by S. E. Smith
Her hands stilled for a moment. Cosmos forced his eyes open to see why she froze. Her worried eyes stared at him for a moment before a smile of understanding crossed her face. She had thought he meant it literally.
“With pleasure, baby,” he assured her. “I’m loving what you are doing,” he whispered. “Just don’t tell Tilly… please.”
“She pointed out some spots that were very sensitive and known to heighten the pleasure for a male,” Terra said reassuringly. “I want to give you a lot of pleasure.”
Cosmos bit back a curse as she scraped her nails lightly over his taut buttocks running them up to where his ass and spine met. She continued to rub the area drawing long moans of pleasure from him before moving down his legs where she paused when she reached his ankles. There she massaged the dip between his heel and ankle bone. A shuddering moan escaped him as she hit the pressure point there.
“Wait until I do that when I am on top of you and you are buried deep inside me,” Terra whispered. “It is supposed to drive a man wild.”
Cosmos’ eyes popped open as the last of his control snapped. It was about time to show Terra that she and Tilly weren’t the only two well versed in the art of torture when it came to pleasuring. With a growl, he reached down and rolled until Terra was under him.
“My turn to wash!” He growled out.
Terra’s eyes widened at the rough edge to his voice. Tilly had warned her that things could get very exciting if the male reached his breaking point. Terra had questioned Tilly on what she meant but the older woman just gave her a secretive smile and a word of advice.
“Just hang on and enjoy the ride, honey,” Tilly had advised with a dreamy look in her eyes. “It is better than any roller coaster.”
Terra trembled as Cosmos’ calloused palms slid over her skin. The slight roughness of his hands arousing her already heated flesh to a new level. He poured soap into his palms and rubbed them together. A dark smile creased his face as he wrapped his hands around her neck. The slight pressure of his thumbs as they stroked her with delicate little circles heightened the sense of vulnerability his voice had awakened. Her body didn’t react like it was in danger of being hurt, more like the danger of being out of control.
“Cosmos,” Terra whispered with a hint of uncertainty.
“Trust me,” he murmured as he kissed her deeply.
Cosmos felt her open to him. Her tongue moving tentatively to touch his before the fire exploded inside her as his hands moved lower. A part of him wanted to claim her, possess her and mark her so that every male that saw her would know that she belonged to him. But, there was another part of him that burned even brighter with a different desire. He wanted to touch, explore and cherish her so that there wasn’t a part of her he did not know. He felt torn as the two desires raged inside of him. The first scaring him as he had never felt that way about any female before and the second terrifying him even more because he knew she would know him just as well.
Both, Terra moaned as his fingers slid deep inside her. I choose both parts.
Good choice, Cosmos groaned back as he pulled back far enough to flip her over so she was facing away from him. Grip the edge of the tub.
*.*.*
Terra grasped the side of the tub. Her fingers curled on the slippery side as she clung in desperation as Cosmos continued to wash her body. His touch was everywhere, leaving no part of her body unexplored. Her breath exploded out of her as his hands ran over her breasts, down over her flat stomach, to the vulnerable flesh of her folds. His fingers touched, caressed and explored as they moved in and out of her hot channel leaving her quivering for more.
“Please,” she begged as he pulled his fingers back across the triangle nubs that formed her clitoris.
“Foreplay, baby,” Cosmos said as he kissed the back of her neck. “Just relax and enjoy,” he whispered.
Cosmos ran tiny kisses against the back of her neck as he ran his left hand over the three swollen nubs between her legs. When she arched back against him, he slipped his right hand down along the crack of her ass before slipping two of his fingers into the tight ring. He continued kissing her while pumping in and out of her and rubbing at the same. The combined sensations were too much for Terra. Her hoarse scream echoed through the room as she melted in his arms as her first orgasm exploded from her. He didn’t stop until her head drooped against his arm, her body shaking with reaction.
