Heated Mating

by Savannah Stuart, Katie Reus

  And he was rock-hard all over. His covered length 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 over 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 erection 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 the folds between her legs, but had been too nervous to ask. Last night had been unexpected 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, to 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 pink folds. She let out a little moan that made him 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 erection 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 with thicker bone density, 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.

  Slowing his strokes, he shifted higher and began circling her clit in a steady, rhythmic pattern. The pressure was light yet perfect. As if he knew exactly the right amount of stimulation she needed.

  “Linc,” she breathed out his name.

  His fingers on her inner thighs tightened and he lightly increased his teasing. When his tongue swirled inside her once again, she lost it. The ecstasy that had been building crested as she went into a freefall.

  Her orgasm slammed into her with wild abandon. All her muscles tightened as it ripped through her until she was panting and lying practically boneless against the bed.

  Linc looked up at her and a small smile played across his face. “Do you know what you taste like?”

  The unexpected question made her blush. Her face heated up but she didn’t respond. He didn’t seem to expect a response though. He climbed up her body and covered her mouth in a heated claiming.

  It seemed so intimate considering what he’d just been doing. Before she had time to dwell on it, his big palms slid down her sides and gripped her hips.

  He pulled his head back a fraction. “Turn over,” he murmured.

  She loved the note of command in his voice. It sent shivers of pleasure racing through her. She’d barely attempted to move before he’d flipped her on her knees. The man had such raw strength, it stunned her.

  One of his hands slid down her spine in a slow, sensuous move until he ran it across her behind. She looked over her shoulder at him only to find him staring at her body worshipfully.

  Her inner walls clenched at the sight. Part of her wondered if she should feel guilt in embracing Linc like this but it was hard to do so when she’d never loved his brother. What they’d shared had been sweet and easy.

  There was nothing sweet or soft about Linc. His dark gaze met hers and the dim light from the hallway bounced off his expression, highlighting his scar. Staring at her now, he looked one hundred percent the warrior.

  And he wanted to claim her. The knowledge made her ache even more. She wanted him to fill her completely.

  As if he read her mind, he plunged into her in a long, hard thrust. Her head fell forward at the intrusion. Her inner walls expanded around his thick length. She savored the way he filled her.

  When he took her this way, he hit her so deeply she knew it wouldn’t be long until she came again. Digging her fingers into the bed, she couldn’t hold back the groans that tore from her.

  “Do you know how long I’ve fantasized about this?” His unexpected words rolled over her like a warm caress. His hands tightened on her hips and his thrusts increased.

  Each time he slammed into her she cried out. Her vagina was already sensitized from her first orgasm and this only intensified her experience.

  “You’re mine, Saroya,” he growled low in his throat.

  Her body certainly agreed.

  “Say it,” he murmured behind her, his words a command.

  When she didn’t respond fast enough, he stilled inside her. He palmed her stomach and pulled her upright against him. His muscular chest was rigid aga
inst her back. She tried to think straight but he pushed so deep inside her in this position, it was difficult.

  “Say you’re mine, Saroya.” His voice rumbled close to her ear and his hot breath on her neck sent shivers skittering over her skin. She was his.

  “I’m yours, Linc.” It was like her words set off an explosion.

  He took her rough and hard as he pummeled into her and she gladly welcomed him. As a sharper, more intense climax curled through her, he shouted out her name. The guttural sound mixed with her own cry of ecstasy.

  Linc emptied himself into her and even when she was sure he’d finished, his hips still rocked against hers until finally they collapsed against the bed. He was careful not to put all his weight on her, instead rolling to the side and gently stroking down her back. After she caught her breath, she turned over so that she faced him.

  Idly, she traced her finger along the lines of chest.

  “I love it when you touch me,” he murmured.

  She smiled at his words. “The feeling is mutual.”

  He didn’t return her smile. Just stared at her with that intensity that sometimes made her nervous.

