Nikol's Surrender (A World Beyond, #10)

by Howard, Michelle

  In addition, the jumping tick in her pulse at her throat and the nervous way her fingers clenched on his thighs were a dead giveaway. Fortunately, lust blinded Lothar to those visible signs of her deceit.

  After calming himself and resuming the cold exterior he needed to maintain, he left his suite. Tseju watched him anxiously. Nikol’s fist slammed into the guard’s face. Tseju flew back a step and Nikol plowed his fist into his belly. Over and over he hammered at the young man while Garmon turned a blithe eye to the side at what probably appeared an unprovoked attacked to him.

  When Tseju was down and bloody, gasping for breath, Nikol leaned over him and spoke through clenched teeth. “Don’t you fucking ever make a mistake watching her again.”

  “I won’t mess up again. On my honor.”

  Nikol shook his bloody fingers and ignoring Garmon, went about the duties he’d skipped earlier. He met with Lothar later to give him the update on his successful agreement regarding the Nzoni. He fended off two more request for the use of Darcy and excused himself as soon as he could.

  When he returned to his suite, he went straight to the alcove where Darcy was assigned. Empty. He turned to his alcove next to it. She lay in his bed asleep and unaware of his presence. Nikol inhaled his first relieved breath all evening seeing her safe.

  What happened today could never happen again. His sore hand curled at his side. He had to convince her once and for all to stop risking herself with her rebellious actions

  Disciplining her would be difficult. He couldn’t publicly spank Darcy again. Letting others ogle her bare form while he delivered her correction had strained him. Not to mention her downcast expression when he’d finished. Humiliation worked for some but not her. He didn’t want to see her that dejected again. She’d been too close to breaking.

  No, he’d have to think of something private. More personal to get his point across. Sighing, Nikol tugged the privacy curtain closed. It was an unnecessary added layer of protection, shielding her from the eyes of others.

  With a snort, he turned away. She was making him weak. He left the kitse again, not ready to face what he needed to do. He’d find Dain first. A sparring session would go over well to saw off his remaining adrenalin.

  Then he’d show Darcy the error of her ways.

  Chapter 26

  Darcy woke with her body on fire. She rolled to her side or tried to but something pinned her to the bed. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. What had awakened her? She had only meant to rest her eyes for a bit until Nikol returned and they could talk calmly. Pleasure suddenly zinged up her spine and Darcy arched on a ragged moan. “Wha—?”

  She lifted her head enough to see thick dark hair between her thighs. An insistent tongue fluttered over her clit. Her hands landed on broad very naked shoulders. “Nikol...wh-what are you doing?”

  He paused his fervent endeavors and raised his dark eyes to hers. “You have been extremely bad, Darcy.”

  Bad? She pushed at his head but he wouldn’t budge. Fear trickled through her ecstasy. “What are you going to do to me?”

  A thick finger probed her opening and he slicked it inside on a hard thrust. Darcy whimpered and curled up on a jagged cry, hands clenching on his shoulders. Nikol placed a solid palm on her stomach and pushed her back down. “What does it feel like I’m doing?”

  Panting, she fought to catch her breath. It felt like he’d had his wicked mouth on her and currently strummed her inner folds with his thumb. But Darcy didn’t say that. “Are you mad about earlier?”

  His tongue swiped over her, drawing another cry forth before he answered. “Mad doesn’t come close to describing how I felt when I discovered you missing.”

  Finger thrust.

  “Mad doesn’t describe what crossed my mind when I thought Lothar would find you first.”

  Lick. Thrust.

  She didn’t hear what he said after. Darcy humped into the air and moaned. What he was doing felt so good. Except they needed to talk. Her nails dug into the flesh of Nikol’s shoulders but he didn’t let up. She tried to gather her thoughts but he must have been at it a while when she was asleep because an intense orgasm was building up to tear right through her.

  “Are y-you go...going to punish me?”

  Nikol paused and raised his head again. His nose and chin glistened from his efforts. “No punishment, astéri. You couldn’t handle Marenian punishment. I am, however, going to correct you.”

