Twelve
Space
They were lined up on their knees. One line for beaten men, once proud ... no, still proud. But badly injured and heavily outnumbered.
He exchanged a look with his friends, seeing the same fear reflected in their eyes. Had the pirates found the wenches? They must have done. Mayhaps the wenches were dead—'twould be better if they were.
But then their worst fears were founded. A hulking pirate shoved a small wench through the door, and her shocked gaze swept over them. Blood was on her tunic, but he could see that it wasn't her blood.
"For the love of God.” He looked up at the space pirate captain. “She's a child. Do not harm her!"
"The girl is not your concern.” The captain spat contemptuously. “She is mine. Bring her here."
The child was lost, and he could feel his own heart breaking. His friend was kneeling beside him, and he saw the anguish in his eyes—anguish because even though the wench was young, just beginning her teenage years, his friend already loved her. Loved her and was waiting for her to grow older and mature, then he planned to offer for her hand in marriage.
Now, instead of a life being loved by her parents, and a future of being showered with love and happiness by the young man who, unbeknown to her, loved her so much, all she would face would be rape and torture ... and death, if fate was kind to her.
To all of them.
* * * *
Stirring, Tera opened her eyes and blinked in the gloom. The curtains were drawn across the closed glass doors, but she could hear the rain pattering on the roof.
She wasn't in her own bed. Tera grinned. There was no doubt in her mind exactly where she was, and in who's bed. The heavy male arm across her waist, the heavy leg across her calves, and the purr vibrating through the masculine chest against her back, was all Illam.
As were the fingers kneading her stomach.
She glanced over her shoulder to find that he had his face buried in her hair, his breath tickling the back of her neck. He was curled around her and partly sprawled over her. Leaning against her and purring away lazily and contentedly, like a big, lazy lycat who had overindulged and was most supremely happy about it.
Remembering the previous night, Tera smiled. The man had been ravenous for her. Ravenous and dominating and so damn good. Just the memory was enough to make her squirm a little. It was as though she could still feel him inside her, hot and hard, thick and long, and so powerful and insatiable.
The kneading fingers drifted upward. Hello, something awakens. And it wasn't just his fingers coming to life. As his fingertips brushed lightly across her nipple, his erection was suddenly nudging her bottom.
Illam let out a little huff of contentment and continued stroking her breast. Continued purring. And continued sleeping.
The man was unbelievable.
Tera arched a little as tiny sparks skittered under the skin from her taut nipple. Closing her eyes, she placed her hand lightly atop his, tracing his larger fingers with her own slender ones.
Nuzzling the back of her neck, he gave her a small lick.
Trailing her fingers over his hand, she enjoyed the play of strength beneath the skin. The warmth of his body curled around her was luxuria itself, the long, chocolate strands of hair that had pulled loose from his plait to skim across her shoulder, an exotic reminder of the Felys. His purring was thrumming through her as surely as the sparks of fire his caressing fingers were bringing to her body.
The hard erection still growing in size nudged her from behind, more forcefully this time. The purring changed, going from lazy to a deeper, lustier purr.
The Felys was awake. Tera grinned and stretched once more, deliberately rubbing against the staff nudging her.
Then her eyes popped open when the heavy leg atop her calves suddenly disappeared, Illam surged up, grabbed her shin just below the knee, and he flopped back behind her, his movement making her knee bend so that her calf was now back across his thigh, and her thighs were parted, opening her to whatever he had planned.
Whoo boy!
Still without saying a word, Illam shifted, and the erection pressing against her bottom slid neatly between the opening of her thighs, slipped through the sheltering folds of her labia, and came to rest against the entrance to her body.
The feel of that blunt, yet increasingly swollen head, against her made heat wash through her in a moist rush. On a low moan, she arched back, only to find a large hand flat against her stomach, holding her lower half still.
"Good morning, makit,” Illam breathed hotly against the side of her throat. “How delightful to find such a luscious little female in my bed."
