“And much more delicious.” Kat brightened. “You know, I think Lauren was baking a batch of pineapple upside down cupcakes with cream cheese frosting earlier.” She waved a yellow chunk of fruit at Lissa enticingly. “Hang around the Mother Ship one more night, and we’ll go get one. What do you say?”
“Well…” Lissa wavered.
“That sounds perfect!” Sophia declared, throwing down the piece of celery she’d been toying with. Come on—let’s go get some now.”
Liv laughed. “Instant cravings—how well I remember those days. Mention the food, and you’ve suddenly got to have it.”
“Even if it’s a peanut butter and kelp sandwich. As if you could talk about anyone else’s cravings,” Kat scoffed. “Come on, Lissa,” she said, getting off the couch. “Let’s go get something good to eat. You need to build up your strength for the ordeal ahead.”
“Translation: Kat needs cupcakes,” Sophia laughed, hauling herself out of the couch with her sister’s help.
Lissa smiled. “Well, I do love to try new foods…” She popped the pineapple into her mouth. “Mmm, and if it’s better than this, I really need to try it.”
“Then it’s settled,” Liv said. “Kat, lead the way. And somebody bespeak Lauren to know we’re about to descend on her like a pack of hungry hyenas.”
“Hungry, pregnant hyenas,” Kat corrected, grinning. “Which is about twenty times worse. Come on, Lissa.” She grabbed her friend’s hand. “Let’s go get cupcakes.”
Chapter Nineteen
“And this is what you’ve been living on the whole time I was out?” Reddix looked at the bowl of grayish-purple mush in his hands uncertainly.
Nina shrugged. “I had to. The ship doesn’t have enough power to use the rehydrator-thingy so it was eat this or starve. Besides, it’s not so bad. It looks like purple oatmeal, but it tastes like whatever you put on it.”
He frowned. “And what do you put on it?”
“Depends. Do you want a savory flavor or a sweet one?” She nodded at an array of much smaller bowls, all filled with different substances, some of which looked like spices and some which looked like flowers or bugs. “They’re all different.”
“So I see. Uh…I’ll take savory,” he decided.
“Great! Hand me your bowl, and I’ll fix it up.” She took his bowl and started sprinkling different toppings on it. “Now this one tastes kind of like barbequed potato chips. And this one kind of reminds me of fried catfish…”
Reddix watched as she fixed his bowl, grateful that she was being so gracious after his angry words during the shave. Shouldn’t have yelled at her like that, he thought, still upset with himself. She’s been nothing but kind to me, and I’m such a prickly, ungrateful bastard. She deserves the truth—all of it.
But he couldn’t bear to tell her what had really happened the night he’d gotten the scars on his face. Or the deeper, darker truth about why he had kidnapped her in the first place.
How can I take her to the swamp witch? he thought, glancing at the lthss which had grown longer, encircling half his wrist now. But then again, how could he not? Time was running out. Because despite the fact that he had found a woman he could touch and who seemed to suppress his RTS when she touched him, he still needed a long term cure for it if he was going to do what was expected of him back home.
If only I could take Nina as my mate—declare her as my female and bond her to me, he thought longingly. Of course, that was impossible on many levels. Other than the fact that he had an inverted Touch Sense and couldn’t bond any female to him at all, his people were also traditionalists. They wouldn’t accept him as ruler if he married outside the Touch Kindred Clans. Any child born of such a union would be considered a half-breed bastard…an interloper.
Not that Nina would have him if he ever asked her…though the very idea of being able to claim her as his female made blood surge to his shaft and his throat tight with longing. Gods, she was perfect. Gorgeous, kind, and touchable. So incredibly touchable. Reddix’s hands itched to explore her curvy body, to cup her full breasts and generous ass. His mouth watered to taste her sweet pussy while she called his name and begged for more…
“Oh, and this one is the best. It tastes almost exactly like Mehoo-Jimmy’s frybread…” Nina frowned and looked up at him. “Are you hearing anything I’m saying? You have this faraway look in your eyes.”
