by Leslie Chase
"I did not," Laura protested, trailing a hand across his chest. Rorax felt his pulse quicken at her touch, and brought his free hand to hers, holding it tightly to him.
"I'm going to hold you to it anyway," he whispered, drawing her close. "If you can stand the sight of me after this mess."
She giggled, unable to keep a straight face at all. "Oh God, Rorax, I don't want to look at anything else as long as I live!"
With that, Laura lowered herself against him and kissed him hard on the lips. Even through her spacesuit, her body felt too good to be believed, and Rorax pulled her against him, his mouth claiming hers as they lay together. The kiss was electric, and he could feel her heart pound as their tongues met.
Rolling over, he pinned her to the ground, and she gasped into his mouth. Her hands grabbed at him, pulling him tight and close until eventually they had to part for air.
"I thought I was never going to see you again," Laura gasped, shaking her head.
"I'll always come back for you, Laura, you know that," Rorax said. "You can count on me. Just like I can count on you to come for me, if I need you."
Her pretty face flushed at the double meaning, and he grinned and kissed her again. His injuries, his exhaustion, all were forgotten. Laura's presence was enough to make him feel whole again, no matter what. He could feel himself hardening as she squirmed under him, her body responding just as eagerly as his was.
"And now I'm going to make you come for me," he growled into her ear, and she rewarded him with a gasp, her fingers digging into him. Wordlessly, she nodded, pulling at her spacesuit.
Rorax rose to let her undress, watching raptly as she pulled off the outer suit. He could have helped, but he would rather watch her, see her bare her skin for him. And she was quicker than he would have been, at least without damaging the suit.
"Stop," he ordered as she dropped the undersuit and stepped towards him. She froze in place, a delightful flush spreading from her cheeks down her neck to her breasts as he looked at her, enjoying every inch of her body. He looked her up and down, slowly, carefully. This was a moment he wanted to treasure. Every moment with his mate was precious, but this was the first where they were safe with each other, safe from pirates and from threats.
There was nothing but her, and him.
Laura bit her lip and mock-glared at him, then turned, letting him get a good look at her from every angle, swaying to some music that he couldn't hear. Rorax felt himself stiffen as she moved, and her eyes went to his cock. The smile that bloomed on her face showed a delight that made him want her even more.
"Come here," he said, and to his surprise she shook her head.
"My turn, first," she whispered. "Let me see you."
Her voice was soft, joyful, pleading all at once, and he chuckled. Standing as best he could in the tent, he turned, feeling her eyes trace across his body as he had looked at hers. Once they were facing each other again both of them were breathing quickly and Rorax could see the fire in her eyes as she looked up into his. The need, the urgency, both of them mirrors to his own.
"I never want to be apart from you again," he said, stepping closer. She stepped towards him, and he could feel the heat of her body inches from his own.
"You never have to be," she whispered, reaching for him. Rorax took her hand, holding it, and she looked up at him, swallowing. He almost laughed at that. This was a woman who had faced down dragons, who had thrown herself into danger for him, but now she was frightened? What could possibly intimidate her?
Pressing her hand to his chest, he spoke.
"You are my mate, Laura," he told her. "Mine. You don't have to face anything on your own, ever again, and nor do I. Whatever the future holds for us, we'll face it together."
She nodded, breath catching as he claimed her with words. Now it's time to do it with deeds, he thought, sliding his hands over her full, firm breasts as he leaned in to kiss her softly. Squeezing gently, he admired them, loving the smooth sensation of her skin under his palms, feeling her body respond to his touch. Her nipples hardened as he caressed her with tender, careful attention, and her hands traced across his chest as he explored her.
Laura's breath caught with a small cry as he squeezed her nipples, pinching gently but firmly. Her body arched and her eyes half-closed at the sensation, her fingers tensing on his skin. Oh, you like that, don't you? Rorax thought with a groan of joy, pulling a little harder. Laura gasped, trembling.
