She spooned up a little taste—fervently hoping it wasn’t apricots.
“Strawberries!” she cried, immediately scooping up another bite, this time almost too big for her mouth.
“Slow down,” he laughed. “No one is going to take it away from you.”
He continued to chuckle as she wolfed it down, but she didn’t care. It had been three long years since she’d had strawberries. After she scraped the bottom of her bowl, she leaned back, holding her stomach. “I’m full, like a tick about to pop. That was surprisingly good.”
“Different doesn’t always mean bad, Lana.”
“Funny, Adria said something very near to that yesterday.”
“Not surprising since she’s heard the same from me many times. I had to make sure she ate her meat as well. You liked the boar, admit it.”
“I liked the pie.”
His grin flashed brilliant white against his golden skin. “Try again and be honest.”
She wrinkled her nose and said grudgingly, “It was good.”
“Excellent.” He stood, stacked up all the plates then carried them into the kitchen. Lana stared in amazement when he opened the door on the autowash and slid them in, cloth napkin and all.
“That is so awesome,” she breathed.
“Ready for bed?” he asked, extending his hand to her.
“But I just got up!”
“And I’ve been up since dawn, and after training yesterday, and loving my mate half the night through, I’m tired.”
“I’ll stay up and—”
Before she knew it, he caught her hand and reeled her in. He picked her up and rather than cradling her like the times before, held her in front of him, face-to-face, soft breasts to hard chest, with her feet dangling a foot off the floor. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and hung on. It was needless, however, because he curved his hand beneath her butt, supporting her weight. The other moved up her back into her hair, tipped her head to the left while he angled right, and kissed her. And somehow, yet again, he managed to carry her up the stairs without watching where he was going.
In the bedroom, he walked to the side of the bed. The hand on her ass squeezed, which she took as a cue to release him. Once she was on her feet, he gathered the hem of her gown in both hands and pulled it over her head.
“Lie facedown in the center of the bed,” he ordered gruffly.
“I thought you were tired.”
“Yes, but you aren’t. I’m going to help you get there so we both can sleep.”
Her pulse quickened, and a tremor of desire shot through her as she imagined the extent of what he would have to do to wear her out after sleeping for nearly twelve hours straight.
“On your belly, mate, and spread your legs.” He raised an arm and grabbed a handful of his shirt at his upper back, drawing it over his head in the sexy way hot men had; it must be universal. He couldn’t have pulled it off wearing his uniform which was snug and looked tailored to fit. This shirt, a loose-fitting open-neck flowing style, like a pirate of old would wear, cleared his broad shoulders in one smooth motion.
He raised a brow, and she became aware she was gaping rather than doing what he told her to do. Since his hands were at his waistband, and she didn’t want to miss the best part, she crawled to the middle of the bed and lowered herself in a girlie reverse push-up with her face turned toward him the entire time.
His eyes trailed over her naked back and down her legs. When they retraced the path, they halted on her bottom. “Time for the reassessment I never got around to.”
She blinked. “Pardon?”
“Of your bubble butt. Remember? Other interesting parts, like your luscious mouth, your breasts with those tight pink nipples, and your smooth delectable pussy kept distracting me. I figured I’d start there this time, thoroughly exploring what I missed before you distract me again. How does that sound?”
It sounded awesome, but all she could manage was, “okay,” which came out more like a strangled rush of air than an answer. He grinned, knowing full well the effect he had on her.
“Get up on your knees, cheek and chest on the bed, and arch your back. You can tilt your head and watch if you like, but I want you to stay still. You won’t divert me from my intended goal tonight.”
She nearly choked on her tongue as he pulled his pants over his hip, revealing his beautiful marking, and his glorious hard cock, standing straight out and heavy with arousal. He kicked off his pants which joined his shirt, both balled up and thrown in the vicinity of the high-tech laundry chute.
“Lana, you’re not in position.”
“But my butt will be up in the air if I do that.”
“Which is the point.”
“I don’t know...”
His hand came down with a solid crack on her nearest cheek. She yelped, though it didn’t hurt, startling her more than anything. He hadn’t used a fraction of his strength, and his cupped hand accounted for the sound, and no sting.
“I can stay occupied in other ways until you do as you’re told.” He landed another smack. “Your bottom will pay the price more so than my hand, so I don’t recommend it.”
Trask delivered the next swats, two on each side, with progressively more bite, leaving her backside warm and tingling. She was tempted to drag it out, to get a few more, but she chickened out and got into the position he wanted.
“Ah, that’s it,” he praised while crawling onto the bed. “Beautiful.”
On his knees behind her, he palmed both cheeks, giving them a good squeeze.
“Yes,” she groaned.
“You like my hands on your bottom, don’t you? Whether gently caressing when you’re good,” he said while messaging deeply. “Or with more heat in those moments”—he paused to swat her once on each cheek—“when you are not.”
“Mmhmm.”
“But tonight, you’re going to be good for me, aren’t you?” She felt his lips brush her skin while he continued stroking and rubbing. “Because other than a bit of feistiness, you are my good little mate.”
