His lips pressed against her and she closed her eyes, blocking out thought and insecurity. He’d lit a fire in her body and now he was going to fan the flames until there was nothing left but ash. She only hoped that she would survive the inferno.
He pushed his arm back beneath her neck as his mouth caressed hers. As before, the kiss was slow and coaxing rather than harsh and demanding. He could be aggressive. No one rose through the ranks of any military without being ruthless, even lethal. But with her, he was gentle, patient.
Tired of denying her body what it needed so badly, she parted her lips and raised her hand to his face. Bristle roughened his jawline, but higher, along the crest of his cheekbone, his skin was warm and soft. She explored his shapes and textures while he traced her lips with the tip of his tongue. All the while their breaths mingled and mixed, making her head spin and her nipples tingle. Her heartbeat accelerated, amplifying the throb between her legs. She needed him there, filling the emptiness, stretching her core until she screamed with pleasure.
As if sensing her thoughts, his tongue pushed into her mouth, sliding along hers until his taste exploded along her taste buds, sending a fresh rush of desire all through her body. She groaned, hips canting, legs thrashing restlessly.
He slid his thumb along the collar of her uniform top, triggering the seam release. Cool air wafted across her breasts as he parted the sides, baring her to the waist. His hand soon followed, cupping, gently squeezing, and then teasing the nipples with the pad of his thumb or a careful pinch. She groaned into his mouth as darts of sensation zinged from the tips of her breasts to her clit. Desire rose, burning brighter as his skillful touch awakened her senses.
Eager to feel more of him, she drew his shirt from inside his pants. He wore the clingy pullover style many of the men favored. The fabric came free and quickly bunched below his arms. She tore her mouth away from his long enough to whisper, “Off.” She tugged on the shirt, illustrating what she wanted. He tore the garment off, obliging her with nearly violent haste, then his mouth recaptured hers.
She stroked his chest and shoulders, lingering over his arms, fascinated by the bunch and flex of his impressive muscles. All the Outcasts were lean and fit. Some were even more handsome than Xorran. But he was hers, hers to touch and taste, talk to and depend on. If she allowed his claim, they would share thoughts and emotions. There would be no lies, no pretense or deception. But she had to be willing to give him the same access to her mind. She had to be brave enough to believe his promises, and risk her heart.
Something deep inside her shifted, she softened, opened, and not just physically. She wanted to make love to him desperately, but she wanted more, she wanted that deeper connection, the absolute intimacy only experienced by bonded mates.
She returned his kiss with greater fervor, arching into his touch. “Oh Xorran, I want—”
“I know, love. I know.” He quickly unfastened her pants and slipped his hand inside, misunderstanding the nature of her longing. Then his fingers curved over her mound, pressing against her damp folds.
Urgent desire blazed through her abdomen, making her cry out. Rational thought was consumed in the flashfire as he gently parted her, and settled two fingers over her clit. With a few circular strokes he triggered her first orgasm. Pleasure pulsed through her core, rippling and clenching, which only made her feel empty and even more needful. She bucked helplessly, wanting him over her, inside her.
He peeled her pants down to her ankles then moved her legs apart. She didn’t resist, was beyond modesty or shame. His long fingers pushed into her wet center and she whimpered. The slight penetration felt amazing, but it also teased, making her anxious for more.
“You’re so wet,” he muttered as he kissed his way down her neck.
“Sorry,” she responded automatically, feeling a spark of embarrassment surrounded by burning need.
“I wasn’t complaining.” He looked down at her, eyes gleaming with predatory light. “It just makes me want to taste you.”
Her only response was a helpless whimper as he lowered his mouth to one tight nipple, and then the other. She’d never thought of her nipples as particularly sensitive, but that strange string connecting them to her clit hadn’t existed before. Each time he sucked on her breast, her clit twitched and tingled.
His hand moved between her thighs, sliding his fingers in and out of her wet core. She rocked her hips as she stroked her fingers through his hair, lost in the sensory maelstrom swirling around and through her. She came again with a sharp gasp, the burst of pleasure completely unexpected.
He kissed his way lower still and she squeezed her eyes shut. She knew what he intended. He hadn’t been subtle about his ultimate destination. His fingers slowly withdrew and she fought back another whimper. They made her sound so helpless, so pathetic. Then he pulled off her boots and finished removing her pants. Her arms were still in the sleeves of her uniform, but her entire body was exposed and available. She opened her eyes just in time to watch him climb between her thighs and open her legs even farther.
“I should have turned the light back on before we started.” He voice was a sexy growl in the darkness, and all she could see was the outline of his body and his eyes. “I want to savor this view.”
Emboldened by the dimness, she arched her body, thrusting out her breasts and then raising her hips. “I thought you were hungry.”
An actual growl rumbled and she tensed. Was the cub awake? But the sound came again half a second before Xorran’s mouth covered her slit. No, the growl was definitely the male, not the cub. He shoved his tongue deep into her body, doubtlessly coating it with her cream. She gasped at the aggression, but loved the blatant carnality. It made her feel wild and free. He did it again and again, claiming her the only way she’d allow—at least for now.
