Bonds of Blood [Lords of the Expanse] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Honor James

  She looked to be thinking about it a moment and then nodded. “I will. I hate to say it, but the gown that was left that would be appropriate has buttons up the back rather than zip closures, so I would greatly appreciate any help that you are willing to provide me, Andries.”

  “I’ll come back up then,” he said softly, kissing her fingers lightly. “Go and clean up. I will be back before you know it,” he told her. “But you do need to move, Xandra.” He didn’t want to hurt her by rolling her over. Besides, he wanted to feel the slide of her skin from his as she moved. It would be torturous, but he still didn’t want to move until she did.

  Nodding, she looked down at him and grinned. “Can I kiss you before I leave you?” She shouldn’t have to ask her husband if she could, but she felt as if she had to in that moment, as they were switching from lovers to the people the public saw.

  Frowning slightly, he pulled her to him and didn’t answer, just kissed her softly. Rolling over, he continued to kiss her as he settled on top, his hand sliding down her side. Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes. “You never have to ask to kiss me when we are alone,” he murmured softly. “You never have to ask to touch me when we are alone. And you can ask me anything you wish at any time unless I’m on the command deck of my ship and then, if you need something that your escorts or one of the crew can’t help with, ask to speak with me alone. All right?” he asked her softly, his hand slowly stroking her side.

  She nodded and smiled. “All right, I will try to keep that in mind.” She would do more than try. She simply had to do as he asked. She wasn’t going to risk having him upset in any way, how, shape, or form. She felt things for him so quickly, and she wanted to continue where they were headed, because she wanted to have more than just that. She wanted to see just how far they could go. “Help me up so that I can go and shower?” Her hand was over his heart and the other was loosely around his back.

  Kissing her chin lightly, he shifted off of her and pulled her up slowly to her feet. “Go and do what you need to. I’ll be back in a few moments.” Stepping back, he padded from the room and down the stairs to the secondary bathing room. Stepping into the shower stall, he activated it and stood while the rays did their job. At the small triple beep he stepped back out and headed back up the stairs three minutes after he’d come down.

  She moved to the shower slowly and with a frown. There was a pinching pain between her legs, but that’s not what had her nearly flying out the window. It was when she came back from her shower and she looked down at the bed that she gasped and covered her mouth with her shaky hand.

  She looked up when he came back and with wide-eyed horror asked, “Did I hurt you, Andries?” She had thought the blood was from him, never recognizing the shower cleaned the blood from her. “Are you hurt?” she repeated.

  Moving to her side quickly, Andries took her shaking hands in his and pulled her close as he looked to the sheets. “No, Xandra, it was your first time.” And he should have taken more care of her. “How are you feeling?” he asked, knowing the sonic shower would have cleaned her up and eased most of the aches.

  “I feel really wonderful, Andries. However, are you sure?” she asked as she looked up at him. “I knew there was a small pain. However, I never thought—” She stopped talking because she knew what a fool she sounded like. “I should have known. If I had the upbringing I should have, I should have known to expect that, shouldn’t I have?”

  “Not necessarily, Xandra. Every woman is different. But you likely would have been told it was a possibility,” he told her as he stepped back slightly. “But you are fine, yes?” he asked, receiving a small nod. “Then we should get dressed and on our way. This”—Andries motioned a hand to the bedding—“is natural, my wife. Do not worry so.”

  “All right.” She bit her lip but nodded. “All right, I’m ready to get dressed now, but we should likely pull the bedding off and replace it with fresh so that when we come back, we won’t have to sleep in that.” Her face was bright red, but it wasn’t to be helped.

  “Go and dress. I’ll do this, Xandra,” he told her quietly, watching the red of her cheeks, and was strangely fascinated by it. Moving to the bed, he quickly stripped the covers and took them to the laundry chute. Dumping them down it, he turned and saw her still standing there. “Go, Xandra. We’re short on time, wife,” he said again, trying to get her moving. Going to the closet, he quickly got into uniform before he collected clean sheets from the cupboard in there and went to make the bed.

  She jumped and moved to the closet on the opposite side of the wall and pulled out the dress the clothier had created for her in what seemed like hours at the time, but turned out to be simple minutes. Tugging on the garment, she adjusted the insides of the silky dark-blue fabric and slipped her arms through the arm holes before turning to him. “All right, now I need your help.” The gown seemed to have been created for her, the color at least. It made her very skin glow and her hair look all the more exotic. Turning her back to him, she pointed to the long row of buttons that marched up the back from the crack of her bottom to the nape of her neck.

  Dropping the heavy cover to the bed, the sheets already on, Andries turned to look at her. Moving up behind her, he ran a hand slowly down her spine. Fighting the need to do more by reminding himself that they had things to accomplish, he began to do up the many, many little buttons. “Who in the universe actually believes this many buttons are necessary?” he asked in a low tone as he was bent over to make sure he was getting the buttons into their correct corresponding holes.

  “I know!” Xandra said as she looked over her shoulder at him and grinned. “It is perfect though. The colors are perfect for your house, or so I have been told. “If you will, however, make sure that they are all done up, it will be wonderful, please.”

