“Nella,” he whispered. His voice was so broken he barely recognized it.
“Mmm?” she said against his chest. Her nipples were tight, firm against him, her sweet pussy still encasing his rock-hard penis.
“I need you to do something for me.”
Nella raised up on her elbows, spent, her face relaxed and dreamy. “Anything you want.”
Much against his will, Rio lifted her off him, his needy cock practically whimpering when it came out of her nice, warm nest.
Nella watched in surprise as he found the chain that had held the manacles. He bent the links so they’d fit back into the holes and bound himself again, this time with his hands in front.
He walked over to his clothes, his cock still out like a flagpole, and retrieved his coiled strap. He laid the strap in her hands. “Whip me,” he said.
She stared up at him, startled. “Why?”
“I need you to.”
“Rio, I can’t hurt you.”
“It won’t hurt me, sweet darling. It will help me. I need more release, and I need it now.”
Rio walked away from her, over to the wall, looking until he found a suitable jutting rock of the right height. He lifted his arms and dangled the chain over the rock.
Nella rose to her feet and came to him, holding the whip gingerly. “How can this help you?”
“Trust me, baby. Whip your Shareem.”
He heard Nella’s intake of breath, saw her nipples tighten as the suggestion made her more excited than she wanted to admit.
Nella hefted the strap, squeezed her eyes shut, and struck. The whip landed across the backs of his knees with a heavy sting.
“Ouch!” he shouted.
She opened her eyes. “I knew I’d hurt you.”
“Just aim for my ass, sweetheart, and it will be fine.”
“Do you expect me to do this when we’re married?”
Rio’s heart leapt. She was still talking about marriage, bless her cute little butt.
“It will be our secret. Now, go for it. Hurry, before I burn up.”
Nella bit her lip and drew back the strap, this time keeping her eyes open. It struck his buttocks with a resounding crack.
“Ahhh,” he said. “That’s it.”
Nella slapped him a couple of times, the lash stinging good, but she still looked worried.
“You’re doing fine, baby. More, please. A little harder.”
Rio couldn’t find the words to explain that the pain and the excitement mingled until it became one focused experience of pleasure so great that the only way out was release.
All he could say was, “Harder, baby.”
Nella complied. He felt the sweet sting on his ass, over and over. His ass opened and relaxed with his pleasure. A few of her slaps slid right between his cheeks, bumping the hole and making him groan.
Sensations swirled around Rio, clenching his lungs and heart, cock and ass, as the stinging slaps went on and on.
Something broke inside him, like he was a string stretched tighter and tighter until, snap, it was over.
Rio ripped the chain from the rock wall, and sent both himself and Nella tumbling to the matting, the whip flying from her hand. Rio could barely see, blind with his release, but he could smell her and feel her, taste her and hear her.
Rio came, pumping his seed all over Nella’s belly and between her breasts, the hot come mixing with water and sweat, sealing them together.
His mouth found hers, tongue stabbing into her, while he felt Nella gather him into her arms.
Love you, love you, love you.
Rio heard the words from his own throat, echoing around the room. He came and came, wetting her all over, while she watched him, her eyes wide, her hand going to her pussy, needing her own release.
Grinning, and still hot, Rio hauled Nella to her feet and dragged her with him to the pool. He jumped in with her, the cool water biting into the welts on his ass, soothing them.
Nella clung to him, her supple body against his, legs wrapping around him. She needed to come, bad, oh yes she did, and he was going to take her there so many times.
He held on to her and kissed her wet cheek. He’d made his decision. “All right, love, I’ll come with you to Ariel,” he said. “But about this Bond thing—we’ll see what happens.”
Chapter Fifteen
Choices
After Rio made his declaration, his tenderness vanished. He kissed Nella hard, mouth almost assaulting her, as though he was going to make her pay for making him make his decision.
Nella didn’t care how rough he got because she knew, deep in her heart, that Rio would never hurt her. He’d earned her trust, and he had it.