"I aim to please,” Tera replied breathlessly, finishing on a gasp as he entered her opening slightly and stopped.
"Really?” Lust-laced amusement sounded in his low voice. “And it pleases me that you're so accommodating.” He pushed forward a fraction more.
Feeling the blood humming hotly through her, Tera bit her lip. “I'm pleased you find me so."
"It would please me more if you looked at me."
Tera turned her head and caught a glimpse of hot, gold eyes laced with madly writhing black threads right before Illam swooped down and caught her mouth in a totally ravenous kiss.
The man did everything with gusto. He kissed, he made love, and he teased.
Hells bells, the man could tease!
Tera nearly climaxed on the spot as his tongue swept in to claim every drop of essence from her mouth, while he rocked with the most minutest movement, moving his penis against her in such a small movement, it was as though he was massaging the opening of her vagina with his staff.
Moaning into his mouth, she felt the rippling starting deep inside her. Loving the feel of his smooth skin against her back, his silky lips against her own, and his hardness rubbing her softness.
Reaching down, she laid her palm over his hand at her stomach and pushed gently downwards.
"Lusty little female,” he laughed huskily against her lips.
"You're a tease,” she gasped.
"Would I do that to you?"
"Oh yes, you would."
"You wound me deeply. Maybe you don't want me to play anymore?” With a slow, dragging sensation, he pulled out of the shelter of her tender folds and curled up around her back again.
Tera was speechless. The man really did have the devil in him this morning! Rolling onto her back, she propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at him incredulously.
He smirked back at her. It would have worked even better if he didn't have an obvious erection.
Well, two could play at teasing.
Smiling, Tera gave the top of his staff a little tap with the pad of her finger.
He nearly jumped out of his skin, and his hot golden eyes deepened in color, while the black threads writhed lavisciously.
"Since you're not wanting to mate, I'd better be going.” Giving his cheek a brisk pat, Tera rolled to the side of the bed, sat up and swung her legs over the edge.
"Like hell!"
Tera was laughing even before his arm snaked around her waist and yanked her back onto the bed. Flipped onto her back, she grinned up at Illam as he rolled on top of her, pinning her to the mattress.
His eyes were sparkling with amusement, and his lips were tilted up at the corners teasingly, but his body spoke differently. She felt the tremor of sexual awareness go through him, felt the heat of his skin, felt the little rubbing sensation of his body as he absentmindedly rubbed up against her in small movements. His manhood felt like a hot brand against her stomach.
"You play with fire,” he breathed.
"Come now, you were the one with wounded feelings,” she replied. “I was merely following your lead. After all,” she arched one brow, “You were the one to withdraw."
"Then maybe I need to lead you back onto the very crooked and lustful path of mating.” Lowering his head, he brushed the corner of his mouth against hers. “What do you think makit?"
She nipped his lower lip and laved it with her tongue, knowing she would drive him over the edge a little more. “I think you'll have to show me that you're up to it, Felys.” Stars, she loved playing dangerously!
His eyes glowed, and his smile was all teeth. His nostrils flared and he inhaled deeply. “Why, my little female, I do believe I smell arousal."
"No! Really?"
"Oh yes.” Shifting slightly to one side, he slowly trailed his hand between her breasts and down her stomach, following the movement with his gaze.
His touch evoked a delicious sensation, and she breathed deeply.
Illam's hand drifted downward, dipping into her belly button and skimming her lower abdomen; he stopped at the juncture of her thighs.
"Open,” he growled softly.
The growl made her shiver in anticipation, especially when accompanied by a light raking of his nails across the protective curls on her mound. She obeyed, parting her thighs.
"Bend your furthest knee,” he said, his gaze lifting to study her face.
His eyes glowed with arousal, the black threads now twinning sensuously against the golden orbs.
How she loved those eyes, so expressive, reflecting his every mood.
