“Fuck, Susa. You think I’d hold that against you?” Damon looked and sounded angry. “Borac explained everything. After your parents died, you had no living relatives in the Cejuru system and no gemate mark, so no mate to protect you. You had two choices—you could live in a home for others like yourself until you finally marked as a mate or not, or you could align with a family group and be trained as a sex surrogate for the unmated males. They were fucked up choices, but what else could you have done?”
Susa was surprised at the vehemence in his voice on her behalf. “But I did have a choice, and I chose to be a sex surrogate. The other option would’ve killed my soul. The homes for the unmarked were filled with despair. The unmarked women had no hope of ever finding a mate, and everyone knew it.”
Susa looked at her hands which she’d unconsciously fisted in the sleeves of his dress shirt. She released the fabric and crossed her arms, hugging herself around the waist. “I selected a life where I could, for a time, fool myself I was loved—well, not loved exactly—but desired, needed.”
“That’s understandable.” His voice was calmer, and his words rang with truth and acceptance.
Susa peered at him through her lashes. “You really don’t care that I had sex to keep a roof over my head?”
“Fuck no.” Damon cupped her face in one large, but gentle hand. “Does it bother you that I’ve had lots of women?”
“No. All males do, don’t they?” She had no clue how males outside of Cejuru system dealt with women, but Prime males never denied themselves sexual release.
“Not always, but often they do until they find the one woman for them.” Damon grimaced, and she bet he was thinking about Bria. “Some men still take other women even when they have a woman who is theirs and has given them children. I, however, wasn’t raised that way. When I’m with a woman—no matter if it is for one evening, two weeks, or forever—I’m only going to be with that woman.”
Susa’s mood lifted. Though, that was more information than she’d asked for, it was good information. Now, she knew if this man committed to a woman, he’d be faithful. He also admitted, whether he realized it or not, he was open to finding the one woman for him.
All the signs seemed to indicate he was the man the One had chosen for her. But could he accept that … accept her?
There was only one way to find out.
Fear eating away at her stomach, she’d throw caution to the solar winds and take the risk to see if this man was hers—and she, his. But how did a woman ask a man to have sex with her?
Damon’s expression was warm, but his wants and needs were hidden behind that thick wall of his. Unable to read him, her newfound resolve quickly foundered.
“Susa.” Damon moved his hands to her upper arms and lowered his forehead to touch hers. “I’m very attracted to you.”
She let out the breath she held. Unexpected relief drained the tension out of her. She hadn’t read his reactions to her wrongly.
“I will sleep by your side every night, but”—There was always a but—“you don’t really know me. You should know the person with whom you wish to share your body. Also, I’m supposed to be protecting you, and I take that responsibility seriously.”
“I don’t see you as a danger.” Her voice a mere whisper, she traced his lips with the tip of her tongue. His scent grew muskier and his eyes went opaque with arousal. “I’m very attracted to you. And for the first time in my life, I can choose the man I wish to share my body with.”
Damon didn’t say a word, but the pulse in his neck beat rapidly. He caressed her cheek with his thumb for several long seconds. With a sound between a grunt and a growl, he lowered his lips to meet hers, a gentle brushing, followed by a slight nip to her lower lip.
Susa gasped at the small bite of pain. Damon took advantage and swept his tongue into her mouth, claimed her just as she’d imagined her people had claimed the majority of the galaxy many millennia ago—forcefully and thoroughly.
Her knees went weak. She wound her arms around his neck and leaned into his kiss, giving him the weight of her body.
Damon pulled her more tightly against him, one hand clasped the back of her head and the other cupped her bottom. The evidence of his arousal pulsed against her abdomen.
Her soul shouted yes and her heart beat to match his. Her body recognized and welcomed this man’s touch on a level she’d never experienced before.
Sinking into the wonder of his kiss, she played with the rough silk of his hair and tangled her tongue with his. His taste was decadent, addicting, and she knew she’d crave the exotic, rich flavor of his kiss again and again.
