War Bride (Battle Born Book 7) Read online

  Her hands were unbound for a change and she took full advantage of the freedom, exploring his arms, shoulders and back. He was tangible and yet not quite real. She’d never touched him like this, so her mind struggled to produce the sensations. Her visions left her with a curious mixture of longing and dread. Then each confrontation fueled the smoldering fire. Now desire burned through her being, yet her emotions were still conflicted.

  His muscles bunched and flexed as he changed position, better aligning their bodies. The unmistakable ridge of his erection pressed against her lower belly, the thick base rubbing her clit. He rocked his hips and she gasped, momentarily separating their lips. The increased pressure sent sensations pulsing along her inner walls, scattering her inhibitions.

  After recapturing her mouth, he shifted his weight onto his knees. Was he still afraid she’d refuse him? He was clearly using kisses to silence her.

  His hand eased between their bodies and a strangled sort of moan escaped with his next breath. “You’re so wet.” As if to prove his claim, he slid two of his fingers deep into her passage. Then he lifted his face just far enough so he could look into her eyes. He pulled his hand back, paused for one breathless moment, then thrust his fingers deep inside her again.

  Emboldened by the knowledge that this wasn’t real, she arched her hips, taking his fingers deeper. “Yes,” she whispered. “Oh yes.” His phitons blazed as his hand shuttled back and forth. She tightened her inner muscles, caressing his fingers as they slid in and out. It felt good, and yet it was only a teasing hint of what she really wanted.

  He lowered his head again, but his lips found the underside of her jaw rather than returning to her mouth. She moved restlessly beneath him, her arousal building with each thrust of his hand. She didn’t want to come like this, alone and at his command. She wanted to share this with him, wanted them both to be desperate for fulfilment.

  “Please.” She closed her eyes, not wanting to see triumph in his gaze.

  His lips closed around one of her nipples and drew hard enough to make her gasp. “Please what?”

  She pressed her lips together, reconsidering her willingness to beg.

  He slowed the rhythm of his hand, focusing her attention on the motion of his fingers. “Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.” He pushed deep, then paused to stroke her clit with his thumb. “I won’t let you come until I’m inside you.”

  The warning sent tingles up her spine and her breath caught in her throat. Then his thumb lifted and his fingers started sliding again. His lips moved from one breast to the other, reinforcing his touch with deep suction. She arched as the sensations spiked into pain, then gasped as his lips released, leaving her nipple wet and achy.

  There was no reason to endure this needfulness here. She wanted him and they both knew it. “Join with me.” Once the words were out, she opened her eyes and added, “I want you inside me.”

  Ravenous desire twisted his features as he ripped open the front of his pants. But the frantic urgency eased as he positioned himself at her entrance. His lips parted as if he’d say something, but all she heard was a moan as he slowly pushed into her core.

  She watched his face, transfixed by the emotions crossing his features. His phitons glowed brightly and his teeth clenched. He was barely inside her, as if he wasn’t quite sure he was ready to take her. She drew her knees up along his sides, the offer obvious. He pulled his hips back, then filled her with one hard thrust.

  The sudden fullness forced a gasp past her lips then she released her breath in a soft hiss.

  He paused, clearly concerned by her reaction. “Did I hurt you?”

  “A little,” she admitted. “It’s been a really long time.”

  He rocked back onto his knees, his cock still deep inside her. Then he slipped his hand in between their bodies and caressed her. His gentle touch accented how tightly she stretched to take him, yet eased some of the tension from her muscles. He found her clit with his fingertip and began a soft, circular motion that soon had her panting.

  Rather than allowing her to retreat behind closed lids, he stared into her eyes. “Come for me.”

  She raised her hands above her head and tried to relax. The gentle orbit of his finger drew her need tighter and tighter. Her inner muscles rippled around his thick shaft and he let out a ragged moan. His hand continued to tease her as he pulled back, nearly out, then drove deep again.

