He tossed the sweaty towel into a basket. “No, no, she actually makes a good point. All Vulfan females start their self-defense training when they are cubs – just like the males. If you have not yet learned how to defend yourself, it is high time you started.”
He walked towards her, and she stood rooted to the spot where she stood. She was supposed to wrestle with Thorolf, squirming under his muscular, sweaty body, without making a total fool of herself?
She bit back a moan at the thought.
What kind of sadist was Zura, anyway?
“Treffon, it’s probably a lost cause. Remember the night I met you?”
His eyes gleamed and his lips curled in a devastatingly sexy smile. “Yes, I remember it very well.” He was so close he was practically pressing up against her. And he smelled so good. His damp skin gave off a scent that made her want to press her face against his broad chest and lick his flesh. Her heart tripped erratically beneath her ribs. It was probably pheromones or something, right? Or an aphrodisiac – some sort of alien love potion. Nobody smelled sexy. Except Treffon did – musky and masculine and delicious.
She blushed. “Remember that I spilled a drink on you? That’s just me, all the time. I’m really clumsy.”
“I will be the judge of that. You are going to fight me, now.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “No, I’m not.”
“By the way,” Treffon said, “I have been wondering. I am always looking for an opportunity to turn a profit. How much do you think Eepling pelts would fetch on the open market?”
“What?” she shrieked. “You bastard!” She tried to punch him, but he easily parried her blow. Then she realized that he’d just provoked her on purpose, which made her even angrier.
“Very good,” he said approvingly. “We just need to teach you to hit about twenty times harder and a hundred times faster.”
“You want me to hit hard? I’ll show you hard!” She drew back her fist to punch him again, then realized what she’d just said and took a step backwards, her entire face bright red with embarrassment now.
She couldn’t help it – her eyes drifted down to the impressive bulge in his leggings again, and even after he put his finger under her chin and lifted her face to his, it took her eyes a few moments to follow. She realized her mouth was slightly open, and Treffon was looking at her with a smug, masculine smirk that made her want to slap him…then kiss him.
He stepped back, his expression becoming solemn, and nodded slightly. “I will grab you as though I mean you harm,” he said. “Try to fight me off.”
She tried. It was like trying to fight a mountain. His grip was rock-solid, his arms immovable however much she struggled and squirmed.
He released her, his brow creased with concern. “Do you truly not know how to defend yourself at all?” he asked, sounding horrified. “Even the simplest of moves every pup is taught from the cradle?”
“Well excuse me,” she said, bristling. “If I’d known I was going to be fighting off assassins on another planet, I’d have majored in ass-kicking rather than marketing.”
Treffon nodded solemnly. “It would have been a wiser choice,” he agreed. “But since you did not, let me show you how to defend yourself.”
And he did. As far as Violet could work out, it involved landing on your butt with the breath knocked out of you, landing on your back with the breath knocked out of you…and landing on your stomach with Treffon on top of you and his hard, thick erection pressing against your ass.
Unconsciously, she gave a little moan and wiggled backwards against him. He groaned, and they both froze,Treffon’s hard body hot against her back and his hands bracketing her on either side. He pushed himself away slightly, and she rolled over.
They were both breathing fast and the air seemed to crackle between them. Violet caught her breath as Treffon dipped his head to lap at the seam of her lips. She parted for him and he kissed her deeply then sucked on her tongue, bringing one hand up to the nape of her neck so he could hold her to him more firmly. She parted her legs so he could rock his hips against her aching core, the slide of his erect cock a wicked tease even through their clothes.
They drew apart, barely, their lips skimming each other. He pushed against her again and she hooked her ankle behind his knee, squirming as the sweet yearning ache between her thighs intensified.
“I guess as long as we both know this is nothing serious, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves,” Violet murmured, her breath coming in tortured pants.
“Of course.” He kissed her neck.
“Because I’m not your true mate, and I’m leaving as soon as you figure out who’s trying to kill me.”
