Tales of the Shareem, Volume 1

by Allyson James

  Something flickered in Rio’s eyes. “Let’s don’t talk about it. We enjoy the hell out of what we have now, and worry about later, later.”

  Nella rested her palm on his cheek. “Rio, I want . . .”

  The tears that had gone away returned now. Rio frowned when he saw them. “Stop. I want us to have fun. Really go for it. No regrets, all right?”

  He didn’t understand. Nella lifted her head. “Yes, all right.”

  “You know, we could fetch Rylan and Rees and their two ladies and all go up to that big bed of theirs. You’d get a level two Shareem and a level three, and a lady Shareem, and . . . whatever Rees is. We can have all kinds of sex and any kind of sex, or you can just watch. I bet no other woman you know will ever have this kind of opportunity.”

  “All of us?” Nella asked, astonishment stopping her tears. “Together?”

  Rio laughed. “Sure, why not?”

  Nella laced her hands behind his neck. “Right now, I just want you.”

  Rio stopped laughing. He kissed her, a sweet, warm kiss that had a promise of sin behind it. His body, his scent, and his pheromones, spun their magic over her again.

  “Good,” he said. “’Cause I just want you.”

  “But you just suggested . . .”

  “I was lying. I want you alone, Nella. No sharing.”

  “When does the transport leave?”

  “Tomorrow. The pilot is in a hurry. We have to get there at first light.”

  Nella pulled him close. “So soon?”

  “It’s what you want. You’ll be able to get home.”

  “Yes, I want to go back to Ariel and my family and no desert or sandstorms or computers with names.”

  Rio rumbled with laughter. “Yeah, Baine can be a real pain in the ass.”

  “But on Ariel, there is no Talan and Rees, and no singing spheres.” Nella touched his face. “And no Rio.”

  Rio’s eyes went dark again. “Like I said, sweetheart, we just have to make the best use of what time we’ve got.” He forced a grin. “Hey, remember when I promised you that if you subbed to me, I’d sub to you?”

  “I think so.” Nella’s mind had been fogged that evening with his Shareem chemicals and her excitement of what he was about to do.

  “How about I do that now?” Rio said.

  Nella’s pulse speeded. “I wouldn’t know what to do.”

  “Oh, I think you will. Come here.”

  Rio took her hand and led her to the shallow water at the end of the pool. He reached to the bench beside it and rummaged in his leather tunic. “I brought something for you.”

  “What?”

  Rio pulled out a pair of manacles, man-sized with cuffs that would reach from a man’s wrist to mid-forearm. A thick chain dangled between them. “Here, darlin’.”

  He dropped the manacles into her wet hands, then stood up, the water reaching his thighs, his wet backside exposed. His hair lay in a long tail, dripping a trickle of water between his buttocks.

  Rio clasped his hands behind his back, his muscular arms playing. “Put them on me.”

  Nella’s heart banged and pounded. Could she do this, bind him and play with him as he’d played with her?

  Really go for it. No regrets, he’d said.

  Gently Nella encased Rio’s sinewy wrists in the manacles, clicking them closed. They were held by a simple catch, but the black chain between the manacles was fairly short, giving Rio only a little movement.

  He turned around and looked at her, and Nella nearly slid bonelessly under the water.

  Rio stood before her, fully erect, her beautiful Shareem, waiting for her in chains.

  “What do you want me to do, Nella?” he asked.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Bond-mate

  Nella knew right then that Rio could be bound and chained, but he was still in charge. She could barely breathe from excitement, her thighs already wet with wanting, and he’d only slanted her a smile.

  “There’s a whip coiled in the other pocket,” he said, his voice as dark as the shadows in the cavern. “If you want to use it.”

  Nella shook her head. She’d only drop the thing in the water, and he’d laugh at her.

  “Then what do you want?” he asked.

  Nella’s mouth was so dry, she couldn’t speak. She put her hands on Rio’s shoulders, pushing him toward deeper water, positioning him so that he stood a little lower in the pool than she did.