And how she loved his touch.
"You're getting a little bossy,” she said huskily, even as she obeyed once more.
His grin was hedonistic. “You can have your turn later.” He trailed his hand between her thighs.
"Very sure of yourself, aren't you?” Her breath caught as his finger slipped between the protective folds of her labia to rest against the seam of her body.
"As sure of that as I am that you will greatly approve of this,” he replied, his purr once more a lusty rumbled in his chest.
His finger slipped through her wet heat to rest on her perineum, and immediately she tensed, the sensitive nerves in the area coming alive.
Illam watched her closely, his pupils slitting. Delicately he trailed his fingertip back and forth along her perineum.
Hot sparks shivered deliciously in her loins, and, tilting her head back against the pillow, she moaned.
His finger trailed to her vagina, dipped inside, and he rubbed gently around the opening before returning to rub her body's natural lubricant across her perineum. He used light strokes, back and forth, using the movements to dip the tip of his finger into her vagina before stroking back again.
Breath coming faster, heat building inside her, Tera felt her insides tighten as he played with her, stimulating her by the simple process of stroking her perineum, that delicate area so rich with nerve endings.
"Illam,” she whispered. “Please..."
"Please what?” His finger dipped deeper into her, hooked and dragged back with a friction that made her push against his hand.
Opening her eyes, she saw him still watching her. Those kiss-me-long-and-deep lips, so sensuous and full, yet so masculine, were smiling slightly in carnal knowledge. His gaze was intense, his nostrils flared slightly as he inhaled her scent. The wisps of hair that had come loose from his braid hung in silky strands around him.
He looked dangerously sexy, uninhibited, and thoroughly licentious. A man who enjoyed mating, who knew how to please a woman, how to make her moan and writhe and beg in sexual heat. Who took pleasure in making her climax.
"You know what,” she replied, only to gasp when he tapped her perineum with a firm finger, making her jump.
God above!
"Like that, hmm?"
"You've got an exceedingly lecherous look on your face, Illam.” Her voice was husky and a touch accusing.
Still grinning darkly, he flicked his finger lightly against her.
The sensation made her squirm in desire, and involuntarily she tried to close her thighs, tried to squeeze against the sensation, but he prevented the action by rolling over her and settling himself between her thighs, his chest resting on her mound.
Folding his hands atop her stomach, he rested his chin on them and arched a brow at her. “So, you think I look lecherous?"
She didn't know whether to laugh or yell out in frustration. And the infuriating man knew it, his eyes glowing with a mixture of desire and laughter. Well, she'd fix him. Heat might be sparking through her veins, but there would be no satisfaction until he was good and ready.
Well, damn it, she was ready now. It was time to tweak the feral's tail.
Coming up onto her elbows, she gazed down the length of her body at him and arched one brow right back at him.
Illam looked amused.
"Do you know what I want?” Tera asked huskily.
"Me?"
Conceited fur-ball. “I want you, all right.” Boldly, she rubbed herself against him, satisfaction flowing through her when she saw the twining black threads slow down against his irises, a sure sign she was coming to recognize as Illam being close to the edge. “I want you in me hard and fast and deep. Think you can go deep enough, Illam?” She licked her lips slowly, watching his gaze follow her tongue. “Think you can stroke deep enough for me to feel you high up inside me?"
"You think to provoke me into mating with you right now?"
"Is it working?"
White teeth flashed. “Keep talking."
Bugger that. “Nope. If my moaning and telling you doesn't work, I'm not wasting my time.” Bracing her hands on the mattress, she pulled herself lithely out from beneath him and up the bed in a sitting position.
He barely managed to stop himself from falling flat on his face on the mattress. Catching himself on his elbows, he looked up at her. His expression was one of surprise, then amusement ... and then his gaze dropped down to see between her thighs, which were still spread apart because her calves were now each side of his shoulders. Now the laughter fled to be replaced with, though still faintly amused, a more darker desire.
