by Viola Grace
Hannah held onto him, caressing his chest, his belly, his arms, anything she could reach. She left trails of the silvered paint all over him, and she didn’t care.
Her body was rocketing toward another orgasm as the slow twist rubbed all the nerve endings that were interested in her release.
She fed at his lips, moaning and whimpering as she sought more. He gave her what she asked for, slipping a hand between them and squeezing her breasts, giving the tiny bit of pain that heightened the pleasure swamping her.
His stroking and squeezing of her breasts and nipples, the twist of the thick column of his cock inside her and the wild kisses that drove her higher culminated in her jerking against him with her mouth open on a silent scream with stars bursting behind her lids. Darkness swallowed her and she was happy to go.
Light kisses feathered her eyelids, and she opened her eyes to find Mero smiling. “So, you do have some affection for me after all.”
She laughed. “This was how you can tell?”
“That you would display yourself so vulnerably and wear my marks on you. It shows that you take my pride to heart. It is a good sign.”
“I did miss you. This was my way of getting you to make the first move, so I didn’t feel silly.”
He laughed. “So, instead, you are nearly naked in my lap, and you still have to have dinner.”
She blushed. “Dk’ket has seen worse.”
“Not recently. You are very circumspect. Well, you were until today.” He stroked her cheek.
“I saw it in a vid once, and it seemed like the best way to make an impression. Unfortunately, the side effect is that the silver is all over you.”
He nodded. “I know. It makes me want to start all over again and see how many of those designs I can smudge.”
She blinked and bit her lip. “I didn’t intend it as a challenge.”
“No, but for my brethren, it will be a taunt.” He kissed her softly and whispered against her lips. “It’s perfect.”
Chapter Eleven
As Mero’s companion, she was considered the lady of the manor when it came to greeting their guests.
The new dress she was wearing was formfitting without being indecent, and it made every movement she made a dramatic flutter.
She stood at Mero’s side as his family arrived for the meeting that would take up the rest of the month. Hannah had been briefed. She was not to leave her patron’s side while his relatives were present. She wasn’t a living being, she was food.
Szriata landed a skimmer full of her siblings outside the front gates, and the flightless ones walked toward them.
Seven females were outnumbered by the sixteen males flying toward them. It was an oddly attractive swarm.
The wings were in an astonishing variety, as were the physical appearances of the incoming Hmrain. They were all lovely and compelling; their designers had obviously held aesthetics in high regard.
Mero whispered, “Are you ready?”
“Am I dressed?”
He chuckled. “You are.”
“Then I am ready.” She smiled and then schooled her face into passive lines.
She was relieved when Szriata made the introductions, and Hannah met women who made her question her own sexual orientation. The Hmrain women were stunning. Feminine, differing shapes and curves, but all oozing grace and good nature.
The women took her hands one by one, and she inclined her head with each introduction.
The men lined up to greet their brother, and when the ladies had cleared her and stepped to the sides, Mero introduced his brothers one by one.
Each male took her hands and kissed them. A few used tongue. Hannah had been warned, so she stood, smiled and didn’t jerk her hands back.
The men she was looking at were ice, fire, shadows, starlight and over a dozen other colourations, but the wings fell into three categories. The wings on them were either dragonfly style, the bat wings like Mero’s or eagle wings.
They addressed her as Lady, which was appreciated, but when they entered the courtyard and headed for the ballroom where a conference table had been set up, she carefully wiped her hands on her dress.
Mero laughed and kissed her quickly before following his siblings into his home. It was time to begin discussions of planetary and star-system management.
Hannah stood at his side for hours until Dk’ket waved at her and informed her it was lunchtime. She bent and whispered in his ear. “Please excuse me.”
Mero turned, wrapped a hand around the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Her cheeks heated as his slow exploration of her mouth was done in full view of twenty-three pairs of very interested eyes.
She was stiff for a few moments, and then, she surrendered, sliding into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.
The council of Hmrain waited while they kissed. When Mero finally lifted his head, she was a little dizzy, but her smile was wry.
“See you later, Hannah.” He stroked her hip.
“Yes, sir.”
He boosted her to her feet, and she nodded to those assembled before escaping.
Out in the hall, she exhaled with a gust, expecting to hear laughter, but instead, there was an urgent question-and-answer session, all revolving around how many of her species there were.
Hannah shrugged and headed to the kitchen for her only meal that day. She wasn’t going to have dinner after the body paint was on. It wasn’t a particularly good look.
The old servants were on duty, and the younger ones had been given duties far away from the Hmrain.
It was time to eat and then stand perfectly still for hours while she was painted.
This time, her hair was braided and bound like Mero’s was, heavy makeup was applied, and she was already tired before she stepped out of her quarters covered in designs that Mero had chosen, with the chains clashing against her thighs.
Her appearance and dancing would begin the evening meetings. Szriata had coached her via long-range communications, and they were both confident that she could pull this off.
