by Sadie Carter
She nodded, watching as he stood and stripped off his pants. She stared at his feet, hoping her courage would reappear. It helped that his feet were kind of ugly. Not perfect like the rest of him, they were knobbly, the second toe much smaller than his third toe.
It helped settle her like nothing else could. They both had their faults. Neither of them was perfect. But it was the imperfections that made them who they were. If he were perfect, she would forever feel like she was on the back foot. But they balanced each other out. He would stop her from taking stupid risks.
She would stop his head from exploding with his inflated ego.
See? Things worked out.
Feeling calmer, she raised her gaze, taking in his tight, muscular legs, his thick thighs until she reached his cock.
Long and solid, it sat up at attention. She studied him. “Where’s your pubic hair?” Great. That was the perfect line to show how sophisticated she was.
“Zerconians do not grow body hair.”
Right. Wish she’d known that before. She stood. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
He stepped in front of her. “Why?”
“Ahh, that’s kind of personal isn’t it?”
He simply watched her.
“I don’t want to look like a woolly beast, do I? You’re already so perfect, except for your feet, and I am not.”
“I believe you are. You are perfect to me. You need not change yourself.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” He glanced down. “What is wrong with my feet?”
She grinned. “Nothing, they’re perfect. Like the rest of you.”
He moved his gaze up her body. “Perhaps I should also kiss your, ah, boo-boos.”
Her body heated. “Maybe you should.”
He slowly stripped her bare. Her breath caught in her throat, waiting him for his reaction. She’d never worried about what she looked like before. She wasn’t the sort of person who took an interest in her clothes or her hair. Now she wondered if that was something she should have taken interest in.
But Darac’s face was filled with nothing but admiration. “You are beautiful.”
She snorted. “Give over. No, I’m not.”
He cupped her face between his wide hands. “You are.”
There was such conviction in his voice that it shocked her. She straightened her shoulders, standing proud. He believed she was beautiful. He might well need some correctional surgery for his eyes, but if he chose to believe she was beautiful then that was on him.
She grabbed his hand, pulling him down beside her, accidentally elbowing him in the stomach. But he didn’t react to her clumsiness—thankfully.
Instead, he rolled to his side, kissing her slowly, gently. Her body heated, melting into the mattress beneath her. He moved down her neck, taking his time to run his tongue over her every bruise and scratch. When he had covered her body in light kisses, she found herself in a state of complete arousal. Every inch of her craved him, needed him.
Reaching up, she placed her hands around his neck, tugging him down to kiss her. She felt lighter, almost as though she were melting into him.
Becoming one.
She’d never understood that phrase. Had thought it was talking about the actual physical act of having a man inside her.
But it was much more than that.
He cupped her breast, running his thumb back and forth over her stiff nipple. She let out a low cry. She could feel his touch lower, the pleasure swamping her insides, making her clit throb.
Darac encompassed her other nipple with his mouth, stroking his tongue over the tight nub.
“Darac!”
He moved his mouth away from her nipple, gazing up at her. “Are you well?”
“No, I’m on fire! I need you.”
“Soon. Not yet.”
She groaned, but she could hear the firmness in his voice. Could feel the tension in his body, and knew he was holding himself back.
He kissed down her stomach, running his tongue over her mound.
Please. Please. Please.
Hunger ate at her, tearing at her insides. He grasped her legs, holding them below the knees, then pushed them back towards her chest.
“Darac!” she protested, embarrassed to be so completely exposed. “Put my—ohhh.”
He interrupted her protest when he took a long lick of her pussy. Using his tongue, he tapped at her clit, and she arched up, needing more. Sensation swamped her like nothing she could have imagined in her wildest of dreams.
He prodded his tongue against her opening. Why hadn’t she had that pesky bit of membrane taken care of? For a few credits, she could have had it removed.
Her pleasure rose as he stroked her clit with his thumb, his tongue playing with her entrance. Orgasm rushed over her, taking her by surprise. The intensity was overwhelming, bringing her world to a screeching stop.
“Breathe, Willa.”
She stared up into Darac’s concerned face.
“Breathe, now.”
Air rushed into her lungs, and she took one sweet breath then another. Her pussy continued to pulse. Her body felt like one giant nerve ending.
“That was intense.”
“You forgot to breathe,” he reprimanded.
“Sorry about that.” Sheesh that was embarrassing. She’d nearly passed out from an orgasm.
“Do not do that again.”
“I’ll try not to. Maybe you could become less good at that,” she waved her hand towards her pussy, “to make sure.”
He gave her a wolfish grin. “That would be impossible.”
He needed to watch that ego, or the bed wouldn’t be the only thing that couldn’t fit him.
“Can I touch you?” she asked. Because as marvelous as that orgasm had been, she still felt slightly empty.
“As much as you want. Whenever you want. Touch away.”
She grinned, running her hand down his smooth chest, his hard stomach. “You are so beautiful.”
“Men are not beautiful.”
