by Karen Kelley
But there was also a lot to love about Nerak. Maybe the Elders would relax some of their rules. Her planet could benefit from some of Earth’s pleasures. Maybe then her people would want to stay rather than escaping to other planets.
Sam stopped the pickup, and they went inside, but her heart was heavy.
“Chocolate?” He held up the white box.
She shook her head. “I need to start the testing. Later.” She took the bag of remedies to the kitchen and set them on the table as she gathered her glass plates.
She worked methodically, adding the chemical solutions she’d brought from Nerak and letting the two mix. One drop of the remedy, one drop of chemical. Another chemical, another remedy, then put a marker on each to distinguish it from the others.
By the time she had them all laid out, her back ached unbearably. How long had she been in the kitchen? It was still dark outside. The house was quiet. Had Sam gone to bed, tired of waiting for her? She wouldn’t hold it against him.
But this was their last night together. He could’ve waited.
She stood, pressing the palms of her hands to the middle of her back to ease the deep ache. It helped, but that wasn’t her only ache. There was a burning inside her chest. She had a feeling it would be with her much longer than the aches and pains she’d gotten from working.
Her steps were heavy as she made her way to the guest room, not wanting to disturb Sam’s slumber. Maybe they would get up early and watch the sunrise together. The deer might come back, too. It would be nice to see him one more time.
She would say good-bye to Aasera and Lyraka before she left, too. If it was as Sam had said, then the Elder would not pass, her lifecycle would not end. Lara might even stay one more day.
But she knew she wouldn’t. To delay much longer would make leaving more difficult. Not only for her, but for Sam as well, and she couldn’t do that to him.
She pushed open the door…and smiled. Sam sat in a chair beside the window. Of course, Sam wouldn’t go to bed. He wanted this last night as much as she did.
“I thought you’d never get here,” he said. There were candles lighting the room, casting a soft glow on everything. “I almost ate dessert without you.” He nodded toward the bed as he came to his feet. In the center was the white box.
“I’m hungry.”
“Me, too.”
It didn’t sound as if they were talking about the same kind of hunger, but as she watched him come toward her, she realized they might be talking about the same thing after all.
He stopped in front of her. His gaze scorched her body as it drifted lazily over her. The ache inside her increased; her nipples tightened, begging him to touch, to be kissed.
But he did none of those things. Instead, he pulled her hair over one shoulder before stepping behind her. His hands were warm on her back as he brushed them across the bare skin, then slowly lowered the zipper.
His breath tickled her neck, caressing it with the heat of his pent-up passion. He slid his hands beneath the straps, pushing the material off her shoulders. It slid down her body like a whisper and puddled at her feet. He came around to the front again.
“Have I told you how very beautiful you are?”
She nodded, unable to speak as she stood there wearing only a thong and her heels.
“You are.” He pushed her hair back over her shoulder, running his fingers through the long strands as he did. “I love your hair. It feels like corn silk.
“I’ve never felt corn silk,” she finally managed to get out.
“All you have to do is touch your hair, then you’ll know.” He took her hand and led her to the side of the bed, caressing his knuckles over her cheek before stepping back and removing his shirt. She reached toward him, but he captured her hand. “Not yet. Soon.”
When he removed his pants and then his briefs, she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to keep herself from touching, caressing, tasting. His had better be real soon.
She admired his nakedness. Her gaze roamed over him from his wide shoulders to the sprinkling of curling hair on his broad chest. Past the muscles on his arms, to his hips. She breathed a deep sigh when her gaze rested on his erection. Magnificent. She reached toward him again, but he stopped her before she could touch.
“But I want to stroke you,” she told him, pursing her lips. But as her gaze skimmed over him, her irritation vanished. “Oh, yes, I definitely want to touch you.”
“First, the chocolate.” He walked around to the other side of the bed.
It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. No, she could only stare. He had a nice butt, muscled legs, solid back, but a really nice butt. Her companion unit didn’t even compare, but then, she hadn’t had much to go on in the way of design. Sam was designed very well, however.
Kia had once let it slip that their cousin Mala had found a book of their grandmother’s before she’d designed Barton, her companion unit. She’d also given him an attitude chip. Big mistake, if you asked Lara.
Lara hadn’t had access to a book, though. Her companion unit wasn’t nearly as well defined as Sam. The detail just wasn’t there.
She snapped out of her daze. “Chocolate?”
Sam sat in the middle of the bed. He’d opened the box and waved his hand back and forth over it so the wonderful aroma drifted to her. She closed her eyes and inhaled. Umm, this was nice.
