by Regine Abel
“I intend to.”
“Good. Now, I know you’re itching to pounce on these, but can I convince you to delay unpacking for a while?”
“Hmmm, sure. What do you need?”
“I’m tracking down Gruuk’s contacts here on Xelix Prime and off-world. I’ve already received confirmation that The Revenant left orbit less than an hour after your escape. But I need all the information you can give me to narrow this down.”
“Of course! Right away.” I said, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I was more than grateful that they believed me. To think I might see Nana soon and hold her again…
“I promise to try and keep it short.”
We spent the next two hours in his office going over everything I could recall about the various space stations and planets we visited, the guests who came aboard our ship, the missions I performed, my targets and the type of data I retrieved. I was exhausted by the time we were done but my heart blossomed at the hope of seeing my Nana safe and sound.
* * *
I finished unpacking long ago but was still trying on some outfits when Khel returned. Startled, I looked out the window and the positions of the suns made me realize it was already late afternoon. What a pathetic mate I was. He gave me so much and got nothing in return. I couldn’t even greet him when he came home because I was too busy preening in front of the mirror. If I kept this up, he would repudiate me, and rightly so.
We had dinner with Lhor, Jhola and Sivh. Lhor smirked every time I said Khel’s name. I still owed Lhor for that ‘Kel’ remark and was plotting a payback prank. After dinner, Khel gave me a tour of the orchard then took me for a walk in the forest bordering the estate. A soft wind whistled through the dense trees as the suns drew shadows against the forest path. I even got to visit the treehouse he, Vahl and Lhor had built in their youth.
By the time we headed back to the house, the suns were setting, painting the darkening green skyline with streaks of fiery red. Khel and I held hands, our fingers interlaced. We held hands a lot this afternoon. We even held each other by the waist while admiring the breathtaking view of the estate from the treehouse. It felt nice… very nice.
We were crossing the garden leading to the terrace by the pool when something wet splashed my forehead. I wiped it with two fingers and examined them.
Water
I looked up at the darkening sky and another drop fell on my cheek, barely an inch from my right eye. I stopped dead in my tracks, feeling Khel pull my hand. He stopped and gave me a questioning look.
“Falihna?”
I released my hand from his and raised my arms in front of me. Staring at them, I waited for another drop to land on my arms and giggled when one did. The sensation of the water bouncing on my skin as more drops fell was marvelous.
“It’s starting to rain, Amalia.” Khel’s voice was filled with confusion. “We should hurry home, or you’ll get soaked.”
He took my hand and tried to pull me after him, but I snatched it back.
I spread my arms wide and tilted my head back. Closing my eyes, I stuck my tongue out to catch the drops. I burst out laughing and spun around as the rain started pouring. The scent of wet soil and grass filled my nostrils. The drumming sound of the water hitting different surfaces was like an orchestra to my ears. I opened my eyes and everything tilted around me. It took me a second to get my bearings. Ahead, puddles of water formed on the terrace. On instinct, I ran to the puddles and splashed in one. The deep rumble of Khel’s laughter snapped me out of my trance.
I turned to look at him. We were both completely drenched. The look he gave me was filled with such tenderness and understanding that my heart seized up in my chest. Without thinking, I flung myself at him and buried my face in his neck. He returned the embrace.
“Thank you,” I whispered, then rubbed my face against his neck.
His fingers fisted in my hair and his arms tightened around me. We stood quietly in each other’s arms under the heavy rain. It stopped minutes later, almost as suddenly as it had begun. I looked up at his face and at that moment, when our eyes connected, something fell into place. Khel lowered his face, his lips inches from mine. Closing the distance, I brushed my lips against his. He pressed our mouths together before pulling back, his eyes flicking between mine. I smiled and the tension bled out of him. He smiled back then took my lips in a passionate kiss. I moaned and parted my lips when his tongue teased the seam of my mouth. Our tongues warred for a moment and I shivered. He immediately pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.
“Let’s go inside, Falihna. Let’s get you dry before you catch your death.”
