That Parker was unnerved by the idea of what was going to happen between them had Rafer feeling nervous, too.
What the lukcin happened during the Ceremony?
The idea of just saying “I do” sounded more appealing by the minute. Especially if his spunky mate wasn’t jumping for joy at the idea of it.
But, the two of them would soon awaken covered in cum, a notion that thrilled his cocks. Suddenly the Ceremony didn’t sound too bad by half, and the “I do” sounded less and less appealing by the second.
Not that he’d tell Parker that.
Chapter Ten
Parker tried not to yawn. She really did. It came out, and she quickly hid it by covering her mouth with the glass of bril she had in her hand. Bril was not her drink of choice, but it was expected of her to drink it. She could only liken it to wine, and she’d always hated wine.
It wasn’t her fault this party was as boring as fuck. Hell, it made a funeral look happy.
It should actually have been quite a nice event. The food was good, better than good. She’d had the hotel’s top chef prepare the meal. The drinks were flowing, and people were drinking. But the natives of Madison were the people in attendance, and they were…peculiar. She’d noticed it in her staff, but because she didn’t have to be friends with them, it had never become a problem.
Madisons were boring. It was an intrinsic part of their nature to drone on and on even though the person they were talking to had fallen asleep. Sometimes, it wasn’t even their words, but their voices. They were very nasal, but deep, and very loud.
The only saving grace of this notte’s farce was that Knox was happy. In fact, he was so jubilant he’d managed to engage the First Minister himself in conversation and didn’t even look bored. Madisons were perfect business people. They could discuss dry as sand topics at length, and where the domes and the hotel was concerned, Knox was just as bad.
Rafer, on the other hand, looked as bored as she felt. In fact, the two of them were tucked in one of the corner units drinking a cocktail—something else she had introduced to Federation high society.
She’d decided not to have the party in their quarters. She didn’t like people going in there, especially strangers. And especially not people like this lot. As far as she was concerned, Madison’s Garda, their policing body, wasn’t the only part of society that was intrinsically corrupt.
The Leighters hadn’t been too bad. But the Royters were nothing more than fascist scum. It was hard to break bread with people she couldn’t and never would be able to respect. It was one of the only reasons why she left Knox to handle the politicians. She wasn’t a hypocrite. Not that he was, but Knox had a better game face than she did.
So, because of her dislike, they were in a Presidential Suite. The suite had six rooms, a large dining and sitting room, and a lounge. The most chatter was occurring in the dining room—the Madisons did like their food. She and Rafer had alighted to the lounge, where the loud voices could still be heard but could also be ignored.
“How does Knox deal with these people?” she mumbled more to herself than to Rafer.
His chuckle had her peeking up at him. She’d been glumly staring at her shoes, wishing this interminable notte would come to a goddamn end. “We’ve been trained to handle even the most boring of peoples.”
“What do you mean?”
His smile was wry as he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “You remember I told you my parents had decided that this generation would be the last to peddle their wares as merchants, and Knox and I were supposed to be the next leaders of Shuzon? We had to endure all sorts of training. Most of it as boring as lukcin.”
“Is that why you joined the Fleet?” she asked, turning to him.
“Partly.”
“If they’d wanted you to be a merchant, not a politician, you’d have still enlisted?”
He grimaced at her astuteness. “Yeah. I’m neither a merchant nor a politician.”
She sighed. “If you’re still soldier, how can you expect to settle down into this life, Rafer? I can’t ask you to leave the Fleet behind, not when it’s a part of who you are.”
He reached for her drink, and placed both his and hers on the low table in front of them. Then he grabbed her hands in his, and gritted out, “This is the last time I’m going to explain myself, Parker. Do you understand me?”
She glared at him. “Don’t yell at me for thinking of your best interests, Rafer.”
“I’m not, I’m trying to make you see sense. One hundred annals ago, I was a different person. Are you the same person you were fifty annals ago? No, of course not. Just like I’m not the same person I was one-hundred-and-seventy annals ago. Life has a habit of changing us, forming us around the obstacles it sets in our path.
“When I was in my twenties, all I could think of was being a part of the Fleet. You have to understand, Shuzons are peacekeepers by nature. I wanted that. I wanted to be a peacekeeper in the Federation’s largest military arm. It was my way of neutralizing threats.
“But now, I’ve seen my fair share of wars, and I’ve had my time trying to bring peace where peace has never been found. I’ve done my duty, and I’m ready to move on. I’m here now because I can be. Because my contract with the Fleet will run out soon. If it had run out twenty annals ago, I’d never have left you.
“Can I say that I’m going to find it easy to settle into the hotel? No, I’m not. This is all new to me. I have no idea which part of the resort I’ll find my place in, and I only ask that you be patient with me as I learn the ropes. Just because I wasn’t a merchant or politician before doesn’t mean I can’t change. Because I’m telling you now, Parker, I will not be separated from you again. Do you understand me?”
His earnestness affected her more than she could say. She nibbled her bottom lip as she looked up at him, seeing the truth in his words. “I don’t want you to be miserable here.”