Susa’s immediate submission to his kiss snapped the tenuous hold on his libido. Falling into instinct, he deepened the kiss as he swept her into his arms and carried her out of the dressing area and into the bedroom. He lowered her to the bed and followed her down.
Damon covered her body with his and was careful to keep his weight off her more fragile body. Her breathy, mewling cry and the sensual undulations of her body beneath his incited a need to strip her bare and plunge his painfully throbbing cock into her warm, silken depths until they both exploded with pleasure.
Then he recalled their conversation before he’d claimed her mouth. “For the first time in my life I can choose the man I wish to share my body with.”
His conscience raised its cock-blocking head. She was under his care, and the circumstances had thrown them into a highly intimate situation. The fact remained she didn’t know him. One hot kiss hadn’t changed that.
Of any woman Damon had ever been attracted to, Susa, more than most, needed to “date” him before they had sex. He refused to use her to get his rocks off, as the previous men in her life had. She was more than a body.
Slowly, reluctantly, Damon pulled away from their kiss and moved off her to lie next to her. His dick wasn’t happy with him, but it was the right thing to do. If the attraction between them was this potent now, it would be even more so later, or that was his rationale.
He turned on his side, then stroked a hand up and down her arm in a soothing motion. “Susa, we need to slow down. Most men and women go on dates, share about likes and dislikes, and kiss, cuddle, and pet before having intercourse. You’ve never had such an experience before, and I think you need it.”
“Don’t you want me?” she whispered with more than a hint of hurt and a big dollop of confusion in her voice.
“I want you more than my next fucking breath, but—”
Her golden eyes glistening, she turned to face him and framed his face with both hands. “But?”
Taking her hands in his, he brushed a kiss over one then the other. “You are special. You aren’t a commodity to be bought or traded—or kept in a fancy house and visited when some man gets the urge to rut.” Like the damn Caradocs. “You deserve to be wined and dined and wooed. And that’s what I intend to do.”
Her lips trembled, and the wetness that had made her eyes shine trailed down her high cheekbones.
Fuck, he’d made her cry. “Aw, sweetheart.” He cuddled her closer.
Susa shook her head. “I’m not crying because I’m upset. I’m crying because you had the strength and honor to stop and show me that my trust in you is more than deserved.”
Damon wiped her tears away with a gentle swipe of his thumb.
“Okay,” Susa took a deep breath and gave him a smile, “let’s date.”
“Yes, let’s.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “We’ll revisit the topic of intercourse in, let’s say, a week.”
“A week?” She creased her forehead and her voice held disbelief and—gratifyingly as far as he was concerned—a lot of frustration. “Um, from what I’ve heard from my Alliance friends, dates are usually three to four standard hours or so each, is that about right?”
Wanting her closer, he pulled her against him until her head rested on his chest. He rubbed his cheek over the top of her silky hair, enjoying the feel and smell of her. “Yeah, about th
at. Where are you going with this, Susa?”
“Well, if we spend seven standard days, each comprising twenty-four-standard-hour cycles, that’s six dates each daily cycle and forty-two dates for the week. And you’ll be with me during that whole time. So, I expect even the slowest couples have sex long before their forty-second date.”
He threw back his head and laughed. Her reasoning was priceless, and she was correct, he’d be by her side every single hour during the next week.
Susa poked him in the ribs.
“Ouch, you little hell cat. What did you do that for?” Damon rubbed the spot.
“I was being serious.” She chuffed and sounded like the hell cat he’d named her.
“I know—and I loved your logic.” He nuzzled her ear. “It made perfect sense. Hell, I know couples on my home planet, one of the most puritanical societies in the galaxy, who got married after ten dates.” He tipped up her chin and stared into her eyes. “Nice try—but we’ll still plan on revisiting the topic of sex in a week.”
“Really?” She pushed away, her hands braced on his chest. Her eyes narrowed, and her chin had a stubborn set to it. “How about a half standard week?”
