by Emma Dean
Nash bared his teeth at her as his gaze roved over her luscious curves, the swells of her breasts, the sweet dark areolas with her nipples at attention, the curve of her waist and the flare of her hip. He pressed a kiss between her breasts and breathed in deep. Definitely vanilla, he thought as he licked a path to her soft belly. Adelina moaned when he bit her hip and then licked the hollow there as well. He turned to the other, settling between her thighs.
Adelina’s hips bucked against him and he wanted to bury his face in her, but he had promised to take his time. Suddenly she shot up and reached down. He felt those nails of hers slice through his shirt, tearing it into ribbons as she laid back. The shirt fell in tatters until he was bare to the waist.
When he looked up at her in astonishment she smiled at him with enough heat to set him on fire. “I didn’t think it was fair I was the only one who lost an item of clothing today.”
Nash threw his head back and laughed. “Remind me not to piss you off,” he said, tossing the rags to the floor. The black lacquer on her nails made her a veritable demoness as she writhed beneath him.
He went straight for the lovely folds of her nether lips and licked long and slow. She bucked against him but one arm across her hips held her to the bed and he gave her all the attention and skill she deserved, every ounce of his control and desire went into every lick and suck. He planned to tease her for as long as she would allow. Nash knew under the surface of her flushed skin she was dying to take control of him and he wondered as he sucked softly on her clit how long she would hold out.
Adelina’s legs trembled and her hands clutched the bed sheets. Nash kept his pressure steady, his rhythm slow until she was practically screaming at him. She rode his face hard and he took it, wanting to make sure she came for him before he filled her. It had been a while, and he wasn’t sure how long he could hold out.
Nash sucked on her clit, on her lips and then slid his tongue inside her before slipping a finger deep inside her. Adelina breathed his name. It was a plea, a demand, and told him exactly what she wanted. He licked and sucked while he slid in and out of her wet center. When he slipped a second finger inside her she screamed as she came against his tongue. The sweet taste of her drove him wild and Nash gripped her hard enough to bruise while she thrashed.
He kept the rhythm slow, riding out her orgasm. When she lay still, shuddering with every flick of his tongue he pulled his fingers out. Nash kissed her thigh up to her hip and then the slight curve of her belly. Without warning she pushed against his chest hard. Nash flipped onto his back and her hands worked at the clasp of his pants. They were yanked down just enough his cock sprang free.
It was a shock, but he’d expected her domination at some point. Nash grinned up at Adelina; her hair was wild and her gaze half-lidded as she sank down on him. He groaned so loud no doubt someone had heard. Nash didn’t give a damn. The feel of her was exquisite, soft, and she clamped around him with the aftershocks of her last orgasm.
Her thighs were exquisite as she slowly rode his cock, taking her pleasure from him. Those nails raked down his chest and Nash grabbed her ass and squeezed, dropping her down on him hard. He lifted her again and slammed her down, over and over until she shuddered around him again, screaming his name. Nash roared as he came, filling her as his entire body seized. It was delicious pain mixed with so much pleasure his vision blacked for a moment.
Adelina collapsed onto his chest, breathing heavily. Nash stroked her hair back as he tried to catch his breath. That had been everything he’d wanted and more for their first time.
He held her close and closed his eyes so he could remember this moment exactly as it was. The smell of sex and salty sweat mixed with her sweet jasmine and vanilla. He sighed in contentment.
Nash had never been in love before, but if he could hazard a guess he’d assume it felt a lot like the feelings he had for the secretly wild female on top of him.
He kissed the top of Adelina’s head and wrapped his arms around her while they both dozed off. She was pure bliss against his skin and Nash planned how he would wake her as he drifted.
Chapter Nineteen
Adelina
Adelina’s Rooms
Draga Royal Palace
Planet Draga Terra
Adelina woke up curled into Nash’s side, naked and feeling sated for the first time in a long while. His warm, cinnamon scent filled her nose and she sighed with contentment. In his arms she was safe and protected. She was cherished and appreciated. Adelina made small circles on the black band across his chest as she watched the prince breathe deeply and evenly while he slept.
The dark night sky glittered through her windows. They’d missed the midnight dinner from what she could tell from the position of the three moons. Adelina decided to ignore her simulcast. Nadyah knew where she was and no doubt would field any requests or questions as to her location.
The marks on Nash were beautiful and told a story she couldn’t read. While he slept she was able to study his face and body more closely. The way his muscles felt under her hand and the scars covering his gorgeously warm skin were all a mystery to her. Adelina wanted to know everything she could about him, like what the tattoo between his thumb and index finger meant. Was it ornamental or was it functional, like her own?
“How long have you been awake?” Nash grumbled, rolling over so they were face to face. His eyes were still closed but he smiled.
It made the moment less uncomfortable for Adelina as she wasn’t sure how he would act after sex. The fact that he seemed to be making himself comfortable with no move to leave eased some of her nerves. “Not long,” she assured him. The sheet was over her body and Adelina still felt self-conscious. She had no idea how to proceed.
Nash took care of the problem for her. “Tell me why you chose to learn of the Drakesthai.”
