His teasing became more focused, more purposeful. He wanted her to lose control, to surrender to him in the same way he’d refused to surrender for her. Her stubbornness flared and she tried to wiggle away from his questing mouth.
Grasping her hips with both hands, he held her still while his swirling tongue, focused on her clit. Come for me.
No. You wouldn’t come for me.
His only response was his lips closing around the ultra-sensitive nub and gently sucking. She cried out, arching clear off the bed. The intensity became painful and he switched back to a gentle swirling motion with the tip of his tongue. She started to relax and he sucked again.
That’s cheating!
No, this is cheating. So fast she didn’t realize what he intended, he eased one of his hands between her thighs and pushed two fingers into her core. The combination of persistent caress and teasing fullness snapped her control. She cried out in defeat, as pleasure throbbed in her pelvis and her inner muscles rippled around his fingers.
He slid his hand forth and back, drawing his fingers nearly out before thrusting them into her again. The wicked slide kept the tingling pulses surging until she was breathless and trembling. She raised her arms over her head, panting harshly as the pleasure began to fade.
“Don’t get too relaxed, hellion. We’re just getting started.” He shifted her to the middle of the bed, moving her around as if she weighed nothing. Then he joined her on the mattress. He opened her legs and knelt between her thighs, hungry gaze focused on his target.
She ran her gaze from his handsome face, to his broad chest, rippling abdomen, and finally to his sex, just in time to see him position himself at her entrance.
He glanced up, concern flickering in his gaze. “You still with me?”
“Yes.”
“You want this as much as I do?”
“Definitely.”
“Good, because I’m not sure I could stop.” He pushed into her slowly, filling her inch by amazing inch. She bent her knees, taking him deeper as he arched over her. He took most of his weight on his knees and forearms, which made his chest barely graze her nipples. “That’s better.” His voice sounded rough and his gaze bore into hers as her core stretched tight around his thick length. He held still, savoring the union of their bodies.
“Move.” She groaned. “Please move.”
“I thought you wanted this to take longer.”
She tightened her inner muscles and tried to pull back, but he had her lower body pinned against the bed.
He leaned down and nipped her neck. “Be still, love. Take what I give you.”
The dark command sent desire cascading through her body, but she fought against the sensations, frightened by what it implied. She was ex-FBI, for God’s sake. How could such a chauvinistic attitude excite her? She shoved against his shoulders. He wouldn’t budge.
Warning flashed in his eyes, but she ignored it. She planted both feet on the bed and tried to buck him off. He laughed and pulled her arms above her head, easily pinning them there with one hand. “I’m bigger and stronger than you, mate. You might as well accept it.”
“I won’t be bullied,” she snapped, more vehemently than she’d intended.
He stilled, his gaze searching hers. “I wasn’t trying to bully you. Why are you struggling—again? I thought we both wanted this.”
“I do. But that ‘take what I give you’ crap isn’t going to fly with me.”
Rather than replying immediately, he paused for a slow, deep kiss. “Surrendering to your mate does not make you weak.”
“Just weaker than you,” she grumbled.
He let go of her hands and ran the back of his fingers along the side of her face. “How can I protect you if I’m not stronger than you?”
“I can protect myself.” Even in her ears the argument sounded childish. She didn’t want to argue, wanted to lose herself in the pleasure. So why had she started this?
“I know you can protect yourself, but you don’t need to anymore. I’m here, and I’m not leaving, no matter how hard you try to push me away.”
Was that what she was doing, holding back, pushing him away? She was still afraid, still convinced this would lead to heartache. “Can we please stop talking?”
He kissed her as he pulled his hips back, then watched her as he drove in deep again. “We’ll wait until after to speak again, but the conversation is not finished.”
The compromise was clearly the only offer she’d get, so she pulled his head down and guided his mouth to hers. He started moving, finally, so she concentrated on the sensual slide of his body in and out of hers.
Emotions flowed into her mind, the intensity gradually building. She rocked her hips and arched her back, rubbing against his chest as he filled her, and filled her. She didn’t want to analyze his feelings, wanted to lose herself in the joining. But his emotions were too distinct and too intense. He was holding back now, afraid of angering or frightening her.
“Don’t hold back,” she whispered against his lips. “I need your intensity.”
He laughed and confusion rippled through their meld. She knew she was sending mixed messages, but she was still sorting this out for herself.
He didn’t argue verbally or emotionally. He released the full scope of his passion and inundated her with burning desire. She gasped, then groaned as her body responded to the sensory deluge. His pace sped, each stroke becoming strong and decisive. He’d promised not to claim her, but each thrust was possessiveness, establishing his right to her body, if not her mind.
One of his hands slipped in between their bodies and his long middle finger covered her clit. She gasped as he paired his next thrust with a tantalizing caress. “Don’t do that, or I’ll come.” She formed the words against his lips when he refused to pull back.
“I know.” And he did it again and again, quickly building her need to a fever pitch.