She could tell that Rio wouldn’t hurt her, because as large as he was, as strong as he was, Nella could see him tighten his muscles when he held her or stroked her or even made love to her, holding himself back so that he wouldn’t harm her.
Rio called himself a badass, but he wasn’t cruel. He was dangerous, true, but only because a lady couldn’t get enough of him and would do anything to keep on having him.
What he did to Nella exhausted and elated her, excited and frightened her. In the water, he pressed his thumbs to her opening, massaging and working until she released.
While she wilted in his arms, Rio carried her out of the pool, sat down on the bench, turned her over his knee, and slapped her butt with the whip. He threw her into the pool again right after that, so the cool water could soothe the tingling pain. Then he pulled her out and did it all over again.
He made her lie facedown on the bench while he spread her buttocks and licked her, then fucked her ass with his tongue. Once Nella was squealing and rubbing herself on the bench, Rio turned her over and thrust himself into her until they both were coming hard.
They cleaned off from that with another swim, then he lay facedown on the bench, while he had her put her tongue in his hole.
They traded roles with the manacles, sometimes Rio in them, sometimes Nella. Nella wasn’t certain she could think of things exciting enough when she took control, but Rio seemed to find what she came up with amusing and fun.
She told him to kneel and stroke himself while she watched, she had him lick her clit while his hands were bound behind his back, he taught her how to bump the whip between his legs to stimulate ass and cock at the same time.
Now that vaginal sex wasn’t out-of-bounds, Rio had fun telling her to put her own fingers inside her, or to take his. Once, he washed off the handle of his whip, lubed it with oil that they found a supply of in a cupboard near the lift, and gently eased it into her.
His eyes went instantly blue when he did this, sweat pooling on his burning skin. “Fuck yourself with it,” he said. “Enjoy it, my bad sweetheart.”
Nella never in her life would have thought of such a thing. But while Rio knelt next to her, his cock erect, Nella pushed the slick handle into herself, squeezing her thighs around it, loving the feeling of something so stiff and unyielding inside her.
It didn’t take her much time to climax, Nella clamping her hands and thighs around the whip handle. Rio gently eased it out of her, then took its place, his face tight with need.
When they were completely exhausted, Rio held Nella in the shallow water of the pool, sitting on a bench that had been carved into the rock. Nella lay against his chest, listening to the slow beating of his heart.
“I like being your Dom,” he said softly.
“I like it too.”
Rio chuckled. “Are there Doms and subs on Ariel?”
Nella blinked up at him. “I really have no idea. I don’t think we’ve done a survey.”
“A survey?” Rio started to laugh, then realized she was perfectly serious. “So you might have Doms and subs?”
Nella shrugged. “What people do for sex in private is no one’s business but theirs. As long as it’s consensual and no one is forced or anything like that, people can have whatever kind of sex they want.”
�
�Hmm. I think I’m going to like Ariel. You mean you and I can have as much sex as we please anytime, anywhere?”
“Yes. As long as we don’t disturb anyone.”
“Well then, I think we’d better get some soundproofed rooms in your palace.”
Nella looked thoughtful. “I believe I can arrange that.”
Rio kissed her. “You’re priceless, my princess. Absolutely priceless.”
Nella wasn’t certain whether that was good or bad, but she enjoyed the kiss and the caresses that followed.
*** *** ***
They were tired and sore when they finally cleaned themselves for the last time, dressed, and went up to have a meal with the other four. Nella winced when she sat down on the soft dining chair, and Talan and Maia exchanged knowing smiles. They’d been through plenty with their own Shareem.
That night, she and Rio slept together alone in a guest room—true sleep—for the first time.
Nella relaxed against Rio’s huge body, liking the soft snores that rumbled his frame. She thought she could do this for the rest of her life, sleep in a wide bed snuggled against Rio.