It made her blush that the prince would want to know, or even care why. She ducked her head, hiding under his chin. “I hoped one day I would be able to convince them to open trade with Draga, maybe set up an embassy…I also heard some of the Unchanged Humans live with them. I’d love to know more. It is strange how isolated we are from different factions of our own people.”
The prince said nothing as he let her hide. His hand trailed up and down her spine in a soothing motion. “We aren’t really the same people anymore though are we? My genetic makeup is completely different from yours, as much as it differs from the Unchanged I assume.”
“It’s not that different,” Adelina murmured. Her lips brushed against his skin and she felt him shiver. They all still had the basic Human biology and gene pattern. They could reproduce with each other safely and the slight differences were just that, miniscule in comparison to the other living specimens in the universe.
Nash nuzzled against her hair and she could feel his smile. “Not in the ways that matter,” he agreed. “I forgot to ask, how do your people prevent pregnancy?”
There were three black bands on his bicep and Adelina traced the thinnest. A child with him now would be disastrous, but she couldn’t help thinking fondly of what the babe might look like. “I choose when I conceive, nothing before that can impregnate me.” Until Adelina was ready her body would keep the eggs instead of releasing them for fertilization every month. That was one of the best changes from what she’d read. Not having that choice sounded like a prison to her.
For a moment she wondered if Nash had fallen asleep again, but then he made a noise as he considered her words. “Doctors have to activate the fertility in our females. We have difficulties still with conceiving.”
Adelina pulled back and arched an eyebrow at him. “Your mother had four children; I would say there was no difficulty there.” Did he feel nervous about that little quirk from the formula?
Those gems of red, green, and yellow sparkled at her when Nash finally opened his eyes. He inspected the lines of her naked form under the thin sheet and then reached for her jaw, trailing a finger softly until he tapped her full, bottom
lip. “My mother was lucky. Most are not.”
“I’m not worried, if that’s what you are thinking,” Adelina said. It was silly to be talking about such a thing when the possibility would never occur, but she wanted to erase the sad look from his eyes.
“If you never had children you would not mind?” he asked. The sad look turned bitter when he tried to play off the question as a joke.
Adelina took his face in both hands and kissed his lips. “There are many ways to have children. Plus I’ve read that when two races are crossed they are very fertile.”
Adelina would be devastated if she never had her own children, but it was not something she even wanted for a long while. She was still very young and the possibility would be decades in the future if she had her way.
“Tell me about these marks,” she said, changing the subject. Offspring was a heavy matter and she did not wish such a thing to mar their short time together.
Nash looked where her fingers traced the bands from his arm and over his chest. Symbols were tucked in between a few of them and the work was exquisite. “The marks are the story of my past and my family’s history,” he told her, tapping the symbols that she recognized. It was very old Kharan and difficult for her to read. “It tells how many times my family has ruled, how we’ve fought through the centuries, my rank among my people as prince, and my Destiny,” he said, indicating each mark and band as he told her.
Adelina was intrigued. “Your destiny?” she asked. “How does that work?”
Nash kissed her cheek and rolled out of the massive bed. He was utterly naked and Adelina licked her lips as she studied him from head to toe. Goddess, he was a gorgeous male. The mark she’d made with her teeth on his shoulder had her blood boiling. She planned to make a few more of those before he left.
Adelina grinned when Nash glanced back at her with a roguish smile. He had no idea she knew exactly what she was doing. If the Corinthian princess saw the mark she’d back off and give Adelina the time to try and make this work. It would be months if she ever saw him again, but she wasn’t ready to let him go.
He disappeared first into the washroom and she heard water splashing. Then he came out with a clean, wet cloth for her. “As I’m sure you know my people do not believe in gods or goddesses per se. We believe in the Light and the Dark. We believe in the balance and Fate, or Destiny. Every single one of us has a path we are supposed to follow. Even if that path isn’t clear, we will keep pushing forward trying to find our place in history.”
Nash leaned forward and nipped her thigh hard enough Adelina gasped before he went into her sitting room. When he came back he was laden with plates of food, two glasses, and a pitcher of water. She laughed as she took the glasses and water from him. The sheet was carefully knotted around her for modesty. Normally she wasn’t so shy, but this felt so new and the bubble of time they had together was so small and fragile.
Adelina poured the water and set the pitcher on her night table while Nash set a picnic up on her bed. When she turned back to hand him a glass he held out a piece of food for her. She glanced up and the wry smile on his face told her he was a bit nervous as well. It was a sensual act, to feed a lover and it was in one of Nadyah’s courtesan books on how to seduce someone. Despite knowing all this Adelina leaned forward and took the morsel of food into her mouth. The grape was delicious and sweet. She made sure her tongue licked his fingers and having them in her mouth felt deliciously sexual.
As she chewed he simply watched her. “So explain this destiny to me,” she said. Adelina smiled wide when he jolted at her question.
“Yes, Destiny, well at our birth a priestess writes down the three possible paths for the infant and then when we are twelve cycles the first path is tattooed. It’s the path of our family – where we came from and where I could go based on this.” He popped a sandwich in his mouth.
