About Time Read online

  About Time

  Kim Carmichael

  After Glows Publishing

  Copyright © 2017 by Kim Carmichael

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  Published by After Glows Publishing

  PO Box 224

  Middleburg, FL 32050

  AfterGlowsPublishing.com

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  Cover by AG Design & Formatting

  Formatting by AG Design & Formatting

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  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  AfterGlowsPublishing.com

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  About the Author

  Note from the Publisher

  About Time

  On the planet Tempore, time and schedules dictate everything from the time people wake up, to the time they make love, and even the time they form a union. Not a second is wasted. Amsen Dadelon hates timetables. She’s always late and has managed to skirt the traditional partnership deadline until one day she wakes up with a mate she doesn’t know. Hallan Pirro knows time is of the essence. After a failed union, he has no time to waste. As the couple work together to plan their official Union Ceremony, Amsen tries to leave without embarrassing her family while Hallan tries to hide his past failures. They may discover that it’s about time for love.

  1

  All in good time. For Amsen Dadelon’s entire life she heard that saying. Too many times her mother would point to her and tell her “things happen all in good time.” Those were words meant to slow her down, make her conform and have her behave.

  As the blue glow from Seren illuminated another glorious morning on Tempore, she reached across the bedding to find the smooth skin and hard muscles of a male lying next to her, her own version of the age-old saying came to mind. A good time was had by all.

  The male groaned, and she turned over, allowing fingers to do the exploring. Males were nothing if not delicious, all angles and edges, hard and powerful. Her mouth watered and she had to take a taste. Without reservation she leaned over and buried her face in his shoulder. Masculine with undertones of water and spice, his scent encompassed her, and she opened her mouth and traced her tongue down his neck.

  He rewarded her attention by combing his fingers through her hair and wrapping an arm around her.

  Her bed partner, her location, even how she ended up here was nothing but a blur. In fact, she couldn’t remember anything. For a split second that realization concerned her, but the moment she reached between them and his long erection greeted her, nothing mattered. Her own arousal took over, and as another favorite saying went, there was no better time than the present. She straddled the glorious male and guided him inside her.

  Her breath caught. Though her desire made it easy for him to enter her, she still stretched to accommodate him, the fullness welcome.

  He moaned and connected their mouths in a kiss, an act normally reserved only for partnerships. Sometimes her males forgot they would never see her again. Amsen was only up for one night and possibly a morning if they were particularly good, like this one. However, her departure was simply a matter of time.

  In a slow, sweet tease, she ground against him, circling her hips in a way to ensure her satisfaction grew while she kept him on the edge.

  “More.” His voice came out low, full of lust.

  She pushed up, braced herself on his knees and gave into his needs by slowly moving up and down. In no way could this be enough for him.

  Finally, he pulled her down. His panting breaths brushed against her lips and he took hold of her backside and thrust up into her.

  “Oh!” She let out a gasp. He hit her in all the right places.

  “Release.” He sped up, held her tighter, and took control. “It’s time.”

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders. When she was ready she would release not before, but her muscles throbbed as the heat overtook her.

  “Now!” Over and over again he drove into her. “Now! I need to fill you.”

  With his blatant words, she was there. As if her body needed to heed his command, she let go, the euphoria she craved surrounded her, clouded her in ecstasy with her climax.

  He slammed into her one last time and tensed, his heat radiating through her. Again, he joined their lips in a kiss, opening his mouth and caressing their tongues together as their bodies pulsed in unison

  Spent, she collapsed on top of him.

  “You are as passionate this morning as you were last night.” Rather than roll away, or have her move to one side, he remained inside her and kept her in his arms. “Our schedule allows for us to stay in the bed chamber a bit longer as today is special.” He brushed his lips against hers once more.

  Schedule. The word made her shudder. All Temporans were obsessed with schedules, lists and check off forms. A minute should never be wasted. In all her time, she never spent the entire day with any of her males, and she most certainly never had any of them refer to the act of joining as special. Maybe the night before she imbibed more than she thought and ended up with someone a little different. It was time to vacate, but she had to handle the situation with care, so she slowly slid off to his side. Something about this male was different. Usually, they were the first to want to part.

  Before she had the chance to untangle herself from the sheets he gathered her up into his embrace again. “Where are you going, my beauty?”

  All right, this was going to be a bit more difficult than she thought, but she had been in worse, like the time the males from planet Mellmall decided they would follow her around and be her pets. Well, actually that was fun, at least for the first few hours. She pushed against his chest. “I need the bath chamber.”