  For a moment, Darcy was pulled from the dazzling fireworks taking place between her legs. Correction? He planned to spank her again? “How are you going to correct me?”

  Instead of answering, he went back to tonguing her and Darcy lost her ability for speech. Moans, gasps, and pleas burst from her mouth. Her loins fluttered and her thighs clamped on Nikol’s face. She was going to come.

  Nikol pulled up abruptly and eased his finger from her core. Dazed, Darcy blinked. He parted her legs, splaying them wide and gazed down. “I’m going to pleasure you until you never think of scaring me like this again.”

  Scared? Nikol had been scared? In her confused state, body still in the grips of her almost orgasm, Darcy didn’t understand where he was going. Thoughts of public spankings dimmed some of her glow. “Please don’t.”

  She’d beg if she had to. Nikol leaned forward and slid his hand through her moist curls, parted her folds and eased his fingers back inside. The fullness brought back her raging desire.

  Gaze intent on her face, he stroked and strummed until Darcy threw back her head and screamed. The orgasm rolled through her like a storm and her body jerked and twitched on the bed. When she settled with a shudder, Nikol was watching her.

  “Again,” he whispered and lowered his head.

  His tongue flicked and teased her sensitive flesh, lashing her swollen bud with dedicated attention. It didn’t feel good. She was too hyper-stimulated. “Nikol, stop. Don’t.”

  He ignored her pleas and continued until she grew damp again. Her hips began a slow and sensuous roll, a moan catching in her throat. Over and over, Nikol licked her, mixing the teasing swirls from his tongue with deep penetrating strokes from his fingers.

  Darcy gave in to the tide pulling her under and jammed her fist in her mouth to muffle the shriek from the orgasm that slammed into her with wave like force.

  On and on, Nikol continued. She lost count of how many times she came after the third time, her body torquing this way and that as the air grew musky with the scent of sex and sweat.

  Fingers and tongue did the bulk of the work, but that wasn’t enough for Nikol. When she was limp and gasping, he thrust his rigid erection into her softened core. Her inner muscles clamped and flexed, greedy for everything he gave despite the exhaustion.

  On the verge of tears, Darcy begged him to stop. She couldn’t withstand anymore. “Enough, please.”

  Strands of hair clung to her face as he finally stopped and held his weight suspended above her. Sweat coated Nikol’s body and dripped freely from his face unto her breasts. The rings on his still thick shaft continued to pulse inside her.

  Darcy shivered from the intensity of his stare. She weakly reached up to caress a horn. “Nikol?”

  He leaned down to kiss her, his groan vibrating against her lips. When she started to slip into the sex drunk haze he’d created, he eased back and grasped her chin firmly. Anger deepened his voice to a rasp as he asked, “Have you had enough?”

  “God, yes,” she whimpered. She didn’t want to come again. Maybe ever.

  He pulled out and relief left Darcy closing her eyes. Then he slammed back again and again. Lights flickered over her vision and there was a roaring in her ears.

  “You ass!” Another orgasm burst through and Darcy screamed as she clung to him.

  “You will never do what you did today again,” Nikol said when she finally managed to focus on his hovering face.

  She wanted to call him more names but the threat of coming stilled her tongue. Gasping, Darcy nodded. “Okay
. Yes. Anything.”

  His breath feathered across her cheek. “I want your promise, astéri. Never again.”

  Darcy shook her head back and forth on the pillow. Her heart raced from overexertion as if she’d run a marathon. Her stomach cramped and her legs wouldn’t stop trembling. Never had she guessed sex could be used as a punishment. Whatever he wanted, she’d do, if only to stop him from giving her more orgasms. “Anything, Nikol. I promise.”

  “Very good.” He withdrew abruptly and she winced from the glide against her tender flesh

  She dimly noted he was still aroused. All of that and he hadn’t released his own climax. They needed to discuss this. Her head lolled to the side as she struggled to stay aware. “Ni—”

  Then Darcy passed out.

  ***

  Nikol cradled Darcy’s limp body against his own. His arms shook violently from the strain of resisting her allure. She was a beautiful woman when arguing with him, but she was breathtaking in her pleasure.