He was so strong and sexy and protective. One thing Nella hadn’t understood about level-three Shareem was that while they persuaded a lady to absolute submission, they also protected her from harm and from all others. She was his, and she always would be.
Nella thought of walking into her parents’ elegant drawing room and presenting Rio. “I’m home and safe, and here is the Shareem who got me here. I have experienced the Bond with him, and wish to marry him, if he’ll have me.”
They’d fall out of their antique designer chairs. But no matter. When they came to know Rio, they’d like him. No one could help liking Rio.
Well, maybe it wouldn’t be that easy. But Nella was willing to try.
Rio stirred and made a little noise in his sleep. Nella snuggled down beside him, and he draped his strong arm over her. He drew her back into the curve of his naked body, then settled down again.
Nella was protected and safe and in love. Right now, there was no tomorrow . . .
No tomorrow was a romantic thought, but morning came all the same, the blazing sun rising quickly into the sky, painting the canyons dramatic blue and purple.
Rio was cheerful as they ate breakfast—fruits from Maia’s sun-protected garden and yeasty bread baked in the town. Primitive fare, but tasty and somehow comforting.
“The sooner we get to the transport, the better,” Rees said. “I’ll go with you and Nella, but no one else. We’ll draw less attention that way.”
Rio nodded. “It’s about time I got off this rock.” He flicked his gaze around the table. “I’ll miss you all, but you can come visit me in the palace.” His grin of bravado faltered for a moment, and he stood up. “Hell, let’s go before I get maudlin.”
Nella hugged Talan and Maia and thanked them for all their help. Without them, she’d have been afraid and alone—now she had friends.
Rio hugged them as well, long and hard. Nella realized he loved them, perhaps not in the marriage sort of way, but they were his friends, true friends.
She thanked Rylan also, regretting that she hadn’t had much chance to get to know him. “When you come for your next visit,” Rylan said, a glint in his blue eyes, “we’ll show you some real games.”
Nella nodded, but hesitantly. Rylan laughed and winked at her, and she went to find Rio and Rees, who were talking quietly together near the front door.
“You’re sure you want to do this?” Rees was saying. “I know you want out of here, but you’ll be leaving behind everything you’ve known your whole life.”
“Everything I’ve known has been crap,” Rio answered. “You should know—DNAmo was much worse to you than they ever were to me.”
“I held my own,” Rees said.
“Yeah, I heard about some of the things you did to them. I’m surprised any of those researchers could still walk when you were done.”
Rees chuckled. “It wasn’t pretty.” He sobered. “You’ve been a damn good friend to me, Rio, especially when I needed it.” He glanced at Talan across the room.
“I know, I’m a sweetheart.” Rio saw Nella approaching, and held out his hand for her. “When we settle down in our palace, we’ll get you and Talan there. Right, darlin’?”
“Of course,” Nella agreed. “You and Talan are welcome anytime. I’ll even send a personal transport for you.”
Rees nodded, but he looked skeptical, likely wondering if Nella would go through with marrying Rio and staying with him. Nella didn’t blame him for wondering about her. Rio had been treated poorly by a woman before—why should Nella be any different?
“I will,” she repeated. “I promise.”
Rees simply nodded again. “We’d better go. I don’t want the pilot getting antsy and taking off without you.”
*** *** ***
The transport area for Canyon Roble was small, holding only two ships at a time, with a wide, flat area carved out of the desert to the east of it, in case they needed to house a third ship.
A third ship sat on the flat lot now, an old model powerful enough to run from the planet to the nearest space station, but no farther without a rest and refueling. These XR class small freighters were far from the elegant private liners Nella used when transporting between stations, but at the moment the tiny ship looked better than the most fabulous yacht.
She was going home.
Or at least to Station 657 where Ariel had a consulate. They would arrange passage on a liner to take her to the Station 348, which was nearest Ariel.
