Shadow

by Laurann Dohner

  Her breathing changed a little, increasing in pace as her eyes widened. “Do you want to keep me?”

  “Don’t be afraid.”

  “I’m not. I’m asking a question.”

  “I would never force you to stay where you didn’t want to be. I just want you in my bed.”

  “I’m not them, you know.” She swallowed. “I don’t want to have different sexual partners. I’m not opposed to dating you.” Her gaze dropped to his chest and stayed there, her embarrassment showing again in her cheeks. “That is, if you want to try out being my boyfriend. I’d prefer to have a monogamous relationship.”

  He released her hip to cup her face. It was so delicate in his hand. She met his gaze.

  “I mean,” she spoke quickly, anxious. “I don’t want anybody else and I would hope you wouldn’t, you know, sleep around.”

  “You really don’t know much about Species males.” He wanted to pick her up and carry her to his bed so much he actually ached to do it.

  “Is it wrong to hope you won’t have sex with other women and that maybe we could try to have a real relationship?”

  He backed up but kept hold of her, urging her to follow. She did and his dick throbbed, filling with blood. He wanted her so much it hurt.

  “You are telling me that I can have and keep you.” He winced a little at how deep his voice sounded but hormones raged inside him. “Big turn-on,” he admitted, softening his tone. “It makes me want to claim you.”

  Interest sparked in her gaze. “What does that mean?”

  He groaned, wanting to show her instead of vocally detailing it for her. “It means you shouldn’t say that to me unless you really mean it. I’d keep you in my bed, Beauty. You don’t need to worry about me with other females. I already avoid them. You’re the only one who tempts me to the point where I’d face anything to touch you.”

  They stopped by the bed and her lips parted, her surprise clear. “Really?”

  She was so small but she could bring him to his knees. Muscle mass and physical strength had nothing on her when she placed her palm on his lower stomach. Her smooth fingertips rubbed and made him want to howl. Pleasure from such a light touch rushed through his system from his brain to his dick.

  “I could be really bad at this, since we’re being so honest. I’ve read books and watched porn on the internet.” She blushed again but kept eye contact. “Should I, um, take off your boxers? I know guys enjoy oral sex. I’ve never actually done that but I know the basics.”

  It would be a miracle if he didn’t die before morning. He was going to have to kill himself with restraint. A memory flashed of one of the videos he’d been shown. It had been a camera angle panning down with a human woman on her knees taking a male inside her mouth. The sight had been appealing and made him release his seed but he’d never had it done to him. He shook his head quickly, terrified of shocking her by his raw animalistic reaction or losing control if she attempted that.

  “No.” His voice came out as a snarl and he winced. “Let me tend to you.” It would be all about her. He swore that.

  “Are you angry?” She tried to remove her hand but he covered it with his own, holding it against his stomach.

  “No. I’m turned-on. Very much so. My voice deepens and I might make scary sounds. Ignore them.”

  She nodded. “I have heard those sounds through the walls when the women next door had men over. I expected it but I know you’re still upset with me.”

  “I’m not,” he swore, already over her catching him masturbating. Now he was focused on getting her into his bed. “You’re going to need to trust me. Can you do that?”

  “I already do.”

  Yeah, I’m going to die before morning. Beauty was going to kill him. She was so sweet he just wanted to eat her. He smothered a growl at the mental image of her spread out on his bed with his mouth between those pale thighs, licking her pussy. He released her completely to step away.

  “Take off your nightgown and lie on your back in the middle of my bed. There’s no need to feel shy. You’re beautiful.”

  Beauty hoped she wouldn’t faint. She felt lightheaded and her heart raced so fast it felt as if it might explode from her chest. It wasn’t fear she felt but close. Shadow was going to touch her and she’d finally get to understand why the women at the dorm invited men into their rooms.

  Shadow was sexy and big, two things she appreciated. He was the kind of man she’d had fantasies about since she’d gained her freedom. He was strong, intelligent, and she knew he’d actually tend to her, just as he said. She wanted to know what that entailed. First though, she’d have to find the courage to remove the nightgown. He’d already seen her naked but that had been an accident.