  So many times he’d almost lost control and released. Her punan had hungrily gripped his cock repeatedly and he’d worked hard to stay focused on what could have happened to her instead of his pleasure. It was the only way he’d lasted.

  Brushing the damp hair from her face, he nuzzled his horn along the side of her face. He had her promise and hoped Darcy stood by her word under duress or not. He didn’t know what he’d do if something happened to her.

  Staying long enough to ensure she was out, Nikol eased her down onto the bed. Darcy whined and curled on her side. He drew the covers over her and rose from the bed. A quick shower while he fisted himself and came took care of the nagging need coursing through his body.

  Once dressed, Nikol checked and found Darcy still asleep. He left her resting in his bed and pulled the curtain closed behind him. Cecilee sat by the fountain but stood when she saw him. “How is she?”

  Embarrassment heated his face. It was impossible to believe the tutanis had not heard Darcy’s screams. “She is sleeping now.”

  She twisted her fingers together. “May I overstep?”

  He inclined his head, knowing if not for her, he wouldn’t have been aware of the danger to Darcy. There was still the matter of speaking with Tseju about leaving her.

  “Make her First Placement and do it quickly,” Cecilee said.

  Nikol didn’t want a First Placement. He didn’t want any woman Lothar could use against him.

  “Cecilee,” he started.

  Her lips dipped down at the corners and she gripped his elbow with a familiarity few would dare. “It is the only way to protect her, you know this.”

  In light of recent events, Nikol had to accept she was right. He would extend whatever protective measures possible for Darcy. It would make her a target but also leave her punishment to Nikol alone if she was ever thought to be acting out of place. “I’ll notify Lothar now.”

  Relief crashed over her features and she grasped her midsection on a shudder. Worry for Darcy had caused the reaction. All of the tutanis had bonded with his Earth woman. Although he didn’t answer to them, Nikol felt the need to reassure her. Another first. “She will come to no harm under me, Cecilee.”

  “I know. I...thank you.”

  Now was as good a time as ever. Nikol left his kitse and spoke to Garmon and Tseju at the door. Remembering the desperation in Darcy’s actions as she took his cock in her mouth to trick Lothar ignited his temper once more. “No one in or out.”

  Garmon glared at Tseju’s battered face. Tseju flinched.

  “Yes, Nikol,” they said in unison.

  He strode to Lothar’s office with single minded focus. As expected, Lothar looked at him askance. “You want to make the Earth slave your First Placement?”

  The tone was neutral but the look in Lothar’s eyes was anything but. They held suspicion and the beginnings of doubt. Nikol remained relaxed and leaned back further in the chair as if he had no concerns while his heart tripped over itself in his chest. “I wish to breed a son on her.”

  Lothar set his data pad down carefully and gave Nikol his full attention. He leaned his forearms on the table. “What has brought this...sudden change about?”

  “It’s not sudden,” Nikol stated coldly, not breaking the stare. “The women from the planet have a track record of being easy to breed. It is my best chance at a son to continue our legacy.”

  The last tipped the scale. Lothar’s mouth inched up in a half-smile. “At last you think of our future. I’m pleased, Nikol.”

  “Then you will send out the notice?” Nikol wanted to be sure everyone in their home knew Darcy belonged strictly to him. It wouldn’t stop anyone with foul intent but it gave Nikol the right to punish them how he saw fit without it being questioned. He could kill anyone who dared to touch Darcy.

  “It will be made official the moment you return.”

  Straightening, Nikol shot a look at Lothar. Always a bargain with him. “Return from where?”

  “I need you to visit my bruher. Extend my well wishes and give him a gift.” Lothar pushed a box across his desk Nikol hadn’t noticed.

  Lips pressed tight to still the curses he wanted to spew, Nikol sat back. “It needs to be done now?”

  “I want to ease the strife between us, so sometime this week will suffice. The Majad, will of course, wish you to stay a few days. As soon as you return, I will send out the notice that you have finally taken a First Placement.”

  Was this a trick to get Nikol out of the house and leave Darcy vulnerable?

  Lothar shifted in his chair and his gaze narrowed. “Is there a reason you hesitate, son?”

