The Starlight Rite

by Sinclair Cherise

  He smiled. Nothing pleased him as much as a new mystery. But he had to solve the current question first: why she had withdrawn into herself so tightly? He cupped her breast, enjoying the heavy weight in his hand. Through the thin gown, her nipples were pale pink, far lighter than a Nexan’s dusky brown. Yet even if her body was different and her culture strange, pain was universal. “Your grief took you from the world of the living.”

  Although she shrugged, her shoulders stiffened.

  Mourning for loved ones was not unusual. But he saw that, though her grief remained, the pain of loss had eased. So why did she still hide within herself?

  He pulled her braid forward and started undoing it with one hand. The cool strands glowed with the colors of fire, much like the little Earther. Cold on the outside, but last night, he’d found heat on the inside.

  To him, her spirit seemed to waver, as if in a doorway, unsure whether to return to living or bury itself even further into coldness. Something had opened the door for her, for she’d been alive when he’d captured her outside his club. And their intimacy and her release last night should have reminded her of the joys of the body. Why did she not step completely out into the world?

  A memory came to him from his early days as an enforcer. A friend whose partner had died in a port brawl had tried to follow him into death. Not just because of the loss, but also… Dain flattened his hand between her breasts, over her heart. “Do you feel guilty for being alive when they are dead?”

  Her heart gave a heavy thud, and her whole body stiffened like a relix preparing to strike. Her voice came out hoarse. Harsh. “I am guilty.” She turned her face away, trying to retreat from his hand and failing. “They were coming to hear—to visit me and died. If I hadn’t wanted… If I had said not to come, they might—”

  “They would have died anyway, laria.” He laid a hand along her jawline, feeling the fragile, stubborn bones beneath her satin skin as he turned her face back to him. Her drenched eyes were green as a high mountain lake. He kissed her forehead. “Ekatae, the death goddess, claims us when she will.”

  She shook her head in disagreement, but he could feel the minute relaxation of her muscles. His words had penetrated and would be considered. In turn, he would reflect on what he had discovered. One insight he had gained: she had been left too long alone in her grief, and no one had insisted she return to the world. The more he learned about this planet Earth, the more disgusted he became.

  He could feel tiny trembles running through her body, although her spine stayed straight, and her face composed. She was a strong woman, despite her vulnerable heart and small size. “Come, laria, let us rest. Tomorrow you may return to being an unshuline; for tonight, you will simply sleep in my arms.”

  Her gaze jerked back to his. Had she expected to spend the night alone? Foolish little Earther. He carried her to the bed. Ignoring the rigidity of her body, he turned her on her side and curled around her in a protective position, one heightened by the difference in their sizes—and her softness within his arms.

  Slowly, as his body heat warmed her, she relaxed, stiffening only for a moment when he slid his hand around to lie in the soft valley between her breasts. “Sleep, little one,” he whispered. Her wavy hair teased his face, silky soft with the fragrance of ronves and vanilla. Her round ass nestled against his groin.

  It was odd how this woman from a distant planet could feel so right within his embrace.

  * * *

  She awoke from deep sleep, lying on her back. Hard hands moved over her body, stroking up from her waist to massage her breasts. Opening her eyes, she tried to sit up, and he pushed her down with a firm hand on her chest.

  Dain straddled her hips, his balls pressed against the junction of her legs. “Lie still, Mella, or I will restrain you.”

  The memory of her wrists in cuffs, of his enjoying free rein over her body, sent a wave of heat through her—one she ignored. She glared at him. “We had a deal. I answered your questions.”

  His grin was a flash of white in the dark face. Whiskers shadowed his jaw and chin, making him look even more dangerous. As dangerous as the hands on her body. “The night is over, little one, and a new day has begun.” He teased her nipples gently until they pebbled into an aching tightness. Then he slowly pinched the peaks almost to the point of pain.

  She gasped at the intensely erotic sensation and shoved at his hands, trying to push him away.