“I am now, but back when I was younger, I could be a real handful.”
He chuckled, his fingers on her backside flexing. “Not even close, but more pie should take care of it.”
“Trask!” she cried, giggling as she wriggled away. “I didn’t mean that kind of handful.”
“Uh-uh,” he called as he pulled her back. “I’m not close to being through with you.” He swatted her lightly, twice on each side, heating her skin more then bent to her again, kissing away the slight sting. “Stay still, now, while I further my exploration.”
With his fingers splayed wide, he rubbed his palms over her slowly, from the backs of her thighs, up and over the crest of each cheek. Then, in a long, delicious drag, he reversed directions, his thumbs dipping into her cleft as he retraced his path. He eased her open as he slid lower, parting the outer folds of her pussy while the rush of his breath bathed the intimate flesh in between with heat.
“Your pussy is soaked with sweet nectar,” he murmured huskily. “You’re hungry for me, aren’t you?”
“You can always make me want you, Trask.”
“It’s the mating fire, something I share with you alone, paulova.” He licked upward, flicking over her clit then swirling around her drenched entrance, dipping inside to tongue-fuck her for several moments, before continuing his journey up through her cleft. There he circled the puckered hole as his hands held her warm, tingling cheeks apart.
She whimpered, leaning into him, needing more.
“Are you ready for me, Lana?” A silly question, since she was about to explode, but she could barely breathe, let alone answer when his mouth moved back down, nibbling, licking, and sucking, his silky soft hair tickling the backs of her legs while the stiff bristles of his beard abraded her inner thighs.
“Yes, please,” she gasped. “I can’t wait anymore.”
“It won’t be much longer, but first, I must decide how to proceed. Ev
erything about you is so very tempting. Maybe I’ll use my tongue in your pussy while I rub your little pleasure nub with my thumb?” He proceeded to do precisely that. Locating her clit, and circling it while his tongue plunged, licked, and swirled inside her.
She cried out, “Yes, do more of that.”
“But you also enjoy my hands on your bottom. I could spank you until you are rosy and tingling then spread you open and use my tongue on your tight little hole in back, getting it ready for more. Perhaps for the length of my thumb while my cock fills your wet pussy. I’d have a free hand to warm your cheeks at the same time. I’m interested in finding out how many climaxes I can wring out of you with that combination.”
The notion of him doing any of those things separately had her heart racing, but imagining all of it at once sent jolts of excitement surging to her belly, breasts, and the needy place between her thighs. Before she could formulate a lucid response, he spanked her again. Not slow and methodical, or with any pattern. Instead, some were soft, a few brought stinging heat, and others landed so close to her center they made her moan with pleasure. Unable to remain still, she rocked back into his swatting palm, each blow firing a current of desire straight through to her pussy. She was on the brink when he stopped.
“Trask, no,” she moaned in frustration. “I was almost there.”
“And you will be again, but for now, I’m still exploring.”
With one hand spreading her apart, his tongue circled and wet the uninitiated hole, while the other delved into her channel. One finger worked her open then a second joined in, and with a sensual glide, he proceeded to drive her wild.
When he paused again, she knew what came next and shivered with wanting.
“This naughty hole deserves something too, don’t you think?”
First came pressure then a little pop as he sank into the first knuckle, which considering the size of his hands, came close to two inches.
“Holy fuck!” Lana breathed raggedly.
She lost the exquisite stretch while he delivered two smarting swats, for real. They made clear the difference between punishment and the pleasure he’d been taunting her with.
“No vulgar language from my beautiful mate, if you please.”
He continued to tease her bottom, dipping his thumb in more, next coming all the way out, only to glide in again with the same exquisite slow entry.
“You’re torturing me,” she gasped while leaning back, trying to get more, faster and harder, whatever would send her over the edge.
“Mmm, I hear cries of pleasure, and none of your whimpers and moans, even while I’m spanking you, sound like pain. But I’ve decided you were right. I’m tired.”
His thumb came out, and with a little pat on her raised bottom, he flopped down beside her on his back.
Her head came off the bed, and she gaped at him, his face only inches from hers. “You’re stopping? Now? But—”
“Who said I was? I’m merely done doing all the work.” He caught her by the waist, his large hands spanning it easily. In a show of strength, and without the first hint of fatigue he claimed, he lowered her by increments until she was impaled on his cock.
When her tender cheeks rested on his thighs, he gazed up at her, eyes dark and ever changing, more green than blue now in the height of his passion. “Your turn, beautiful. Ride me and bring us both to completion.”
With her legs spread wide over his hips, her body weight forced her down further. She tried shifting but shuddered at the intense sensation. “I don’t know if I can. You’re in so deep, if I move, it might be the end of it.”
“Okay with me, as long as you don’t stop until you get me to the end too. Which as tight and hot as you are around me, will not be a problem.” His fingers curled around her hips. “Put your hands on my chest, and I’ll help you.”
On the precipice of climax already, she swallowed down a big gulp of air and tried to do as he asked. With her hands molded to his smooth pecs, she tentatively rolled her hips. All the air left her body in a ragged moan as pleasure streamed through her.
