-Thank you, my one.
For what?
-Waiting. Enduring. Surviving.
She rumbled, purred, so softly that had he not been sitting right beside her, he never would have heard it. Lifted her lips to touch a soft, sweet little kiss to the corner of his mouth. Cuddled up to his side and stayed there throughout the rest of the night.
****
Ohlen shut the door to their quarters, asking if she was interested in experiencing a bath. Andi surprised him with her answer. She jumped on him. A quick little leap that had her in his arms. Knees clenched around his hips. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders with a playful, bashful little smile.
“It was worth it.” she told him softly. Rubbing the tip of her little nose to his,
“What was worth it?”
Andi scraped her nails against his nape. Curled into the fine little strands of his mane she found there. Made chills race up and down his spine. Made a hungry growl roll up from inside him,
“Waiting. Enduring. Surviving. It was worth it to have this. To have you.”
Ohlen felt as though she had ripped the rugs out from under him. A free fall through space with no inertial dampeners to cushion him. No way to say which way was up. He struggled to even draw a full breath. To keep on his feet. She nuzzled him again, her words coming out in a breathless, hurried rush,
“I can tell some of the others think I’m crazy for giving in so fast. Trusting you without question. But this thing inside me. This beast you gave me, it’s like…I don’t know how to describe it. I can taste your sincerity. Hear it. Feel it when you speak to me. The sensations are almost overwhelming. Whenever I get frightened or uncertain of something, you’re right there. She’s there, feeding me information. Strength. Protecting me.”
He managed to make it the few feet to the lounge. Managed not to let her move so much as a fraction as he knelt down on the plush floor mats. Kept her curled up in his lap. He stroked his hands over her hair. Her body. Swallowing thickly because he couldn’t force words out past his thick lips.
Luckily, the gods had seen fit to grant him the miraculous gift of their bond.
-I wish I could claim in truth that I had done it on purpose. Given you my beast on purpose. I would have, without hesitation. I would give you anything, anything, my one, to make sure you never feel frightened or hurt ever again.
Andi rubbed her cheek against his, licking her lips so she could press a string of kisses over to his ear. Kneading at his shoulders with her little hands.
“I don’t care if you did it on purpose or not. You gave me your blood knowing it would heal me. Knowing it would save me. You just didn’t know how much it would save me.”
Ohlen could feel a deeper, stronger emotion dancing down through their bond. A sensation that he would have wanted to feel a little longer. Unfortunately, she stood up and ignored his growled objection.
His displeasure didn’t last long.
Andi pushed her dress off her shoulders. He watched with surprise as the heavy fabric slid down her body to puddle at her feet. Left her gloriously nude before him. He was sure that he was staring with his mouth open. Frozen to the spot, shocked that his mate continued to be so…fantastically bold. He licked his lips, a rumble vibrating through his entire body as she started to back away. A sensual smile curving her sweet mouth.
“I need a bath,” she murmured. Her nipples peaking in the cooler air. Her skin shimmering in the low light of their quarters. “Will you join me?”
Ohlen pounced before he could stop himself. Catching her up to toss her over his shoulder. She shrieked with laughter. He hadn’t heard such joy pass from her lips before. Hadn’t been expecting it and he had to see her face even as he could feel her happiness bubbling inside him. He pulled her down the front of his body. Watching her face as she wound up with her arms and legs around him again. Still laughing, smiling so wide that her eyes were shining.
“What?” she giggled. Wiggling when he gave her ample backside a squeeze.
“You are always beautiful, my one. But your laughter is stunning. I wish more of it,”
She made a serious face at him. Flirtatiously rubbing her bare breasts against his tunic,
“Are you ordering me to laugh, warrior?”
“I am.”
Her hand raised to her brow for a snappy little salute. “I will comply as often as possible, sir.”
His eyebrow slid up when she took her hand from around his shoulders. Frowning intently at her hand for a moment. Then triumphantly when only one claw slipped from her index finger. Even with the crystalline tip extended fully, her finger was still half the size of his.
