by Keira Conrad
“Slow down,” she said. “There’s no hurry.”
He turned to her and the hunger in his eyes was plain. He clearly disagreed. “If I don’t get you beneath me soon, it may drive me mad.” His voice was low and raspy and sent a shiver up her spine. He led her deeper into the mountain and she followed.
17
The mating chamber had been readied in anticipation of their arrival, as Vaka requested. It had been a long time since any of his people had prepared for such a ceremony, but the rites had been passed down through generations. They were sacred and his people did not forget. They had scoured the forest for notet berries and crafted small brushes from the hair of the falas.
Vaka surveyed the room. Everything looked perfect.
Giant crystals embedded in the ceiling bathed the room in warm light. The large platform bed in the middle of the room was draped with furs, pillows, and soft linens. The wooden accent table against the far wall held a shallow pan of water, small cups of paint, and a handful of soft brushes. A thrill crept up the base of his spine as he examined them. He was certain Callie would enjoy this, and the thought brought him pleasure. When she was lost to her bliss, he’d fill her with his seed and make her a mother of dragons. In time, she’d understand her importance.
He watched as Callie wandered around the room and explored. She tested the door that led to the bathroom, warmed herself by the roaring fire, and sampled the fruit that had been set near the bed.
“Well, it looks like everything we need is right here,” she said as she ran her hand across the robe that had been laid on a chair for her use. Not that she would need it. The coming night would be nothing but a mess of sweaty, tangled limbs. He’d ride her pussy until dawn.
She stood there, arms tense and lips pressed together. He wondered if she was nervous. Or did the quickening of her breath and the flush across her skin mean she was struggling with the same desire he was? She reached up and removed the tie from her hair. She shook her head and brown silky waves cascaded over her shoulders. He bit back a groan and fought against the lust that threatened to overwhelm him.
His little minx. He worried about moving too fast, but she was ready for him, and not afraid to let him know. Everything about her fascinated him.
“So, then…” Her voice trailed off. He sensed she wanted him to take control. She might want this as much as he did, but he still needed to take care. She was small. Delicate. He would not be the barbarian she thought he was. He would not be denied what was his, either.
He sank into a chair near the fire and waved her closer. “It’s time to see what this bargain has bought me.” She moved into the circle of warm light and stood before him. “Remove your clothes,” he said.
Her warm, brown eyes met his as she grasped the hem of her shirt and peeled it from her body. Her breasts struggled against her undergarment and his cock sprung to life. She reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. Perfect globes of ivory flesh tumbled free, tipped with puffy, pink nipples that were already engorged.
He shifted in his chair and fought the urge to stroke his throbbing member. He couldn’t believe this spectacular creature was his for the taking. His breath caught in his throat as she leaned forward to push down her waistband in one swift movement. She was close enough that the ends of her hair brushed against his thighs. He could smell the soap she had used and he had to stop himself from reaching out to lick her skin. He wanted to pull her onto his lap and use her until he was spent.
She straightened up and kicked her pants free. His cock twitched and his balls tightened. He caught her staring at his sizeable bulge and it only inflamed his lust. The corners of her mouth turned up in a grin, and he knew she didn’t fear him. She wanted this, too.
“You are bewitching,” he said.
It had been a long time since he had a woman, but that still didn’t change the fact that she was the most beautiful one he had ever laid eyes on. Every element of her being that drew him to her was evident in her form. Her soft, brown eyes were intelligent. She held her head high and met his gaze, unafraid. Her limbs were well-muscled and displayed her strength. She stood naked before him, not cowering, but proud. Unashamed of what she had to offer him. Of what they would do.
He’d have to remind himself not to fall in love with this one.
This mating was happening for one reason only. To put a child in her belly. Focus on that.
He imagined thrusting deep inside her. The tight warmth of her pussy milking his cock as his heavy balls emptied. His eyes were drawn lower and he examined the puffy lips and triangle of curly hair where her thighs met.
“Spread your legs.” His voice was thick with lust. She widened her stance and he saw the slick wetness on the lips of her sex. She was as excited as he was. He could smell her arousal, too, and the musky scent threatened to drive him mad. He gave in and rubbed his cock through its leather covering.
His body begged him to pin her to the bed and pound her sweet pussy until morning. But there were rites that couldn’t be ignored. The sooner he finished with them, the sooner he could bury his throbbing length in her warm, pink slit.
“Follow me,” he commanded, as he stood and crossed the room.
18
Callie followed Vaka closely. He led her across the room to the table with a dish of water and small ceramic bowls of brightly-colored paint. He lifted a delicate brush and held it out for her to examine. It was intricately carved and reminded her of the small calligraphy brushes she had used in college art class.
“Are you going to decorate me?” she asked. She loved the attention he was lavishing on her. There was no denying that.
“In the days before The Great War, the women of the tribe would prepare the maiden for her warrior. You’ll have to make do with me.”
“I prefer having you touch me,” she said. Something he said had troubled her, though. “You know I’m not a maiden, right? Is that okay?”
“You’re perfect as you are, little bird.” He stirred the dishes of paint.
