by Laurie Roma
She blinked. “What part?”
“The part where you yell at me. You should probably sit down and get comfortable. This might take a while.”
Laughter bubbled up before she could stop it. “Trip, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Scowling at her, he lifted a hand and began ticking off items on his fingers one at a time. “I made you quit your job. I practically drowned you by taking you out in the storm. I ordered you to take a job here, and I told you to move.”
She smiled at him. “I’m not mad about any of that.”
“I kidnapped you, Emma!”
He looked so damn cute and frustrated that she couldn’t help but walk over to him. She took the lead this time, taking his hand in hers and pulling him toward the couch. Once they were seated, she reached up to gently touch his cheek before sitting back and tapping her fingers together.
“Now, let me go through your list. You heard my bosses’ son and his partner threatening me and got me out of there before they could say or do anything worse. As far as I know, you don’t control the weather. You made sure I was safe, then you offered me a job and place to live. So, I’m saying thank you instead of yelling at you.”
“You’re not mad I kidnapped you?”
Breathlessly, she whispered, “I thought this was a date.”
His jaw clenched as he made that low purring sound deep in his chest. “That depends on how long a date can last. What happens if I don’t let you leave?”
Emma bit at her lower lip, and she watched as his predatory gaze tracked the movement. Despite his words, she wasn’t afraid. Actually, he made her feel hot...desirable. She had never been good at flirting, but something about him gave her the courage to try.
“Then, I guess we go down in history as having the longest first date ever.”
His grin was filled with pure, wicked amusement. “So, would you like to take a shower, or...?”
“Or?”
She let out a gasp as he grabbed her waist and lifted her onto his lap so she was straddling him.
“Or you could let me warm you up.”
Emma placed her hand on his neck, stroking his skin with her fingertips. “You are really warm.”
He pulled the clip out of her hair, then ran his fingers through the wet strands until her hair flowed down over the blanket in a smooth, golden waterfall. “I need to start taking better care of you.”
“You’ve been doing just fine so far, but...we should take care of each other.”
“You’re right.” He pushed the blanket off of her shoulders, letting the material fall to the floor. “Then, I think it’s time to get these wet clothes off.”
Trip kept his movements slow as he watched her face for signs of distress. He didn’t want to push her too fast, but his desire for her made it difficult for him to think about anything other than getting her naked. Holding onto the back of her neck, he dragged her closer until his nose was pressed against the side of her neck. He breathed in her scent.
Cinnamon and sugar...his favorite.
“You smell so fucking sweet.”
She leaned in and sniffed at his neck. “You smell good, too. Wild, like the storm.”
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her closer to his body. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of this?” His lips brushed the curve of her ear. “Of having you here with me?”
“I’ve dreamed of it, too.” She pulled his head back until he met her gaze. “Trip?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“If you don’t kiss me again, I think I might have to attack you.”
That made him smile. “We can’t have that now, can we? You’d make a fierce opponent.”
His mouth claimed hers, hard and demanding this time. He growled with pleasure as his tongue stroked deep, dueling with hers. Holy nova, she tasted like sunlight. And one taste was all it took to make him crave more.
Using the arm he had wrapped around her waist, he held her in place as he flexed his hips up, driving his throbbing cock against her core. Her hands gripped his hair, tugging just enough to sting. In retaliation, he nipped at her lower lip, then trailed his fangs against the soft skin of her neck.
The urge to sink his teeth into her beat at him. He’d never had that impulse before, and his own pounding heartbeat roared in his ears as he fought for control. Fuck, he wanted to taste her blood and claim her. He didn’t give in, but he did suck hard on her skin. Dragging his mouth back to hers, he let out a vicious cursed before sealing his lips over hers again.
No longer able to bear having anything between them, he lifted her up and carried her toward his bedroom. At the threshold, he pushed her up against the wall, kissing her over and over again. He growled low in his throat, letting the noise hum against her tongue.
“Before we enter, I want you to tell me what you want. Tell me now, because once you come inside, there is no going back.”
“I want that. I want you.”
“Make sure, because I won’t let you go once I have you.”
“Then take me to bed, Trip,” she whispered, “and don’t let me go.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The bedroom was dark, the only light spilling in from the open doorway. As Trip carried Emma further into the room, he snapped out a verbal command. The shields over the glass lifted so they were greeted with the dark gray sky outside the rain-splattered windows. It was still dim, but there was enough soft light for him to see every glorious detail of her.
Tossing her down onto the midnight blue comforter, he covered her body with his, pressing kisses down her throat as he moved lower. Without pausing to untie it, he ripped her apron off, then tore her shirt in two like it was made of tissue. He’d used a claw, shifting a single fingernail, but he was careful not to cut her with it.
Her breath hitched, and she arched up as he cupped her lace-covered breasts in his hands. The rounded globes fit perfectly in his large palms, and he used his thumbs to stroke her nipples to peaks before jerking the material off of her, baring her to his touch. She moaned as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, lashing at the taut tip with his tongue. Switching to the other breast, he gave it the same treatment.