“Forgive me,” Reddix said roughly. He reached out a hand to accept the bowl she was holding out to her. “I’m sure it’s all delicious.”
“It is—mostly,” she said, smiling. “Although I haven’t had the nerve to try the chu-chu bugs yet,” she added, nodding to the small bowl of tiny, many-legged creatures that had been dried until they were stiff and crispy.
Reddix made a face. “Ugh. Well, they don’t look very fucking appetizing.”
“No bugs do—at least to me. I know lots of other cultures eat them but I’m just not brave enough.” Nina finished fixing her own bowl and then dug in with a strange lumpy implement that looked a little like long handled a spoon with multiple rounded bowls all up and down its stem.
“What’s this thing?” Reddix asked, picking up a similar implement himself.
“Oh—that’s an edible spoon. It’s really good. You bite off a piece with each scoop of nutra-mush you eat.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Nutra-mush?”
She smiled and shrugged. “That’s kind of my name for it. According to Healing One, it’s a natural completely balanced meal with everything you need in it. At least, everything the Feeling People need. Though so far I feel fine eating it too.” She scooped up some mush and bit down on the spoon, biting off the bottommost bowl with a crunching sound.
“Let’s hope it has everything Kindred and Earthlings need as well,” Reddix muttered and followed her example. To his surprise, the flavor was quite good. The mush had a smooth texture offset by the crunchiness of the spoon which had a mild, nutty flavor. The taste of the mush was harder to describe. Reddix had never tasted any of the Earth foods Nina had talked about as she flavored the stuff, but the different toppings reminded him of flavors from his own planet as well. He especially liked the section of mush Nina had said tasted like her grandmother’s fly bread—whatever that was. He quickly ate it all and asked for more.
“See—I told you its’ good,” Nina said, scooping out some more mush as well as the dry topping which flavored it.
“And you said it tastes like fly bread?” Reddix asked, taking the bowl back from her. “But I thought a fly was an Earth insect, and you said you don’t eat insects—not that I blame you.” He took a big bite.
“No, no—fry bread. As in, you fry it. It’s horribly fattening of course but amazingly good.” She sighed and put down her spoon.
“What is it?” Reddix looked at her in concern.
“Nothing. I just…I miss Mehoo.”
He felt a surge of guilt. “Nina—”
“Never mind.” She blinked rapidly and shook her head, as though trying to dispel her unwanted emotion. “Try some of the sweet kind too. Here…” She pointed at another bowl with little brown crumbles in it. “I swear this one tastes exactly like buttered toast dipped in hot chocolate. It’s amazing.”
“I don’t know what any of those things are, but I’ll try it.” Reddix reached for the mixture and then winced as a sudden muscle spasm traveled down his arm. “Goddess damn it!” he cursed under his breath as he rolled his shoulder, trying to ease the ache.
Nina was instantly concerned. “What is it? What happened? Did one of the Feeling People pass by outside the door or something? Did you feel their emotions?”
“No—nothing like that.” Reddix shook his head. “I’m just still stiff—from being out so long, I guess.”
“Oh.” Nina relaxed. “Well, of course you are. And not just being unconscious for so long—don’t forget that before that you were pretty much chained up in the kitchen for most of a day and night.”
“Not that
I didn’t fucking deserve it.” Reddix sighed and rolled his stiff, aching shoulder some more. “Never mind. It’ll work itself out.”
“No it won’t—not without some help.” Nina put down her bowl. “I’m about finished—how about you?”
“I guess so.” Reddix put down his own bowl as well. Despite the fact that he hadn’t eaten very much, he was surprisingly full. Either his stomach had shrunk in the time he had been unconscious or the mush was surprisingly filling.
“Good.” Nina reached down and grabbed his hand.
Reddix jerked, startled. After so many years of being careful to keep his distance from everyone, he was still getting used to being touched casually.
“Uh, what are you doing?” he asked, trying to cover his knee-jerk reaction.
“Trying to get you to come to the bed.” She tugged on his hand. “Come on.”
“What?” Suddenly, his heart was pounding, and his shaft was achingly hard again. “And why exactly are we going to bed?” he managed to get out.
