HeatedMating

by Savannah Stuart

  “He’s right, Saroya. I shouldn’t have touched you.” He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender and raised his eyebrows.

  Linc nodded and let him pass.

  “Thank you for the advice, Saroya,” he said as he strode around the side of the house.

  Finally Linc looked at her and immediately his expression softened. The look took her off guard. “Are you okay?”

  She frowned. “Of course I’m okay. What’s wrong with you? I thought Aeron was your friend.”

  His eyes flashed with something dark and predatory. “That doesn’t matter. He should not have come to see you without me here and he should not have touched you.”

  So many moon cycles later and she was still getting used to their customs. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard. And you have a lot of nerve getting mad anyway.”

  He faltered for a moment. “What do you mean?”

  She rolled her eyes to cover the hurt that once again bubbled back up. All day she’d been keeping it at bay but seeing him in the flesh made the hurt reappear. “You sneak away this morning without even waking me up. After the night we shared…I expected more than that.” She felt foolish admitting it out loud but he’d hurt her feelings and she wanted him to know.

  “I didn’t want to wake you up.”

  She glared at him. “That’s it?”

  His dark eyebrows rose. “What else do you want?”

  His nonanswer infuriated her. Brushing past him, she tugged open the heavy wood door to their kitchen. She’d planned to make them an evening meal but changed her mind. Instead she grabbed an open bottle of red villana, a glass and didn’t glance at him as she headed for her room. She wasn’t going to stand around and argue with him when he’d just acted like a jackass to Aeron then refused to apologize to her. She knew she wasn’t crazy for expecting more from him.

  Once in her room she balled up her dirty apron and tossed it onto the floor. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t even acted a little sorry. “I didn’t want to wake you up,” she muttered in disgust, mimicking him. What a stupid, totally male answer.

  “I didn’t.” She spun around at his deep voice. She nearly dropped the bottle and glass but managed to hold on to them.

  “How did you…” She shook her head. The man was very stealthy so she didn’t bother finishing. “Don’t sneak up on me.” She placed the bottle and glass on her nightstand and turned to face him. Instinctively she crossed her arms over her chest. She hadn’t heard him enter her chambers and he looked so out of place in the feminine room. Soft, seascape paintings adorned all her sage-colored walls and her furniture was small, white and feminine. The bed was big and fluffy but with the canopy decorating it, it was definitely female.

  He looked around her room curiously for a moment before he returned that hot, dark gaze to hers. “I was afraid if I woke you up this morning I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you. Last night I was…rough. I didn’t want you to think I was some sort of animal. You’re right though. I should have said goodbye.”

  The sincerity of his words softened her anger until it melted away. He was very different from his brother. Something she knew. She couldn’t and shouldn’t compare them either. Nodding, she kept her gaze on him. “Okay.”

  Immediately the tension in his shoulders fled as he relaxed. “Are you hungry?”

  For him. She didn’t say it aloud but he must have read the look in her eyes. All day she’d tried to keep him out of her head but seeing him now made her knees weak. Shame filled her that she wasn’t mourning Gage more but with Linc so close it was easy to lean on him.

  “It’s been a while and my brother would have wanted you to be happy,” he said, as if he understood her fears.

  She narrowed her gaze. “How do you know?”

  “Because he told me on more than one occasion. We were…different in many ways, but what he felt for you was real. He always said that if anything happened to him, he wanted me to take care of you.”

  A sudden, sickening thought filled her. “Is that why—”

  He shook his head sharply, cutting her off. “Don’t even go there, Saroya.”

  The way he said her name made her nipples tingle and the juncture between her thighs ache. There was a predatory gleam in his dark eyes that put her on edge. Like he was ready to pounce. She suddenly felt like he was a hunter and she was his prey. The need to fill the silence between them was overwhelming. “I’d planned to make some skause if you’re hungry.”

  Skause was similar to what her people would have considered stew. Of course before her people had been rescued from their dying planet, meat hadn’t been an option. She’d had some as a child but as the wars had grown worse, the food supplies had dwindled. On Lumineta, there was an overabundance and tonight she was thankful she could make stew with the proper ingredients.

  He nodded, never taking his gaze from hers. Nervous, she wiped her damp palms on her dark shift and glanced at a point over his shoulder. “I should probably get started.”

  “I’ll help you.” He plucked the glass and bottle she’d deposited earlier and followed her to the kitchen. Having him so near was nerve racking.

  In the past he’d rarely shown up at home in time for the evening meal and sometimes she hadn’t seen Linc for days at a time. Gage had always told her he was a workaholic but now she wondered. “Did you not have to work late today?” she asked as she pulled out a big pot from one of the lower cabinets.

  His eyebrows drew together as he poured her a glass. “No. I’ll probably return home every day at this time.”

  “Oh.” She frowned and pulled out the slab of meat she’d left out to thaw earlier that morning. After grabbing a knife, she started cubing it when he placed a glass of villana on the counter next to her.

  “Do you have a problem with the time I’m coming home?” There was a trace of something in his voice she couldn’t put her finger on. He sounded almost unsure of himself.