  Eased by a fresh coat of cream, he slid more easily this time. She arched her back, offering her breasts to him as well. He bent his head and accepted the invitation, teasing one nipple and then the other.

  Sensations swirled around her and dove through her, bombarding her nerves with divergent signals. His finger continued its featherlight caress, while his mouth was much more demanding. And all the while his cock slid in and out of her core.

  All of a sudden, he thrust hard, burying himself to the hilt. “I said come.”

  It wasn’t a reminder. It was a command. He caught her clit between his finger and thumb, carefully pulling on the sensitive nerve cluster as his lips did the same to her nipple.

  Her orgasm burst with concussive force, arching her body nearly off the bed. She cried out as her core contracted in deep, rhythmic spasms and reality was obliterated by the pleasure pulsing through her body.

  When reality finally returned, he was thrusting hard and fast between her thighs. His hands grasped her hips and his upper body no longer arched over hers. She concentrated on the inescapable fullness of their joined bodies, but now he felt so far away.

  She raised her hands and caught his upper arms, pulling him downward. He shifted without halting the rapid shuttle of his hips. She curved her fingers around his neck and brought his mouth to hers. His lips parted, but he waited for her to kiss him. She didn’t hesitate. Her tongue slipped past his lips and explored the warm interior of his mouth while his cock filled her over and over.

  Her kiss took on the demanding rhythm of his hips. He moved over her and into her, and suddenly his emotions trickled into her mind. She wasn’t scanning him. This shouldn’t be happening. And yet the meld was undeniable. She felt his consuming desire for her body, but that was where the emotions began. Loneliness and pain drove the physical hunger. He wanted so much more from her than sexual release, so much more than he’d ever admit.

  Distracted and unnerved by the depths of his feelings, she drew back from his mind, lessening the intensity of the dream-meld. His fingers entwined with hers and he pinned her hands to the bed as his hips took on an even wilder rhythm. She was trapped beneath him, filled by him, and still she wasn’t afraid. This wasn’t real. It was a blissful fantasy, a much needed break from the conflict raging between them.

  Freed by the reminder, her pleasure crested again. Sensations burst inside her, momentarily stealing her breath. She crossed her ankles at the small of his back as her core rippled around his cock. He gasped, then groaned as violent shudders tore through his body. Echoes of his pleasure reached her mind, prolonging her release.

  “How are you doing this?”

  His sharp tone jerked her back to the present and she released her hold on the dream.

  Reality snapped back into focus and she found herself sprawled across the bed in her new cabin. The sheet was tangled around her hips and her nipples were tight and tingly. Quickly rolling to her side, she drew the sheet up around her shoulders, hiding the proof of her arousal. She was still breathing hard and a strange ache pulsed between her thighs. Shared dreams often resulted in physical manifestations, so she wasn’t alarmed by the feeling. Still, it emphasized what they’d just shared, how amazing it had felt to have Kryton deep inside her.

  The cabin’s main door slid open and she held perfectly still. Had he come to confront her with his suspicion that she was controlling his dream? He walked to the bedroom, his stride purposeful yet quiet.

  “Skyla?”

  His voice held a note of alarm, so she sat up on the bed, sheet carefully tucked be
neath her arms. Rubbing her eyes, she manufacturing a yawn. “What time is it?”

  He narrowed his gaze, his lips pressing into a grim line. The diminished light hid the details of his expression, but there was no missing the frustration in his eyes. “It’s late. Why aren’t you asleep?”

  “I was asleep until you called my name.” She finger-combed her hair back from her face then looked at him more closely. “Am I in trouble again? You look angry.”

  He stared at her for a long time, then shook his head. “I just wanted to check on you before I turned in for the night.”

  He wore his uniform pants, but she’d never seen the shirt before. He’d likely grabbed some random garment as he rushed out the door. “I’m fine. You may go.”

  His eyes narrowed again as he heard her rude dismissal. “I’ve decided to spend the night.”

