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  It took her a moment to process his words and to respond in the prescribed manner. “I am very pleased to meet you, Drion. Your markings are a credit to your family.” The whispered words acknowledged that she had been educated in the ways of the Asku. A captured female would not be expected to know it, but a traded bride would.

  He lifted her chin with his fingers. “Now that the formalities are over, would you care for something to drink?”

  She nodded weakly. “That sounds nice.”

  He gently took her arm and led her back inside. “Pardon my unexpected arrival, but the Radiance was most insistent.”

  She was startled into a laugh. “You actually call her that?”

  “Yes, that or Mother. What do you call her?”

  “Nishka.” Enari smiled as they entered the kitchen. “That or oh stars, here she comes again.”

  He barked a short laugh. “That sounds like you have met her a few times.”

  “Once or twice.”

  There was a long counter with stools against it and he led her to one of those chairs. “Please, have a seat.”

  She gathered her cloak around her and boosted herself awkwardly onto the stool. “I could use some help.”

  “If I start touching you, I may not stop. I wished to learn more about you before anything else comes up.” His rueful twist of his lips as he glanced down indicated that he was aroused and very noticeable.

  The research that she had done hadn’t prepared her for what she was staring at, she was sure of it.

  A glass of wine appeared on the counter in front of her.

  “I haven’t had any wine in months.”

  He sighed and took the chair next to her, their knees almost touching. “I am aware of that. It is standard procedure for the women to be denied anything that could lead them to question their realities.”

  She lifted the glass and inhaled the fruity aroma of the red liquid. “Why now?”

  “Because blurring your reality now might not be a bad thing.” He raised his glass to her and inclined his head.

  She took a sip and then put the glass down.

  “You don’t like it?”

  Enari looked into his starry eyes. “I love it. It is nice and fruity with a hint of sweetness. I could probably drink the whole bottle, but I won’t.”

  Curiosity was in his face. “Why not?”

  “For better or worse, this is my reality. I would not see it altered or blurred. Good or bad, I want to remember my first night with you.” She sat up and smiled. “So, where were you when your mother summoned you?”

  “Off orbiting Nelwarning’s moon. I was injured a few weeks ago and was stuck at the helm.”

  “What were you doing there?”

  “Defending the moon against invasion by her neighbour, the Meceen. The moon asked for our assistance and we came, for a fee.”

  She absorbed that. It fit with what she had learned about the Asku. “How were you injured?”

  “I was shot in the arm with a projectile.” He shifted and showed her the mark on his bicep where the injury had occurred.

  As Enari leaned in, she felt the chains on her costume shift and swing. The cool slide against her belly caused her to inhale sharply. When she had been upright, the chain had been skin temperature but had cooled the moment she sat.

  “Is something wrong?” He raised one dark eyebrow.

  She blushed. “No, I simply moved wrong. I apologize.”

  She examined the mark and gave in to the urge to touch his skin with the tips of her fingers. It was like caressing silk over carved wood. His muscle jumped and flexed, but when she looked up into his face, he was staring into the opening of her cloak. Her arm had opened the fabric and a good expanse of belly and thigh were visible around her clothing.

  She quickly tried to move her hand, but he clasped her fingers and stroked her palm with his thumb. “What did you do on Fennar that created these calluses?”

  “I was a seamstress.” Her voice was low and she could feel liquid heat seeping from her at the smallest touch of his hand. She was in real trouble.

  “That would not account for all of these marks of activity.” He stroked the base of her palm. “This is the most common area for strikes in most of the martial arts you have been studying. You are good, very good.”

  She was holding her breath as he leaned forward to whisper, “But I am better.”

  Her lips quirked. “Is that a challenge?”

  He matched her smile with his own. “We need to become familiar with each other’s bodies. Consider this foreplay.”

  He reached up and unclasped her cloak, turning it into a puddle of fabric that slumped over the stool. His eyes literally glowed as he took in her gold and cream form.

  She leaned over and his eyes closed. “What are you doing?”

  “If we are going to spar, I am not doing it in sandals.” She ignored the straight shot down her cleavage that his height offered him and when she was barefoot, she braced her hands on her hips.

  “Where do you want to do this?” She lifted her chin and met his gaze with her own.

  The stars in his eyes were burning brightly, throwing light into the room. “Oh, pet. I want to do this in every inch of the apartments, but I will settle for starting in the bedroom. This way.”

  He held out his hand and she pressed her palm to his with a distinct finality. With that one contact, she was volunteering for whatever followed.

  Drion didn’t rush her, merely walked with her, side by side, into the bedroom. There were no doors within the apartment itself, only twisting hallways off the living space.

  The bed made her stop in her tracks. The huge expanse was both a threat and a promise. Her thighs were already slicking at his proximity, the training she had undergone told her that while she was far from orgasm, she was on her way through the stages of arousal.

  He released her hand and positioned himself a few feet from her. Drion removed his boots and when all he was wearing were his trousers, he nodded. “Any time you are ready.”

  She inhaled, took a few steps and struck out with her foot. He blocked her, the blow landing on his thigh and setting her off balance when he gripped her ankle.