  She paused to look at him. “No. You just never did in the past. I’ve barely seen you home for the evening meal in the past twelve moon cycles.”

  There was a long pause, but finally he spoke. “That will be changing now.” His voice had gotten deeper, more sensual.

  “You don’t have to change your work schedule because of me.”

  For a moment he looked confused, then his face turned to an unreadable mask. “When I’m not on missions, I am one of the senior trainers at the Samio.”

  She frowned at the obvious statement. “I know.”

  “I make my own schedule and have for a long time.” The words hung heavy in the air.

  When his meaning sank in she wasn’t sure what to do with it. If he made his own schedule he’d been choosing to work late. That meant he’d likely been avoiding her on purpose. The knowledge hurt her in a way she didn’t understand. Even though he hadn’t been around much they’d shared a few moments over the past few moon cycles that had been special to her. She didn’t respond because she didn’t know what to say. Turning away from him, she swallowed hard and tossed the meat into the pot.

  As she started to wash her hands, she felt Linc come up behind her before she heard him.

  His big hands settled lightly on her hips and he brushed her hair to the side before nuzzling her ear. “Did I say something to upset you?”

  She shook her head because she didn’t trust her voice. What was there to say anyway?

  “Don’t lie to me,” he murmured before capturing her earlobe between his teeth. When he tugged on it, her knees weakened.

  Somehow she found her voice. “You really make your own schedule?”

  “Yes.” His voice skittered over her skin and she had to grip the sink for support.

  “Then why did you usually come home so late before? Is it because…you didn’t want to see me?” She wasn’t sure why she was asking now, but she needed to know.

  Behind her, Linc stiffened and drew back. Instead of answering he pulled away. Immediately she missed his warmth.r />
  “I’ll chop up the vegetables for you,” he said with no inflection in his voice.

  She gritted her teeth but didn’t pursue the subject. She didn’t plan to let it drop but she didn’t have the energy right now to get an answer. If he admitted she was the reason he’d stayed away in the past she didn’t know that her heart could take that.

  Everything about Linc was so closed off sometimes. Until last night she’d had no idea he was even interested in her. After the many times they’d made love she had no doubt he was attracted. But attraction was different than caring for her. Now she wasn’t so sure if going to bed with him had been a mistake.

  Linc hated the hurt look on Saroya’s face and he wasn’t sure how to wipe it away. She’d turned away from him again as she stirred vegetables and broth into the pot but he could read the tense lines of her body. The shift she wore today was low cut in the back, revealing soft, smooth skin he wanted to kiss and cover with his hands. That wasn’t going to happen any time soon if he didn’t get his head out of his ass.

  He wanted to answer her truthfully but feared it would hurt her more. He had avoided her since she’d moved in with them. Working late had been the only way to avoid awkward interactions. Seeing her and Gage together had torn him apart inside and he wasn’t a masochist. His brother had once asked him about his late hours, but he’d brushed him off. Maybe he should have been more honest. But if he had, it wouldn’t have changed anything. Saroya and Gage would have still been sleeping together.

  “How was your day?” The question came out strained, something she no doubt noticed.

  With her back still to him, she shrugged, the action jerky. “Fine. I had a full class schedule.”

  “The clan is very grateful for what you’re doing.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, an expression of surprise on her pretty face. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Orn thinks it’s good for the children.” Their clan leader was an older warrior and he’d very slowly embraced the arts and literature the women from the blue planet had brought with them. Linc had eventually convinced him to let Saroya open an art school. Seeing her face when she’d first stepped into her new studio had been worth all the groveling to his leader.

  The evening meal went by too quickly. Linc knew she was still upset with him and he didn’t know how to make it right. Talking to her was more difficult than he’d counted on. He wished they could just be naked in his bed and not worry about words. Talking was overrated anyway. After they ate he helped her clean up then she disappeared to her room.

  After a few hours passed and he waited in his bed alone, his annoyance and lust grew. Last night he’d told her he wouldn’t be leaving her bed and he’d meant it.

  Chapter Three

  Saroya curled up on her bed and blindly watched the video screen on her wall. No rain and sunny skies for tomorrow. Not that she particularly cared. All she could think about was Linc. He’d basically admitted he’d been avoiding her all this time and she didn’t understand why. After the evening meal she’d felt awkward and tongue-tied and he hadn’t helped in the conversation department any so she’d left, showered, and climbed into bed.

  She’d thought about going to his bedroom but wasn’t sure if he’d welcome her. And she was too annoyed with him anyway even if her body craved his touch. Sighing, she clicked off the vid screen then used voice command to dim the lights in her room.

  As she lay back against her pillow, her door creaked open. Immediately she pushed up. Her breath caught in her throat.

  Linc stood in the doorway, his broad frame filling it almost completely. From the light in the hallway and the streams of moonlight coming through her windows, she could see he wasn’t wearing a tunic. Just loose trousers that looked like his training pants. When he silently stepped farther into the room, the anger on his face was evident.

  She wasn’t scared he’d hurt her, but a sudden burst of alarm surged through her. “What are you doing?”

  “I think I should be asking you the same thing,” he growled softly.