Her body started shaking, like energy was humming directly under her skin. He pulled back to meet her gaze.
“You’re trembling,” he whispered, concern softening his voice. “Emma?”
“I know, I can’t help it.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’m right here.”
Adrenaline raced through her system making her body tremble so hard, she was practically vibrating under him. He leaned down and kissed her softly, trying to reassure her. She was on overload. Her body was so tight, hovering at the edge of release.
He needed to push her over or ease her down.
Wanting to taste her essence, he shifted lower, dragging her leggings and panties down with him. He tore her shoes off, then tossed the clothing he had removed from her over his shoulder. Pushing her legs apart, he lowered himself against her and breathed her in. The scent of her need roused his primal nature, and he struck without warning, sucking her clit into his mouth.
She screamed as her body exploded.
Lapping at the sweet nectar spilling from her pussy, he prolonged her release until she was writhing against him. Her flavor was wild, wickedly sweet on his tongue, and he wanted more. He wanted to consume her, devour her. He pushed one finger into her tight, hot hole, then added another. He worked his fingers past her tight muscles, using his fingertips to stroke that special spot inside her pussy that threw her into another climax before the first had completely faded.
Emma had never come so quickly, or so violently. The way she had lost control over her body had scared her. She hadn’t been able to stop shaking, but Trip had known what she needed, and she had trusted him to help her through it.
“Holy nova.” She inhaled deep, then blew out a shaky breath. “That was...”
“Intense,” he finished
. “Really fucking intense.”
“That’s never happened to me before. I mean, shaking like that.”
“Good. I could eat you all damn day, but right now, I need to be inside you.”
He stood and quickly removed his own clothes. She stared at his beautiful body with rapt attention, watching as every inch was exposed. She had never seen someone so powerfully built in the flesh. Didn’t know that such perfection was real. His bronzed skin was stretched tight over his thick, corded muscles, and she ached to touch him.
She wanted to learn every inch of him with her fingertips, her mouth, and her tongue. He wrapped one of his large hands around his thick cock, stroking the shaft from base to tip as he moved back over to the bed.
Watching him fascinated her.
“You’re beautiful,” she blurted out.
He blinked in surprise, then his eyes narrowed. “You’re joking.”
“No, I’m serious,” she whispered, embarrassed by her admission. “You are beautiful, and big. Really big. I should probably mention that I’ve never been with any other race besides human before.”
“Don’t talk about that,” he snapped. He closed his eyes, then said, “Sorry. It makes me angry thinking about another male touching you, but you were right to tell me. You could be harmed if you aren’t prepared enough. I’ll go slow. I won’t hurt you.”
“I’m not afraid, and I don’t mind you being a little possessive. Actually, I think it’s kind of hot.”
Trip grunted at that.
She wouldn’t think it was very hot if he ended up beating another male bloody in front of her. Or if he ripped some guy’s dick off, because that was exactly what would happen if anyone touched her.
Emma was his, damn it.
She reached out to him as he climbed back onto the bed and touched her fingertips to one of the many scars on his torso. He gripped her hands as he pressed her back onto the bed, pulling them over her head as he lay on top of her.
Staring down at her, he said, “You are the beautiful one, and you’re all mine.”
His mouth crushed back down on hers, claiming, taking. She struggled to free her hands, but he held her still as he used his legs to push hers further apart. She craved him, wanted him inside of her. Tilting her hips, she let out a sob of frustration when he continued to hold her hands immobile.
She felt the tip of his cock brush against her clit, and her body jerked as if jolted with electricity. Tearing her mouth away from his, she cried, “Please, let me touch you...”
“Damn it, Emma. Stop fighting me. You’re wet enough to take me, but I don’t want to lose control. We need to go slow, so I won’t hurt you.”
She tried to relax as the large head of cock kissed her entrance, then began pushing inside her. She felt the burning stretch of her flesh as he slowly filled her. He was big, thicker and longer than anything she had experienced before. The small bite of pain just made it feel more erotic. He pushed inside her torturously slow, carefully thrusting and retreating to give her time to adjust to his invasion.
Panting for breath, she forced herself to relax. She lifted one of her legs, wrapping it around his waist to relieve some of the pressure. The new angle allowed him to push deeper. He snapped his hips forward, driving the final few inches of his thick shaft into her until he was seated to the hilt.
Then, he paused, holding still while she got used to the feel of him.
“Am I hurting you?”
She shook her head a little. “No, I’m fine.”
Frowning down at her, he said, “You don’t sound very convincing.”
“I’m fine.” Emma laughed a little, then sucked in a sharp breath as she felt his cock jerk inside of her. “Oh, wow.”
He gritted his teeth. “Fuck, you’re so damn tight. Don’t move yet, baby.”
She squeezed him, tightening her muscles around his thick length again. It felt incredible being filled with his hard shaft, and she experimented by wiggling her hips a little. Pleasure shot through her.
She was hot and wet, and ready for him.
