Love's Beguiling Healer

by Angela Verdenius

  It was anticipation.

  Opening the door, she found herself gazing straight across at the Felys male who was leaning against the verandah railing, his softly glowing eyes eerie in the dimness, his gaze trained on her.

  Illam's hips were against the railing behind him, his outstretched legs crossed at the ankles, his arms folded across his chest. His naked chest, for the shirt he wore was hanging open, the sleeves rolled up his forearms. His hair blew in soft strands around his shoulders and waist as the cool breeze ruffled it gently.

  He said nothing as he looked at her. His stance was deceptively relaxed, but she could feel the alertness of his gaze, and the coiled tension in his body.

  A low purring sounded, a sign of his pleasure at her appearance, and she sighed, uncertain how to broach her troublesome thoughts yet wanting him so badly, and still wary.

  Pushing away lithely from the railing, Illam moved directly in front of her. Placing one hand at her waist, he drew her out of the room and up against himself. Reaching behind her, he quietly closed the door. It clicked shut, leaving them together on the verandah, their bodies pressed to each other.

  Lowering his head, he laid his cheek against hers and inhaled deeply. The purring deepened.

  The heat from his body seeped into her, and she lifted her hands to place her palms against his chest. His skin was smooth, and she felt the vibration of his purrs against her palms. Lean muscles shifted beneath her touch.

  His breath was almost hot against her ear and Tera nearly gave in to the temptation to lean against him. Instead, she whispered, “Illam, we need to talk."

  "Not now.” His hand was warm against her waist.

  "Illam—"

  "Later."

  "No. Now. I'm—"

  "The night is ours, Tera. It is for us alone. Talking is for the hard light of day, loving is for the seductiveness of the night.” His lips were feather light against her cheek. “And seduction is on my mind."

  I must be mad. The thought was a whisper that fled in the rush of desire caused by Illam's questing lips and hot breath, and her own sensual nature. Instinct taking over, she turned her head and brushed her own lips across his. Tomorrow will come, but tonight ... tonight belongs to passion, and to me. To us.

  Illam's lips were firm yet sensual as he brushed against her lips, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a deep kiss. He teased and tantalized her, flicking his tongue across the seam of her lips and drawing back when she opened for him.

  "Don't tease,” she moaned.

  His laugh was low. “I delight in teasing, makit. Tonight you are mine, and you'll take what I give freely. Take and enjoy. It's all for you."

  Turning, he kept his arm at her waist and led her down from the verandah and along the stone path.

  Tipping her head back, Tera breathed deeply of the fragrant flower scents filling the air. The cool breeze was a direct contrast to the heat of the male body she was tucked closely up to, and it made her snuggle closer instinctively.

  "I'll soon have you warm, makit.” The words purred out in a sultry promise.

  She had no doubt about that, especially when she realized that he was taking her to his home.

  A dim light shone dully through the drawn curtains at the window. Stepping up onto the verandah, he opened the door and pushed her gently inside.

  What hit her first was the warmth of the home, followed by the faint scent of maleness that filled the air subtly. The rich red and blue of the heavy fabrics that covered the dark wood furniture created an atmosphere of luxury. Cushions were thrown carelessly on one corner of the sofa, but on the floor atop the plush rug, was a large cushion. It bore the undeniable imprint of someone having sat in it many times, and, no doubt, leaned back against the sofa. Beside the cushion was a book, open face down on the floor. On one wall was a painting of a Felys couple but she couldn't make out their faces. An almost life-sized statue of two Felys embracing in unashamed nudity stood in the corner. Another statue, this time of a lycat and her kittens, stood in another corner. Yet it was a masculine room, richly decorated, and with the softly lowered beat of music coming from somewhere. Warm, welcoming, a room to curl up in and forget the outside world existed for a short time.

  The door closed behind her with a firm click, and Tera started to turn around.

  "No,” Illam whispered in a husky tone. “Stay still."

