Dark Harvest

by Anitra Lynn McLeod

  “Do you?” Her inner thigh muffled his voice.

  “Yes!” Lowering her voice to remove the strident edge, she begged, “Please, Sterlave, I can’t take any more.”

  He lifted up until he was on his knees between her splayed legs. Slowly, he pulled his shirt over his head, exposing his sleekly muscled chest. She wanted to lick her way up from his belly button to his nipples, then back down to his hips. Once there, she would wrap her lips around his cock and tease until he screamed between begging gasps. Who was she kidding? If she had half the chance, she’d toss him on his back and ride him until she squealed with release.

  After he tossed the shirt away, he slid his hands to the waistband of his trousers. Gradually, he eased them down, until the head of his cock slipped out. The tip was taut, dusky red, and when he flicked his thumb over it, moisture sparkled.

  Involuntarily, she licked her lips.

  “Did you want a taste?”

  Rather than nodding, she deliberately stroked her tongue across her upper lip.

  Pushing his pants down farther, he grasped the base firmly and stroked his hand up and down while staring at her mouth. She didn’t think it was possible, but he got bigger. When she pursed her lips, more drops of moisture pearled from the tip. Gracefully, he removed his pants. He crawled up her body until he straddled her chest. Heat filled his eyes as he gazed down at her. He seemed so enormous looming above her, which only excited her more.

  “You only move when I tell you.”

  She nodded her understanding.

  Bending down, he teased the tip of his cock around her lips, slicking them with his lust. Desperately she fought her desire to snake her tongue out and taste him. Waiting only increased the tightening in her sex and nipples, spiraling rigid waves of desire throughout her body. When she looked up, he’d lowered his lids, sweeping his long lashes across his powerful gaze, softening the intensity to a dreamy quality.

  “Taste me.”

  Obediently, she parted her lips and he slipped the tip inside her mouth. Salty and slippery, his taste smoothed over her tongue. His flavor was the sea, the sky, the very breath of the air. When she closed her lips to draw him in deeper, he inched back, flashing her a most wicked, playful smile.

  Repeatedly, he teased himself around her lips, giving her tiny tastes. Just when she thought she could draw him into her, he pulled back until she was mad to taste all of him. Ever so slowly, he slipped more of his shaft between her willing lips. His chest hitched with a deep breath and his cock twitched inside the hot hollow of her mouth. With a groan, he tore himself away.

  Behind his back, she smiled. Apparently, she gave as good as she got. He could no more resist her than she could resist him. Before she knew it, he was back between her legs, lifting them high against his chest until her ankles rested on his shoulders. He took a moment to stroke her feet and her crimson shoes, then angled his body above hers. As the weight pressed onto his arms, the muscles and veins stood out, prompting her to reach out to touch him. Her hands were bound.

  “Set me free.”

  He shook his head in refusal as he stroked his cock between her slick nether lips. “I want you held while I ride you.” Turning his head, he licked her shoe and her foot, causing a stab of desire to surge another creamy jolt to her sex. “I want you to lie there and take everything I have to give.”

  Her sex was so tight with longing she was afraid it would simply collapse upon itself. His heated words only increased her tension. If she thought it would speed him up, she would beg him, but that would only slow him down. Torment was a leisurely process. Always, when they started, she thought she could stand prolonging the moment when he entered her, but when her body rose up in need, she cursed every delay.

  Pushing himself up with his arms and legs, he rocked his hips, stroking his cock lightly along her clit. Zinging bolts shot across her skin, focusing all her cravings into that one tiny bit of flesh. If only he would go faster or press harder, she could find release. But no, he grinned down at her, enjoying the way she tried to reach out to him, the way her body writhed in denied ecstasy. His untamed eyes drilled into hers, pinning her.

  “Please.” The word tumbled from her lips before she could stop it.

  “Please what?” he teasingly asked. He pressed more firmly against her, then rolled his hips in a circle, sliding his shaft along and around her throbbing clit.

  He wanted her to say it. Of course he did. Proving himself superior in denial excited him just as much as her lusty words.