  I am working on that nearly insurmountable task, Xandra,” Andries muttered darkly. “And the colors are perfect for our house, my lady, not merely my house any longer,” he pointed out as he straightened to do the last few buttons. “Done,” he told her, stepping back to check and ensure he had not missed any. “We need to go, Xandra,” he told her again, checking the time. It would be close and he’d have to delay the shift he needed for a few moments, but it could not be helped. “Do you require a wrap, or will you be warm enough without?” he asked her as he finished dressing by pulling on his uniform jacket and doing it up carefully.

  “There is a wrap in the lower level closet for me.” She turned and grinned. “Our house, that sounds interesting.” She looked at him and nodded. “I am as ready as I will be able to be.” She was nervous, very, very nervous, and felt as if she were walking into something that would potentially cause her headache, but it was past time for her to meet her husband’s men. “I will try to keep in mind that I am not to touch you as we are out, Andries, but don’t be surprised if I do, but I will try not to, all right?”

  Taking her hand in his, he kissed her fingers lightly. “Come, wife, and stop worrying about such things for now,” he said quietly. Guiding her down the stairs, he paused by the closet and pulled out her wrap, holding it for her and draping it around her shoulders. Taking her hand in his, he held it as he opened the door and stepped out, searching the hall before allowing her out and closing the door behind them.

  She held onto him and sighed. “All right, husband, let’s you and I go to see your men so they know not to shoot me when they see me, all right?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  A half hour later they were in the shipyard, her hand in his as he guided her up the ramp to the lowest level of the vessel. Moving through, he nodded to the crew, who all stopped and gave a small bow of their head to their superior officer. “Sergeant,” he said, looking to one, “inform the command deck I am here and let the Major know I need to see him and the other officers in the war room before they depart the ship for the night.” As the young man took off to a console, Andries guided her through the ship quickly to a lift that would take them to the
command deck. “I’ll give you a tour before we leave,” he murmured softly to her as they stepped into the lift.

  She frowned as she looked up at him. “I don’t want to complain, Andries, because I very much like it, but you do realize that you are still holding my hand, don’t you?” She did, however, step closer to him and felt more of his heat surrounding her in a warm comfort that she didn’t think she could ever step away from. “And several of your men saw you holding my hand. Are you going to be all right with that?”

  Glancing down at her, he nodded. “I do realize,” he told her and then looked up at the display to see where they were. “If I was not all right, as you phrased it, I would not being doing so, Xandra,” he pointed out quietly. “In the war room I will need you to sit quietly for a time, Xandra. I need to speak with my second about preparations for departure as well as brief him on the mission. I know it will likely be boring, but it is necessary, so I hope you will understand.”

  “As long as you are certain that I won’t get in the way.” She knew that she wouldn’t get in the way at all simply because she had no insight into what happened in a war room. “I will be perfectly content to remain at the side simply watching and listening.” Especially if it was him she was going to get to watch and listen to. She tugged absently at her hair, ensuring the deformed ear was covered once more before the shiny doors swished open and he led her from the small lift into a sparse hall with guards lining the doors.

  Moving down the corridor, he guided her to the war room, and placing his hand on the scanner, he stepped inside with her. “Gentlemen,” he said to get everyone’s attention. “Before we begin, may I introduce my wife, the Lady Xandra. Xandra, my second, Major Slater,” he said quietly. “If you need anything and I’m unavailable, you can count on him.”

  “A pleasure, my lady.” The major bowed his head in respect, having noted the colonel was holding the lady’s hand, an interesting detail.

  “Ensure the crew knows that the lady will be joining us for this mission and to ensure that everything is as it should be.” In other words, they had better behave or Andries would have their hearts on a platter.

  “Of course, Colonel.” The major nodded and then looked to a young lieutenant, who bowed his head slightly and left the room.

  “Come,” Andries said to Xandra before leading her to the head of the table and his seat. Pulling it out, he seated her, giving her hand a slight squeeze before he moved to look at the star charts spread out. Undoing his jacket, he pulled out the packet with their orders and passed it to the major before doing his jacket up again.

  Turning in the plush seat that seemed to mold to her body as she leaned back, she watched him carefully and the men at his side. She took in everything. While she hadn’t been taught so much, Xandra was far from stupid. Every detail of the map, of the orders she had seen only briefly would be committed to memory. It wasn’t planned but simply the way that she was. On certain things Xandra had complete and total recall, rare for a woman and an ability she hid stingily from all.

  For the next hour, Andries covered every detail of the mission they had to a planet in their galaxy. There was to be a summit meeting of sorts, and they had to stop along the way to pick up the ambassador that would be needed at the meet. He made it quick, not wanting to keep the men too long. They needed sleep. “That’s it, Major,” he said at the end as the orders were put in the safe as well as the star maps. “Ensure everyone is on board and accounted for in four days’ time at 05:00. The lady and I will be here the night before.” Because he wasn’t planning on getting out of bed early enough to travel to the port.

  “Yes, sir,” Major Slater said as he bowed his head in salute to his commanding officer and then turned to Xandra to bow slightly deeper for her. “My lady, good evening to you both,” he told them and then, ordering the others out, followed them to complete the shift change.

