by Rena Marks
“So slick,” he breathed. “For me.”
“I want you.”
“You are already ready for me.” A trace of wonder entered his tone.
“I’ve been ready for you a long, long time. Please, give me what I need.” Because she’d learned that was how to deal with him. Kieran would give her what she needed but he’d never take what he needed.
Kieran’s hungry mouth claimed hers with a fierce stroking of his tongue, and hot waves of pleasure rushed through her midsection. For once he didn’t think about whether or not he should, or the ramifications of if he did. He just acted on impulse. On want, and need. She had never felt this way before, not with anyone. He possessed her mouth as if it had always belonged to him and his big body loomed over her.
With a groan, he hauled her up against him, skin against hot skin. Lust tingled as hot as electricity where their skin touched. His hands cupped her ass as he lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his hips and neither of them broke the kiss. Where they connected was magical, hot and needy.
That wonderfully huge, monstrously beautiful cock slicked through the folds of her pussy, wetting them both with her arousal.
“Do you want this?” He gritted through a tense jaw, his voice guttural. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more ready.”
He caught her eye and drove his length along her folds once more, the thick, fat, perfect head of his cock rubbing her clit. The pressure was exactly what she needed.
She rocked forward a tiny bit and angled her hips upward.
The groan that shuddered out of him rolled from his chest thick and deep—more monster than man. It wasn’t a turn-off at all. If anything, it made her wetter. Then as if he couldn’t help himself, he plunged into her.
Her gasp was partly shock and partly hissed pleasure. She was so soaked it felt wonderful. Everything was tight and stuffed full—and there was a sense of righteousness. A sense of belonging, like they were meant to lock together this way.
Her body was on fire, eagerly rippling and tightening around his sudden invasion. Threatening to erupt. Goddess, she had no control whatsoever. When he flicked her nipple, she responded with a deep moan as she felt it deep inside her core. She rocked her hips against him and he pumped into her again. Not as hard, but he began to carry a rhythm of small, quick, sure pumps. Tingles begin to spiral through her belly, deep down where their bodies met.
Their breathless panting filled the room.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he snarled.
She ran her fingers up the thick bulge of muscles that rippled over his shoulders. Muscles that screamed beastly strength. He could snap her in half if he wanted. That made her shiver a little more.
She looked up at his tense face. “You can have me whenever you want.”
Her traitorous orgasm flooded through her as if just waiting for that acknowledgment, shameless with her lack of control over her own body. He arched as her pulsating muscles gripped him and then he was milking into her, jets of hot, sticky cum.
He collapsed onto her, the bulk of his weight on his forearms, his breath mingling with hers.
“Fuck, Alannah. Baby, that was so good. Did I hurt you? Are you sore?”
“Sore? No. Not even close.”
He pulled out of her before tucking them into the bed. But she couldn’t hold still and her hands explored all the fascinating, bulky muscles that ripped his body. He groaned and his monster cock began to rise again.
She grinned as she took it in her hand. He was so much bigger than Wilson had been. And that sex had been painful. She’d always kind of wondered if maybe she wasn’t quite right down there. Built small, maybe. But after Kieran’s size, she had no doubts. He was made for her and she was made for him.
He groaned when she slid her hand up his wet, turgid length, throwing his head back in ecstasy. Then he leaned forward to catch her lips. His kiss was explosive, firing from her lips down through the rest of her. She felt it in each part of her body, one limb at a time, stretching from the smallest of her fingers to her toes, making her feel like she was on fire from the inside out. He lunged forward and settled gracefully between the cradle of her thighs in a blur. So fast, so powerful. His hand felt huge as it tangled through the back of her hair to pull her closer. Desperately—but she felt the need, too. It was like they couldn’t get enough of each other nor could they move fast enough. When Kieran slid into her, she cried out against his lips. He felt so good like this, taking her without hesitation. Without asking, without thinking. The hesitant Kieran determined not to show her himself earlier was gone, and in his place was a rutting man as desperate as her to connect just in case this was their only time. If that was the case, they each wanted to make the most of it.
