by Elise Jae
“I’d say yes, please,” She drags her hands up my shoulders to my neck and pulls my head down so she can bite my ear before saying, “And then I’d say, ‘fuck me until you can’t fuck me anymore.”
“Let’s see if you deserve that sort of treatment.”
“You’re not the only one who likes a challenge.”
She pushes me down, the towel still clenched in her fist as I drop.
With a shrug, her robe slides from her shoulders, and both it, and my towel pool on the floor at her feet. A gentle tug of drawstring, and her lounge pants follow after.
She crawls up on the bed, holding my wrists, as though she could keep me down if I wanted back up.
But I don’t want back up.
I want this. Her.
She slides over me, using the motion of her hips to drag her sweet, wet lips over me until I’m so hard, I press against her. So hard, I twitch up as she slides forward, and am perfectly placed when she moves back, impaling herself on me.
The contented hum that meets my invasion only makes me harder.
And I lay back, watching as she rides me.
Rising and plunging back down on my cock. Her own hands caressing her beautiful breasts.
I hold her hips to steady her and revel in the sensations floating across our bond.
When she comes, I come too.
***
The problem with threats like that was that I couldn’t keep her tied up. Even if she’d let me, it wasn’t fair to keep her locked away like some maiden in a tower from old story books.
Tracing a hand down her back, I skim my hands over the globes of her delicious ass.
She’s tired--exhausted, if what I feel through the bond is right--but she said....
She comes back to wakefulness on a long breath and with wide eyes. An even wider smile covers her face when I slide into her again.
In the deep, moonlit hours, we make slow, passionate love.
It’s not something I ever expected to have…. And something I have no intention of giving up.
ELEVEN
RICHTER
Letting go of something fragile is harder than I expected.
But Laurel has done everything right with my car in the last week.
In fact, she took to it better than I did, or any of the rest of the Brotherhood, for that matter.
The focus required to maintain the vehicle… especially to maintain it while having a conversation or perform any other distraction, was the hardest part.
Maybe she was just wired for it.
Either way….
She’s sitting across the table from me with narrowed eyes. “What are you so anxious about? I’ve had shivers racing down my spine for the last ten minutes.” Setting down her fork, she leans back in her chair. “Out with it.”
I’m still not sure how to best tell her. I’ve never been great with words…. So instead, I slide the neural key-link to her across the table.
She picks it up and if she notices that it’s not the one for my car, she doesn’t say anything. “We’re going driving?”
“That’s part of it.”
The spike of giddiness as she picked up the chip has me smiling.
I lead her to the garage, and the lights flick on, gleaming off the new car.
“Is that for me?”
“I can’t leave you stranded while I’m at Drifts, so we needed a second.”
She squeals with delight, pressing the neural key to her temple and jogging to the driver’s side-as she calls it.
It pops open, and she slips inside snuggling down into the seat. “Can we go for a drive now?”
“Of course. Just remember we have plans tonight.”
“How could I forget?”
Settling into the seat beside her, I sit back and let the landscape I’ve known so long and so well fly by.
I learned in the first lesson, that Laurel likes to drive simply to go. And the GPS will always get her home, so there’s no harm in it.
When we finally wind our way into town, she starts asking questions. It’s a different part of the population-dense port, and her questions are mostly about the kinds of foods restaurant’s serve.
“What about that one?”
“That’s not a restaurant, it’s Margot’s. She runs a sort of… strip club brothel setup. It’s a place bonded women can make an extra living by teaching unbonded men how to please their woman, once she gets here.”
“Is that why you’re so good at it?”
“I used sims. Less possibility of her bondmate deciding I wasn’t the kind of guy he wanted laying hands on his mate.”
A chime echoed through the car.
“Time to head back to the mountains. Core will have our heads if we’re late for Cindy’s dinner.”
“Thank you. For the car, for everything.” She set us back on the long ribbon that wound its way up into the foothills. “I know it can’t be easy to hand over something like this.”
I didn’t know if she meant the car--the expense--or the freedom to explore my world on her own if she wanted to. Either way...
“I trust you. Completely.”
There’s a flicker of… something that crosses our bond. Maybe it’s fear
LAUREL
Dinner was delicious. I had no idea what any of it was, but I was now stuffed and ready to take a nap.
Cindy and I had been shooed away while our men cleaned up, a distant murmur barely audible over clinking plates.
“How are you holding up?” I ask with a conspiratorial smile.
“This whole experience has been completely different than I expected.”
“I think I know what you mean.” Though I doubted she was lying to Core. “What’s your biggest surprise?”
Cindy looked toward the kitchen, a soft smile on her lips. “I love him.”
I manage not to gape at her.
“I will be honest. I came here knowing I would be well cared for and content. Kids were my main goal. I never dreamed….”
