Theirs to Tame, page 18
Her males both chuckled, and Cassik said, “I guess that means she likes this.”
She pushed off his chest and arched her back, giving both males a better angle for their sliding cocks. They took full advantage of the new position and thrust into her with firm, steady strokes. Another orgasm built almost immediately, so she fought back the building tension. She should be asking permission before she came. Her pleasure belonged to her mates.
The stimulators stopped buzzing and she released a long sigh. Without the distraction, the rhythmic slide of their bodies against and into hers created a wave of sensation that affected all three evenly. Cassik sat up, moving her up and down while his hips remained stationary. Rytez thrust even harder, pressing her against Cassik’s chest with each stroke. She was sandwiched between them, surrounded and filled by them. And nothing had ever felt more wonderful.
Cassik captured her mouth again, kissing her deeply as their motion shifted. Rytez drew almost out while Cassik filled her pussy. Then they reversed direction. The alternating rhythm eased the overwhelming fullness, but the slide seemed more distinct somehow.
The clit stimulator switched back on and her soft cry was muffled by Cassik’s mouth.
“Come for us, Vixen,” Rytez ordered. “And keep on coming. Your energy is addictive.”
Lost in the sensations she’d been fighting before, she came a few seconds later. Rytez reached around and squeezed her breasts as his cock pounded into her back passage. Cassik bounced her up on down on his cock and another orgasm detonated inside her. She dropped her head back against Rytez’s chest, moaning in complete surrender.
They vigorously used her willing body as she floated in blissed-out euphoria. Sexual energy swirled around her and passed through her, more intoxicating than any drug. She came over and over, her inner muscles continually caressing her mates.
Cassik’s hands tightened on her hips as he thrust his entire length up into her. A hoarse cry tore from his throat and his pleasure pulsed into her mind. Her orgasm echoed his and she felt the warm spurting of his seed deep inside her pussy. He pulled her forward and kissed her tenderly as he basked in the afterglow.
A few moments later, Rytez drew her toward him. His cock drove full length into her ass as he turned her head so he could kiss her mouth. They came together, rolling swells of sensation that made both of them groan.
They huddled together for several minutes, kissing and caressing each other. Nobody spoke. The mind link made words unimportant.
Finally Rytez separated his body from hers, then stretched out on his back. “That is definitely easier to do when all of us are on the bed.”
“You’ll have to show me when we get back to Earth,” Tori said with a dreamy smile.
“I will be happy to show you when we return to New Kobar,” he countered, brows arched.
“Call it whatever you like. It will always be Earth to me,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around Cassik’s neck.
“I need to go check on the ship,” Cassik told her. “Do I dare leave you two alone?”
“If you let me borrow your belt, I’ll have him whipped into shape by the time you return.” She giggled and then shook her head. “I am so pleasure drunk.”
Rytez wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her up off Cassik’s lap. Then he swung her into his arms and carried her to the side of the bed. “Go on,” he urged Cassik. “I would rather depart before Fanaris has an opportunity to summon his friends.”
Cassik nodded then gathered his clothing.
“We can’t leave Fanaris alone and unconscious,” Tori objected as Cassik donned his uniform. “We need to check on him before we head back.”
“If he has not stirred by the time we are ready to depart, I will wake him up,” Cassik assured. His gaze swept over her naked body and a slow smile rolled across his lips. “I should not be gone long. If there is going to be another joining, please wait until I return.”
“Our next joining needs to include Xoktal,” Rytez said firmly. “Prepare the ship for travel and I will prepare our mate.”
CHAPTER 7
The only way Rytez could keep his hands off Tori was to leave the room while she dressed. “Take a shower if you want to, but we depart in approximately thirty minutes.”
“With or without me?” she challenged, blue eyes sparkling.
“With or without your clothing.”
She laughed and motioned him onward. “I’ll be ready.”
He gathered up his garments and took them into the living room. After washing up in the tiny bathroom, he donned his uniform and wandered around the apartment. It was larger than the cabin he shared with his cadre but the furnishings were shabby. He spotted a door leading out to some sort of balcony. He pushed the door open then leaned his shoulder against the threshold, staring out at the sun-bathed cityscape.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Tori asked as she emerged from the bedroom a short time later.
“Parts of it are.” He glanced over his shoulder and couldn’t help but turn around. She was infinitely more interesting than the ruined city.
She’d chosen jeans and a filmy shirt that skimmed her curves and floated about her hips. Her hair was pulled back and bound in a simple braid that drew attention to her lovely face. “Thank you for trusting me with your pain.” She moved closer, her gaze locking with his. “It would mean even more if you would trust me with the story. I don’t need every detail, just a basic idea of what happened.”
Rytez clenched his fists, trying to keep the tension off his features. The fact that she was brave enough to ask wasn’t nearly as shocking as how badly he wanted to tell her. “It is not the Kobar way to speak of the past.”
She placed her hand on his arm, just barely touching him. “I have tried to respect that custom, but the past is affecting the present, and it’s hindering the future we would both like to build.”
