Feral Fever

by Feral Fever (lit)

  "No." He shoved my hand away and kissed me deeper.

  "Please," I begged into his mouth, yanking on his harness. "Please, Lehd. Don't tease me."

  He shoved off the ledge, moving enough water to make bobbing waves that splashed the soap from my body, and left me standing in the pool with the water up to my chest.

  The deprivation brought tears to my eyes.

  He shot up from the water to tower a good foot overhead before me. "Aisling," he gasped, cupping my cheeks. "I made you cry."

  "I need you." Didn't he understand? He was like a big goddamned golden retriever puppy that needed obedience training in bed.

  He slid his palms down my arms beneath the water until he grabbed my wrists and hoisted me up by them.

  My feet came off the pool's floor with the pressure.

  What was he doing? Maybe I'd made a mistake about him.

  He stopped where I looked him in the eye and lowered my arms around his neck. "Forgive me," he whispered. "I didn't mean to frighten or hurt you."

  If that plea didn't deserve tears, nothing did. I wrapped my arms around his slick wet hair and clung to the strength in his broad shoulders.

  He released me against his beating heart to trail his knuckles down my sides.

  Help me, universe. I don't ever want him to stop.

  He watched his hands slide over my hips, down to my thighs where he pulled up my knees and wrapped my legs around his waist before locking his gaze back on me. "I'm always here for you, dear Aisling."

  His hips bent upward to me. Free-handedly, he slowly, purposefully, in one leisurely motion, slid the head of his cock into my core. I was so wet from deprivation that he had no problem with his measured penetration. His hard thickness felt so glorious I could only gape, holding my breath, watching my reaction mirrored in his handsomely rugged features. If angels sang somewhere in the heavens, their voices would have burst from our drugged expressions. But it is rumored only a few can hear angels sing. So, I waited for Lehd to growl a meaty song of possession.

  His shaft's soft root finally spooned my tender vagina.

  We gasped for breath.

  My pulse beat with his deep within my soul.

  Dear creative force is in the universe, thank you for Lehd.

  He growled and backed up until he slid my legs at his back atop the ledge and slowly withdrew his amazing firmness.

  It wasn't enough fast enough. "Lehd, on the furs."

  He didn't argue. My back was on the skins before I could blink, his marvelous hardness still inside me. I slid my legs down, dropping my knees, and grabbing fistfuls of his iron ass.

  If he'd only hurry.

  His hot sucking lips fell to my neck, then he plowed into my spirit. Again and again. I matched his thrusting hips with the energy only blood lust could give me after a day with three different men. But something told me this day was unusual. Maybe it was Lehd. I grabbed two fistfuls of his harness and hung on.

  He plunged his throbbing hardness into me faster and faster until we raced into the darkness of night. Until he drove away any fears I had of being alone while spanking me with the pat of his sac against my ass. Until I couldn't stop crying out for breath. And I came like a screaming banshee with his overpowering roar of possession in our blue flash of healing light. We clenched together so tightly that his trembling rigid body made me want to cradle him forever.

  Was it possible anyone could love a person from one round of sex? It seemed to happen that way with Borun too. Maybe it was these men. Something about Luvk. But I didn't want to go back to wondering if it was darker than normal here in the land of tiger men. Just thinking about how adoring and protective these consorts were justified my choices. However, my Luvk mates had worked some magic on me for days before we'd found ourselves clenched in heated bliss. They'd courted me.

  "Aisling?" His golden eyes watched me.

  "Uh-hmm?"

  "Tell me what else you like. Anything you want, dearest one."

  I uncurled my death grip on his harness and slid my hands down the undulating muscles of his shoulders and arms.

  His gaze followed my touch.

  "I like you taking whatever you want."

  His gaze slid back to mine and flickered with awareness.

  He was so adorable. And Borun had said Lehd was my personal guard. "When Borun's away, you sleep with me."

  He nodded in the darkness. "Mart may not like that decree."

  "I feel safest with you."

  ?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  "You haven't eaten," Lehd spoke into Aisling's damp hair around her ear where we lay in her sleeping skins beneath the light orbs.

