In the back of her melting sensibilities, she knew she had to stop this. She pressed against his chest. Under her touch, his chest muscles bunched and wiry hair prickled along her fingertips. Before she could speak, he teased a spot at the top of her pussy. She inhaled sharply as pleasure danced and tingled in that one spot.
“That’s right,” he said softly, hotly into her ear. “Feel it.”
She couldn’t think of anything else as unbearable pleasure spiraled out from that sensitive point. He dipped one finger between her pussy lips and drew the wetness upward, circling and brushing over the sensitive spot with soft touches that drove her one step away from madness.
Must stop.
Must.
His other hand reached into the back of her pants and smoothed over her bottom, cupping, stroking and adding fuel to her already fiery needs.
“What’s happening to me?” She whimpered the question, too far gone for embarrassment.
He licked her earlobe and a shiver went through her body. “Pleasure.”
He slipped one finger into her pussy and she quivered, more surprise and more pleasure hitting her hard. With steady rhythm he pumped his finger inside her. The fire increased, threatening to tear her apart. She threw her head back, eyes closed, body out of control and writhing in his arms.
“I can’t.” She gasped, wanting to beg for something. Anything to stop this staggering pleasure that must surely be a sin.
“You can.” His voice was a husky demand. “You will.”
His fingers swirled over that sweet spot outside her pussy. He then slipped two fingers deep inside and thrust with a steady, gentle beat. Higher and higher sensations piled one upon the other. She ached deep, wanting something she couldn’t define but didn’t want to abandon.
Rayder pushed her to the edge with the steady movements of his fingers as he touched her inside, caressing over tender surfaces that tingled and ached.
She didn’t understand what she wanted, and she wriggled, grasping at his shoulders with desperation. “Please. I need…”
A low growl left his throat, and she dared to open her eyes. Red burned there. It should have frightened her, drove her out of his arms. Instead, the conflagration within her rose higher and hotter. He lifted her tunic, baring her breasts. She caught his hand and for a moment thought he’d relent.
Rayder’s eyes glowed and he took a deep breath. “So beautiful.”
He leaned forward and touched his tongue to one already hard nipple. She jerked in reaction to the intimate caress. It was too much, too sensitive, too incredible. He suckled her and returned to caressing her between the legs. The combination of wonderful sensations threw her closer to the top, until she fell into the abyss without looking backward.
The rhythm caught her in its control, and his touch danced again. She rose with the tempo and became part of the song, drawn upward until she’d reached the tallest mountain and teetered on the precipice.
He slipped his hand down her butt cheeks, and with one finger teased her back entrance then dipped his finger partway inside. A hot tingling throbbed outward from her womb to that tender button at the top of her sex. As his fingers continued to plunder inside her creamy channel, the finger teasing her back passage plunged deep.
Startled and astonished by the pleasure, she came apart with a gasping, shivering delight that shook her from the core outward. She’d never felt anything as glorious and beautiful, and it took her breath away. She cried out at the apex, unable to control her delight. As her breath came in gasps, he withdrew his fingers and released her breast. Dazed, she tried to catch her breath. Xandra stared at Rayder in fascination as the red remained.
Rayder peppered gentle kisses to her lips, down her neck and once more to her ear. “There’s more, but I’ll save that for our wedding night.” Gently he released her and stepped over to the washing basin. After he’d washed his hands, he strode back to the bed. He slipped under the covers and gestured. “Come. Sleep beside me. I promise not to touch you again tonight.”
She almost refused and said she’d take the chair, but lightning sent a sharp dagger into the room and she started. The ship rocked harder. Fear vaulted upward, and against her better judgment, she padded across the floor to the bed. She crawled under the covers swiftly.
Once she’d covered herself to the neck, she lay as far on the other side of the bed as she could. She stayed stiff and unmoving. She didn’t know what to think. What she’d just experienced with him threw her into a tizzy of confusion. Taris’ touches, his groping, fumbling actions hadn’t caused this type of pleasure. Only revulsion. Why was it so different with Rayder?
