by Maree Dry
“Why do you wear this?”
“To keep my breast from sagging to my knees.”
He drew back slightly then cupped her breasts over the silky material of her bra and pushed them up. As if he wanted to prevent them sagging. Julia bit her lip, torn between laughing at his actions and moaning at how good his hands felt against her skin.
“Don’t the women on your planet wear something similar?”
He squeezed her softly with his leathery hands. “I would not know.”
She blinked up at him, almost forgetting about the pleasure radiating from her breasts to her feet. “You’ve never seen a woman naked?”
“Why would I want to see another woman naked?” he said, almost absently, while his hands explored until he found the Velcro at the front of her bra.
He pulled the material apart with a soft ripping sound and followed the lines left in her skin by the garment with a curious finger. He leaned down and kissed the underside of her breast. His slightly rough tongue licking her skin.
How could she resist such honest curiosity? His determination to give her pleasure? “You guys, uh, you don’t have sex with other women?”
He licked her breast as if they were cream cones he wanted to devour. “We have honor. We do fucking only with our breeders.”
“You don’t, uh, oh, I can’t think when you do that. The planets you conquer, you don’t sleep with the women?”
“No.”
“Must be a Zyrgin thing.” Still, she had her doubts. There would always be someone bucking the system. No doubt some Zyrgin warriors found female company on the planets they conquered.
He pushed her hands up above her head. “You will not move.”
“Why? What are--”
“You will not speak.”
“Yeah, that’s gonna happen in this lifetime.” She lowered her arms and he pulled them back up, kept them beside her head with his hands on hers.
“This is the first knowing. You will obey.”
Julia always thought she didn’t have a shy bone in body. That was before an alien warrior bared her inch by slow inch, staring down at her with simmering intensity. He slid her bra down her arms and off. Lowered the zip on her jeans with excruciating slowness. He rubbed the flesh revealed with a curious finger. Julia sucked in a breath, just that one touch on the sensitive skin of her stomach caused her whole body to spasm. He glanced up and then with one quick motion he peeled her out of the pants.
“You will be satisfied with me,” he said and arranged her hands above her head, palms up on the cushion. He even arranged her fingers a little apart. Gliding a big finger between hers, caressing them. Taking each one between his thumb and forefinger he smoothed them open and slightly apart. Nerves tightened in her belly. What did this first knowing involve? She was ready to explode with pleasure from him touching her fingers, licking her breast.
“Still, Julia.”
The pleasure coursing through her receded. “I’m not your dog, so don’t talk to me like that.” In her previous life, women were spoken to like that and she had made a promise to herself that she would never tolerate it. The pleasure she’d felt, the tenderness at his discomfort over his scars receded.
She reached for the blanket, suddenly feeling vulnerable.
“You are my breeder and this is the first knowing.”
“What if I don’t want this first knowing?”
He pulled the blanket out of her grasp. “I’m a warrior with honor. I will please you.”
He picked up a strand of her hair and murmured something in that growly language. It seemed like hours while he arranged her hair the way he wanted it. He smoothed his hands down her side until he reached her ankles and pulled them slightly apart. Her skin tingled everywhere his hands touched her.
“Do you have something that gives off pleasure in your hands as well?”
“You will not speak.”
She snorted and moved her legs closer together. He pulled them wider again. “Do not move.”
She glared at him and stubbornly moved her legs closer together. His hand was so warm she thought he might burn impressions of his fingers into her skin. Pulling her ankles wide, he seemed deep in thought and then he speared her with that demon gaze. “My ancestors used chains on their breeders for the first knowing. Do you require me to chain you?”
She wanted to scramble back from him but, instead, she concentrated on staying still. If she truly didn’t want him, no threat would make her acquiesce.
He sat back and stared at her, that coal black gaze roving over every inch of her exposed body, inflaming her skin. He leaned forward, caressed her brow, cheeks, and chin. His large finger rubbed the bridge of her nose almost curiously. He arranged her hair again, seeming to take hours to spread it over the cushion the way he wanted it. He started at her forehead again and caressed her brow with the pad of his forefinger, seeming fascinated by the texture. A long time later, he moved on to her cheek, her chin, and then her whole body with his thumbs only. If anyone had told her she could be driven out of her mind with pleasure from such a simple caress, she would’ve laughed at them.
Every time she thought he would deepen his caresses, take things farther, he went back to her hair and arranged it for what felt like hours. She’d noticed before that he liked to look at her hair, but now he touched it and smelled it, almost luxuriated in it. She even saw him taste it on his tongue. Then he would start the caressing all over again until she thought her skin would burst into flames.
“I get it. You like my hair but can we move this along now?” she snarled.
He stopped and brought his face nose to nose with hers. “You do not talk.” He arranged her hair again and she screamed at him. “You do not scream.”
She thought she saw him flinch and was tempted to scream again. Her body was on fire and being forced to lie still, endure such pleasure, was humanly impossible.