“I am proud of the control you have gained already. But what is your intent with only one claw, my one?” he teased.
Andi’s chin went up with a mock air of superiority. Her eyes dancing with playfulness as he carried her deeper into the bathing chamber.
“You’ll see. Put me down!” she commanded. Making him chuckle in turn as he obeyed.
“Don’t. Move.” she told him. Wiggling her finger at him. She touched the edge of her tongue to the corner of her lips and concentrated. Very, very carefully set the tip of her claw to the seam of his tunic sleeve.
“I was thinking about how much you seem to like clawing my clothes off. I wanted to try it.” her eyes danced with mischievous intent.
He swallowed thickly. Forced himself to stand still as her claw hissed through the seams of his clothing until it was in a pile at his feet. She was smiling, her smug excitement freely moving through their bond. She flexed her hand to tug her claw back inside her finger. Proceeding to curl those delicate fingers along his shaft. Her touch tore a groan out of him. The firm grip she took made his skin pebble up and ripple with excruciating delight.
“I don’t have control of my teeth yet,” she had the barest hint of a lisp. Smiling just enough for him to see the tips of her canines, “But when I do…” she let the statement hang in the air between them. Giggling when he growled low in his chest.
“If you wish a bath, my one, I suggest you release me.”
She tugged at her lip with her dainty little fang, giving his cock one last pump before she let go. He wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved. Her touch so profound he hated to lose it. But once in the water he could introduce her to all manner of sensual enjoyments. Saliva pooled in his mouth at the idea.
Fifteen
Ohlen showed her how to work the bath. The tub was so deep, it looked like if she stood flat on her feet in the middle, the water would come up to her chin. Frankly, now that she saw it full of water, saw where it hit Ohlen at just below his sternum? She wasn’t so sure this was a good idea. In fact, of all the things that had happened to her recently, this terrified her the most. Ohlen thought it was funny.
“Andi, you know that I would never allow any harm to come to you. Least of all in our bath. Come. Sit on the edge and put your feet in.”
He held his hands up to her. Urging her closer to the edge with a wiggle of his strong fingers. She was somewhat ashamed of herself. It was just a giant vat of hot water. Right? Approximately seven feet by fourteen feet. That was only seven by fourteen feet wider than any sort of bath she’d ever been in. What could go wrong?
“You will take great pleasure from the water. I know it. Come.” Ohlen sounded so certain.
Her knees shook as she took his hands and sank to her knees beside the tub. Sat on her butt and put her feet over the edge, gasping at the heat. The silkiness of the water surrounded her legs up to her calves. The sensation so strange when she moved her feet side to side, wiggled her toes,
“Alright?” he chuckled.
She nodded, fascinated by this feeling of warmth and wetness. Of pressure. She let him pull her forward, arms curling around his amazing shoulders. Let him take her waist, squeaking when he picked her up. Taking her backward with him into the water. He kissed her cheek while she clung to him. Held on tighter as he moved back to the far side
of the bath to sit on the ledge sunken below the water line. He sighed with pleasure. His eyes closing in bliss when his shoulders sank under the water and lay his head back on the rim of the tub.
“I confess, my one. I missed this luxury above most.”
Andi tilted her head to watch him. Taking more pleasure in feeling his enjoyment, than in the bath itself. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It did feel really good on the few sore muscles she had. It was just so odd feeling.
“You will enjoy the heat of the water after a long run. Or a particularly vigorous training session. Or in the wintertime when you feel as though your whiskers will freeze from the cold of the ice and snow.”
She kneaded harder at his shoulders, at the nape of his neck as she tried to imagine ice and snow. What it would feel like. His deeply contented purr brought her back to the present.
“You’re really happy to be home,” she commented softly.
He cracked open a violet eye to smile at her, “I am very happy. Though this is not the home I would share with you. When you and the others have acclimated to our way of life, the home I would share with you will be much different.”
