by Pearl Tate
Despite the slight burn I’m beginning to register between my legs, I’m fascinated with the mating marks coloring in above me. Teal and purple dominate the shades as they deepen in color before my eyes. While I watch, they shift, the shades moving faster and faster as he settles above me. When his thighs hit mine, I realize he’s completely inside, and I feel… full… and pinned.
There’s no way to wiggle now as I try to relax beneath him as he buries his nose in my neck, pulling me up effortlessly with one hand behind my shoulders. “Ah, Ashlyn. You feel so good. So tight. Tell me I’m not hurting you.”
My muscles are beginning to protest from being forced so wide, but his hard cock inside me doesn’t hurt at all. I was so wet and slippery from how aroused he’s made me. That definitely helped. “It feels good.” Because my words don’t hold the commitment I wish they did, he lifts his head to look into my eyes.
The only movement is the muscle jumping in his jaw before he asks, “Do you want me to stop?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
- Atticus
I hold myself frozen against Ashlyn as her eyes stare at me seriously. Our breath mingles as we pant lightly, but when she doesn’t answer, I start to worry. “Am I hurting you, Ashlyn? You’re so tight.” My scratchy voice is unusually deep as I groan out my question.
Ashlyn blinks slowly below me, and I stroke my thumb across her lips. Even though she hasn’t complained about my penetration, the sweat beading her upper brow means she must be affected. But there’s passion and need in her eyes. If I wasn’t on the edge myself, I’d have gone a little slower.
She probably doesn’t even realize her feet are digging into the back of my thighs now as she wiggles slightly below me, rocking on where I’ve impaled her. “I can tell you’re stretching me, but it doesn’t hurt. Just a little burning.”
I exhale hard in relief. My control keeps me frozen, but I want to sink all the way inside her welcoming depths. “I don’t want to hurt you, but it feels so wonderful. It’s taking all my control not to move. I’m almost all in, and you’re so tight around me. I’ve never felt anything better than this.”
Now Ashlyn begins to circle herself on me, small keening noises erupting on every exhale. She’s losing control, and I want to be with her. Pulling her upper body into my arms, I groan into her ear. “Tell me if it hurts. I’ll try to be gentle with you.”
Pushing in more, her legs tighten, wrapping further up my waist and squeezing my hips. Using my legs as leverage, she shoves me deeper inside her as she whimpers beneath me. I can’t help but chuckle as I shake my head and settle completely inside her welcoming depths. Pausing, I enjoy being buried inside my mate, stretching her open for the first time. “I’m in, my mate. We are one.”
She shivers beneath me as my words float over her tiny ear. “You’ve taken all of me, and I’ll stay right here while you adjust—no matter how long it takes.”
Ashlyn groans, and I pull back to stare into her blue eyes. They’re wide with a bit of fear—maybe pain too, but there’s so much need in them as well. Need that she’s directing at me. “Will you move now?” Her whisper is clear and almost a command.
“As you wish.” I already know I won’t last long, so I’m thankful I took care of her first. It just feels too incredible. Perfect in every way.
I’d had sex with Kaleen, but calling it sex seems wrong. This is so much more. With more feeling and more depth than I ever imagined the act could contain.
Pulling out slowly at first, I press back in gently before picking up the pace. Ashlyn writhes beneath me wantonly, digging her nails into my arms, then up to my neck, before grabbing my hair at the roots as she rocks with me. The pleasure is acute and intense as I begin to hit the top of her, and she yells, “Yes, Atticus!”
I was worried about performing, but I realize she’ll show me what she likes. Wrapping her legs higher around my waist allows me to shift my hips slightly, directing my shaft in at a new angle that has her letting out a high note in a continual scream. She bucks under me frantically as her excitement pours down my shaft and my hair follicles go wild against her.
I have to be careful not to crush her as she thrashes aggressively beneath me, rubbing herself against me wantonly. With every drive inward, she screams from ecstasy. With every withdrawal, she tightens around me and furrows her brow as if I’d leave her body completely and the pleasure it brings us both.
“Ashlyn,” My raspy apology comes almost too late. “Oh… I’m sorry.”
Groaning loudly, I drive deep into her one last time as she squirms and bucks on where we’re joined, crying out in pleasure. I slam into her faster and harder, giving her what she wants as I begin to come. She’s still gripping my hair as she thrashes and bucks, arching her back and crying out in bliss.
My cock pulses deep inside her as she clamps around me like a vise. Twitching inside her, I feel her squeeze and pull as she melts beneath me. There’s a strong sensation of warmth and pleasure as I flood deep inside her body and our combined fluids join.
Ashlyn’s breathing hard as I still over her. Peering down, I see her eyes are closed, but as the time passes, they flutter open to look at me. Shifting my weight, I brace myself on one arm while we both groan from the shift in angle where we’re connected. When her eyes meet mine, for the first time, I see tenderness.
Propping my head in my hand, I reach out with my fingers to brush her hair out of her face. My own hair’s already settling everywhere on her skin, stroking and patting in an effort to get closer to her. “Did you enjoy that?”