  She drew him to her for a kiss, stroking his shoulder blades, letting her nails sink into his skin. Rio kissed her hard, tongue moving firmly inside her mouth.

  Nella knew exactly what she wanted of him, but asking it was very, very difficult.

  She broke the kiss, her lips still against his. “Make love to me, Rio.” No, that wasn’t enough. “Fuck me.”

  “In the ass?”

  “No.”

  He shot her an odd look. “I thought ladies in your culture only asked that of men they want to marry.”

  “They do.”

  Rio stopped, waiting a few heartbeats. “We’re not on Ariel.”

  “No. But I am of Ariel, and must answer for the consequences of what I do.”

  Rio went silent, the only sound in the cavern the soft trickle of water feeding the pool.

  “Let me get this straight, Nella.” His voice was very quiet. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  “Yes.”

  Rio tried to move his hands to touch her, but the chain brought him up short. “Fuck.”

  “You can say no.” Nella kneaded his shoulders, somehow afraid to stop touching him. “You can take me in the ass instead, and we can have as much pleasure as we can right now, like you said, before we have to part.”

  “Darlin’, I’m Shareem.”

  His eyes were dark, pupils wide.

  “Everyone keeps reminding me of that. Including you.” She held his face and looked into his eyes. “I don’t care.”

  “You want to be scandalous, like Talan?”

  “I don’t want to be like Talan. I want you to come home with me and be with me.”

  “A princess and a Shareem? No one will go for that.”

  Nella shook her head impatiently. “You understand nothing. On Ariel, you won’t be different and shunned, because we do that to no one. There are twelve sentient species on Ariel, many of whom are far from human-shaped, but they put up with us all the same. I am free to choose my husband from any species I like. Many women marry across species.”

  Rio kept his voice light, but he was frowning hard. “Their children must look weird.”

  “The mother and father decide which species the child will be, and reproduce in vitro. Most people have some of each.”

  “But aren’t you supposed to marry a prince or a king, or something?”

  “I marry whom I please.” Nella started to glare at him. “It is my choice alone, not my family’s, not the people’s. They trust me to make the best choice possible. That is what Linginian didn’t understand.”

  Again Rio tried to move his hands. “A Shareem isn’t the best choice possible.”

  “Yes, you are. Rio, you are kind and compassionate and you really care. You taught me how to trust you, when I didn’t want to trust anyone—when I couldn’t trust anyone. You taught me more about myself than anyone in my life has done. I’d love you for that alone, if for nothing else.”

  “Hold it. Love?”

  She nodded. “I love you, Rio.”

  His chest rose with a long breath. “Fuck,” he said again.

  “You can refuse,” Nella said, tears in her eyes. “You won’t have to see me again, if you decide not to make love to me. I promise.”

  Rio went silent, every trace of humor gone from his eyes. She couldn’t read his face, it was so hard and forbidding, very unlike the smiling, wicked visage he usually wore.

  “Nella,” he said after a time. His voice was harsh, his level-three voice, the one that told her he would have no mercy with her. “Get out o
f the water.”

  He was the one in chains, but she moved to obey him. Rio climbed out behind her, graceful for someone with his hands bound behind his back, and knelt on the matting that covered the ground near the bench.

  He spread his thighs. The posture, coupled with his hands behind him, thrust his cock stiffly outward.

  “Come here,” he said. “And let me make love to you.”

  “In the ass?” she asked, her voice faint.

  “Your choice, Nella,” he said. “Whatever choice you make is the one I’ll follow. You show me what it is you truly want.”

  *** *** ***

  Rio held his breath while Nella stood by the pool, stark naked, her finger to her lips.

  Was he crazy, or what? This sweet, redheaded woman, her breasts full and round, her nipples like dark berries, had just asked him the ultimate question.

  Will you marry me?

  He should grab her with both hands and run off with her to this Ariel place and snatch some happily ever after, which would involve fucking her every chance he got.

  But Rio knew, deep in his heart, that he didn’t get a happily ever after. It was rare for a Shareem, Rylan and Rees notwithstanding. Rees was different, even from the Shareem, and Rylan had cheated. He’d been in love with Maia since they were both ten years old, and he hadn’t let anyone else have a chance with her.