  Meeting his gaze directly, she said, “I want you to fuck me.”

  With a satisfied groan, he pressed harder. “Say it again.”

  She did as he asked, saying those hard, sexy words repeatedly until they became a chant.

  He slid down until the head of his cock pressed firmly against her passage.

  They uttered a simultaneous groan.

  She waited breathlessly, loving the feel of his impeding possession. The moment just before he entered was pure lust. If he denied her, she didn’t know what she would do to soothe herself. Nothing would match the feeling of him, her bondmate, the man she loved filling her completely.

  Just when she thought she could stand no more, he thrust forward, stretching her passage to accommodate his girth. Releasing a shocked gasp of pleasure caused him to sink deeper, pushing her legs back until her thighs touched her breasts. Bliss. Even though he was on top, she felt that she’d captured him. Exerting all her strength, she clamped her inner muscles around him, ensnaring him between her legs.

  Mumbling swears, he glanced down and realized he had her bent in two.

  When he pulled his weight off, she blurted, “It doesn’t hurt.” Plaintively, she whispered, “Please don’t stop now. Ride me like you said you would.”

  Her ankles cradled his face while he stared down at her.

  “Like this?” He thrust so hard her head snapped back.

  “Yes, just like that.” He plunged so deeply it almost verged on pain, but it was a good ache, a necessary hurt, because she needed to feel entwined with him.

  As he rode her, sweat beaded across his forehead, then gathered, spilling down to his temples. Small beads bloomed across his chest, then rained down on her in hot, salty drops. Her legs became slick, allowing him to slide deeper with each thrust, so deep did he go she felt he might split her in two. Each rock of his hips scraped his body along her clit, lifting her closer to ecstasy.

  Snarling, he pulled his lips back, exposing his teeth as he continued to slam into her. Brutal, ferocious, he was no longer a man but an animal in heat, an animal driven to mate. In that moment, he was everything she’d ever longed to have in her bed. He was no pretty boy with poetry on his mind. Sterlave was a beast compelled to find satisfaction.

  Below him, she felt tiny, helpless, trapped by his power, drugged by his intensity. Parting her lips, she had to breathe in when he moved back and out when he rammed forward. His movements were so fast she was panting. His breathing matched hers, as if they breathed together. Energy gathered along her nerves, then into her clit. One great thrust lifted her body up and then pleasure shattered her. For a long moment, she was blind, deaf, and dumb.

  As reality intruded, she heard and felt Sterlave climax. His mighty roar caused another rush of contractions to ripple her passage around him, which only deepened his bellow. When the last of their mutual release faded away, he collapsed on her for a brief moment.

  Carefully, he moved her ankle from his shoulder, then rolled beside her. Now that the moment was over, would he want to talk? And if he did, what was she going to tell him?

  21

  Sterlave had the weight of the empire on his shoulders until he saw Kasmiri clad only in a pair of crimson high-heeled shoes. Everything he’d planned to discuss went right out of his head. All the blood in his brain rushed to his penis. With a shrug, he decided one night of delay wouldn’t hurt. As he teased and tormented her, he could barely maintain a show of cool aplomb, for it was a
masquerade. He wanted to be inside her so badly he had to hold back snarls of frustration.

  Burying himself inside her silky heat made everything in the world disappear. Here, with her, all was as it should be. Alone with his beautiful woman, he didn’t have to worry about finding Loban, soothing Rown’s pain, or even protecting Kasmiri’s life. If anyone dared to enter this room with a mind to hurt her, he would have killed them with his bare hands. None could touch his mate but him. In a very short span of time, she inspired a primal heat that made him want to pound his chest, flex his muscles, and engage in vicious battles to prove his supremacy.

  Something in her eyes was different tonight, though. Genuine panic lurked just below the surface of her wild, wicked gaze. At first, he thought she was worried about him binding her to the bed, but that wasn’t it. In that, she trusted him. Something else terrified her.

  “Kasmiri, did something happen today?”

  She caught her breath, then turned her head to him. “What do you mean?”