She smiled back at him. Enjoying the feel of his wet hair sliding through her fingers while she pulled it free of its braid.
“How so?” His hands moved up and down her back. The water made it feel much different, though she couldn’t say how. Maybe her skin was more sensitive?
Pleasant, very pleasant. Especially how the movement of his arms made the water flow in a slight current around them. A current that swirled over her relaxed nipples with a sensual tug. Sort of like how it felt when he licked her. Only without the rough edge of his tongue to add more stimulation.
“I do not like living within the confines of the citadel.” he grunted. “There is no free air, no sound of the wind through the trees. It is fortified, well defended, but often it still feels as though I am on board the warship. No windows. No fresh scents. You will see when we run tomorrow. I would like for us to live in the forest. Though I expect for some time it may make you uncomfortable. So many new things. New smells. New sounds for your beast to process.”
“You’ll be with me?”
He made a face, like that was the most ridiculous question she’d ever asked him.
“Of course. Always.”
She shrugged. “Then I’ll be fine.”
Ohlen sighed deeply. Tugging her forward to hug her close, touching a kiss to her bare shoulder while he cuddled her. “My one,”
Andi loved how reverently he always said those two words. How they strung together to make the sweetest, sexiest, most endearing sound his lips formed. She couldn’t get enough of hearing it. She discovered, she really liked the taste of water on his skin.
She licked and sucked the little droplets from his throat. Her cat stretching inside her with a little growl. Hunger rising with a slow burn. He turned to meet her for a scorching hot kiss. His growl vibrating between them. Chaffing her nipples on the smooth hardness of his chest. The water added such a strange element to the way their skin slid and slipped.
Her appreciation for the bath was definitely rising.
She loved how quickly Ohlen had decided he enjoyed kissing. How it was a first for both of them. Something that would always be theirs alone. He nipped at her lips. Lapped at the tiny sting and shifted his head to better seal their mouths together. Deep, drugging kisses that made her feel dizzy. On the verge of being overheated.
Andi thought it and Ohlen stood. Carried her to the edge of the pool without taking his mouth from hers. Lay her back on the cool stone floor and eased himself away after dozens of short, hungry kisses. He prowled down the length of her body. Making her hiss and arch with every kiss to her skin. He licked her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. His hands were hot on her body, weighing her breasts in his hands. Laving at her nipples until they were hard, tight points. Flushed with blood and tingling. She could feel his satisfaction before she saw it in his expression. Feel the stretching of his own beast in answer to hers. The water did nothing to diminish the musky scent of male desire.
Of her male’s desire.
Ohlen’s breath huffed over her belly. His hands cupped her waist, almost able to touch because they were so big. It made him smile. Made him lick his lips when she spread her legs wider with invitation. She shivered when he drew back to stare at her pussy. Reaching out with the tip of his finger to trace the edges of her sex. Swirling through the patch of curls with this expression on his face that she couldn’t quite decipher.
“Some humans um, trim or shave that away. I can if you don’t like it,” she murmured.
Pulling her lip through her teeth. Andi hadn’t done it before because she cared very little if…anyone else hadn’t liked it. She refused to think of anyone or anything but Ohlen. Not when she lay spread so vulnerably.
Ohlen shook his head, continuing to stare at her hungrily. His touch was whisper light, almost maddeningly so, like he was teasing her.
“I like your fluff. It’s soft. It retains the scent of your pleasure,”
She made a face. Looked down and admitted to herself that she’d let her bush get out of control. Which just for cleanliness reasons was kind of embarrassing. Ohlen wasn’t upset at all. He was hungry.
“You will leave it for me, my one. I like the feel of it on my face.”
So saying, he went to his knees in the water and rubbed his cheek against her pussy. Rumbling softly with steadily growing intensity.