  Rio was a badass bad boy that no sane mother would let marry her daughter.

  Nella might think she wanted to marry him, but what if she was just under his Shareem spell? They’d go back to Ariel, and then some wimpy prince would convince her to dump her Shareem pretty-boy and have a real marriage.

  Screw him.

  Or Nella might, right here, right now, decide to take back her hasty offer. She’d play with him a little and walk away, or just walk away, period. Rio would have to wait down here, his hands bound, until someone came looking for him, probably Rylan, who’d laugh his ass off.

  While his thoughts whirled, Nella approached him slowly. She had the lushest legs, all plump and ready for nibbling, her calves round and lickable. All wet, she was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen, hands-down.

  Nella’s red hair, dark with water, was sleek against her head, emphasizing the shape of her face and neck. Water dripped between her breasts and shimmered on her belly. The twist of lovely red hair between her legs was damp and beaded with moisture, and not all of it was water.

  Rio wanted to taste her there, to shove his tongue into her curls and lick up her fine cream. Maybe she’d walk over here and plant her feet on either side of his knees, spreading herself so that he could easily get to her.

  She stopped right in front of him, but her legs remained closed, her pussy out of reach.

  “Rio.” She touched his face, fingers scraping over his unshaven jaw. “I’ve already made my choice.”

  Rio swallowed, but he kept his eyes averted from hers, so she wouldn’t see the pleading look that was probably in them.

  I’m a level three Shareem, a Dom. I make women do things they’d never dream of doing. I make them beg for things they never knew they wanted.

  I spank them when they’re bad and pleasure them when they’re good. I whip them ’til they come, then I kiss away the hurt.

  What I don’t do is say, “Please, sweetheart, tell me you really do love me and aren’t just a tease.”

  Sheesh, how pathetic can I get?

  Nella put her hands on his shoulders and lowered herself to straddle him, her knees outside his. She grasped his cock in one hand, fingers sliding over it like he’d taught her.

  Rio bit back a groan. He was so hard and turned on that he could come right now, and she’d only stroked him once.

  “Stop,” he said.

  She misunderstood him. “I don’t wish to stop. I wish to start.”

  “Then start, sweetheart. Do what you gotta.”

  Slowly Nella rose up, her breasts brushing his chest. Damn that Rio had volunteered to manacle himself. He couldn’t hold her or guide her or caress her; he could only crave, which made everything that much more erotic.

  Nella slid her hand to her clit, fingers between herself and him. He felt her guide the tip of his cock right to the folds of her pussy.

  “Sweet darling,” Rio said, his Shareem hormones swamping him, pheromones pouring over her and making her smile.

  Nella wriggled a little, opening herself wider, and finally, his tip slid inside her.

  Oh, gods. She was hot and tight and so fucking wet. A little more, let me have a little more. Please!

  Nella moved down on him, easing onto him a tiny bit at a time, her eyes widening with each inch.

  “You’re so tight,” Rio moaned. “Baby, I love you.”

  Nella wriggled some more, steadying herself on his shoulders, her gaze serious and intent. Her breasts pressed into his chest, and he wanted so bad to hold her. He wanted to stroke her back, grab the nape of her neck and crush her lips to his.

  Damn chain. He tugged at his bonds, but Rylan probably had the manacles specially made to resist Shareem strength.

  Nella lowered herself even farther, until at last his balls were resting right against her.

  Her head dropped back, allowing Rio to skim his tongue up her throat, tasting sweat and water and her. Nella groaned, closing her eyes, the unfamiliar tightness and his Shareem magic making her mindless.

  Rio knew it didn’t hurt, even if it was her first time, because he wasmaking it not hurt her. His biochemistry kicked in and sent soothing chemicals over her and in her, relaxing Nella, turning her mind from pain. He could give her that gift, if nothing else.

