He was wearing a pair of loose pants but his chest was still bare. She slipped her arms around his neck from behind, letting her fingers skate across the warm, hard planes of his chest while she dropped her mouth to his skin and nibbled the sensitive juncture between his neck and his shoulder. For a fraction of a second his muscles tensed, but then he gave an almost imperceptible sigh and relaxed under her touch.
Raising her head from his neck, she moved her hands to his shoulders and pressed her thumbs gently into the taut muscles. Sitting quietly, he accepted the comfort of her touch, letting her stroke his back and his arms. She really had intended only to soothe him but she started getting aroused again at the feel of his warm skin stretched across all those hard defined muscles. Each time she traced the complicated lines of his tattoo, she felt his body react and for some reason that added to her excitement. His spicy scent surrounded her and she nuzzled his neck again, drawing it deeper into her lungs.
As soon as she did, he groaned and reached for her. A half second later, she was sprawled across his lap, blinking at him with startled eyes.
“You move really fast,” she informed him.
His lips quirked but he didn’t respond to her statement. “Sweetness, what are you doing?”
The question didn’t make any sense. “I’m sitting on your lap?”
Another lip quirk. “No. I meant why are you here instead of in bed?”
“Oh. I woke up and I missed you.” Something flickered in his face but she couldn’t read it. After a brief hesitation, she continued, “And you looked tired, honey. You work too hard.”
“Sweetness,” he whispered. His mouth descended in a short hard kiss that still lasted long enough to make her nipples spike against the silk of his shirt. As his head lifted, his eyes dropped to the tight points and the heat of his gaze made them even tighter. He brushed his hand slowly over the silk.
“You’re wearing my shirt.”
“I don’t exactly have any nightgowns,” she pointed out.
“That’s because I like you naked in my bed.”
She blushed and snuggled closer. “I like that, too, but I can’t be naked all the time.”
His eyebrows rose and she put a finger to his lips. “Okay, I can be but I don’t need to be. Do you mind me wearing your shirt?”
He studied the nipples taut against the silk, the deep cleavage revealed by the open neck, and the long bare legs stretching out from under the hem. He shook his head. “No, my pet. You look very enticing.” A thumb swept across her nipple and her back arched instinctively. “Perhaps too enticing. I have work to do. You should go back to bed.”
The bed seemed big and lonely and very far away. His lap felt warm and safe. Even though she knew it was an illusion, she wanted that, even for just a short while. “Can’t I stay here a little bit longer? I’ll be good.”
He studied her face before he nodded. Pulling her higher, he nestled her into the crook of one arm, keeping his other arm free to work his screen. She settled there, stroking his chest idly, sleepy and content. Eventually her gaze drifted and she focused on the screen he was reading.
“What’s the Council of Elders?”
His muscles turned rigid beneath her and his arm clamped down.
“Why are you asking?” he growled.
Not certain what was wrong, Cam pointed to the screen. “There. I’m pretty sure that says Council of Elders.”
“You can read Sardoran?” he asked, obviously skeptical.
“Not very well yet, but it was one of the written language lessons J’Ssett gave me.”
“Language lessons?”
She tried to sit up but he held her so tightly that all she could do was to turn her head and look at his profile.
“Yes. I needed something to occupy my mind during the day.” The unreadable mask was in full force and she bit her lip. “Is that wrong?”
He finally turned to look down at her and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the softness had returned to his face.
“I’m surprised, although perhaps I shouldn’t be. If you want to learn our language, it’s fine with me. Did you say lessons?”
“Yes, he gave me Sardoran and Imperial.”
A full smile curved his lips this time and she caught her breath at its beauty.
“J’Ssett gave you Sardoran?” he asked.
When she nodded, he shook his head but didn’t comment. Instead, he finally answered her original question. “The Council of Elders is the Sardoran ruling body. I don’t like them.” From his expression, she had a feeling that was an understatement. “And, needless to say, they don’t like me. This message is informing me that something I did made them look foolish. I found it rather…gratifying.”
As an explanation, it left much to be desired but she decided to let it go. Kievan stroked her cheek and she looked at him inquiringly.
“Do you think you can refrain from reading the rest of my messages or do I need to send you to bed?”
“I’ll be good, I promise.” She turned her head into his shoulder and closed her eyes. “See, my eyes are closed.”
His soft laughter vibrated against her cheek. She smiled and kept her eyes closed as she finally drifted off to sleep.
Kievan knew the instant she fell asleep. Moving carefully, he repositioned her body so he could study her sleeping face. Her cheeks were flushed, luscious lips slightly parted. The sight of her wearing only his shirt stirred something warm and possessive inside him, a primal statement that she belonged to him. It was incredibly erotic, almost as much as the more blatant sexuality she exuded when clad in chains. He shifted to adjust his aching groin. Despite the intensity of their earlier activities, he wanted her again. He wondered suddenly if he would ever get enough of her.