Something hard and heavy coiled in my gut. It was all I could do to keep a smile on my face. But she wasn’t looking at me. “How are you so calm and confident about all of this?”
Shrugging, her smile brightened. “I have no idea. It just feels perfect. And I know, somehow, that he loves me too.”
“Could it be that he can’t keep his hands off you?” I’m honestly surprised they’ve managed to stay away this long.
“Maybe. Thank God the point where we have to stop having sex is relatively short before and after having the baby.”
“They certainly are voracious.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had this much sex, even in college.” She’s pretending to be exasperated, but I know it’s just a show. After all, I’m right there too.
She waves a hand, “Sorry, the hormones have me oversharing.”
The sound of running water stops and I hear them more clearly, headed back to us.
“You may want to start reading up on this whole thing,” she gently rubbed her belly. “It’s completely different from having a fully human kid, and let me tell you, there are some things you are not going to want to be surprised by.”
“Tell you what, we’ll institute a study group. How about that?”
She glances over her shoulder again. “I’m glad we did this tonight instead of yesterday. Core got a little… exuberant the other day. I’m sure you’ve noticed they’re packing a lot more than Earth men… and I couldn’t sit down after he had a little more fun than I think either of us bargained for.”
The idea of that was mildly terrifying. But before Cindy could say anything else, the men join us then.
Richter crosses the room and pulls me to my feet, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“It’s time for us to head home.” He leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. “I don’t like it when you’re wearing this many clothes.”
I glance at Cindy and Core, but they’re too distracted by each other to notice.
“I could say the same thing about you.”
“I’m so glad we don’t have to argue.”
He loosens his grip, but doesn’t move away.
It only takes a minute to thank them and move to the door.
I pretend not to understand as Core reminds Richter to be careful and keep an eye on his warning screens.
If Cindy understands them, she gives no indication either.
“Come visit me any time.” She squeezed my hand. “Until the others finally get their ducks in order, we’re the only ones who are going to have any sense out here on the rim.”
Richter slips his hand around my waist, turns me away, and all but carries me to the car.
From behind me I heard, “What is a duck?”
This time, Richter drives.
TWELVE
RICHTER
The monster took two of us to kill.
A huge, ugly beast that was one and a half times the size of others I’d encountered so far.
It straddled the line between Trench and my territory. Almost as though it was trying to sneak through his on its way to mine.
On its way to kill Laurel.
As the door closes behind me, my gaze lands on the robe she’s left on the back of the couch and three other tiny ways in which she’s changed my life.
Tiny ways in which she’s made this a home.
She’s in the kitchen.
She’s pulled her hair up into a messy bun, but several strands have escaped and flow around her shoulders as she goes through the motions of baking something I’ve never seen before.
I love her.
I take a step forward and force myself to stop. I’m still covered in blood, and if I get too close, I’ll ruin that pretty sweater she loves.
She sends a smile my way. “Go get cleaned up and I’ll introduce you to the caramel-y delight that is Flan.”
I love her.
But I can’t tell her. Not yet. Because I can’t hope for reciprocation until she knows what I am.
In our bedroom, I clean myself up, but before I head back out, I need to ask for guidance.
“What is up, brother?”
“How did you tell Cindy about… what we are?”
His jaw tightens and he turns the camera away, but I can tell Cindy’s not actually there.
“I didn’t. And I don’t plan to.” He squared his shoulders. “There’s no reason to. It doesn’t change anything. She signed on for better or worse.”
“You’re going to lie to her for the rest of your lives?”
“It’s not lying if she never asks. Just let it go. Enjoy your bondmate, and thank hell every day that you are who and what you are. Because if you weren’t, you’d never have gotten her.”
He hangs up on me, and I’m left blinking at the vague reflection of my own face.
Ignoring it is so tempting. Maybe I can put it off for a few more days.
LAUREL
Richter’s stressed. I can feel it in the ache in my own shoulders. His tension pools there and I don’t know how to help him.
The bell rings, and I’m distracted.
When I open it, it’s the face I had hoped I wouldn’t see again.
“Go. Away.”
“How do you think your bondmate would react if I told him your little secret?”
I try not to stiffen at the threat, but I can’t help it. “You need to leave, and you need to tell your boss I’m doing this on my own time.”
It was a half-truth, but hopefully one that would get him to disappear.
“Not until you give me what you owe me.”
I don’t have any information to pass along yet. “Tell them, I’ll have it soon. For now, why don’t you tell them where I am, what I’m dealing with, and to buzz off.”
“I’m not sure you understand what’s going on.” His head jerked to the side, eyes narrowed.
The shower had turned off.
“This isn’t over.” He turned on his heel, and was down the drive before I managed to close the door.
Richter hadn’t bothered to dry off fully before he’d come out. His feeling my emotions was still something I’m getting used to. And I hate that I’ve worried him over something I should have already dealt with.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just some weirdo at the door. He’s gone now.”