“Make me pretty,” she teased, as he raised a brush with green paint to her skin.
“Nothing I could do would make you more beautiful.” Her heart fluttered, and she commanded it to stop. Sure, the barbarian had more game than she anticipated, along with a seemingly genuine fondness for her, but she was in a serious situation with serious stakes. She’d promised herself long ago that she’d never fall in love. Now wasn’t the time to go back on the pledge she had made to herself. And certainly not with the alien beside her. Even if he went rock-hard at the sight of her body and trembled with desire when she was near. It wasn’t going to happen.
He placed the tip of the brush against her collarbone. The paint was cool and felt divine on her fire-warmed skin. She held her breath as he lightly drew the tip down toward her breast. He traced lazy circles and then whisked her erect nipple.
She adored the way he touched her with such attentiveness and gentleness. He was a giant, muscled alpha, and she had expected him to be all rough kisses, clumsy elbows, and misplaced knees. The tenderness in him was completely unexpected and such a delicious surprise.
Her skin tingled in a warm and comforting way. Little zaps of pleasure surged up and down her spine. She felt sleepy and relaxed and very, very horny. She leaned back against the table and reveled in the sensation as he continued to paint her.
He dipped his brush in the blue paint and repeated the process on the other side of her torso. Her eyelids were heavy with lust and she wondered if the rites were having the intended affect.
“Is it supposed to feel like this?” Her voice was low and husky. It sounded like sex, even to her own ears. “Oh God, what are you doing to me?”
She heard the smile in his voice. “It’s a recipe from my ancestors. Made from the crushed berries of the notet plant. An aphrodisiac that helps the breeding.”
“It feels fucking great.” She bit her lip and her breath quickened. He was riding high, too, with a hard-on that could break
a concrete block. One look at his straining loincloth told her that.
“It’ll feel even better with my cock inside you.” He dipped a brush in the red paint and decorated her abdomen with dots and swirls.
“Then what are we waiting for?” She took the brush from his hand and set it carefully on the table. He watched, lips parted and breath ragged, as she reached down and released the knot on his leather covering. His cock bounced tight against his belly, and for a brief moment she was grateful for the aphrodisiac sex paint. His cock was long, impossibly thick, and ridged. Drops of precum ran down the length of it, and she swore it was so engorged it looked like it was pulsing. She wrapped her fingers around his length and stroked him.
He groaned and pulled her close.
He squeezed her breasts and played with her nipples, rubbing and tugging at them until she groaned against his neck. He held her up with one hand and pushed her thighs apart with the other. He rubbed the length of her pussy and she jerked as the pads of his fingers passed over her clit. She raised her leg and hooked it over his hip to give him better access. He slid his thick fingers inside and she humped his hand, eager for the release that was fast approaching.
“Not yet, little bird,” he said as he pulled away and led her to the bed. “You can come when I’m deep inside your tight little cunt.”
Callie had never felt pleasure like this before. Her sex life on Earth consisted of quickies in the backseats of cars in her college days and fumbling encounters that left her with the dull ache of disappointment.
Everything was different when Vaka took her in his arms. Her body was already throbbing with pleasure. Then he put his hands on her and it got even better. She’d had orgasms before, but she’d never felt like she was going to pass out from one. This one was going to be big. Her body was on the verge of losing control.
He pushed her onto the bed. She flipped onto her back, spread her thighs, and drew her knees towards her chest. Vaka approached the bed with his cock in his fist.
Callie had never seen a man as comfortable in the bedroom as he was. There was no hint of self-consciousness or discomfort in him. He moved toward her with the same athletic ease on display when he ran through the forest. His broad shoulders heaved with each deep breath, sweat dampened his hair, and his muscles strained against his skin. It wasn’t fair that she had to fly across the galaxy to discover someone this perfect.
She slid one hand to her pussy and rubbed the swollen, wet flesh there. She was desperate for him. A hunger unlike anything she had ever known. She would have done anything for his touch, for his thick cock. She’d heard friends talk about being dick-drunk before, but she never understood what they meant until now.
He crawled between her thighs and guided his fat cock to her opening. He ran the underside of his dick along the length of her pussy and she shuddered in delight. She squealed when he spanked her clit with the thick, mushroom head.
“Take it,” she said as she looked into his eyes. She intended it as a command, but it sounded like a breathy plea when the words passed her lips. “Take it. It’s yours. I’m yours.”
He thrust deep inside her, burying himself to the hilt in a single stroke. He tried to pause to let her adjust, but Callie frantically thrust against him. His ridged warmth pulsed inside her and drove her mad. She had never felt this out of control before, and she loved every second of it. He followed her lead and didn’t hold back. He grasped her hips as leverage and pounded her mercilessly. Her toes curled and her legs flexed. She couldn’t stop the inhuman sounds from escaping her lips. She was close, but she wanted to wait for him.
She didn’t have to wait long. His balls slapped her ass as he thrust deeper and deeper. She snaked her legs around his back and pulled him to her. She arched against him, rubbing her clit against his pubic bone. Her pleasure exploded. It radiated out from her pussy, up her spine, and out to her fingertips. Her climax triggered his. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were unfocussed as he ground against her and emptied himself.