  “What?” Self-consciously she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear.

  With a tight jaw, he shook his head. She didn’t care that he didn’t want to talk so she scooted closer and wrapped her arm around his waist. When she did, he mirrored the action and pulled her tight.

  He was hard again but he didn’t make a move to do anything about it. Just gently stroked his hand down her spine.

  “Did you ever think about coming to my bedroom before?” he asked.

  The sudden question sucked all the air out of the room.

  Her eyes widened, but she slowly nodded. “Sort of. I mean, I fantasized about it, but I never would have done it. I didn’t think you even really liked me until recently.”

  He snorted lightly. “I liked you all right,” he murmured before kissing her again, this time softer.

  Saroya slid closer into his embrace and all coherent thought fled. All Linc had to do was touch her, and she was a goner.

  Chapter Six

  Saroya walked out of her bedroom, freshly showered. She’d dried her hair so she slipped on a clean, comfortable green shift. After she’d come home from her classes she’d assumed Linc would be home not long after. She’d tried contacting him at the Samio but he’d been unavailable. All day.

  As she passed through the living room the transport platform blinked and beeped asking for permission to allow someone access inside their home. When she read her friend Brianna’s name on the screen, she pressed accept.

  Seconds later her redheaded friend stood in the middle of the transport platform. And she looked pissed. Her dark eyes blazed. “Thanks for letting me come over. Do you have any villana?”

  Saroya nodded, trying not to smile. “Bad day?”

  “You could say that. Aeron had the nerve to show up at my office today. He cornered me in front of everyone and asked me to lunch.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. That didn’t sound so bad. “And?”

  “Can I get a glass of villana first?” she muttered, suddenly losing all her steam.

  While Saroya poured them two glasses, she motioned to the back porch. “Let’s talk outside.” Unlike her friend she lived on the outskirts of the city and they had land for miles surrounding them.

  Brianna sat ramrod straight on one of the padded chairs, looking tense and uncomfortable.

  Saroya handed her a glass as she sat next to her. It was clear tonight and instead of just one moon, they could see three of their twelve. “So what happened?”

  With the bright illumination, it was easy to see her friend’s face redden. “I sort of slept with him.”

  She definitely hadn’t been expecting that. For the past twelve moon cycles Brianna had been adamant about not giving in to the Luminet way of life and especially staying away from Aeron because of her intense attraction to the male. “Sort of?”

  “Okay, there was no sort of.” She covered her face with her hands for a moment then looked back at her. “I’m so embarrassed. I called the office and canceled all my appointments because lunch was not long enough to…well, you know. That man is a machine.”

  “So why are you upset? I can’t imagine it was bad, was it? That man has been after you for a long time.” Since practically the moment they’d landed on Lumineta.

  “Well, now he seems to think that I’m going to mate with him and Hauk.” She took a long swig of her drink.

  “Ah, and you have no intention of doing that?”

  Brianna shook her head. “No way. I mean, I know you mated with Linc and Gage but I can’t wrap my head around the whole thing.”

  Saroya swallowed hard. She felt bad that she hadn’t told Brianna the truth about her and Linc. Leilani knew so maybe she should tell Brianna too. Technically she’d always been mated to the two of them but until very recently she and Linc hadn’t officially consummated things. She didn’t know if that mattered within the culture or not and for some reason felt bad telling someone else. “So what did you tell him?”

  “It all happened so fast. I was enjoying being with him. Then he started talking about the bonding process and how if I wasn’t comfortable with Hauk at first they could work out a system and alternate nights. Like I’m some piece of meat! I can’t believe he just assumed I’d mate with them. I was still enjoying my post-coital bliss and he starts making all these ludicrous plans. I told him what I thought of his asshole plan and then I told him never to contact me again.”

  Saroya looked at her over her glass but stayed silent.

  “I’ve never seen him so angry, but he didn’t say a word. He just left and now I feel like shit.” Brianna finished her villana then held her glass out.

