," she whispered, running her fingers through her hair, shaking it out. He felt his eyes narrow to slits, his vision heightening like mad of its own volition. His chest grew tight as a drum, the pounding muscle within it causing a loud rush of blood in his ears.
    She repeated his name, louder, "Jared?"
    "Umm?" he managed, blinking at her.
    "It's happening," she whispered, watching him. "You do know that now, don't you? That it's finally happening?" How could she sound so calm? So self-possessed? Was she even right about the timing? She took another step closer, painstaking in her calmness as she spoke to him. "It's been happening," she continued, shivering from the cold, "only I don't think you've wanted to trust it. Or even understood it. And it's not like it's just today .…"
    She stopped, studying him, gauging his reaction as he swam toward the edge where she stood.
    His mouth felt dry, his voice thick and from a distant tunnel, but he whispered at her, "You fear I will back away?"
    She wrapped her fair arms about herself, shivering protectively. "Yes." She knew how he'd fought these mating cycles; for all his life he'd resisted—but the two of them had passed a point of no return here.
    Like a manacle, he clasped her ankle. "In the water, mate." He flashed a dark gaze up at her, obviously meaning to magnetize. "Or I shall seemingly die." Then they both burst into uncontrollable laughter—the pure laughter of release and joy.
    K elsey splashed into the water and right into her husband's arms. Nipping at her neck, he made soft rumbling sounds of pleasure: no words, only wild sounds that vibrated through her chest as he pulled her close. One thing was certain in Kelsey's mind: Jared had no idea just how strongly he'd been coming onto her recently. And in the past two days his insatiable need for her, as well as his pureblood Refarian expressions of desire—the growling, the plaintive groaning, the shaky-handed grasping, all signs she'd read about in his ancestor's journal, indicating the beginnings of his cycle—these things had been intensifying crazily.
    She'd saved the invitation to the hot springs until just now. On purpose. It had all been part of the plan: When he stood on the brink, ready to fall completely into his season, she'd planned to seduce him here, thus bringing it fully upon him. It was a perfect, infallible strategy.
    Jared leaned back against the stones, eyeing her with a hooded, lustful gaze. "Wife." He reached for her breathlessly. "Near. I need you now."
    Swimming into his grasp, she allowed him to capture her, the muscles of his powerful forearms rippling as he held her close. Absolute alien power, unbridled with her. He sat on the rocks, leaning back against the craggy ledge of the bowled springs. On his upper lip little beads of sweat had formed, glistening on his morning's growth of dark beard. Slipping atop him she felt his desire, as hard as any of the rocks surrounding them. He cupped her bottom, nuzzling her astride him. Jared's eyes drifted shut and he made a warm sound of pleasure that she had never once heard from the man,