  With a low chuckle, he grasped one wrist. He leaned forward and then his heavy weight came down on top of her so hard and fast that the air exploded out of her. By the time she could breathe, he had fastened both her wrists to the headboard chains. Pulling her leg out from under his hip, she tried to kick him. Evading her easily, he rolled off the bed. He caught her foot in his hard hand and, to her horror, tied her ankle to the footboard with soft silken ropes. Ignoring her frantic thrashing, he secured her other leg.

  Spread-eagled, she lay helpless, tugging at the ropes. “Do Nexans have to tie their women down to have sex with them?” she hissed. “This is rape.”

  He joined her on the bed, lying beside her. Leaning on one elbow, he fondled her breasts, this time without her interference. “I fear that word does not apply to indentured slaves, Mella. Especially one who begged me to buy her.” His look was piercing.

  Guilt settled like a hard knot in her stomach. She had begged.

  “If you don’t count criminals convicted of injuring another, very, very few people are raped on Nexus.” He licked a finger and circled her nipple, smiling as it tightened to a jutting peak. “You see, the penalty for rape on our planet is to have one’s male parts cut off and then banishment to the mines for the remainder of a miserable life. There, any male without his shultor and globes is considered fair game for use by others.”

  She looked at him, her eyes wide. “That’s horrible.”

  He nodded. “And effective.”

  “Then if you don’t usually buy unshulines or take women against their will, why do you have these?” She tugged on the chain attached to her indenture bracelet.

  “Because I like them.” He chuckled, low and deep. “I read about your planet now and then, little Earther. Your people spend an excessive amount of time watching vids.” He took her nipple between his lips. His mouth was hot. Wet. Exciting. After the roaring left her ears, she realized he’d leaned back to study her with that unsettling gaze. “Our technology is limited, and noninteractive entertainment is restricted. So for our entertainment, we sing. We dance. We play in bed.”

  Her other nipple received the same treatment, long and hard. When he finished, the nub was a dark red, and its throbbing wakened her private parts. “We like sex, and nothing is considered improper as long as the players agree.” He grinned. “I believe on Earth, everything having to do with sex is considered sinful, yes?”

  She managed to nod, although following the conversation was growing more difficult.

  “Now, I enjoy the sight of a woman tied down for my use. Open and available.” His gaze traveled over her slowly, his pleasure obvious, and she became acutely aware of the way her raised arms lifted her breasts and of the vulnerable area between her widespread legs.

  “But that’s rape,” she whispered.

  “Ah, it is not if the woman enjoys being restrained. If she wants someone to take his pleasure…”

  She closed her eyes, tried to ignore the growing need of her body. A woman would do that…willingly? Surely not. Would everything she believed about right and wrong be twisted on its side?

  When she opened her eyes, he hadn’t moved, as if he was waiting for her to finish thinking. Now he straddled her, his buttocks resting on her thighs. His erection was immense, jutting out slightly from his body. He saw her staring and closed his fist around it. “This says I want you, yes.”

  “But I don’t want you, no.” She yanked at the restraints, saw a faint smile on his hard face.

  “Perhaps. One thing I do know, Mella.” He leaned down and touch
ed her breast with one finger. “You aren’t occupied with grieving at the moment.”

  The unexpected statement stabbed right into her heart. “Damn you.”

  “It’s time to move on, laria. You are alive, and I can’t imagine your family would begrudge you your survival. They would not want you to remain frozen.” His serious eyes captured hers. “Am I wrong?”

  Mama and Papa would have been very unhappy to see her mourning so long. And Kalie had loved life.

  He waited for her reply.

  She shook her head in answer, unable to say the words.

  Slowly his lips curled into a dangerous smile. “So I now have a sweet Earther female, just waiting for me to take her.” He studied her with a penetrating gaze. “She can’t move, can’t do anything to help herself.”

  His words sent disconcerting warmth flooding through her. Heat pooled low in her stomach as she tugged on the ropes in response to the heat. A flash of satisfaction showed in his eyes. He leaned down to her, his lips a breath away from hers. “Kiss me, Mella. As long as you’re kissing me, I’m not doing…other things.”

