by Celia Kyle
“So, if I want to touch you,” with one finger she traced a small circle above his shaft. “Or if I want you to touch me,” the stroke would kill him. “It won’t be because of the Knowing.”
“No,” he rasped, on the edge of explosion.
“Then,” she lowered her mouth to his chest and gave him a gentle kiss. “Then release me, shaa kouvi, so I can touch you.”
Kozav groaned and jerked, his need to come nearly overriding every ounce of control he possessed. “Grace, you don’t have to—”
“I don’t have to do anything. I know. But I’d like to touch you, give you pleasure.”
“Will it give you pleasure to do so? I will not be a selfish mate.” Ever. His mate would be well satisfied as often as she desired.
Grace nibbled her lower lip, gaze leaving his and traveling along his body. He felt her perusal as if it were a physical touch, her hand dancing along his flesh. Her attention eventually fell to the rise beneath the aczi, his need blatant and large. He waited while she made her choice, waited and prayed to the skies that she would like to explore him.
When she nodded and strained against his grasp, he released her. “Do what you will, rasi.”
“Rasi?” she murmured, her fingers still teasing him.
She wished him to speak now? When her hand was so close to his dikh?
“Kozav?”
The tips of her fingers brushed the base of his length, stroking his sensitive flesh. He grumbled and groaned, the sensations of her caress driving speech from him.
“Hmm?”
He would never tell another soul, but Kozav joi Grace Hall—formerly sen Aghin— whimpered. But he did manage to gather enough strength to speak. “Cat…” he gasped when she encircled his shaft, smooth palm cradling him. “Preor cat. Devoted.” She twisted her grip, stroking the root of his cock. “Protective.” Then she slipped her fist along his dick from base to tip and he arched his back with a rough shout. He lifted his hips, attempting to follow the delicious sensations. “Loving.”
Those words described his Grace. A woman who would do anything to protect the ones she loved. Who would suffer and fight for those in her heart. He hoped to one day be a person she cared for in such a way.
She rubbed her thumb over the head of his hardness, spreading the liquid across the entire tip.
“My rasi,” he hissed. His for as long as she allowed it. He hoped forever.
Grace merely hummed and pressed as close to him as possible, eliminating any remaining distance between their bodies. Her sensual curves caressed him, and he vowed to remember this night for the rest of his days. The first time his mate opened to him, accepted him in some way.
She pumped his length again and again, drawing his release forward. With every breath, he fought for control. With every touch, she fought to make him crazed. He was caught between the two, balanced on the edge of orgasm, and he reveled in the painful pleasure of it.
Cool air suddenly bathed his body and he watched as Grace tossed aside the aczi, exposing them both to the ship’s cool air. His mate’s eyes were focused on his arousal while his…
Kozav memorized the soft curve of her breast, the hardened nub of her nipple and the dip of her waist to the flare of her hips. He stared at her, enjoying her attentions while basking in her beauty. She was perfect, his mate. His rasi was as beautiful as she was fierce.
And very, very dangerous.
Her pace increased, palm tormenting him with her rapid movements. She stroked him up and down, squeezing him just beneath the head of his dick before retracing her path to massage the base. He rocked his hips in time with her touch, taking every hint of pleasure she gave. Never before had he felt such bliss, such unimaginable ecstasy with the mere feel of another’s hand on him. He gave himself up to Grace, laid himself bare for her.
A sharp sting on his chest drew his attention and the sight before him sent a raging bolt of bliss down his spine. His rasi clutched his flesh between her teeth, biting him without breaking the skin. She moaned with the action, almost a growl, and that had him racing even closer to release. Grace acted like a feral Preor female, claiming her mate and holding him steady while she took what she desired.
Kozav froze in place, letting her give and take as she wanted.