He inhaled deeply again, and his gaze snapped up to lock onto hers. Now his expression wasn't so teasing anymore. Instead, the dark desire was tinged with something more ... feral.
He pushed back in a graceful move to sit upright and back on his heels, his thick erection long and hard against his flat, muscle-ribbed belly. Still keeping her gaze locked, he curled his fingers around her ankles.
Uh-oh. Tera mentally licked her lips in anticipation. You've done it now, Tera. You've pulled the feral's tail and now he's turned into a stalking beast. Lucky me!
"You enjoy treading on the dangerous side, don't you, female?” Illam growled low in his chest. He started to pull on her ankles in a smooth, unbroken motion.
"I figured a little tail-tweaking would get you moving,” Tera replied as she slid down the bed towards him. “You needed a little persuading.” Her heart pounded as he gave a small snarl.
"Really?” The rumble in the words would have alarmed her if she didn't know him so well.
"Really."
"You like being in control, female?” he pulled a little more.
"Sometimes.” She slid further down the bed towards him.
"Well, guess what?"
"What?"
In a quick movement, he leaned forward, gripped her beneath the knees and jerked, making her tip back onto the bed. His grin was feral, his growl a dark promise. “I'm in control right now."
Whoo boy!
"And I'm going to show you just how deep I can go."
"So stop talking and start showing."
"Bossy little female, aren't you?” He yanked her closer.
Stars! Tera had an idea what he was going to do, and her heart beat double time. The position ... Oh yes!
Illam was close up to her womanhood. Hooking his elbows under her knees, he rose up onto his knees and leaned forward. The whole time he kept his gaze on her face, watching her intently, and she knew he was alert for any sign of discomfort.
But Tera was flexible, and she grinned provocatively up at him. “Give it your best shot, Felys."
He laughed with pure pleasure. “Delcat, you're sassy."
"You can punis
h me later.” Her wink was risqué.
The gold of his eyes darkened richly. Leaning further forward, he forced her bottom to lift, and then her hips came off the mattress. Placing his hands on the mattress either side of her, keeping her knees hooked around the outside of his arms, he inclined forward until he was braced on his arms.
His staff pressed up hot and hard against his stomach, the rigid length flush against the seam of her open body. He flexed his hips, and Tera felt the fire flare through her.
The sensitive nerve endings at her perineum were flush against his hard staff, and every slight movement raked splinters of desire through her.
"Not so sassy now?” He growled low in his throat.
"Illam...” she moaned, all teasing fleeing to be replaced by the fire burning in the pit of her stomach.
Shifting slightly to balance on one hand, Illam reached down to take his engorged staff in one hand. “Watch me.” His voice was a harsh with passion. “Watch me as I enter you."
The sparks of fire were skittering beneath her skin once more, the walls of her sheath so moist with need that she could feel it pooling inside her entrance.
Her gaze dropped, and she watched as he drew his staff away from his stomach, watched as he guided the swollen tip between the slick folds of her labia. She was so open to him, the position making her so vulnerable, that she barely felt him against the sides of the labia.
But she felt him at the entrance. Felt the tip just pierce the opening to her vagina, and when he stopped, she raised her gaze to his.
He'd been watching his own progress, but his gaze rose within seconds of hers, and he locked their gazes with the sheer magnetism of his golden eyes.
"Can you take me?” he growled.
"Yes,” she whispered huskily, her heart pounding.
"All of me?"
"Yes.” God, yes!
"Deep and hard?"
She could only nod.
"You're so open. All the way."
She knew what he meant. The position allowed for deep penetration. Very deep. She was completely open to him.
Curling her fingers into the sheet either side of her, she whispered, “Take me."
Illam didn't wait. Without a second's hesitation, he came down on both hands, braced on either side of her. And as he came down, his body lowering up and over hers, he entered her.
Love's Beguiling Healer Page 31