StarlightComplete

by Astrid Cooper

  Pushing herself off the bed, Samantha hobbled to the bathroom, her body protesting her movement. Her inner muscles ached—had been stretched and thoroughly used.

  On the vanity unit she saw a three-D business card and beneath it a long black velvet box.

  Going to it, she lifted the card, reading the gold print. Johnathan Lucas, Pearl Farmer. Broome, Australia, Sol-Terra, with a cell phone number and a galactic call sign. Who the hell was Johnathan Lucas? Maybe he was a friend of Kuno, her internet confidant? Kuno lived in Broome.

  Opening the box, she gasped at the black pearl necklace lying in folds of red silk. Had Kuno sent her the gift? How had he known…? She re-read the card and flipped it over, staring at the name and contact details—all handwritten in red ink: Kuno alias Johnathan Lucas (John). The email address was Kuno’s, followed by two words, underlined: Surprise, Tosca!

  Realization made her giddy. Tosca was her internet alias, the one she used when she chatted to Kuno. Only to Kuno.

  Was her male escort, in reality Kuno, alias Johnathan Lucas. John—the sensualator…? Oh stars! But how…?

  She didn’t have to be Einstein to figure it out.

  Her friends, Sue and Rob, must have conspired with John-Kuno. Against such a determined threesome, she hadn’t stood a chance. The fine details of how it was accomplished didn’t matter. The end result was that after eighteen months of shared confidences in their private chat room, she had met Kuno in the flesh.

  In the flesh.

  As memories surfaced of their night together, her insides melted with longing, with wanting more. She was beyond embarrassment; she couldn’t even blush!

  With a trembling hand she reached for the phone and keyed the number. It was answered after one ring.

  “Good morning, honey,” he replied.

  “Where are you?”

  “Room next door.”

  “Get in here, Kuno.”

  “Just coming, sweetheart.”

  “Lucky you.”

  His laughter tugged at her insides. Seconds later, the sensor outside beeped. She raced forward and activated the door. It slid open and she dragged him inside. He wore only a red silk gown, untied, revealing his erection. She stared at him. All of him. Oh man…

  “Samantha, is something wrong?”

  “You can stop that lil’ ol’ innocent me routine. Your eyes, your…”

  “My eyes? My cock? What about them?”

  His eyes were gold, green-flecked and luminous, like a cat. And his cock was ridged from base to head. “The sheath you wore, that was you beneath it, all the ridges.”

  “Yep.”

  “You wore it to disguise yourself. Who are you? What are you?”

  His amusement fled. “Samantha!”

  “Do I call you John or Kuno?”

  He sighed. “Kuno is my felinus name.”

  “So, you are a shifter!”

  “No, as I said before, I’m a hybrid. Only pure blood can shift. But I’ve inherited certain felinus traits from my father.” He spread his arms wide. “As you can see.”

  Sam stared at him, her heart beating in her temples. “You were wearing contacts last night, to hide your eyes?”

  “Yes. The color is perhaps unusual for a human, but not unknown. I couldn’t risk you seeing the starlight in my eyes—”

  “The what?”

  He smiled. “I’ve so much to tell you, show you. Where shall I begin?” He took a step towards her, halting as she held up her hand.

  “I liked Kuno. He was the first man I spoke to and trusted after…after... I don’t know you!”

  “I’m still Kuno. I’m also John. You can trust me.” He inclined his head, folding his hands over his heart. “Kuno, saer wan naemis-al.”

  “What did you say?”

  “In felinus, I was declaring myself to you. My name is Kuno and I exist for you.”

  Sam’s body vibrated with his words, his intention. His voice was richer, deeper, the rolling of every ‘r’ more pronounced, with some words ending in a husky whisper, almost like a purr, especially when he was speaking felinus.

  “Oh. Well…” She cleared her throat. “Are…are you telling me we aren’t finished?”

  “You think I came in here to say goodbye? Honey-cat, we’re only just beginning.” He leaned into her. “I think I’ll take you to Tau Ceti and then after that…”

  “I’d like to see Broome and swim with the dolphins.”