  “Do you remember where it is?” He punctuated his statement with another kiss.

  If she paused a moment, she would admit there was something about him that made her sort of want to stay. Maybe it was the kissing and that was why it was only reserved for those who were partnered. “Sure.” She managed to get to the edge of the bedding.

  “I procured what I thought you would need, but later you can make a list of any additional supplies you require.” His voice strained as he stretched. “I think by the time you return I will need you again. I feel insatiable and I want to explore you. This must be why they call this the Merging Time and there is more flexibility in our schedule.”

  All right, she had to get out of here. This male must be delusional. The Merging Time was the reprieve new life partners took after their pledging ceremony. On Tempore, this period was critical as most partnerships were pre-arranged and it gave the two a time to get to know one another on an intimate level. The Merging Time ended with the Union Ceremony, a grand celebration the new partners planned as their first act together. It
was all formal and planned—something she hated, but certainly something she would never agree to.

  While most everyone was partnered by their thirtieth year, she had managed to buck the system, and she had no plans of entering a partnership anytime soon, if ever. Such a stringent life wasn’t for her, much to her family unit’s dismay. All they wanted was for her to get her life settled, and they kept telling her it was time to arrange her life partnership.

  “I’ll be back.” Without making any sudden moves, she unfurled herself from the bedding. Unsure where any of her belongings were, she scanned the area. The bit of Seren light only allowed her to make out the shadows of the furniture in the room.

  “Take a step back toward the window.” His tone lowered.

  She did as he asked.

  “You’re gorgeous in the light,” he whispered. “You’re making it very difficult to stay on task, and we have much to plan.”

  Her stomach tumbled. It was always those types of words that got her in these predicaments. Though his silhouette told her the male was built, a perfect specimen, she couldn’t give in again. There were no more tasks she needed to complete with him. Still, she decided to test him. “Maybe we should just remain in the bed chamber all day.” Why did everyone have to be obsessed with the schedule, the time, what they needed to accomplish?

  “There’s much to do.” He countered. “There is limited time.”

  And there was her answer. Why she even gave him a chance was beyond her and she went to leave.

  “Wait.” His demand stopped her from moving.

  Hold on, was this a delay when every minute was precious? “What is it?”

  “I suppose I can take a second to admire my stunning life partner.” He let out a little growl.

  “Life partner?” Though he was willing to spend time looking at her, her chest tightened. This male was deranged. If she had to run out of here without her clothing, she would take the chance.

  He laughed. “Clear your head, beauty. We pledged last night, but today we start our lives by planning the perfect Union Ceremony. I must say I knew I was blessed when you were presented to me.”

  She froze. Her heart seized. The last thing she remembered was being at home, her mother offering her a cup of ale and talking to her again about finally partnering with someone.

  “Now complete your ablutions, I’m already erect, and I need you again,” he said. “That is the best way we can get to know each other and we have a lot to do.”

  “We’re partnered?” Her entire body trembled.

  “You had the same question when I slipped my cuff on you last night.” Again, he laughed. “But to answer your question, yes.”

  Her fingers traveled to her wrist, running over the jewel-encrusted cuff used in the pledging ceremony. This was it, it was official, and her chest tightened as she stared down at the jewelry indicating she belonged to another. While the male did grace her with an impressive piece indeed, her family unit did this to her. They finally bested her.

  “I am very pleased you chose me.” He lay back among the bedding. “This is just the beginning of our partnership.”

  She rushed to the bath chamber. Choice. That was an odd word, considering hers was taken away and there was no way she could ever tell him. How could she fix this? If she had any task to complete, it was figuring how to get out of this partnership. Somehow she had to get to her family unit before their Merging Time was over, not an easy task since these next few planet revolutions were reserved only for the newest couple.

  Only time would tell.

  2

  “Say my name.” Hallan Pirro thrust into his life partner. Though they had been together less than one Tempore cycle, he already knew by the way his female gasped, how she lifted her hips, and held him tight that Amsen was close to her climax.

  She pounded her fist into the bed. “I’m there.”

  Rather than let her succumb, he slowed down, nearly pulled out. “Say it!”

  “Ah!” She called out. “Hallan!”

  When she wanted to go over the edge she sure was the obedient one. His own release upon him, he slammed into her. “Again!” This morning it seemed as if she forgot his name, in fact she seemed a little confused all around and dead set on throwing them off schedule. For once he gave into his wants and got her back among the bedding, reminded her of his name, and joined with her once more.