“Was that…” Embarrassment burned in her face. “Was that sex?”
“Yes.” His voice was gruff. “But there’s more. Go to sleep. Tomorrow is an important day.”
She licked her lips. “Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.”
“I guessed as much.”
Surprised that he didn’t mock her, she asked, “Have you had sex with many women?”
“A few.”
“And were they… Do they act the same as I?”
“Act?”
“That feeling? That strange and beautiful explosion that caused me to…” She simply couldn’t say it. She was out of her depth and didn’t know how to explain what she meant.
“That’s sexual satisfaction.” His voice was low but he didn’t mock her. “Your body responded to my touch and your own arousal. Some call it an orgasm.”
Clearing her throat, she tried not to sound as ignorant as she felt. “I read that a man puts his erection into a woman’s…” Her throat dried up. “Her womanhood.”
“And other places.”
Her eyes snapped open and she stared into the dimly lit room. “Other places?”
He blew out the lamp on the bedstand and plunged the room into darkness except for the blue flash of lightning. “Yes.”
“Oh.” What could she say to that? “It hurts a woman the first time, doesn’t it?”
He shifted in the bed. “Wait. Why are you asking me these questions? You were married.”
Mortification filled her. She wanted to kick herself. She swallowed hard. Nothing could help it now—she couldn’t avoid telling him the truth. “Yes, but Taris was…he tried, but his manhood wouldn’t stay hard.”
Rayder laughed, and the sound was loud and mocking. “By Draconus. Are you saying he couldn’t fuck you? That his cock couldn’t enter you?”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she was glad the light was off. “If you must put it so crudely, yes.”
“You are a virgin.”
She licked her dry lips. “Yes.”
Rayder groaned. “Draconus help me.”
Irritated, she turned on her side away from him and stayed silent.
“On Magonia these things aren’t explained to women,” she finally said.
“Your mother didn’t tell you?”
“She told me some things, but she was too embarrassed to explain the rest.”
When another boom of thunder cracked near and she jerked, he turned on his side and slipped his left arm across her belly. “Easy. I’m not going to hurt you. Rest easy.”
Any other time or situation, she would have demanded he stop touching her, pulling her close. She would have ignored the strength of his arm as he gathered her against his nakedness. But as the storm continued, she allowed tears to flow and she relaxed.
Her mind ran around in circles, overflowing with questions about sex and what had just happened between them. She lay awake in his arms the rest of the night, imagining what he meant about a man putting his cock into other places. Part of her feared it while the other half died of curiosity. Anger quickly replaced amazement at what had happened between them.
If her body could do this…orgasm and completely lose control, what chance did she have of claiming her freedom?
Chapter Six
Rayder stood outside his cabin and stared
down the men who’d come to see the spectacle. My wedding. What a load full of shite. He heaved a breath and gave the half dozen gawkers a dirty look. Some grunted, some smiled, but all of them turned away.
Two continued to glare at him. Farcam and Oscan. Rayder had seen to it that Oscan had spent a day and night chained up without food or water, and so had Farcam. Rayder stalked toward them, his muscles tightening as he readied for a fight. He hadn’t busted anyone’s face in a while and today he felt ready to burn off hostility. He had plenty of it.
He knew why.
Xandra Shorenus was driving him to drink. A tankard of ale sounded delicious right then, but he’d have to wait until the wedding was over. Perhaps after he’d consummated the wedding. He shoved his hand into his right trouser pocket. His fingers tightened around the box inside the pocket. He’d kept the ring, passed down to him from his family. He’d never planned to use his mother’s wedding ring to marry any time soon. The right woman to give it to, for convenience sake, appeared to be Xandra Shorenus.
Who are you kidding? She is your mate, the one you are supposed to marry.
But by the god, he didn’t want that. Not right now. Not when it wasn’t convenient.
He might not look forward to this ceremony, but he did want more of what he’d experienced last night. Draconus. He’d wanted to lay her on his bed and initiate her, show her there was even more pleasure to be had if she’d open her legs to him and let him slide his cock into her sweet, tight body. Her innocence had shocked him. When he’d learned her bumpkin of a husband hadn’t taken her virginity, it had made him want her even more. The power of his need exploded inside him.
