by Lili Zander
The moment he’s gone, Zeke turns to me. He puts his hand on mine. “Who took you?” he asks grimly. “How did you get away?”
“It was Ragnar.” I pull out the box containing our fake identities and hand it to Zeke. “He wanted a pint of my blood.”
“Did he hurt you?” Fury dances in Nero’s eyes. “Prince or not, if he touched you, I will end him.”
“No.” I shake my head immediately. “He was very polite. He said he’d take care of the children on the Ruby Rose. His soldiers escorted me back.” Worry gnaws at me. “Just as we were leaving, Ragnar was attacked.”
“He was?” Saber’s voice betrays his tension. “How many people?”
“Six vampires. They had swords, not guns.”
“Fuck. Is that why he let you go?”
I think back to my strange encounter with the prince. Now’s not the time to tell Saber, Zeke, and Nero about Ragnar propositioning me. “No. He said that if he hurt me, it would antagonize you, and he didn’t want to do that.”
Saber barks a laugh. “It would more than antagonize me.” He types a message into his comm, and when he gets a reply, he exhales in relief. “He’s fine. ”
Phew. Thank the Spirit. “He also told me to tell you that the job offer is still open. What job offer?”
Saber shrugs. “It’s just something he mentioned on Boarus 4. Astrid wants to put me on the Ruling Council.”
My mouth falls open. After everything that happened to Saber’s grandfather, this should be the culmination of everything Saber’s worked toward his entire life. Yet somehow, he’s acting like it’s not a big deal at all.
“You knew that, and you still stole the Valiant?”
“If doing the right thing makes me ineligible for a Council seat, I don’t want it.” He thinks about what he said. “Actually, I don’t want the seat at all. I loathe politics.”
“But you’re good at it,” Zeke says.
Saber looks severely at the other man. “That is not a compliment, Zeke.”
Zeke starts to laugh, and so do I. Saber cracks a grin. Nero, on the other hand, doesn’t say anything.
Poor Nero. He was already upset about freezing up. We’d just moved on past that when Ragnar’s soldiers came for me. It doesn’t take a mind-reader to know he’s blaming himself.
Which is garbage. What happened wasn’t Nero’s fault. “I’m going to shower,” I tell him. “Join me.” I turn to Saber and Zeke. “You can too, if you’d like.”
Saber gives me a warmly appreciative smile. “The Jowth installed long-range comms,” he says. “Why don’t you shower with Nero, and Zeke and I will pilot the ship and set course for Merin?”
So he knows what I’m trying to do. Of course, he does. Saber is never stupid, and I’m not that subtle. I turn back to Nero. “Coming?”
Nero’s face remains an expressionless mask. “Okay.”
The moment we’re alone, I give him an exasperated glance. “Stop it, please.”
He doesn’t pretend like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. “I screwed up. Again.”
“Ragnar sent six humans with guns. You had to surrender your weapons at the spaceport. If you’d fought, you would have died. There was no way you were walking out alive from that situation.” I move closer to him, put my hands on his chest, and tip my face up. “I’m glad you’re alive.”
He clenches his eyes shut. “I’m glad you’re alive too.”
Okay, he’s talking. That’s progress. “You promised to pleasure me.” I run my hands down his muscled forearms. He could snap me like a twig, but he won’t. He put his life on the line today for me. Had Ragnar’s soldiers not paralyzed him, he would have fought them with his bare hands. All to protect me. “Are you going to keep your promise?”
I really want Nero right now.
“Raven…”
I grab his hands and place them on my breasts. Cannot get more direct than that. “The next words from your mouth better be: of course, I always keep my promises.”
A smile ghosts over his face. His hands squeeze my flesh; his fingers brush over my nipples. The darkness in his eyes is chased away by heat. “Of course.” He bends his head and brushes a kiss over my lips. “I always keep my promises.”
So far, every time I’ve slept with the vampires, it’s been with all three of them. This is different. It’s just Nero and me now. All his focus is on me, and all my focus is on him, and it just feels more intense.
Nero picks up on my thoughts. “You thinking this is weird without the others?”