His harder body flexed against her softer form as he bucked into her harder and faster, setting a pace that was frantic and needy.
Kieran rolled his eyes closed like he was fighting against a looming orgasm. One clawed hand reached out and pushed her knee back toward her chest, thrusting in deeper. He felt amazing inside of her, sliding in and out of her flesh with ease, yet she felt every delectable inch with millions of new nerve endings that had fired up in places she never knew she had.
She dug her nails into his back.
“Fuck, baby. That’s so good.” Kieran’s voice was nearly inhuman as he snarled. The sexy timbre of his voice pushed her even closer to climax.
Without warning, she reached it.
Her body fragmented into a million shards of glass, each one slicing through her like mini waves. She’d never felt anything like it. Such ecstasy coming from the place someone had once paid for to be the first. What a waste of money because nothing could have felt like this between her and Kieran. Good, perfect, connecting to each other as her orgasm blasted through her, her pussy clenching his cock in rhythmic pulses. Kieran pushed into her deep and froze as if he felt her release. He groaned and warmth spilled into her.
Fuck, you’re coming so hard. All over my dick, shuddering all around him. He shut down his mind suddenly.
She was so high on her orgasm she could barely react. Kieran was in her head. It didn’t feel invasive. It felt intimate to share their thoughts, their bodies, their feelings. But he blocked her immediately after he did so, which meant he never meant to share. He’d slipped.
When their throbbing aftershocks had faded away, Kieran kissed her gently. As she nibbled on his lips back, he groaned as he pulled out of her.
And then they cuddled.
Chapter Eleven
Alannah:
“WE’RE BEING SELFISH,” she said, her hand still roving over the rippling muscles of his abs. “Poor Vien and Potierre have to entertain my dreadful family on their own. I think we can go down and give them some relief by joining for dinner.”
He sighed. “I’ll shower and figure out how to change back to wolf.”
“Do you have to change?” she asked. “We can introduce you as someone else. Or, we can just tell them you’re a shapeshifter.”
“No. I can’t bear for anyone to see me like this. The others know what my form looks like. But your family—I don’t want to be the cause of their next insults and reprimands to you.”
She didn’t know why he was so averse to his looks. It seemed to be beyond normal differences. Vien didn’t cover his third eye. Potierre didn’t wear gloves to cover his hands. But Kieran was determined to stay out of the public’s eye.
However, he should be safe since he’d finally managed to change. Amanda would no longer be worried about him getting stuck as a wolf.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
He showered in less than five minutes and she jumped in after him. He dried off while she showered, all while she watched him thoughtfully from the clear glass. Not once did he glance toward a mirror. No, he avoided them all through the bathroom. Even to the point of drying off and hanging the wet towel over the edge of the bathtub to avoid hanging
it on the drying bar where he might glimpse into a mirror.
He bit his lip, dropped to a crouch. They waited. He tried to concentrate.
She could feel his frustration from where she was.
“What can I do to help?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You seem to change when you get angry. Shall I make you mad?”
He snorted. “If you can.”
“I can. But once you’ve changed, you need to let me know we’re okay. That you’re not still angry with me.”
He tilted his head as if wondering what he could possibly get angry with her over.
“You’re not the only Xeno Sapien I made love with. I was extremely curious, and the first night here, I had sex with both Vien and Potierre.”
He broke. His amber eyes flashed and his bones shattered, his muscles stretched, his tendons tore. It was harsh, much quicker than his previous change. He grunted and bit his lip, holding his groans in. Inside the shower, she winced, glad the water ran and she didn’t have to be right there to hear his bones split and reform. Flipping off the spray, she dried off quickly and sank down to the floor with him where he lay panting in his full wolf form. She reached out gingerly, afraid he’d be furious. When he didn’t respond, she caressed his head as he shivered from the aftershocks of the violence of the change.