Oh yes, they were. But she wouldn’t argue with his manly pride. She moved down, clasping her hand around his wide shaft. Smoother than she’d thought it would be. Warmer. It moved, making her jolt.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No. Squeeze harder. Move your hand up and down. Faster.” His eyes closed, his jaw tight.
“Are you sure I’m not hurting you?” He really looked like he was in pain.
“Good kind of pain.” She continued to explore him as his breathing quickened, sweat covering his voice in a light sheen. “But I cannot wait much longer. I need you.” He opened his eyes, his gaze a bright yellow.
“Then take me.”
Moving so swiftly her head spun, he rolled her onto her back. Taking her mouth with his, he kissed her fiercely. His teeth nipped at her lower lip, then he swept his tongue inside her mouth to tease and tempt. He lowered himself so he could take her nipple into his mouth, pulling at it, licking it, sucking on her nipple.
She writhed beneath him. Pleasure filled her once more, dragging her under. When she couldn’t take much more, when everything felt too intense, he pulled away from her breasts, nudging his cock at her entrance.
Slowly, so slowly, he pushed inside her. She couldn’t take it. It was too much. The pleasure. The pain. Wrapping her legs around his wide hips, she thrust herself up, pushing his cock deep. A cry of pain left her mouth.
Too fast. Too harsh. She caught her breath.
“Willa!” Darac glared at her, his face terrible to see. “What do you think you are doing?”
He moved back, but she tightened her legs around him. “Wait! Don’t move. Not yet.”
“You hurt yourself.”
“I just wanted to get it over and done with.” Crap. What every man wanted to hear. “I didn’t mean it that way. I wanted to get the pain over with.”
“You will never do that again.”
She shook her head. She didn’t point out that it was a one-time t
hing.
“I promise.”
He rested his weight on his arms, showing no strain. But he wasn’t moving. He wasn’t doing anything.
“Darac?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to move?” she asked.
“I am giving you time to become accustomed to me.”
“You’re making me nervous.”
He drew back, his cock moving over her nerve endings. A mix of pleasure-pain that caught her breath. He leaned in, kissing her thoroughly as he lightly pinched her nipples. Sparks of delight filled her blood.
“More. More.”
He thrust forward, filling her deep. As he moved, the pain soon washed away under a barrage of delightful bliss. He rolled them so he lay on the bottom, with Willa riding him. The position felt slightly odd, but other nerve endings came to life, and she shuddered as he reached between them, rubbing at her clit.
She couldn’t come again. She couldn’t.
But her body said otherwise. She pulsed around his cock, clenching down on his thick shaft as she came. Darac thrust inside her, faster and faster until he paused, a cry of pleasure filling the room as he came.
Her head spun, darkness filling her vision until it took her over completely.
***
“Willa. Willa.” She swam through the darkness. “Willa!”
She opened her eyes, her vision blurry. She blinked a few times. What the hell was she doing on the floor? No, she wasn’t on the floor. She was on top of Darac.
An unconscious, naked Darac.
Holy crap. She’d slept with Darac. Then they’d both passed out? Huh, that was some sex. She really had to stop fainting, though. This was getting ridiculous.
The door banged then the room’s communicator buzzed. She groaned. More banging.
Standing, she grabbed the sheet off the floor then wrapped it around herself, quickly wiping the bit of blood on her thighs with a grimace. She glanced worriedly at Darac before communicator buzzed again.
Irritated that they’d been interrupted, she moved over to the communicator and slammed her finger on the button. “What?”
“Willa! Open this door or we’re coming in,” Rye demanded.
That’s all she needed. Rye breaking in here and catching them both naked.
“What do you want?”
“Open the door.”
“I’m naked.”
“Then put something on and open the door.”
“Why?” she asked suspiciously.
“I cannot find Darac, and you wouldn’t answer any coms. What is going on?”
Seriously. Could he not figure it out? And did he really want to know?
Behind her, Darac sat up. Thank goodness. She’d been close to calling for Nolan. Then she’d have to suffer through the embarrassment of explaining Darac’s unconscious, naked state. He looked confused for a moment then his gaze shot to hers.
“Rye’s outside,” she whispered. “I need you to hide.”
He frowned then sighed and grabbing his pants, moved into the small, attached bathroom. He closed the door, leaving just a few inches open. Once he was out of line of sight, she opened the door.
“I was sleeping, Rye.”
Rye glared at her. “You’re a light sleeper.”
“It’s been a rough few days. Sue me.”
“Where is Darac?” he asked.
“How would I know?”
Rye’s gaze narrowed. She was a terrible liar.
“I am here.” Darac stepped up next to her. Obviously, he didn’t understand the point of hiding was to keep from being seen. Thankfully, he’d put his pants on “What do you need?”
“The ability not to imagine what the two of you were just doing would be good,” Rye told him.
“I’m a big girl, Rye. You knew this would happen.”
“Doesn’t mean I want to think about it. One of our guests has woken up. We’re going to question him in five minutes. If you can spare the time.”
“Thanks.”
She shut the door then leaned against it, staring at Darac.