Both sank to their knees as they kissed, and Laura's hands stroked lower, seeking Rorax's iron-hard cock. But Rorax had other plans for her, and pushed her down on her back, lowering his head to her chest and sucking a nipple into his mouth. Biting down softly, he felt her arch up, pressing her breasts to him with an eager need that only made him harder for her.
"Oh God, Rorax, please," she gasped, pulling at him. He could hear how close she was already, and the thought made him smile. But he had other plans.
"Not yet, love," he growled. "Not until I'm ready."
Slipping between her legs, he pulled them apart and lowered his mouth to her with a firm kiss. The touch of his lips to her clit made Laura buck under him. Rorax had to grip her hips to hold her still as he kissed and licked her, sucking her clit into his mouth for his tongue to play over. Her hands grabbed at his hair, holding him tight, and he felt her body go wild under him. She was so close, he could feel it, and it felt so wonderful to be the man that brought her there.
"Please," she begged, losing the last of her reserve. "Rorax, that feels so good, don't stop!"
She hardly needed to ask, he couldn't have kept himself from her if he'd wanted to. The taste of her was overwhelming, and Rorax lapped at her silky folds, enjoying the sounds he wrung from her, the little whimpers and moans, the pleading words. Nothing in all the worlds he'd known had compared to this, to her. Nothing could ever match the pleasure of being so connected to his mate.
Closing his lips around her, he sucked and licked, pressing his tongue into Laura with a groan that he felt shudder through her. Laura's thighs closed around his head, squeezing as he pushed her closer to her orgasm. Gripping her hips he lifted her to him, savoring every moment of her trembling pleasure.
25
Laura
Laura shivered and moaned and squirmed under Rorax's expert tongue, gasping and thrashing as he pushed her to her limits. And then, just before she went over, he released her and sat back. Her eyes went wide and she whimpered helplessly, looking up at him as he panted above her, his wings spread wide.
"What...?" she could hardly form words, let alone a question, but the grin on his face, the spark in his eyes, showed that he knew exactly what she was asking.
"I told you," he said, his rough voice sending a flare of lust through her already-shaking body. "Not until I'm ready."
She moaned again, pulling at him, but he was immobile, too strong for her to move. And his infuriating grin just made her want him more. The worst thing about it was that he clearly knew as much.
Nodding, she licked her lips, feeling her pussy pulse with need and squeezing her thighs together. His strong hands held her, helping her up to her knees.
"Now it's your turn to show me what your mouth can do," he said. "You'll get what you want — after you've given me what I want."
Another shudder ran through her at his firm tone, and part of her wanted to refuse. But that would have been lying, to herself as much as to him. His self-confident growl, the certainty that she'd do as he told her, the look in his eyes — all turned her on.
Laura hadn't even realized it was possible to turn her on more than she already was, but somehow Rorax managed it. She sank to her knees, reaching for him eagerly. Pretending that she didn't want to do exactly as he told her would have been impossible.
Her breath caught again as her hands grasped his cock, sliding over its ridged length and feeling it swell.
Rorax raised himself up, making it easy for her, and with a little whimper, Laura parted her lips. He'd wa
tched her squirm and moan in pleasure, and now it was her turn. She wanted to see him enjoy her, to take his pleasure from her. Wanted, more than anything in the world, to do whatever he wanted her to do. He had proved that she could trust him, proved it over and over again — gone beyond what anyone could have expected or asked to keep her safe from harm.
His hand slid into her hair, guiding her forward and down, and Laura found her mouth opening wide as he moved her to him. Her eyes lifted to look into his, and her tongue darted out to lick around the swollen red head of his cock.
Rorax moaned as her tongue touched him, and Laura felt her heart pound. Her hands stroked slowly, gently, teasing him as he stood over her, and she felt the shudder of pleasure run through him. Two can play at teasing, she thought, watching the spark of joy grow in his alien eyes.