  Every time she challenged him he became more aggressive. So why did she keep doing it?

  He walked around to the side of the bed and slowly opened the front of his shirt.

  “I’m not having sex with you.” At least not while they were awake.

  “Who said anything about sex?” Despite the inference, his voice turned smoky and his smile promised carnality.

  He shrugged out of the shirt, revealing his muscular chest and rippling abs. Her eyes widened and she clutched the sheet to her naked breasts. His body was every bit as impressive as it had been in his dream. If anything his dream image had been less toned than his true self. “Then why are you undressing?”

  He lifted one broad shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “I always sleep naked, and so will you.”

  “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” She tugged the sheet free of the mattress, intending to take it with her, but he caught her wrist.

  “The bedding stays here and you’re forbidden clothes until morning. So you can stay warm and comfortable in this bed or freeze over on the sofa. The choice is yours.”

  “That’s not much of a choice.” She tugged against his hold, knowing she couldn’t free herself unless he allowed it.

  “It’s the only one you’ll get, so decide.” He released her hand and reached for the waistband of his pants.

  She rolled to her other side, refusing to be influenced by his spectacular body. “Are you always such a bully?” He was a bully at times, yet this scenario was entirely her own fault. He’d been ready to leave when her smart mouth changed his destination. She heard the rustle of clothing, then felt a subtle dip as he climbed onto the bed.

  Panicked by her recent failure to resist him, she scrambled off the end of the bed and tried to escape. She’d only run three steps when his hands came down on her shoulder. She gasped and held perfectly still, not giving him a reason to touch her more intimately.

  “Not staying?” His tone was hushed, yet filled with challenge.

  “You said it was my choice.”

  His arm suddenly banded her torso just below her breasts. “Can you control minds or just dreams?”

  She froze, barely able to breathe. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Really.” His other hand cupped her mound then slipped between her thighs, lightly teasing her folds. “Then why are you soaking wet?”

  She grabbed his wrist and tried to pull his hand away from the evidence of her arousal. “I was watching a sexy entertainment file.”

  “Don’t make me check the surveillance feed.” His tone took on a warning sort of grumble. “I’ll have to punish you for lying to me.”

  “This room is under surveillance?”

  “This entire ship is under continual surveillance. It’s standard operating procedure for every ship in the Rodyte military.” He moved his hand to her belly, a nonverbal warning that the interrogation was far from over. “Now explain the extent of your powers.”

  She still hesitated. The security feed would prove she hadn’t been watching a sexy entertainment file, but it wouldn’t prove she’d entered his dream. “Fine,” she huffed. “I was dreaming about you. That can’t be surprising. You’ve been arousing me since I woke up on this ship.”

  His arms tightened slightly and she heard his ragged sigh. “You expect me to believe it was coincidental?”

  If she denied her ability, she’d have to pretend she didn’t know the true reason he’d kidnapped her. He’d agreed to free her if she helped him rescue his son. It was a huge risk either way, but she’d rather gamble for a chance at freedom. “I certainly didn’t intend for it to end the way it did.”

  He cupped her breast and pulled her more tightly against his body. “How did you intend for it to end?”

  “I was going to ask you about Arton and then slip out of your dream. You’d only told me enough to confuse me.”

  “Well, someone told you a whole lot more than you were meant to know.” He released her suddenly, then pushed her toward the bed.

  She dove between the sheets and kept her back turned until he joined her beneath the covers. She couldn’t allow Tonn to take the blame for the situation. It was better to let Kryton believe she’d broken her word. “Dream melds are strange. I didn’t intentionally seek out the information. I just hinted at things I wanted you to explain.”

  “Doesn’t that amount to the same thing?” He slipped one arm beneath her neck and wrapped the other around her waist, pulling her back into the warmth of his body. “You still accessed information you had no right to know.”

  The argument was counterproductive and she was determined to move forward. His secret motivation had given her a glimmer of hope and she had no intention of squandering the opportunity. “How did you intend to ask for my help if I’m not allowed to know about Arton?”