She tossed her head as he drove her crazy, not wanting to come without him, but unable to resist the duel stimulation. She bit down on her lower lip as pleasure burst inside her, but a cry tore past her lips. The rhythmic spasms of her core were even more distinct with her stretched around his thrusting cock.
“Your turn,” she whispered as the tingling pulses began to drift away.
He growled and nipped the side of her neck again. When I’m ready. Frustration surged into her mind along with the words. She was still struggling against their natural roles, trying to shed a lifetime of societal expectations.
She watched his face and soaked in his emotions. He wasn’t human. She couldn’t expect him to think like one. He was trying to please her, trying to give her what she wanted, what she needed to be completely satisfied. But he couldn’t change his fundamental nature. He was a dominant male. He was strong and capable. She took it a step farther. He was stronger than she was, and more capable of protecting her. His strength didn’t diminish her.
She framed his face with her hands and waited for him to open his eyes. When he gazed down at her, phitons burning with emerald fire. “I understand now.” She raised her arms above her head and unhooked her ankles, open, surrendered to her mate.
He made a sound, part growl, part groan, and finally released the stranglehold on his nature. His hips thrust fast and hard, making their joining almost violent. She wasn’t afraid, knew he’d never hurt her. His back arched, dragging his chest off her breasts. The motion of her breasts drew his attention and he bent to suck on her nipple without stopping the frantic motion of his hips.
Her smoldering desire reignited as his new angle dragged his shaft against her clit. She gasped, pulling her legs up high on his sides. His hands moved to her hips, drawing her up into each forceful thrust. Their bodies collided, the impact sending pleasure ricocheting through both of them.
She cried out as an especially sharp sensation detonated, making her core clench around his thickness. He echoed her cry and thrust even faster. The end raced toward them, as inevitable as it was intense
. She bit back a scream as another orgasm unfurled inside her. The pulses were strong, and oddly slow, given the frenzy that created them. She tightened over and over, each spasm pushing the pleasure higher.
He cried out sharply as he buried his entire length inside her. Then he shuddered against her, cock bucking as he finally released his seed. His pleasure slammed into her mind, launching aftershocks all through her still-tingling body.
His arms wrapped around her and he rolled them to their sides, bodies still joined.
He didn’t bombard her with questions, just held her and stroked the back of her hair. But his curiosity, and frustration, was there in his mind and it trickled into hers.
“With Daniel everything was simple,” she began. He tensed, but she placed her fingers against his lips. “Hear me out.” He nodded, so she moved her hand. “Our backgrounds were similar. We both joined the military out of necessity and found security in the structure. We knew what to expect. Our roles were clearly defined and he saw me as his equal.”
“I see you as my equal,” he objected and she felt him withdraw from the link, hiding his emotions from her.
“I’m weaker and slower, in need of protection. Does that sound like an equal to you?”
His brow wrinkled and his nostrils flared. “Those are physical characteristics that cannot be changed. Even human males are bigger and stronger than females. Why does this fact lessen your self-worth?”
“It didn’t until you started the caveman crap.”
He stared past her for a moment, then dragged his gaze back to hers. “What did I do or say that upset you? I don’t understand.”
“You told me to lie still and take what you gave me.” She was really starting to wish she’d never brought this up. As usual, he hadn’t really done anything wrong. She needed to adjust her perspective.
“I was fighting for control.” He still sounded frustrated, and their link was so silent it was as if it weren’t there. “Your movements excite me. I was trying to make it last longer than last time.”
She sighed. “I didn’t say it was entirely rational. We come from very different worlds. That’s why I brought up Daniel. We never had to deal with a culture clash. I’m still trying to understand how you think.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to try and figure things out on your own. Ask me anything, or better yet, look into my mind and see for yourself. You are my equal in every way that matters. You’re the other half of my soul. No one is more important to me than you.” Their link opened again and tenderness flowed into her mind. “You’ve said the word, but I’ve yet to reciprocate.” He pressed his palm against her cheek and stroked her lips with his thumb. “I love you, Kelsey. More than anything in this universe, I love you. The rest will work itself out given time.”
His mouth covered hers and another wave of affection surged across their link, dissolving the doubt lingering in the back of her mind.
Chapter Eight
“We’re better equipped to challenge the battle born,” Kage said thoughtfully, “but they still have us seriously outnumbered.” As they did most nights, Arton and Kage sat in Kage’s cabin sharing a drink before heading off to bed. Some wondered if Kage and Arton were lovers, because they spent so much time together, but there had never been anything sexual between them.
“It doesn’t matter.” Arton shrugged. “We have no reason to start a war with the battle born.”
Confusion furrowed Kage’s brow and he set down his drink. “Then why make the offer to the Evonti?”
“It was mostly to upset Royce Marsden, but I did want to leave the door cracked just in case.”
“Meaning?” Kage raised one of his hands to the back of his neck as he rolled his shoulders. “Just spit it out. I’m not in the mood for your word games tonight.”
“I think I’ve figured out a way to get what we want without throwing ourselves on the mercy of either the battle born or the Evonti.”