His mate bit harder, and his lungs froze, body drawing tight with the increased pain. It was wonderful and horrible at the same time. His shaft twitched in her grip, body reacting to the added pain. Grace’s grip tightened, pace increasing and he allowed himself to become lost to her desires. He reveled in his mate’s touch, in the trust she showed him with this single act. He was driven to the point of madness, but he would never take more than he was given. Her taunting was proof of her trust in him.
She opened her mouth and released his flesh and his balls drew up tightly with the change in sensations.
“Rasi, I shall…” He shall spill himself on her hand and the bedding. He should care, right?
Grace did not hear or did not care. Perhaps she wished him to come all over her hand. She moved faster with more force, teeth nibbling and biting what she could reach while she tortured him. Up and down she stroked, faster, harder, and with a squeeze just beneath the head.
He trembled with suppressed need, with pure desire and unadulterated craving.
“Rasi,” he rasped the nickname, nearly driven beyond speech.
He didn’t need to speak, he merely needed to listen.
“Come,” she whispered the word against his damp flesh. “Come, shaa kouvi.”
Kozav complied, his back arching, wings trembling, and body shuddering as his essence erupted from the head of his cock. The white liquid spurt from his dick and coated Grace’s small hand, painting her with proof of his desire. He roared with the bone-melting orgasm, taken by the burning sensations that zipped along his spine and singed his nerves.
Her ministrations slowed, gradually lessening as he softened in her hand, and eventually he relaxed as well, his breathing coming in harsh pants. He could never have imagined the touch of his mate could feel so glorious.
He also never imagined he would be one to accept orders from his mate. Perhaps that was a secret best kept between them.
17
Grace wasn’t one to admit her mother was right, but… her mother was right. Dammit. The smug look at the woman’s face told Grace that her mom knew she was right, too.
They’d done small talk and the “how you doin’” thing. Enter the smugness.
“You’re glowing.”
She feigned innocence, eyes wide and lips parted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mmmhmm. Why don’t I believe you?” Donna’s voice wasn’t as raspy, her cheeks flushed with health. The healer had explained that the Preors could make her more comfortable, but they hadn’t cured her. Yet.
“Because you’re a hateful mother who always thinks the worst of me?” She teased. Not really meaning it, but hoping it’d distract her mom.
It didn’t.
“Uh-huh. Nothing to do with a certain, teal male who visited me this morning? One who looked just as glowing and happy?”
Grace pretended she had something on her xina, picking at the lightweight material. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And even if I did, I wouldn’t talk about it with my mother.”
“When did you turn into a prude?”
She sniffed, still not looking at her mom. “When did you turn into a nosy pain in the—”
“When I could look at you without wishing I’d just die so you’d be free to live your life.”
She wheezed, eyes tearing up with the sudden thought of a future without her mother. “Mom.”
Donna reached for her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “Sweetheart,” she murmured. “I never wanted your life to be all about taking care of me. I was a burden.”
Grace shook her head. “I didn’t care. You’re my mom.”
“Well, I do care.” Her mom gave her a watery smile. “I love y
ou so much and I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy. Taking care of me sucked the life out of you.”
“No.” She was tired all the time, but every minute spent making money to help her mother was worth each blister.
“Yes.” One of those delicate fingers rubbed over the back of Grace’s hand. “And no matter what the Preors can or can’t do for me, I’m so happy to see you with Kozav.” Her mom’s lips curled up in a small smile. “I’m so happy to see that your future is settled.”
“Maybe not. I mean, we haven’t really discussed…”
Donna snorted. “Don’t lie to me or yourself. You’re it for him and he’s it for you. The rest is details.”
Penis in vagina details.
Of course, she didn’t say that. Her mom was already stomping on personal boundaries. Next thing Grace would know, the woman would want a play-by-play.
Some kids were best friends with their parents, and that was cool. Other kids didn’t want to imagine their parents knowing anything about sex. Ever. Grace was an immaculate conception, dammit. Just poof, there’s a baby.