“Keep going,” he urged, reaching around to take a cheek in each hand, guiding her.
Her head fell forward, trying to keep from hurtling beyond the point of ecstasy without him.
“No, Lana, look at me. I want to see your eyes when you come.”
She met his gaze, saw the fire of desire there, as he flexed his hips and pulled her down all at one, and that’s all it took to send her careening over the top.
Calling out his name, her body bucked and shuddered as he continued to move her on him, in up and down strokes. Through it, she never looked away, and because she didn’t, she saw the moment his climax began to take hold. It was beautiful and made him even more so.
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Trask,” she whispered, her heart so full she could not contain it.
He didn’t say it back, instead, he released her bottom, and his hands moved to cup her head. Drawing her down, with her forehead resting against his and their eyes locked, he drove up inside her. When he came, he whispered words which tore at her heart and made her forever his in mind, body, and spirit, no matter what their future held.
“I love you, too, paulova. Maes eternium.”
When she stopped shaking, he filled her with one last unhurried glide and took her mouth in a poignant kiss before rolling them both to their sides.
“Now can you sleep?”
Thoroughly sated, she nodded.
It only took a moment, after nestling her close, one arm pillowing her head while the other encircled her body, for him to fall asleep.
Lana tried, but couldn’t, not for hours. Instead, she watched him, in the low lights neither of them had bothered to turn off although they were on voice-activated controls. She was glad for it because she could study him at her leisure, the sweep of his long black lashes on his golden skin, his hair spread out on the pillow behind him, a few silky strands clinging to the long column of his neck. Lightly, so as not to wake him, she brushed them back, then ran her fingertips over his shoulder and his thickly muscled arm, down to his hip and thigh, where his marking curled in an abstract, beautifully contrasting design in red and black—naturally, what other colors would it be—with splashes of gold.
It was a part of him she’d never have.
Yes, they had sexual chemistry, this night and so many others had proved it, but it wasn’t enough for her to bear his mark, and unless they beat their borderline odds, a child.
She heard the echo of his words to his uncle that night as he adamantly refused to consider giving her up and taking another. Selfishly, she was relieved because to live here and have to watch while the man she loved moved on with another woman, started a family, and made his most fervent wish come true, would kill her.
Chapter Eight
THE NEXT MORNING, LANA awoke feeling awful. This time it wasn’t her head but her stomach, and it sent her racing from the bed to the bathroom, startling Trask as she climbed over him to get there. He followed, watching as the sickness racked her body and helpless to do anything except pull her hair out of the way and get a wet cloth to cool her hot skin. When she had purged all she could, he carried her limp body back to bed and sat with her until she fell into an exhausted sleep.
Then he stormed down the stairs and located his transmitter, jammed it in his ear, and contacted his physic.
“Get over here and fix what is wrong with my mate.”
“Have you given her the medication?”
“It’s not her head, but her stomach. She heaved off and on for half a time-cycle.” He heard the thud of footsteps upstairs. “She’s up again; I must get to her. Come now!”
Jarlan arrived in minutes, but his scans couldn't determine a definitive cause. The medication he gave her this time made her drowsier than the last, though she found relief in the drug-induced sleep. Sitting by her bedside, he brushed her sweat-dampened hair back from her face.
“Can you help her?”
he quietly asked the trusted healer who had cared for his family for longer than Trask had been alive.
Jarlan paused in the process of packing his equipment to focus on the small, pale female in the bed. “Not if I don’t know what it is.”
His straightforward answer wasn’t the positive response he expected and made the knot of fear in Trask's gut twist tighter.
“Then run more tests, dammit! Consult other healers, bring in the human doctor from her ship. I don’t care what you have to do, but you must find out what this is.”
“I will; it's just such a puzzle. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was suffering from separation sickness.”
“How can that be? I’m standing right here. We joined only last night.”
“I said if I didn’t know better. My second thought is she’s breeding, but the scanner says that’s not the case.”
“Maybe she is, but it’s too early for your scanner to tell.”
“Possibly, which would explain the stomach upset, not the severe headache. And there is the weight loss and the occasional melancholy you describe to consider. It could be she’s simply having trouble adjusting to our environment, the air is a little denser, which could explain the headache, and our food may be reacting adversely with her system. All are vague symptoms for a host of different ailments, I’m afraid.”
The indecisiveness with Trask already on edge made him snap angrily, “You need to stop speculating and listing what it isn’t and come up with what it is.”
“Of course,” the physic replied calmly. “Unfortunately, with healing, especially in an unfamiliar species, we often have to go by process of elimination. I’ll confer with the other physics and their human doctor on her case, which is an excellent idea.”
“I apologize for taking my frustration out on you, Jarlan, but I don't like this one bit.”
“I understand your concern, my friend.” Before he left, he paused to ask, “Would you like me to free up Adria to come stay with her? You must have duties.”
“She is my priority.”
“I understand, Trask. These symptoms, they are unpleasant, but none are life-threatening. Adria can sit by her bedside and watch her sleep as efficiently as you can while I figure out a solution.”
Defying the General Page 15