  “Hallan! Hallan!” Her scream echoed through the space and her pulsing core drew him in even deeper.

  “Amsen.” His own climax barreled over him. Consumed with the need to fill her, he ground his hips to hers and let go. Pure euphoria radiated through him at the ultimate moment of joining and he kissed her.

  Their mouths opened, their tongues swirled around the other as he remained inside her, relishing in the last few flutters her body tickled down his cock.

  “Oh.” She wiped her brow. “Oh wow.”

  “I take it I’m a satisfactory partner?”

  Her eyes still closed, she swallowed and nodded.

  For a new partnership, he had to consider himself more than lucky that his female seemed to enjoy joining as much as he. In his time, he had heard horror stories about couples who were incompatible. Actually, it happened to him resulting in failed partnership, something definitely looked down upon. Never again did he want to experience having to hear the hushed whispers and points that resulted from a broken partnership, never again did he want to be the one who was looked down upon, never again did he want to that one who couldn’t make it work, the time waster. The Merging Time was critical in establishing their lives, and the next eight days would set the template for their union. Thus far, he and Amsen were doing magnificently. In the rare instance a couple parted, it was always during the Merging Time and it never boded well for either partner. They were considered a disgrace. He knew firsthand and he would do everything in his power to make sure it didn’t happen a second time.

  “Look at me.” He brushed her hair away from her face.

  Without hesitation she opened her eyes.

  Yes, he had a beautiful partner indeed. Iridescent hair that ran halfway down her back, sweet features and large turquoise eyes all melded together to create a gorgeous female. After his first failed attempt at a partnership, he poured himself into his employment and bided his time waiting for the moment where he might secure another partner. At last the perfect opportunity found him and he made his arrangements with an upper crust family whose daughter was a bit late in making her commitments. It all worked out perfectly. “Kiss me.” He wanted, no he needed for her to be completely comfortable to do anything with him, even if it meant altering their schedule a bit. A lesson he learned too late before.

  She bit her lip and looked down.

  “Shy now?” He rolled his hips in a circle, reminding her they were still joined. “Kiss your life partner so we can start on our tasks.”

  “What if I don’t want to start our tasks?” Her tone teased him.

  “You know that’s not an option. We have a Union Ceremony to plan.” Oh, he had a little shooting star, a challenge, but his ceremony would outshine even a supernova by the time they were done. It would be a tribute to his success.

  “Are you sure?” She curled her arm around his neck and pulled him down, giving him a soft kiss, a caress of their lips.

  He thickened again, but while their schedule allowed for some flexibility, they still needed to work. “We have a lot to do. I have a whole list.”

  A tiny smile fluttered across her face. “What would happen if you threw the list away?” She contracted her muscles along his length.

  Though he tried to resist, he grew inside her.

  She bucked her hips up to his. “Tell me, what’s on the list…Hallan?”

  He found himself as hard as before they joined. “We need to start by making you comfortable in our home.”

  “I’m not sure I could be more comfortable.” She scratched her nails down his back.

  The pre
ssure built and he rocked against her. “We are supposed to be learning about one another.”

  She lifted her knees embedding him deeper inside her. “I would have to say at the moment I’m full disclosure.”

  Arousal claimed him and he treated both of them to a series of long, hard strokes. “You need to learn about me.”

  “All right.” Now she wrapped her legs around his hips. “What do I need to know?”

  His breath hitched. “What do you know?”

  “Consider me a blank slate.” She moved with him. “Tell me anything.”

  This female was impossible to resist and he cupped her backside in his palm and plunged into her.

  She grabbed his face and tightened her legs around him, slowing him down. “Hallan, tell me something.”

  “Ah.” He couldn’t stop—he needed more, needed her deep, and was being prevented. “I work in the financial district, government monetary reports.”

  “Lots of deadlines and schedules.” She held him fast.

  He broke out into a sweat and nodded. “Amsen.”

  “But right now none of that matters, right?” his partner asked.

  “Matters?” In all truth he could barely think, he needed to release now.

  “What matters most right now?” Her voice was light, as if she was asking him what he wanted to consume for their evening meal.

  “This!” Unable to take any more of the pleasure-filled torture, he took hold of her legs, spread them apart and pounded into her.

  With his impending climax, he shook, while everything around him disappeared into a blur except for his partner beneath him. “Amsen.”