He quickly worked her to another orgasm. Her inner muscles pulsed around his tongue as waves of pleasure swept over her. Then he drew back and gently sucked on her folds, licking every crease and furrow until she was squirming again. Only then did he settle his lips over her clit. She’d already come three times and still the need throbbed inside her, making her restless and desperate.
He teased her this time. Sucking gently, then pausing to gently lick the sensitive nub. Pleasure built gradually, coiling inside her like a giant spring. He parted her folds with his thumbs, holding her open so his lips could more easily fasten onto her clit. He was persistent and patient, two qualities that quickly drove her mad. She pushed up with her heels, pressing herself against his mouth. It did no good. He refused to be rushed. The urgency swelled, gathering tighter, and tighter. And then he backed off, refusing to let it crest.
“Enough!” she cried as he denied her for the sixth time. “Either let me come or let me up.”
He pushed up on his elbow. “What’s the matter, love? Doesn’t that feel good?” He released her folds and stroked her with his thumb as he pushed his fingers deep into her aching core.
“You’re killing me and you know it.” She panted, bucking, driving herself onto his fingers. “Even this is a tease.” A sob broke through her voice and she turned her face away. “I need you, all of you.”
He moved back to her side while his hand continued to pump between her wide-spread thighs. “Squeeze me tight, and pretend that’s my cock.”
She sobbed again, feeling foolish even as she cried, “I don’t want to pretend. I want you inside me.”
“I know, baby. I know.” He kissed her and thrust harder with his fingers, faster.
Shaking violently, she tightened her inner muscles, squeezing as hard as she could to maximize the fullness. His tongue took on the rhythm of his hand, filling her mouth as his fingers filled her core. She relaxed into the swelling need rather than fighting against it. She was confused and intoxicated. He was being selfless and responsible. He’d promised not to take advantage of her eagerness and he was true to his word. Despite feeling the cravings himself, he was protecting her from the pull.
When reality returned he lay on his back beside her, staring up at the ceiling. She rolled to her side and curled up against him, resting her head on his shoulder. He spread a blanket over her nearly naked body as she gradually caught her breath. She didn’t have the strength to move. She felt drained, replete. “What about you?” she whispered sleepily.
“You can make it up to me next time,” he whispered back, then pressed a kiss into her hair.
Next time. The phrase made her smile as she closed her eyes and surrendered to sleep.
WAKING WITH HIS MATE warm and naked in his arms made Xorran grin like a fool. He could still feel her arch into his caresses and hear the sweet cries of her pleasure. His balls ached and tension banded his gut, but he didn’t care. He’d shared pleasure with his mate. Any lingering discomfort was a small price to pay.
He’d shared pleasure with his potential mate, his conscience reminded. Their courting had barely begun. Sara was still reluctant and afraid. And resentful that she’d been kidnapped. Still, last night gave him hope. Their natural attraction was clearly strong or the pull wouldn’t be so overwhelming. She’d begged for him to take her. The night would have ended with him deep inside her if he were a less honorable man. A few moments of physical pleasure would never be enough. He wanted her willing. No, not just willing, he wanted her clear headed and excited about becoming his mate. If she didn’t enter into this with equal enthusiasm, then what sort of life would they be able to build?
Kidnapping the females had been rash and reckless. He understood why the leaders had done it, but he never would have agreed had the decision been put to a vote. Abduction for any reason was wrong. His mother had been abducted and imprisoned. She’d been ruthlessly seduced and emotionally manipulated. He refused to follow in his father’s footsteps! Starting off with a kidnapped bride was putting him at a distinct disadvantage.
Wenny raised her head, looked around as she yawned, then went back to sleep. Yesterday’s trauma had clearly taken its toll on both females. Xorran put Sara’s pants and boots right beside her so she could dress quickly should the need arise. He didn’t want to wake her. She was sleeping so peacefully.
Slipping quietly from the room, he went outside and surveyed the area for possible enclosure locations. It needed to be near the Wheel, but not too near or the overlord would object. Xorran suspected as soon as word spread of a captive karron cub, Wenny would become a curiosity. He wasn’t sure if the possibility was good or bad, but they needed to plan accordingly. Placing the enclosure between the Wheel and the barracks would provide the cub with continual supervision and protection once the barracks was occupied.
Blueish-green grass blanketed a relatively flat area. Xorran staked out the boundaries with the front half in the clearing and the back half in the trees. Until they had time to build some sort of house, the trees would offer shade from sunlight and shelter from inclement weather. A small stream would cut across the back corner of the habitat, offering Wenny a continual source of fresh water. They’d have to devise some sort of grate for the stream to ensure she couldn’t swim out, but lugging water into the enclosure every day seemed foolish with the river nearby.
He was digging holes for fence posts when Sara joined him in the cool morning sunshine. A gentle breeze stirred the turquoise leaves on the surrounding trees and the briskly flowing water looked particularly green. Sara appeared fresh and rested, dark hair pulled back into a simple ponytail.
