by Marie Harte
“Yes, but—”
He continued with a glare. “I decided to escape without Mardu help. The less interaction I have with them, the better my cover. You, on the other hand, made a perfect hostage. A beautiful woman, a peacemaker no less, under my control would ensure a safe escape from Lady Justice, at least until I could find security.
“Then something Rafe said made perfect sense. Sernal mentioned to him how obsessed Rorn seemed with you. I had my answer. I’d take you and turn you into my ‘slave’, to barter for easier entry into the slaver’s market. Once there, I have no doubt we’ll find those women. I just need to find out exactly when and where. In the meantime, I have to make sure we’re seen together. You need to be appropriately subservient.”
He couldn’t contain a smile at the thought. She bristled but said nothing. He waited for the questions, the objections sure to follow, and wasn’t disappointed.
“I agree with most of what you’ve said. But me, a slave?” She snorted. “No one will believe that.”
“They will. You have no idea what the slave markets are like, do you?”
She frowned and shook her head.
“Almost without exception potential slaves are drugged to ensure cooperation. They’re led to the auction after blatant displays of what pleasure they’re capable of bestowing.” Disgust filled him, the memories of the two auctions he’d attended burned indelibly on his mind. Gren stood and began to pace. “Then they’re positioned for sale. But the special ones, the most beautiful and treasured slaves, are sold at private parties. You don’t want me to tell you the things they make the slaves do there.”
“How do you know all this?” Temis asked quietly. Her eyes narrowed. “Have you bought and sold slaves of your own?”
He immediately shook his head, regretting he’d been so open about the market in the first place. “No. Never. I’d rather die than be a party to—” She blinked at his vehement denial, and he quickly changed the direction of conversation. “The reason I mentioned this, Temis, is to let you know why you have to appear under my control.”
“The barbaric display in the street,” she murmured with disapproval.
“Exactly.” Thoughts of what she might have to do to get them into the auction disturbed him, so much so that he began to reinvent his plan.
“What are you thinking?” she asked and stood, coming to his side.
“Maybe you should return to Lady Justice.” Distracted, he paced away from her, away from the bed, and imagined his next course of action. “I could always contact Elisa for this. She’d fit. Go back to Lady Justice. Tell everyone you escaped.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” She strode to his side and wrenched him to face her. “I’m in this until the end. This is my mission, and it’s my duty to help those women. Lead Sernal trusted me with this, and I won’t let him down.”
He scowled at her. “Sernal? What the hell does he matter in this?”
“He’s my superior, a man I deeply respect.”
He heard nothing but professional attachment in her tone and relaxed.
“Besides, rescuing those women will be a lot easier with a woman, namely me, involved. Trust me, you’ll be just as scary to them as their kidnappers. Maybe more,” she added, aggravating him all over again as she eyed him with a discouraging frown.
Being Thesha, he could easily command the missing women to obey his orders. He held more power over the female mind than any other creature in the system. But he couldn’t tell her that. His kind lived in secrecy, and for good reason. Too many slavers had made them ready victims. At the thought, his anger grew, and he focused it on Temis, trying to combat his desire.
“So you find me intimidating, do you?” he asked softly. “That’s nothing compared to the fear of what you might have to do to prove your compliance once we reach the enemy.”
Her shoulders straightened, and she pursed her full, luscious lips. “I’m not afraid of you, Gren. I’ll do whatever I need to for the mission.”
An answering heat welled within him at her carelessly thrown gauntlet. “Anything, hmm?”
“I’m not an innocent young woman to be protected. I can hold my own, and I can definitely take you on.” Her chest heaved and her eyes glittered with hunger. He could see how excited she became at thoughts of tangling with him, of possibly besting him.
His cock swelled with the need to be inside her, and he threw caution to the wind. He took a small step back. “Then, sura, I know you’ll be able to dominate this challenge with ease.”
His fingers teased the front clasp of his trousers, and he watched her eyes grow wide, with anticipation and a hint of alarm she tried to hide. The last time she’d taken him in her mouth, she’d been partially enthralled, given to her basest needs. But now, of her own volition, she’d have to take charge. “Not scared, are you?” he taunted.
She shook her head, her gaze fixed on his hand. “I can handle you, Gren.”
“Good,” he murmured and reached for his straining cock. He withdrew it from his trousers and held it before her, completely hard, his slit wet. “Then take me in your mouth.”
“Is this what you mean about proving my submission?” Her voice was throaty, thick with want. He could smell her cream, and remembrances of the dream state when he’d tasted her forced him to control a shiver.
“I told you you’re going to have to be convincing at the auction, sura. The drugs you’ll supposedly be under lessen inhibitions and enhance the user’s sensuality. You’re going to have to be at ease with your sexuality or it won’t work. What’s it going to be, Temis?”
Temis’ mouth watered at the juicy offering. The small bead of dew poised at the tip of his shaft drew her like a magnet.
Though she knew he tested her, she couldn’t help wanting to meet his challenge. The thought of licking him, of tasting his seed again, made her hungry. And it made her wet. The time of discovery was at hand. The woman within her demanded to be set free.