  “You can talk to them you know. The stories they can tell…”

  “I’d like to go swimming and do it to you at the same time.”

  “I can arrange that.”

  “Are you really a sensualator?”

  He laughed. “Yes, it’s my profession, besides being a pearl farmer.”

  “And a reprobate!” She slapped his bum, pinched him for good measure, then tugged off his robe. “Thank you for the pearls.”

  “Pearls can be used for a lot of things other than to grace your neck, Sam. Do you know what?”

  “I can imagine. But I want my pearls around my throat and I want you inside me. Now, Kuno.”

  “And later?”

  “We’ll make it up as we go along.”

  “I named you well, Maera Passionata!” He smiled that lazy smile that she would never grow tired of watching.

  As she studied him, her vision wavered, as if she was looking through running water. She blinked. Now she saw his deeper layers of beauty, the felinus and the human. Oh man! Or, maybe, she should say oh cat!

  “Kuno! You hid your true self from me, didn’t you? Your hair is different, now, gold with red and black streaks. Your face is smoother, less severe.” She paused. No, he was beautiful; inhumanly beautiful. “I’ve heard shifters can do that—glamor their true nature.”

  He nodded. “For our protection and for privacy. We’re pursued for our sex. You’ve heard the rumors, I’m sure.”

  “Except I know they’re not rumors, but the truth.”

  “So, you’d hunt me for my body?”

  “You give a gal a good time.”

  “Kitten, we haven’t even started.” Tilting his head, he flicked back the hair from his eyes. He purred, deep in his throat and the sound melted her bones, other places. His eyes lit up. “What other places are melting, Sam?”

  She gasped. “You are telepathic!”

  “Occasionally, when I’m in the mood.” He paused, studying her. “Does my felinus self frighten you? All of me?” He held his arms wide, his chin raised. For a moment his fear washed over her. His horror that she would reject him.

  Sam reached out and trailed her fingers through his hair—like thick velvet but with the texture of silk. Lower. Her gaze followed the path of her fingers. She halted at his right hip, frowning at the tattoo. The feather motif, showing every filament, was darkest blue and disappeared behind his hip. He half turned, so she could examine the design. It ended over his buttock, just near the base of his spine. The design was a work of art. She touched it tentatively and his flesh goose-pimpled.

  “That’s one of my hot spots,” he said.

  “Your what?”

  “You’ll find out.”

  She glanced at him doubtfully. “I love that tattoo.”

  “My clan brother gave it to me.”

  “Your who?”

  “I’ll explain, all in good time.” He faced her, standing tall. “If I hadn’t concealed myself—every part—would you have spent the night with me? I couldn’t lose you after it took me so damn long to coax you out of hiding. I know you would have run at light speed to the nearest spaceship if you knew Kuno was in reality Johnathan Lucas and he is both man and cat.”

  “Yes, I think I would have run.”

  “And now, kitten?”

  Sam caught his sudden tension in the darkening of his eyes, and in the sudden tremble of his body against hers. Was he so vulnerable?

  “I think I’ll stay,” she whispered, stroking his temple.

  “You think?” He stared a
t her and then smiled, that slow lazy, bone-melting smile. “You’re teasing me. How delightful.”

  “Tease me and I tease back.”

  “Promise?” He paused. “Good, now that’s sorted, we can have fun. I know a bar on the lower level—”

  “That place is forbidden to tourists.”

  His brow quirked. “Do you always do what you’re told, Sam? Don’t you want to live on the wild side?”

  “What I’ve heard about the lower level, my adventures would end before they had begun.” She paused, studying him, seeing the mischief. “Do you go there?”

  “Often. It’s where the shifters hang out and the others; sex and danger walk hand in hand, honey. There’s holo-dancing and—”

  “What’s holo-dancing?”

  John rolled his eyes. “I’ll take you there and show you, but suffice to say that if you enjoyed my performance here, you’re gonna love my dancing.”

  “And the shifters hang out there?”