Interspace liners and freighters traveled from station to station—space stations alone having the technology to hurtle ships hundreds of light-years. Breaking free from a planet’s gravitational pull demanded so much energy that a ship was already spent once it reached an area where it could jump to light speed.
Space stations had been set up outside each inhabited planet’s gravity well, so the interstellar ships could simply start there. Space stations had light speed “gates” which propelled the ship to the next station, and passengers then used sublight shuttles to move from stations to planets.
Rio walked along beside her, Rees bringing up the rear. They strolled casually like people out for an morning walk. For appearance’s sake, they’d shopped a little in the market, in the middle of the village square, then wandered through the lanes that would take them toward the transports.
Rees had said the three of them alone would attract less attention, but two big Shareem, even swathed in robes, could not help but attract attention. Nella, too, was covered by robes, a hood drawn up over her beacon-red hair. The townspeople had no doubt speculated about her, wondering what kind of woman would walk around openly with Shareem.
Nella didn’t care what they thought, as long as no one stopped them getting aboard the transport.
As they made their way through a crowded, narrow artery of a street, crammed between canyon walls, someone stepped in front of Nella and yanked the hood from her head.
Nella stared in shock at the face of Linginian, and he stared back in almost as much shock.
Dimly she remembered that her eyes had changed color from Dr. Laas’s injection. Linginian, on the other hand, looked the same as always, black hair close-cropped, dark eyes narrow in a pale, narrow face.
“I found you,” he announced.
Rio shoved himself between Nella and Linginian, protecting her with the bulk of his body. At the same time, the street suddenly emptied of townspeople and filled again with patrollers in desert-colored coveralls, joining Linginian’s men, who were in gray.
“Shareem,” said the tall female leader of the patrollers. “Tell me, what’s your interest in the transport ships?”
Rio said nothing. He reached back and touched Nella’s hand, his calming Shareem touch sliding through her panic.
The patrol captain’s eyes narrowed. “Answer me, Shareem. Or I have permission to terminate you right here.
”
Nella found her voice. “You would kill him for walking through a street?”
“I would kill him for breaking the rules and trying to leave the planet. He’s Shareem. He’s only allowed to live if he proves he’s not a threat.”
Nella knew this was no time to talk about Bor Nargan politics, but the woman annoyed her. “He’s no threat to you. Or to anyone.”
“Hey, don’t ruin my reputation for being dangerous, baby,” Rio said, voice tight.
“This man should be arrested, in any case,” Linginian said, “for kidnapping.”
“He didn’t kidnap me,” Nella said. “That was you.”
“We were Bonded. I was only taking what was rightfully mine.”
“The Bond never manifested, no matter how much you tried,” Nella snapped. “My Bond-mate is standing next to me.” She put her hand on Rio’s arm, feeling the shimmer of what was between them.
“Yeah, so back off,” Rio said. “There’s nothing in the rules about a Shareem taking a stroll through the market with his Bond-mate.”
“You’re forbidden to marry,” the patroller said automatically.
“And aren’t you just grateful about that?” Rio asked.
Nella had been so focused on Linginian and worry for Rio that it took her a moment to realize that Rees had disappeared. She understood in a flash why Rio was acting all badass and antagonistic to the patrollers. He was distracting them, buying time for Rees to do whatever he would do.
Rio eyed Linginian. Rio easily towered over every person in a crowd, and now he towered over Linginian. “He thought he was good enough to be your Bond-mate?” Rio poked Linginian in the chest. “He feels wimpy to me.”
Linginian’s men instantly trained weapons on Rio.
The patrol captain glared at them, outraged. “No firearms allowed in public places on Bor Narga.”
The stone-faced guards didn’t move, but Linginian made a placating gesture. “Let’s follow the lady’s rules. No one looks like much of a threat here.”
Rio’s lips twitched, listening to Linginian insult Bor Nargan’s patrollers, who all carried stun rods and did not look one bit happy. Linginian’s men at least put away their weapons.
Tales of the Shareem, Volume 1 Page 34