The smile that spread across her face is shy, a direct contradiction to her aggressive demeanor during sex. “Yes.” Color creeps up her neck, and the skin that’s already flushed on her colors deeper. “You know I did.” I’m at a loss for words as I lean into kiss her, plunging my tongue inside her mouth.
Throwing her arms around my neck, she lifts herself closer as she begins to rock beneath me. My cock responds instantly, hardening more inside her depths and I wonder if we need to stop?
I don’t want to stop… I could stay inside her warm welcoming body for the rest of my natural life.
A loud rumble interrupts the moment, and I pull from her lips, looking at her curiously. Shrugging her shoulders, she smiles sheepishly. “I guess I’m getting hungry now.”
Pressing inside her, I shift my weight onto my knees and withdraw my cock, wondering how long before we can do that again. “Let me get us some food, and then we can wash up if you’d like?”
Ashlyn looks at my still rigid cock bobbing between us with a curious expression before she opens her mouth to ask, “Do you think we could do that again after?”
I can feel the smile stretch my lips as I lean forward to peck her lips slowly before resting my forehead against hers. “Of course. Whenever you’d like… anytime… any place…”
“Anytime?” Ashlyn’s smile is huge as I pull away to see how serious she is. She talks like this is a surprise to her.
Dropping to my butt next to her, I grab her elbow to help her to a sitting position. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that’s still recovering. “Yes. Anytime. Unless we’re in the middle of an emergency out there…” I wave toward the medical clinic’s direction, “…then anytime. I live to serve you.”
Ashlyn’s lips turn up, and I can see the thoughts racing through her head. Maybe it’s because she was a virgin and new to the experience, but she appears to be as excited about the sexual future as a newly mated male Quasarian. “Okay!”
Nodding her head, I think the idea is finally settling in, and as I move to the edge of the bed, she does too. “I’ll get the food.” Waving her back, I reach for a robe, fastening it quickly. “You can stay and recover. I need you to have the energy for later.”
Winking, I watch her nod slightly before crawling back up to lean against the back of the bed. The excitement is clear on her face as she watches me leave out the door. I don’t know how I was so fortunate, but it appears I’ve be
en mated to a female with a very high sex drive. It’s a good thing I’m such a giving male.
CHAPTER TWENTY
- Ashlyn
“Hello.” Brittney’s surprised voice interrupts my quiet review of the lesson on the computer system Atticus taught me yesterday. Thankfully, after the run-in with Vekel, he showed me how to schedule the appointment requests.
Unfortunately, only about half the men around here thought to make an appointment. The other half have just been showing up, and all the small exam rooms are full and have been for the last however many hours. It’s crazy.
The good thing is, I really, really like Brittney. She’s kind and patient with me as I hesitantly explain everything, going through what Atticus originally structured for the appointments. We try to fit in new arrivals if we can. There’s no “waiting area” around here, so everyone has been placed in one of the conference rooms across the hall while they wait for a private room to be available.
“Hello. I’m Kalu Benzen with my mate, Carley. We had an appointment set for a scan that we’ve come in to have performed?” The woman next to him is dark haired and tan. Her Asian ethnicity clear in her dark brown eyes and beautiful skin.
“Yes, certainly.” Brittney’s no nonsense voice answers perfectly. I can only hope that I will be half as articulate and professional sounding when I become normal. I can’t help wondering how long it will take?
Everything got crazy so fast this morning that Atticus and I didn’t even get a chance to run a scan on me. We talked about doing it in the shower, but then we got side-tracked and were late coming into the clinic. Atticus insisted on taking care of Vekel himself without my help, and by the time he finished, I was already working on loading up the rooms with patients.
“…Ashlyn will take you over to the waiting area and come back for you as soon as a doctor and room is available.” Her bright smile dazzles them with perfect straight teeth as they nod automatically. Waving them toward me, I round the desk and lead them out of the medical bay and over to the conference room that’s already filled with five other couples.
Looking around, I realize if anyone else shows before I come to take some to another exam room, I’m going to need to get another chair. Nodding politely at the couples already there, I can’t make eye contact. Swinging around, I practically run back to the medical center.
As the doors slide open, I glance around the large space, noticing that Vekel has changed positions for the first time since Atticus finished with him this morning. He and Brock discussed using the bed in the larger room out here for exams but there are only two of them to work as examiners. It wouldn’t have made it go any quicker.
Plus, Brittney pointed out that some women won’t want to have their private business discussed out in the open like that, and I had to agree. We haven’t talked about what our own personal diseases are yet—because there just hasn’t been time.
Brittney can’t walk very well, so I’ve been trying to get her up to speed on the computer program. I can shuffle the women in and out and go get the next one from across the hall as needed. The first fifteen minutes was about the only time that was quiet before the first “walk-in” arrived.
Some of the ladies have been successful with talking their mates into waiting for another day, but a lot of them want to get the scan as early in the healing process as possible to track changes. And honestly, that’s what Atticus and Brock want too. No one’s been impatient or thrown a temper tantrum like I’ve seen my mother do multiple times when we’ve been made to wait and shuffled around. They understand the limitations of what they have on board the Discovery and seem to be taking it in stride.