  “Excuse me?” She pulled her sheet higher over her breasts. She usually slept naked but now that Linc had taken to entering her room without knocking she might change the practice.

  “I told you once you let me into your bed I wouldn’t be leaving it.” He strode toward the other side of the bed, then to her surprise he slipped in next to her. Lying on his back, he closed his eyes and had the nerve to look completely at ease. As if he had every right to be there.

  Her gaze strayed to his bare chest. All those muscular lines and striations just begged to be touched, kissed, but he was crazy if he thought she’d be sleeping with him tonight.

  Of course, he looked like he had every intention of just sleeping. It shouldn’t annoy her, but it did. Very much so.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

  “What does it look like?” He didn’t open his eyes, which infuriated her.

  She gritted her teeth. “You can’t just…get into my bed like this.”

  A ghost of a smile played across his face. “I already have,” he murmured.

  Saroya threw off the sheet and started to get out of bed. Before her feet touched the ground his hand snaked around her waist and pulled her back. In seconds he had her pinned under him.

  And he was rock hard all over. His covered cock rubbed against her folds as he settled on top of her. Caging her in with his hands on either side of her head, he stared down at her intently.

  His dark eyes seemed fathomless in the dim light. “We either sleep in your bed or mine, but we sleep together.”

  “But why? You basically admitted you’ve been avoiding me the past six moon cycles. Longer even! What am I even supposed to say to that? You haven’t wanted to be around me and now all of a sudden you’re changing your schedule. I don’t understand you, Linc. After last night I know you want me, but—”

  “I avoided you because if I didn’t I knew I wouldn’t keep my hands off you!” The abrupt declaration stunned her.

  A dozen questions rolled around in her head but only one formed on her lips. “Why did you stop yourself?” she whispered.

  His jaw clenched tightly. She didn’t think he’d answer but finally he spoke. “The thought of seeing another man touch you stopped me.”

  “But in your culture—”

  “Fuck my culture.” His voice was ragged and tired.

  The possessive note in his declaration wasn’t something she was accustomed to but she found she liked it. A lot. Luminet men were protective of their women but sharing a woman between two men was so normal. The fact that Linc refused to do so, even with his own brother, touched something primal deep inside her.

  Tentatively she reached up to run her hands up his chest and around his neck. Like a spring releasing, all the tension in his body disappeared when she touched him.

  His mouth sought hers without hesitation and when their tongues collided she could barely remember what they’d been talking about. He kissed her as if she were the only woman alive. The hunger that flowed from him was almost frightening. But it didn’t scare her.

  It turned her on and got her wetter than any man had ever done. All Linc had to do was look at her and she turned to mush. No one had ever done that to her. She widened her thighs as his kiss deepened. The feel of his cock rubbing against her as his tongue delved into her mouth was darkly erotic.

  One of his hands cupped the back of her head and the other gently kneaded her breast. Each time he tweaked her nipple, her vagina ached. As if the two pleasure points were connected.

  He pulled back slightly and nibbled on her jaw, up to her ear. Even though he’d shaved that morning, he already had stubble growing back. The gentle brushing against her skin sent shivers rolling over her. “I want to taste you,” he murmured.

  The words heated her entire body. She’d imagined what it would feel like to have his tongue stroking her pussy but had been too nervous to ask. Last night had been unexp
ected but she definitely wanted all he had to offer.

  He blazed a trail of heated kisses down her body until he knelt in between her spread thighs. Her abdomen clenched as she watched him.

  Linc looked up at her for a brief moment and the raw need on his face took her breath away.

  He bent down and the first tentative swipe of his tongue had her fisting the sheet beneath her and arching her back.

  That was all the encouragement Linc needed. After the way he’d used her body last night, he wanted to take care of her tonight. Show her how much she meant to him. He might not be able to express himself in words but he could show her with his mouth and hands. He’d waited so long to do this.

  Running his hands down her inner thighs, he gently held them open as he licked the length of her pussy lips. She let out a little moan that made his cock ache. Which was why he’d kept his trousers on.

  Once he’d made the decision to come to her bedroom he’d known he’d have to stay semi-dressed if he wanted to give her foreplay. If his cock touched her bare skin, it would be over for him.

  She tasted sweeter than he’d imagined. Delving his tongue between her soft folds, he savored the feel and flavor of her. Even though they were very similar in appearance and both humanoids, his people had subtle differences from hers. His were taller, generally bigger, and had an ability to elongate their tongues.

  When he slightly extended it inside her, she grabbed his head and writhed against his face. As she threaded her fingers through his hair, he couldn’t deny the primal satisfaction that roared through him.

  Saroya moved against his face, uncaring how little control she showed. What Linc was doing to her should be illegal. The feel of his tongue delving inside her was enough to make her combust.

  Holding on to him, she tried to ground herself, but found it impossible. Linc made her lose herself in a way no one ever had. She wanted to just let go and let him dominate her. And now that she’d experienced all he had to offer, the thought of being with anyone else was impossible. Since coming to Lumineta she’d adapted. Or she thought she had. Now she knew she’d never share Linc with anyone and she loved that he wouldn’t share her.