“Yes, chocolate…and sex.”
“Or both,” he said.
“That sounds intriguing.” She slipped off her shoes and started to remove her thong, but he shook his head. But she wanted to be naked. It was a lot more fun not having any clothes between them.
“I’ll take it off for you.”
That was even better. She swallowed past the lump in her throat as she envisioned him slowly sliding her thong over her hips, his hands touching her body as he did. No, her companion unit had never done any of this.
She quickly moved onto the bed, not wanting to waste another minute. “We have nothing to eat the chocolate with,” she stated breathlessly.
“We don’t need utensils to eat cake,” he told her with a wicked grin. “Watch.” He broke off some of it and brought the piece to her mouth.
She automatically opened, taking what he offered, licking the icing off his fingers. “This is good.” She closed her eyes, savoring the taste, running her tongue over her lips. When she looked at Sam, she could see the fire in his eyes. Her body grew warm.
She broke off a piece and took it to his mouth. He seized her hand, scooping the bite with his tongue, then sucking on each finger until they were cleaned of every morsel of chocolate.
He might have only had her finger in his mouth, but the sensation he’d started inside her shot all the way down to the junction between her legs. She wanted his mouth there. She wanted his hands on her. Pleasure and exquisite pain filled her because she had a feeling he was going to draw the moment out.
“I love watching you eat chocolate. You make it look very sensual.”
He ran a finger through the icing. She opened her mouth, but he didn’t bring his finger up so she could lick it off. Instead, he ran it across her nipples. She gasped, arching toward him.
“Lie back,” he told her.
She did, her blood heating, anticipating what he was going to do.
He moved the box behind him, then leaned over her, dragging his
tongue across each nipple. She whimpered.
“You taste sweet.” He smiled. “I’m still hungry.”
He took some more of the cake and smeared it across her stomach, right above the top of her thong, then followed with his tongue.
“Sam,” she whimpered.
“What? Do you want me to go lower?”
“Oh, yes, I do, but first, I want to play, and you’re having all the fun.” She moved to her knees and reached behind him, scooping up half the cake and slapping it on his chest with a mischievous laugh.
She smeared it on him, sliding the rich dessert over his stomach but making sure she had plenty left for one other area of his body. She met his gaze before smiling as she ran it down his length.
He groaned.
“Do you like that?” she asked, already knowing the answer, but she wanted to hear him say the words.
“You know I do.”
“Yes, I do,” she said with a laugh. This kind of play was so much fun.
“I was going to make this night perfect for you.”
“You just did,” she said, then licked his chest. He sucked in a deep breath when she moved closer to his erection. “I love chocolate.” She took one swipe across him, laughing as she straightened.
He sucked in a deep breath, closing his eyes. “I think you’ve caught on to the art of foreplay way too fast.”
But when he opened his eyes, she saw the laughter mixed with the passion. Before she had a chance to react, he pushed her back onto the bed in one motion and slid her thong over her hips.
“I want to see all of you, kiss every inch.” He tossed the thong onto the floor and scooted back up so he was sitting on his knees beside her. “You blow my mind sometimes.”
He brushed his fingers through the curls between her legs. She moaned, automatically parting her legs so he would have better access to the heart of her need.
“Soft as corn silk,” he murmured.
She reached out; this time he didn’t stop her as she ran her fingers down his length, then grasped him in her hand. He closed his eyes and arched his hips forward. She watched him as she slid the skin down.
“Do you like my touch?” she asked.
“Yes,” he moaned.
She smiled, enjoying that she could take back control of their lovemaking with just a simple touch.
“You look quite pleased with yourself,” he told her.
“I am. I like being in charge. After all, I’m superior.” But her words didn’t carry the same connotation they once had.
“Then do your worst, or best. I give you control, my lady.” He held his arms out as if to tell her, here I am, let’s see what you can do.
She shifted to her knees. If he didn’t think she would take charge, then he’d better think again. She was used to being a leader, not a follower.
“Do you have doubts that I can pleasure you?” She leaned forward, letting her nipples brush across his chest.
He shook his head. “You are pretty new when it comes to experimenting. I’m not sure you’ll be able to impress me.”
“You think not?” She licked down his body. “You’re quite rigid, so much larger than my companion unit. I like taking you inside my mouth.”
She ran her tongue down him, then back up before taking the tip of his erection inside her mouth and sucking gently. He tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling her closer, massaging her scalp.
She ran her hands over his hips, then behind him as she pulled him even closer, taking more of him.