She had been working with live-bladed fans for three days. Mero had only had to lick two wounds closed, and she had thanked him appropriately.
The halls were silent as she walked the stairs, and the moon was up outside. Her bare feet pattered softly on the stone, and the silence was enough to fill her with tension.
She stepped out onto the patio that led to the gardens, and all of the Hmrain were standing around comparing wines.
Mero smiled and inclined his head as she came into view.
The Hmrain froze in place, and they all stared.
Mero came up to her and kissed her on the forehead. “You look amazing.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome. I am looking forward to smearing that paint later in the evening.”
She quirked her lips slightly. “Please let it be while we don’t have an audience.”
“It depends on how you move me while dancing.”
She chuckled. “War dances it is.”
He kissed the only unpainted portion of her again and winked as he returned to his guests.
Hannah picked up the bladed fans and used the control in one of them to start the music. Soft drumbeats let her move while turning the fans in her hands until she was in the centre of the stone patio.
The beat picked up and so did her movements, twisting and turning, rotating the fans to flash them in the moonlight.
Her audience was rapt, and she had no idea if she was doing a good or bad version of the dance.
After three minutes, she was sweating lightly and ready for her big finish.
She linked the bladed fans together so they formed a circle, and she leaned back, rolling the razors across the top of her breasts before catching them on the opposite arm. She did the reverse and caught the fans, separating them and going down on one knee, snapping the fans shut as the music stopped, and she bowed her head.
Her breasts wer
e heaving as she tried to calm her tripping heartbeat.
Silence reigned for a few moments, and then, applause broke out.
Mero walked up to her and held out his hand to help her to her feet. “Excellently done, Hannah. Szriata is very proud.”
She carefully placed her hand in his, avoiding transferring any of the paint. When he helped her to her feet, he led her into the crowd, and suddenly, she was a figure to be examined at exceedingly close range.
Mero explained about the body paint, and a few of the brethren let out nervous laughs.
Hannah kept her face calm as they analyzed her form, shape and the detail of the painting on her skin.
Szriata came to her and offered her a tiny glass of wine. “Here you go. Mero won’t approve anything else.”
Hannah took the tiny glass and smiled. “Thank you.”
The other women surrounded her and forced the men to back away. It was odd, but it appeared that they were defending her against their kin.
The ladies migrated with her in their midst, away from the men. The questions they asked her were about humans in general and the men in particular.
Hannah gave them what answers she could as the moon lifted itself above them. Lights had been fired up along the outer edge of the gardens, and the conversations were animated. If she hadn’t been tired and hungry, Hannah would have enjoyed it a lot more.
Szriata finally said something that startled her. “So, you have two sisters?”
Hannah looked at the curious faces, and she nodded. “Yes. Both of them are minors and hopefully still under my mother’s care.”
“Would you wish this fate on them?”
There was no hesitation. “No. I would wish that they could be free or have a short bond. The lack of freedom, of hope is something that is hard to deal with.”
Szriata blinked, and one of the other women took offense.
“You would rather toil in the fields and die an early death?”
“Myna, I would rather choose the direction of my life every day. I am bound to Mero; I want to be bound to Mero, but when I look out the windows and see this entire world that I can’t step out into without permission, it is a little tense. I am sure I will get used to it in time.” She shrugged.
Szriata turned the conversation to the new round of students compared to her graduating class.
Mero caught her gaze and beckoned her over. She slipped between two of the women and walked up to him.
He pressed a quick kiss to her palm. “Go upstairs and go to bed. We will be out here for a few more hours yet.”
“Yes, sir.” She inclined her head and went inside, heading to their rooms with a relieved slump to her shoulders.
The shower washed away the paint and powder applied seven hours earlier. She hadn’t even known that time was passing as rapidly as it was. Something about the Hmrain stopped time.
Wrapped in a towel, she wandered back into the bedroom and fiddled with the dance props she had been practicing with. She was glad she had gone with the fans, though the spear was terribly tempting.
She activated the telescoping device and whirled it around her head.
“My, my, little one. You look almost dangerous.”
She whirled and crouched as she took in the Hmrain named Earno. “You are not supposed to be here.”
He shrugged, his emerald skin flexing, and his insectoid wings fluttering. “I am sure that Mero won’t begrudge me a taste of his new pet. We are blood, after all.”
She smiled, straightened and shifted until he was lined up with the balcony door. She sauntered toward him until she was six feet away, and with a grim expression, she aimed the spear at his chest. “I begrudge you a taste.”
He smirked and started laughing. “I did not think you had it in you. You soon will.”
His threat was obvious, but she was in no mood. She thrust the spear toward him with a short jab that made him stumble back in surprise.
Two more jabs got him over the threshold.
He gripped the spear, and she grimaced, using her hold to spin and kick him back hard enough to flip him over the edge.