Before she could decide if he was a worthy mate, she deserved to know everything. “My mother had a bodyguard who was half Erollian. His appearance was striking and unique. He had flame-red hair and eyes that would shift with his emotions. Shortly after I was born, everyone waited for my legal father to sever his bond with my mother but he never did. He loved her too much to reject her. Instead, he reserved all his hostility and bitterness for the bastard son she forced him to support.”
Her arm lowered but she moved closer. “What happened to your biological father?”
“According to my mother, he took another position before she had a chance to tell him and was killed soon after.”
“You don’t think that’s what happened?”
She was too damn perceptive for her own good, definitely too perceptive for his. “I suspect that he left when he learned that my mother was carrying his child and she never saw him again. There is a slim possibility that my legal father had him killed. My legal father was intensely possessive, so murdering a rival would have been well within his basic character.”
“Were illegitimate children stigmatized on old Kobar? On Earth so many children are born to single mothers that the stigma has just about vanished.”
“Mating bonds last a lifetime, so the cultural stigma was definitely still an issue. However, my mother was loving and ensured that I was protected from the worst of my legal father’s bitterness.”
“I’m glad.” Clearly thinking his story was over, she offered him a tentative smile. “Are you and your brother close?”
“Our fights are legendary, but we love each other very much.” He took a deep breath. He’d only told her about his illegitimacy so that she would better understand what he was about to reveal. “My mate and I were celebrating our third year of bonding when the volcano erupted.”
Her eyes widened as a combination of shock and compassion pulsed across their mind link. “I am so sorry that you lost her. I didn’t realize any of you had a mate.”
“I did not lose her,” he said bitterly. “At least, not in the way you mean.” He leaned back against the doorjamb, bracing for the emotional onslaught of revisiting the events. He never spoke about this, tried hard not to think about it. “We were at a resort on one of Kobar’s moons when the calamities began. I returned to my ship as was my duty and she was evacuated to a nearby planet. I felt so guilty and yet so relieved. She was one of only a few thousand Kobar females who survived the devastation. I believed I was one of the lucky ones.”
Tori crossed her arms, starting to look as uncomfortable as he was. “What happened?”
“The planet that accepted our refugees refused to accept anyone from the military. Any female who was bonded to a warrior was also asked to leave.”
Her gaze filled with unshed tears and she crept closer. “Why do I get the horrible feeling that wasn’t what happened?”
“Some females remained loyal to their mates, but a shocking number chose to remain on the planet and sever the bond. My former mate was one of those who chose to stay behind.” Wanting the conversation over as quickly as possible, he took a breath and continued, “Her primary motivation for accepting a mixed-blood bastard as her mate was my powerful family. Without their wealthy and authority, I was no longer a worthy mate.”
“Well, she was a bitch and she didn’t deserve you, but how was it possible for her to ‘sever the bond’? I thought soul bonds were permanent.”
“It is excruciating and dangerous to sever such a link, but these females felt the ordeal was worth it.”
Tori shook her head as anger gradually burned away her tears. “Is the pain experienced by both parties or just the one who severs the link?”
“Separation toxicity is suffered by anyone involved in the bond. It was the most agonizing thing I have ever been through in my life. And still it was nothing compared to the realization that my future, my hopes and dreams were not possible without her. Without a mate, I am just a mixed-blood soldier, a nameless body who bleeds and dies so that others might live.”
“You are so much more than that, Rytez. With or without a mate.” She squeezed him tightly for a moment then eased back so she could see his face. “Xoktal is Prime Hunter, one of the most powerful Kobar alive. Why did he choose you as his second? Did he feel sorry for you?”
Her carefully worded challenge kept him from becoming annoyed. “I have prophetic dreams and I can see into the minds of others.”
She tensed but didn’t pull away. “How is that different than what Cassik and Xoktal can do?”
“I can search a person’s memory and find a specific image or thought. It comes in handy when I’m interrogating someone who refuses to cooperate.”
“Have you ever looked into my mind?”
“I was tempted,” he admitted, “but I do not use my abilities unless there is a damn good reason.”
She searched his gaze silently for a moment, her emotions so guarded he could hardly sense them. “Life dealt you some pretty shitty cards. You’ve endured a lot of pain and I want to help you heal. Do you think that’s possible?”
“I answered all of your questions.” It wasn’t just an evasion. There really was a lot about her that he didn’t understand. “Will you answer mine?”
“I guess that’s fair.”
“The shift in your emotions is obvious. I know you care about me as I care about you, but when did this shift happen? What changed your mind?”
“I think we are a lot alike.” She glanced away for a moment then dragged her gaze back to his. “I know we’ve suffered many of the same things and made the same sorts of mistakes. We’re kindred spirits. I can’t help wanting to ease your pain.”
“Kindred spirits.” He’d heard the term before but never imagined that it could apply to a human female and a Kobar warrior. “I want to ease your pain just as badly as you want to ease mine,” he pointed out. “Will you let me?”
She slid her hands around and rested them on his chest, but her gaze dropped to the floor. “It’s not that simple.”