“Do it, Temis.” His eyes glowed a brilliant emerald against his hardened face.
She glared at him even as she knelt before him. A slight grin curved his lips as he leant forward. His cock almost brushed her mouth, and his smile faded. He tried to stifle a moan.
When she licked her lips, he muttered under his breath. She breathed in the musky scent of his desire and rubbed her legs together, feeling an answering pulse in her clitoris.
Gren pressed forward, bringing his cock in contact with her mouth.
Temis swallowed hard, no longer able to pretend this was all an act. She wanted him, as a woman wants a man. The warrior within her would allow no half-measures.
She touched her tongue to him tentatively, curious, and felt him tremble. She glanced up to see his face tight, his lips compressed, his eyes closed as he maintained careful control.
On her knees she should have felt subservient. But his expression returned all the power to her. She licked him again, this time harder. His face was a mask of agony as he held still.
Smiling, she opened her mouth wider and engulfed him. He surged deeper and swore. Heady with her newfound power, she stroked him with her tongue, applying pressure when he jerked and hissed.
To hear him moaning her name, to feel his hands in her hair, clenching with desperation, forced her to understand her own desire.
“Temis,” he breathed and rocked between her lips. He was huge, silky soft and rock hard, so much more than she’d ever imagined. “Yes, sura, more.”
Lost in her sexuality, Temis did more than take all of him. She revelled in his taste. More fluid leaked from his arousal, proof of the desire he couldn’t hide. He pumped slowly, aided by her hands around his tight, lean buttocks.
She smiled around his cock and stared up at him.
“Now who’s in charge?” she murmured and licked the underside of his shaft.
He caught his breath and stared down at her with such hunger she felt helpless to stop. Watching him, she slowly eased her mouth back over him, taking h
im deep to the back of her throat.
He swore softly and continued to thrust in and out of her mouth, never taking his eyes from her.
Temis licked and sucked and teased. She wanted—no, needed—to swallow him whole, to feel his seed trickle down her throat.
As if Gren sensed her thoughts, he hardened like a rock and quickened his strokes.
“Oh, yes, yes,” he groaned.
An answering arousal flooded between her legs. The more she sucked him, the greater his pleasure, until she could almost feel what she did to him.
“Now, sura, now,” Gren uttered in a hoarse voice and came hard.
She swallowed his cum, the thick, sweet mass of seed that coated her throat like honeyed cream. In the doing, she experienced a coil of heat in her core, enveloping her in a desire so intense, a bliss so profound, she saw stars as Gren continued to come.
Sometime later she heard him call her from a distance. She blinked sleepily and felt a large hand on her waist, stroking her side. She focused on the blurred form in front of her and saw Gren looking at her with concern.
“Hmm?” She felt satisfied in a way she’d never felt before. She lay on her side facing Gren on the bed. Yet her mind, her spirit, soared on another plane altogether.
Gren’s eyes darkened to black. “You’re in wainu,” he said with amazement. He stopped stroking her hip and pushed her flat onto her back. “How is this possible?”
She smiled dreamily and caressed his hard face with tingling fingers. Everywhere she touched him she felt heat, and she wanted to share that marvellous pleasure with him all over again. Even as she thought it, his eyes shone with understanding.
“Are you reading my mind? You’re some kind of telepath, aren’t you? Or did you drug me like you said you would?”
He shook his head and smiled, a mysterious grin that made her clit throb.
“Sura, you have no idea what pleasure you’ve been missing. Before we’re done, you’re going to beg me for more.”
Chapter Six
Gren stared at Temis, caught in a wave of lust and tenderness so intense it shook him. Her white-gold hair lay in waves around her, framing her heavy-lidded eyes and passion-kissed lips.
He quickly undressed her, eager to see all of her again, this time in reality. His breath caught at the sight of her pale white breasts flushed with desire, and he bent to taste their perfection, unable to help himself.
She arched into his mouth and groaned his name, and his cock hardened as if he hadn’t just come inside her talented mouth. Energy swirled around them, a drugging haze that threatened his promise to himself.
Coming inside Temis’ mouth had been akin to dying and being reborn in wainu. The warmth of her lips and giving spirit that brought him such ecstasy called forth his need to truly join with her, to bond them together.
Certain if he did indeed make love to her he’d be forever changed, he determined to give her every pleasure without spilling inside her womb, the very core of feminine power. Yet seeing her naked and aware of her virginity, temptation threatened his will to stay strong.
Her nipple hardened in his mouth, and that quickly he wanted her again. He reached down to tuck himself behind his trousers again and knew the effort to be a pitiful one.
Nevertheless, he felt a fraction more secure in his resolve not to fuck her with more than his mouth and hands.
“Take them off,” she urged in a throaty growl, tugging at his waistband. She slithered under him, her curves tantalising. Despite being a virgin, Temis’ warrior instincts made her decidedly aggressive.
He could smell her need, could feel her climax surging closer and fought to slow down her pleasure, to draw it out.
“No, sura, lie back and enjoy.”
She withdrew her hands with protest but did as he ordered.
He leant over her, straining as he pressed against her. Her eyes were slanted, a bright violet ringed by silver.