  Her hands shook as she gripped the hem of the thin cotton and pulled it up slowly. His gaze riveted on her thighs and the hungry expression on his face encouraged her to just whisk it off. His tongue darting out to wet his lips implied he liked what he saw as he openly stared at her breasts.

  She glanced down, wondering what he was thinking. Her boobs weren’t perfect, a little on the small side, and they were currently showing that his room was a bit chilly since the window was open to allow in the evening breeze. She hoped he didn’t hate the way they looked puckered up tightly.

  It took a lot of restraint not to put a hand down to cover her mound. She had a little hair there, unlike other Species women. Will that matter? Turn him off? She hoped not. It embarrassed her slightly when he looked lower, fixing on that fact.

  “It’s just a little,” she whispered. “Should I shave it off?”

  He shook his head. “No.” His voice came out odd, kind of raspy.

  “Are you okay?” Concern over his well-being overrode some of her shyness. He had issues too, something she wasn’t about to forget.

  “Yes,” he replied more firmly, in a slightly deeper tone.

  She swallowed hard and stepped closer to his bed. The sheets and blankets were tossed at the end where he’d thrown them when he heard her scream. She had to climb up on it—Species’ beds were higher than those she’d slept on before moving to Homeland. Species were tall and they tended to take that into consideration when buying or building furniture. Gift Species just had to make do with hip-high mattresses.

  A deep growl from behind her made her pause and look back as she crawled to the center of the bed. Shadow had turned, his intense stare locked on her bent ass. She hated the way her cheeks warmed, knowing he could see everything from that position. He didn’t look angry though, just really fixated on her body. She glanced at his boxers and it prompted her to roll over onto her back.

  He looked huge down there. His cock was hard, thick, and barely contained inside the material that was pulled taut in the front. The waistband actually wasn’t touching his stomach in the center anymore because he was so aroused. Shadow was well hung, a saying she’d learned in romance novels she’d begun to read. A little anxiety arose but she figured it would be okay. Sex books had also been on her reading list. They claimed a woman’s vagina would stretch to accommodate a penis, even if it didn’t seem possible to her way of thinking.

  She settled flat and waited for instructions, peering at him to see what he’d do next. He didn’t remove his boxers but instead walked to the end of the bed, put a knee on the mattress and it dipped with his weight.

  “Spread your thighs apart and bend your knees up.”

  A shiver ran down her spine at how he growled the words. It was sexy and kind of wicked, in the best way, showing his animal side. Species men were known for being protective of women and she liked that side of him being more prominent than the human one.

  “No kissing first?” She thought that was how sex started.

  His gaze lifted to hers. “You said you’d trust me.”

  Beauty tried to relax but it was difficult. “I do. I’m not turned-on yet and…” She wanted to die from embarrassment. “I, um, I’m not ready for you to go inside me. You’re big. I read that
the wetter I am, the easier it will happen.” Shadow had admitted it had been a while for him so maybe he had forgotten. She wanted to work with him so they could help each other. “You can take off your boxers. You won’t scare me.” She glanced down his body. “They don’t really hide your size anyway and I’ve seen it.”

  “I’m not going to just mount you from the front immediately.” He bent forward and his hands flattened next to her knees until he was over her lower legs. “I want you open for my mouth.”

  Her eyes widened and she fisted the flat sheet under her. “Oh.” She knew he meant oral sex. “Um, are you sure you want to do that?”

  One eyebrow lifted. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  Beauty glanced at one of his broad shoulders, unable to keep looking him in the eye. “I’ve never done that before or had it done. I mean, what if I…” She couldn’t say it, sealing her lips.

  “You won’t enjoy it? I’ll make sure you do.”

  She glanced into his dark, piercing gaze. “What if I don’t taste good?” There. She’d said it.

