Hungry Touch (The Complex)

by Shona Husk

  “But you have a mouth and teeth so you must still eat?”

  “Yes, if I have to, or if I want to taste something.” He wanted to taste her. What would it be like to kiss her?

  She moved a little closer and lifted her hand to his face. Blood pounded through him, drowning out all other noise. The need in his belly was so tight he was sure that his organs would be crushed. She traced another line on his cheek and then his lower lip. It took every ounce of his will not to move. He wanted to pull her into his lap, to have her here in the zipper. Now.

  He wanted to mate, now.

  Kearn exhaled softly. He would not be ruled by these new impulses. He would wait.

  “Are the ley lines everywhere?” There was a slight quirk to her dark eyebrow and it took a moment for the meaning of her words to sink into his lust addled brain. It was much easier to think when she wasn’t touching him.

  “Yes…they are everywhere, all over my body.” He leaned in and kissed her. There were some things that he couldn’t resist, but once he was kissing her he wanted more. He needed to feel her skin against his, her body not just her lips.

  Her palm was on his cheek, and her lips moved with his. This was different to kissing an Incubus. This kiss had heat and hunger—and not just his. The tip of her tongue traced his lip and he wasn’t sure what to do, so he mimicked the touch and tease.

  His fingers curled so he didn’t drag her closer, so he didn’t slide his hand under her dull gray top. He missed being able to wear colors, but here there was only a choice of white, gray or black. He generally went with black, never gray.

  She drew back and watched him for a moment. Then she pressed her lips together and frowned.

  “What?” Had he done it wrong?

  “Nothing.” But from her expression it was clearly not nothing.

  The zipper came to a stop.

  “This will be me.” She glanced at him. “Us.”

  That was when her nervousness hit him and sunk beneath his skin. She’d never been with anyone but Humans. He’d never been with anyone, ever. But he had no nerves, only a need. The rational part of his brain seemed to be getting further and further away.

  “This is as new to me as it is to you.”

  She gave a single nod. “I have to ask…do you have anything weird in your pants?”

  4

  Kearn grinned. What did she mean by weird? This morning his phallus had been a typical couple of inches. Now it was as long as his hand from wrist to fingertip and achingly hard. It had never done that before. He hadn’t expected it be on the verge of pain, yet at the same time he wanted her to touch him there. No one had ever mentioned that when talking about the changes that happened after winning. “I don’t think I have anything odd.”

  “One cock?”

  “Yes, and it’s just like the rest of my skin.”

  There was that look again, a half smile as though she couldn’t quite hide it. “Okay. Sorry.”

  “I’m not offended.” He knew enough to know what to expect when she got naked, but pictures in a biology book were different to reality. Did she have something different it her pants to other females? The words formed…but he couldn’t say them. She’d asked about him to make sure they were compatible. Clearly she thought they were, and that was good enough for him.

  He was fascinated by the way she walked. The sway of her hips was hypnotic. What would her curves be like under her clothes? Would she feel different, softer? He wanted to touch her and savor the taste of her skin. He wanted to find out what was under her clothes.

  “Good. I’m sure we could’ve worked something out.”

  “Most likely. I don’t think we’re the only people in the Complex to cross species lines.”

  “That’s true.” She relaxed a little then. He wanted to feel her lust. He wanted to kiss her again, but they were still in public and it would be better to wait until they went in.

  He took her hand and she led the way.

  Her apartment was a couple of floors up and it had a nice view of the city. She turned on one light in the living room. “This is me.”

  It was a bigger apartment than his, but he wasn’t surprised. Incubi had probably been given the worst area and rooms. There was more stuff in here than in his too. She had a couple of photos that must have been brought in from the outside. His people didn’t put value in things. It was the connections in the community that mattered.

  When he’d been at the bottom of the clan, the only people who’d still spoken to him were a couple of his friends. People at the bottom either eventually died from being alone, or fought their way up. It was a way of making sure that the strongest, or the smartest, bred. He wasn’t the strongest, but he was smart. One of the most qualified Incubi.

  Now that he was here in her room, all he wanted to do was get her naked. He had to keep reminding himself to breathe, this wasn’t a race, and if this was the only opportunity he had to do this, he didn’t want to rush. He wanted to be able to remember every detail.

  He was the first Incubi to take a human host. He had no idea how that would be received by the clan. Right now, he didn’t care.

  Phoebe watched the man in her living room. He wasn’t the first man she’d invited over, just the first Meta. With the ley lines shifting from bright to dark over his skin, he looked alien, and magical and amazing.

  “So…” She knew what to do with him, but he’d admitted to not having a clue. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have sex only once a year. That was when her brain made a logical conclusion. If they only had sex once a year it was to breed. Wow, living in the Complex, that must suck as most people used birth control. Not that she could get pregnant anyway.

  That had been a constant source of friction with her ex. After much testing, she just couldn’t. His girlfriend was pregnant before the divorce papers had been signed.