She moaned softly as he pulled his fingers out of her. He smiled as he felt her silent protest at the feeling of emptiness. He stood up sweeping her limp, wet body into his arms. He was done with the foreplay. He was ready to get to the lovemaking.
Terra’s drowsy eyes opened. “There is more?” She whispered, dazed.
Cosmos chuckled as he set her down so she was leaning against the counter. He reached for a towel and began drying her off. His hands trembled slightly as he knelt in front of her to carefully dry her legs. He knew that the trembling had nothing to do with his recent injury and everything to do with the overwhelming love he had for the woman standing before him.
He looked up when he felt her touch his brow. “I love you, my mate. Never doubt that,” she said looking at him with her heart exposed.
Cosmos smiled and tenderly finished drying her. When he was done, he quickly ran the towel over his own body before he swept her up into his arms again. He focused on making it to the bed. His body was taut with need. He knew he wouldn’t last long but was determined that she would come once more, with him.
Setting her down on the bed, he ran his hands over her shoulders pushing her back until he lay over her. His mouth hungrily devoured hers. His lips becoming more frantic as his desire threatened to break the control he fought to retain. Terra moved restlessly under him, arching and rolling her hips as she answered the call of her mate.
“Now,” Cosmos growled out as her legs wound around his waist. He pushed forward, impaling her on his throbbing cock. “Now!” He groaned pumping into her slick heat.
“Cosmos,” Terra moaned.
She gripped his shoulders as he pushed into her hard enough to push her upward. Her heels dug into his ass, clinging to him as he moved faster. The friction of his cock against her swollen clitorises and vagina was too much after the intense orgasm she’d had just minutes before. Her body clenched around his as another orgasm burst from her. As her body fisted his, Cosmos muttered a loud curse as his body reacted. His balls drew up tight and he felt the tingling right before he thrust once more, spilling his seed deep into her womb. A long, loud moan escaped him as he froze above her. Terra could see the muscles in his neck and shoulders strain and the fierce, tight look on his face as he came. His body shuddered violently before he collapsed over her.
His face dropped down until it was hidden in the curve of her neck. He pulled her close even as his body continued to shudder from the aftermath of his orgasm. Nothing had prepared him for such a release. He murmured softly against her skin when she pulled her legs down from around his waist.
“What?” She asked rubbing her hand tenderly along his back.
Cosmos pulled his head up and looked down at her with shining eyes. “I said, we are one,” he whispered. “I love you, Terra. Forever.”
“I love you too, my warrior,” she murmured drowsily.
Cosmos gently pulled out of her and rolled to his side, drawing her back into his arms. He knew she was exhausted from caring for him. He rubbed her back tenderly until he felt her fall into a deeper sleep. His own eyes grew heavy as his body relaxed, sated from their lovemaking.
Together we’ll find the solution to the mating chemical, he thought. Together we’ll make having a baby possible.
Chapter 27
Cosmos sank back down into the soft grass watching as his mother and Terra picked flowers to go on the table for dinner. They were visiting with her, Tilly and Angus at Mak’s mountain home. Mak had pretty much turned the house over to Tilly, Angus and his mother since Tansy preferred living on the island h
ome he had not far from Hannah.
He turned his head to stare up at the clouds as they drifted by feeling happy and content. Tink and J’kar’s twin daughters, Wendy and Tessa, were a handful just like their mother. They were into everything. Hannah’s twins, a girl named Ocean and a boy named Sky, were not far behind. Cosmos couldn’t help but grin at the mischief the four toddlers had gotten into when they visited them a month ago. They had taken a shine to coloring the wall in Teriff’s office with the crayons Tilly had brought back with her one afternoon when he was watching them. Teriff refused to let Tink and Hannah clean it off, saying he would treasure their artwork as if it was a Masterpiece. Since Tansy and Mak’s twins, Sonya and Mackenzie, were born, Teriff had been pestering him and Terra about when they were going to add to his list of ‘Grandkids’ so he could be a really great ‘Grand’ father.
