She could imagine staying in this room with him. She saw them playing a board game on the table, sitting in front of the fire in those huge chairs and…she felt her face heat—she could see them making love on that huge bed.
Marti stood still and watched him approach. She wanted to lead him to the bed, to strip off her clothes and offer herself to him like the slave she had once been, but she couldn’t.
Sighing, she turned away. Angry. Fisting her hands, she squeezed her eyes closed. How could she have been such a self-reliant, well-adjusted woman only five years ago and now was not? Where had her self-confidence gone?
She bit her lip and reached up to toy with the buttons at her neck. Did she have the courage to remove her clothes and ask him to erase the bad memories, or had the people of Katkari succeeded in making her the coward they always claimed that she was?
With a shake of her head, Marti stepped away from Kyl as her trembling fingers fumbled with the buttons of her blouse. She was strong. She was confident. She put this skimpy, sexy outfit on to turn this man on, didn’t she? Well, damn it, she would somehow find the courage to take it off while he watched. After all, that had been her original plan when she’d put the thing on.
Unsure what he would think as he stood behind her, waiting so patiently for her to come to grips with herself, Marti unbuttoned the blouse. With a shrug, it slipped from her shoulders and fell to the floor at her feet. Another button and a flick of her wrist had her almost non-existent skirt pooling around her feet, leaving her standing before him in the red leather boots and nothing else.
Marti suppressed a nervous giggle. In her old life, this would have excited her, not terrified her, but things had changed. She had changed. Goose flesh covered her skin as she lowered her gaze and turned around. She didn’t remember ever being so frightened in her life as when she heard him draw in a sharp breath. Did he like what he saw, or did she disgust him? There was only one way to find out. Without further delay, Marti grasped what was left of her courage, and met his gaze.
Chapter Fifteen
Kyl’s mouth went dry at the vision before him. Marteeka stood in the center of his room gloriously naked but for the decadent leather boots. She was thin—too thin, yes, but still beautiful. Her skin glowed a healthy pink now that she’d had a few good meals in her and her cheeks had the rosy hue of health. Her posture stiff, she stood as one who was frightened of standing before one’s peers and found lacking.
“Gods, you’re beautiful.” His words came out a near groan as he stared at her high, firm breasts and indented waist. He couldn’t help himself. He found he must tell her that, for his own peace of mind as much as hers. In all of the years he’d lived, he had never seen anyone so beautiful as she was. She stood before him with the moonlight shining on her skin.
The silver curls at the juncture of her thighs glistened with moisture, proving that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Yet he still didn’t want to move too fast. Frightening her was the last thing he wanted to do.
“You don’t think I’m too thin?” She wrung her hands as she stared down at the floor.
He could hear the fear of rejection in her voice and closed his eyes at the atrocity. How could one so beautiful fear such a thing? “You’re so beautiful it almost hurts to look upon you. I can’t imagine that you could be any more or less so, no matter what.”
“I—I don’t know what to say.”
He opened his eyes at her answer and smiled when he saw that she nervously bit her lip. “Then say you’ll allow me to love you.” He moved a step closer. Encouraged by her reluctance to move away, he moved closer still. “Will you allow me to worship you?”
“Worship me?” She shook her head with a slow smile. “Unlikely. However, I could be convinced to allow you to get naked with me and show me what you can do with that hard cock I see straining to dance free of your pants.”
Kyl gave her a sheepish grin. “At least that should tell you how much I want you and allay any fears to the contrary.
“First things first.” Grabbing the hem of his shirt, he ripped it over his head. “I think I’m way overdressed.” His shoes, pants and underwear soon followed the path of his shirt.
He stared at the triangle of glistening, silver curls, thinking of the slick folds hidden behind them. “I can’t wait to taste you.” Dropping to his knees, Kyl moved the last few inches toward her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed his face against her mons and inhaled deeply. “You smell so good.” He kissed her lower stomach, his tongue delving deep into her navel before he moved lower, to lick the crease of her thigh.
“You taste exquisite.” He pressed his nose into her tight blonde curls and inhaled deeply. “You smell exquisite.” Pulling back, he looked up at her with a smile. “I plan to make you scream no less than three times before I make you mine.”
Before she could protest, Kyl pressed against her legs. Pulling the zipper down, he kissed every newly exposed inch as he removed first one, then the other boot. Her skin pebbled as he kissed his way back up to the juncture of her thighs.
Moving between her legs, spread wide to keep from falling as he removed her boots, Kyl pressed a kiss against her mons, his tongue delving between her nether lips for a taste of her sweet cream.
He groaned at the taste and the heady feeling her low moan gave him. Reaching up, he grasped her hips and lifted her onto his shoulders.
She grasped the back of his head with a gasp and stiffened. “You’ll drop me.”
“No,” he growled. “I will not. I am a defender and strong enough to hold you in any position we choose.” He sucked her clit into his mouth.
She gasped and stiffened, her grip on his head tightening to the point that he knew she wasn’t ready for this. She trusted him, but not that much. Yet.
Standing, he walked with her on his shoulders, his face buried deep in her cunt as he carried her to the bed. Lowering himself to his knees, he rested her on the soft down cover and felt her tension melt away as she leaned back.