She let herself go limp and collapsed back onto the bed like a rag doll. She knew she wouldn’t walk right for a week, and she didn’t give a single damn.
19
“Are you okay?” he asked once he had recovered enough to speak. He hadn’t meant to be so forceful in his claiming of her, but he couldn’t stop himself. He hated letting his animal urges get the better of him; it made him feel less than a man. He’d show her more tenderness during their next coupling.
“Am I okay?” She propped herself up next to him on her elbow. “Did you see how hard I came? I thought I was going to pass out.” She looked luminous and exhausted and beautiful. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He felt the blood surge to his manhood once more.
“Oh my God, are you getting hard again?” She slid her hand down his abdomen and cupped his balls and rapidly expanding cock. “That’s not much of a refractory period.” She sounded impressed.
“What’s a refractory period?” he asked.
“Men on my planet need time before they can get hard again.” She continued to play with his cock, like it was her new favorite toy.
“That sounds very inconvenient.” He rolled onto his side and pulled her close. She tucked into him like a puzzle piece. A perfect fit. “Especially during a breeding.”
“Terribly inconvenient,” she whispered as she tipped her face to his and sought out his lips. He realized he hadn’t properly kissed her and the thought was accompanied with a stab of shame. It was fucking not love-making. She’s a vessel for your son, not your life mate. Still, he found his heart battling his cock for control of his soul. Especially now, as he tasted the warmth of her lips and wrapped his arms around her. His tongue sought out hers and she welcomed it.
There was so much he wanted to tell her. So much he wanted to share. But he couldn’t let down his guard. Too much was at stake. The fate of his people. His pride. His heart. He loved that she had shared a part of herself with him, a piece of her history that caused pain, but he couldn’t reciprocate.
He realized he’d have to set strict boundaries in their interactions. It pained him, but it was for the best. His men were thrilled at the prospect of bedding a woman and mating, but they were all distrustful of the new arrivals. If they saw his growing affection for her, he could lose their respect.
His unique ability complicated things, as well. The warriors in his camp had learned their lesson with the Obeday. They would hide their shape-shifting nature until they were certain they could trust the new arrivals. Verakai children did not shift until puberty, so he knew he had time to work with. Even as he told himself this, he knew part of it was a lie. The harsh sting of his last rejection. The woman meant to be his wife, brought here by allies anxious to cement a beneficial relationship.
Her face had been a mask of disgust the first time she saw him shift. She called him a beast behind his back. And practically held her nose while they mated. She found nothing redeeming in him. No child had come of their union and he assumed it was for the best.
The only product of their cursed union was a tragedy beyond all imaginings. It had so broken him that he knew he could never love again. His heart strained against the metal cage he built around it, but it was imprisoned just the same.
20
His heart knew the plan, but it took a while for the message to reach his cock. They pleasured each other into oblivion for hours. Hours stretched into days. He started to wonder how he would make it through the day without her musical laugh, her quick wit, or her clever insights, and he knew he had to send her away. He had to do it now or he wouldn’t be able to do it at all. Real life was waiting outside.
It pained him to leave their cocoon of pleasure, but he told her to prepare to return to the human camp nonetheless. The smile on her face fell and some of the sparkle in her eyes dimmed. That’s what he wanted to see. Could she be acting? Maybe their time together didn’t mean as much to her as it did to him. He had to consider the possibility she was just in
this to save her people. Was he just seeing what he wanted to see? Given the nature of his last relationship, it wasn’t unusual that he would question the sincerity of her affection. But he was disappointed in himself for coming up with a way to test her. Perhaps a little feigned indifference on his part would tell him what he wanted to know.
“I’ve enjoyed our time together, little bird,” he said as she finished getting dressed. He watched her from the bed and couldn’t help but think what a sin it was to cover her perfect body. At least now he knew the magic hiding under all that serviceable khaki.
“I did, too.” She climbed back onto the bed and crawled to him for a kiss. He had to fight the urge to tear her clothes and claim her again. And again. And again. The lights in the room dimmed, interrupting them.
“Your ride is here,” he said as he rose from the bed. “Cyril will escort you back to your people.” He washed himself at the basin and watched for her reaction.
“You’re not taking me back?” Her eyes widened and she went pale. She was not happy with this new development, and his heart swelled. He wondered at the source of her distress. Damaged pride? Or a sincere longing for something real between them? He had to know. He hated being this insecure, but he still had to know.
“I’m afraid not.” He held out his hand and helped her to her feet. “Your beauty has distracted me long enough. My people have business I need to attend to.” She collected her pack from the floor and grabbed her communicator wristlet from the log that served as a nightstand.
“When will I see you again?” she asked as he led her to the doorway.
“In a week. Maybe two. Whenever I have time.” Her disappointment was even more pronounced. She swallowed hard and wouldn’t meet his gaze. Treating her so poorly cut him deeply, but he also felt relief at her obvious affection for him. He raised his hand to her soft cheek and caressed it. He promised himself he’d make it up to her. “I will visit soon,” he said as an apology offering. “I will come to your camp.”