Andi loved his mouth on her. The roughness of his tongue that was a constant reminder he wasn’t human. How he purred the entire time he licked at her. Constantly vibrated the sensitive tissues. She hissed and thrashed. Tangled her fingers in the coarse stripe of his hair. Tried to pull herself closer. Push him away. Arched her hips this way and that to find that one perfect spot. Giving a yowl of displeasure when he smiled and eased up on the pressure,
“Ohlen! Don’t you dare stop!”
He answered her demand with a renewed vigor. Grabbed her hips in both hands to lift her off the floor. Rolled his shoulders to catch and spread her thighs wide enough to make the muscles bite with the strain. Ohlen’s eyes glowed like jewels as he looked up the length of her body.
Air got harder to take in. Arching in his hands, undulating in time to the rhythmic lick of his tongue, she tried to get closer. Crying out because she just couldn’t keep the sounds inside her a second longer. He nudged his tongue into her. His mouth a seal around her entire sex it felt like. Sucking to flush her pink parts with blood, making them ultra sensitive to every lick. Every nibble. Opening her, stretching her for the thicker push of his fingers.
He pushed and thrust with his hand. Pushed her right up and over into bliss. Scraping his teeth over her thigh when she cried out to the ceiling. Holding her steady as she convulsed, her body shaking with the release. She tugged weakly at his hair. Shivering, whimpering softly when he pulled his fingers from inside her. Moaned to watch him lick them clean. His lips glistening with her juices. She tugged again, pleading with him silently for more. Needing more, needing him inside her.
Andi watched the play of muscles across his chest when he bent over her. Did a one-armed push up to take her mouth. Hungrily swallowing the sound of her moan. Sharing the taste of her pussy with her. He notched his cock at her entrance, pushing hard to fill her in one lunge. Chuckled at her strangled scream of shock.
“The sounds you make for me, my one. Grrrr…”
She was wet enough to take him to the root but she still felt split in two. Impaled. Holy hell, she loved it.
Ohlen gave her no quarter. Fully embedded in their bond, not a single barrier between them to keep him from feeling her pleasure. Her joy. Her hunger. The cavern of the bathroom made their growls and groans echo loudly. The slap of skin on skin seem harsher, sexier.
He held her ass in one big hand at just the angle he wanted. His lips peeling back over his canines when she hitched her legs tight around his waist. Ra
ked her nails over his bulging, sweat slicked muscles and fought to not let her claws out.
“Do it.” he snarled harshly. Growling when she shook her head and tightened her legs around his waist,
“No,” she gasped out. Panting harshly.
“Yes, Andi. Give me your claws,”
She was in love with the bath at this point. Loved how he had let go of his restraint, his fear of hurting her, fucking her like their lives depended on it. The orgasm building in her belly was going to ruin her. She thrashed. Pushed her hips as high and hard against him as she could. Bracing to take every jarring thrust. A feline, inhuman sound filled her mouth when the orgasm hit. Her vision slipped. Turned red and orange as her cat rolled close to the surface in answer to his roar. She felt his skin give way to her claws and knew come morning he would have more deep rake marks on his body.
****
Much, much later, she lay curled up against Ohlen in their big bed. Guilt pricked at her thoughts while she stared at one of the long rake marks on his chest. He told her again to not feel bad about it, but how could she not? She had clawed him almost all the way down to the bone. Sarazen’s were fast healers, but she knew she’d hurt him. Her beast didn’t like it either. Odd, primal thoughts actually crossed her mind. Like if he was injured, he would be too weak to hunt. Or to protect himself from challenges made by other cats. She was on her knees beside him licking at his wounds before she could process why.
Andi’s eyes rolled up when he grunted, looking down at her with one violet eye open. A curious, sleepy expression on his handsome face. She tasted his blood and took a moment to wonder why she liked the flavor of it so much. Wondered why she wasn’t grossed out by the fact that she was licking his cuts. Possibly contaminating them with her saliva. He just watched her. Glanced down at his chest with that one eye. His fingers never stopped stroking up and down her back. The precise, knife-like cut she’d licked, looked like it was knitting back together before her eyes.
Sarazen's Vengeance: Book 1.1 Page 9