by Ivy Barrett
She shook her head, looking more confounded than ever. “I understood about half of that.”
Encouraged by her calm, he went a bit further. “Many of my systems were destroyed. I have so much technology inside me, I’m not sure your tribe will consider me a person anymore. I told you the treatment was radical. I want you to understand just how radical.”
“This is why you asked about Ashton and the malignari. Without these technologies, you would be dead?”
The question went deeper than that, but she knelt between his legs, naked. And his cock was not in the mood for a philosophical discussion about the definition of life.
“I didn’t want to go any further until you understood that I’m not like other men.”
She smiled and wrapped her fingers around his half-hard cock. “I noticed that at the bathing pool.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. I appreciate your concern. It only reinforces what I’ve suspected all along. You are extraordinary. We were brought together by the Deity, and I have no intention of refusing the gift.” Her hand began a slow pumping motion that made him groan.
He covered her hand, halting its tantalizing movement. “Do you honestly believe this was ordained by some higher power?”
“That higher power might only be Miranda, but that’s good enough for me.”
Releasing his hold on her hand, he wrestled with the nagging remains of his hesitation. He’d told her. Well, he’d told her most of it and she was still touching him.
“You’re still distracted. Do I need to ease your fears?” Closing her lips around the tip of his cock, she sucked with ravenous demand. “I like firmine wine.” Her lips moved against him as she spoke. “Give me more.”
Temptation tore through him, speeding his pulse and tightening his abdomen. He brushed her hair back from her face as her mouth worked its magic. What she lacked in skill, she made up for with enthusiasm. Her tongue swirled and her lips slid, snug and warm against his aching shaft.
He needed to kiss her and feel her soft breasts press against his chest. “Enough.” Hooking his hands under her arms, he drew her to her feet.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and offered her mouth with a warm sigh. He tilted his head and kissed her, thrilled by her eagerness. Her breast felt warm and weighty in his hand, the nipple already gathered into a firm peak. He rolled the tender crest between his thumb and forefinger, exalted by her throaty cry.
Her skin was silky beneath his fingers, her taste addictive on his tongue. He inhaled deeply, needing to imprint her scent on his brain, so all he had to do was close his eyes and he’d be surrounded by her.
Kissing his way down her body, he carefully slipped to the ground. The rock abraded his back and his buttocks, the sensation oddly arousing. “Rest your knee on my shoulder and put your hands on top of the rock. It’s my turn to taste you.”
“I’m tired of teasing and being teased. I want you to fuck me, really fuck me.”
“I want your cream in my mouth when I fill you with my cock.”
She shivered. A startled sound, part cry and part squeak, escaped when he bent her knee and raised it to his shoulder. Unbalanced by the sudden movement, she leaned forward and braced herself against the rock, ending up in exactly the position he’d described.
“Your pussy is so soft.” He traced her with his fingertips, mesmerized by her delicate flesh. “I’ll never tire of touching you, never get enough.” With slow deliberation, he found her opening and pushed inside. Her passage tightened around his middle finger, hot, slick and welcoming.
He pulled nearly out, her cream gleaming on his skin. Desire rose within him, swelling and consuming. He cupped her bottom with one hand and added a second finger. She arched over him, her breasts just out of reach.
Finding her clit with his tongue, he circled the puffy little nub. She started then sighed as he caressed her. He circled and flicked, but an up-and-down motion made her wild. He licked up one side as he thrust his fingers in and stroked down the other with his withdrawal.
“Oh, oh!” She grabbed his head and angled her hips. He understood what she needed. With his fingers buried deep inside, he closed his lips around her clit and sucked.
She cried out sharply, her hair brushing his hand as her back bowed. Her inner muscles squeezed his fingers, the deep contractions keeping time with his mouth. Cream ran over his fingers and onto his hand. He had to take advantage of her response to ease his way inside.
He guided her down onto his lap, her knees straddling his hips. “You’re really tight,” he murmured against her hair. “We’ll have to go slowly.”
“I’m also really wet. You won’t hurt me.”
“You’re right, I won’t.” It was a vow, even if she didn’t realize it. He parted her folds and settled against her entrance. “Kiss me.”
As she leaned in to obey, he worked the head of his cock into her. She gasped and her inner muscles tightened. He stroked her back with one hand and caressed her mound with the other. Circling her clit and coating her folds with cream, he prepared her for more of him.
His kiss was slow and teasing. He nibbled at her lips then sucked on her tongue, encouraging her to play. Taking advantage of her distraction, he cupped her bottom with both hands and pushed farther into her heat.
Serena trembled as Matt impaled her. Wider and wider she stretched. Eased by her arousal, his body blazed a trail into the very heart of her. She tore her mouth from his and dropped her head back on her shoulders. He stretched her beyond pleasure. She ached and burned as he pushed deeper and deeper, relentless yet incredibly gentle.
“Just a bit more,” he whispered, and she laughed. How could there be more? He demonstrated an instant later when her groin pressed against his. “If you don’t want me to move, I can come like this, just keep squeezing me and I’ll come.”