“I fell unconscious.” He frowned as he pulled his top on.
Willa forced herself to move. She reached for her clothes, a cold feeling developing. This wasn’t how she’d anticipated post-coital glow would feel. “Both of us did.” Kind of embarrassing.
“I expected you to.”
“You did? Why?”
He met her gaze with his. “Both Mila and the Crown Princess also fell unconscious the first time they joined with their mates. It is to do with the mating bond.”
“It’s not going to happen every time, right?”
“No. Only the first time. I am not certain why I fell unconscious.” He clasped her face between his hands, his face concerned. “Are you well?”
“Ahh, yep. Right as rain.”
He frowned. “Rain is right?”
“It means I’m good.”
“There was blood.”
“Oh, yeah, well that’s to be expected, I guess. Since this was my first time.”
“Zerconian women do not bleed during their first time. Do you need to rest? I can tell you what the Looanen says.”
“No, I’m fine really. It’s pretty normal.” She needed to change the subject. Desperately. “I don’t feel any bond.” She felt the same. Had he been wrong?
“Are you certain? Close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Reach deep inside. You should sense me there. A presence.”
What was he talking about…oh, there he was. A warmth inside her. Strong. Reassuring. When she opened her eyes and looked at him, he appeared more relaxed than she had ever seen him.
“Do you feel better?” she asked.
“Yes. I am not completely myself, but I can sense you inside me. It calms me.”
She took her hand in his. “I’m glad.”
“Perhaps this is why I passed out, my body was in shock from the bond taking hold.”
“You’re safe now, Darac. Safe.”
He smiled. A truly beautiful, happy smile. Her heart lightened. “Because of you.”
***
“We were conducting some charitable work on Quashtar,” the male who had been hanging from the chain spoke quietly. Nolan offered him another pain inhibitor, but he waved it off.
The other male, who had been in the basement, was still unconscious.
“We were on our way back to our accommodation when we were attacked. Our guards were killed. I was knocked unconscious. When I came to I was hanging from a chain in a building. I hung there for hours, or at least it felt like hours, until one of my kidnappers appeared.”
“Why kidnap you?” Steele asked.
“For ransom. They sent a ransom demand to our families.”
“Nice of them to tell us that,” Rye said dryly.
The man grimaced. “I am sorry. Our families have a non-ransom policy. They would not pay.”
“But they hired us to retrieve you with only half the information?” she asked incredulously.
“They would not want to admit we had been kidnapped and make themselves look weak for allowing it to happen.”
She stared at him incredulously.
He shrugged then winced, struggling for breath. They waited.
Rye moved away from where he had been leaning against the wall to pace. “Why would the kidnappers have set an f-bomb to destroy the building they were holding you in?”
“I believe this was more than a simple ransom. I think someone paid them to take us and kill whoever was sent to retrieve us. No doubt they thought our families would come. Then they could hit the detonator and kill us all. Unfortunately, my family has a number of enemies. They did not want me to go on this charity mission, but I thought I knew better.”
He laughed bitterly then winced.
“Nolan.” Rye waved him over with the pain inhibitor.
“Wait,” Darac said, stepping forward.
The male’s eyes widened. “
You are Zerconian.”
“Yes, and I know that you are more than you are trying to appear. Who are you?”
The male smiled. “I am Prince Fredrick Undan, and that is my cousin, Carlon.”
***
“The heir to the Looanen throne,” she stated as she took a seat in the dining area of the ship.
“Explains why we were offered so many credits to rescue them.” Zuma took a seat beside her. Darac stood behind her, watching over her.
On the one hand, it made her feel safe. But another part of her wondered if he would always be like this. On guard.
“I am fine,” he told her quietly.
He could read her thoughts? Her gaze widened, panic filling her.
Stepping forward, he placed his hand on her shoulder. “How far from Looanen are we?” he asked.
“A few hours,” Rye answered. “Darac, Zuma, and Willa. You’re on duty. Let the rest of us know when we’re close.”
Zuma strode off towards the bridge. “I need to go check the engine room,” she told Darac. Then sped off.
It was foolish to think she could get away. His legs were long, and he easily caught up to her.
He sighed. “You are nervous around me again.”
“You can read my thoughts?”
“Not usually. I can sense strong emotions. Although our bond is stronger than I thought and I have caught some thoughts.”
“Jesus. You didn’t think that was something I might like to know?”
She moved around the engine room.
“That would have changed your mind?”
She stilled, thought it over then turned to him. “No. But it would have been nice to know.”
“There are ways to build barriers. To keep your feelings private.” There was an uncomfortable look on his face. She could sense his unease.
“You don’t like that idea?” she asked.
He leaned against the wall. “Now that I have you I find myself reluctant to let go, even a little. The madness has calmed, but I am ashamed to say I fear its return. My control is still better around you or when I can sense you.”
“You can’t be with me every second of every day.”
“No, but I can feel you. I can know you are safe.”
“Through the bond?”
“Yes. But I will teach you how to build those walls. I know you value your privacy and I only want you to be happy.”