Her head thrashed on the bed as he continued to assault her clit, his tongue lashing the tight bundle of nerves. Her moans grew louder as his fingers found her channel and thrust deep. He pressed his fingers up to that spot he knew existed inside her and she whimpered, her body growing taught with the need for release.
A few more strokes of his tongue against her clit and she came. Her scream loud, she tightened her legs around his head, her back arched as she rode the waves of her first climax.
Slowly, Kyl lapped at her quivering flesh. Soon he would make her come again and again. This first time with her must be special. After all, a defender claimed his mate only once.
Chapter Sixteen
Marti couldn’t think, she could barely breathe. The only thing she seemed to be able to do at the moment was feel as Kyl continued to eat at her. Once, she came. Then again. She reached for her third climax as Kyl thrust his fingers deep inside her, pressing upward toward her navel.
Waves of pleasure washed over her as, just as he promised, she came a third time. Her body stiffened, her legs squeezing his head and shoulders tight as her back bowed up off the mattress. The surging pleasure crashed over her as he continued to suckle and lave her hypersensitive nub.
“Please stop.” She sobbed the words, unable to do anything more than beg Kyl to stop his sensual assault. “I can’t take anymore.”
Why was he so different than the other men she’d been with? Why was he so focused on bringing her such repeated pleasure?
Finally, she relaxed when he moved from between her legs and crawled up her body. She could rest, knowing that he wouldn’t bring her over the edge of another shattering orgasm anytime soon.
Her breaths came in short pants as he moved over her. “How do you feel?”
Cracking open one bleary eye, Marti groaned. “I feel like I’ve just finished running a race around the world in less than a day. I’m tired and I can’t seem to catch my breath.”
“Then I h
ave done what I set out to do.” Kyl leaned down and took her left nipple into his mouth with a chuckle. His left hand searched out and found her right nipple, latching on to it with his thumb and forefinger to tug and twist the hardened bud.
Marti sucked in a sharp breath and let it out on a hiss. “That feels good.” She arched up into his caress, wanting more. Needing more, even though he’d just brought her to orgasm three times in less than an hour.
“I want to touch you.”
“In good time,” he said against the swell of her breast. “I’m waiting for you to come down right now.”
“Come down?” She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m waiting for your feet to touch the ground again. You came so much and so hard, I’m afraid you need to be grounded before I let you sit up.”
“Get off me.” She growled as she pushed him off her and rolled them both over. Startled, she looked down at him and bit her lip afraid of what he might think of her now. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t apologize. You are not a slave and you are certainly not a prisoner. Never apologize for doing what feels right.”
Did that feel right? Marti thought about it for a moment, only a little surprised to find that it did. She smiled at the realization.
“Just wait until I’m done with you,” she said with a laugh as she lowered her head to give his nipple a swipe of her tongue.
If she lived another three thousand years, Marti didn’t know if she would ever feel such triumph, such utter satisfaction as she did when she wrapped her fingers around Kyl’s cock and he groaned. If someone asked, she wouldn’t be able to describe how liberating it felt to feel his hips jerk as he threw his head back, drawing his breath in on a long, low hiss of pleasure.
Ever so slowly, she licked her way down, her tongue trailing down to his navel to follow the line of hair to the thicker patch that surrounded his cock. She eyed his hard-on with anticipation. First she would taste him, and then she would take him inside her.
Diligently, Marti continued to explore his body, learning it, mapping it with her lips and tongue.
Gently she cupped his sac, massaging it until he groaned and his cock grew even thicker and harder in her hand. Lowering her head, she swiped the glans with the tip of her tongue and lapped up the pre-cum she found there.
She smiled when his hips jerked. It gave her the confidence to do it again, just before she took him into her mouth. Encouraged by his groan, she relaxed her throat and worked him deeper while she gently massaged his sac.
It didn’t take long for him to lose what little of his control remained and grasp her head. Holding it in place, he thrust his hips up, repeatedly driving his shaft into her mouth and down her throat.
Marti actively sought to relax her throat. She wanted to do this for him, but she had the suspicion that if she gagged, he would stop. She didn’t want that. Right now, Marti wanted nothing more than to give as good as she got and she already had a lot of catching up to do.
Unfortunately, he lost enough of his control to drive himself too deep. Kyl stopped immediately when he felt her gag, no matter how slight.
“I’m sorry, love,” he said panting. Sweat beaded on his brow as he lifted his head to look down at her, his hands caressing her hair. “That’s enough for now.” He smiled, though a bit sheepishly. “I want this to be memorable for you.”
“And not for you?” she asked, raising her brow.
“It’s already memorable for me, sweetheart. Take my word for it.” Reaching up, he swiped the perspiration from his brow. Reaching down, he grasped her shoulders and drew her up for a kiss.
Palming the back of her head, he held her in place as his mouth ravaged hers, his tongue delving deep into the recesses of her mouth. She shivered as his hands slid down her back, his fingers squeezing her rear, pressing her into his hardness.
Her womb clenched, her clit throbbed with need and slick cream ran from her channel to coat her thighs. His cock rode against her, pressing ever so firmly between her thighs to stroke her clit with every forward thrust.
