by Dixon, Ruby
Because I realize I get to have this pleasure whenever I want. However I want. Oh fuck, I have been such an idiot for holding out for so long.
I arch against him again when he bites down gently on my earlobe, his fingers moving over my breast and my clit and working me like magic. I come hard a scant second later, crying out and trembling as the intense orgasm shoots through my body and makes everything seem to curl up and tighten, only to smooth out once more and leaving me boneless. I give a bone-deep sigh as he continues to kiss and stroke me, feeling very much like a contented cat.
God, that was good. So naughty, and so so good. I don't even care that we've used so much lotion that I smell like an entire stack of herbs. I feel amazing. "Thrand," I whisper. Do I thank him for the orgasm? Act like it was a normal sort of thing? What? I'm suddenly at a loss. All of my other relationships have involved several dates before hooking up, and it always felt like a natural progression. With Thrand, the “natural progression” is all over the damned map and I feel out of my depth.
"Will it bother you if I relieve my own ache?" Thrand asks between kisses on my neck. "If I do not, my cock will bother me all night long."
Is he asking for permission to jerk off? As if I'd say no? I'm titillated at the thought, thinking of how many times he's had inappropriate boners. I'm also toying with the idea of getting more lotion and using it on him. "What would you normally do in this situation?" I ask, breathless.
"In my hut? Think of you and jerk on my rod until I come," he tells me. "But only if I am alone. If I am out hunting, I must ignore it. Sometimes it rises…inconveniently."
"Understatement," I murmur. "What if I helped you?"
Thrand groans, and I feel his hands tighten around me, one still tucked between my spent thighs. "You would…give me such a gift?"
"Oh honey, the pleasure wouldn't just be yours. It'd be mine, too." Because there’s nothing quite so sexy as watching a man’s face as you jerk him past all control.
"I might not last long," he admits as I sit up.
"Like that's a problem? I just want you to enjoy yourself." I turn around and give him a sweet, lingering kiss. It feels nice to be able to do this now, to kiss freely and not wonder if I'm playing with fire. It's like I've stepped over that particular threshold and now I'm all in. I'll worry about the consequences later. "Mind if I use the lotion on you?"
"To season my cock?" His eyes flare with heat. "I like that thought."
There's a ton of “tasty” jokes I can make, but I bite them all back and sit up, instead. I face him and put a dollop of lotion between my palms, slicking them together to warm it as he gets to his feet and strips his loincloth off with hasty movements. A moment later, he's naked and magnificent, and I fight back the “daaaamn” that rises from my throat. The man is packing some serious heat. I could have sworn I'd seen him naked before—in the early days of our arrival, lots of the men wandered around naked or near naked. But this is the first time I've seen him fully erect and I can't stop staring at what a perfect, gorgeously thick cock he has. There's a large vein tracing down one side, and he curves ever so slightly at the top, as if his dick is as cocky and impudent as the rest of him. The crown of it is prominent and the length is impressive, and all of him is this fascinatingly deep, dark red that just invites my mouth in.
But I've already got lotion all over my hands, so I'll save my lips for some other time. I look up at him, watching his expression as I move forward on my knees, and then carefully wrap my slick fingers around his length.
His entire body shudders.
I hesitate. I don't lift my hand, but I stop moving. He might need a moment to acclimate. I remind myself that this is all new for him. That his only pleasure in life has been his imagination and his hand, and he probably didn't use much of either until he landed here on the ice planet, thanks to the drugs his owners pumped into his body. Also, he's an alien. I have to make sure that we're on the same page at all times. He looks human for the most part, but all that red skin and those pointed ears remind me that there are big differences. "Uh, just so we're clear, you're not going to like, grow anything unusual while I touch you, right? No tentacles or shit?"
His dazed expression turns to one of open confusion. "Tentacles?"
"Never mind. Just watched too much anime back home, I think." I casually glide my fingers up and down his length. "Does this feel okay?" When he gives a jerky nod, I ask, "Is there any particular part that is sensitive?"