I nodded and rubbed my nose against his before letting him go. His arm around my shoulder, he led me back inside the house.
* * *
Back in our room, there was no hiding what a mess we were. Our clothes were wet and clinging to our skin. Our feet were muddy and my hair dangled like wet noodles around my face.
“Looks like we need another shower,” I said with a nervous giggle.
“We do… It’s a custom among my people for mates to clean each other,” Khel said with a soft voice. “It’s considered a purifying ritual. I would like to do this with you, if you consent.”
I swallowed hard and stared at him quietly. Taking my silence for a refusal, he gave me a gentle smile and said, “It’s alright, Amalia. We have time. I will go...”
“No,” I said, feeling small. “I don’t want you to go. It’s just, I’ve never… You know… I’m scared.”
He drew closer to me and rested his rough palm on my cheek. He stared at me for a few seconds, his eyes searching. His thumb caressed my lips.
“You don’t have to be scared, Amalia. I can teach you all you need to know, and you can tell me what you like. Don’t forget, nothing will happen between us that you don’t want. You only have to say stop.”
I nodded slowly, leaning my face into his palm like he had done during the Selection. My stomach fluttered with anticipation and trepidation. Letting me go, he took a step back and began to undress. I stared, my mouth slack. Despite the Taint, he was beautiful. He was nearly seven feet tall to my six three, with broad shoulders and chest, sinewy arms and chiseled abs. His skin was a smoky light grey, like burnt silver.
He finished undressing and withstood my gaze as it trailed down his face to his groin. Oh Goddess, he was huge! My eyes bugged as they looked at his half-erect shaft. It was long and thick with rippling ridges along its length. I loved the way his body had felt when he’d held me under the rain, our bodies aligning perfectly. I wanted to touch him again, wondering how his skin would feel against mine.
“You are beautiful, Khel.”
A powerful, raw emotion crossed his features before he regained his composure. I started to undress, feeling self-conscious as I took off my dress. His eyes devoured me. The raw hunger and look of wonderment stole my breath away. My nipples hardened in response to his blatant desire. Suddenly, I wasn’t so nervous about undressing. I loved the way he looked at me and I took my time removing my undergarments, reveling in his fascination with my body. By the time I finished, he was fully erect and his fangs were descended.
“You’re breathtaking, Falihna,” he said hoarsely.
He led me by the hand to the shower across from the bathtub. Khel activated the controls revealing the cleansing products.
Warm water trickled over us. Khel took one of the bottles on the shelf and poured a small amount of fresh scented liquid onto his hand. He worked up a lather. After turning me to face away from him, he soaped my back in slow, sensuous strokes. Where my muscles tensed along my neck, between my shoulder blades and lower back, he paused, rubbing away the tight knots with his thumbs. His hands were magical.
Once I was fully relaxed, he pulled me to him. My back rested against his warm chest, and I could feel his hardness press against my behind. It was both scary and thrilling, making my stomach tingle. His hands slowly slipped down my chest, rubbing my breasts in
a circular motion. A soft moan escaped my lips as my nipples pebbled again under his touch. A scorching heat spread in my nether region. I would never have imagined that his big, calloused hands could feel so soft against my skin or that simply having my breasts fondled could be this pleasurable.
Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against his shoulder. Gently but firmly, he squeezed my breast, then pinched the nipple. My stomach quivered as his other hand teased my navel with fluttering touches, stirring a strange ache between my legs. He nuzzled my neck, peppering a trail of soft kisses along my jaw line. While sucking on my earlobe, his hand ventured between my legs. A whimper escaped me.
Khel tightened his grip, pressing himself against me. His chest vibrated against my back with a rumbling moan.
“Amalia… My mate,” he growled softly in my ear, his voice thick with lust.
I could feel the steely length of him rubbing up and down the seam of my bum. The friction of the ridges along his shaft sent rippling waves of pleasure through me.
How would those ridges feel inside me?
His fingers delicately parted my nether lips and he explored me in a circular motion with two thick fingers — wresting a drawn-out, hungry moan from me. The gentle caress matched the pace of the stroking motion of his cock.