He started by arranging her hair again. She would’ve liked to tell him what she thought of his demands that she stay still and then decided against it. He was faithfully repeating his actions and she had the ghastly feeling that he would stop and start over again every time she moved or spoke. His thumbs settled on her forehead and he caressed her cheeks her chin and her neck, retracing his earlier caresses. By the time he reached her feet, she seriously wanted to move. Needed to move. She had a few choice words ready to hurry him along but if she spoke he’d start over again and she’d lose her mind. And she’d spontaneously combust right after that.
He entwined their hands and then kissed and licked her whole body with short flicking movements.
He started over.
“I didn’t move. I can’t stand much more,” she said and didn’t care that she sounded tearful. Her body ached with pleasure, so sensitized she jerked when he breathed on her.
He was finding reasons to keep doing this, to drive her mad. When he said he would give her much pleasure he really meant it.
On the fifth pass over her body, he licked and nibbled the plump underside of her breast and then delicately took her nipple between his teeth while his tongue stabbed at it. Please let it mean he’s ready to take his caresses further. To enter her body and satisfy them both.
It took every inch of her self-control to remain still. The fact that she was tied by his threat of starting over aroused her unbearably. He moved down her stomach and, at last, nuzzled the hair at the juncture of her thighs. He looked up at her. “Are all human women like this?”
“Like what?” Apparently she could speak when he asked questions. If he used this as a reason to start over she’d kill him.
“Do they have the same color hair on their genitals as on their heads?”
“Not all,” she said and closed her eyes. She’d always thought she didn’t embarrass easily but he proved her wrong.
He parted her folds and his tongue played with her clit. Julia moaned and her hips surged toward his mouth. He stopped.
“Don’t you dare start ov
er,” she screamed.
“You do not speak.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.”
“Who is Pete?”
She didn’t think, just reacted--leaned up, bit down on his shoulder, and pummeled his chest. “Get over here and make love to me or else.”
She was sure her teeth were cracked from trying to bite down on his tough hide but she didn’t care. She wanted, needed him to finish.
Determined to take some control, she reached for him, stroking her palms over his chest.
He stiffened but allowed her to touch him.
“They sure built them right on Zyrgin.” She smoothed her hands over his six pack. “I could touch your body for hours.” Julia traced the biggest scar on his chest. “Did you get this in battle?”
She followed a raised scar from his side to his left pectoral. He stayed still for her caress but his body tightened until it was like touching a warm rock. A warm rock made up of exquisitely cut muscles covered with copper green skin and raised veins. On his upper chest a scar that looked like his flesh was slashed and healed while still open ran almost up to his neck.
“You find my scars ugly.” It was not a question.
“No, they are a part of you. It makes you look strong and dangerous.” She kissed the scar, moved her lips over the rough edges of it.
His body shook against her. Not so controlled now, are we? She moved down and kissed his chest to hide her smile. Men were not so different, no matter the species.
“You do not understand the meaning of my scars.”
“I want to know everything about you.” She licked a small scar on his stomach, enjoying his salty skin. She would’ve thought that any warrior would be proud of their scars. Something about that thought was important but she was on fire with pleasure and need, she couldn’t think.
“We do not speak of this now.” He took her hands in his. “You will not touch me.”
“What? Why?”
“It is not proper. You will accept pleasure.”
He leaned over her, his high cheekbones and dark eyes in that stern face, his size so unbearably sexy. It reminded her of her fantasy. Even when he’d haunted her in her house, she’d noticed his beautiful physique. His sculpted face. His green and copper skin used to repel her. Now she thought it beautiful.
“Why would you think it’s not proper for me to touch you?”
He picked up a strand of her hair, leaned over, and inhaled the scent. “This is the first knowing, it is not seemly for a breeder to touch her warrior.”
“All right.” She placed her hands beside her head. The only way she would get him to move on would be to comply. For now.
Every motion he made had an intensity that was very seductive in its focus on her. He arranged her hair, taking his time to get it just right. He touched every inch of her with his thumbs and then followed it with his tongue until she was crazed with lust. He opened her legs wider, licked, and nuzzled until she screamed with pleasure. When he sucked on her clit, she came with a small scream, her thighs clenched around his head. Her body was relaxed, sated but she still wanted him, ached to have him deep inside her.
He arranged her again. This time with her lying on her front.
He flicked his tongue over her whole body, short powerful licks that flayed her skin with searing ecstasy. Sometimes he’d stop and stay absolutely still against her back and Julia had the sense that he tried to reign in any strong emotion he might feel. She stayed still while he fought for control because she would go out of her mind if he started over.
He made her come three times before he turned her onto her back and entered her. They locked gazes and she clutched his muscled shoulders until her knuckles turned white as he rode her body with an intensity that pushed her over the edge. She held onto him desperately, with her arms and legs clasped around him as she came, their eyes locked in intimacy and, for one brief moment, she even thought she could see his soul. Her body continued to vibrate as she orgasmed in his arms, vaguely aware of him tightening against her when he found his own release. No sound escaped him, only that stiffening of his body told her he’d found release.