  Smiling, Saroya poured her another one. She’d brought the bottle outside because she’d known it was going to be one of those nights. “So you don’t want to mate with him and his brother?”

  “Today was incredible but I had enough trouble keeping up with Aeron. I don’t think I could handle both of them. Besides, I’m not cut out to be…” She trailed off and shook her head. “Forget it. Thanks for letting me come over. I really needed to see you, but enough about me. What’s going on with you?”

  For the next couple hours they talked and caught up on each other’s lives but Saroya couldn’t help but wonder where Linc was. And she hated that feeling. Things between them had always been awkward but she’d thought things were changing for the better. He’d always been in the back of her head but now she felt crazy thinking about where he was and why he hadn’t contacted her all day.

  After Brianna left Saroya couldn’t even think about sleeping so she went back to her studio. Painting was the only thing that kept her sane when she got upset. When Linc got home tonight they were definitely going to talk. She wasn’t sure what kind of relationship he thought they were going to have, but this wasn’t it.

  * * *

  Linc’s sense of dread deepened as he swept through the house for the second time. Saroya wasn’t anywhere to be found and she wasn’t answering her communicator. There was evidence that she’d had someone over but she wasn’t here. He’d checked every room.

  Twice.

  The induction ceremony at the Samio had run late but he’d come home as soon as he could. She’d probably just gone out for a while. He knew she liked to get together with her human friends. But after a few hours passed and she still hadn’t returned home—and he couldn’t get a hold of her—raw fear spiked through him. Saroya wouldn’t have left him. Right?

  Okay, he had to keep a level head about this. Think and evaluate the situation.

  First he called her communicator but she didn’t answer. It went straight to her voicemail. Next he called Brianna who told him she’d been over at their place but she’d left hours ago. It had been relatively early when the redhead had left so maybe Saroya really had gone out.

  He suddenly realized he
didn’t know much about what she did when he was traveling. Shit. That humming sensation inside him grew worse but he shoved it back down.

  Grabbing his communicator, he headed for the travel platform in the living room. He was probably being paranoid. She’d just gone out somewhere. He told himself to go back home and wait for her, but he simply couldn’t just wait around. Not when he felt as if he could crawl out of his skin.

  Feeling foolish, he left nonetheless. It wasn’t as if they’d never talked over the past twelve moon cycles so every single place she’d mentioned, even once, he stopped at. The last place on his list was a Venesian restaurant near where he knew Brianna and Leilani worked.

  She wasn’t there either.

  Leilani. Why hadn’t he thought of her? It was really late, closer to dawn than he’d realized but…he didn’t care. Pulling out his communicator, he called the dark-haired female.

  She answered after four beeps, her voice scratchy. “Hello?”

  “I’m sorry to wake you up, but I’m looking for Saroya.”

  “What…who is this?” she rasped out.

  Who the hell did she think it was? “Linc,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “Linc…oh, right. How late is it…hell, the sun’s almost up. Wait, you can’t find Saroya?” Now she sounded more awake. “What’s going on, have you called the peace keepers? Is she okay?”

  “Nothing has happened. I came home late and she wasn’t home and hasn’t returned.” He didn’t think this was a case for the peace keepers. Goddess, he hoped not. Crime on Lumineta was so rare, but another surge of panic blasted through him. “Do you know of places she likes to go?” Somewhere he hadn’t thought of.

  “I dunno, she’s normally working so much she falls asleep in her studio. Have you tried that great Venesian place? I know they stay open twenty-four-seven.”

  Work. He hadn’t even thought of her studio. Feeling suddenly foolish and relieved, he said, “I’ll contact you when I find her. Thank you.”

  After disconnecting, he hurried to the nearest travel platform two blocks away, not caring that he was racing around like a madman. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of the studio. Now he just hoped she was actually there. If she wasn’t, he didn’t know what he’d do.