  I wasn't hungry, she noted. Just tired. And oh so content to snuggle into his python arms. "Who cares about eating when I can lie here with you?"

  He growled low and deep. "I can't lie. I'm starving." He shoved onto his feet, flashing his striped ass and penis at me, and pulled on his pants.

  "It's nice of you not to flaunt your great fortune in mating around the others." Especially for me.

  He shot me an adorable grin, pivoted toward the bath door, and disappeared.

  Now I'm in mate heaven. Literally, out in BFE outer space. I rolled onto my belly in the soft furs.

  Was this what mating was like all over Luvk? Certainly not. I married princes. With nobility came luxury. I scanned the delicate murals on the walls, the brilliant lights overhead, and Borun's humongous weapon display. Throw in the sensual furs that I stretched across and how could the factors not sum up to luxury? Who knew what else was in those magic chests across the room? Probably some other raid magnet like the lights.

  The bath door shoved open presenting Lehd with an enormous turkey leg. Or something similar. The picture of him gnawing on the hunk of meat was pricelessly Oktoberfest-Viking chewing on large chunk of charred flesh. Come to think of it.

  He sauntered over chomping wildly.

  "Ravenous?" He ought to be after he took me again in here on the sleeping skins.

  "Of course. Duty wears a man down." He plopped down beside me and leaned a massive arm down to prop up his head while he lounged, devouring his meal.

  "What kind of animal was that?" A little biology lesson never hurt a scientist.

  He swallowed and shook the lumpy end at me. "It was a grazing beast."

  My stomach snarled.

  He raised a black eyebrow.

  "Really, I wasn't hungry when you left."

  He handed me the leg and departed through the bath's doorway.

  The mass of flesh had to weigh two pounds. Throw in the thick bone and it was no wonder I had to hold it like a corn on the cob. But the succulent spiced flesh melted in my mouth. The babies were definitely happy.

  Lehd returned to lounge at my side. He placed a wooden tray with flatbread and round green fruit between us.

  "How long ago did the sun set?" My gaze slid to the crystal lights above us. "Mart said the raids-"

  "I heard what he said." His voice graded from jocular to serious. "I'll be here tonight, Aisling. You won't have to worry about anything."

  Maybe I'll sleep with some clothes on. Well, now I could drill Lehd for information. "What were the different clans known for back when the Sunset clan was known for ruling the seas?"

  "Most for gold and gems. Others for ores. Var's clan traded prized furs. And Mart's clan had precious spices. The Queen's orbs came from the Thunder realm."

  "So, do they still trade in these resources?"

  "Most of the clans don't have the people to do the work. We are much smaller in number now."

  "What changed your population sizes?"

  "Some ancient cities held up to ten thousand people. But so many were killed in the wars that the populations never recovered. Queens coming into power changed things. They agreed to keep the warriors in the fields instead of mining and hunting. Both activities are now considered noble sport."

  Limiting the peasants' activities seemed detrimental to the Luvk
's cultural health. Inhibiting the Luvk's cultural recovery from conquest. "How large is each clan now?"

  "The Thunder clan is the largest, almost one thousand."

  No wonder Kruk had so many warriors after me those first two days. But if they were wealthy because of Queen orbs that were apparently non-renewable resources, why was the Thunder clan the largest?

  "I see your mind working, Aisling." He chewed on a hunk of herd animal.

  "The light orbs are almost gone."

  He watched me with twinkling eyes.

  "But the Thunder clan prospers more than the others. How can that be, Lehd?"

  He smiled a little and swallowed. "They charge fees to those traveling across the continent. Their realm is dead center of the world and quite treacherous."

  "No wonder Kruk is so ruthless."

  "He won't touch you, Aisling. Borun has said this to us. And I say it to you."

  "So tell me about the Sunset clan."

  His eyes brightened into a warm gold.

  Beneath the bright lights, his eyes looked normal instead of a misty reflective curtain. But who cared about normal?

  "When I was a youngling, I traveled the entire realm with my father."