  Suspicious that she’d answered a question with a question, he straddled her hips, levering himself above her. His searching gaze caused her to struggle to make her face appear innocent or seductive, he wasn’t quite certain which.

  “You’re upset. I want to know why.”

  “I’m fine.” She held his gaze just a little too forcefully. “Today was very busy, but all I could think about was you.”

  Lowering her proud chin, she kept her eyes wide and innocent. He had his answer when she pursed her lips. Clearly, she was going for seduction. For a moment, he considered letting things slide and taking her up on another round of passion. Her hot, sexy scent and taut nipples caused his erection to gradually return. She stretched in the restraints, clicking her shoes together, which drew his attention to her feet. When he glanced over his shoulder, he spied her curvy legs capped with slinky red shoes. Blood thrummed hot and fast to his cock. Visions formed of her on her knees, him behind her, plunging hard while slapping her rounded bottom and gripping her shoe-clad feet…He shook his head. She was very, very good at distracting him.

  “Stop it.”

  Guiltily, she lowered her gaze. “Unbind me.”

  “Not until you tell me what happened today.”

  Kasmiri shook her head. “Everything’s fine. I’m just tired.” However, she would not meet his eyes. Normally she’d erupt in fury that he didn’t do as she bid. Whatever plagued her had to be serious for her to take such a passive approach.

  Determined to get an answer, he stroked his hands up her belly to cup her breasts. Gasping, she now met his gaze. Her smile proved that she thought she’d won. Pinching her nipples between his fingers and thumbs, he let her believe that she’d distracted him. Sultry eyes lowered as she arched her breasts firmly into his hands. Ripe, round globes made him forget his motive. When she licked her upper lip, his cock twitched. All he could think of was how beautiful she’d looked with her luscious lips wrapped around his shaft. He’d lost his mind when she wantonly sucked him like the sweetest candy she’d ever tasted. Kasmiri was a woman accustomed to the most decadent treats, but she found his cock the ultimate gourmet delicacy. With a wince of painful reality, he wondered if she wanted to do that to him, or if she had done so only to control him.

  Demurely, she lowered her gaze, as if she willingly submitted to him. As far as keeping up a cool facade went, Kasmiri was his master. She gauged his reactions, then mirrored hers to increase his passion. Such manipulation didn’t anger him exactly, because her motives intrigued him. He wondered just how far she would go to keep him from talking things out. Kasmiri was hiding something, but what, and more so, why?

  Lifting up, he knelt over her so he could drop his hand between her legs. Trailing his fingertips between the dark curls that guarded her secrets caused her breathing to hitch and catch. Kasmiri was good, but she could keep up an excellent show for only so long.

  “You’re going to tell me.”

  Her gaze jumped to his. “I don’t have anything—”

  He cut her off by plunging two fingers into her channel.

  Shock caused her to gasp, then clamp her lips together.

  As he pumped his fingers in and out with a slow beat, she writhed. Her sweet cunny sucked at his digits just as her lovely mouth had done to his prick. Shoving another finger into her caused her to buck uncontrollably against his hand as she rubbed her clit against his palm.

  When she caught his rhythm, he stopped.

  Her furious gaze snapped to his. Nothing angered her more than denial of her release. He knew she was hiding something big because she held her tongue. Never had Kasmiri censored herself. His deliberate smile caused her to drop her gaze.

  “Tell me.”

  Turning away, she refused to even acknowledge he’d spoken.

  He thrust his fingers furiously into her tight, hot channel.

  Her gaze swung back to his, her teeth bared against tense lips.

  “Tell me, Kasmiri. I have no problem keeping you bound until you do.”

  At first, she tried to ignore him, but his words and his lusting hand were impossible to dismiss.

  “Stop!”

  “I won’t stop until you speak.”

  “Please,” she begged, dropping any tone of command from her voice.

  He felt sorry for her then and almost relented, but a subtle little lift of her brows told him she was trying to manipulate him.

  Plunging his fingers while teasing his thumb across her clit kept her on the edge of release. Just when she started to tumble over, he stopped. Her breathing became erratic and her gasps became frustrated snarls.