“Not weird. Just… new.”
He takes off his shirt in one fluid motion. His gorgeous, sculpted, chest comes into view. “All this pressure,” he says, his lips twitching. “How will I manage?”
I can’t breathe. Lust short-circuits my brain. “Somehow, I don’t get the sense you’re worried.”
He laughs. Picking me up as if I weighed nothing, he carries me into the freshroom. He pushes me against the wall, and looms over me, his arms caging me in. “I don’t want to rip your dress,” he growls.
“Liar.” That’s exactly what he wants to do. I can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice.
Nero smiles at me. “You’re right; I don’t care what happens to your dress.” He bends his head. His lips graze the side of my face. His voice is a warm whisper that tickles my skin. “Get naked for me, Raven.”
Goosebumps erupt on my bare arms. I wriggle away from his grasp and take off my dress and my underthings. I don’t remove the pendant he bought for me though. The blue jewel stays nestled in the hollow of my neck.
His gaze sears me. “Very nice,” he purrs.
Desire blooms in my core, and I squirm with restless need. Nero presses me against the wall again, and the plasteel is cool on my skin. “For two days, I’ve laid in bed, wanting you. Fantasizing about you.”
“Did you touch yourself?” I ask him. I don’t know where my boldness is coming from. Maybe it’s from the sheer intensity of his desire. At this moment, Nero’s entire attention is focused on me. There’s nowhere else he wants to be. No one else he wants to be with. Just me. It’s exhilarating. “Did you fist your cock?”
He huffs a laugh. “I’m not the one with a private bedroom, sweetness.” His gaze collides with mine. “Did you?” He sucks one of my nipples into his mouth, and a wave of pleasure washes over me. My knees buckle, but he’s not letting me go anywhere. “Did you squeeze your breasts?” His fingers find my other nipple, and he rolls the engorged nub between his thumb and forefinger. “Tell me.”
“No.” I wrap my hands around his ass and pull him closer to me. I want to feel his erection. “I was too impatient. I just went straight to it.” I reach for the fastening on his pants. “Take these off.”
He kisses the side of my neck. A smile dances over his lips. “I don’t think so, baby. This isn’t going to be a quickie. We have all day, and I’m going to make it count.” He nips my earlobe, and my insides liquefy. “I’m going to make you so aroused you can’t remember your name,” he growls. “I’m going to make you beg for your release.”
“If that’s supposed to be a threat, you’re really bad at this.”
He chuckles, and then his eyes turn serious. “I love you like this,” he says. “Do you remember when we first met? You were too afraid to say a word to us. Your eyes would flare with anger, but you kept all of that rage suppressed.”
“I had to stay alive.”
“I know. You did what you had to do. I understand.” He kisses me, slow and soft. “But I’m really glad I get to see you. All of you. The bits you’ve kept hidden your entire life. I’m happy I met this Raven. The one who is isn’t afraid to challenge us. Who isn’t shy about asking for what she wants. The woman on Boarus 4…” He moves onto my shoulder, pressing small, nibbling kisses on the curve of my neck. “I was attracted to her, and I wanted to help her. But this Raven…” He cups my breasts in his hands and returns his attention to my nipples. “The real Raven is someone I cou
ld fall in love with.”
I freeze. “Love?”
His green eyes rest on me. “Are you really that surprised?”
Umm, yes. They are vampires. I am human. They are decorated soldiers. I am a poor miner. The difference between us is vast. I don’t understand why they’re with me. I asked Zeke if they were making sure I didn’t kill a bunch of vampires in a huff, but he bluntly told me that was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard.
So that theory’s been struck off the list. I have two more hypotheses though. I try one of them on Nero now. “It’s the effects of my blood,” I tell him. “I’ve been thinking about it. Something about the virus attracts vampires. That’s why Olaf Vander couldn’t stop drinking from me. That’s why the three of you are attracted to me.”
Nero bursts out laughing. The always-sexy dimple makes an appearance on his chin. “That’s a ridiculous theory. No magic virus is responsible for my feelings.”
Okay. So much for that.