Damn, she was cute. He grinned and shook his head. “Why the rush? We’re on the ship for at least four standard weeks. So, there’s no reason to take this too fast, is there?”
“I guess so.”
She didn’t sound so sure. In fact, there was something—no, he couldn’t quite pin what it was down. Empathy only went so far. He’d get what was urging her to take their relation to a more intimate level out of her sooner or later.
“So, was tonight our first date?” she asked.
What tack was she taking now? He nodded.
“What’ll we do on our next one? I really enjoyed fleecing those smug men at cards.” She grinned.
“And I loved watching you do it.” Damon brushed his mouth lightly over hers. “We’ll go over the schedule of events and pick some over breakfast tomorrow.”
“Sounds good, and, tonight—” Her lashes lowered hiding the look in her eyes. The tone in her voice was hesitant. “Can we share the bed and do all those things you mentioned earlier? The cuddling, kissing, and petting? Please?”
Cuddling her barely clothed body all night? What in the seven hells of Jupiter had he gotten himself into? It would be pure torture. But he couldn’t deny her plea, especially since he wanted to hold her more than he wanted his next breath.
“Of course. Snuggling is definitely on.” He turned onto his back, keeping her close to his side. Her head nestled on his chest. “We’ll kiss and share as many touches as we can handle.”
“Thank you, Damon.” Her eyes misty, she smoothed a hand over his chest where his heart pounded and an odd, but not painful, burning sensation had settled over his skin.
Her touch ignited a deep-rooted need inside him. Wanting her even closer, he pulled her fully on top of him, cupped the back of her head, and brought her face to his. “Now, let’s do some of that promised kissing, petting, and cuddling before we get ready to turn in for the night. I’m already addicted to the way you taste and feel.”
“It’s the same for me.” She nuzzled along his jaw as she unbuttoned his dress shirt. “You smell and taste … right.”
Chapter 15
Day One, Dreamcaster
Damon woke up to the first full day on the cruise, surrounded by Susa’s luscious scent and the feel of her curvaceous body snuggled along his side, one arm over his abdomen and one leg thrown over his thighs. Sometime, during the night, she’d gravitated from her side of the bed toward his. Her knee was delicately lodged right next to his morning erection, both a joy and fucking uncomfortable.
He savored her using him as a body pillow. He tenderly moved a silky lock of hair off her cheek and smiled when she snuffled and curled into him even more tightly.
Carefully, he moved out from under and away from her. He grinned as she murmured something unintelligible and burrowed into the warm spot he’d left. Reluctantly, he got out on his side of the bed, then stood watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so sweet and innocent in sleep. Almost angelic. She was far too tempting.
His cock was hard. He’d like nothing better than to crawl back in, pull off the silky tank top and sleep shorts she wore, and change that look of angelic innocence to one of sexual need for him.
But they weren’t at that point—yet.
They’d agreed on a week to get to know one another.
A week? With just cuddling and kissing? What the fuck had he been thinking?
He’d keep his word even if it killed him, because it was important that he abide by his promises—all his promises. He had no specific knowledge of what had happened to her in the past, and, quite frankly, he didn’t want to think of her with other men, especially the Caradoc brothers. But he was certain that a lot of what happened to Susa hadn’t fully been her decision. Therefore, it was important that when she had sex with him, it would be her choice based on knowing what kind of man he was.
After giving her a gentle touch to her cheek, Damon hurried into the suite’s bathroom. He took a shower and handled his hard-on himself. He figured he’d be doing that a lot over the next week.
A week? What had she been thinking when she’d agreed to Damon’s plan?
Susa cracked an eye open and watched his ass flex as he walked into the bathroom. The man had a gorgeous, bite-worthy ass, and the pajama bottoms he’d worn did absolutely nothing to hide it or his huge erection.