It sounded as if he said “Absolutely”, but it was hard to tell, because he was kissing his way down to her breasts as he said it.
Chapter Nine
Treffon latched on to her nipple, sucking through the damp fabric of her T-shirt, and she whimpered and arched against his mouth. His lips worked the sensitive bud, then he pulled away for long enough to wrestle her T-shirt over her head. Her bra quickly followed. When he jerked down her pants and panties, she squeaked a protest, but it morphed into a hoarse moan as his fingers skimmed over her breast and down past the soft curve of her belly before finding the patch of damp curls at the apex of her thighs.
She knew she should feel self-conscious, but she didn’t – she didn’t feel anything except the heat of Treffon’s skin, still slightly tacky with sweat, the flex of the muscles in his back against her palms, and the deft, sure movement of his fingers as he sought her core.
Violet smoothed her palms down his strong back and worked her hands under the waistband of his leggings, splaying her hands over the taut muscle of his buttocks. She moaned and dug her fingers into the firm flesh as he parted the slick petals of her sex and pushed a finger into her grasping core.
She gasped as her pussy pulsed around him, then moaned raggedly as he found her clit with his thumb, working it in tight, intense circles that soon had her thighs tense and trembling.
“Please,” she murmured brokenly. “I want you inside me. I need you inside me.”
His growl was feral and needy, and vibrated all the way to her core as he freed his erection from his leggings and positioned the blunt, weeping head against her pussy.
She gasped and clutched at his ass, needing to feel him as deep inside her as he could get, but he was just as unyielding as when they’d been practicing self-defense moves. He pushed inside her with agonising slowness, his eyes squeezed shut and his jaw clenched with the effort of self-control.
He stopped for a moment when he was fully seated inside her, chest heaving, then began to withdraw at the same torturous pace, dragging the head of his cock over her G-spot.
Violet gasped and swore and wrapped her legs around his hips, locking her ankles together just above the crack of his ass. Her pussy pulsed around him with pure, aching need, and his control broke. He cursed in an alien tongue and dug his hands under her buttocks, lifting her against him as he began to piston in and out of her body, setting up a pounding rhythm that wound her tighter and tighter, uttering muffled curses against the flesh of her throat and scraping his teeth over her pulse point.
He tugged at her thigh, unlocking her legs from around his waist, and pushed her knee upwards, opening her to him even further, taking her so deeply it was almost painful.
With each stroke of his cock, he gave a short, hoarse groan, and the sound was enough to push her over the edge. She held on to him, shaking and gasping, as her orgasm rocked her, pulsing through her body like wild electricity, sparking every nerve ending.
Treffon’s breathing became ragged and desperate, his thrusts harder and more staccato. He rolled his hips as he thrust, and his groans turned into one long, helpless shout of pure, raw bliss as his cock kicked inside her, tumbling her over the edge again. This time they fell together.
Treffon collapsed on top of her, then quickly rolled onto his back,
pulling her with him. Neither of them had any coordination left, and they ended up lying in an awkward, sweaty tangle of limbs as they caught their breath and their pulses settled.
Violet reluctantly tore herself away. “I should go back to my room before Dorcas sends out a search party.”
“Very well,” Treffon said, and let go of her. “Oh, and Violet?”
“Yes?”
“You are terrible at self-defense.”
“I told you I would be. I should probably just give up trying.”
“Since when are you a quitter?” he scoffed. “You simply need to try harder. We need to schedule many more training sessions for you. Perhaps several per day.”
Chapter Ten
There was nobody in Violet’s room when she got back there, which was just as well. She wanted to shower and change before anybody noticed that she smelled like sex and looked like she’d styled her hair with an electric mixer.
Once she’d freshened up and put on a pale-blue wraparound sundress that she’d brought with her from Earth, she went in search of Dorcas.
One of the metal serv-bots that glided through the palace led her to an outdoor area, where she found Dorcas sitting with a group of enraptured older Vulfans – teaching them how to play poker.