She shifted on his lap. He scooted forward so she could wrap her legs around him as her body adjusted. “Let me catch my breath.”
“Take all the time you need.” He supported her with one arm, bending her backward so he could reach her breasts. His mouth drew on one nipple and then the other, long, deep pulls that made her clit echo the throb.
Rotating her hips, she explored her body’s reaction to the overwhelming fullness. The smallest shift accented her need to move, to feel the unmistakable slide of his hard male flesh inside her.
His hands glided across her damp skin, never lingering in one place for long. The tie slipped off the end of her hair and a cool breeze unraveled the thick braid. Strands swirled around them, silky and caressing.
He grasped her hips and drew her up slowly, testing the ease with which she could move. Her core fluttered and she braced herself against his shoulders.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“You’re huge,” she admitted with a sigh. He held her while she got her legs beneath her again. Rolling her hips and lifting with her knees, she dragged her body up the length of his shaft then slowly lowered herself.
He caressed her breasts and teased the crease between her bottom cheeks. They stared into each other’s eyes, lost in the thrill of discovery.
All her life she’d wanted to express herself freely, to abandon inhibition and thought. His gaze burned with passion and tenderness. The combination made her wild.
“Fuck me,” she whispered against his lips. “I want you on top of me now.”
With a wicked chuckle, he clutched her to his chest and flipped her onto her back. His strong arms controlled her descent, giving her a moment to settle in the grass before he took over. Kneeling between her thighs, he draped her legs over his arms.
He pulled his hips back. She raised her arms above her head, savoring the thick slide of his cock. Pausing with just the tip inside her, he stared into her eyes. “Nothing has ever felt this good.” He thrust deep, driving the breath from her lungs.
He looked as if he might say more, but then his lashes lowered and all she could see
was desire. He filled her again and again, each stroke a separate possession. His hands grasped her hips while he moved between her thighs.
She looked past him at the clear blue sky, soaring like a bird on the wind. Pleasure coursed through her, tingling across her skin and gathering in her feminine core. She squeezed him with her inner muscles and surrendered to the joining.
His soul strands burst to life around him, their colors vibrant. She raised her arms and let the strands flow around her fingers. His emotions bombarded her mind as a second level of sensation magnified her pleasure.
Need was clear in his gaze, so the emotion didn’t surprise her. He felt lust and possessiveness, but through the darker emotions floated hope, sweet and pure like summer rain. Moving her hands to his face, she brought his mouth down to hers. Hope was precious and fragile, and all too rare.
His movements sped. He pushed her legs up and back, raising her hips off the ground. His thrusts were sharp, jarring her body with each impact. She relished the intensity, freed by the depth of their connection.
They came together, Matt clenching his teeth, Serena crying out for both of them. He pressed her against his chest, the force of his release shaking his body. She wrapped her arms and her legs around him, riding the crest on and on.
* * * * *
“Cephus to see you, Ma’am.”
Petra cringed at the title. Ebon knew “Ma’am” made her feel old and dowdy. She’d instructed him to call her “Mistress” countless times since he took over security at the Dark Star. Still, he managed to “forget”.
Pushing back from her desk, she stood and straightened the narrow skirt of her bright blue dress. Cephus was one of the few people who could intimidate her. Ebon was merely annoying.
“Send him in.”
She tucked her sapphire-tinted hair behind her ears and adjusted her neckline, revealing only the upper curve of her breasts. Usually, she used her physical attributes without hesitation. Cephus, however, was the last person she wanted to arouse. She’d suspected he’d arrive today. Why hadn’t she worn something less flamboyant?
The door opened and Cephus strode into her office. He was dressed in an immaculate business suit; his cold gray eyes located her with a glance then gazed about the room with feigned indolence. She knew from experience that he could strike without warning, fast and lethal. Pronounced cheekbones and a firm jaw created a face both elegant and cruel.
“May I offer you a drink?” The customary question seemed trite given his effortless menace.
“My time is limited. I’d prefer we dispense with the pleasantries.”
Sweeping her hand toward the chairs arranged before her desk, she waited until he sat before returning to her seat. “What have you learned?”
“When you contracted my services, I told you my fee was twofold.”
She acknowledged the statement with a nod but said nothing.
“We have agreed upon the monetary compensation. The second portion of my fee is information.”
When he’d suggested he wanted more than money, she’d expected his demand to be sexual. Too many years in the pleasure business, apparently. “What do I know that interests you?”
“I insist each of my clients reveal certain information about themselves. This protects me, should any of my clients attempt to manipulate our relationship.”
Anger simmered beneath her calm façade. Until she learned what he knew, she had no choice but to play along. “How do I know what you’ve learned is worth revealing anything about myself?”
“I’ll accept half of my fee in advance and half upon your satisfaction.” He rested his hands on the arms of the chair and finally met her gaze.
She’d hired two investigators before Cephus and neither had learned anything useful. “What do you want to know?”