  Obeying, she felt his hands glide through her hair, his breath hot on her neck as he inhaled deeply once more. Sharp teeth scraped along her nape, and she shivered, closing her eyes and tipping her head back.

  His hands drifted down her sides, coming to rest on her belly where he kneaded firmly. When she sucked in her breath and leaned back, he reached up and slid his fingers beneath the thin straps of her nightgown. Drawing them partway down her arms, he stopped just as the neckline caught on her nipples. Gathering the soft material at the sides, he pulled it tight until her breasts were outlined, her nipples hard against the material.

  "Beautiful,” he growled low. Nipped her shoulder. Then in an abrupt move, he shoved the gown down past her breasts, over her hips and let it drop to the floor.

  The suddenness startled her, and she looked at him over her shoulder. Immediately she noted the wariness in his eyes. “Illam?"

  The golden gaze flickered over her face, gauging her mood.

  "What's wrong?” she whispered.

  He shook his head, sending the chocolate hair at the front sweeping over his shoulders and down his chest to hang to his waist.

  Turning, she threaded her fingers into the dark hair and twined it around her fingers. Tugging his head down, she kissed him.

  He submitted readily. The purr deep in his throat resonated up and into her, and she deepened the kiss. This time it was she who sought entrance, and he who opened to her. She slid her tongue in, testing the silky texture of his mouth, the heat of his essence, the wild honey sweetness of his taste.

  It was heady. When he tried to return the kiss, she made a noise of protest and immediately he stilled.

  Curious, she moved her head back and looked at him. His eyes opened slowly, languorously, the black threads writhing quickly through the gold of his irises. The pupils dilated until only a thin rim of gold showed.

  Desire burned in his eyes. The rumble of purring was deeper, harsher. She could feel the hard length of him against her belly. But along with the desire was wariness. Of her? Impossible. She wasn't going to hurt him. After all, he was the one showing all the dominant traits.

  Dominant.

  Submissive.

  "At this time, the female can become submissive and dominant in turn."

  "Submissive is when she lets the male ... ease her?"

  "Yes. Dominant is when she brings the male to climax."

  "How?"

  "She pleasures him with her mouth.” Illam's voice was husky, and he unconsciously kneaded the top of the backrest where his hand rested.

  "That's enough to bring him to climax?"

  "There's foreplay, Tera.” Illam's voice went lower.

  Oh, now there was a thought. Illam thought she was showing a bit of dominance, that's why he was showing a bit of wariness.

  The thought was titillating. Well, well, well. The big Felys male is wondering what I'm going to do. Heat rushed to her loins even as she licked her lips. Maybe it's time to show him what I can do.

  She must have shown some expression on her face, because Illam looked even more wary. Not surprised, just wary.

  * * * *

  Illam wondered just what Tera had on her mind. His little makit was making up her mind about something. He hoped to God she hadn't decided that she'd come off her yearnings. Felys females doing this very thing had made many a male Felys have sore palms from going to seek their own relief—and a very poor substitute that was, too.

  He figured he'd done enough of that on the scout ship, so he knew all about it ... first hand. Ha-ha. That is in no way funny at all.

  But still, what did
he really know of the female heat, apart from what he'd learned? He'd certainly never had a nature mate before, much less gone through a heat phase with one. All he knew was that the Felys female could have yearnings one minute and be begging for release, and within the short time frame it took for her happily obliging mate to start dealing with it, she changed her fickle little mind and spat and hissed at him. It could happen many times.

  The thought that this could be happening right now made him want to howl at the moon like some sick hound. Or an erotically charged, penis-bursting, but very unlucky male Felys.

  "Tera...” Her name came out sounding very much like a plea.

  Well, to hell with it. If pleading would make her become all soft and lovable again, he'd get down on his knees and grovel.

  A smile curved those lovely lush lips. Those crystal blue eyes seemed to take on a cold fire of their own. Stepping back, she placed her hands on her hips and boldly looked Illam up and down.

  God Almighty, he could feel his eyes practically bugging out of his head at the sight of her in full nakedness. His eyes followed a path down her luscious body so fast it was a miracle they didn't fall out of his head.

