by Lisa Lace
“Setting an alarm with a small force field, just in case. I came prepared, too.”
“What will that do?”
“If anyone finds us, the force field will prevent them from entering and give them a mild shock. It will alert us to their presence.”
“That’s brilliant. I’m about to drop and can barely keep my eyes open.”
He nodded and took off his suit jacket and button-up shirt. His pants came off next. Dust and dirt covered all our clothes. I swallowed as he climbed onto the bed next to me. It was just as hot in the catacombs as it was outside. We didn’t need any covers.
“Keep your hands to yourself, mister.” I gave another yawn.
“Of course. It’s your move, anyway. I’m so tired that I’m ready for sleep. Seduction is the last thing on my mind.”
“It’s a good thing we have that settled.” I tried to keep the sound of disappointment out of my voice. Wasn’t he going to try anything? I rolled to my side away from Ven, already dropping off to unconsciousness.
A moment later, I felt Ven pull me against him, spooning me. His arm wrapped around my body, and I relaxed completely. I felt like I had to put up a minor protest.
“No sex.”
“We’re snuggling. There’s a difference. I’m just keeping you safe.” Those were the last words I heard before drifting off to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
VEN
My sleep felt thick, almost like someone had drugged me. As I swam up out of unconsciousness, my mind didn’t want to wake up. I realized I was dreaming when I felt something soft pressing against me.
Keeping my eyes closed and moving instinctively, I began to explore. My hands felt an expanse of smooth skin. When they drifted up, I discovered soft mounds that begged me to squeeze them. I slid my hands under the fabric, the magnificent plump breasts responded to my touch, and I felt nipples begin to harden.
I molded and played with the flesh, enjoying a full breast in my hand. My cock was hard, and I pressed it against the female in my arms. Her butt felt round and juicy. All I needed to do was get these clothes out of the way, and I could fuck her from behind.
My balls ached for release, but I always made sure the woman was ready first. I slid my hand down her body until I found her sex. That was what I needed. I let my finger slip inside and found her dripping wet and so slippery that I would slide inside her without any problems.
What a sweet little dream.
My finger found the pleasure button that I knew would make her come and began to lightly stroke it. The woman finally woke up enough to moan, and I felt myself getting harder at the sound. I continued to rub her slick lips and play with the hard nub until she cried out and rocked back against me.
I realized that I had given Emmy an orgasm after promising I wouldn’t touch her unless she asked me.
I took my hands away and turned my back to her. I would have blue balls from not being able to come, but it was better than being murdered in the morning. We hadn’t had explicit sex. Right?
Something inside me knew my excuses wouldn’t be enough this time. What was I thinking?
The truth was that I wasn’t thinking. I had been half-asleep and horny. I felt like an asshole and hoped Emmy wouldn’t hate me tomorrow.
EMMY
I didn’t usually dream about sex, but I was having a good one right now.
There was a man in the dream. His hands were all over me, touching me everywhere, and it felt amazing. It didn’t feel awkward when he put his hand down between my legs.
I thought I had died from pleasure. I had an amazing feeling that spread through my entire body, leaving me feeling weak and happy. But the dream wasn’t enough. I needed more, wanting him to complete me. Then the man was gone, and I felt bereft. Where was he?
I moaned a sound of sadness, wiggling around. I felt his chest against my back. He was still there. I rolled to face him.
“Emmy.” His deep voice sent shockwaves through me.
“I need more,” I whispered to the dream man.
My hands roamed all over. His muscles were so sexy that I needed to kiss him. My bra was in the way. I pulled it off, removing my underwear and his in the process. That was better.
I found my way to his face, lying my nude body against him. He groaned and opened his mouth, our tongues twisting and mating in an erotic dance which made me wetter between my legs.
His arms wrapped around me and our bodies were pressed tight together. “Are you sure you want this, Emmy?” The sound of his voice triggered something and I came back to reality. Ven touched me. He made me come. He was right in front of me, and I wanted him to complete me.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Was I begging? I felt like a wanton. “Please.”
“I think you should come again. You need to be completely relaxed.”
“I can do that again?” I gasped as he latched on to my breast, sucking hard.
He nearly made me come immediately from the exquisite touch of his mouth on my nipples. When his hand slid between my thighs and started rubbing my pussy again, my hips bucked involuntarily.
Ven flicked my clit until I was close, then he put a finger inside me. I moaned, loving the sensation. After a minute, when I was dripping wet, he slid in another finger. His fingers stretched me, and I gasped when he started pumping them in and out.
With his mouth on my nipples and his hand in my sex, I found myself coming again, even harder this time. As I lay silent, floating down from my high, I realized that Ven had disappeared.
“Ven?”
“I’m here.” I turned my head and saw him open a tube, squeezing out a cream onto his fingers. “This will feel cold.”
His skillful fingers materialized again, rubbing the cream inside me.
“What are you doing?” I felt my arousal building again.
“It will make fucking me less painful. It’s a local anesthetic that will dull the pain, but let you feel all the pleasure.”