“Oh…” Nina’s cheeks went pink. “No, nothing like that,” she assured him hastily. “I just…I meant I’ll give you a massage.”
“A massage?” he asked, still not understanding.
“I’ll rub you all over.” She got even pinker. “Oh God, that came out really wrong. I mean I’ll rub your muscles to release tension. It’s strictly therapeutic, I swear. I’ll just do your back and shoulders and legs.” She cleared her throat. “Maybe…maybe work on the glutes some too.”
“And this…you, uh, rubbing me all over is supposed to make me less tense?” He raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief. Did she have any idea what she was saying? The idea of having those soft little hands of hers all over his body, even in a non-sexual way was enough to make him half-crazy with desire for her.
“That’s the idea. Now come on,” Nina said firmly. “You’ll never get all those kinks in your muscles out without some professional help.”
Reddix was still dubious, but he wasn’t about to refuse the chance to have her hands on his body. With a little direction from Nina, he lay face down on the bed with the blanket covering only his ass. Then she knelt beside him and began to work.
To his surprise, those soft, small hands were actually quite strong. He nearly groaned in relief as Nina found the hard knot in his stiff shoulder and worked it until it loosened. Then she started working on the rest of his back, but soon she made a noise of irritation.
“Problem?” he asked, turning his head to the side to look at her.
“Yes—you’re too big. I mean, your shoulders are so broad it’s hard to reach. Do you mind if I straddle you?”
Reddix’s shaft hardened even further, pressing against the bed. He shifted, trying to get more comfortable. Somewhere inside he knew this much intimate contact with Nina would be pushing his limits, but somehow he couldn’t say no.
“Go ahead,” he said hoarsely.
He’d barely finished speaking when Nina hiked up her dress and threw one leg over his hips. Though he was lying face down, Reddix couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to have her straddle him while he was face up instead. To have that soft, sweet pussy settling down on his aching shaft, enveloping him in her hot, wet depths, her full breasts bouncing as he fucked up into her. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the vision. Gods, how could he stand this? He was going to die from desire!
But Nina seemed immune to his desperate need, other than to notice the fact that he’d tensed up again.
“Relax,” she ordered, clearly in professional mode now. “It won’t do any good to massage you if you tighten up all over again.”
“I’ll try,” he ground out, teeth gritted, hands clenched into fists. He could feel her silky thighs on either side of his rib cage, and when she bent over him, he swore he could feel the light brush of her breasts against his back. His cock was so hard he felt like he could fuck a hole right through the mattress. Couldn’t she see what she was doing to him for the Goddess’s sake?
Apparently not for she continued to massage him, rubbing all over his back, touching him in ways he hadn’t been touched in years. It was rapidly becoming too much. All Reddix could think about was taking her. Rolling over and pulling her to him, taking her mouth in a savage, punishing kiss…rolling her plump nipples between his fingers and then spreading her legs, claiming her entirely…
“You’re so tense,” Nina complained, leaning over him to work harder. Her breasts brushed him again, her nipples tight through the thin fur dress. “I think you’re in worse shape now than when I started!”
“Sorry,” Reddix growled hoarsely.
“Just try to relax,” she said again. She shifted to get a better angle to work and then…Gods, was that her soft little pussy he could feel pressing into the small of his back? The heat and dampness told him it must be. Did she even have panties on or was she completely naked under the dress? He could imagine her pink folds opening, showing her warm, wet interior. Her pussy spread for his tongue as she pulled his hair and called his name. She was rubbing against him, pressing the part of her he most longed to taste right against the small of his back…
Suddenly, he snapped.
With a low, possessive growl he flipped over, grabbed her wrists and rolled her under him in one swift move.
“Reddix?” Nina’s gold-flecked eyes grew wide. “What…what are you doing?”
“This.” And then he was kissing her—taking her—tasting her sweet mouth as he’d been longing to do from the moment he first set eyes on her. It was wrong, and he knew it, but he couldn’t stop himself, couldn’t quench the fire that burned inside him or satisfy the desperate hunger that had been building up for ten long years.