“Sweet Goddess. That was furious. I’m sorry, Kieran. I’m so sorry.” She pulled him to her, listening to his heart thunder. “And it was all a lie, baby. I’ve never slept with them. The only Xeno Sapien who’s ever touched me is you.”
His tongue lapped her shoulder, but weakly. As if he was still suffering from the fight with his own body.
“Old fairy tales used to say shifters changed during a full moon. The energy of the moon makes it pain-free. That’s one theory, anyway. What if that’s true? Maybe we should save your next change for the moon and see if that’s the case. I can’t stand watching you suffer for me. Or making you suffer like that.”
He licked her thigh.
They cuddled together for a few more minutes before she rose to get dressed.
She’d just slipped her chemise over her head when there was a soft knock at her door. “Alannah? It’s Ana. Open up.”
She looked back at him just as she cracked the door open. He whined softly for her to let her sister in.
Alannah opened the door all the way.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay. Do you need help dressing? I see you wear the same dresses and figure it’s probably Vien or Potierre who plays lady’s maid, but they kind of have their hands full right now.”
Jealousy struck Kieran. He’d make sure to shift after she changed from now on. She was his and no way would Vien or Potierre help her dress.
“Sure, I can use a hand,” Alannah said, going to her closet and pulling out a blue dress.
Ana peered in behind her. “You have a red one? You didn’t think that would clash with your hair?”
Alannah laughed softly. “Potierre and Vien took my dress when I was in medbay and had it replicated into various colors to load the closet with. I didn’t have the heart to tell them I had just left a party and that was the reason for the dress. And I think they might be a little bit color-blind.” She grinned, remembering Potierre’s bright green suit that clashed with his red skin.
Ana’s face softened. “That makes sense. I’ve noticed Vien looking at my pantsuit a couple of times. He probably thinks it’s too difficult to travel with the ‘proper dresses’ we’re meant to lounge around in.”
“He’s a bit old-fashioned,” Alannah said.
“He’s sweet.”
“Would you like to borrow one? The purple one would look amazing with your coloring.”
Ana smiled at her sister. “I’d love to.”
Kieran huffed and wandered out into the hallway, settling down outside the door as if to guard them. But his heart warmed to hear the giggles from inside as they helped each other into their fancy dresses.
He jumped up when the door opened and rubbed against Alannah’s legs. Her hands caressed his head.
“I’ll never get over his size. He’s huge,” Ana said.
“Mmm. Everywhere,” Alannah agreed. Her tone was so dry he barked into her mind.
Oh, shut it. You are. Her voice was teasing in his mind.
Not at all ladylike, princess. He teased back.
Earth-Ground is obviously a bad influence for the younger Holland ladies. She’d read his thoughts and reminded him of the comment he’d uttered once before.
Get out of my mind. He growled it, but it was without conviction because she was in his mind. In his heart. In his soul.
And the soft laughter echoing through the link told him she knew it.
As soon as they entered the dining room, he hung back to watch the dynamics.
Potierre seated Alannah. It was odd because Potierre had to come across the room to reach Alannah. He was actually closer to Ana. So, like the sisters who buffered each other, Vien and Potierre did, too, he realized.
Vien jumped up to seat Ana.
“Thank you,” Ana said softly.
“My lady,” Vien said reverently.
That was why. Vien was attracted to Ana, Kieran realized. And Alannah might be heartbroken when she found out. Yet he couldn’t help but gloat. Maybe…just maybe…if he had a house as magnificent as befitting a lady, she’d choose him. Maybe Potierre wouldn’t even be an option.
He trotted under the table, finding Danielle and sinking his head into her lap to see if she’d pet him. She did, stroking his head softly under the table. When Potierre leaned near her to whisper something, Kieran nudged her hand to rest onto Potierre’s leg. From the way both of them froze, neither one expected the move. He didn’t care. He’d get Potierre out of the way, too.
