Consort (Beyond Ontariese 6) Read online

  With a strangled groan, she tore her mouth away from his. “Touch me.”

  “I am touching you.”

  “No. Really touch me. You’re not the only one who’s waited nine years for this.”

  Unable to argue with that logic, he curved his fingers against the fullness of her breast and sucked the nipple into his mouth. Though her arms and legs were slick and supple, he found no massage oil here. Damn good thing too or his favorite masseuse would be looking for a new position, or worse.

  She gasped then whimpered as he moved from one tender peak to the other. Her skin was unbelievably soft and he loved the feel of her hardened flesh against his tongue. He left one nipple wet and pebbled as he teased its twin then switched sides and started the process all over again.

  “You need two mouths.” She pushed her fingers into his hair, but he raised his head and growled at her.

  “Hands back where they were. I didn’t give you permission to touch me.”

  “I need permission?” She didn’t sound amused.

  “Tonight you do.” He was too aroused, too primal to give in completely.

  Reluctantly she raised her arms again and buried her hand beneath her head. “I suppose I deserve it,” she muttered. “I was merciless with you.”

  Merciless? He grinned against her skin. She hadn’t even taken off his pants. She didn’t know the meaning of the word, but it was not yet time to teach her. Instead he shifted over her, easing her legs apart so he could kneel between them and use both hands.

  The position was more dominant, far more to his liking. She was spread before him, open and ready, if still a bit unsure. He caressed her breasts for a few minutes longer as he watched emotions pass across her face. He saw desire, anticipation and pleasure, but there were still flickers of fear. Her lips remained parted and rosy from their kisses, her eyes dilated and were passion bright. He worked her nipples into tight little peaks then slid his hands down her sides.

  His gaze rushed on ahead, fascinated by her alabaster skin and her soft pink folds. Her legs were slick, but the oil stopped well short of his target. “Have to taste you.”

  He lowered his head between her thighs and drew her scent deeply into his lungs, savoring the rich musk, imprinting it on his memory.

  “Please.” Her voice trembled and her thighs quivered. “Either lick me or give me something to squeeze.”

  His dominant nature rebelled against the order and he slowly pushed his middle finger into her heat. He’d meant to punish her for her impatience, but the firm grip of her inner muscles made him moan. “Gods you’re hot. And wet.”

  Before she could reply, he circled her clit with his tongue and slid his finger in and out of her passage. She was soft and open, ready and accessible. But it wasn’t good enough. He wanted her wild, as desperate for him as he was for her.

  She flattened her feet against the bed and rocked her hips, driving his finger deeper and increasing the pressure of his tongue. He withdrew his finger and concentrated on her clit, unwilling to follow her silent command. Control was essential to his passion. She had to learn to follow his lead.

  When she finally stilled and opened her legs wider, giving him better access, he gently parted her folds with his thumbs and pushed his tongue deep into her core.

  “Indric!” She shook and the start of an orgasm rippled around his tongue.

  His savage nature told him to make her wait, to build the intensity along with her need, but he kept his tongue deep inside her and used his thumb to send her over the edge. She cried out sharply and her inner muscles gripped him again and again.

  Wanting to share her pleasure, he instinctively reached for her mind. She resisted and he pushed harder.

  “Don’t!” She shoved him away, kicking out as she scrambled back and huddled against the headboard.

  Pleasure and dread inundated Cinarra with alternating waves. Her body was still humming from the most amazing orgasm she’d ever experienced in her life and yet Indric’s unexpected assault on her mental shields made her feel violated and terrified.

  “Don’t ever do that again.” She drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees, carefully keeping her feet together.

  He looked dumbfounded for a moment then horrified. “I’m sorry. I should have realized you wouldn’t want anyone in your mind.”

  “I can’t stand it. I’ve tried and tried, but it always sends me into a panic attack.”

  “It’s second nature for Bilarrians to flow through each other’s minds. I did not mean to frighten you.”

  “I know.” She took a deep breath and then another, determined to regain control of her emotions. “Just give me a minute.”

  He grabbed one of the massage table’s cloths and casually draped it over his lap, but she saw what he was trying to hide. He was still hard and needful, and she’d failed him—again. She bowed her head and closed her eyes, unable to hold back tears. “This is why you should find someone else.” She sobbed. “I’m…broken.”

  Very gently he touched her arm then eased into position beside her. He wrapped his arm around her huddled shoulders and pulled her against his side. “I don’t want anyone else.”

  The words had been meant to reassure her, no doubt, but they shattered what remained of her composure. She turned into his embrace and clung to his strong body, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

  Grief, fury and loss paralyzed her mind. All she could do was release the long suppressed emotions and let him rock her in his arms. It could have taken minutes or hours, she was honestly not sure. She was lost to everything but the emotions pounding her being like hail. Reality returned by degrees. She felt his tear-soaked chest beneath her fingers and heard the steady thumping of his heart.