He wanted her, and he would be damned if he didn’t have her.
* * * * *
“Reddix? Oh my God, Reddix!” Nina gasped when he finally let her get some air. Not that she didn’t like the kiss—it was desperate and hungry and more than a little scary but also incredibly possessive and hot. His big body on hers was heavy and hard and insistent.
Can’t do this, she told herself desperately. Oh God, I really can’t do this! He’s my kidnapper—I can’t trust him. I can’t…can’t…
“Mine.” His silver eyes glowed in the dim room, and his harsh voice was a deep, guttural growl of pure possession. “You’re mine now, Nina. Mine.”
The words sent a thrill through her—part fear and part desire. But the fear won out.
“Just because you kidnapped me doesn’t mean you own me!” She pushed against his broad shoulders, but it was like pushing against a tank—he wasn’t moving. In fact, he was coming in for another one of those searing, frighteningly hot kisses.
“That’s exactly what it means,” he muttered, his eyes blazing with lust. “Never gonna let you go.”
“No!” Nina jerked her head to one side, avoiding his mouth. This was rapidly moving from scary but hot territory into just plain scary. She groped for the small wooden table beside the bed, reaching for something to fend him off with. Her fingers encountered a smooth keychain shaped object, and she grabbed it, squeezing it tight.
Reddix growled in frustration and came in for another kiss. When Nina avoided his mouth again, he went for her neck, licking and sucking mercilessly at the tender skin at the hollow of her throat, doubtless marking her with his possessive kisses. His dark, spicy scent filled her senses, making her feel dizzy and helpless with unwanted lust.
No, have to fight it. Have to…fight it!
Nina bit back a groan. This was getting out of hand—way out of hand. She couldn’t help noticing that lights on his collar were blinking like crazy—just as they had been during their first encounter with the Feeling People. Red, green, blue, red-green-blue, redgreenblue…they were almost a blur. The sight made her realize the small thing she held in her hand was the controller to the collar. She gripped it tightly. Could she really use it on him again? Should she?
The big Kindred moved farther down
. Big, warm hands cupped her breasts roughly through the thin fur-like material of her dress, rolling her nipples until she moaned out loud. A warm, wet tongue licked a searing furrow right between her breasts. Nina moaned and felt her back arching involuntarily. God, she had to stop this…stop it now.
“Reddix,” she tried to warn him breathlessly. “Don’t—I don’t…don’t want to hurt you. Please stop. I don’t…you can’t…”
Her only answer was an inarticulate, lust filled growl that sounded more animal than human. Nina didn’t want to do it, but when one of his big warm hands left her breasts and started traveling sound of her belly button to slip under her dress, she knew she had no choice.
But not the kill switch again, she thought deliriously. Don’t want to knock him out for another three days. Just need to…to get him off me.
Carefully she slid the little plastic shield across the green button to one side and pressed it briefly.
The effect was instantaneous. Reddix stiffened on top of her and then threw himself backward, writhing in agony.
“Oh my God!” Nina fumbled with the controller, her fingers suddenly numb. Quickly she slid aside the shield over the blue button and jammed down on it hard.
The big Kindred relaxed at once, panting hoarsely. His hands, which had been clawing at the collar, dropped to his sides, and he heaved, his muscular chest rising and falling like bellows.
“I’m so sorry!” Nina gasped, leaning over him. “Are you all right? I didn’t want to press the button—I swear I didn’t. But you…you wouldn’t stop.”
Reddix choked and shook his head.
“You did…did the right thing.” His deep voice was scarcely more than a harsh whisper. Slowly, stiffly, he sat up and settled on the side of the bed, elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.
“I just…” Nina began helplessly.
“Don’t fucking apologize. I’m the one who ought to be begging your forgiveness.” He sounded angry—but with himself, Nina realized—not with her. “It’s just…” He shook his head. “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to touch a female—or tolerate the touch of one in return.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “And you’re so Goddess damned beautiful—so perfect. I just…I lost myself.”
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