“What was the nature of your relationship with Matthias?”
He’d have to do better than that if he hoped to make her uncomfortable. “We were lovers.”
He remained still and watchful. Petra wasn’t fooled. She knew a predator when she saw one.
“Who ended the relationship?” he asked.
“Which time?” She dismissed the subject with a wave of her hand. “Our affair was unstable from the start.”
“What made it unstable?”
A shiver raced down her spine. He’d scratch and prod until she revealed something damning. So be it, she’d give him a glimpse into her jaded soul. The sooner he satisfied his morbid curiosity, the sooner they could move on.
“I like men.” She grinned. “Catch me in the right mood and I like women too. Matthias was too possessive for the sort of relationship I’m able to offer.”
“Did you lead him to believe you’d remain faithful to him?”
“It wasn’t a deception. I honestly attempted to change for him, but I like men.” Despite her casual tone, pain sharpened the admission.
“Did he ever catch you in the act?”
“Yes.”
“More than once?”
“Yes.”
“And still he took you back?” The shadow of a smile curved his lips. “You must be one hell of a fuck… Or was he just a fool?”
“I’m not indulging you further until you tell me what you’ve learned.”
“Very well.” He unbuttoned his jacket and crossed his legs. “I’ll tip my hand, but know this. We will not leave this room until I have honest answers to the rest of my questions.”
He got off on humiliating others, no doubt about it. Being privy to a person’s secrets offered a certain security, but Cephus wanted to watch his “clients” squirm. She’d determine how much she was willing to writhe when she heard his discoveries. She folded her hands on her desktop and waited for him to begin.
“The Renaissance Foundation,” she prompted when he continued to study her. “What were you able to learn?”
“Matthias had no living relatives, so he established the Renaissance Foundation when he realized he was dying.”
“I already knew that.”
He chuckled. “Are you always so impatient?”
“It depends on the situation.”
“Let’s see what we can do to lighten your mood.”
Lightening her mood was the farthest thing from his mind. He either had useful information or he didn’t. She was already tired of his games. “I’m listening.”
“On the surface, the foundation is a charity devoted to the rehabilitation of amputees and the recovery of those needing artificial organs.”
Again, nothing she didn’t already know. “You said on the surface.”
He inclined his head. “As well as performing its charitable works, the foundation is a mechanism through which the Toymaker’s income is filtered.”
“Why would Matthias need to filter his money? All of his inventions were patented. His income is legitimate.”
“Legal and legitimate are two different things.” His gaze flashed for a moment before freezing over again. “Many consider the pleasure industry as a whole disreputable.”
Petra rubbed the bridge of her nose. She wasn’t interested in the legitimacy of the pleasure industry. If she cringed every time someone called her a whore, she’d have adapted the posture permanently. “Go on.”
“The everyday workings are overseen by a board of directors. They follow a strict business plan outlined in the foundation’s charter.”
“In other words, they’re puppets with no real power of their own?”
“Basically.” He licked his lips, the gesture undeniably reptilian.
Ignoring her growing aversion, she asked, “If the board is simply going through the motions, who is pulling the strings?”
“After dismantling the foundation and its numerous holding companies, I discovered the silent benefactor beneath it all. Matt Sterling possesses a detailed past and impeccable resume, but like the Renaissance Foundation itself, he is mostly smoke and mirrors.”
She scooted to the edge of her chair, carefully c
oncealing her excitement. Finally! Had she found a criminal worthy of his price? She took a deep breath before she spoke. He must never guess the true reason for her interest.
“Have you located this man? Do you have a physical description?”
“Would I be here if I didn’t?” He pulled a datapad out of his pocket and activated a holo-image.
Her gaze widened for an instant before she controlled the reaction. At least she’d kept her jaw from dropping.
“You know this man?” Cephus asked.
“I’ve seen him before. He claimed to be one of Matthias’ employees. Apparently their relationship was a great deal more intimate than I was led to believe.”
Curiosity melted through his expression. “You’re inferring Matt and Matthias were lovers?”
“Why else would Matthias leave his fortune to a veritable stranger?”
“Why indeed. How certain are you that Matthias is dead? Matt’s emergence perfectly coincides with—”
“I saw his body, and believe me, I know him well enough to verify his identity. The Toymaker is dead, but I’ll be damned before I see his fortune pissed away by some ungrateful pup.”
“Your interest is purely financial?” Cephus didn’t look convinced.
She pushed to her feet. One last question and this unnerving conversation would be over. “Where is he?”
“You must think I’m a fool. I said I’d tip my hand, not throw down my cards.”
She swallowed hard. Let the humiliation resume. She endured worse for a far smaller gain. “What do you want to know?”
“Who is Tamara?”
Shock slammed into her so hard her knees went weak. Bracing herself against the edge of her desk, she trembled. For twenty-eight years she’d guarded this secret, sacrificed so much, so Tamara could…
“Where did you hear that name?” She could barely force the question out.