  Without waiting for her answer, he took her mouth, his lips firm, experienced, teasing her lightly before he plunged within. His tongue stroked over hers, coaxed it into responding. Only his lips touched her, yet she could feel the dark heat of him pour into her.

  She felt…awake. Roused. Hot. And when he drew back, her breath came hard.

  “Very nice, laria,” he murmured. He looked at her breasts and smiled. “So much to enjoy. These need more attention, I think.” He leaned down to circle one nipple with his tongue, his hand cupping her breast and holding it for his lips. “You’re so pale and pink.” His mouth closed over her nipple, and he sucked, drawing strongly until each pull sent a current running to her…her clit.

  As she arched from the bed, he sat back. His finger circled the peak, the sunlines beside his eyes crinkling. “Very nice.”

  He teased her other breast, switching from one to the other until they were swollen and aching and she was appallingly wet below. How could he do this to her? She shouldn’t be get getting hot for—

  He shifted to kneel between her legs, then stroked up her left thigh and slid his hand through her wet folds.

  “Aaah!” She jerked on the chains. She’d forgotten how intimately he’d touched her yesterday. How could he do things like this? Nathan had only put his hands down there long enough to push his shaft into her. “Women are messy,” he’d said.

  She wiggled uncontrollably as Dain’s fingers, slick with her wetness, slid from the top of her mound almost to her anus. “What are you planning to do?”

  “Just touch you, Mella.” His voice was lazy and deep.

  She realized his eyes had never left her face, even as he stroked her. Suddenly his finger glided up and over her clit, and she sucked in a breath as a wave of excitement shot through her. He set his free hand on one breast, gently fondling it, and then he pinched her sensitive nipple. The electric feeling sizzled straight to her clit. Before she could recover, he opened her folds and pressed a finger into her—right inside her—and she gasped at the riveting pleasure.

  Her legs trembled with the strain of trying to pull away—and trying to get closer. She couldn’t do either.

  With a low growl, he nipped her on the thigh, and the sharp pain seared through her, making her gasp. He bit her higher, again and again, moving up her leg toward her pussy. Each stinging pain made her skin more sensitive and the sensation more erotic.

  She could feel the trickle of moisture through her folds and couldn’t find any embarrassment within her. Just need.

  When his mouth closed over the tender skin at the crease of her thigh, she trembled, feeling his breath on her most intimate places. He’d done this before, put his mouth…there, but that time she’d been wild with the drug. Now…now her lower parts ached for his touch, but she could control it. Could control herself.

  “No,” she whispered. “Please don’t.” A shaft being pushed inside her was uncomfortable, but bearable. Having his mouth on her was different. Too personal. Too intimate.

  He didn’t move, just looked at her private area, at a place always hidden. “Ah, Earthers and their prudery.” He touched a finger right at her opening, pressed in a centimeter, and she quivered as new sensations awoke and bloomed outward. He rose to smile at her. “I remember reading that before the emigration to the planets, sex was considered a normal and pleasurable part of life on Earth. Anything was allowed, as long as the partners agreed. Much like we deal with shulin here on Nexus.”

  She couldn’t look away from him, from his intense gaze. His finger remained just barely inside her; she could feel her tissues throbbing around it.

  “Did your lovers never do this?” He lowered his head, and his warm tongue replaced his finger, delving between her folds. When it pushed inside her, the feeling was so overwhelming, she started to pant. Her legs wouldn’t close. I can’t stop him.

  “No, you can’t stop me,” he murmured, and she realized she’d spoken aloud. His eyes crinkled at the corners. And then his tongue stroked right over her clit. Her body went rigid. Soaring, burning arousal ignited in her, as if everything that had come before was but a drop in the lake of her need.

  He was watching her again, and amusement glimmered in his eyes. “Now you look almost like you did with the drug.”

  She felt his fingers on her, touching her folds, and the muscles in her legs tightened uncontrollably. Her hands pulled on the chains, to no avail.