  “One death wasn’t enough for what that bastard did to us.” His arms tightened just a little, letting her know she’d heard without distracting her with words. “I saved his daughter’s life while I was just a child myself. That’s how he realized I was different. Special.” She shuddered. “I’ve come to hate that word. We had ‘special’ abilities and ‘special’ programs and ‘special’ motivations when we didn’t give him what he wanted.”

  He stroked the hair back from her face and kissed her temple. “Go on. The memories will continue to torment you until you let them out.”

  “But I’ve let them out before and they keep coming back.”

  “Then let them out again. Keep letting them out until they realize you’re not going to be controlled by them.”

  She raised her head and looked into his eyes, his beautiful compassionate eyes. “I don’t want you to know all the ugliness, all the—”

  He halted her words with a gentle kiss. “Sweetheart, all those things were done to you, not by you. The ugliness was Dr. Hydran’s, not yours.”

  Once she started talking, she couldn’t seem to stop. She told him how it began, that she’d been sent through a portal to protect her from the war ravaging Ontariese. She described years of isolation and cruelty, endless degradation and pain. “It was all so hopeless and so depraved. He only had three of us to begin with, the couple who were my guardians and me.”

  His expression turned thoughtful, but his voice remained soft and low. “So he used your male guardian to impregnate you?”

  “It was done in a lab not a breeding pen, thank the gods, but the result was the same. I refused to carry the children at first, so he used sophisticated incubators.”

  “I didn’t realize Earth technology was that advanced.”

  “It isn’t, yet. My mother was very powerful, especially for an Ontarian. Both Charlotte and I were sent to Earth. Charlotte was sent along this timeline, while I was sent into the future.”

  “Drakkin can create temporal shifts. It’s a very rare ability.” Indric gazed into the distance for a moment, apparently lost in thought. “Then you didn’t give birth to Krysta and Belle?”

  “No, I did. Hydran’s favorite strategy was threatening those we l
oved so we would do things we found deplorable. He used the technique on all of us at one time or another. When I had no choice but to carry one of his experiments to term, I decided to complicate his life for a change.” His arm settled into a lighter embrace, but she stayed snuggled against his side.

  “What did you do?”

  “I separated the energy into two equal beings, each half as powerful as they would have been if they’d been born whole.”

  “You created twins?” He turned so he could see her face, clearly shocked by what she’d just told him. “I had no idea that was possible.”

  “Neither did I.” She tried to smile and failed. “I had to do something.”

  “And they both survived. That’s incredible.”

  “No. It was unnatural and wrong and I made amends right after Betaul was born.”

  “When Belle died?”

  “Belle didn’t die. Her energy rejoined with Krysta’s as it was always meant to be. Belle isn’t gone. My daughter is simply whole again.”

  He stared at her silently, the rings in his eyes shimmering like polished gold. “I knew you were extraordinary, but you’ve managed to impress me, and I was mentored by Drakkin.”

  She finally found her smile. She felt light and yet empty. Had she really lived with the pain for so long that she felt odd without it?

  “What are your primary abilities? I knew you’d decided not to use them while in hiding, so I never asked about them. Obviously, you can heal.”

  “Healing is my strongest gift, but I am also a Seer.”

  “You’re clairvoyant?”

  She smiled. “So many different names for the same thing. Yes, I’m aware of things that others are not. Sometimes I literally see things, I have prophetic visions and dreams, other times it’s just a feeling. I use this inner sight while I heal to diagnose what’s wrong and guide the energy to where it’s needed most.”

  “Have you ever worked with a mentor, had any formal training?”

  “We trained each other in the Center, but none of the humans had supernatural abilities. And I’ve downplayed my gifts since I’ve been on Bilarri.”

  “I knew you were gifted, but I never really thought about how hard it must have been for you not to use those gifts for all these cycles.”

  “I love Betaul. I would never do anything to endanger him.”

  He scooted down across the bed, dragging her with him. “Try and get some sleep. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

  “I am, but what about you?” She slid her hand along his hip, but he stopped the descent long before her fingers reached their target. “Won’t you sleep better if I help you with that?”

  “Probably, but I’m holding out for the real thing.” He kissed her then, a slow, gentle kiss meant to soothe not arouse. “We’ll make love when you’re ready and not before. Remember, I’m a patient man.”

  She was relieved yet disappointed, mostly in herself. She’d teased him with touches then sent him away. He brought her incredible pleasure with his mouth and she’d had an emotional meltdown. Why did he continue to bother with her?

  He must have deep feelings for you or he wouldn’t have set this in motion. Charlotte’s words echoed through Cinarra’s mind and a twinge of happiness lodged in her heart. Was it possible Indric loved her? She was broken and abused, crippled by nightmares and memories. She was literally haunting someone else’s body. How could he be drawn to someone like that?

  But his was. His devotion was obvious. If this was just about sex, he would have given up back in round one. So what could he possibly see that kept him trying, despite her failure to respond?

  With a heavy sigh, she let the speculation slip away. If she thought about it much longer, she’d start crying again and she’d shed more than enough tears for one day. She wrapped her arm around his waist and settled against his side. Surrounded by his warmth and comforted by the steady rhythm of his breathing, she finally closed her eyes.