One of them, an older male with a scarred face, seemed particularly entranced as he showed Dorcas his cards.
The flowerbeds were laid out in geometric lines, almost like a maze, but instead of boxily shaped privet, they bloomed with a mad riot of exotic flowers and fat, juicy-looking fruits. Violet was tempted to reach out and pick one, the smell was so sweet and tart and delicious, but as she passed, she saw a plant snap at an insect, like a Venus flytrap. She pulled her fingers back quickly. She’d do well to remember she was on another planet and didn’t know which plants she could eat…or which might try to eat her.
Here and there along the paths were statues of Vulfans in both humanoid and animal form, cunningly wrought from twisted boughs of the red-black wood that was native to this world. Shiny serv-bots glided between them, looking charmingly out of place with their fluffy metal petticoats and shiny 1950s-style hairdos.
“Ahem,” Violet said loudly. When Dorcas held up a finger indicating that she should wait, she said more loudly, “No, now.”
“All right, you know the basics.” Dorcas winked at the older man. “Good job, Fife!” And then she grabbed her purse and let Violet lead her away.
Violet looked at Dorcas askance. “Where did you find playing cards?”
“They have this guy here who’s called a castle master – I guess he’s like a steward. Name of ZuraI. I had him print them out for me and round up some of the retired Vulfans so I could teach them how to play. Why did you pull me out of the game?” Dorcas asked with annoyance, holding her purse tightly against her chest with one arm wrapped around it.
“What are you hiding in your purse?” Violet demanded, reaching over, but Dorcas tightened her grip on it.
“I thought so. You cheated at poker and won a bunch of jewelry. I know you too well. Go give it back.”
“Spoilsport! And is it really cheating if I made up my own version of poker and therefore I’m following the rules and—” Dorcas pouted at Violet’s glare and headed over to the table where the Vulfans were still playing. She emptied her purse out on the table, then she and Violet resumed their walk.
“How did the training go?” Dorcas asked. “Are you a master of kung-fu now? Or whatever they do here? Wolf-fu?”
“In one session?” Violet laughed ruefully. “Martial arts experts train for years to get good. Decades. Also, remember this is me we’re talking about here.”
“Oh, right. Lovely, sweet, kind, annoyingly honest…clumsier than a drunken camel.”
“Thanks, I think.”
Dorcas looked at her closely. “You like him. Even though he gets under your skin.” It wasn’t a question.
Violet tried for a casual shrug. “Well, he does get under my skin, that’s for sure. He’s rude, bossy, a bully, obnoxious…and those are his good qualities.”
“Can you see any kind of future with him?”
“Honestly, all I can see is getting my heart broken. Best-case scenario, I’ll have a fun time doing it.”
It was the aftermath she was worried about. She’d definitely had a fun time last night – more than fun. Amazing. Delirious. Mind-blowing. But now she felt the ache of his absence.
They strolled for a few more minutes in silence. Vividly pink wisps of cloud streaked the lavender sky, and Violet took a moment to drink in the strange scents of the castle grounds. Would she ever get used to living on this alien world? Not that she’d have to, she quickly reminded herself. Despite his flaws – and she was keeping a list – Treffon had never deceived her. He’d made it quite clear from the start that she wasn’t his true mate.
She pushed down the lonely feeling that thought gave her and tried to enjoy the view as they strolled through the labyrinth of flowers and fruits. A gentle slope gave way to a steep valley, and in the distance, Donnelle sat on the horizon, low-slung, decrepit buildings downtown giving way to glittering spires of glass in the pricier districts on the other side of town. Hovercabs buzzed around the city like insects feeding on a lopsided flower.
“Don’t look now, but we’re being followed,” Dorcas said in a low voice. She tightened her grip on her cane. “And that’s why the thunderstick will come in handy.”
Violet felt a flare of panic. She kept the same pace as she had before, but casually glanced around. Someone was indeed following them as they walked between the riotous flowerbeds. They’d walked a little distance from the castle, and were completely alone now.