Adelina listened raptly. This was one of those customs that was never properly explained in the reference books. She knew of the marks and their belief system, but not that they were tied together.
“When I was fifteen my present day was tattooed here, and I entered the fighting arena. The path of the warrior is depicted. As you can see it’s intertwined with my family band meaning I will fight for them and the Crown. The third band was given when I came of age and my future is written here.” Nash trailed a finger over the markings and Adelina leaned in to get a better look.
“What does it say?” she asked.
Nash gave her a strange look. “It’s rather obscure, but it says I will find the light in the dark and only the light can save us all.”
Adelina pressed her entire hand against the marks on his chest as she wondered what that could mean. The priestess could simply have guessed his future. It was rather vague and the light and dark could represent literally anything. She kept the thoughts to herself since it would be considered rude to question his faith. “Does everyone in the Khara galaxy have these?” she asked.
Nash shook his head. “This band on my arm represents my rank and then my status in the arena. This here is my position in the military and my conquests.” He held her hand to his chest when she started to move away. “When I wed I will add another, and if I’m graced with offspring there will be more. It’s much like your status marks, but more complex.”
Nash moved her hand and inspected the gold on her palm. “Did this hurt?” he asked, tracing the filigree.
“More than anything in my life,” she admitted. Adelina wanted to pull back but he had her mesmerized as he swirled his finger over the sensitive skin.
He reached out and tugged the knot in the sheet free, so quick she couldn’t stop him. The thin white fabric fell to the bed, completely exposing her. Adelina gasped and Nash’s eyes turned hungry. “Are there any other golden marks?”
Adelina shook her head as he inspected her naked body. Her words stuttered and her voice too quiet as she tried to explain. “I can receive one to show my rank, but most royals don’t unless they are crowned. Then a mark here is made for the king or queen.” She pointed to the spot between her eyes but Nash didn’t waver from his inspection of the rest of her.
“Where would your ranking mark go?” he asked pulling her into his lap. Nash’s nose touched hers and she felt her heart pound in her chest.
His cock was already hard. She could feel the head of it pressed against her entrance; it slid between her slick lips when she shifted. “Between my shoulder blades,” she breathed.
Nash’s hands clutched her hips and he moved her against him, slow but sure. The sudden surge of wanting consumed her and Adelina rocked against him hard enough he sank halfway into her. Nash groaned and she held onto his shoulders, eyeing the soft skin of his neck. A small mark there could be seen even with clothes on.
Her hands ran up and down his chest and she closed her eyes so she could enjoy the sensation of him against her. The slow movements made her wetter and she slid up and down the length of him. With each stroke his hands tightened until he was practically panting against her. Adelina held him close and adjusted her hips so on the next movement he slid right inside, filling her completely until she thought she would orgasm from the sensation of stretching alone.
When Nash was hilt deep and his hips touched hers she sank her teeth into his neck. The bite was small and only a drop of blood escaped but he yelled her name and rolled her underneath him, tossing everything to the floor in one quick motion. His large hands gripped her wrists and he drove himself into her over and over.
The reaction was so quick and so brutal it was exquisite. Adelina moaned as he brought her closer and closer. Nash leaned forward and bit the top of her breast when he sank in one last time and came hard. The feel of his teeth and the pulsing of him deep inside sent her over the edge hard and fast. She writhed under him but he had her pinned. The pleasure went on and on and Adelina could feel the hot seed inside her as she milked him.
The aftershocks of her orgasm made him shudder and then suddenly Nash
collapsed while still keeping most of his weight from crushing her. Adelina was dazed and she barely heard the words he murmured into her neck.
“What did you say?” she asked, holding on to him tightly. Adelina had to relax before he slid out of her. The sensation would be too much otherwise.
Nash licked the blood from her breast and the tingle of his saliva healing her was strange. “I said you really know how to set me off don’t you?” Those gorgeous eyes of his glittered down at her and his smile was infectious.
“Do I?” Adelina teased. She pushed him away and rolled off the bed. It was time for a shower.
Those sparkling green and yellow eyes with no trace of red at all watched her hips sway as she padded to the washroom. “You know enough of my ways I gather, to understand the significance of what you did.”
Adelina glanced over her shoulder and gave him a wink. “Maybe.” Then she crossed the cold tile to the bath and decided a good soak would be lovely. The sound of the water rushing into the tub drowned out anything the prince might have said. She sat on the edge of the large bath and ran her fingers over the various glass bottles she had.
A love bite in the Khara galaxy was close to the significance of offering a diamond for the hand of a female. It wasn’t permanent, but it was the beginning of a courtship from what she’d read. Even if that courtship ended abruptly, it was there for a short while and most females would stay away until it disappeared.
A nice soap would do, something that wouldn’t mask either of their natural scents would be best. Adelina settled on a vanilla-scented oil and poured some into the bath. The lovely smell wafted up and filled the room with the steam.
Nash came up behind her and ran a hand up her bare back and then rubbed her shoulders as he watched her swirl the water with her black nails. The lacquer was a gift from Nadyah and Adelina had liked the contrast so much she’d worn it constantly ever since.