The buzz of his wings warned her he was returning, but the steady and familiar thump caused a warm relief to run through her blood.
Mero was behind his brother as Earno shifted to attack.
The moment he was in motion, Hannah slammed the doors.
He smacked into the glass and cracked it in two places. Mero landed behind him and held him up with one hand around his neck.
“What did I tell you, brother?”
Earno blinked as the rest of the Hmrain fluttered and flew up to watch.
“You will have a long flight back. Be prepared to apologize to my companion when you return.”
For the first time, Hannah saw the power that he was taking from her. Earno was surrounded by energy and thrown toward the horizon.
She stood behind the glass and shivered.
Mero was in a mood. “Put on another gown, Hannah. You can sleep in my arms.”
Hannah nodded and grabbed the first gown with an insulating fabric in her wardrobe.
She smoothed the fabric down and stepped carefully toward the balcony. Mero was still bristling with outrage.
She walked to him and pressed her hand to his arm. “Thank you.”
“If it were not for me, he would not have come to you. I owe you thanks for thinking as quickly as you did.”
“Thank Szriata. She showed me that trick and necessity got me to use it.”
“I will make sure to thank her.” He gathered her in his arms and held her against him.
The sharing of body heat was welcome because she was still in shock from seeing Mero as anything other than an affable manager of crops and business.
“Did he touch you?”
“No. I already had the spear in my hands.” She laid her cheek against his shoulder and yawned.
“Good. It will take him days to fly home. Let’s hope he has come to his senses.”
He held her while he spoke to his cautious brothers and sisters. One had the nerve to ask, “Brother, you seem to have acquired a bit more energy than is normal.”
“That is correct.”
“Might we be correct in assuming it has something to do with the woman in your arms?”
He chuckled, and Hannah smiled with her eyes closed.
“It does. Though, if you combed through her species, you would be hard pressed to find her equal.”
They began talking about extraordinary companions, and Hannah dozed in and out. Clutched to his chest was a comfortable place to be.
As she used his heartbeat to soothe herself, she revelled in the knowledge that it was beating for her. It was only fair. Hers was beating only for him.
Epilogue
Hannah was nervous. She paced and watched the chronometer. Szriata should be arriving any minute.
When she saw the shuttle, Mero laughed at her. He had a right to; she was jumping up and down and squealing.
“Do you wish me to go with you to the ship?”
She looked at Mero and smiled. “You can if you want to. I will say that my excitement for this moment will be shared at a later time. Perhaps you can head to the etiquette classes and frighten the young ladies serving tea?”
He cupped her jaw and kissed her soundly. “Your insubordination is appreciated. I will see you soon. Enjoy your afternoon.”
She watched the ship land and ran out of the building and toward the tarmac.
Szriata exited the ship first and smiled brightly. “I thought you would be here.”
“Are they with you?”
Szriata turned and beckoned to a group of young ladies behind her.
The women made their way down the ramp as Hannah bit her lip. Finally, two familiar faces in plain shifts walked out of the ship’s shadow, and she pressed her hands to her mouth.
The grouping gathered at the base of the ramp, and Hannah’s sisters were staring around with wide eyes. When t
hey saw her, they stopped.
“Hannah?” Ruth stared in shock.
“Han?” Deborah was right beside her.
“Hiya, guys. I thought you might like to see the sun again, even if it isn’t ours.”
The girls screamed and ran to her, hugging her and sobbing softly.
Szriata gracefully cruised over. “Where is Mero?”
“Tormenting your etiquette class. They were working on tea service, and his wings wreck their measured steps around the table.” She was running her hands through her sisters’ hair and everything felt right in the universe.
“Szriata, how much did you end up paying?”
Szriata ticked it off on her fingers. “Ten years of rations per girl, plus a five-person hydroponics system. So, about less than a thousandth of your bond price.”
“Thank you for making the trip.”
“It was a pleasure; the girls were delightful, and we arrived just in time, if you take my meaning.”
Ruth looked up and frowned. “What did she mean bond price? We were told we were free.”
Hannah stroked her hair. “You are free. Both of you.”
Deborah looked up with her face red and blotchy. “But you are not.”
“No. I have a particular talent that makes me very valuable to my patron. I won’t be free, but he did ask his sibling to go and get you just to make one of my wishes come true.”
Ruth nodded. “Mom’s boyfriend knocked her up. He was looking for someone else to use when the military showed up with the offer.”
Hannah shuddered in relief. “Nothing happened before that?”
“Just being cornered and intimidated. Nothing else. I promise.”
Hannah sighed. “Good.”
Szriata smiled. “Shall we see how Mero is getting along?”
Hannah chuckled. “I guess it would be better if they met him.”
“Your owner?” Ruth nearly sneered.
“My patron. I get food, lodgings, an education, combat instruction, clothing. Whatever I need to keep me happy and healthy is given to me.”