He would be the only one to fuck her. Take her. Make her scream as he plunged deep into her body and planted his seed in her womb.
The force of his thoughts shook him and he took a deep breath.
Right now though, he had to get through the ceremony without punching someone’s face. Among friends, Rayder wouldn’t have minded Xandra’s wedding dress. With miscreants like these, he damn well did mind. He didn’t want them getting any more ideas about her. He’d take care of the lecherous bags around him, one way or other.
“Mornin’, Sir.” Oscan nodded, face impassive and carefree.
Rayder wasn’t worried about the older man. His frame was far shorter and frailer than Rayder’s. Oscan wouldn’t be much in a fight—for a man. A woman? Rayder didn’t like the odds if this lowlife got his hands on Xandra.
“Mornin’, Sir.” Farcam’s grin showed rotten teeth, and Rayder knew the bastard had an even nastier disposition. “Fine day for a weddin’, eh?”
Rayder didn’t have patience for the niceties, especially not with these two assholes. “Stay away from the ceremony.” Rayder gripped his sword. “You can clean belowdecks or perform other duties.”
Farcam’s smile held evil down to his soul. “Beggin’ your pardon, Sir, but I’d pay to see it.”
Rayder stepped forward, but a voice behind him stopped Rayder in his tracks. “There you are, Rayder. Good to see you on such a fine morning.”
Karman Aramus, the bastard. Hatred seethed like an open wound inside Rayder, but as usual, he held it back and put on the good face. The face everyone believed in and trusted even when they damn well shouldn’t.
Today the older man wore a brilliant red tunic and breastplate adorned with spears and skulls. His matching red trousers looked ridiculous, but the man never did care much what others thought of his clothing sense. Behind him at several paces walked Phili and Yoanda. Both women also wore fancy dresses—Yoanda in a brilliant green dress that looked similar to the one she’d given to Xandra, minus the holes for nipples. Phili, though, had chosen to wear a screaming-red dress that matched colors with the admiral’s tunic, and her nipples were almost bared by the filmy material on the bodice. Rayder knew why she wore the dress. She wanted him. Phili had thrown herself at Rayder more than once in the passageways and byways of the dim underworld belowdecks. She’d wanted a good fuck, he knew, and thought he could provide it.
Perhaps he could, but no way in the hells would he.
First, she belonged to the admiral, and a crew member didn’t mess with the admiral’s women. Two, he wasn’t the least interested. Too bad Phili hadn’t taken the hint yet.
“Good morning, Admiral.” Rayder kept his voice modulated and calm. He threw a glance at the men gathering nearby.
“Where is the bride?” Aramus asked.
“Still getting ready,” Rayder said with a smirk. “You know how women are.”
The admiral threw his head back and laughed. “Too right. Well, hurry her along. And don’t become so distracted fucking her that you can’t make it to the ceremony.”
Rayder’s patience broke. “Is that why it took you so long to get here? You were with Yoanda and Phili at the same time?”
The admiral blinked, his eyes shocked. His gaze flipped to irritated a second later. “You’re in a fine temper today. I advise you save your tongue for tonight when you most need it.”
Only partially curtailed by the fact Phili and Yoanda both stood there and could hear the conversation, Rayder smiled through the anger. “At least I know what to do with my tongue.”
Phili smiled, and Yoanda also managed a grin for a half moment before she hid it by looking away.
Admiral Aramus threw him a look filled with contempt and disconcerted embarrassment. “You’re a fine bastard, Tyrus. It’s a good thing I like you so much or I’d have you flogged for that.”
The man could order him killed, but he wouldn’t. The bastard understood it was Rayder’s knowledge of ships that kept their craft afloat. It wouldn’t be long now before Rayder could accomplish what had taken three long years to obtain, and the admiral would smile no more.
Rayder nodded. “I’ll see what’s taking my betrothed so long.”