At last when she was limp and beyond sated into depleted, he leaned over her. “You will be with me always.”
“Okay.”
She’d agree to anything right now. He’d pleasured her stupid.
She lazily traced the biggest scar on his chest. “What happened? Did someone beat you?”
If it was possible, the tar in his eyes turned even denser. He moved back from her. “I am aware that human women need to rest. You will rest for fifteen minutes and then I will pleasure you again.”
“What?”
He lay down next to her on his back, his hands at his side, and grunted something.
The lights went off.
“I am a good fucker,” he said in the darkness.
Chapter 12
She woke, instantly aware of two things. Her whole body ached and she had the creepy feeling you got when someone watched you.
She flew upright. Zurian stood at the foot of the bed with his booted feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest, silently staring at her. His gaze dropped and she grabbed the covers over her naked breasts. Naked. Oh God, she’d made love with an alien. No, with Zurian, this male who’d made her feel safe during those hours in the reverend’s basement. The man who’d turned vicious when she asked a simple question, who’d put the reverend’s head on a pike.
Julia seriously considered drawing the blankets over her head and staying that way for a long, long time. Thank you, Lord, my shots are up to date, she thought. It had cost serious money and she had to travel to a neighboring town, but she found a reliable source. Pregnancy could turn this into a nightmare.
“Your morning after manners need some serious work.” Somehow it seemed unreal that she shared those heated sensual hours with this frightening aloof male.
“The doctor is here to check your implant and make sure the poison is out of your system.”
She scrambled back from him and looked around for her clothes. “I don’t like him. Any doctor who tries to burn his patients needs to stay away from me.”
He watched her closely, almost as if he was afraid she would bolt. “I would not allow anyone to hurt you.”
“I’d love to know an alien language, but I honestly don’t think I can make those grunting noises you and Zacar talk with. Say something, I wanna see if it’s working.”
He said something that sounded harsher than English but not like rocks grating together. Which was what it sounded like to her when he talked to Zacar. She shook her head.
“Nope, not working. Although the language doesn’t sound as growly as it usually does.” Still clutching the blankets, she leaned forward and grabbed her shirt from the foot of the bed. “I will learn your language, no problem. I don’t need the translator to work.” She’d always been good with languages and, although it might take a little longer than normal, she knew she could do it.
“Our language is too complicated for a human to learn.”
They would just see about that. If she could manage mandarin, she could learn alien. “Whatever. I still don’t need the doctor to look at me.”
“He is waiting. Prepare yourself.”
“You bring him in here and I’ll hit him with something.”
The atmosphere chilled and she could literally see him grow bigger and meaner. A few red tendrils drifted into the pitch black of his eyes then slowly bled away.
“You will bathe and dress and see the doctor in the other room.” He loomed over her. Lifted her chin. “Never do you meet another warrior in this room.” He cocked his head. “Never do you meet another warrior alone anywhere.”
“Yeah, because I dream of being sexed to death by more than one emotionless warrior.”
Obviously, he didn’t get sarcasm when he was on the receiving end, because he leaned over her even more, invading her space, using his size to intimidate her in a wa
y she detested. His tar-pit gaze burned into her very soul. “You will never share sex with another warrior.”
“Get back, you cretin. Don’t think you can intimidate me with your size.” She pushed against his chest and he snapped his teeth at her. “Did you just snap your teeth at me?”
Something flickered in his eyes. She could see him pull his emotions back until mirrored black pools stared back at her.
He stepped back from the bed. “Come to the living quarters when you are ready.” He turned and walked out with measured steps.
She took a quick shower, dressed in fresh jeans and a shirt, and combed her hair. Whoever had packed her stuff had been thorough. She hadn’t found anything left behind yet. She’d put all her toiletries in the bathroom the day before. She would’ve taken the time to put on makeup normally but now she spent quite a while on it. Maybe the doctor would get fed up with waiting and go away. She decided it would be a good time to paint her nails.
***
Squaring her shoulders, she finally walked to the living room. Just let them try and put anything else in her brain. Zurian stood talking with the doctor. Before, when he’d treated her wound, she’d only been aware of an alien slightly bulkier than Zurian. Now she saw he had on a similar uniform. Boots and pants and military style shirts that looked as if they could be made from very thin metal. She’d love to get her hands on a sample of that. His eyes were black but, in her opinion, it was a boring black compared to Zurian’s. And the veins on his body were more pronounced as well but it didn’t give him the rugged look it did Zurian.
She put her hands on her hips, tapped her toe. “I only came to tell you that I am fine and that you and your tools can stay away from me.”
“Come here, Julia,” Zurian said.
His gentle tone didn’t fool her. He’d incapacitate her the way he did when he implanted the translator.
She looked around, frantic for a weapon, and spotted the club lying on the table. She grabbed it and swung it in front of her. “You come anywhere near me and I’ll hit you into the next century,” she said to the doctor.