  “Sloppy. Try again.”

  He released her ankle and she shifted her weight. He seemed to be taking this seriously, so she assessed him from head to toe.

  She locked her fingers together and made a sudden jab at the wound on his arm. It was sneaky, underhanded and dangerous, but it was her best bet.

  He hissed and jerked back, going off balance for a moment and she pressed her advantage, pressing her foot to his knee and pushing. He went down to one knee, a look of surprise on his face as she raised her fist in an arc toward his chin.

  Drion gripped her fist in his and slowly lowered his hand. “Better, but you have some practice ahead of you.”

  She looked at him with her eyes wide as he moved her hand behind her back and used his grip to press her against him. Even on his knees, his nose was still even with her chin.

  She looked into his starry eyes until she couldn’t stand the intensity of his gaze and closed her own. The pressure of his lips on hers in an exploratory kiss caused her lids to flick up once again in surprise.

  He leaned back and took in her surprise. “What were you expecting?”

  She bit her lip and blushed. “After the way I exploited your injury, I would not have been surprised to be bitten.”

  He chuckled. “We will get to that later. Now, you must tell me how a woman on Fennar can gain knowledge of fighting techniques. I thought it was forbidden.”

  “It was. I improvised.”

  With her arm locked behind her, she was pressed against the warm panel of his chest with his face close to her neck. He took advantage of his position and trailed kisses down her neck, sending swirls of heat with each light touch.

  She gasped and shivered as her body came alive at his light touch. He stroked his free hand down her spine and released her
arm to press her hips into him.

  Enari wove her fingers into his hair as he pressed kisses across her collarbone and between her breasts. She focused on the tingling of her skin wherever he went and ignored the slight flick of his fingers as he released the clasp of her top in the center of her back. The link at her neck was next.

  She had never bared her breasts to a man before, but since the only thing keeping her covered was his face, she crossed her fingers that he would stay close enough to keep her from exposure. Her fingers tightened and she could feel the light press of his teeth on the inside of one breast.

  She pushed his head away and his triumphant grin glowed in his eyes as her top slithered down between them. The brush of cool air preceded his tongue flicking one nipple and then the other.

  Drion explored, tasted and caressed her, using his mouth alone. His hands stroked her back, buttocks and thighs with a slow deliberation that was sending her into a quivering sensory overload.

  “Enari, you are lovely. Your skin glows against the backdrop of your hair.” He continued to kiss at her skin before he latched onto one nipple and suckled hard.

  Her knees buckled and a squeak came from her throat. Her own hands had explored the connection between her nipples and clit, but this savage suction had her on the edge of orgasm in under a minute.

  Her breath was sawing in and out of her lungs as he held her tightly and moved to the other breast for the same treatment. She bit her lip until it bled as her channel tried to clench on an object that wasn’t there. Her moan was low and as the stars of her orgasm flew in her vision, she clutched at Drion for support.

  Her nipple released from his mouth with a soft pop. She could literally feel the blood rushing through her system, pooling and racing past the nerve endings under her skin. She had never felt so alive and she wanted more.

  With a savage determination, she clenched her hands in his hair and jerked his head back. Her kiss was far from the delicate exploration of his. Her body was awake and it shifted, slid and enticed him by twisting her hips against him in an unmistakable demand.

  She tugged his lower lip with her teeth, licking for entrance to his mouth and taking a taste of him for the first time.

  The hands on her back crushed her to him as he surged to his feet, dominating her with his superior height and breadth. She kept her grip on his hair and hopped up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  Drion gripped her ass with one hand and threaded the other through her hair. His efforts to hold her still were unnecessary, she wasn’t going anywhere.

  Chapter Six

  The chains around her waist clashed and chimed as he walked across the room. Enari was experiencing the delightful sensation of rubbing her breasts against the plane of his chest as well as rocking her hips against the bulge she had seen within his trousers.

  He groaned into her mouth as her hips made a particularly violent swivel. With the shortness of her skirt, her sex was exposed to the leather he was wearing and each move of her body was sharing her damp heat with him. It was mildly embarrassing, but if he was upset about it, he would not be rocking her against him.

  The skirt didn’t yield to his hand, so she was treated to the sound of tearing fabric. The direct contact of his flesh on hers caused another surge of damp heat.

  He pulled away from her and she watched the stars in his eyes fall away as he lowered her to the bed. Drion discarded the remains of her clothing and stared at her, the heat from his eyes touching her all over.

  She sighed happily when he crawled over her, overlapping her on all sides and blocking the light from the stars outside.

  His movements were graceful, feline and filled with power. “You are lovely, Enari. Like the fires of the nebula itself.”

  “You are quite striking yourself, Drion. Now, I know that the first time will be unpleasant, so can we just get it over with?” She ran her hands up his chest and down to where the banded muscles of his abdomen trailed into his trousers.

  He stared at her. “You want me to hurry?”

  “I know that pain is coming. I have heard all of my school friends discuss it.”