“Someone thought he was going to get lucky,” I murmured, feeling my hips bucking again from his ministrations. He put the cream away and lay down beside me. His eyes made me feel loved, and his gaze took my breath away. “Luck is a useful quality in a treasure hunter.”
“I went to the store before leaving for the party.” He moved the tube of cream aside. “There was a particular treasure I wanted to find.”
“Were you so sure of your prize?”
“Nope. But I was hopeful.”
He moved forward to kiss me, his mouth taking me, possessing me completely. I wanted him to do the same thing to my body. I had come twice already, but I still wanted and needed more. I felt empty and only he could fill me.
He kissed me for so long that I was wet and panting for him before he was ready to give me what I wanted. Finally, he kissed his way down my neck until he reached my breasts, making me shudder. Without warning, he took my aching nipple into his hot mouth. I arched up off the bed, moaning.
His hand dropped between my legs again. He slid his finger up and down my soaking wet lips, driving my desire higher.
“I need you. Now.”
He was there in an instant. I felt him at my entrance, and I was scared and excited at the same time. He gazed into my eyes as he pushed in. I drew in a deep breath at the feeling of him inside me. He kept me pinned down and pushed in farther, making me writhe underneath his body.
“You feel fantastic, Emmy.” He pushed in another inch. “Now.” He thrust hard. I squeaked, but it didn’t hurt. The cream was doing its job.
Soon he was deep inside my core, and our hips were pressed tightly together. He paused for a moment, letting me savor the feeling of being intimately close. I knew I would always want to be this close to him. I didn’t know I wanted a man, but Ven had opened my eyes.
He pulled out and thrust inside again, causing a wave of pleasure to start building in my core. I lay on my back as he moved in and out of me. Soon I couldn’t lie still any more and had to push back against him, mat
ching him thrust for thrust.
“It’s incredible,” I moaned, feeling his movements taking me higher.
He leaned down and sucked one of my nipples into his mouth. That was enough to push me over the edge. My body exploded with sensation, shattering into a thousand pieces as I cried out in bliss. Contractions shook me, and I clung to Ven, who drove into me a few more times until his cock stiffened.
I felt his seed fill me. The sensation was so right that I shuddered with renewed ecstasy, milking every drop from him. Eventually, my convulsions stopped, and I lay still, totally satisfied, completely spent.
Ven was still on top of me, his weight pressing down on my body. I didn’t care that it was hard to breathe. I was in heaven. He lifted himself onto his arms, keeping his cock in me, and dropped feather-light kisses all over my face. He was mumbling something over and over that was hard to understand.
It sounded like I love you.
Chapter Twenty
VEN
As I lay inside Emmy, I tried to piece myself together. I had good sex before but this was practically indescribable. Amazing? Mind-blowing? Unbelievable? The correct words didn’t exist. I should have known things would be different with Emmy. She was unlike every other woman I had ever been with.
I wondered if my feelings could intensify the sensations of sex. Even though it was her first time, I hoped she thought it was special. I realized I felt something different. Did I love her?
The realization shocked me, but I knew it was true the moment it passed through my mind. I covered her face with kisses, whispering it over and over.
I loved this woman, and I would do anything for her.
We fell asleep twisted together. Her forehead was on my cheek. Neither of us spoke another word, not wanting to break the intimate spell of the night. I woke up hours later, feeling terrific. Emmy was already awake.
All I wanted to do with my morning erection was turn her around and fuck her again. But she might be sore. The cream had worn off by now.
The atmosphere seemed less romantic in the daytime, as well. We were in some catacombs, under a mountain on a foreign planet, racing to get a stupid ladle before someone else did.
I hoped she was right about this ladle, and it could heal people who were going to die. That was Emmy’s reason for being here.
Another reason was more important to me. I looked down at my reason as her eyes locked with me. We stared at each other for a long time before Emmy averted her gaze and untangled herself from my body.
We took turns washing up and getting dressed in the bathroom. She didn’t say said a word the entire time. As the silence stretched, I became afraid to say anything. Would she tell me it was terrible? Would she want to divorce me immediately because of a violation of the TerraMates agreement?
I might be able to raise an objection on that one. She begged me to make love to her, but I suppose there weren’t any witnesses. I decided to stop being a coward when we were both dressed.
My voice sounded tentative, even to myself. “Emmy?”
“Ven, let’s not ruin anything,” she blurted out.
I walked over to her with fear in my heart. “Emmy.” I lifted her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Last night was fantastic. I’ve never experienced anything like what we had between us.”
She nodded, looking relieved.
I paused. I didn’t want to make her say anything if she wasn’t ready, but I wanted to know if she was upset. I hoped she wouldn’t say our relationship was over before it had a chance to begin.
“I don’t know what to say or what to do.” She trailed off, clenching her hands helplessly.
“You didn’t…I mean, did you…enjoy it?” I had to ask. I had to know what it felt like for her. I was as careful as I could be. Everyone said a girl’s first time wasn’t her favorite sexual experience, and Emmy was a little girl from Earth.