“I want you,” she said boldly, letting her gaze settle on his lips. “And I don’t care about anything else right now but having you.”
Her words stirred his blood, and he didn’t even try to stop himself. He kissed her with the passion seething within. They both moaned at the contact, the heat between them blazing with raw desire and energy. Power flickered around them, shooting blue sparks in the dimly lit room.
Gren thrust his tongue into her mouth, needing to taste all of her. She followed quickly, learning through imitation what he liked, and pleasured herself in the bargain.
Her nipples rubbed against his chest, arousing him until he had to fight not to rip free of his trousers and sink deep inside her.
He withdrew from her mouth, needing the respite, and focused on Temis’ pleasure. Running his tongue along her neck, biting her pulse point with a savage desire to possess her, he felt her climax build as she coaxed him for more.
He nipped at her collarbone and continued down to her breasts. Licking her nipples until she cried out, he sucked and drew on the tips, pressing the ridge of his covered cock against her clit. He bit down on her nipples and rode her until she cried out in climax.
Her orgasm lasted as he continued to lave her breasts, and her energy washed over him like pounding rain.
He couldn’t stop touching her, learning her strength through soft, womanly skin. The contrast excited him, and he brought her to orgasm again with the touch of his mind and body in Theshan bliss.
She cried out his name and came in a gush that had him aching to taste her and take her essence into his body.
Her energy wound around him tightly, making him doubt his ability to resist joining her. Already he felt near to bursting, his trousers wet with both his and her arousal.
“I’m going to lick you, toeat you up, Temis,” he whispered in a raw voice. She tilted her head to stare down at him. The passion clouding her eyes was a heady aphrodisiac he could no longer resist.
“Do it,” she breathed and spread her legs, her sweet scent drifting on the air like a drug.
He needed no further urging and buried his face between her thighs. He opened his mouth wide and lapped her cream, licking and teasing her clit with a tongue as needy as his cock.
His shaft swelled as he devoured her. He couldn’t get enough, and he consumed her through another orgasm.
She gripped him hard and cried out his name.
“So fucking sexy,” he rasped. Unable to withstand the pressure on his erection, he reached down with one hand and freed his member, sighing at the feel of silken sheets against his skin.
“Love me,” Temis moaned as he thrust a finger inside her sheath while his tongue continued to caress her clit. “I need you inside me,” she begged.
He shook his head, shaking at the conflict within him. Everything in him urged him to do as she asked, yet a part of him knew it would change his very existence.
Hurting, so hard he could barely think, he stripped his trousers off and swiftly juxtaposed his body so that his mouth remained between her thighs while his lower body straddled her head.
“Even better,” she whispered and closed her mouth around his cock.
He groaned and resumed eating her, thrusting two fingers inside her as he imagined fucking her, shooting deep within her womb.
He nipped at her clitoris, excited anew when in response she sucked harder on his shaft.
Power swirled and shimmered in the air. He could feel the end coming, so close, so near.
“Yes, yes,” she mentally screamed as she came, arching into his mouth. Her lips clamped around him, and he could no longer hold back.
The taste of her as she shuddered pushed him over the edge. He jetted into her mouth, surging deep as she swallowed his seed.
Stunned at the ferocity of their lovemaking, Gren could only close his eyes as wainu overtook him. Great waves of energy flowed through his body, a healing peace that lingered in his blood.
Gradually, the drugging ecstasy of the moment faded. He gently withdrew from Temis’ grasp and turne
d to gather her in his arms.
He had no explanation for what he felt. Nothing had ever felt so right as this moment, yet he still felt a niggling emptiness, a part of Temis he had yet to reach that beckoned him closer.
“Gren.” She kissed him on his chest. The tenderness of her action, so at odds with the warrior woman he normally interacted with, stunned him, and he hugged her closer, not wanting to let her go.
She hummed her contentment and soon fell into an exhausted slumber, her hands pressed trustingly over the steady beating of his heart.
Gren waited until she eased into slumber. Reluctantly sliding out from under her, he donned his trousers, not trusting himself to lie naked with her in his arms. He joined her in bed once more and followed her into sleep, needing to relax and accept the large amounts of healing power now surging through his body. His last thoughts were of how he planned to resist the tempting fate lying in his arms, and if he should even try.
* * * *
“I can’t believe you let him get away,” Sernal growled in a low voice and glared at his brother. “Do you realise how precarious our position is?”
Rafe growled back, “I told you, it wasn’t like I had a choice. Gren always was a hothead, and he didn’t exactly appreciate sitting in a cell after being beaten by Rorn’s men.”
Sernal let out a heavy breath and began pacing his room, running his fingers through his hair. “You told him what I told you to tell him?”
Rafe nodded.
“And gave him the disk?”
Another nod.
“Then why the hell did he take Temis hostage when he could have left the ship in one piece undetected?”
Rafe wondered just how much to tell his brother. Sernal normally had an even temper and open mind. But when the safety of his people was involved, he’d been known to explode in a fierce temper.
“Well?” Sernal’s eyes blazed, definitely not a good sign.