  His nose flared as he inhaled and another low growl came from him. “You will. You smell incredible. Sweet. I’m Species.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I want to. I need to taste you. I crave it.” He took a heavy, shuddering breath. “Open up for me and stop thinking. Just feel. Trust me, Beauty.”

  She hesitated, not sure she could expose herself that intimately. She experienced a new level of vulnerability but that moment was about trust. She wanted to know how it would feel to be touched and it wasn’t going to happen if she didn’t do as he said.

  Shadow reached out and his big hands caressed the tops of her thighs. “Just open them for me. It’s that easy. Lift them up and spread your knees apart. Please.”

  His voice held an intensity that made her want to do anything he asked. The soft plea was all she needed to relax and let go of her inhibitions. She bent her knees, drawing her feet out from under him, and pulled them up to her chest. She released the sheet to grip her knees as she spread them. Her eyes closed, unable to stare into his anymore to gauge his reaction. Doubt nagged her. She had a tuft of hair on her mound when others didn’t and she was smaller in build. It might turn Shadow off.

  The snarl made her start and her eyes flew open to stare at his face. He wasn’t holding her gaze though, instead he was staring between her legs where she was completely exposed. He licked his lips and lowered his body until he was flat on the bed with his face directly over her lap. He glanced up and she noticed the color of his irises seemed darker, nearly black. It wasn’t her imagination.

  “Keep them spread open to me. Don’t hold back.” Two big hands gently settled on the inside of her thighs, pushing her legs farther apart. “I want to hear your sounds. It will help me learn what you like best.”

  My sounds. She nodded though, unable to trust her voice to speak. She felt as if a lump had formed inside her throat that might choke her.

  His head dipped and she squeezed her eyes closed, tense despite trying to loosen her muscles. Hot breath fanned along the seam of her pussy and she jumped when he nuzzled the lips of her sex. It felt as if his chin had brushed against the top of her mound.

  “Soft,” he whispered. “I like the hair.”

  That’s good that he likes it, right? She hoped so. It sounded as if he didn’t mind. She regretted not shaving it off.

  His thumbs, at least she thought that’s what he used, parted her sex lips and she gasped when a hot tongue gently licked across her clit. It came as a shock to feel someone else touch her there but the fact that he used his mouth really had her heart racing. He did it again slowly and applied a little more pressure. He came at her again, doing it over and over.

  A soft moan rose and she let it out through parted lips. Her breathing increased and she clawed at the bed. It nearly hurt but in a good way. It was as though he touched her soul so intensely that she couldn’t build a mental shield to block out the sensations that flooded her with each flick of the strong muscle manipulating her lower half. It stripped her bare, heart and essence, until nothing was left but each rasp of his tongue.

  He growled and vibrations were added against the bundle of nerves that seemed to become her entire being. There was just Shadow and his mouth. She forgot where they were, forgot her discomfort at being so defenseless under him and only focused on the pleasure that grew brighter and hotter. He felt much better than her own fingertip, which had rubbed that area to find release. The comparison seemed unfair. It became too much until she couldn’t take any more, her knees trying to slam together. He was going to kill her if it continued.

  Strong hands clamped tighter around her inner thighs, holding her open. His lips sealed around her swollen clit and sucked while still rubbing his tongue back and forth rapidly. Beauty thrashed under him, begging with words she couldn’t control or understand. She doubted he could either since they were more whimpers than speech. He was going to kill her.

  Something inside her broke free, excruciating pleasure tearing through her, making her buck and scream out Shadow’s name. He snarled, tearing his mouth away as she panted. Her body slowly relaxed as she came down from the high of a near-brutal climax. Her eyes opened and she watched as he released her thighs.

  Shadow crawled up and over her until he hovered inches above her body. His breathing was harsh as their gazes held. She released the bed and reached for him, wanting to touch him just to feel grounded to life again. Warm flesh and firm muscle met her hands as they opened to grip his shoulders.