  Looking to Xandra as he shut the safe and spun the tumblers, Andries lifted a brow. “Bored yet?” he asked softly before he moved toward her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would take as long as it did.”

  “Don’t be. I enjoyed it.” She really had, actually, which was a surprise. “It was interesting, to learn the names of the stars I have watched for so many years in the skies.” Turning to face him, she stood and smiled. “I’m ready to go for dinner now, if you are hungry as well, that is?” A short flush colored her cheek as she reached out and touched his chest, only daring the move because she knew they were alone. The colored cheeks came from thinking of how he had fed from her, dined on her blood, and moon and stars help her, she wanted to feel it again.

  Watching her, he touched her cheek lightly. “What is going through that head of yours, Xandra?” he asked, not really expecting an answer. “Did you want to tour the ship now or the night we come aboard for the trip?” he asked a moment later.

  “If you wouldn’t mind, I would like one now.” Looking up at him, her eyes glittered with need. “I was thinking of how you drank from me, and for a moment I was hoping you would tell me you were hungry and bend to drink from me again. Pretty silly, I know.” But there it was.

  He had no control over his brows as they shot up toward his hairline. Nor did he have any idea what to say to that proclamation. Blinking a few times, he got his voice back. “I see,” he murmured quietly. Pulling her closer to him, he bowed his head so that his lips hovered just over hers. “You like when I feed from you?” he asked softly.

  “I liked it a great deal. I know that it’s something I shouldn’t, and while I admit it held pain, it was more the feeling of”—she didn’t know how to think to phrase it, so she finished with—“the feeling that I am giving you something that no one else could.” Anyone could give it to him, but that was beside the point. “However, if you prefer not to, I understand fully. I am not from your home planet, and I’m certain that I’m nowhere near what you could get from here.” She shrugged and leaned in, brushing her lips so very lightly over his that were so very close. “I won’t be offended by the bags, I promise,” she said when she pulled away.

  Searching her eyes for a moment, Andries stroked his finger over her pulse. “You are much preferable to any bag or live source ever, Xandra. Your blood is rich, full of life, sweet, and slightly spicy,” he said quietly. “But if you are not comfortable with my taking from you, Xandra, I am more than able to survive with the bagged blood.” Now though, gods, now he wanted her on his tongue again, her taste, her scent, everything.

  She snorted and shook her head, looking up at him with a smile. “I loved you taking from me, Andries. Didn’t you get the memo on just how much I loved that? It made my whole body come alive, every single nerve ending firing rapidly, knowing that I was giving you something that would help you survive.” She sighed and traced her fingers over his lips. “I loved it, Andries, and I would very much like you to do that anytime you are in need.” Like now, her body screamed.

  Feeling her pulse jump under his fingers, he continued to stroke her neck lightly. With a gentle finger, he turned her head and lowered his own to her throat. Licking at her pulse gently, he nibbled at her skin. “I’m in need, Xandra,” he told her quietly. Letting his incisors slide out, he scraped them lightly over her skin and then, quickly and before he could rethink it, he sank his teeth in deep, wrapping his arms around her to hold her closer.

  Her arms wrapped up and around him as she gasped for air. “Andries,” she whimpered softly in the quiet room as her body molded against his fully and completely. Her hands moved over his back, one anchored against the back of his head and the other the one doing the exploration before moving to his front and sliding down.

  “I’m in need, too, Andries,” she confessed as he slowly drank from her. One of her hands found him and cupped his cock gently. “Please.”

  Growling softly against her throat, Andries lifted her and took a step to the table where he sat her down. Moving between her legs, he slowed his feeding so he didn’t hurt her as he worked the s
kirt of her dress up her legs to find her underneath, his fingers teasing her wet flesh gently. All the command officers were off the ship, so there was no one that could get into the war room, which meant they had absolute privacy.

  Bracing her hands on the flat of the table, she lifted slightly so the dress was fully bared and bit her lip as she moved the same hands back up and to the stays of his pants. “Please don’t stop, just…” She didn’t know how to ask for what she needed as she bared his flesh to her waiting hands finally. “Andries, please,” she begged as she began to stroke the heated shaft in her hands lovingly.

  Rocking his hips into her hands, he slid two fingers deep into her tight pussy and gently stroked her. But it was her hands that were truly distracting him, his free arm tightening around her as he pulled her closer to the edge of the table. Shifting, he stroked his damp fingers over her thigh as he waited for her to guide his throbbing cock into her body, hoping she’d know what he wanted.

  She seemed to move on instinct alone and pressed the bulbous head of his cock to her hot entrance and wrapped a leg around him to tug him in closer. Her head fell back and to the side, giving him far better access as she wrapped her other leg around his. Bracing her hands on the table, she pulled him in at the same time she lifted herself with her arms and met him halfway until he was fully buried in her pussy. “Andries,” she sobbed in pleasure.

  Shifting his arms, he cupped her bottom to him as he began to move his cock in her pussy, feeding once again at her throat gently. Massaging her ass, he lifted her higher so she would wrap her arms around his shoulders, tipping her upright gently.