Thrand gestures at his cock, his expression one of disbelief. "Have you never seen a cock before?"
I laugh. "Honey, remember that you're the alien to me. I've seen a cock. In fact, I'm pretty good at handling a cock, thank you very much." And I give him a ruthless pump up and down his length, flicking my wrist a little at the tip because I know that feels good. When his eyes practically roll back in his head, I'm smugly pleased, and I can't resist giving him a taste of his own medicine. "I bet I can make you come faster than usual."
His breath huffs out. "I will not take that bet, because it is a sure thing." Thrand's hand reaches out and then flexes on empty air before it goes back to his side and clenches in a fist. It's like he wants to touch me but is afraid to. "I cannot believe you do this thing for me, beautiful Nadine."
I love the reverent tone in his voice. "I can stop?"
This time he grabs my shoulder. "No—"
I just laugh and stroke him again.
His fingers dig into my skin, ever so slightly, but I love that bit of pressure. I love watching as his eyes close and his knees bend, just a little, as if he wants to sink down into my caress.
"You can hold onto me," I whisper as I start to work him with quick, slick strokes. His cock is hard as stone sheathed in velvet, and I love the feel of him in my grip. I use both my hands, teasing his sac with my fingers even as I rhythmically stroke his shaft. "I've got you."
Thrand curls his fingers into my hair, touching it once, and then he caresses my face, his eyes opening as his breath quickens. It's the most intense thing, him staring down at me as I give him a hand job, and in a strange sort of way, it feels like our souls are connecting. I feel completely and utterly beautiful as he gazes at me, and like I'm the one with all the power. Hot pre-cum covers the head of his cock and slides over my fingers as I continue to stroke him, and I can feel when he's close. His entire body shudders, and he bucks against my hand. I half-expect him to pull away, but a moment later, he grabs ahold of my hand and uses it, tightening my grip around him harder than I ever would, and then he's coming, his seed spilling over our joined fingers and spattering across my breasts and neck. The guttural sound that rips from his throat sounds like the most intense satisfaction ever, and he practically collapses back on the floor of the cave once he's spent.
"Dramatic much?" I tease as I get a scrap of fur and wipe my hands clean.
He just lies back on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, a dazed expression on his face. I have to admit, that reaction makes me feel pretty damn good.
With a chuckle, I move toward the fire, getting out my waterskin so I can wash up. The moment I turn my back to him, he’s there a moment later, wrapping his arms around my waist, and when I straighten, he buries his face against my neck and holds me close from behind.
“I have no words for what you have shared with me, my Nadine,” Thrand murmurs. “We must tell no one of your skills.”
My lips twitch with amusement. “My skills?”
“If they know of your talents, they will try to steal you from me,” he says, and when I turn to look at him, his expression is quite serious. “The unmated males that have not settled on a female? I do not trust them. Without resonance to bind us, they will see your beauty and my satisfaction and want you for themselves.”
Errr…okay. That’s a little weird, but it could be his competitive nature. He views everything as a competition, so in a way it makes sense that he feels the need to “hide” me and my “skills” from the others. “So you’re saying we
should keep things private?”
Thrand nods. “Until we resonate.”
I arch a brow at him. “What makes you so sure we’re going to resonate?”
He shrugs. “Vordis wished for Angie and they resonated. Gren wished for Willa and they resonated. I do not see why it would be any different for us. I will simply wait and keep you to myself in private.” His hand slides over my naked side possessively. “All to myself.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s wishful thinking,” I tell him. “Or else A’tam would have resonated to Bridget already. As for keeping things private…” I mentally toss the idea around and don’t hate it. I keep thinking of poor Bridget and all the grief she’s gotten over the last while, all because of a silly hookup and a man with the inability to realize it was just a hookup. Keeping things quiet until we’re both ready to go forward might not be a bad idea. “But we can keep things a secret for now.”
Thrand brushes my hair aside from my neck and kisses it. “I will speak to no one of your skill.”
“Do you think no one else has ever handled a dick before?” I ask him, beyond amusement.
“Like what you did to me? Other females can do such things?” He looks openly skeptical.