“Come here,” he says, his face turning serious. He puts his finger on my chin and tilts up my face. I kiss him, long and slow, not wanting to analyze this further. Not right now, anyway. Nero’s half-naked, and I want him too much.
For a few breathless moments, nothing matters except for the way his mouth feels on me. His tongue thrusts into me, hard then soft, predatory, then teasing. He seduces me and claims me, and I rub my body against his as if I’m imprinting on his skin and kiss him back. The fog of lust thickens. “Nero, please…”
He kicks off his pants. I undo my braids. Lifting me up, he carries me into the shower, putting me down gently. He turns the water on, and steam fills the stall. He gives me a wicked smile. “Now, I have something to prove here, don’t I?”
His voice promises sin. He steps into the shower. A warm deluge drenches both of us. My hair is plastered against my skull. Drops of water cling to Nero’s skin and drip down his body. I drop my eyes and feast my gaze on his thick, hard, cock.
Lust throbs through my veins. Nero smirks at my response. His fist closes over his dick. My entire body prickles in anticipation. “That’s not fair.”
His lips twitch. “What are you going to do about it?”
I close the distance between us. Nero wraps his hand around the back of my neck, tilting my head up. Then his lips find mine again.
My nipples pebble in arousal. Nero notices. He squeezes my breasts and pinches the aching tips, then he sucks one into his mouth. “Nero,” I whimper as a surge of intense need rolls over me. “Keep doing that.”
His erection nudges my belly. I rub against him, desperately wanting him inside me. Forget the shower; it can wait. My need can’t.
“Whatever you want, Raven.” He pays each hardened peak a generous amount of attention, rolling them between his thumbs and forefingers, nibbling them with his teeth, teasing them with his tongue. By the time he’s done, I sag against him, lust weakening my knees.
“Raven,” he breathes, his voice reverent. “I want you so much.” He strokes me, caressing my curves, palming my ass. His fingers slide into my pussy, and I gasp, the sound muffled against his lips.
“I want to do something.” I wrap my fingers around his erection, and he groans, his face contorting with lust. I smile at him, loving the wild gleam in his eyes. Then I sink to my knees and take him into my mouth.
Nero throws his head back. “Ah, Raven. You don’t have to.”
“I want to.” I lick up the length of him, keeping my fingers wrapped around his shaft. “You told me you’re falling in love with me. This seems the least I can do in return.”
He closes his eyes and leans back against the wall. “Had I known this is what you were going to do,” he quips, “I’d have said it much sooner.”
His hand clenches in my hair, encouraging me to take him deeper in my mouth. I’m so turned on at his reaction. The water rains down on us; I barely notice. I establish a rhythm, alternating delicate licks with harder suction. His breath is jagged, and his cock stiffens in my mouth. “Fuck,” he groans. “What are you doing to me?”
What he’s always done to me. Make me go out of my mind with lust.
“Stop.” Nero’s hand tightens on my shoulder. “Please.” Reluctantly, I pull away. He helps me to my feet and presses a deep, searing kiss to my lips. Ignoring his own, obvious arousal, he soaps me.
By the time he’s done, I’m just as keyed up as him. “Nero,” I whimper as he dries me with a towel, each stroke kindling on an already raging fire. “Please. Just fuck me.”
“Not yet.”
Argh. It’s been far too long. Why is he torturing me like this?
He guides me to the bed. The back of my knees hits the edge, and I lie down and hold my arms out to Nero. Soft light bathes the room. Nero’s naked, and he’s gorgeous. Raw hunger fills me as I t stare at him. He’s mine. He’s here with me. I still can’t believe it, but it’s not going to stop me from savoring the moment.
“Spread your legs, love. I have to taste you.”
A shudder jolts through me at the thought of Nero’s mouth on my pussy. His fingers penetrating me, stretching me, thrusting into me. His tongue swirling lazy circles around my clit until I’m gasping his name and gripping the sheets, my entire body taut, tensed, poised for release…
A smile tips the corners of his mouth. “You like that idea.”
It’s not a question; it’s an assertion, confident and male. My head spins. The naked desire on his face is intoxicating. I spread my legs for him, and he growls. “Put your hands above your head. Grip the headboard.”