  Tera was tall and slim, yet with curves in all the right places. Thick brunette hair curled over her shoulders and down her back. A nice handful of bosoms tipped with rosy nipples sat up jauntily. An intriguing little dip of a belly button, a small triangle of curls at the apex of her thighs, and legs just made for wrapping around a man's waist.

  My waist, by Jocat, no one else's! His penis stood to attention. Yes sirree! You are all mine, Tera. All mine, you sassy female. C'mere.

  And she was all sassy provocativeness, standing there with nothing but a smile on her face.

  When he dragged his glazed gaze back up to her face, he saw that her smile had turned libidinous. Her little pink tongue flicked out to slowly moisten her lips, and her movements were lazy and measured when she started to move.

  He turned with her, wondering what she was up to now.

  "Stay still.” The words were a soft command.

  Instinctively, Illam obeyed. But he followed with his eyes as she leisurely paced around him. The whole time, her gaze wandered over him. Once she was behind him, she stopped.

  The silence stretched, and he thought he could feel her hand lightly brush over his hair. He found the wait, the taut silence, the sensation of the unknown, more of a turn-on than he'd ever expected. It stretched his nerves deliciously tight.

  "Take me to your bedroom.” The words were heat against his neck.

  Thank you, God! In the act of turning to take her arm, he was stopped by her hand lightly smacking against his buttocks. That made him freeze. What the—I don't remember my teachers telling me about spanking!

  "You first, Felys,” Tera murmured seductively. “I'll be right behind you.” She gave one buttock a squeeze to emphasize her words.

  "Tera—"

  "Or I leave."

  It took all he had not to run to his bedroom. Jocat, if she left now he'd never get rid of the hard-on that was growing harder every second. And he had to admit, the dominant side of her was not only a surprise, but it had his nerves tingling in wary anticipation.

  Felys females were dominant and submissive by turns during a heat phase, so obviously it wasn't so different for an Argon, either. What luck!

  Stopping in the middle of his softly lit room, he waited for Tera to come up close behind him. He knew what she'd see, the big bed with the fake fur on it, the richly colored heavy material he favored, the thick carpet cushioning their feet. The big armchair facing the window, and the rail and step against the wall.

  "You have a mirror on the wall. A big mirror showing the bed. My my, Illam, into a bit of self voyeurism, are you?” She was close behind him now, and he could feel the warmth of her body. “I want you to turn and face that mirror, lover."

  Lover! It took all he had to obey with dignity, rather than fall over his own feet in his eagerness. He managed to maintain a faintly curious expression. His glowing eyes and excitedly writhing black threads in the irises gave that away.

  Tera was standing close behind him, her cheek rubbing against his shoulder as she eyed him in the mirror. Slipping one hand beneath his shirt she trailed her fingertips down his spine, watching as he caught his breath and arched back slightly, his eyes falling half shut as the delightful sensation rippled down the delicate nerves beneath his skin.

  When she reached the small of his waist, she trailed those magical fingers around to his front, gliding them around his belly button before settling beneath on his stomach. Spreading her palm on his lower abdomen, she flexed her fingers, a small smile playing about her lips as he sucked in another breath.

  "Like that, did you?"

  "I think you know the answer,” he rasped, already hearing the heavy desire deepening his voice.

  "I think I do.” She met his gaze in the mirror and took a step back. “Take your shirt off."

  It took merely a shrug to cause the black shirt to slither down his arms and slip off. She caught it, brought it to her nose, and inhaled.

  "So masculine.” She licked her lips as she idly tossed the shirt aside. “Your boots."

  He toed them off and kicked them aside.

  Cocking her head to one side, she studied him. Taking a step forward, she pressed her breasts to his back, the texture of her nipples through the strands of his hair making him swallow. After pushing a heavy swath of his hair aside, she nipped his shoulder. The motion nearly made him come right there in his pants.

  He'd never shot his load early in his entire life, but this Argon female had him already spilling a drop of moisture from the end of his staff.