  Nella started to rock, moving her hips in a rhythm that her body instinctively knew. Rio moved his own hips, a combination of instinct and experience, penetrating her even deeper. He almost passed out right there from her walls pressing him so tight.

  Rio felt her contracting and squeezing, her climax nearly on her. If his hands were free, he could stroke her clit and make the coming more intense. Of course . . .

  “Nella,” he commanded, “put your hand on your pussy.”

  Nella opened her eyes, her gaze languid and uncomprehending.

  “Put your hand where we’re joined. Feel it.”

  Rio wondered if she could understand him, then Nella slowly moved her hand between the press of their bodies and found the place where his thick stem pushed into her.

  She touched his balls, nearly sending off a rocket of come right there. Then she found her clit. Rio knew she had from the way she gasped, her emerald eyes flying open.

  Nella’s eyes were so beautiful. They’d been gorgeous before, but now they were intense and green with flecks of the original gold-brown in them.

  Nella rubbed her hand over her clit, and down to the hollow where Rio shoved into her. Her nails scratched his cock and slid over her pussy, dripping with come.

  “That’s it, baby,” Rio said, voice rasping. “Now, fuck me.”

  Their hips moved together, and Nella wriggled up and down on his cock, her fingers moving, scraping, rubbing. She made soft little noises, and she smelled so damned good, all sex and come and sweat and her own pretty scent.

  Rio’s head went back, his wet hair brushing his skin, the water-soaked tail sliding between his buttocks. A trickle of water slid into his asshole, which was open and relaxed. He imagined her tongue wiping away the drip of water, and then dipping in farther, wet and hot.

  Rio closed his eyes, thrusting up into her. Sensation after sensation poured over him, intense—like nothing had ever been before.

  And this was straight fucking, for the gods’ sake. Heightened, yes, by being wet and his hands bound behind his back, but they were not doing anything unusual. He didn’t have her bent over that so-convenient bench by the edge of the pool while he fucked her with a dildo in her pussy and his cock in her ass. Or the other way around.

  He didn’t have her with her hips up, her feet on his shoulders while he ordered her to insert a wand int
o herself and then lick it clean.

  No, this was straightforward, woman on man, up and down, loving each other, in and out, hot, wet, frenzied, amazing turned-on sex.

  “Rio,” Nella gasped.

  “No, not yet.”

  “I need to come. I want to come.” She pressed her fingers harder. Rio slammed his body to hers, trapping her fingers.

  “No.”

  “Please, Rio.”

  “Not yet, darlin’. I’m going to fuck you until you’re mine.”

  Nella was screaming. She’d worked through his calming touch on her mind and entered the frenzy. “Gods, I love it. I love your huge, hard, delicious cock fucking me.”

  She was on the edge of release, not quite there, the wildness still building. Rio tilted his head back again and thrust and thrust, at the same time jerking and pulling at his bonds.

  Her naughty fingers found his balls, worming through the tight space between their joined bodies, and squeezed.

  “Fuck,” Rio said hoarsely, and then he came. His seed shot high into her, and Nella cried out her own release, tears trickling from her eyes. She writhed on him, and Rio’s come flowed like it would never stop.

  Rio gave one hard jerk on his manacles, and the chain snapped, breaking from both manacles at the same time. He heard the tiny clink of the chain on the matting behind him.

  He brought his arms around Nella and held her hard, pushing her down on his cock as it pulsed and danced with his coming.

  Nella held him, kissing him roughly, too frenzied to really focus on their lips meeting. He scraped her hair back from her face and bit and kissed her neck, sucking her sweet, salty skin into his mouth.

  Rio eased himself backward, still inside her, spreading his legs as he moved his weight to his back and butt. He still fucked her, his cock hard and desperate, despite his release.

  His body heat was way above normal, his Shareem skin scalding. He’d never been this out of control before. He remembered months ago, when icy-calm Rees had finally lost his control with Talan, how the man’s blood had nearly burned inside him, how his black chain had steamed against his roasting skin.

  Now Rio knew what that felt like, a passion so powerful that even the Shareem safety valve of release wasn’t working. He needed more.