  “Tell me, Kasmiri, and I’ll let you have your pleasure.”

  She shook her head, defying him despite her tortured body’s needs. Such strength of will she possessed, but his was just as strong, and he wasn’t the one bound to the bed. Again, he stroked her to the edge, and again, he pulled her back. Trashing wildly, she now lifted her legs in an effort to distract him from her slick sex. Sterlave slid off her so he could enjoy looking at her legs while touching her. Sleek, strong muscles from her tummy to her hips flexed as she rubbed her legs together. She also tried to prevent him from continuing his strokes between her legs by pressing them together, but she wasn’t strong enough to block his access.

  Eventually she stopped struggling with a strangled cry of submission. “I’ll tell you,” she said, her voice weak and defeated.

  He stopped teasing her but kept his hand on her thigh, ready to continue if she tried to trick him.

  Kasmiri met his gaze with her big, wild, sexy eyes and softly said, “I love you.” A lone tear tumbled down her cheek. “That’s what happened to me today. I discovered that I love you.” She turned her head away. “Are you happy now that you’ve forced the truth out of me?”

  Hearing those words should have filled him with joy, but instead, he felt awful. No wonder she’d looked panicked. Everyone she’d ever loved left her or died. In her mind, giving him her heart would likely lead to heartbreak.

  “I’m sorry, I thought it was something…else.” Gods, he was going to make this worse if he didn’t shut up. With quick movements, he unbound her. She rubbed her wrists, then rolled away from him. Lowering his body next to hers, he breathed out against the sensitive skin of her neck. “Please forgive me.”

  When she burst into tears, he had to bite his bottom lip not to follow suit. He swore he would never hurt her, but there was no denying what he’d done. Never in his life had he felt like such a beast. What kind of a man tormented a woman until he forced her to confess? He’d taken a happy, wonderful moment and turned it into a trauma that she would never forget. Likely, she would never forgive him for it either.

  He opened his mouth to speak, then slowly shut it. What could he say? Everything that came to mind sounded stupid or hurtful. Instead of talking, he stroked his hand along her back in small circles, hoping he could convey his regret without words.

  Her tears continued for a time,
but at least she didn’t flinch away from his touch. After a while, she stopped crying. He left her for a moment to retrieve a small, moist towel. When he placed it into her hand, she thanked him, wiped her face, between her legs, and then tossed if off the side of the bed along with her shoes. He wondered if she would now toss him away so easily. Not that he could blame her. Once, he’d asked her if she loved him, when she didn’t answer, he’d let it go, thinking she hadn’t been ready. When she had, he ruined the moment.

  He lowered the lights, climbed back into bed, settled on his back, and pulled the covers up. Tension filled his body to the point he couldn’t relax. Sleep would never come to him like this and he needed rest so he could meet the challenges of tomorrow. Facing Loban would take all his strength. Sterlave didn’t know what he would say when he confronted him. Thoughts of beating him to a pulp only fueled his tension. Fighting would not solve the problem, but talking things out would have no impact either, not on a man like Loban. Chur wanted him brought before an Esslean tribunal, where all the recruits in the training rooms would decide his fate. Sterlave didn’t think that would be harsh enough punishment.

  With a sigh, he rolled over to his side. He heard Kasmiri sigh, too, and roll toward him, pressing into his body. Her warmth soothed his ragged nerves. He didn’t dare speak for somehow ruining her tender show of forgiveness.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her face resting just below his.

  Her apology shocked him. What did she have to be sorry for? “I’m the one who—”

  “I didn’t want to tell you that I loved you, not like that. I wanted to wait, but you wouldn’t stop, and I didn’t know what to do.” She rubbed her cheek against his biceps.

  He pulled her into his embrace. “I promise I will never do that again.” He kissed her forehead affectionately. “Bondage games should never be about anything but pleasure. I overstepped and turned it ugly. For that, I am truly sorry.”

  She held very still for a moment, then asked, “Don’t you have something else to say to me?”