For a long, delicious moment, Rorax was content to enjoy her like that. Then his hand tightened in her hair, drawing her down, and he growled wordlessly. Laura's mouth opened wide as he pulled her down onto him with a force that she couldn't have resisted if she'd tried.
But she had no desire to refuse. The strength of his hand was just one more thing that made him irresistible to her, and she groaned around him as he filled her mouth.
He was too big for her to get far. His cock filled her mouth and she shivered with delight as she licked and sucked at what she could. Her hands stroked the rest of his shaft, gripping tighter now, and above her, Rorax groaned in delight.
Laura let her tongue dance across the head of his cock, and Rorax thrust his hips forward just enough to push deeper into her mouth. To her surprise she could take more, and as he thrust into her she found her lips sinking down his cock, her heart pounding. His body trembled, and she could feel his cock twitch inside her mouth.
"So good," he gasped, followed by some words in his own language. She didn't know what he was saying, but the tone was almost worshipful, and she groaned around him as she heard her own name. Rorax shuddered against her, and she looked up at him, pleading with her eyes for him to cum. To let her please him, to let her give him the pleasure that she so badly wanted to.
But no. With a gasp, he pulled back, leaving her panting and moaning with disappointment for a moment. Only a moment, though, before he pulled her up from the floor, his strong arms lifting her as though she weighed nothing at all. Pulling her to him in a tight embrace, his mouth closed on her neck in a hard kiss that made her shudder. His cock pressed against her as he positioned himself.
"I need you," he growled, biting her hard enough to make her moan in a mix of pain and pleasure she found indescribable. "I need you now, beloved."
Wrapping her legs around his waist, Laura tried to answer, but she couldn't speak. All her words were forgotten in her blinding, desperate need to have Rorax inside her. She ached for him and feeling him so close made her shake.
Raising his head, Rorax looked her in the eyes and then, with a slow deliberate motion, he thrust. His cock pushed into her with an effortless force, and her mouth went wide in a soundless cry of joy as he filled her completely. The ridged surface of his cock slid into her waiting body, stretching her and filling her, and she couldn't believe how easily she took his huge length. It was as though her body was made for his, as though they were meant to be together. He inside her, her gripping him.
The wonderful, powerful need in his gaze filled her with a need for him, and Laura pressed her lips to his. Their kiss sent sparks shooting through her, and his hands gripped her hips tight, lifting her so that he could thrust home again. His body shook as he began to move harder, faster, and Laura squeezed him at each thrust, gasping into his kiss.
Feeling the pressure of the release building up inside her, Laura knew that it wouldn't take long to overtake her now. Rorax pounded her harder than she'd thought she could take, but she wanted more and dug her fingers into his firm skin to urge him on. He didn't need much encouragement, growling hungrily and fucking her harder and harder until she could feel nothing apart from him.
Laura's whole world shrank to the sensation of him. His cock inside her, his fingers gripping her hips, his lips and tongue exploring hers. His body pressed against her as they moved. It was all there was, and all she needed. Laura arched her back, crying out in a scream of joy as a shudder ran through her, and Rorax gasped as she clenched around him.
"Now," he said, a gasping command as his own self-control slipped. "Now, Laura, cum for me."
His teeth dug into her shoulder, and that bite was the last prompt she needed. Her legs tightened around his waist and she screamed as she came for him over and over.
Rorax followed her almost immediately, filling her with his seed as he bore her to the ground. Laura fell limp under him, exhausted and happy as she panted for air.
They lay together in a heap, unable to tell where one of them ended and the other began, panting and moaning as they slowly, so slowly, came back to themselves. Finally, Laura managed to gather her strength for a shaky smile, and kissed Rorax tenderly.
Snuggling into him, she raised herself up to smile at him, and his answering smile warmed her through and through. It was the loving, happy smile of a satisfied man. I could get used to seeing that look every morning, she thought, blushing again. And evening. As often as I can, really.