She had surprised him, yet again, by coming to him and then by sleeping in his arms. The knowledge that she spent her days learning his language shocked him but only confirmed his estimate of her intelligence. An idea struck him and he studied her again. She wanted to be useful and he wanted her with him as much as possible during the limited time they had together. Resolving to consider the options in greater detail tomorrow, he lifted her in his arms. He looked at the desk and the waiting bed and then shut off the light. Telling himself that he was only doing it so she wouldn’t wake up and disturb him again, he carried her to bed and crawled in behind her, drawing her body tightly into his before he slept.
Chapter Nine
Water poured down Cam’s body but she barely noticed. All of her attention was focused between her legs. Her back was against the tile and her legs were spread open over Kievan’s broad shoulders as he swirled his tongue teasingly over her swollen clit. She moaned and tried to push toward him. He kept her firmly in place but thrust his tongue deeply into her drenched pussy.
“Honey,” she whispered.
He fucked her with his tongue until she trembled, then moved his mouth and sucked hard on her clit. She came immediately and he lapped her gently with his tongue until her body relaxed.
She opened her eyes to smile at him but he was already moving, sliding her body down his until he could enter her in one quick, hard thrust. Still overwhelmed by his size, she cried out but he didn’t pause, stroking into her again and again with long, hard strokes. She grabbed his shoulders and held on as her body tightened and the pressure started building again.
“Come for me, sweetness,” he ordered, and reached down to sweep a firm finger across her still sensitive clit. Her body arched and she obeyed helplessly, shuddering around him as he groaned and followed her, surging deeper with one final thrust. His forehead dropped to hers and she wrapped her arms and legs tightly around him.
Eventually his arms relaxed and he let her slip to the ground, steadying her until her trembling legs would hold her. Picking up the cleansing cloth, he started washing her again. She winced as he passed the cloth between her legs.
“Are you sore, pet?”
Cam blushed. “A little,” she a
dmitted. “I told you it had been a while and you’re…not small.”
His lips curved before he bent his head and kissed her. As soon as she parted her lips, his tongue swept into her mouth. The intimate taste of her body mingled with his delicious essence sent a shiver of renewed excitement down her spine. He stroked her mouth slowly with his tongue until she melted against him, her hips pressing into his rapidly hardening erection.
When he lifted his head, he smiled down to her flushed face.
“Little flower, you make it very difficult for me to give you a chance to heal.”
“I’m not that sore,” she whispered hopefully.
He laughed and shook his head. “After I leave, you will take a healing bath and then rest.”
“Okay,” she agreed reluctantly.
With swift efficiency, he finished washing her and wrapped her in a towel. He added a handful of crystals to the water steaming in the sunken tub. A delicious herbal fragrance drifted up from the surface. Kievan removed her towel and lifted her gently into the tub.
Cam sighed with pleasure as the hot water surrounded her, already soothing the lingering soreness. “Mmm, this feels good.” She looked at him from under lashes. “Are you sure you can’t join me?”
“No, sweetness. Stop trying to tempt me.” He pointed to the dais holding the lounge chair under the overhead light. “That light simulates sunlight. Rest there after your bath.”
“Okay, honey,” she agreed. His lips quirked and he turned to leave. “Don’t I get a goodbye kiss?”
His kiss was hard and swift but she was still breathless when he finished, her hands clinging to his shoulders.
“Sweetness,” he whispered, dipped his forehead to hers, and left.
After a long bath and an even longer nap under the warm sun lamp, Cam returned to her bedroom. She shared lunch with Sonda and Leeda, listening with fascination as they told her tales of their home planet of Gliese and their trading adventures. After lunch, she spent the afternoon on the language lessons. Whatever the head device did to enhance her learning process continued to work, and by late afternoon she was ready to try reading an actual book, albeit a children’s book, on the reader. The fanciful tale kept her amused and it wasn’t until she closed the book and glanced up that she realized that the central atrium was dim.
That was odd. Usually by now she had received instructions on what to wear. Was Kievan letting her choose tonight? Frowning she turned to the closet, trying to find something that would please him without leaving her feeling completely exposed. Of course, compared to the chain outfit, everything else was modest in comparison. She finally settled on a long blue dress. The gown left one shoulder bare, clung to her body from breasts to hips, and then flared out into a full skirt. The cut was relatively modest but the fabric alternated between solid blue silk and sheer panels that revealed flashes of creamy skin.
She studied herself in the mirror, twirling to let the skirt drift out around her ankles, and decided she looked pretty good. After carefully applying a hint of makeup, she sat down to read another book while she waited. The book didn’t hold her attention for long. She kept looking up, expecting to see J’Ssett standing at the door waiting for her. Her stomach started demanding food but she didn’t know if she should order or wait. Kievan always seemed to want to feed her. By the time she heard a noise in the center room, she was pacing restlessly.
Eagerly, she opened the door, only to see J’Ssett escorting Xanthe out of the central room. The other woman was dressed in a short, translucent gold gown that left very little of her tall, slender figure to the imagination. She turned when she heard the door open and smiled condescendingly at Cam.
“My turn tonight, new toy.” Xanthe smirked. “Apparently our master is no longer pleased with your…services.”