“You’re wet, Falihna. You’re already wet for me,” he whispered.
Turning me around to face him, he pulled me under the raining water, rinsing the remaining suds. After turning off the showerheads, he pinned me against the wall then kissed me. His lips were soft but firm against mine. I ran my thumbs over the bony ridges around his ears. He shuddered at my touch with a deep moan, and I reveled in my power over him. Releasing my mouth, he peppered my neck with kisses and grazed the tender flesh of my shoulders with his teeth, careful not to break my skin with his fangs.
My fingers combed through his short black hair which was soft and silky to the touch. To my surprise, I noticed the bony ridges of his Crihnin didn’t stop at his hairline but continued under his hair, halfway through his skull.
Khel licked along the markings on my shoulder and I shook violently. Until now, I hadn’t realized how erogenous they could be. Moisture pooled between my legs and Khel carefully inserted a finger inside me. Crying out with bliss, I arched my back against the wall, pressing my chest against his. The warmth of his hard, sinewy body seeped into me. I wanted to wrap myself all around him, touch and lick every inch of his silvery skin. My palms slid over rippling muscles, steely abs and erect nipples. I marveled at how such a hard, firm body could have such soft skin.
His finger sank deeper into me while his thumb tormented my swollen nub, setting my blood on fire. Overwhelmed by the maelstrom of sensations that coursed through me, I pushed back slightly on his hand.
“Let yourself feel,” he whispered against my neck.
“Too much… Khel, it’s too much,” I gasped.
He stilled at my words and started pulling away from me.
What the…? Oh no!
Khel must have interpreted my words as a request for him to stop. I slammed my legs shut, locking his hand inside me.
“Don’t stop,” I ordered in a breathy voice, tightening my embrace around him. “Don’t you dare stop now.”
He responded with a husky chuckle, once more relaxing against me. “This is only the beginning, Amalia. Soon, I will have you screaming with pleasure, over and over again.”
Without stopping the motion of his hand inside me, his lips nipped at my throat then kissed their way down to my hardened nipple. Freeing himself from my hold, he knelt in front of me, stopping long enough to tease my navel with his tongue before kissing his way down to the most secret part of me.
I thought my head was going to explode from the feel of his mouth on me. Obviously, I had heard of oral sex before, even saw one of the female captives performing it on another captive. I remember wondering then how it would feel to have someone do that to me. Never in a million years would I have imagined this incredibly warm and wet sensation, enhanced by the rough texture of his tongue.
Khel lifted my leg over his shoulder, opening me. Calloused fingers gently parted my folds before he licked me with long, deliberate strokes. I cried out at the intense pleasure that shot through me. Moaning, I leaned my head against the shower wall. It was cold against my back and I wished it was his warm, muscled chest again.
Wicked lips latched onto my clit. My breath rushed out of me and I fisted his short hair, holding his head against my burning core. Remembering how sensitive the ridges of his ears were, I brushed the tip of my thumbs alongside them in a slow back and forth. The effects of my touch on him were instant, confirmed by a hiss and shuddering tremor.
Khel inserted a second finger, scissoring in and out of me. It was a tight fit but not uncomfortably so. Each stroke seemed to fan the fire building in my belly. He wasn’t planning on letting me climax quickly. Every time I got close, he would slow down to bring me back from the edge. I groaned in protest, aching to embrace the rapture that was taunting me. That earned me a chuckle as he continued the exquisite torture nonetheless. Finally, he inserted a third finger. I stiffened, wincing at the pain and incredible fullness. Sucking my nub with renewed vigor, he stilled the motion of his hand so I could adjust to the discomfort.
As my tension receded, Khel proceeded to stretch me again. The pressure rebuilt in my womb. My skin was ablaze and a swarm of butterflies raced through my stomach. The orgasm that swept me away was as sudden as it was violent, sending electric tingles to my extremities. Gasping for breath, I shook on my feet, riding the wave of ecstasy. Khel continued to gently lap at my core as I slowly came down from the high.