"Whoever comes and rescues us," she said quietly, "I hope they take their time."
26
Rorax
As it turned out, it was two days before anyone found the tent beside the smoldering remains of the pirate skyship. They only found that out later, though. They'd been too distracted to keep track of time, or anything else.
The shadow of dragon wings overhead brought them back to reality and by the time the dragon outside had made their way to the tent, they were already up and dressed. Rorax held Laura protectively in his arms, and she grinned up at him, raising an eyebrow.
"You may not think you need my protection," he said with an answering grin, "but that's not going to stop me offering it."
Laura laughed at that, and they turned to the tent's crude airlock to see who had found them.
Two of the Dragon Guard came through first, and the tent was already crowded when they were followed by Emperor Verikan himself. Rorax blinked in surprise, and then bowed low.
"I see you've outdone yourself, Rorax," the emperor said with a smile. "You were only meant to tell me where to find the pirate lair, and now I arrive to find the pirates scattered, their leaders dead, and you've had time to find your mate too. Maybe I need to find you a tougher job."
Rorax managed a laugh. "I was hoping you'd give me some time off instead, sir. I've got something to celebrate."
Verikan grinned and shook his head. "So I see. Congratulations, my friend! I would love to be generous, but you know how it is: the reward for work well done is more work."
He turned to Laura, looking her up and down with a careful, measuring gaze. Rorax found himself bristling to see her weighed like that, and he could feel the tension in her as she stared back at the emperor.
"You must be Laura Martigan," Verikan said at last. "I've had several requests from the coordinator of LakeTech's colony program to return you safely. Well. They sounded more like demands, really."
Laura frowned. "Are you saying that I'm not free to go home?"
Rorax glowered at that. Up until now his loyalty to his emperor had been absolute, but if he was asked to choose between Laura and Verikan, he knew which way he would go. It didn't matter how many guards Verikan had with him. But then Verikan smiled and offered a hand to Laura.
"You misunderstand," he continued. "I'm not intending to keep you prisoner. All the victims of the pirates that we recover are being sent back to Olympus Colony, and you are welcome to go with them. But you're also welcome to stay with us as long as you like, and if you choose to stay I will make sure that LakeTech lets you. I'm not sure that they would be keen, from the sound of their 'requests.'"
Rorax's frown deepened, and then he understood. Lau
ra knew a lot about LakeTech and Adele St. George — being her bodyguard, she'd have to. They wouldn't be too happy with Laura staying in the hands of a foreign power.
A look at Laura's face told him that she'd reached the same conclusion, and her pained look tore at him. He knew that she was as loyal to her employer as he was to his emperor. Until now, those loyalties had pulled in the same direction.
That would change as soon as they left this place. The pain of that realization tore at him as much as it did her, and he shook his head. I will not let this happen, he told himself.
"Did you say that the pirates have scattered, sir?" he asked Verikan. The emperor nodded, looking surprised at the sudden change of topic.
"Many are gone, and they have no leader now," Verikan said. "Your mission is a success. But there are still a lot of them out there, yes. We couldn't hope to get them all."
"Other leaders will emerge, sooner or later," Rorax pointed out. "And if there is going to be trade between ourselves and the humans in this area, the pirates will be a menace."
For a moment, it seemed like no one understood where he was going. Then Laura took a quick breath, and he knew she'd gotten it.
"Piracy will be a problem for both humans and dragons," she said, a note of hope in her voice. "And the tension between our colonies on your world are going to need to be addressed, too. Maybe a joint effort against the pirates would help relations between us?"
Verikan looked from one to the other of them, and then a smile quirked at his lips. "And I suppose that the two of you could suggest leaders for such an operation?"
"I can think of a human with relevant experience, yes," Rorax said, his heart pounding as he took Laura by the arm.
"And there's a dragon I could recommend, too," she said. Verikan managed to look stern for a second longer before his smile got the better of him.