  * * * * *

  Warm fingers trailed across Indric’s chest, drawing him back to reality. He’d slept fitfully all night, far too aware of the woman in his arms. Each time he thought about what she’d been through, he vacillated between blinding fury and determination to make the rest of her life perfect.

  Lips touched his collarbone, the kiss soft and gentle. He opened his eyes, peeking through his thick lashes. The curtains filtered the morning light, creating a soft violet haze. Cinarra knelt beside him on the bed, naked and lovely. She must have pulled down the covers while he slept because his entire body was available for her exploration. She moved lower and nibbled on one of his flat brown nipples. The pressure of her teeth sent pleasure ricocheting through his chest.

  His body awakened with a vengeance, hardening so fast it made him groan.

  She looked at him and smiled. “Good morning.”

  He pulled her up until their lips met and the night fell away. In an instant he was burning again, so desperate for her that he could scarcely breathe. She returned the kiss with equal fervor, her hands moving boldly over his naked body.

  She crawled on top of him, straddling her hips as she rubbed herself against him. Her nipples teased his chest and the heat of her sex surrounded his aching cock. Their mouths clung, slid, then clung again, their tongues wildly mating.

  Words would have been intrusive. They both understood that it was past time to take this next step, to share more of themselves with each other.

  He slipped his hand between them, touching her breasts and belly as she continued to kiss him. He wanted her beneath him, mindless with passion as he drove into her willing body. But she needed this more, needed to feel secure and safe, able to offer as much or as little as she was ready to give. She had to learn that she could trust him once and for all.

  As if echoing his thoughts, she reached down and grasped his shaft. Their lips separated as she lifted her hips, making room for her to maneuver between their bodies. She looked at him, her eyes appearing more silver than blue. Her fingers stroked up and down while she slid his tip against her folds.

  He held perfectly still, savoring her touch and letting anticipation build. Her folds parted, surrounding him with liquid heat. The desire to arch and drive himself into her made him clench his teeth. She slid him forward and back, lingering against her clit for a moment then circling her entrance.

  “You’re killing me, luthree. Put me in.”

  She centered him at her opening then moved her hands to his chest. He grasped her hips, ensuring she didn’t move away, but waiting for her to lower herself onto him. Their gazes locked. She smiled then slowly took him deeper.

  Her heat engulfed him, her passage narrow yet slick. It felt so incredibly good that he moved his hands, no longer trusting himself not to rush her. Deeper. Halfway home. She paused, her knees clutching his hips.

  “Am I hurting you?” His chest heaved and his ass clenched as he battled the urge to take over.

  “Almost.”

  He ran one hand up her leg then across her quivering abdomen. She started to lower her hips again, but he shook his head. “Stay still. Let me touch you.”

  She stared into his eyes as he stroked her breasts, her sides and her silky ass. One of his hands continued the transitory caresses as the other settled over her mound. Heat and cream met his fingertips. A fresh rush of desire washed over him and he shivered.

  Bracing her hands on his thighs, she shifted her legs outward without sliding lower on his shaft. The position arched her back and made her sex more accessible. He took full advantage of her offering. Her body stretched tight around him and he gently teased the sensitive folds. He caressed her outer lips and her inner thighs before focusing on her clit. By the time he circled the swollen nub with his thumb she was shaking.

  “Now. Try it again. See if you can move without pain.”

  He continued the circular motion as she slid lower and lower. He watched his shaft disappear inside her body as heat and affection expanded within him. Finally her pelv
is pressed against his and his balls nestled snugly against her warm ass.

  “Better?” His mouth was so dry the one word was all he could manage.

  “Definitely.” She moved her hands back to his chest and reversed the motion, dragging herself nearly off him.

  His shaft immerged shiny with her cream and Indric had to look away. He drew his gaze upward, but each sight he encountered was every bit as stimulating as where their bodies joined.

  It took her a moment to find the perfect angle, but soon she rode him smoothly, the firm motion jostling her breasts. He covered the soft mounds with his hands, struggling to stay still while everything within him screamed for action.

  “Now you,” she whispered. “I want you on top.”

  His gaze flew back to her face as hunger clawed at his gut. He wrapped his arms around her and swept her beneath him then knelt between her thighs. Desperately grappling for control, he paused to kiss her, reassure her, and thank her. Then he pulled back and thrust hard. They gasped, their breath mingling as their lips separated.

  He extended his arms and centered his weight on his knees, allowing him more control over his movements. She drew her legs up along his sides, arching into each stroke. It was physical perfection and yet something was missing. Their joining was not complete.

  Shoving back the realization, he focused on the snug grip of her core and the sweet gasps escaping from her lips. He moved faster, deepening their physical connection. Her gaze shimmered with unshed tears and she framed his face with her palms. Then she pushed her pleasure into his mind.

  Unprepared for the intensity of her emotions, he nearly lost control. The connection was unique, nearly backward from what he was used to, which made it even more amazing. Her energy melded with his, tentative at first then ravenous. She craved affection and longed for sensations she didn’t understand. He sensed her joy and the courage it had taken for her to form this link.