“Oh, Ven.” She turned away, her face bright red.
My heart dropped into my stomach, and I started babbling. “You didn’t then? You know, they say the first time isn’t going to be the best. Consider it a practice run. I’m sure you’ll like it more the next time.”
Shit.
“Shut up. I liked it, okay? Like isn’t a strong enough word. I have never felt like that before, and I can’t stop thinking about it, even though I’m not sure if we can do it again.”
“What’s the problem?” I asked, relief flooding my body.
“I don’t know. Doesn’t it make me a slut to have enjoyed it so much?”
“Emmy, women enjoy sex as much as men. It’s part of the magic of being a couple. Sex is sometimes the glue that holds a relationship together or the band-aid that fixes things when you hurt each other. It’s a way to connect on a deeper level with your partner. Don’t talk about yourself that way or cheapen our time together.”
I frowned, upset that she thought we had done something wrong when it felt right.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do with myself today. We should go. With the amount of terrain we have to cover, we need to get moving.”
“Agreed.” Any conversations about our future together could wait until we knew we were going to have a future.
EMMY
After Ven had dismantled his alarm system, I led the way back into the passage. I walked gingerly because every step reminded me I had an ache between my thighs. I hadn’t realized being sore could feel good. Every shift of my body was a painful reminder of everything we did last night.
I was still surprised at how good it felt. I hadn’t expected sex to be like that. It has always seemed strange to me. But when I was in the midst of passion, everything was different.
I understood that now, but I didn’t understand my feelings. I was happy, perhaps even blissful. My body still wanted him. Even though I knew fucking him wouldn’t be pleasant until my sex healed, I hungered for him.
But I was confused.
Did he really whisper he loved me? I wondered if the words came from his heart or if it was the kind of thoughtless, stupid phrase that would come out of an Earth man’s mouth after sex. I thought I didn’t want a man or need a partner. Ven was making me question myself.
Did I love him? I had a plan for my life, and Ven wasn’t part of it.
It might not matter if I was going to die here, in these passages, impaled on a spike.
We had traveled for about an hour before I spotted signs indicating a pan-jee trap in the floor ahead. Markings on the floor suggested danger, and when we stepped on them, we avoided springing the trap. We had evaded two more before we stopped for a break, sitting side by side on the stone floor, leaning against the wall.
Ven took my hand. It felt so nice that I didn’t say anything.
VEN
“According to my calculations, we should be three-quarters of the way there by now. We’re approaching the region of more sophisticated protections.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. What else is there?”
“Soon we’re going to encounter an army of stone soldiers armed with functional, deadly crossbows. And there’s supposed to be hematite powder. It’s a metallic dust that’s sharp on the molecular level and will cause a painful death if you inhale enough. Imagine having your lungs sliced to pieces.”
She pulled two masks from a pocket in her pants and handed one to me. “If you see any white dust, put this on immediately, unless you want to die a slow death.”
I took the mask and put it in my pocket. “Thanks. I prefer living.”
We walked on in silence, each of us privately thinking until we came to a spot where the passage narrowed. At the end of the tunnel was an immense underground field covered in life-like statues.
“The stone soldiers.” Emmy was barely breathing, and her eyes sparkled. “They’re real.”
As I stared at the evidence of the ingenuity of the ancients, I briefly understood Emmy’s attraction to this field of study. I imagined what it would be like going to work and lo
oking for the best of people instead of going to work to kill the worst of us all.
Everything about the ladle was like a big puzzle. I enjoyed looking for the signs indicating a trap was nearby. I liked trying to match wits with the people of the past. For a moment, I considered Emmy’s suggestion about getting a degree in archeology, but it was a childish dream.
“How are we going to get across without dying?”
“I don’t know, but it’s even worse than you imagine. Do you see the wires crisscrossing everywhere? I’m sure they are all tripwires, and there are probably ones we can’t see.”
“We can’t walk through there,” I said. “We’ll get ourselves killed. You’re the smart one. Think outside the box. We won’t win if we keep playing their games.”
“What about the metal cable there?” She pointed up to the ceiling.
“It’s probably left over from construction. If I had to guess, they used it to haul away dirt when they were excavating. You could throw another cable over the top, attach a container full of dirt and move it out of the room.”
“That makes sense.” Emmy was thinking. “It took them over a hundred years to complete these catacombs. It wasn’t because of a lack of technology or tools, but because of funding.”
“Of course. Was it a government project?”
She made a face at me. “They would have protected the cable to make it last. The legends say this room took nearly twenty years to build. They wouldn’t have wanted it to deteriorate and endanger the workers. I think it’s safe to say the cable can support some weight.
“So what?”
“It looks like we could slide down the line. On Earth, we have something called a zip line, where you attach a harness to a rope, then slide down.”
Her intelligence intimidated me, but it could also lead to unique ideas.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she said, frowning. “I’m being innovative.”
“We don’t call it a zip line on Stalwart, but I’m familiar with the concept. You’re saying we could go over this obstacle, and skip their little game entirely. You have a point, but it sounds dangerous.”