  He chuckled. “I have no doubt that that is true. Bear with me and don’t anticipate pain when there is pleasure offered. We don’t earn our women’s trust by being in a hurry.”

  “I can do that, so what am I allowed to do?”

  He grinned. “Whatever you wish to. For example, the touch of your hands on me is quite…stimulating.”

  She paused in her stroking for a moment before continuing. “Then do what you will and I will do what I will and we will meet somewhere in the middle.”

  “Agreed.”

  He kissed her deeply before shifting his attentions to her neck, shoulders and her very sensitive breasts. Enari shivered and stroked every inch of him that she could reach, stroking the backs of his thighs with her calves, her hands and legs restless and seeking as much of him as she could.

  Her body felt the coil of arousal drawing tight as his hands skimmed her torso, cupping her hips and spreading her thighs for him. Drion rested on his belly between her spread legs and parted the lips of her sex with his thumbs.

  He blew a stream of air across her skin. The liquid honey she had been leaking transferred the slight chill into her but brought a new sensation with it.

  When she touched herself, it had been pleasurable, but the surprise that awaited her with the contact of his tongue had her arching against him at the first heated exploration.

  He licked her from the opening of her slit to the hard nub that ached for more pressure. She heard her whimper and her body locked in place as he continued his exploration. She didn’t want to move in case it made him stop his slow licks.

  He shifted slightly and slid a finger into her, shifting his attentions to her clit. He nipped, licked and sucked until she shrieked, her channel clenching around the sliding finger tightly. He thrust two fingers into her and her orgasm continued with only a slight twinge deep inside.

  Sweat slicked her breasts as she fought to regain her composure. He left her for a moment before returning, covering her completely with his own body and slowly lowering himself into full contact.

  She felt the prod between her thighs and opened herself to him. Thoughts of pain were pushed from her mind as his cock forged into her with slow thrusts. His eyes glowed with white hot stars as he took her body and made a place for himself within.

  Enari lifted her hands to his shoulders and when she felt a sharp twinge again, she pushed at him. He didn’t cease his movements but used one hand to pin both of hers above her head.

  She was pinned by his hands at one end and by him at the other, but she had never felt as free as when he pressed into her, reigniting the heat that had briefly gone dormant.

  She bit her lip and heard his whisper. “I want to hear you, Enari. Every moan, every sigh.”

  She was sure that her face went crimson with shock, but she buried her lips against his shoulder and let every whimper and squeak out.

  Her voice went from timid to frantic as he used her vocal cues to control his motions. When she screamed loud enough to shake the windows, he joined her, a roar that caused it’s own reverberations both outside her and within her.

  Sharp rhythmic thrusts brought him deep inside and she felt the jets of semen in time to his motions. His sigh of completion made her smile, her body hummed happily at the feel of him inside her.

  He moved to one side and took her with him, curling her tightly against his chest with strong arms. “My Enari. My prize.”

  She smiled against his neck. “Drion Velu, my darkest star.”

  His chuckle was the last thing she heard until morning.

  Enari woke propped up against pristine white sheets, pillows behind her head. The bedding was unmarred by anything and she was quite sure that she had smelled blood at some time in the night.

  Drion was sitting at his com unit and he turned as she sat up. “Good morning, my treasure.”


  “Good morning, Drion. Don’t you sleep?” She grimaced at the tumble of her hair artfully arranged across the sheets. It looked for all the world like a river of blood.

  “I do, but I wanted to make sure I filed acceptance before I was called off world again.” He stood and stretched, giving her a lovely morning view.

  Bronze skin over taut muscle made up his legs, torso and arms. The ridge of his erection gave her pause. “That can’t be right.”

  He looked down and then looked up at her appalled face. “I told you it would not be a problem.”

  The ten-inch column of flesh was enough to make her swallow and from what she had read, there was a reason for her copious saliva. The urge to take him into her mouth was pressing her. “May I?” she gestured at him.

  She didn’t wait for an answer but flipped back the covers and crossed the room. A close-up examination of his cock showed her the silken skin, the flared head, veins coursing down the length as well as a drop of precum at the tip.

  She reached out with a finger and took the drop onto her finger before bringing it to her lips for a taste. His deep groan as she slipped her finger between her lips made her look up sharply, but his eyes were heavy-lidded.

  There was a salty-sweet taste to him with a hint of musk that came from his pores. Enari wrapped her fingers around him and stroked gently for a moment until he placed his hand over hers and increased the pressure and speed.

  Laughing softly, she moved at the speed he directed and knelt in front of him to take the head of his cock into her mouth. She sucked, flicked the tip with her tongue and kept the quick, strong motions of her hand in play while his thighs flexed and his hands clenched next to her head.

  She appreciated that he did not take control of her actions but rather closed his eyes and leaned his head back as she worked at him until his spurting and his hoarse shout gave her confirmation that she had brought him pleasure.

  The flow of his seed was extreme, but it ceased quickly and she swallowed carefully. Enari quickly licked her lips and the tip of his member before leaning back on her heels. A sense of triumph rippled through her. “I wasn’t sure that I could do that. I am glad that I can.”