  She didn’t want to talk babies that she couldn’t have, or breeding cycles or biology. She wanted to leap straight into bed. She took a few steps toward him, and she was sure that the ley lines grew brighter. “Does your desire to have sex fade when the sun comes up?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Good.” She slid her hand up his chest and brushed her lips over his. “How are you going to live up to your reputation if you don’t know what you are doing?”

  His hand was on her hip, drawing her closer. There was no mistaking what he wanted as the hard length of him pressed against her. “Instinct. I have very good instincts.”

  “Is that right?”

  He moved his hips against hers and it felt so right. “I liked your smile. The way you didn’t pull away, even though you see me as I really am.”

  “You’re beautiful.” She traced a glowing line down his neck and opened the top button of his shirt. “It is a pity no one else sees you.”

  He laughed, but it wasn’t joyful. “I’m quite happy being able to blend in. It’s odd that Humans see me. That took a while to get used to.”

  And she could imagine that not all were friendly. Why enter this experiment if the idea of mixing with Metas was abhorrent? But she knew the answer. Some people were here only for the money, not for the good of the experiment.

  Even though she wanted to mix with Metas, it had taken her over a year to bring one home. Some of them were so other. Kearn included. She knew very little about his people, only that they were close knit, only male and reclusive.

  His hand slid under her shirt and over her waist. He made a little noise of pleasure as he deepened the kiss. Before she realized he had her pants undone and was easing them over her hips.

  A little part of her was flashing a warning that this was too fast and she didn’t know him, but she knew more about him than she had about the last Human man she’d picked up. They hadn’t even bothered with names.

  As her pants went down, so did he, his knees hitting the rug. She glanced down. Oh…was he going to…yes he was. He tugged her panties aside. His breath was cool on her in
ner thigh. It was a bit much to expect from a one night fling.

  “You don’t have to.” She was quite ready. She touched the implant behind her ear. All she could feel was the small scar. She might be immune to his power, but she wasn’t immune to the simple lust that could be created by a glance or a smile. She wanted him and that was all on her.

  “I want to. It’s my one night.”

  He was acting as though he wouldn’t get to do this again. He’d admitted to never having done it before. She wanted to ask why, but he kissed her clit, and his tongue slid against her and her thoughts broke apart and scattered. She couldn’t be bothered trying to chase them.

  Her fingers pressed into his shoulders for balance. His hands cupped her butt.

  Was her ex-husband the last man who’d done this?

  That was a depressing thought.

  His tongue dipped into her, before refocusing on her clit. Her hips moved with each touch. The little pants were coming from her as he brought her close. Then stopped.

  She bit back the groan of frustration as he pulled her panties off the rest of the way. Her clothes now tangled around her ankles. Not that she planned on running away. With greater access, it was only moments before he had her coming. The sensation raced through her and took what breath she had.

  His hands traced down her leg and freed her foot from the shoe and tangle of clothes.

  “That’s some instinct,” she said as she watched him free her other leg.

  He grinned up at her. “I also read some books.”

  “Ten out of ten for application of theory. I thought I was going to have to lead this…dance.”

  “If you want to.” He stood.

  No, she was happy to see what happened, but she wasn’t going to sit back either. She undid his shirt and pushed it off. He hadn’t lied; he was covered in ley lines. Some were as thick as three fingers, others were the finest line and barely visible. They clustered over his heart so his skin glowed blue—assuming his heart was in the same place. She couldn’t help herself, she needed to touch him.

  He didn’t seem bothered by that need at all. As her palm smoothed over him, he made that little noise again. His body moved toward her touch. The spike of fear returned—she’d know if he was feeding on her, wouldn’t she?

  He looked at her and held her gaze. “It’s okay.”

  “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “I didn’t, but I can sense the change in your mood.” He put her hand over hers.

  Because he fed on those moods. What would it be like to ride high on lust he’d created? Would it be different to what she was feeling now? “What does it feel like to make someone hungry?”

  His lips curved. “Like catching hold of a delicate strand of spun sugar and turning it into a tornado of fluff, before diving in and bathing in the sweetness. This is different. I have no control…it’s…odd. Like I’m watching it form, but it’s not the right shape or…I don’t know how to describe it.”

  “Not the right shape?” She’d never thought of lust having shape or form or taste.

  “Your desire is yours, unique to you. When I tease it out and bring it to the surface of a crowd, there is a uniformity.”

  “Because you are in control of it.”

  “And if I let it go too far.” He kissed her. “Orgy.”

  “Like the one that happened—”

  “Can we not talk about that?” The light had gone from his voice and he looked away.

  She drew back a little. “That was you?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  She’d hit a nerve, but her curiosity had been given a good pinch and wanted to know more. However, she bit her tongue. She didn’t want him to walk out her door. Her body was still tingling and she wanted to know if every inch of him had ley lines. Her hand slid lower to the button on his pants.

  Beneath her fingers was the hard length of his erection.

  Her touch got his attention.

  He released a slow breath and looked at her. Was he still annoyed with her for asking about the orgy, that he’d brought up? She stilled.