It’s charming as hell that he thinks my “skills” are special. I should tell him no, that any girl can give him a hand job, but for some reason, I like that he thinks I’m special. I like that he thinks I’m a prize only he gets to claim. “No, they don’t. I guess I am pretty special,” I say to him, feeling a bit like lightning’s going to strike my lying ass.
“My special,” he murmurs against my neck. “My Nadine.” He kisses my throat, lips on my skin, and I’m immediately aroused once more. Fooling around with hands and mouths is harmless, I decide.
It doesn’t have to mean a thing just yet.
11
THRAND
I hum to myself as we walk back toward the beach camp.
"You need to simmer down," Nadine says at my side, her voice dry with amusement. "You're being super obvious."
Am I? I don't even care. I grin at her, thinking of last night and our private time alone in the cave. We kissed many, many times, and she took my cock in her slick hands and worked it until I came. She did that twice, and let me bring her to release as well. I woke up this morning with her curled against my side, my hands on her beautiful dark skin, and I felt pure joy. It is a better feeling than winning a fierce arena battle. It is even better than winning honors on the battlefield. I would trade all of those for one of Nadine's sultry smiles.
Now I know why Vordis is so utterly lost when it comes to Angie. I feel the same when it comes to Nadine. I want to drag her behind the nearest snowbank and tear her leathers off of her lean body and kiss her all over. I want to touch her and see her smile and breathe in her scent. I want to feel her springy hair against my cheek as she sleeps curled against me. I want her laughter. I want all of her, and last night's play did nothing to help ease my aching need. If anything, it has stoked the flames even higher. Before, I hungered for what I did not have.
Now I have her and I know what I am missing when she drifts away to look at footprints in the snow. Each time she does, it takes everything I have not to go after her and pull her against me for another kiss, another caress.
I glance around us, the temptation too great to resist, and when I see no one near, I reach out and pull her against me. She falls against my chest, a small sound of protest in her throat. "Thrand—"
"I need to touch you," I tell her, urgent. "Kiss me before we return."
She chuckles but lifts her lips to mine and gives me a quick and wholly unsatisfying kiss. "Remember that we're keeping this a secret?"
"I am in too good a mood to care," I tell her. Perhaps the best thing would not be to keep things quiet but to stamp my ownership all over her. I need to hold her close in front of the others, kiss her so they know she is mine, and then challenge anyone who dares to think otherwise.
But her brows draw together and she frowns. Nadine shakes her head and pulls out of my grip. "We agreed, remember?" She pokes a finger in my fur-covered chest. "It was your idea."
So it was.
It is not a good idea, but I suppose it is too late to say so.
I walk close to her as we head toward the camp. Our arms are empty of fresh meat, as our traps were nearly empty and the small catches were not worth carrying back. We buried them in one of the many caches and stocked up on Hannah's roots instead. My pack is full of plants, some from the caves and some from our walk, and Nadine's pack is bulging as well. In the distance, I see the curls of smoke that signify the encampment, and a short time later, we are up on the ridge, gazing down at the scatter of tents and huts that makes up the Icehome village. I can hear the faint sound of the ocean in the distance, the waves rolling against the shore, and can even pick out Devi and N'dek on the shore, as always, bent over something or other. It looks as it always does.
How odd it seems. Do they not know that my world has changed overnight? I look at Nadine, bursting with joy once more, only to find that she is heading down the path without me. I frown after her. "Where are you going?"
She points at the rocky slope. "Shortcut to the healer's hut. I'm going to take my herbs to Hannah and then go wash up in the women's cave." She pauses and glances back up at me. "You want me to take your plants to her, too?"
"You are leaving?" I am shocked. "Without saying goodbye?"
One of Nadine's elegant brows arches in my direction. "We live in the same camp, Thrand. Where do you think I'm going to go?"
"But…you are returning to the women's cave. Where all the unmated females live." I do not like that. It doesn't sit well with me. At all. They will think she is still available. Hot, possessive need rushes through me.