“Mom—”
The whoosh of medical’s door interrupted them and Detzan strode in, his massive body taking up the entryway. She was still amazed at the contrast between a Preor warrior’s sheer size and their careful gentleness around females.
Detzan’s gaze quickly scanned the open room and landed on her. He gave her a tilt of his head. “Grace joi Kozav, your mate—”
“Just Grace.” She wasn’t sure if the male would listen to her, but she had to try. The joi Kozav, while it sounded beautiful, also made for a mouthful.
He kept speaking as if she hadn’t interrupted. That seemed to be a trait among the Preors. “—Awaits you on the command deck when you have completed your visit with your dam.”
Well, she wasn’t done, dammit. She—
“Come back and see me later, sweetheart.” Her mom’s smile widened and true happiness filled her expression. “And say hello to your mate for me.”
Betrayed by her own mother. Grace really wanted to keep hiding from Kozav after last night, after the passion they’d shared in the darkness. She still had a hard time wrapping her head around her brazen actions. She’d never… And then… His wings and skin and the biting…
Yeah. She sighed.
“Yes, mom,” she drawled, voice monotone, and her mom… laughed.
Outright laughed.
And that made Grace think that maybe everything would be okay.
She leaned over and gave her mom a kiss on the cheek before rising from her chair. “I’ll stop by this evening. Comm me if you need me?”
The medical doors whooshed once more, an older, maroon-hued warrior striding past Detzan and toward them.
“Oh, I don’t think I’ll need you.” Yeah, her mom spoke to Grace, but her eyes were all for the newcomer.
She had to remember that her mom was an adult. She was healing now, if not fully healed, and could make her own decisions. Already, the difference between when they’d arrived and now was shocking. So if she wanted to make friends with a male, that was okay? Right?
Grace wasn’t sure, but if he hurt her feelings in any way, he was a dead dragon.
“Grace joi—”
She shot Detzan a glare and he cleared his throat, wings trembling. “Grace, Kozav is waiting.”
Yeah, well, he might be a big deal to everyone else, but that didn’t mean he was a big deal to her.
Okay, he was a big deal. She mentally sniffed. Whatever.
She left her mom in the company of the older warrior—Skala—and made a note to ask about him when she got to her mate. She didn’t want some Preor macking on her mother while she was still sick. If that guy thought he could get one over on Donna Hall, well, he—
“Grace?” Detzan interrupted her thoughts and she shook her head.
“Huh?”
“Kozav?”
She glanced around and realized that while they’d left medical, they hadn’t gotten far before she stopped moving all together. She groaned and huffed. “Sorry,” she grumbled. “If I’ve got a lot on my mind I tend to stop what I’m doing while thinking. The only time I don’t is when I’m following someone.” She waved at her head. “It’s a weird visual thing. When I’m distracted, I’m like a duck. I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Detzan raised his eyebrows. “I see?”
He didn’t see and his tone conveyed more than his words. He thought she was a crazed idiot. He was only partially right and even then, it was only half the time. She was occasionally a crazed idiot. At the moment, she was normal, if distracted.
“Never mind. Let’s just go.” The look of relief on his face would have been hilarious if it didn’t offend her so much, and Grace propped her hands on her hips. “Is following me around that bad?”
“It is not the task. It is the repercussions should I fail.”
“Oooh. I get it.” Grace wouldn’t want to fight a pissed off Kozav either and if something happened to her… Her mate would be an ass kicking bad ass. “Right. Let’s do this.”
The Knowing supplied directions and she did her best not to let her thoughts drift too far from reality. Embarrassing herself once with her oddness was enough. She could reveal something else equally weird later. Best not to blurt it all out at once. It’d keep the Preors on their toes.
Though, no matter how hard she tried not to let her mind wander, it still did. The only difference was that this time, her focus snapped right back before she could lose herself, and Grace stumbled a step. She tripped forward and two large hands grasped her, keeping her from striking the ground. Detzan lifted her back to her feet, clutching her until she stood on her own, and then quickly released her.