“Good morning.” He paused in his task and wiped his sweaty face on his uniform top, which he’d removed again.
Her dark gaze swept over his torso as she responded, “Good morning. I like your outfit.” She flashed a playful smile, then licked her lower lip. Was she thinking about their kisses and all the pleasure he’d given her.
“I knew it was your favorite. That’s why I wore it.”
Her smile broadened into a sexy grin. “Maybe tomorrow you can wear the shirt and not the pants.”
His gaze narrowed as blood rushed to his groin, painfully hardening his cock. “Keep it up and I won’t wait until tomorrow.”
She raised both hands in surrender. “I’ll behave.”
“Is the cub still sleeping?” he asked after they stared at each other for a long hot moment.
She nodded, then cleared her throat. “How long have you been out here?”
“Not long. Did you sleep well?” he asked with a cocky grin. She’d snuggled against him all night. He knew damn well she’d slept like a baby.
She ignored the question and motioned toward the staked-out area. “This space will be fine for now, but she’s growing really fast.”
“This is temporary,” he stressed. “Once we have more information about karrons, we’ll choose a location for a permanent habitat.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she frowned. “I don’t want her confined any longer than absolutely necessary. She needs to be returned to the wild.”
The sentiment was compassionate yet naive. “If she’s part of Isolaund’s feline army, she was likely born in captivity. I’m not sure she’d know what to do in the wild.”
She made a helpless gesture, then sighed. “It’s impossible to make the best decisions for her with so little information.”
“Agreed. We need to get a message to Arrista, maybe even a list of questions she can answer.”
“Our only line of communications right now is Arton.” Frustration was clear in her tone and expression. There wasn’t much more that could be said about that subject, so her agile mind moved on. She motioned toward the holes he’d dug. “Where are we going to get fence posts? Or fencing, for that matter? The logs they’re using for the barracks are huge.”
“The ships can produce smaller items. It just requires a lot of energy.”
“Of course. We use the nutria-gens all the time, but I forget about the other matter generators.”
Xorran nodded. “The overlord wants to wean us off the nutria-gens too. This land can provide us with everything we need to thrive. We just need to learn how to process the resources.”
Much to his surprise, Sara rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a shovel, working right alongside him for the next hour. She paused at one point and wiped her sweaty face with her sleeve. “I thought you were just showing off, but it’s getting hot fast.” She looked at him and flashed a flirtatious smile. “Should I take my shirt off too?”
“Not unless you want to cause a riot.”
Her brows drew together and confusion narrowed her gaze until she heard the voices and tromping boots. The construction teams rounded the bend and came into view a few seconds later. Xorran quickly warned them not to open the door in the back of the structure, telling them there was an animal confined in there.
Most of the workers simply nodded, but Mardon, the team leader, walked up to Xorran and asked, “What sort of animal and why is it locked up in my work site.”
“It’s a karron cub,” Sara told him. “And she’s only there until we can finish her enclosure.” She motioned to the holes they were digging.
He whistled and waved some of his workers over. “Help them. We’re not going to trip over a yowling battle cat all day.” The workers took the shovels from Xorran and Sara and continued digging deep, narrow holes.
As if to support Mardon’s position, Wenny began to meow and growl, sounding pathetically forlorn.
“She hasn’t been out of that room in hours,” Sara pointed out. “She probably needs to, you know, water a tree.”
Mardon’s expression went from mildly annoyed to angry in a flash. “If that thing shits all over the storeroom, you’re cleaning it up!”
“Understood.” Xorran rushed toward the storeroom, grabbing a long le
ngth of rope off a pile of supplies. He quickly devised a crude harness and leash. The karron greeted them both with obvious enthusiasm, butting her head against their thighs and weaving in and out of their legs. Wenny allowed Xorran to put the harness on her, but she fought against the leash so hard Sara wasn’t able to control her. Xorran was glad for his thick work gloves as Wenny tested him with each forward lunge. The cub was still relatively small, but her bursts of strength were explosive.
The workers watched with overt fascination as Xorran led the cat outside.
“She has to be hungry,” Sara said. “I know I am.”
Xorran cringed. He’d been so focused on the habitat that he’d forgotten about food. “Let’s get her settled, then we’ll take a quick break.”
“Deal.”
They let the cub tromp through the trees, pawing and sniffing everything she passed. She seemed more interested in her new environment than tending to her bodily functions, but nature soon reminded her why she was there.
“What do we do with her while we have breakfast?” Sara mused. “If we feed her first, she might settle down, but the construction guy doesn’t want her in the storeroom.”
Before Xorran could reply, Arton walked into view. He looked at the cub and said, “Deztee,” in a clear, authoritative tone, then held up his right hand, palm out.
Wenny immediately sat and calmed, staring up at him as she waited for his next command.
He turned to Sara with a half-smile. “I dream shared with Isolaund last night and she taught me some commands you might find useful. Deztee means stop, and the hand gesture means silence.”
“That’s wonderful.” Then her enthusiasm paused and she asked, “How is Heather? Have they agreed to the prisoner swap?”
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