  He broke eye contact to look between their bodies and she followed his focus. He’d shoved down the boxers to mid-thigh and the sight of his cock stunned her. It was as big and thick as she remembered but she was surprised to discover it was a bit red without him having touched it first. She wondered instantly if that hurt.

  “Beauty,” his voice sounded gruff. “Tell me yes.”

  She jerked her focus away from his hips. He watched her with a concentration that was almost frightening. She nodded, unable to speak. Some of the tension left his handsome features as he lowered over her. His cock bumped against her pussy and she realized what she’d just agreed to.

  He used his arms to brace his weight to avoid crushing her. His hips were between her thighs, making it possible for him to spread his legs to force hers to move a little higher and hold them open. He didn’t use his hands to guide the crown of his cock to her body. It was so stiff that he just had to adjust his hips and push against her.

  Flashbacks of pain replayed inside her mind but he didn’t just ram his man-part inside her roughly. He gently breached her. The slow sensation of her vaginal walls being stretched by the broad girth of his cock didn’t cause pain. She was so wet that he was able to enter her without difficulty, though his sheer size made her very aware of him. Her gaze fixed on his face.

  Shadow’s eyes were closed and he was the one who seemed to be in pain. His lips were parted and his fangs bit down on his generous lower lip. Sweat beaded his brow as every muscle in his face seemed drawn taut, almost into a grimace. Worry for him hit hard and fast, obliterating her apprehension.

  “Shadow?”

  He stopped moving, his breathing ragged, and his eyes opened.

  Her hands petted him, soothed him with caresses. “It’s okay.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he growled.

  “You aren’t.” She could say that with honesty.

  He moved slowly, withdrew almost totally from her body before applying enough weight to push his cock back inside her a little deeper. It was a tight fit but there wasn’t any pain. She glanced away from him to look into the space between their bodies. There seemed a lot more of him for her to take.

  She shifted her legs and hiked them higher to wrap around his hips. She held his gaze. He’d made her feel really good and she wanted him to find that with her too. They were physically linked. Her belly quivered as he sank into her deeper, a strange but not di
stasteful feeling. Beauty watched him close his eyes again and his head tipped back as he growled.

  He paused, withdrew, pushed back inside, this time a little faster, and she gasped. It was a good sensation. Strange but she liked it. He stopped and stared at her face.

  “Release me. I’ll go into the bathroom.”

  Beauty knew what he would do in there. He’d take care of his own needs but she wanted to be the one to do that for him. Her legs clamped tighter around him and she wiggled her hips. Her soft moan surprised them both when the motion seated him a little deeper inside her and touched something that felt really good. She remained locked around him and repeated the motion. It really felt wonderful and she kept going, squirming just to have him touch her there again and again.

  “Beauty,” he rumbled her name, his voice thick with desire. “I’m losing control. I want you too bad and I’m so close.”

  His knees spread a little more and then he began to move in and out, fucking her in a deliberate pace that wasn’t quite fast but hit that spot every time. She closed her eyes, concentrating on Shadow. His chest rubbed her sensitive nipples and his cock was so hard it could have been made of stone. He entered her a little deeper, his hips bucked faster, and they both had a difficult time breathing.

  “I can’t hold back,” he snarled, suddenly driving into her deeper as his body began to quake over hers, rough jerks as his muscles seemed to spasm.

  Her eyes flew open wide when the first burst of hot heat filled her. His dick seemed to be growing larger and thicker as his thrusts slowed, keeping him buried deep inside her. Another hot stream of heat shot into her and he lowered his face suddenly into the cradle of her throat.

  She gasped when pleasure suddenly struck, his harsh, jerky movements sending her over the edge again. His cock hit that wonderful spot inside her and seemed to stay there, a throbbing pulse. Her fingernails dug in as she cried out his name.

  He managed to keep his weight braced off her for the most part when it ended. They were both panting, sweat trickling between their bodies. Beauty allowed her cheek to rest against his where he kept his face buried at her throat. Her hands slid from his shoulders to hug him tightly, not wanting to let go. She smiled, understanding finally why other Species women invited men into their rooms.