  “Mm. The cats mostly. You know what they’re like.”

  “I don’t actually.”

  John smiled, running his finger over her mouth. “The cats love a virgin, I’m gonna have to put my scent on you, before we go out. I don’t want to have to call challenge to any felinus. It’s messy.”

  “I’m not a virgin,” Sam whispered.

  “Honey, a cat will tell you any person who hasn’t had a felinus as a lover has never been loved properly. Unless you’ve tangled with a cat, you’re considered a virgin.”

  “And you want to take me to this bar? What’s it called?”

  “Rendezvous.”

  “It sounds harmless enough. And what do you mean you’re going to put your scent on me.”

  “You’re my woman, now, so I don’t share, except with your permission. My brother’s gonna love you. From a distance, at first. After that, well, maybe you might want to ménage.”

  “Two lovers at the same time?”

  “Two is the basic number, the initiation for a virgin. Once you get used to us, all bets are off.”

  “John…”

  He kissed away her protests. “Sam, you don’t have to worry, no one is gonna do anything against your will. Especially against your will. You’re my pussy!” He grinned. “I’m not insulting you. Remember when I said that in some circles the word pussy has certain connotations? Well, among felinus, it means you’re mine. And if you call me pussy, then I’m yours. I’ve already told you that I exist for you.”

  “You can’t,” she whispered. His jaw clenched and for a moment she thought his eyes misted with tears. “I can’t let you. It’s not fair.”

  He almost smiled. “Fair? Who said about being fair? I’ve declared myself to you and you’ve rejected me. Why?”

  “I haven’t rejected you.”

  “Sounded like it to me.”

  Sam sighed. “I’m only human and inexperienced and I know I’ll bore you.”

  His lip quirked. “In certain shifter circles, the word bore has a multitude of meanings, none of them to do with lack of interest.”

  “Be serious.”

  “I am.” John touched her cheek. “You think you’re saving me from myself? That’s it, huh? If I didn’t want you, if I didn’t want to be with you, do you think I would be standing here?”

  “You don’t have to make promises.”

  “You think I’m not going to keep them? My name is Kuno and I exist for you. Only for you. Kuno, saer wan naemis-al.” He put his crossed hands over his heart and bowed. Straightening, his gaze was harsh. “I have made my promise. For a felinus and his mate...it is forever.” He put a finger to her lips, gently pressing. “No more talking, I want to tangle with you, again and then take you out of this synthesized, homogenized hotel and introduce you to the real universe. If you won’t listen to what I say, then take notice of what I do.”

  He carried her to the bed and placed her upon it. Kneeling between her thighs, he used the top of his erection to stimulate her clit. She lifted off the mattress.

  “You’re very sensitive, aren’t you? Mm, good.” He touched her again and Sam gritted her teeth as the quivers raced through her. “And you’ve got surprising control. You’ll need it for the future.”

  “What?”

  “A surprise.”

  “I’ve already had my fair share!”

  “Relax. It’s Christmas and I’m going to give you something you’re never going to forget.”

  “You already have.”

  “You think?” He paused, looking down at her. “You still gonna say no? Why don’t you do something daring and say yes to me?”

  Sam reached out and brushed back the hair from his face. Their gazes locked. She trembled with desire, with fear. She saw his fear, his desire, his horror that she would flee him, as she had fled many times from him in cyberspace, refusing his emails and hails for months. Refusing because of fear, because of the past… But did she want to be a prisoner of the past, or did she want to be free, to embrace the future, wherever it led? She touched his mouth with her fingertip, tracing her nail over his lips.

  “I want you inside me, Kuno. Now. I don’t want you to wear that sheath ever again. I want to feel you, all of you; I want you to make me vibrate with your flesh and blood. I know I can do it for you. Kuno. Now.”

  He bent forward and slid inside her. Settling against her, he pressed his face into her neck, nibbling, sucking and biting, a long, slow drawing that tugged at her cleft.

  “Now any cat looking at you will see my mark. You’re mine, Sam. Now. Forever.”

  “Forever is such a long time.”