He sat up and looked over to where his mother and Terra were when he heard a deep voice call out his mom’s name. A smile pulled at his lips when he saw her blushing as Lal, one of Teriff’s guards, walked toward her. She straightened, pulling her shoulders back. She had a slightly defiant expression on her face as she watched the huge, older warrior approach her.
It had been almost a year since his fight in the arena and life was almost as full as the vision Terra had sent to him that day long ago. While there was not a little girl running giggling toward his mom, there would be soon.
They had spent months analyzing the chemicals from Terra’s brothers. Her brothers had happily gathered samples as it meant they got to have sex often on the pretense, not that they needed any, of helping out Cosmos and their sister’s research. Terra discovered a chemical in the saliva that produced a reaction in the female, causing her body to release the eggs her body stored and softening the lining of her uterus.
Once they were able to duplicate the chemical, Terra was given an injection. After a few changes in the dosage, she became pregnant. Before long, news of their research reached other couples who were trying unsuccessfully to have children. Terra ended up opening a clinic one week a month so she could meet with the couples. Her research now focused almost exclusively on reproductive issues for her people.
Cosmos smiled as he watched Terra’s rounded form straighten as she called out a greeting to Lal. His eyes softened as he studied her. She glowed with happiness. He watched as she talked for a moment with the older warrior before excusing herself. He smiled when she turned toward him and winked as she walked through the ankle-length grass. She sank down next to him, leaning forward to give him a soft kiss.
He pulled her into his arms and lay back on the grass again being careful of her rounded belly. He rested his hand on the soft swell and grinned when he felt the movement under it. He shifted so she could lay with her stomach resting on him.
“Lal is determined to woo your mother,” Terra murmured. “Tilly has been working on both of them.”
“I saw the mating mark on her hand even though she tried to hide it,” Cosmos said. “I think she is worried not enough time has passed since dad died.”
Terra leaned up over him and rested her hand against his cheek. She looked down into his beautiful hazel eyes. She could still feel his pain when he thought of his father.
“Do you think your father would be upset about Lal and her?” She asked curiously.
Cosmos shook his head. “No, he would be happy for her. He wouldn’t want her to be alone any more than she would want him to be,” he said turning his head to see where Lal was bending to pick up a flower that his mother dropped. “She won’t have any choice, anyway. They were meant to be together. The mating mark isn’t something to be ignored or denied. I know because I tried at first.”
Terra laughed and pushed up so she was sitting. “I know. I tried to resist at first as well.”
Cosmos flashed her an infectious grin. “Yeah, but I’m just so irresistible you didn’t stand a chance,” he teased, picking up her hand and pressing a hot kiss in the center of it.
Terra’s laughter echoed over the small meadow drawing his mother and Lal’s attention. Ava Raines blushed as Lal grabbed her free hand with one hand while he slid a wildflower into the soft brown curls of her hair. He refused to let her go when she tried to pull away drawing another blush from her as he pulled her instead toward them.
“Lord Raines,” Lal greeted Cosmos with a small bow.
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Cosmos, Lal?” Cosmos grinned. “All that Lord stuff is too much of a mouthful, especially among family.”
“Cosmos,” his mother admonished shyly. “Lal is going to stay for dinner with us. Tilly and Angus will be back from visiting with Hannah and Tansy. Tink is coming as well as she and her mom are working on a new generator concept and Angus wants to finish the last bit of proofing on his latest novel.”
“That sounds great,” Cosmos grinned. “What’s the news at the palace, Lal? RITA2 has been busy with DAR working on a new defense system for the fortress which has been turned into a training facility from what I’ve heard.”
“Yes,” Lal said, shifting uneasily. “I have to admit she scares me at times. She walks around the palace all the time disappearing and reappearing through walls. She has half of the new warriors at the palace trying to follow her! I mean, have you seen her? Her figure is …,” he blushed when he saw Ava’s raised eyebrow. “Yes, well, RITA2 has been a bit busy.”