With a low growl, Trip took her mouth again. She was still too tight to take roughly, but he did start thrusting slow and deep, enjoying the feel of her pussy taking every inch of him. He plunged back into her wet heat, then ground his pelvis against her. When he pulled back again, he began thrusting into her with hard, fast strokes.
Her cries of pleasure delighted him, and he lowered his head back to her neck, sucking at her soft skin. The need to come was too great to ignore, and he started fucking her with short, quick jabs, driving them both toward release. Shudders wracked her body, and her pussy clamped down on his cock as she came again. Her climax triggered his own. He thrust once, twice more, then let out a wild roar as he spilled his seed into her depths.
Long minutes later, he was still nuzzling his face against her neck. When he finally pulled back, he saw that her eyes were closed, and a small smile curved her lips.
“I can’t get enough of your taste or the feeling of you wrapped around me. I need you again.”
Her blue eyes popped open, and he could see her confusion. He rolled them across the bed, making her laugh as he flipped her around. When he stopped moving, he was laying on his back, with her on top of him, also facing the ceiling. He used his legs to spread hers wide, and with one quick thrust, pushed his hard length back inside of her.
“What are you—oh!”
His cock slid through their combined releases with ease. Pinching one of her nipples with his left hand, he moved his right hand down to her center, holding her clit between two fingers. He rubbed his fingers against the sensitive nub, making her body jerk.
“Remember when I said that I have some convincing to do?” He nipped at her ear, then purred. “I’m just getting started.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Emma woke to find herself sprawled out over Trip’s massive body.
For a moment or two, she’d thought she had fallen asleep on a public transport shuttle during one of her trips to visit her friend in the Capital. She had to wait for the sleep to clear from her head to realize that the movement had been coming from Trip’s chest as it rose and fell, and the constant sound she’d heard was the soft timbre of his purring snore.
Normally, she would have been embarrassed to discover herself in such a position, but she was feeling far too happy to waste any energy thinking about anything negative.
Holy nova, being with Trip was amazing.
He had followed through on his word and had completely sexed her into a coma. If that was the way he was going to convince her to stay with him, it was definitely working. She could tell her face was burning with heat as she remembered just how many ways he had taken her. Somewhere during it all, she had discovered a different side of herself that she hadn’t known existed. It was like some mythical sex goddess had taken over her body, saying and doing all of the things that Emma didn’t have the courage to do in real life.
Passion blended with a deeper feeling that she didn’t want to name yet. For so long, Trip had represented all of her fantasies. She had thought of him as an unattainable ideal for the perfect male, but the reality of him was so much more. She’d felt the bond between them growing with every passing heartbeat. There was freedom and comfort in knowing they had a foundation of friendship. If he got tired of her, or if whatever was between them simply faded away, she was confident they could preserve their friendship.
Stars, who was she kidding?
She’d be a useless, pathetic puddle of tears if he ever tossed her aside, but after a reasonable amount of time—say, maybe fifty or sixty years—she would get over him...hopefully.
Even though the rain had stopped, it was still dark in the bedroom. Trying not to wake him, she slid off of his chest. His arms tightened around her, and he’d murmured her name. He curled around her, holding her next to him on the bed, and the gesture made her heart sing. She would be content to stay there with him even though she was wide awake. However, natu
re was calling, and she had no choice but to get up.
She lifted his arm, moving it off of her in slow increments so she wouldn’t wake him. He was exhausted and already had been sleep deprived from all the hours he had worked over the weekend. After everything, she owed him some undisturbed sleep, so she tried to be as quiet as possible as she eased herself out of his grip and off the bed.
And barely managed to hold back a moan of discomfort.
Okay, she thought, this was something that should have occurred to her sooner. Having wild and crazy sex for hours with a Helios as well-endowed as Trip was bound to take its toll on her smaller body. Feeling silly, she hobbled toward the bathroom until she could brace herself on the doorway.
She glanced back at the bed, grateful that Trip was still sleeping and hadn’t witnessed her awkward predicament. Despite the throbbing ache, she smiled at the physical reminder of his possession of her. She closed the door to the bathroom before turning on the light, then made quick work of taking care of the necessities. Standing in front of the large mirror over the white sink, she studied her reflection.
She didn’t look any different, but she felt as if everything had changed. There should have been some sign to show that she was no longer the same person she’d been yesterday. Then again, it wasn’t like she had converted to another race, so there wouldn’t be any physical signs.
Her epiphany and metamorphosis were all internal.
She had no clue what time it was, but it really didn’t matter since she didn’t have to show up for work tomorrow. Looking in a few of the drawers in the black vanity, she found what she was looking for. She used Trip’s nano-cleanser, then carefully made her way across the gray stone floor toward the massive glass and black stone shower.
In her entire life, she had never seen anything as decadent as Trip’s shower. There were so many sprays coming from everywhere that it took her several tries to figure out which combination she liked the best. It was a waste of resources, but she lingered far longer than was necessary, letting the hot water chase away some of the aches from her body. After she was done, she stepped into the drying chamber, and let the warm air work its magic on her.