  "Your father? He was around?" Who would have guessed given the complex marriage system?

  Lehd nodded. "He was sixty-three and insisted I see the realm."

  So noble males doted on their children. Why was that so surprising given a Queen's consorts probably only got one chance at Breeder's Rights for three months. If they weren't productive, they undoubtedly had to wait until the Queen went through all her other mates' opportunities to breed before getting back to the nonproductive ones. Talk about overwhelming. That's just one more issue I'll have to contend with among my consorts.

  "Aisling?"

  Lord, I hope he wasn't talking while my thoughts drifted.

  "Your mind seemed far away. You aren't worried about sky demons are you?"

  Not with him. Not really. But I still might sleep in some undies. Just in case.

  * * * *

  Something loud pierced Aisling's skull, waking her from a deep sleep. What was that horribly earsplitting sound, she wondered. I bolted upright next to Lehd's shifting body.

  "Come with me." He pulled me to my feet and shoved my black leather robe onto my arm.

  Good thing I had a clothing gift or two lying around handy and had pulled on a tank top and panties before falling asleep. Lehd had balked at my dressing. You gotta love the guy. But I insisted. Thank goodness. I plowed forward in his wake. "What is that blaring racket?"

  "Hurry." He grabbed my hand and pulled me through the dark bath toward the softly lit doorway leading to the guards' room.

  Var already waited there.

  Why?

  The shattering noise stabbed at my brain. It sounded like it was right behind me. "What in the hell is that?"

  Lehd dragged me past Var.

  "Will someone tell me what's going on?"

  Var stayed at the doorway. "A raid. Stay with Lehd."

  Jesus Christ! I yanked on Lehd's strong hand and hoped my ass wasn't hanging out my lace hot pants while I ran for my life.

  Lehd ushered me through the darkness to the very end of the curving space and shoved me down. "Under the table. Cover yourself with the robe. Slakens can't see in the dark. Show nothing that reflects light."

  "This isn't the way I want to die." I crouched beside the darkness beneath the table.

  "Aisling," he shoved me toward the table. "I'll be right here."

  Light glinted off something in his hand.

  An extremely long curved blade.

  "Goddamn it, Lehd, don't you die." I slid into the pool of darkness and draped the leather over my legs.

  "I have no intention of drawing my last breath."

  Something heavy crashed near me. Outside. "Lehd?"

  "Quiet."

  Why do I have to hide under a table? Because I have no idea what's going on out there. Because I'm barely dressed. Because Lehd ordered me to. My little knives had nothing on Lehd's big ass sword either. I'm out of my league on Luvk, relegated to hunkering under a table during a raid.

  Unreal shrieks curdled my ear drums.

  I covered my ears.

  Still the horrific sounds made my skin crawl with gooseflesh.

  The Slakens were weird creatures. Nothing as noble as Luvks. But stronger. That's how the Luvks lost all those battles. What about my guards? Was someone dying now?

  The noise abruptly ceased.

  "They're gone, sweet one."

  Lehd's glowing golden gaze found me in the darkness. Hands slipped around me. "Come to me."

  There was no coming when your bodyguard pulled you along. What about my other Royal Guards? "Is anyone injured?"

  "Proy is dead."

  My heart took a dive.

  Lehd stood me on my feet and lifted my gaze with one gentle finger to meet his. "It's not your fault, Aisling. Raids are uncontrollable. Royal Guards serve to defend the vulnerable."

  Then why do I feel so responsible?

  Lehd pulled the robe from my grasp. "Put your arms in the sleeves. I'll take you to assess the damage."

  Damage? "What happened?"

  "They took your Queens' orbs."

  "I never asked for those damned things. In fact I told Borun I didn't need your mothers paying me to take you off their hands. And now what comes of it? Proy's dead!" Because of me. This is insane.

  "Aisling," he whispered and pulled me into his warm python arms. "Nobody blames you."

  Then why do I feel guilty?

  "Come." He kept me tucked beneath his arm and led me toward the firelight's glow at the end of the curving wall.