I’m almost to Brittney at the computer when movement out of the corner of my eye has me swinging around in shock. Vekel is up! At least, his body is. He’s standing next to his bed with both hands flat on the surface of the mattress he was just resting on. What’s he doing?
“I didn’t think he could get up.” Brittney’s voice is behind me as I nod in agreement. Based on how he took me down yesterday, falling into me and tipping over the bed, I didn’t think he could get up either. What should I do?
He isn’t moving. Keeping an eye on the door that I know Atticus is right behind, I wonder how much longer he’ll be. I can’t approach Vekel. Atticus was very clear that I shouldn’t go near him after yesterday, and honestly, I’ve no desire to.
Under normal circumstances, a nurse would calm a patient who tried to crawl out of bed too soon. I know this. But I’m not a nurse. And Vekel isn’t really a normal patient.
Vekel’s hands begin to hover over the mattress he was laying on earlier, palms flat as he stands on his own without support. Slowly, his arms lift up so his hands sit on his temples. He still hasn’t moved as he freezes in that position.
Backing up slowly, I glance over my shoulder at the exam rooms. Still closed.
“Is this bad? What aren’t you telling me?” Brittney’s hissing whisper behind me has me just shaking my head, too afraid to take my eyes off him.
What should I do? I wasn’t given instructions on what to do if Vekel got out of bed! Who’d have thought that was possible? Yesterday, he was stumbling and falling all over himself.
Keeping my eyes glued to him where he’s frozen next to his bed located on the furthest wall away, I whisper back to Brittney, “They just aren’t sure if he’s a spy or something.” That’s really all I know.
“Or something?” Her response volume is almost normal, but really it doesn’t matter.
Vekel hasn’t moved, and I chance looking away again to glance at the exam room and then lock eyes with her. “Yeah. He was mumbling something yesterday about reporting in? He’s kind of an anomaly on the ship and was just sent up here the last time they went back to the planet. They just don’t know—”
“He’s moving!” Brittney doesn’t even try to keep her voice down as she cuts me off, almost yelling now.
Sure enough, he’s slowly walking toward the end of the bed, one hand still on his head and the other hovering out, palm down about waist height. “Where’s he going?” Brittney has the right idea to be concerned… where is he going?
At first, I think out loud, “He’s sleep walking. He’s not going to be able to open the door.” I personally have a bit of history with sleep walking after they switched my antidepressant medication when I hit puberty. After a few strange nights of waking up in other rooms, my doctor told my mother a simple lock usually does the trick. But this is an automatic door.
When it slides open soundlessly, and he’s able to navigate the door opening, not slowing down at all, I realize my time’s up. I have to tell Atticus. Now!
Tapping lightly on the exam room door, my voice is much more urgent as I call out, “Atticus! Atticus, I’m so sorry!”
If there’s one thing that’s been drilled into my head, it’s that a closed door means privacy. My mother made sure of that. I’m shaking as I cringe back from the door as it slides open.
Atticus takes one look at me and pulls me into his arms. “That uneasy feeling was you! What’s wrong?”
Brittney’s the one that answers, pointing toward the door. “The guy in the bed left. Vekel?”
Atticus pulls away, and I see Brock sprint to the exit, pushing the auto release button to make it slide open faster. Stepping into the hall, he looks right, then left before he freezes. “Where’s he going?” Arms out, he turns to look at us like Vekel gave us his itinerary on the way out!
His shocked face looks back at us all, and I shrug. “He didn’t say anything that we could hear. He just got up and stood by his bed for a few minutes.”
Atticus runs his hands up and down my arms lightly before tilting my chin up to bring my eyes to him. “You should have come and got me then. I could tell you were uncomfortable about something, but not like the panic I feel now. Why are you so worried now? It’s not your fault.”
Blinking, I realize it doesn’t make sense. Atticus isn’t my mother. He’s never
raised his voice, let alone a hand to me. “I guess… I thought he might just stand by the bed until you came out.”
“Hey!” Brock calls from the hall where he’s still watching Vekel, and we all turn to walk closer to the door. “We’d better follow him. He’s almost to the end of the hall, and I’m curious what he’s planning to do. We should keep back and find out…” Taking off at a quick walk, Brock’s gone before we know it.
Atticus turns, squeezing my upper arms. “We’re done with the couple in that room. They just had questions, so schedule them for the weekly—or bi-weekly if they’ll go that long—visit. I’ll be back.”
With a quick peck to my lips, he’s out the door and running after Brock and Vekel.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
- Atticus
As I run out of the medical center, I can easily see Brock ahead of me. Vekel’s about the same distance away on the other side of him. This male has become more trouble than I ever imagined he would.
When he was first brought into the medical center, his own sickness from withdrawal had progressed to the point where he was already so ill, he wasn’t much help. His roommate Prantus seemed as mystified by what he’d done as we were and didn’t admit to knowing him well. If I had to guess, it appeared that he planned to kill himself by discontinuing the drugs he carried to stave off withdrawal.
It makes sense. Someone gave them to him when he left the Sanctuary of the Mother where he was living with Callim Devesi and many other homeless males without families. When we went back to Quasar the last time to receive the vaccine Beth and Shelly required for Tirus X, he was a transfer to the Discovery.