The spike of pain that hit Cam almost made her dizzy. She stared at the other woman, still trying to believe that Kievan had chosen her. Had he really tired of her so quickly? J’Ssett sent an apologetic glance in Cam’s direction and herded Xanthe to the outer door. “We must go now.”
“Of course, I’m sure he’s eager to see me.” Xanthe managed a parting shot before the lounge door closed behind the pair.
Sonda and Leeda appeared. They had obviously heard the conversation and humiliation swept over Cam, along with the feeling of betrayal. She realized her hand was digging in to the doorframe and forced her fingers loose. Before she could hide in her room, Leeda moved to her and took her hand.
“You care for him, don’t you?” she asked softly.
“No, of course not,” Cam instantly responded. “How could I care for the man who made me a slave?”
Leeda didn’t answer; instead she reached up and placed her other hand gently on Cam’s cheek. That was when she realized she was crying.
“I’m an idiot,” she announced as Sonda joined Leeda, and the two led her back into her room, pushing her gently onto the couch and curling up on either side.
“You’re not an idiot,” Sonda responded. “We both thought there was something different about you.”
The past verb hurt and Cam leaned her head back against the couch, trying to stop the tears that were starting to flow with increased speed. The delicate bracelets on her wrists suddenly felt like heavy shackles instead.
“I am an idiot,” she repeated. “A man who owns many women is never going to be satisfied with one. It was just that he told me that for right now, I was the only one. I didn’t realize that right now was such a short time.”
Her chest hurt and she rubbed it with the palm of her hand, trying to ease the pain even though she knew it wasn’t physical.
“He likes women,” Leeda agreed slowly. “But these quarters could hold many more women.” She took Cam’s hand again. “And until these past two nights, he rarely had a woman more than once a week.”
Cam stared at her. “But he’s so…demanding.”
Leeda flashed her a quick smile. “You seem to have that effect on him.”
Depression settled back over Cam. “Apparently not any more. He has obviously decided that he prefers a variety.”
Leeda’s hand tightened on Cam’s. “I don’t think so. Remember that he is Sardoran—their mating contracts are always for one man and one woman.”
“The Sardorans kicked him out,” she muttered.
“It doesn’t matter,” Sonda said. “Except for the fact that he has no clan brothers, he acts exactly like every other Sardoran I have ever met.”
“You’ve met other Sardorans?” Cam asked, curiosity making a small dent in her misery.
Both women nodded.
“They do a lot of business with the Gliesh merchant houses,” Leeda explained.
“What kind of business?”
“Warrior contracts mainly.” At Cam’s puzzled look, she continued. “They provide protection, claim enforcement, things like that.”
Cam remembered Kievan’s scars and her heart seized at the thought of him in battle. She instantly berated herself. Why did she even care?
“I’m sure he just wanted Xanthe for tonight,” Sonda said.
Cam knew the words were intended to be reassuring but the full impact of her statement hit Cam like a brick.
“Oh my god,” she said. “That means he could call for me tomorrow and I would have to go.”
The Gliesh women exchanged an uneasy glance and nodded.
“I can’t do it,” Cam whispered.
“You don’t have a choice,” Sonda said gently. “None of us do.”
Cam imagined waiting in her room for Kievan to decide if he wanted her. Of being forced to be with him, knowing that his touch meant nothing. Of her place in a rotating line of women. She closed her eyes in despair as the full horror of her situation washed over her.
Leeda had been watching Cam’s face. “You do care for him, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t,” Cam answered again, but Leeda’s knowing eyes kept watching her.
“Dammit, I suppose I do,
” Cam finally admitted. “I don’t think it would hurt like this if I didn’t.” She hesitated. “It’s just that he can be so sweet—bossy and dominating —but sweet. When he holds me, I feel so safe.”
“Holds you?” Sonda asked.
“When he puts me in his lap and feeds me, or when we’re sleeping,” Cam explained absently as she played with her wrist cuffs. Why hadn’t she been able to tell that his actions were only about sex? Curled up in his lap last night, she had felt at home in a way she hadn’t felt since her mother died.
“You sleep with him?” Sonda asked.
That question drew Cam’s attention and she frowned at the other woman.
“You know that I sleep with him. You have seen me come back in the mornings.”
“He has never slept with any of us,” Sonda said quietly. “It was unusual that he decided to keep you all night but we assumed that he wanted you nearby in case he wanted your...body.” Her cheeks darkened. “We didn’t realize that you actually slept in the bed with him and that he held you.”
“It was not well done of him,” Leeda said firmly. “He knows women. He knew that he was creating intimacy between you.”
“Intimacy?” Cam choked. “What is sex if it isn’t intimacy?”
Leeda frowned at her. “There is a difference. No matter how pleasurable, sex by itself doesn’t necessarily create intimacy. Don’t you know that?”
Cam blushed. “I never had much time for dating so I don’t exactly have a lot of experience. I have had sex with exactly two men and I dated each of them for a long time first.”
Cam and the Conqueror: A SciFi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 3) Page 8