In one quick motion, Kyl rolled them over, pinning her beneath him as he continued to ravage her mouth with a heated kiss. Reaching down, he slid his fingers through her wet slit, grasped her still sensitive clit between his thumb and forefinger and tugged.
Marteeka gasped and arched her back. “Gods, that feels good.” He knew his way around a woman’s body, that much was certain. Part of her felt jealous of the women he’d been with before, another part was grateful for their instruction, for without which she may have found him lacking—though somehow, she doubted it.
Another few tugs on her clit and Marti came again. She screamed, her head thrashing on the pillow as Kyl settled himself between her legs, the tip of his cock pressing into her. Kyl rocked forward, easing himself within her with slow, deliberate thrusts. Each stroke took him deeper and deeper. Each thrust dragged his thick erection over her tightly strung nerve endings.
Reaching down, he pulled her legs up. “Wrap your legs around my waist, love.”
The new position changed the angle of his thrusts. His thick cock rubbed the sensitive nerve endings within her. She moaned, raising her hips to meet his every thrust.
Over and over he rammed into her. Harder and harder he pushed until she screamed out another release and he growled with satisfaction above her. Warmth filled her as his thick cream filled her.
Pressing his lips against her forehead, he sighed. “I can’t tell you how good that felt, or how good you make me feel.” He rolled off her, taking her with him, to tuck her beneath his arm. “As impossible as it sounds, I believe the Fates are right. You are my mate. It’s the only explanation for how I feel.”
“How you feel?” she asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead again. “I love you.”
Smiling, she snuggled deeper into his embrace. “I think I love you, too.” Closing her eyes, she surrendered to sleep, trusting the Fates to watch over them both.
Chapter Seventeen
“Are you ready to go?” Ga’briel asked when they entered the breakfast room. Every one of the defenders sat around the long table.
“I didn’t realize everyone would be here.” Marti turned to Kyl and smiled.
It was amazing how big his heart felt, not to mention how much it seemed to swell, every single time he glanced her way.
“Go where?” Kyl asked as he took Marti’s hand and drew her to the head of the table where two empty seats awaited them.
“Well,” Artu said as he threw Kyl a dirty look. “While you two were…otherwise engaged, the rest of us determined that we have a need to visit Katkari and free those who are held against their will.”
“Even the Katkari women?” Marti asked as she sat on the edge of her chair.
“Yes, Marti. Even the Katkari women,” Lena said with a smile.
“As long as it is what they wish,” Artu added.
“How will we go about freeing them?” Marti asked as the wait staff entered the room with large trays filled with food.
“We will all take a holiday,” Artu said, giving his sister a look that told Kyl that the man’s plans excluded his sister. “No one will know we are defenders. We will stay a few days and then, after we learn the lay of the land, we will mount an attack to free the women. After which, we will place anyone who helps us in charge. It will most likely be rebels.”
“Why the rebels and not the women?” Lena asked with a frown.
“It just might come to that,” Ga’briel interjected. “However this ends, we must maintain at least a part time presence there once it’s over.”
“You’ll have to. Otherwise the ruling class will kill them all and take over again once you’re gone. They have somehow brainwashed most of their guards to serve them until death. It’s what they do and all they do.” Marti stared down at the plate one of the servants sat in front of her. “I’ll
never be able to eat all of this.” She glanced at Kyl. “This is more food than a slave gets all day.” She cleared her throat. “Sometimes two days.”
Kyl clenched his fists. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the people who mistreated his mate. He watched Marti, his temper flaring as he thought about what she’d been through.
“We’ll have to be careful, though.” Marti said after taking a sip of her juice. “I have no idea how they stole my abilities.”
“Yeah, and it wouldn’t do to have that happen to the rest of us.” Lena pushed her plate away. She looked a little green. Apparently, this world’s food didn’t agree with her.
“You aren’t going, Marti,” Artu said in a voice that brooked no argument.
“Yes, I am.” Marti glared at her brother. “You’ll need someone who knows who’s sympathetic to the slaves. You can’t trust just anyone, you know.”
“She’s going to have to go, Artu.” Lena took Artu’s hand. “I know if you tried to stop me from going, you’d piss me off. She needs closure. Let her go.”
Artu gave his sister a level stare. “If you must, but please, stay near me or Kyl.” He glared at Kyl again.
Suppressing a grin, Kyl patted Marti’s arm. “Yes, love. Stay near us. We will protect you with our lives.”
“As all of us would protect her with our lives,” Ga’briel said as he stood abruptly.
“I meant no offense.” Kyl waved his hand. “I merely sought to make Marti feel safe.”
“Feeling safe is an illusion.” Marti stared down into her plate as she took a small bite of food.
“No. Their feeling of superiority is the illusion. We are about to shatter it.” Artu stood and held out his hand. “If we’re finished here, I think we should go. We’ll discuss our plans on the way.”
They had been on Katkari for two days when Kyl noticed the weakness. “I can barely lift this cup.” He glanced at the others who all looked worse for wear. “Do you suppose they have taken to kidnapping their victims directly now?”
Woman Bewitched Page 6