“I was miserable back at the Fleet,” he told her immediately, and she knew he was being honest.
Parker pointed to herself. “Because I wasn’t there?”
He nodded. “Misery doesn’t begin to describe it. I’ve learned a lot about human culture, Parker. I made it a mission of mine to understand where my mate came from. I learned that you had nothing like the Shuzon mate bond on your planet. You can’t understand how hard it was to be apart from you, simply because there is nothing like it.”
“So you were lying earlier on when you said you didn’t know anything about human weddings?”
His grin was sheepish. “I didn’t want to show Knox up.”
“That was very kind of you, Rafer.”
He shrugged. “It was the lukcin least I could do. After all this time, he’s looked after you, and so well. I wasn’t going to make him feel like a uti because I know more about your world than he does. But the more I learned, the more relieved I was, because it meant you weren’t suffering like I was. I didn’t want that for you.”
That made her smile slip. “Do you honestly believe that?”
“Well, I did, until Knox enlightened me.”
“What do you mean? What’s he been telling you?”
Rafer quickly looked around to make sure no one had caught wind of their conversation. “Keep your voice down, Parker. This is private business. Knox just told me that that notte we spent together triggered off the mate bond in your body. Without the Ceremony to finalize it, you’ve needed me as badly as I’ve been needing you. It kills me that I wasn’t here for you, maja.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t want you to know about that.”
“Why not? It’s my fault that you’ve been suffering all this time. I should have known before. I’d have had to visit.”
Her mouth popped open at that. “Shit, I wish you had known then. Why the fuck couldn’t you visit anyway?”
“It would have been too hard, love. Leaving you would have been impossible, and I didn’t fancy being imprisoned for deserting my post because I w
anted to stay here with you.”
Her lips twitched at that. “I probably shouldn’t find that charming.”
“Oh, go on. Please. If you can find something positive about the lukcin way I’ve treated you these last annals, I’ll kiss your feet in thanks.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Don’t think I won’t,” she warned.
He winked. “I’ll let you.”
“We just need this god-awful party to end now.”
“The irony is, Knox’s having the time of his life. How much longer do you think they’ll be?”
“God only knows. Madisons can talk all fucking notte.”
The words were followed by a silence that had Rafer frowning. “Parker? Why so pensive?”
“I’m ready for the Ceremony, Rafer.”
“Where the Griljerrd did that come from?”
“All this talk of feet kissing, I suppose.”
He chuckled. “You were only saying heurs ago that you were nervous.”
“Yes, I am. I still am. But that’s all the more reason to do it. Talking about it with you two made me realize I was being silly. It only hurt before because I was untouched. I’m sure it will be more enjoyable this time.”
“What about Knox?”
“He doesn’t need to be there, does he? You didn’t need to be there that first time.”
“No, these ceremonies are supposed to be on a one-to-one basis. It seals the mate bond between each partner.”
“Okay, then. Let’s not break tradition. I want you to sleep in our bed after this notte, Rafer. The only way we can do that is if we do this, so come on, felixad.”
He pulled in a breath at her use of the Shuzon word for male mate, then reached forward for both of their drinks and passed hers over. “You’re not the only who’s nervous, love. Let’s drink up, eh?”
She grinned, but did as he bade, then coughed as the alcohol burned a path in her bloodstream. “Let’s go.”
“Won’t Knox wonder where we’ve gone?”
“I doubt it. He knows I sneak off early when we have to meet with Madisons. It’s probably a good thing that you two don’t want to be in politics. I’d be a shit politician’s wife. The limelight isn’t my place.”
They both got to their feet, and Rafer wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they started to walk out of the room. He hadn’t lied when he said he was nervous, because he was. He hadn’t been, but after their chat this afternoon, he had to wonder what the hell was about to happen.
Rafer sure as lukcin hadn’t expected Parker to declare she wanted the Ceremony to take place this notte. In fact, he’d fully believed it would take semanals to bring her ‘round to the idea of what had to be done for them to join together.
He supposed he should be relieved, but he wasn’t. He didn’t want to fuck this up, and from what Parker had said, it was almost a given he would.
The twenty-minute journey from the Presidential Suite to their private quarters took place in silence, and Parker really appreciated it. She didn’t want to think about what was about to happen, because it would just make her feel worse.
She needed this over and done with. Fast.
The first time they made love, proper love, wouldn’t be able to take place until the Ceremony was over. She had to focus on that. Focus on the pleasure that was to come. Focus on the gifts that would come once she, Rafer, and Knox were fully bound. The idea that she might soon become pregnant thrilled her, and she had to remember that. Needed to stop being such a pussy.
The thought fortified her as they crossed the reception and headed to their private elevator. She’d worn a bright red dress this notte, mostly because it highlighted her blonde hair and added an extra warmth to her pale skin. She was glad she had now. A part of her wondered if she’d actually picked this dress knowing this notte would end the way it was doing. She couldn’t say for certain either way, but she felt sexy, and she needed that.
“Where do you want to do this?” he asked, sounding hesitant as they stepped into their suite.