  “In the universe’s scheme of things, honey, just a blink of an eye. Now, look at me, I want to watch your eyes when I love you. You want it this way, under me? It’s not very inventive. I can de-activate the gravity and—”

  “You can do that?”

  “Mm. Making love in zero G. is a unique experience. You can touch me all over. Not as good as holo-dancing, but close.”

  “Just what is holo-dancing?”

  “Come to Rendezvous with me and find out.”

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “It’s not something you talk about, it’s something you do. And once you’ve tried it, you’ll never be the same.” He pressed into her for emphasis, drawing back and then re-entering her, this time changing direction.

  “Aaah,” Sam moaned. “What did you do?”

  “A felinus trick. There’s a pleasure-spot high up to the right. Among other places.”

  “What other places?”

  He purred and licked her lips. “One at a time, Sam.”

  “Do it again, oh please!”

  “Now, wrap your legs around me, lock your ankles at my back and I can touch deeper. Ready?”

  “I…” Sam’s words died in her mouth as John’s body impaled her, while his hands beneath her tilted her to another angle. Her mind exploded with light, the world closed in on her, the only sound, the blood pounding in her ears. Time stood still; she forgot to breathe as the exquisite pleasure rippled through her. She bit him on the neck and John cried out, not with pain, but pleasure.

  He moved against her, alternating angles, speed. Ah! That was so good…

  When Sam’s awareness returned, she found she was floating. Opening her eyes, she discovered that she and John were hovering over the bed. Somehow, sometime he must have de-activated the gravity. He kissed away her questions, while his hands fanned around her body, beneath her, probing, stroking, as his cock within her probed and stroked. She explored his body, every crevice, every secret. She bit, she licked, she clawed.

  “You’ve drawn my blood, Sam, do you know what that means to a felinus?”

  She shook her head.

  “It means, sweetheart, that you’ve marked me as your own. Forever.”

  Sam reached up and brushed back the hair flying around his face. “Forever is such a short time, let’s not waste a moment.”

  “Maera Passionata! I alway
s knew there was a tiger lurking within you, the passion curbed by pain and memories. Now, there’s no more pain…well, not much…and I want you to be the tigress—claw me, bite me, love me, Sam.”

  “Like this?” She ran her nail down his spine.

  “Ah, yes! But harder!”

  Sam teased her nails over his flesh and he writhed against her. In the null-grav his movements made them turn over and over, spinning out of control, as passions spun out of control, as he loved her, as she loved him, insatiable, inexhaustible and inventive.

  “This is only the beginning, Sam,” John whispered. “I didn’t come more than a billion kilometers just for a one night stand.”

  “You didn’t? But what if I was a bitch, or…?”

  He purred against her. “You forget that we corresponded by email for over twelve months before you and I met in the chat room. Honey, I knew enough about you from the first letter, to know…” He purred again and held her face between his hands. “You’ll come for another billion kilometers, my promise to you!”

  “You promise?”

  “Yep. Under every known star, I’m going to love you Sam; starlight ecstasy—that’s what the felinus call it.”

  “Before, you said something about starlight. What’s it mean?”

  He smiled, his eyes afire. “Ah, kitten. Now that’s a question that can’t be answered, but experienced. Every level.”

  “Every level of what?”

  “Starlight.”

  “You’re being deliberately obtuse.” She slapped his ass.

  “Ouch.” He grinned. “You slap me and I’ll bite you. Deal?”

  “I dunno.” She paused. “You didn’t answer my question, about starlight.”

  He locked his legs around the back of her thighs and pressed into her.

  Sam gazed down at him. Then his body angled and probed and she squeezed her eyelids closed. Christmas Night had been and gone, but there would be many more nights to come. She smiled at the play of words, of the future stretching ahead, of a life lived no longer alone…to explore a universe that she barely glimpsed until this moment; of a life barely lived until this moment.

  She bit him hard and he groaned, then laughed.

  “You’re mine,” she said. “No she-cat had better look at you, either, or I’ll scratch out her eyes.”