As if she was onto him, Alannah called. “Kieran? Come here, baby. Stop bothering Danielle.”
“Oh, he’s fine,” Danielle trilled, trying not to call attention to the fact that her hand was feeling the muscular thighs of Potierre under the table.
“Are you hungry?” Alannah asked, giving him a taste of her chicken. “I can get you a bowl.”
“Surely he can wait until we’re finished with our meal,” Cynthia said, her voice filled with disgust.
“No reason why he should have to,” Vien said mildly, getting up to fix him a plate. He shoved it under the table for Kieran.
“Seriously? You feed him on the dinnerware?” Cynthia’s voice was shrill.
“Dishes wash,” Alannah said mildly. “We’re all eating on them.”
“Dr. Robyn called,” Potierre said as he passed Danielle a plate of greens. “Tomorrow will be a dance in one of the offsite cabins to honor our guests before they leave.”
“So Lord Nolan has been captured?” Ana asked.
“He has turned himself in and has been questioned. All evidence points to Alannah as the culprit who attempted to drug Leah Margulies. Because it was merely vitamin B, it is not a felony. However, converting it to tablet form is illegal. Again, he insists it was all Alannah, especially since the prescription was in her name.”
Lady Cynthia sounded strangled when she asked, “And the strength of the prescription? Was it questioned?”
Vien was very mild when he answered. “No, my lady. That question has not been brought up.”
“That’s for the best,” she said. “Although, if it does, we shall simply say that we did it for Alannah’s health, of course. Surely a mother’s love for her child overrides a prescription for vitamins.”
No one responded but silverware continued to clink as they ate.
“Besides, we planned on leaving as soon as possible. Now that the threat has been handled and Lord Nolan has been cleared, we intend to go home immediately.”
“Mother, this dance has been planned for us,” Ana said, as Danielle bit her lip and looked down at her plate. “Surely we can delay a day?”
Cynthia looked as if she was about
to refuse, so Danielle bailed her sister out. “It’s not like we’ll ever come out here again, mother. It’ll be like old times. Alannah can dress us. Let her use her servant skills. She earned them.”
Her words may have been cruel, but she looked down at her plate without showing her eyes. Her hand shook slightly. But her comment pleased their mother.
“Well, I imagine one day won’t make much of a difference. And Alannah certainly has enough dresses for the both of you to pick from. I imagine she wouldn’t even mind if you took a couple home in addition to your party-wear. As a souvenir of your visit, of course. It’s not like you’ll be seeing Alannah around the same city anymore.”
Vien’s fork clattered to the table. “Pardon,” he said. “I’m sure Alannah wouldn’t mind giving her own sisters such a generous gift.”
Vien was a crafty Xeno. He gently reminded everyone at the table that Alannah wasn’t a lesser being, but a related family member. A sibling. And he reminded them how greedy it was to not only ask for something, but to take two of everything.
His beautiful girl smiled, her mouth wide. “Of course. Danielle, Ana, you’re welcome to anything in my closet. It’ll be so much fun to dress up. I’ll do your hair.” She was actually looking forward to the time with her sisters. She had a heart of gold.
Lady Cynthia blinked. “I should hope so.”
“I won’t be able to remain in Xenia forever,” Alannah said. “One day my sponsorship will be over.”
Ana looked alarmed. “There is a deadline?”
Her alarm was overridden by Lady Cynthia’s. “You cannot possibly leave these gates looking like that! I refuse to allow it, Alannah. You will tarnish our reputation with that atrocious hair.”
“Is there any way she can stay?” Danielle asked Potierre.
He nodded. “I imagine if she marries, or—”
“Well, that’s that, then.” Cynthia dropped her palm to the table. “One of these fine gentlemen will have to take you. Pick one, Alannah. It doesn’t matter which.” She sneered. “You know why. I suppose I can send a check off to your future husband as a wedding gift so you can build your own little shack instead of living with a roommate.” She glanced around their home as if it was nothing.