Groaning softly, she buried her face in his pillow and inhaled his scent as she slid her fingers down into her sleep shorts and fingered herself to a quick and not completely satisfying orgasm. Quick because she pictured him in her mind’s eye jerking off in the shower as he thought of her. Not completely satisfying because she could imagine how his cock would fill her and make her come even harder.
They were both crazy in thinking they could make it a week. Plus, if what she suspected was true and they were mating, the attraction between them would only get stronger.
So far, the signs definitely indicated they were, albeit in a reverse fashion from a true Prime mating. In a true mating, the marking would’ve appeared first as a result of compatible neurochemistry. But where one of the couple was non-Prime, mating took a different course. First, there was intense and mutual attraction, followed by increased psi abilities—the spirit and mind part of the Prime mating trinity. The completion of the mating bond would be when the couple joined physically and marked, or not. After that point, no other person in the universe would make either of them happy—ever.
For a dominant male like Damon, his instinct would drive him to claim her so no other man could. Sooner, rather than later.
And Susa was okay with that. While she espoused the line of being independent and making her own choices, she also desired a mate and a family. Finding her mate, and a potential gemat at that, so quickly was both a blessing and a worry. A blessing because she’d never thought she’d have a mate in the Prime way. A worry because something could happen to prevent the final stage of mate bonding. The One worked in mysterious ways and made no absolute promises. But she’d be a fool to ignore this opportunity to achieve her heart’s desire.
Damon was very much a man of his word. He’d wait that week, and probably not one second less, before he took her to bed and made her his. Damn his honorable hide.
What concerned Susa was while she was thrilled with the mating aspect of their emerging relationship, he might not be. So, while a week seemed like forever and their time together would be filled with temptation and frustration, waiting might be a good thing. The week would give her a chance to show him how compatible they were. They’d have a chance to grow closer and learn all about each other, even as their neurochemistry continued to bind them together.
She turned her face into the pillow and moaned. A week? It would be both a blessing and a curse.
Susa ate the pancakes Damon had ordered for h
er while she’d showered and dressed. He relished sitting across from her and sharing a meal. He felt content, something he couldn’t ever recall feeling.
A happy geep drew Damon’s attention. The little furball sat on the table next to Susa’s place setting and wolfed down huge amounts of food. At first, he had objected to the Ragbag sitting on the table. She protested that Geep was clean, since she’d bathed the little furball herself.
Damon had given in, mostly because he hadn’t want to linger on the topic and think about a naked Susa sharing a shower with the plant-spider hybrid when it should’ve been Damon in there with her. Besides, Geep had to eat, and he couldn’t sit in a chair like a human. As long as Geep didn’t come between Susa and Damon, he’d continue to tolerate the creature.
Geep showed his teeth, one row, his version of a smile. Detente seemed to have been achieved.
Damon looked at Susa and had to grin. He reached across the small round table and swiped some syrup from her chin, then sucked the sticky sweet stuff off his finger. “Good.”
“Want a bite?” She offered a bit of her pancake drenched in so much syrup his back teeth ached merely thinking about it. “I’ll share.”
Geep mrrfed. His fur stood on end as he greedily eyed her offering.
She frowned at Geep. “You had a full plate of pancakes, twice as much as mine, and eggs and whatever that meat was. Damon only had oatmeal and fruit. This is his bite.” She nudged a bowl with the remaining berries toward the little creature. “Here, have some fruit. It’s good for you.”
Geep hummed and dug in happily.
Susa turned back to Damon and raised the fork again with the dripping piece of pancake. “Come on, you know you want some.”
Fuck yeah, he wanted some—of her lips, her chin … of anywhere she’d let him taste. Instead, he covered her hand and guided the bite of pancake into his mouth. The blast of sugar had him drinking coffee to dilute the too-sweet taste.
“Good, huh?” Susa grinned. “I’ll have to use the workout sim room and program a long run on a beach to work off all these calories. I’ll make Geep go with me, because I’m not sure where he puts it all. If we eat like this every day, you’ll have to cart both of us off the ship on a luggage droid.”
Prime Target Page 17