Should Violet scream for help? If anyone wanted to take her out, help wouldn’t get there in time. The assassin would almost certainly be killed before he or she got off the grounds, but that would be small comfort to Violet if she was dead.
“Let’s split up,” she whispered. “It’s me they’re after. I’ll lead them away.”
Dorcas glared at her. “No! Even if you are the world’s most annoying goody-two-shoes, you’re still my great-niece.”
Violet widened her eyes and tried to look scared and helpless. “But I need you to run back to the castle and fetch the guard.”
“Nice try.”
“Stubborn old senile delinquent,” Violet muttered.
“Useless young twerp.”
Violet and Dorcas altered their path to head back towards the castle, but the person behind the head-high borders kept pace with them.
“All right, I’ve had it,” Dorcas snapped. She suddenly jammed her cane through a small gap in the plants. There was an explosion of flames and sparks, and a scream of pain from the other side of the foliage.
“Help!” Violet shrieked.
Suddenly they were being swarmed by Thorolf pack members. They burst out of cunning hiding spots among the plants, they dropped from tree branches…she’d never been alone after all.
The man staggered to his feet, groaning, as Violet and Dorcas rushed around to the other side to see who the assailant was.
To Violet’s shock and horror, it was Kroi. Allison’s mate. He was kneeling on the ground, shaking his head and groaning.
What the hell? Why would he want her dead?
“Kroi! It’s been you all along!” Violet gasped in dismay. Allison would be heartbroken.
“No, no, Treffon sent me,” Kroi groaned.
“You’re saying that Treffon sent you to kill my great-niece?” Dorcas shrieked in fury and jabbed at him again with the cane. He barely rolled out of the way in time, crying out in pain as he did so.
“No!” Kroi protested. “He sent me to test your situational awareness. He wants to be sure that you will be aware if someone is following you.”
One of the guards nodded. “This is true. He told us of his plans.”
Kroi climbed slowly to his feet and looked miserably at the ground. “I should have been able to evade
detection. I’ve taken the evasion course three times. Now Treffon will be even more disappointed in me. I am not worthy of being a warrior.”
Anger sizzled through Violet’s veins. “Oh, wolf up already,” she snapped. “You nearly gave me a heart attack! I want to speak to Treffon right now!”
“I will take you to him,” one of the men said. She recognized him as Tristao, chief of the guard for the entire Thorolf pack.
Tristao led Violet and Dorcas through the maze to an open field, where groups of Vulfans were sparring. There were bleacher-style seats on the sidelines, and Zura, who was sitting there, waved her over.
Dorcas flicked an annoyed glance at the fighting. “This is like watching sportsball, but even more boring because nobody’s betting,” she said with a look of distaste. “Pass. As long as my great-niece is safe, I’m going to go back to playing cards.”
“Behave,” Violet called after her as she headed back towards the palace. Dorcas ignored her.
With a sigh, Violet joined Zura. There was a pitched battle going on in the field, with a dozen Vulfans in their wolf form, sparring and snapping.
Somehow, instinctively, she could tell which one was Treffon. He was the enormous shaggy wolf, almost five feet tall at the shoulders, his pelt a stunning gunmetal gray tipped with silver at his snout, ears, and massive paws. His eyes were a deep crystalline blue even in animal form. He moved with a stalking strength and grace that screamed “predator”. It should have made Violet feel like a prey animal. It didn’t. It made her feel warm inside. Safe.
“They are sparring,” Zura explained as Violet sat down next to her.
“I hope they leave some for me, because I’m going to tear a strip off his hide.” Violet scowled and explained what had just happened.
To her surprise, Zura burst into laughter. “You shock-sticked Kroi? I wish I had been there to see that!”
“Are you forgetting the part where your cousin is so crazy that when he’s too busy to stalk me, he has other pack members do it for him?”
The Vulfan's Dark Desires (Starcrossed Dating Agency Book 3) Page 7