She wondered if he’d feel more settled once this notte was over. He had to feel like an interloper, staying in the guest suite the way he was, and Parker hated that. She didn’t want him to feel that way.
Just another reason to stop being a big baby.
“Let’s do it in the guest suite. It will be easier to clear up in the morning.”
He frowned at her reasoning, then blurted, “What the hell is going to happen this notte?”
Her smile was weary. “You’re about to find out.”
She sucked in a big breath and headed over to the guest suite. Opening it, she looked out through the doorway and cocked a brow. He answered her silent summons, and she closed the door behind them both.
“I didn’t find this out until after the Ceremony, and I had access to Shuzon literature. But I’m supposed to take control of this. Not the male.” She turned to him, and asked, “Trust me to do this right?”
He grimaced. “Considering I don’t have a clue what’s about to happen, I reckon you can’t do any worse a job than I would.”
“Your faith is inspiring,” she teased, but his words seemed to settle something inside her. She could and would do this. This was Rafer. She knew him better than she had Knox at the time, and she could control this. She could.
Parker stepped over to him and began to undress him. She started with the jacket he wore. Curling her fingers over the lapels, she dragged it off and let her fingers come to a rest on his shirt-covered chest. His warmth penetrated the thin hemp and she could feel his nipples turning into hard nubs against her palm. The beat of his heart centered her. It wasn’t like her own, not a steady thud, but a double-quick beat. For every one of hers, his heart pulsed three times.
She let her hands slip down his belly and felt her own body quicken at the hard plane of muscles. She’d never thought of herself as a sucker for muscles, but Christ, her men’s bodies certainly got her hot and damn quickly. She unfastened each button, taking pleasure in the expanse of skin she revealed.
Human skin was cream tinged with pink, Shuzon flesh was cream tinged with blue. At first, she’d thought Knox was perpetually cold. But that was just the color of his skin. Rafer’s “tinge” of blue was closer to navy, and he’d told her that was because of the radiation each member of the Fleet was exposed to in the black soup. It was like their version of a tan. Instead of going brown, they turned navy. Yeah, it was weird, but she was used to it now.
His corrugated abs had her groaning and she bent her head to anoint each pack of muscle with her tongue. Her touch only made his belly clench down harder and she moaned in delight, letting her tongue creep up over his pecs and taking the opportunity to lick one of his nipples as she dragged off his shirt.
Her teeth worked at his other nipple as her fingers started to unbuckle the belt holding up his pants. Once the buckle was unfastened, two buttons were all that kept them up. She released them, glorying in the bare flesh she exposed and the two pulsing cocks that pushed out at her, skimming over her own belly as though seeking her. And only her.
The thought made her cunt clench down, and she grunted, looking up at him with a need that hadn’t been there ten mins ago.
She should have realized her own body would work against her. She’d been waiting for Rafer for a hellishly long time. Fighting the Ceremony had never been what her body needed or wanted. Her mind was another thing, but she had to push all thoughts aside. They had no place in the here and now.
“What about you?” he whispered.
“What about me?” she retorted, eyes glinting with power as she pushed against him, urging him deeper into the room. When the backs of his legs collided with the bed, she let him fall back onto the mattress. Then, the instant she did, she remembered his injuries. With a gasp, she demanded, “Did that hurt your hip? Should I get a pain-reducer?”
He grinned. “There are only two parts of my body hurting, and my hips aren’t one of them. My cocks don’t need a pain-red
ucer, they just need you.”
Despite herself, she flushed with pleasure at his easy words. “Silver-tongue, that’s what you are.”
He cocked a brow. “Is that good or bad?”
She didn’t reply. Instead, she lifted up her skirt and pulled down her panties. As she handed them over to him, she remarked, “If your intention was to get me out of these, then it’s a good thing.”
His eyes widened, making the orbs darken and deepen in color as he took in the now-bare pussy opposite him. She bent down, reached for his hand, and placed it between her legs. He didn’t need a second invitation. His fingers slipped up between the moist lips guarding her sex and her knees trembled as he immediately honed in on her clit.
“Knox told me about this part of you. He wrote me a letter about it, when we realized I was your mate, too.”
“You talked about my clit?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yes. He said it was remarkable. A button you could push and it would make you tremble.”
She chuckled at such a description. “I wouldn’t say it worked as easily as that. I know your kind don’t have them, though.”
“No, there are other ways to pleasure Shuzon females, but none as effective as this. At least, that’s according to Knox.” He gently rubbed around the outer curve of the nub and whispered, “What is going to happen?”
“You’re going to come and come and come, Rafer. That’s the only way I can describe it.”
“That doesn’t sound all that unusual.”
“It isn’t. Until the first time you get inside me. Knox went crazy. I didn’t know him well when it happened the last time. He terrified me, and the next time we had sex, I was sure he’d go nuts again, but he didn’t. When I read up on the Ceremony, it’s called the tirenza.”
He frowned. “The frenzy?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Like a rut. And it doesn’t stop until I come a certain way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have to…” Parker sighed. “I have to do what only porn stars did back on Earth.”
A Menage Made On Madison [The Federation 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 15