  Male instinct made him want to grab her, throw her onto her stomach on the bed, and mount her vigorously. But Felys instinct made him wary, made him wait, knowing she wasn't ready.

  She was in her dominant phase. As the male, he had to be submissive right now, or she could be unpredictable. But she's an Argon, she might not be aggressive, she wouldn't lash out at me. His common sense whispered one thing, but his inborn instincts won out. He'd never mated with an outworlder before, and all he could do was go by his Felys nature.

  So with a pounding heart and rapidly increasing libido, he awaited her next command.

  Nine

  "Your skin is so smooth. Smooth and leanly muscled.” Tera trailed her fingers teasingly up over the ribbed muscles of his belly and the swells of his pectorals. Rubbing one finger tip upon each hard, brown, male nipple, she rubbed herself against his back. “Tall, lean, so strong. And yet, you're at my mercy right now. Aren't you?” She nipped his shoulder again, a little harder this time, and laughed softly when she saw his eyes glow even more. “Your eyes are a giveaway, Illam, did you know that? They glow when you're aroused. They darken when I do something that causes you desire. Like this."

  In a sudden, swift move, she swept her hand down to press her palm against the hard length of his staff.

  A low growl of pure heat burst from him.

  "Ah yes, my feral, growl a little more for me.” Her palm massaged him. “Growl for me."

  He couldn't stop the growls to save his life. Mixed with hedonistic purring, the growls were carnal. Illam could see his own eyes burning fiercely, his nostrils flaring. The reflection in the mirror showed a fully aroused Felys male being played by a female.

  Deliciously, hotly, damn expertly played.

  "Spread your legs.” Her gaze met his demandingly in the mirror.

  He obeyed with a harsh breath. A harsh breath that shuddered deep inside his chest when her hand slipped between his legs from behind to press up against his scrotum.

  "Remember when you did this to me, Illam?” Tera pressed her lips to his upper arm and sucked lightly. “Remember when you touched me, made me kneel astride you while you touched me, stroked me, fondled me? Do you remember?” When he could only watch her through half closed eyes, his irises glowing hotly, she pressed warningly agai
nst his scrotum. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make him hiss. “Do you?"

  "Yesssss...” He couldn't stop himself from gritting his teeth as the words hissed out.

  Her grin was suddenly impish. “I'm just returning the favor ... with a little added extra of my own."

  "...a little added extra of my own." The words alone were enough to make his nerves threaten to snap with lust-induced tension.

  Removing her hand, she said conversationally. “Remove your pants."

  Illam did so slowly, hooking his fingers into his waistband and slowly pushing them down past his lean hips, muscled thighs and strong calves, before kicking them aside. Naked and fully aroused, he stood proudly and unselfconsciously straight.

  "Nice,” she murmured, still remaining behind him. “Very nice.” Her fingertips trailed over his tight buttocks, her palms pressing against the muscles and rubbing firmly.

  Throat dry and jaw clenched, Illam wished he could see her face in the mirror, but all he saw was glimpses of her body as she moved.

  "Spread your legs further apart,” she ordered.

  Again he obeyed, his mind whirling with possibilities of what she might be planning. It caught him by surprise when she dropped to her knees behind him. In the mirror he now he had a good view of her shapely thighs, curving hips, slightly rounded belly, and slender waist—but that was all, because she was upright on her knees. Behind him.

  He could feel her hands on his buttocks, fingertips kneading.

  Moisture leaked from the tip of his staff, and his breath was coming harshly.

  The silence just heightened his desire, just as it seemed to emphasize how alone they were in this room made for loving.

  The nip to his right buttock made him grit his teeth as heat shot through him, the blood sizzling through his veins to bring an almost painful surge to his staff. The rasp of her tongue across the nipped skin made him clench his fists. The fingertip tracing down over the valley between his buttocks made him hiss in ecstasy and aroused pain. The same finger kept going under, tracing him until she came to his scrotum. There, she drew lazy circles on the tight skin.