  “I want you to touch me, but I am fighting really hard to be civilized.” There was that tension in his voice again.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Having this conversation is work. I have to put each word together when all I want to do is revel in lust.”

  “Why is it work?” Her fingers brushed along the length of him.

  His hand was on her hip, then sliding between her thighs. “Because I’m fighting my instinct.” Her knees weakened as he touched her. “If you weren’t protected…” He kissed the scar behind her ear where the implant was that kept humans safe from Meta powers.

  “I’d be bound up in your carefully spun lust,” she finished for him.

  “Yes.”

  She kissed him hard, her tongue tasting his lips and seeking more. His fingers were in her, thrusting. She could see how people got carried away when he was in the room. She was immune and she was still hungry for more. “Maybe you should enjoy something you don’t need to control.”

  His lips pressed against her neck as his kisses moved lower. “If I let go, I don’t know what will happen.”

  A shudder raced through her. “I have a pretty good idea.” In that moment she wanted everything he had. “You can let go and enjoy.”

  His breath was on her skin where her shirt had slid off her shoulder. She could feel his battle with himself. Did he keep control or give in? If he’d been with a Meta, this probably wouldn’t even be an issue because he’d have smothered them with their own desire.

  She tugged open his pants.

  Kearn picked her and walked the few steps to the sofa. Her butt rested on the arm for a moment before she lay back. Her hips were tilted up, offered to him.

  He leaned over her and pushed up her shirt. “Comfy?”

  “Yes.” She’d never thought to use the sofa quite like this.

  His hands slid over her ribs, her stomach and lower. He bent and licked her again as though he liked the taste, his tongue pushing deep. When he stood, his cock was freed from the clothing. There were ley lines on that impressive member too. She couldn’t bite back the smile.

  She pointed at him. “All clothes off.”

  His gaze lifted and for a moment she wasn’t sure if her words registered. Then he shrugged out of his shirt and stripped off his pants.

  It was mesmerizing watching the play of light over his skin. “You are beautiful.”

  That hit him, there was shock on his face for a moment, then he leaned over her, his hand resting by her shoulder, his hips near hers, so temptingly close. He kissed her slowly as though he didn’t want it to end.

  But it would. One night.

  Tonight.

  Was all he got. That had to suck, but then, he didn’t know any different.

  Before the kiss ended, he was pressing into her, each stroke a little deeper than the last. He drew back so he could grab her hips and control each thrust. She couldn’t reach him; all she could do was watch him. The glow moved over his skin as though drawn to where the action was. Her gaze lowered to where their bodies met.

  The tension in her built again. His thumb circled her clit in small teasing strokes. He must be reading each rise in lust. His thrusts became faster. She hooked her legs around his hips so she could meet him thrust for thrust.

  The tension boiled over and she cried out as she came. Phoebe didn’t bother to bite her lip and stay quiet the way she had so many times before.

  He growled, his hips pumping, his hands gripping her hard. His chest rose and fell with each breath and gradually the light spread out along the ley lines again until even the tips of his fingers were bright. He threw back his head and groaned.

  For a few moments, neither of them moved.

  She smiled. “I hope that was enough to get you through the year.”

  5

  Kearn lifted his gaze from where their bodies met to
where she was sprawled like a sacrifice to lust on the sofa. Her dark hair a contrast to the white of the sofa. He didn’t want to leave her body yet. And he liked the way her legs were holding him as though she didn’t want to let him go either.

  He nodded. It had been different than what he’d expected. Better. This was a closeness that he wouldn’t be able to replicate. And wouldn’t want to once the breeding hormones faded. “There is no guarantee about next year.”

  “What do you mean?” She was alert now, no longer floating in desire.

  He smoothed his palms over her thighs, still wanting to touch her. “Every year we fight, and the winner gets to mate.”

  Phoebe propped herself up on her elbows. “So you won this year, but next year…then this may be it for your entire life?”

  He shrugged, and nodded, then pulled her up so she was sitting on the arm of the sofa. Already the burn of desire had faded. The warmth remained, but the intensity was gone. However, the need to touch her remained, so he held her hand.

  “I don’t normally want it. It felt weird to feel lust myself and to be so consumed by it.”

  “But you make it in other people.”

  “I don’t make it. I use what they have and amplify it. I don’t feel lust myself.” He drew in a breath. “That orgy was an accident, the mood of the crowd was already up and I could’ve left it, but I wanted more. I wanted to see what I could do. But while I was reveling in their lust, feeding, it took on a new direction and a life of its own. It was so strange to watch.” The lights and the music the people grinding against their partners, oblivious to what was happening around them. He’d watched partly out of curiosity. Why did they want to act like that? Even then, he hadn’t felt the urge to strip and join in, even though several people had tried to drag him into the heaving mess. Looking back, he saw it with a new understanding. If he’d have started something tonight, he’d have been a willing participant.

  That was how other people felt all the time. This lust was always there. He wouldn’t miss it, he was sure. But he had enjoyed it while it had lasted. Tomorrow he’d have to start leading and making decisions for the group.