Kage lowered his arm and scooted to the edge of his chair. Clearly, Arton had his full attention now. “What are you talking about? What have you figured out?”
“I’ll explain when I’ve worked out all the details. I don’t want to give you false hope if I can’t accomplish everything I intend.”
Kage leaned back into his chair and shook his head. “You can’t help it, can you? Straight answers are literally beyond you.” When Arton offered nothing further, Kage reached for his glass. “Fine. Keep to yourself.”
Arton was about to give Kage a basic idea of where he was heading when he sensed a message transmitting on the private frequency he’d given Rex Dravon. “Dravon’s checking in. Do you want me to take it in here?”
“Might as well. His secret mission is no longer secret.”
With telepathic abilities far beyond most harbingers, Arton connected the com and channeled the signal into the holo-projector. Rex Dravon’s image appeared in the middle of the living room. He looked at Kage, clearly concerned by the overlord’s presence.
“I briefed Overlord Razel on your mission. You can speak freely.”
“Okay.” In typical Rex Dravon fashion, he just rolled with it. “We, or actually the scientists, have disqualified one of the planets. There is vegetation, but no animal life.”
“All right,” Arton replied, still feeling responsible for the mission. “What about the other two?”
“Preliminary scans indicate either will support life. They both have breathable air and plenty of fresh water. One of the teams seems to favor one planet over the other, but they haven’t explained why. Said they don’t have enough data to make a recommendation. All I know is they’re spending all their time focused on Scarlett rather than Rhett.”
The names made Kage laugh, but Arton didn’t see the humor. “Very good. If you learn anything important, check in immediately. If not, I’ll expect your next report in three days.”
Rex nodded to each of them in turn then ended the transmission.
“Scarlett and Rhett?” Arton asked Kage. “Why is that funny?”
“Apparently we’ve spent too much time in Earth-space. Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler were ill-fated lovers from a well-known novel called Gone with the Wind.”
The information made Arton’s brow arch. “And why do you know of these ill-fated lovers?”
“I spent several years on Earth in my youth.” Kage’s expression grew shuttered as it always did when he spoke about his past. “It was a long time ago.”
Which was his way of saying “change the subject”.
“Unless you have anything else we need to discuss, I’ll let you get some sleep.” Arton quickly drained his glass then set it aside. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Kage just raised his chin, clearly lost in the past, again.
* * * * *
Kelsey woke up alone. However, Jakkin’s scent surrounded her, so she smiled and rolled onto her stomach, taking a moment to bask in her happiness. Last night would have been perfect if her emotions had been more controlled. Jakkin scared her like no one else. She wasn’t afraid he’d harm her, or abuse her in any way. His devotion had been obvious from the start. She was uncomfortable with how much she wanted him, and terrified by the thought of losing him. But they were her demons to overcome. Jakkin was pretty damn close to perfect. At least, for her.
Feeling guilty for being so lazy, she crawled out of bed and looked around. His quarters were much nicer than the other cabins on the ship, but the space was still limited. There simply wasn’t much to do. She went through the compartments, hoping to find some garments she could borrow. Instead, she found several of her safari dresses hanging in the closet. When had Jakkin arranged this? No wonder he made commander while still so young. He was seriously efficient.
She showered and dressed, even French braided her hair. But she still ran out of distractions before Jakkin returned. So she meandered to the nutri-gen kiosk and ordered a mug of linset tea. The kiosk only accepted Rodyte commands and she only knew three, so her
choices were extremely limited.
Her attention focused on the cabin’s main exit as she sipped her tea. Motion didn’t trigger the door and none of her voice commands worked. Was she still his prisoner? The possibility bothered her until Jakkin returned a few minutes later.
“Am I allowed to leave this cabin?” She set down her mostly empty mug, not even attempting to hide her annoyance.
His expression was anxious to begin with, but his gaze narrowed and his lips pressed. But rather than letting her have it, he took a deep breath before he said, “You are no longer a prisoner, but I can’t have you wandering around the ship unescorted.”
She was afraid of this. “That rule only applies to unbound females. Your scent is all over me. No one will doubt that I’m your female.”
“Where do you want to go?”
It was a valid question and it took the wind out of her sails to some extent. “How would I know? All I’ve seen of the ship is the small section allowed to volunteers, and this cabin.”
“I can’t give you a tour right now. I have to move the ship.”
“Why? What’s going on?” His mood did seem unusually dark. “What’s wrong?”
“General Lux has been talking about a show of force ever since we first clashed with Solar Warden. He just gave orders to make it happen.”
Cold rushed through her entire body, leaving her tense, yet hyper-alert. “What sort of force?”
He shook his head. “Force is the wrong word. He wants to flex our muscles for the humans, let them see exactly what they’ll be up against if they pick a fight with the battle born.”
He was still being evasive, which only made her more uncomfortable. “And what does that entail?”
“We’re going to station six of our ships over strategic cities in the U.S.” He looked at her as he said, “I’ve been dispatched to Boulder, Colorado.”
Fearless (Battle Born Book 12) Page 13