“I want to touch you.” There’s a distinct whine in my voice.
“You can either hold the slats,” Nero continues implacably, grabbing one of the many pillows on the bed and positioning it under my ass. “Or I will tie your wrists to it. Your choice.”
His dominant tone and his stern words act as fuel on my already burning lust. My nipples are so hard and tight that they ache. My clit is throbbing. Finding something to tie my hands together will take time, and I’m far too impatient. I needed Nero in the park. I wanted him in the shower. And now I burn for his touch.
I grab the headboard.
Another smile ghosts over his face. “Such a good girl.” He kneels between my legs, pushing my thighs wider, and then he leans over. He bends his head over me, and his tongue swipes a slow path up my slit.
Yes! Finally.
My fingers dig into the slats. Nero sucks my clit into his mouth, and I squirm and writhe in response. I’m so sensitive that it’s almost painful, but at the same time, I think I’ll die if he stops. It’s so good. It’s so unbelievably good.
He draws back. A whimper escapes my throat. Surely he’s not going to stop…?
“I saw you watch me,” he murmurs. “When I was flying the Valiant. Your eyes were glued to my fingers.” His thumb brushes over my clit. “Were you imagining me touching you?”
Yes. Not that I’m going to tell him that. That would be mortifying.
He chuckles against my pussy. The sound sends warm shivers through me. “Or were you imagining being impaled on the joystick?” He thrusts two fingers deep into my core.
I hadn’t then. I am now.
This time, I can’t hold back my moan. “Please…”
Once again, he pulls away. He sits back on his haunches. He reaches down and fists his cock, adjusting himself with a low groan. Then he dives into me. He licks me over and over, his strokes long and steady. His fingers trace the folds of my pussy, and desire jolts up my spine.
My back arches off the bed. Raw, intense pleasure saturates me. My muscles tighten. Nero pushes his fingers back into me, and I start to quake. “Yes,” he rasps. “Let yourself go, Raven. Come for me.”
I shatter. Wave after wave of bliss washes over me. A haze envelops my brain. Nero’s tongue doesn’t let up. He keeps licking me, relentless, his fingers digging into my thighs, keeping me open for him, prolonging my pleasure.
I break again and again and again unt
il I can’t take it anymore. I grip his shoulders. “Stop,” I gasp. “I can’t take anymore. I’m too sensitive.”
He lifts his head. My juices glisten on his chin, but he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are smug. “Enjoyed yourself?”
Spirit, yes. “Seriously, how does your ego fit in this room?”
He laughs. “It’s a ridiculously large room. Leave it to Ragnar to put a mammoth bed on a spaceship. With a window, for fuck’s sake.”
He lies down next to me, his body pressed against mine. His cock is erect. It juts out, hard and long and thick, a drop of precum on the head. I reach for it. “I want you to fuck me.”
“I know you do.” He pinches my nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. “But you were a bad girl, Raven. You took your hands off the headboard.”
Crap. I did. And he noticed. Of course, he did.
“Please don’t make me wait,” I plead, my voice catching in a hitch. Please don’t tell me he’s going to deny me, because I think I’ll cry. I’m too wound up. I need him. I need the weight of his body on mine.
My face must betray my emotions because his expression softens. “Hey, hey,” he murmurs. “It’s just a game.”
“I need you.”
I barely finish my plea when he slams into me. Hard. The breath leaves my body in a whoosh. “You have me,” he promises. Without another word, he drives into me again, his thick cock stretching me wide.
I almost sob in sheer relief.
He pulls back and then slams into me again. My pussy is puffy and swollen, and every nerve ending is on fire. I feel every inch of him as he pounds into me. His breathing is harsh, and his eyes are glazed with lust. “Raven,” he rasps. “I’ve missed this so much.”
“Me too,” I gasp as he thrusts deep into me. His hands squeeze my breasts just hard enough to send prickles of satisfaction dancing over my body. His fingers pluck my nipples, again and again. The sensation blows my mind. “Not that your ego needs any more stroking.”