“Wait.” Yoanda’s voice came sweet and clear. “I can help. Perhaps she needs a woman’s advice. I know how nervous I was on my wedding day.”
“Very well.” Aramus waved his hand dismissively. “Do it.”
As soon as Yoanda knocked on the door, Xandra’s voice asked, “Who is it?”
“Yoanda. May I come in?”
The door unlocked and opened, and Rayder caught a quick glance at Xandra still dressed in her rough-weave clothing. She hadn’t changed when he’d left after promising to provide privacy. He wanted to growl. What was she waiting for? For him to become completely incensed? Xandra allowed Yoanda in and quickly closed the door.
“Come, Rayder,” Aramus said. “We can put off the wedding a few more minutes. Better yet, let’s go to my cabin and have a drink to stave off wedding jitters. Every man feels reluctant to marry until it’s forced upon him by society and the need to be seen as legitimate to the world at large.”
Rayder’s gut roiled at the idea. Marrying Xandra amounted to inconvenience, and yes, the admiral had commanded it. Society on this ship demanded he marry for legitimacy, but it was farce, just as everything else on the Beast.
The admiral headed toward his cabin and Rayder followed. Phili threw Rayder a feral smile that reminded him of a jungle carnivore ready to make a meal. She took the admiral’s arm and sauntered along. The bitch liked to play both sides. She smiled, pouted and cajoled the admiral into doing what she wanted—she wasn’t much of a slave anymore, if she ever had been. Yoanda, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. It bothered Rayder to see Yoanda being ordered around and mistreated by a concubine, but he couldn’t change it. He had too much at stake. Besides, before long, both Phili and the admiral would get everything they deserved and more.
Rayder would see to it, and if marrying Xandra for a short time was the price to be paid, he’d pay.
* * * * *
“I can’t wear this dress.” Xandra placed the dress back on the bed and turned back to Yoanda.
Yoanda’s pale lips opened, her washed-out appearance more pronounced than yesterday. “You have to. The admiral commands it. Your betr
othed expects it.”
In no mood to play games, Xandra asked, “Did Rayder say he expects it?”
Yoanda toyed with the blonde hair that barely reached to her chin. “No.”
Xandra crossed her arms. “Then I’m not wearing it. We all know this marriage is a ridiculous deception rather than a sacred vow.”
Yoanda snatched the dress off the bed and held it up to Xandra’s neck. “You remind me so much of my daughter. She would have looked wonderful in this dress. I didn’t… When I was married to the admiral, I was…” Indescribable emotions, perhaps anger, perhaps sadness marked her eyes.
Xandra waited, but when the older woman didn’t elaborate, curiosity demanded she find out. “You were what?”
“He made me walk out on the deck in only shoes.”
Xandra couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Shoes? No clothing?”
Yoanda nodded, still holding the dress up to Xandra’s neck. “Naked but for shoes. Actually Phili came into the room and said I was to wear shoes and nothing else. It was humiliating.”
Amazed, Xandra couldn’t think of anything to say. This poor woman had been made to attend her wedding completely naked. Wearing a dress with nipples showing seemed far less intimidating now.
“Phili knew the admiral before you married him?” Xandra asked.
Yoanda smiled, sadly and with a sarcastic twist. “Yes. Don’t ask me why he didn’t marry Phili first. She is beautiful and intelligent and competent. Everything I’m not.”
An ache started in Xandra’s chest. She clutched the dress and took it out of Yoanda’s hands. “Honestly, I think she is mean and conniving and horrible to you. As for a beauty, I guess some men will take anything to slake their hunger.”
Yoanda’s eyes widened then a hint of humor entered her gaze. “That’s why I don’t mind that the admiral prefers her over me for his carnal…lusts. Wifely duties with Aramus…” She shuddered. “Phili can have him. As long as he leaves me alone, I’m happy.” The woman smiled, her eyes now filled with cheerfulness. “I think you are very lucky to catch Rayder Tyrus.” She rolled her gaze to the heavens a moment. “He is so handsome and nice.”
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