Nadine must see my expression, because a smile curves her mouth even though she makes an exasperated noise. "Boy, you are something. What part of 'private' involves me traipsing over to your hut to hang out?"
"You can move in," I tell her. "I will get you fresh water to wash with every morning. And more seasoning."
She chuckles, and her hand touches mine briefly. Her fingers are cold as she is not wearing her gloves, but I like that she twines them with my warmer ones. "Thrand, honey. We are keeping this on the down-low, remember?"
That must mean private. I sigh. "I do not think I like this after all, Nadine. I want to be with you too much."
"You're sweet," she says softly, and rubs one of my fingers. "But we agreed and I'm not ready for everyone to give us shit just yet. Okay?"
I nod. What choice do I have?
Her look becomes sly. "I bet I can keep it private longer than you can."
I groan. She knows me too well. She knows I cannot resist a challenge. "Evil creature." When she laughs, I take her hand and pull it to my lips, kissing the palm. She still smells of her seasonings from last night, and my cock rises instantly in memory. "How will I pleasure you in the furs if you are staying with the women? Shall I sneak in?"
"God, no," Nadine laughs, but she doesn't pull away from my touch. Her eyes grow soft as I press another kiss to her palm. "We can sneak off to your hut. Tonight, after dinner if you want—"
"I want," I say immediately. Tonight seems very far away, but I can endure until then.
"We'll leave the fire at separate times," she says, a crafty look on her face. "I'll go first. You wait about ten minutes and then follow. We can use a signal word to let the other person know that it's time to get together." Her eyes gleam. "What do you think?"
I like this. "Tonight," I tell her. "And every time we use the signal word."
She bites her full lip, thinking, and I groan, remembering the feel of those lips on mine. "Let's go with…the word 'competition,'" she says. "If I say that, then you know what I'm thinking."
"You are thinking about mating."
The glorious female just gives me a wink. "Remember. We're keeping this private."
I nod. I remain standin
g in place as she frees her hand from mine, touches my fingers one last time, and then heads down the trail to the back end of the camp, near where the healer's tent is. I watch her go, and I hate that I already miss her. I ache for her. I want to race to her side and scoop her into my arms and carry her to my hut and—
Nadine turns around, looking up at me. "Go blend in," she hisses, and points at the camp.
I sigh and head toward the main path.
Tonight. I will listen for the word “competition” and then I will drag Nadine to my furs and kiss her all over, just like I did last night. Perhaps if I am good enough at kisses, she will be so hungry for more that she will never want to leave my furs. This thought cheers me up and I watch her as she heads down the steep path, just to make sure she is safe. When she is at the bottom, I turn and go down the main path.
As I enter the camp, a few raise their hands in greeting, but no one comes to see me. It is just as well. The longer I am away from Nadine, the more sour my mood becomes. I linger by the fire a brief time, noticing that Liz sits with her mate Raahosh, and he holds their baby in his arms while she fits her little girls with half-sewn tunics. Across from them, Willa and her mate Gren are spearing shrimp to dry out over the fire, and she giggles as he slides a large, clawed hand under the skirt of her tunic. Off to one side, Taushen has his pink-haired mate pressed up against the cliff and is stealing kisses from her. All around me, I see happy couples. I see babies. I see the newly mated.
It makes my mood grow darker. I want Nadine to be at my side. I want to be the one stealing kisses from her.
I sigh and look around the camp for her anyhow, even though I promised I would be “down low.” Sure enough, I see her disappearing into the women's cave, and she does not even look in my direction. Frustrated, I grab my pack and head for the healer's tent. J'shel's mate Hannah is there, and her eyes light up when I shove the bag of roots in her direction. "Did you—"
"Yes," I say, and turn to leave. I do not want to hear her endless chatter. I got her roots. Let J'shel keep her company. I ignore her irritated huff as I leave the tent and deliberately stroll past the cave that the women use for their home, but only Tia comes out, and she gives me an odd look as I linger near the entrance. I am probably being too obvious to please Nadine, so I force myself to turn away. Instead of heading toward my hut, though, I head for Vordis's.