  We followed the wall around until Var's glowing blue gaze spotted us in the fire pit's soft light. He didn't say anything. He undoubtedly heard everything I said because he nodded at me.

  Was that respect? I clutched my robe together and stayed under Lehd's arm.

  The exterior door to my personal quarters laid on the floor of my room. A pair of legs wearing black boots and leather laid beyond the door in the moonlight.

  Proy. I sucked in a deep breath and scanned the room for anything that might indicate an intruder had entered.

  Just the darkness from the missing light crystals.

  "Do you need anything, Aisling?"

  I wagged my head.

  "Come. It's been decided you'll sleep in the guards' quarters until the door is repaired."

  I didn't have it in me to argue with Lehd. And all sorts of nasty insects might gravitate toward my fire pit. So, I agreed to the safety factor.

  Lehd nudged me to his sleeping skins, crawled in behind me, and curled his body around mine.

  At that moment, I realized how important Royal Guards were. How I'd been a fool for fighting every step of the way with them. How I'd never take for granted another moment with any one of them. I owed them as much as they claimed to owe me.

  "Stop thinking, Aisling. Sleep." His big python arm drew me into his beating heart.

  * * * *

  Aisling awoke in a cold sweat. The blood lust, she thought. I rolled over to my sleeping guardian and placed a palm on his warm chest.

  He growled a little gurgling pleasure sound and ran his hand across my knuckles. His golden eyes popped open. "Blessed sunrise, sweet one." He planted a soft kiss on my forehead and snuggled back down into the sleeping skins.

  Oh no. Duty called. Why not send a direct message? I slid my hand down the front of his pants and found him ready for duty. Certainly the youngest of my Royal Guards was always ready. Waiting. I caught him smiling coyly at me.

  "Not here," he whispered.

  "What about my door?"

  "There was little damage around the village last night. The sky demons came for your crystals and left. Ishan will send her men to repair the door." He shoved up on an elbow and rolled off the bed. "Come, Aisling."

  He must be commanding me to avoid looking
like I have blood lust. Although, they know nothing about my blood bond with Borun. I swung my feet to the cold stone floor where my bent knees pushed the sides of my robe open all the way up to my navel.

  Well, if anyone wanted a cheap thrill, here's a shot of my hot pants. I scanned the room. The fire pit glowed a cozy yellow. Mart's maps piled across the table. Empty silver dishes glittered in the firelight. But nobody was up.

  Shit. My syringe. If it was gone, I'd be beyond screwed.

  Lehd extended a helping hand.

  With his exceptionally gentle tug, I was on my feet, padding my way toward my fire pit. "I need to find something."

  He didn't reply but led me on into the shadows of my violated room. Darkness loomed at every turn in the round space. All but in the sunlit doorway where Var's gold and black stripes stood on watch.

  Someone else must have guarded the other door. "Has he been there all night?"

  "Yes. And Ovh guards the other door. Mart is sleeping."

  "Tell Mart to relieve one of them." I looked up at Lehd's golden gaze. "And you take over for the other one. I want everyone rested."

  He squeezed my hand. "As you wish."

  Four guards didn't feel like enough now. But I could handle the trials of blood lust enough to allow the others rest. We were a team. Yes. A machine. And keeping the gizmo finely tuned was my job.

  My big bodyguard stalked into the shadows of the bath.

  Time to search for my syringe and don some pants. Nothing had been disturbed. My combat boots were where I dumped them last night, beside the glowing pool with my syringe in the shaft. My olive pants even proved dry after Lehd's grand leap into the swirling water.

  A form shifted in the guards' room doorway.

  Ovh. He probably wanted to bathe. "Come in." I waved him inward.

  He hesitated.

  "It's alright." With my robe and underwear on, I couldn't claim to be inappropriately dressed. Especially since they had no idea that bras and panties were worn underneath clothing on Earth.

  Ovh entered, closing the door behind him. He shifted in the shadows until the pool's glow etched out his wide black stripes on his orange arms and wide chest. His beard held more white than black beneath his golden eyes. A hint of hesitation.