  Nikol stood and picked up the package. It was best to do what Lothar wanted to allay his suspicion. At any rate, Lothar wouldn’t be allowed in his suite. “No. I will get it done.”

  He turned on his heels and strode from the office, reminding himself that Lothar’s day was coming. Soon.

  Chapter 27

  Darcy leaned back on her hands and stared at the early morning sky. Thoughts bumbled around in her mind keeping her in a state of confusion. Yesterday had been an adventure in horror. From fear of being caught, to giving Nikol a blow job he hadn’t expected while being watched by an evil man, and then a night of sensual torture.

  Despite all of the negatives, her risk had proven to be informative. She’d learned enough when she broke into the database to know she needed a hover-car and ship access codes to get off the planet. Too bad she hadn’t managed to send her urgent emergency rescue message.

  Between the spanking and the erotic way Nikol had brokered her promise to stop, Darcy was afraid to push him again. The uncertainty about her future left her in a rare state.

  “How are you feeling today?”

  Darcy turned her gaze toward the voice. Nikol squatted beside her and tucked a dangling curl behind her ear. She flinched and pushed back the knot in her throat. “Fine.”

  He studied her expression with a bland look in his eyes. She wasn’t deceived. This was the man who’d forcibly wrung at least a dozen orgasms from her last night. His thumb brushed her mouth, tugging on her bottom lip. Darcy was caught in his fierce gaze and had to blink to look away.

  His hand fell to his side and he braced one knee on the grass beside her hip. “Do we need to talk?”

  Darcy snorted. As if. He’d proven his point. He could and would use her body’s reaction to him against her. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  “Are you going to be good, astéri?” he asked, shifting to sit behind her and pulling her back against his chest.

  Embers of desire kindled through her body, but Darcy shut the feeling down. She’d had enough sex to last her a while. A long while and she refused to have her orgasms weaponized against her.

  When she didn’t answer, Nikol leaned forward and tipped her head back to face him. “You are angry?”

  “You think?” She made no effort to hide her sarcasm.

  His sighed and rubbed his cheek over hers, the base of his horn glid
ing along her ear. “The danger you were in with your actions yesterday is inconceivable.”

  Concern and weariness laced his tone. Darcy closed her eyes and only wished she could block out the sound of his voice as well. “Everything here is dangerous to me. Even sex.”

  She spat the last out bitterly. His body tightened behind her, then his arms looped about her waist to yank her in snug. The next words he spoke were whispered in an angry growl in her ear. “Do you think I wanted to do that to you? You are beautiful in your pleasure. Every cry and gasp is music to my ears. The flush to your skin, the way your eyes glaze over.”

  His arms clamped around her until she couldn’t breathe. Darcy tapped his wrist and he eased his hold and continued. “There was no way I could discipline you over my lap again and share any part of you with others. Your body is mine. Your release is mine.”

  “You can’t own people,” she said, staring dismally at the flowers blooming around her. This place was a nightmare oasis to anyone who didn’t know better.

  “On Marenia, I can.” Darcy stiffened and was about to push away. “It is a new feeling for me to be afraid.”

  There was genuine emotion in his statement. She settled back on the grass and cleared her throat. “You mentioned being scared last night.”

  “I know you aren’t happy here, but Lothar is a very dangerous individual. I did what I did last night because I need you to be safe, Darcy. I need to make sure no one can hurt you.”

  She could feel her attitude softening toward him but needed him to understand how what he’d done affected her afterward. “Using what we shared as a punishment hurt.”

  He stilled. Darcy took a deep breath and continued. “Seeing you with that other woman, you can’t know how much that hurt.”

  Nikol surged to his feet with her in his arms and spun her around to snarl, “I will do anything to protect you. Anything!”

  Darcy blinked in stunned amazement. His expression wasn’t bland anymore. Everything he was feeling right now was there for her to see. Anger, concern and a level of protective fury she hadn’t expected were all visible on his face. She placed a hand on his chest to soothe him. “Nikol, I understand about protecting me but having sex in any form with another...it took something from me. From what I thought we had.”