Undaunted by her withdrawal, he cupped her chin and tilted her head back. “I shared my past with you. Now it’s your turn. Why did you feel relief when your fiancé died?”
She tried to twist away as he knew she would, but he didn’t let her go. “Cassik accused me of the same damn thing. It wasn’t true then and it’s not true now.”
“If Cassik sensed it then the emotion is there. His empathic receptors are incredibly sensitive.”
She shoved against his chest, but he didn’t budge. “Why the hell would Jacob’s death make me feel relief? That doesn’t even make sense.”
He knew exactly why because he’d experienced the complex emotions. “Did you agree to join with him because it made everyone around you happy? Did you know your life would be comfortable and secure, but he would never make you come so hard you screamed?”
“Stop it! We are not talking about me.”
She jerked free for just a second, but he pulled her back into his arms. “I was not talking about you. You insist that my relationship parallels yours. I was seeing if it was true.”
Her brow creased and she tilted her head. “You claimed your mate to please your family?”
“Yes.”
Clearly, that surprised her. “You… didn’t love her?”
“I did not say that. I came to love her very much, but that was not why I pursued her.”
She licked her lips and hid behind her lashes. “I loved Jacob too, but your description was pretty accurate. He was dependable and caring, but we weren’t even married yet and I was already bored.”
He stroked the side of her face. “You would have been bored with any one male because you were meant for three.”
“This is so wrong,” she cried. “Only a horrible person feels relieved that her fiancé is dead.”
“If we had not arrived and the war had not taken place, would you have married him?”
She took a long time to answer. “I hope not. I always try to be honest with myself and I knew he wasn’t right for me.”
“Did you play any part in his death?”
“Of course not,” she stressed.
“Then there is no reason for your guilt.”
Her brows shot up and she countered, “Right back at you, buddy. It is time you let go of the past and start building your future.”
He slid her up along his body until their mouths aligned. Then he kissed her deeply, pouring emotion directly into her mind. He might never be comfortable speaking about his feelings, but he cared more for this feisty human than he ever had for his Kobar mate. That was why he fought against their attraction. He did not want to give anyone the power to hurt him.
“Was Xoktal or Cassik ever in a serious relationship?” she asked softly as he returned her feet to the floor.
Rytez hesitated. It was more appropriate that she ask Xoktal, but there wasn’t that much to tell. Deciding to spare his friend an awkward conversation, Rytez explained, “Xoktal shared pleasure with a female for long enough that everyone presumed they would bond, but the relationship ended abruptly.”
“Who called it off? Are you allowed to tell me why?”
“Xoktal told me many months later that she had been unfaithful to him not once but repeatedly. He was not in a relationship when our planet was destroyed and serious relationships have been all but impossible since.”
“What about Cassik? Was there anyone special in his life?”
“I do not know Cassik as well as I know Xoktal. He has never mentioned anyone, but he seldom talks about the past. I know he was raised by his mother and did not know his father. What little he has shared indicates that his childhood was not pleasant. He was from an extremely impoverished section of one of our largest cities.”
“Have you always known Xoktal? When and how did you meet Cassik?”
Her curiosity pleased him. It was a strong indication that she was taking this courtship seriously. “I grew up with Xoktal and Jesorax. Our parents were good friends.”
She smiled. “I bet the four of you got into all sorts of trouble.”
“Absolutely, but the group of troublemakers ranged from four to around ten depending on how many cousins were in attendance. My family is huge.” His smile faltered and he corrected, “Was huge. We all lost so many.”
Cassik walked back into the apartment, rescuing Rytez from the conversation. “I hope you are both ready to depart. The ship is on standby so I would rather not leave it unattended.”
“We’re ready,” Tori told him as she moved across the living room.
Rytez picked up the small bundle Tori had left by the door. He didn’t know what was in it, but she’d said she wanted it to go with them. From the feel of it, he suspected it was clothing.
Cassik moved across the hallway and knocked on the door. It was unlikely that Fanaris had recovered yet, so the knock was a courtesy. They had used a blaster to let themselves in when they questioned the mutant earlier. When Fanaris didn’t respond to the knock, Cassik simply pushed the door open.
The mutant lay on the living room floor. He hadn’t even moved since Cassik rendered him unconscious. Out of habit, Rytez tucked the bundle under his arm and drew his blaster.
Cassik’s expression went blank for a moment and then Fanaris moaned, his head rolling from side to side.
Tori knelt beside him and took his large hand between hers. “Fanaris, you need to wake up now. Nap time is over.”
He groaned even louder. “Just a few more minutes, Mommy. I need my beauty sleep.”
She chuckled and kissed the mutant’s knuckles. “You might find a more comfortable bed next time. These floors aren’t going to make anyone beautiful.”
He laughed, finally opening his eyes. “I don’t think your mates like me very much. The hunter flips my switch every time he sees me.”
“My mates?” She released his hand and climbed back to her feet. “How long have you known?”
Fanaris sat up and tucked the unaffected side of his hair behind his ear. “I saw their faces in my dreams for weeks before the hunter found our hideout.”