  His eyes went dark and satisfied as she struggled. His mouth lowered onto her. The hot, wet feel of his lips felt indescribable. His fingers opened her farther, and his tongue found her exposed clit. Sliding up one side. Rubbing. Over the top to the other side. Rubbing.

  Her body tensed, coiling tighter and tighter as he continued. Her breathing turned to low moans, then to panting. A finger slid into her, sparking new nerve endings to life, sending her closer to the edge. She couldn’t think, could only wait for the next slow slide of his tongue, the movement of his finger inside her. His tongue on her was more intensely pleasurable than anything she’d ever felt before. She never wanted it to end, and yet her hips strained upward, desperate for more, for release.

  The slow, firm slide of his tongue alternated with the slow in-and-out movement of his finger. Faster—she needed faster as pressure built inside her. Her body hovered on the precipice, rigid, waiting for the next…the next…

  “Oooh!” A star went nova inside her—searing pleasure bursting outward through her whole body. Her insides pulsed convulsively around his finger, each spasm sending glorious waves through her. Her hips tried to buck, and she realized his forearm pinned her to the bed, keeping her right where he wanted her, and the knowledge shot her into another spasm of pleasure.

  He lifted his head, a faint smile on his lips. “I think I like your release more when no drugs are involved. What do you think?”

  She could only stare at him, her heart pounding like it wanted to burst from her chest.

  His finger ran through her folds again, and she gasped as her vagina clenched.

  “You’re nicely wet, laria. Let’s put that to use.” He came down on her, his body solid muscle. His left hand cupped her breast, thumbing the nipple and shooting small explosions through her. His right hand pressed his erection against her opening. “I didn’t take you very hard the other night,” he told her, holding her gaze. “I will now.” And he pushed into her.

  She was so wet, he slid in easily, moving deeper and deeper inside her. She whimpered as the feeling of fullness increased, as he stretched her to the point of pain until her vagina throbbed around him. He’s done this before, she tried to tell herself, and it got better. She panted, trying to get air.

  He stopped, and she could feel his balls touching her pussy. “Look at me, little one.” His big hand cupped her cheek as his dark gray eyes focused on her.

  When he shifted inside her, the sensation was�
��terrifying. The huge feeling moved through her swollen tissues, retreating, surging forward again. She closed her eyes.

  “Look at me,” he growled.

  Chapter Six

  When she obeyed, Dain was pleased to see the glazed look in her eyes. Not only an Earther, but a very innocent one. Her husband must have been as sexless as an agrustal in dry season. As Dain increased the pace and force of his thrusts, he felt her inmaline stretch to accommodate him, and the soft, wet feeling of her around him was finer than any other sensation. He could feel his globes tighten, demanding release. Each plunge of his shultor edged him closer, but he drew it out, balancing on the peak, enjoying the little thief’s response. Her lips were swollen from his mouth. Her nipples peaked into hard points against his chest as she climbed back to arousal.

  In the restraints, her hands had fisted, and her shallow pants heated his face. He smiled. From her reaction to his touch on her somaline, she hadn’t been pleasured there before. More might be nice. He reached down and slid his fingers through her wetness, before firmly stroking the engorged nub.

  As if zapped, her body arched to a rigid bow, and she fell into her release with the sharp scream of someone falling off a cliff. Her inmaline clenched around him, spasming so hard it ripped away his own control, and he shot into her, over and over.

  She’d closed her eyes, he realized, at the height of her orgasm, but he’d seen the sheer shock in there, just as she’d come. By the four gods, he enjoyed taking her more than he had any woman in a long, long time. He nuzzled her face. Her body had lost its tension, turning to softness around him and under him. He kissed her, coaxing her lips to respond.

  “Well, little Mella, do Nexans make love differently than Earthers?”

  When she didn’t answer, he moved inside her, felt her inmaline tighten as she gave a soft gasp. “Mella?”

  “Um.” Her cheeks shaded to an appealing pink. “I-I suppose. But I’ve only been with one man, so…” Her frown indicated she was recovering rapidly. “Of course, he never had to buy me or tie me down to—”