  His chest heaved and his warm breath stirred her hair. “I would have allowed Tonn to tell you once you became more cooperative, or I might have told you myself.”

  “That’s quite a paradox because the only reason I’ve found to be at all cooperative is your son’s rescue.”

  He pulled her even closer. “It didn’t seem that way while you melded with my dream.”

  His hold was restrictive rather than sexual, yet she felt his body harden against her back. “Dreams aren’t real. And dreams don’t result in children.”

  “Did you mean what you said?”

  She squirmed restlessly, trying to find a position that decreased the pressure of his erection against her back. “Which part? You’ll have to be more specific.”

  His arm tightened and his fingers splayed against her ribs. “Stop wiggling. This is important.”

  She stilled, but already her body ached for more of what they’d experienced in the dream meld. “Why’d you insist on being naked if you wanted to talk?”

  He simply ignored her question and continued the topic he’d introduced. “Is the thought of losing your child what keeps you from responding to me?”

  “It’s more complicated than that, but yes. I would be devastated if you took my son from me.” She felt tension ripple through his body. This was another fact she’d only revealed in his dream.

  “How accurate are your visions?” A hint of skepticism crept into his tone.

  “My brother started documenting them six years ago. He was not able to confirm the accuracy of each because some were too confusing, but only two have been disproved.”

  “Two misfires in six years?” He no longer sounded doubtful, more like filled with dread. “How many times have you seen our son?”

  He wanted a daughter, needed a daughter if he hoped to reintroduce magic into his bloodline. Was that still his goal? Would he give up if she stressed the futility of his current plan? “I’ve seen him three times. If we continue along this life path, I will bear you a son.”

  “Doesn’t your vision make that inevitable?” His hand ascended along her ribs, then cupped the underside of her breast.

  “My visions reveal likely futures, but when changes are made the outcome can be altered.” He shifted his hand, stroking her nipple with his thumb. She grabbed his wr
ist and guided his hand away from her breast. “If I agree to use my abilities to help rescue Arton, will you free me?”

  He rolled to his back but left his arm under her neck. “If your abilities lead to Arton’s rescue, I’ll return you to your brother.”

  She was no longer sure she wanted to return to her brother. As Kryton pointed out, her brother’s plans for her weren’t much different than Kryton’s. She was still to be forced into a loveless joining to advance someone else’s agenda. She rolled until she faced him, inadvertently pressing her body against his side. “Three attempts. You agreed to that stipulation in the dream.”

  “I’ve reconsidered.” He stared at the ceiling, his profile chiseled and stern. “I will only release you if we succeed. You’ll try that much harder if your freedom depends on success.”

  “But that’s not what—”

  He whipped his head around and silenced her with a glare. “That’s my final offer. Agree or we go on as before.”

  She searched his eyes, trying to understand his sudden coldness. Was he frustrated that all of his careful planning would lead to a son, not a daughter? Or was he tormented by thoughts of his firstborn son? Whatever the cause, his ardor had apparently cooled. She should be grateful. Instead, she felt sad and alone. “If I agree, will you stop trying to seduce me?”

  A dangerous smile slowly parted his lips. “You’re my mate. As your visions and my dream proved, our joining is inevitable.”

  Her jaw dropped. How dare he throw that back in her face? “We are potential mates and my visions revealed one possible future. Nothing is inevitable.”

  “If you say so.” He chuckled and closed his eyes. “Your only hope of evading me is to keep me focused on something else. Go to sleep and dream about Arton. I’m anxious to begin.”

  Chapter Five

  The next six days passed in a flurry of activity. Skyla saw more of Tonn than she did of Kryton and she was beginning to feel neglected. According to Tonn, the ship had been beset by one crisis after another. But Skyla suspected an element of strategy also kept Kryton from visiting her. The last time they’d been together had been intensely erotic and keeping her focused on their dream joining worked to his advantage.