Regardless, Richter goes to the door. A gust of icy air blows in as he scans the drive and the snow beyond.
But there’s no one there. It doesn’t surprise me that the creep is gone. My superiors no doubt told him to steer clear for my bondmate.
When Richter closes the door, he has to brush the droplets of water from him.
They’re ice now.
“I don’t like when you’re stressed.”
THIRTEEN
RICHTER
I do not know how I got so lucky, and I have no idea what I would do if Laurel didn’t want me as much as I want her.
We’ve settled into a strange little routine. She’s still on top of me. I’m still inside her. Her eyes are closed, a blissful smile on her face.
This is the thing I’ve been missing but never really realized.
Laurel shifts, working those deceptively strong inner muscles, but it’s not until her teeth rake across my nipple that I react.
I flip her, and she goes without a struggle. Smile spreading as I pin her to the bed with my hips.
“Are you using your size as an advantage over me?”
“I need all the help I can get.”
Shaking her head, she twists her fingers in my hair and pulls me down to her. “All you have to do is ask nicely. I’ll let you do anything you want to me.”
“Anything?” When she nodded, I slid back. “You may live to regret that.”
She watches me as I pull away, her hand going to the place my cock had just been, resting on her clit. She sweeps her fingers over her pussy, getting them wet before she starts a lazy swirl of that nub that can so easily make her scream.
There are so many options, so many ways I want to take her.
But this time….
Grabbing her ankles, I move her legs up so they don’t tangle when I flip her onto her stomach.
Which I do.
Her gorgeous ass wiggles at me.
Teasing me.
I give her a quick spank as punishment. It only makes her squirm more.
Her hand is still doing its job, and she doesn’t seem to notice as I stand.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to last this time.”
“Believe me, my pussy could probably use the break.”
I don’t know if I can offer it that.
She squeaks in surprise when I grab her by her hips and lift her.
She’s so wet, and I’m so hard, it’s easy to slide into her without either of our hands to guide her.
Mine are too busy keeping her up. Hers are too busy trying to find purchase on the floor.
But as I press into her, she gasps a sob, and I shift so my fingers can take over where hers left off. A few thrusts and strokes later, she’s crying my name, so close.
I want to feel her come. Need it.
I thrust harder, not sure I could slow if I wanted to. I feel her orgasm hit. Hold myself steady as it washes over me.
I don’t know how I manage it, but I still long enough to pull her upright, to press her back to my chest while I retreat to the bed.
When I sit, she’s on her knees over me, I’m holding her up, but she’s the one doing the work now. Each rise a vice, each return, silken pleasure.
She rides me, faster, until I lose all rational thought.
Laurel shakes free of my right hand, she reaches hers down and rakes her fingers over my balls.
The touch, so gentle, so sharp, opens the floodgates.
I pour everything into her. Body, mind, and soul.
When my mind clears, she’s still overtop of me, head dropped back to my shoulder, nipples hard pebbles in the cold
air.
She’s covered in goosebumps.
“Come on,” I jiggle her arm. “Let’s get cleaned up and go to bed.”
There was no chance we were slowing down any time soon, and I wasn’t about to let her die of exhaustion.
LAUREL
Richter is fast asleep, and the house is dark.
It feels like my pulse is in stereo. The socks keeping my feet warm help to muffle my steps, but it takes every biofeedback trick I know to keep myself calm.
Freaking out might wake Richter up and I’ve already waited too long to do this.
My C/O's face fuzzes into focus. It’s daylight out his window, but he looks like I’ve just woken him.
“Glad to finally hear from you, Laurel. Your communiques haven’t made it through. I thought you’d been discovered.”
“I haven’t, but your contact--the one who’s been harassing me--almost made it happen.”
“I don’t know what you're talking about.”
Of course he didn’t. Plausible deniability.
“I’m contacting you to tell you that’s the last data I’m sending.”
“It is?”
“I’m resigning my commission, effective immediately.”
“You don’t really want to do this… have they done something to you?”
“No sir. And I would not have called you if I was not completely serious.”
My C/O was silent a moment, his eyes narrowing. “Consider what I could do to you. How easy it would be to let them know what you are.”
Swallowing back the tendril of fear that came with his threat, I managed to keep my face passive. “We both know hurting me isn’t worth the potential fallout. How do you think the Sian government will feel when they find out you’ve sent some of us as spies? Do you think they’ll pull back from sharing their tech?”
His upper lip twisted, and he glanced past the camera. “Enjoy your new life.”
Taking a deep breath, I stare at the now blank screen. He isn’t going to say a thing. What he wants from the Sians is too valuable to mess up for someone as insignificant as me.
But that doesn’t change what I have to do.
As I walk back to the room where Richter is still sleeping, I have to remember that telling him now will be infinitely easier than if I try to wait. I was always the “rip the bandage off” sort.