“Grace joi Kozav?” There went being called Grace. “Are you well?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I should call medical.”
“No…” she whispered and held out her hand to stave him off.
She didn’t trip because she was ill. No, it was that rush of… hatred. Rage. Anger. Fury. Violence. It thrummed in the air, giving her goosebumps while the hairs on the back of her neck rose. The skin between her shoulder blades itched and she rolled her shoulders in an effort to shrug the sensations away.
“No,” she shook her head. “I’m fine.” She wasn’t fine. “Just give me a minute.”
Detzan took a step back, giving her a chance to turn in place, to glance up and down the empty hallways. Was someone hiding nearby? Did they lurk in a doorway just out of sight? The sensation of being watched increased, the malevolence crawling all over her like a jungle gym.
“Do you feel it?” She fisted her hands and relaxed them slowly, trying to banish the sensations.
“Feel what?” Genuine confusion filled his voice.
So much for the big ass predators being observant. Maybe that was because they’d never been prey. Grace had—more than once—over the years. Men always saw a woman alone as easy pickings.
Was that what was going on here?
As quickly as the feeling bowled over her, it was gone. Vanished as if it’d never existed and she was just… the crazy human woman standing in an empty passageway and staring into shadows.
“Sorry, I felt like we were being watched.”
“The ship monitors common passageways—”
“No,” she shook her head. “It felt like a per-, er, Preor was there somewhere.” She shrugged. “I must have been mistaken though.”
Yeah, she wasn’t, but whatever she said was enough for Detzan and they went back to heading toward the command deck. The feeling didn’t reappear as they traveled the hallways, that feeling of being prey not arising again. Until…
Until she arrived on the command deck and became the focus of everyone.
18
Kozav both respected and valued Taulan as well as Lana, the male’s mate. They made a striking couple who seemed filled with joy… when they were not arguing on Kozav’s command deck. The War Master and Mistress could
have it back when they ceased arguing about dragonlet names, things called bay-bee showers, and kriss-n-ings.
Lana became with young less than a week ago and if the remainder of her bearing time passed in this way… Kozav would invest in human contraptions called eer plugz.
“Matilda is a perfectly good name,” Lana snapped at her mate and then turned to him. “Don’t you think, Kozav?”
Preor males had one rule—do not disagree with a bearing female. Ever.
“Of course, Lana joi Taulan.” Perhaps now they would leave.
“See, Kozav agrees with me.” Lana turned back to Taulan. “Matilda Patricia den Coburn.”
Taulan first glared at Kozav and then crossed his arms over his chest, feet braced apart, while staring down at Lana. “Preors have a birth name and their dam’s name, shaa kouva. We do not—”
“I’m not Preor.”
“Yes,” Taulan took a step forward. “You are.”
“No,” Lana mirrored the movement. “I’m not.”
Kozav never once believed Taulan would harm a female. Ever. But that did not mean Kozav was not happy to be interrupted by his mate’s arrival. The doors to the command deck slid open to reveal Grace with Detzan at her back. He nodded to the male, letting him silently know that he was free to go.
“War Master Taulan, War Mistress Lana, I do not believe you have met my mate.” As he’d hoped, their argument ceased and all focused on his Grace.
His beautiful mate. He’d left her sleep tousled and softly snoring when he’d risen, the aczi twined around her legs and her breasts bared to his gaze. He had been unable to leave without tasting just a hint of her and brushed a kiss across her forehead. He still carried her scent and he could not wait to have it all over him once more.
Yes, he, Taulan, and Lana focused on Grace, but so did all of the other single males on duty. He swung around, lips curled to reveal his fangs while he released a low growl. “To work.”
Taulan’s look told Kozav he’d overreacted. Kozav did not care. He strode to his mate’s side and carefully grasped her hand, using his grip to lead her toward the other couple.