I felt a slight sting on my inner thigh where his mouth touched my skin.
His fangs… Is he drinking my blood?
A few moments later, I felt his tongue lick my thigh twice where he had bitten me. My sensitive nub throbbed and I could feel my inner walls clenching spasmodically with a will of their own. By the Goddess, I finally understood what the fuss had been all about.
Rising to his feet, Khel gave me a long tender kiss as he hugged me tightly. I could taste myself on him and it was oddly thrilling. Releasing me, he rubbed his nose against mine.
“That was… That was amazing,” I said with a nervous giggle.
His eyes lit up as a smile spread across his face, exposing his sharp fangs. My eyes dropped down to them. It hadn’t hurt. I instinctively ran my fingers over the spot where he had pierced my skin. There was no trace of a wound. Baffled, I looked into his eyes.
“You bit me,” I said. “Did you drink my blood?”
He recoiled, his eyes bulging in horror. “Dear Goddess, no! We’re not blood drinkers.” He suddenly seemed quite embarrassed. “When you climax, you release a lot of oxytocin in your blood. My fangs absorb some of it and transfer it to me. My saliva can heal small wounds. But it was extremely rude of me to drink from you without your permission. I should have asked first. Please forgive me.”
“Oh! It’s okay. I want you to drink,” I said. “It’s what heals you right?”
His smile was tender. “Yes, my Amalia. It’s what stops the Taint. But I don’t need to drink more right this minute. There will be plenty more occasions to drink from you. Remember how I said this was only the beginning? You’ve only screamed once and I promised to make you scream over and over again,” he added with a predatory smile.
My stomach flip-flopped in anticipation. I was totally onboard with more of this. A quick look down confirmed my suspicions that he hadn’t found his release. Intending to return the favor, I reached for him but he moved away to grab a large towel. He dried me first, taking his sweet time, then expedited the process for himself.
He lifted me to his chest. “Wrap your legs around me, Falihna.”
Complying, I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. Khel placed his hands on my bottom to hold me in place, locked eyes with me and walked us out of the fresher into the
bedroom.
He stopped next to our bed. I unwrapped myself and he gently lowered me onto the mattress before joining me.
CHAPTER 10
Khel
Amalia blew my mind. She was soft and responsive to my touch. Even now, my mate looked at me with warmth, embers of desire burning in her eyes. It was as if she was blind to the dark tendrils that ran beneath my skin, defacing me. For the first time in my life, I felt like a desirable male. My heart tightened with a dull ache as she opened inviting arms to me, her lips parted in a sensuous smile.
I laid down on top of her, supporting myself on my forearms. She spread her legs so I could settle between them. Lifting her head, she brushed her lips across mine. I snaked my hand beneath her, cupping the back of her head to deepen our kiss. Her kisses were somewhat clumsy but enthusiastic. Amalia raked her nails down my back, but not hard enough to hurt. Breaking the kiss, I hissed at the exquisite burn. It sent a lightning bolt of lust to my groin, still screaming for release. A mischievous smirk stretched her delectable lips.
“My mate,” I moaned hungrily.
She cradled my face in her hands and grazed her thumbs against the ridges of my ears. Air rushed out of me, and my shaft twitched in response to her silky touch. I wondered if she realized just how erogenous these ridges were for Xelixians.
“My Khel,” she whispered. “I’m so glad it was you. I’m so happy I chose you.”
My throat constricted, choked by the violent emotion that threatened to sweep me away.
“Amalia, I want you so much, but I’m afraid to hurt you. I fear you might already be too sore.”
“No way!” she huffed. “I’m fine. You were gentle with me. I want to feel you inside me.”
“But…”
“No buts! You said earlier that this was just the beginning. That you would make me scream over and over again. By my count, you delivered on the first over, so you still owe me one. Now pay up!” she said with a mulish expression.
I blinked then burst out laughing at the incongruous argument. Her features softened and her lips quirked with a playful smile. Pulling me to her, she licked the lower ridges around my left ear, sending agonizingly sweet tremors down my spine.