“What about Garrett and Rico?” Cosmos asked quietly, worried he had only heard from the men once since they reappeared a couple of months ago.
Garrett had shown up first. He and Darain’s MFV had crashed during a massive storm. They had lost contact with Rico during the storm and had no way of contacting him as the MFV had been damaged beyond repair. It had been a harried few months as they fought their way across the vast Northern tundra before finally reaching Hendrik’s Clan.
Rico had been torn between searching for his friend or saving his mate. The skimmer he was following had crashed during the same storm only in the mountains further east. The MFV had been badly damaged as the skimmer had opened fire on it and the power drained. It had taken months for Rico and Vita to finally repair the MFV using parts from the crashed skimmer.
Since their return, both men had volunteered to go on missions. Rico was heading to another star system with Bullet, the Southern Clan leader on a Prime trade mission. Garrett had returned to Earth with Hendrik. Neither man had gone alone thanks to their time here on Baade.
“Bullet wanted me to tell you that a certain dark-haired Latino woman was in danger of being sold as soon as he reached the first port if she didn’t quit giving him a hard time,” Lal said with a grin. “I guess Rico’s sister is giving him trouble from what Lan says.”
Cosmos laughed as he thought of Maria and her tenacity. He felt almost as sorry for Bullet as he did for Core. Avery had disappeared shortly after she collected her ‘bonus’ a little over a month ago. It had taken a while to ‘clean’ up Avilov’s mess. She had been working closely with a special task force the President had formed. Only a few of his cabinet members and high ranking military officers were aware of the on-going visits from another world.
When she returned to work, she had refused to discuss what happened. He hadn’t talked to her since her return but he suspected she might have bitten off more than she expected. She had immediately signed on for another mission.
He didn’t go on missions anymore since Hong Kong. His sole mission in life was making sure Terra was safe and happy. They had been busy the last couple of months anyway with trying to see if the mating serum that they had developed worked. He had to admit, that was one mission that he didn’t mind participating in.
I enjoyed it too and it was very successful, she murmured silently, threading her fingers through his and resting it on her swollen belly.
Do you think your father is disappointed that you are only expecting one baby? He asked.
If he is, then he can have the other one, she growled softly. I
have been there through the births of Tink, Hannah, and Tansy’s babies. Their mates know what it is like. Tansy made Mak go through the entire thing with her. He still looks at her in awe when he holds one of the twins. He swears he cannot figure out how something so large can come out of something so small. None of them want to have any more for a while after Tilly made them sit through that video on childbirth! You heard mother had to revive father after he passed out in the middle of it!
He chuckled as he remembered Tilly, Angus, and Tresa laughing one night after dinner about it. Teriff had denied it was because of the film but when Tilly asked if he would like to watch another one he suddenly remembered that he and Tresa were needed elsewhere. He had overheard Tresa telling Terra that he had begged for her forgiveness for putting her through that five times. He swore he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her.
Cosmos leaned his chin on Terra’s shoulder, enjoying holding her close as he listened to Lal tell them more about what was happening at the palace. He already knew most of it thanks to RITA and RITA2. Nothing much got by those two.
He knew that Teriff was upset because Derik kept periodically disappearing through the Gateway. Teriff threatened RITA2 if she didn’t quit opening a portal for Derik he was going to disable DAR for a month. All RITA and her sis would tell him was that Derik said he was looking for something. Cosmos suspected it was more of a someone and he had a feeling that it was a girl with a penchant for hacking into computers. He knew Avery was looking for Runt as well since she disappeared almost a year ago from his warehouse.
“Cosmos, how long are you staying this time?” Ava Raines asked after a while.
Cosmos looked down at Terra with a sigh of regret. “We are working on several big projects right now, mom. We can only stay a few days but we’ll be popping back and forth. You can always come and stay with us at the warehouse,” he said.
“No!” Lal growled out, possessively pulling Ava closer to him. “She will remain here.”