Sam couldn’t think. His brain had disintegrated a long time ago. “That feels so damned fantastic,” he managed to mumble as her mouth worked a magic all its own on him.
The lights were back. Deep violets; fiery reds, their flames licking at him; oranges…the heat they gave off wrapped around him like a potent drug, charging through his body like an electrical sexual current.
Enough. He pulled her up, crushed her body against his, felt her hard little nipples scraping across his chest.
“And did I give you pleasure?” There was a knowing look in her passion-filled eyes.
“You know damn well you did.”
“Yes, I do.”
He swatted her bottom. She jumped, her eyes widening, then half-closing as she grasped his arms, snaking her hand upward and pulling his mouth down to hers. He lowered his lips to hers, their tongues sparring. She tasted like chocolate.
If he didn’t have her soon, he was going to explode. He moved off the bed so he could get a condom out of the bedside drawer.
She watched him, her breathing ragged.
“Spread your legs. I want to see all of you. I don’t want you to hold anything back.”
She didn’t hesitate, opening for him. He drew in a sharp breath as he watched her open like a delicate flower waiting to be plucked.
“Now, Sam. I want you to bury yourself deep inside of my body.” She raised her hips, beckoning.
“No more than I want to be there, nestled between your delicious thighs, but baby, I’m still hungry.
He got back on the bed, moving so he was situated between her legs. He stroked his hands over her breasts, tweaking her nipples between his forefinger and thumb, tugging slightly.
“Yes, Sam.”
“Do you like what I’m doing?”
She nodded.
“Do you want me to do more?”
She nodded again, biting her lower lip.
“What do you want me to do? If you don’t tell me, I won’t know.” He brushed his fingers over her abdomen, grazing the edge of her mound with his fingertips.
“Do you want me to stroke you here?” He ran his fingers up, then back down her clit. Her body jerked in response to his touch.
“Yes…that…that…”
“Do you want me to put my mouth there, stroke you with my tongue?”
She whimpered.
“Say it.”
“Yes, take me with your mouth.”
Her breathing was ragged. He knew she was getting close. One touch of his tongue, and she’d probably have an orgasm. He wanted her to have one.
He scooted back and lowered his head to her, running his tongue over her clit before sucking her inside his mouth. She cried out, her body jerking.
When her body stopped quivering, he gently spread her legs a little wider and entered her. She clamped her inner muscles around him. He sucked in a deep breath as wet heat surrounded him, contracting against him.
He rested there for a few seconds, gathering what strength he had, then moved out of her before thrusting back inside. She moved her hips, rotating them slightly in a circle as he continued to plunge inside her.
Maybe she hadn’t had a lot of experience with sex, but she damn sure caught on fast. No inhibitions. She enjoyed making love, and it showed on her face.
But her eyes were closed. He wanted her to look at him. He wanted to see her when she came. He’d have to hold that memory close to his heart for the rest of his life.
She opened her eyes and looked at him as if she’d heard his thoughts.
“Now, Sam,” she breathed.
He thrust faster. In and out. Their ragged breathing filled
the room, blending with the colors.
Then everything seemed to explode at once. She cried out, grasping his hips. His body jerked as his orgasm rocked him to the very core of his being. He kept his eyes opened, watched as she came, saw her in the throes of her passion.
His whole body began to tremble as he collapsed to the bed, careful not to crush her with his weight. Then he was rolling to his side and taking her with him. He didn’t want to break the connection. He couldn’t break it, not without breaking his heart.
When had he fallen in love with her?
But he knew the answer. The minute he’d seen the hologram. Damn, how the hell could he give her up now that he’d found her?
“I can’t stay,” she whispered close to his ear, tears in her voice.
“I know, I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the decision.”
“I don’t like it, either.”
He pulled away from her, staring down into her eyes. “Then don’t go. Mala stayed; Kia stayed. You can stay, too.”
She stroked the back of her hand down the side of his face. “It’s not the same as it was with them. I have to return.”
He hugged her close. “I hurt so damn much.”
“I know this pain you speak of. I feel it, too.”
He knew she was going to leave. Gut instinct. And he knew there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
Sometimes, life wasn’t fair. Not fair at all.
Chapter 24
S am waited in the other room while Lara checked the results of her research from last night. It might not work, he told himself. Cold remedies only relieved the symptoms. They didn’t cure the ailment. Three days was three days, and he’d take whatever he could get.
He stepped to the front porch, breathing in the fresh morning air. He loved it here. There was something clean and unsullied about his little plot of land. This was his piece of heaven right here on Earth.
