Chapter 13 #2
The vision exploded in her mind and she started talking.
“We arrived at the picnic spot on your cambeest. It’s hot, and we wanted to refresh ourselves.
After your cambeest has taken a drink, we remove his saddle and tether him.
He’s happy and busy snacking on the different plants.
We’re hot too, so we strip off all our clothes and go for a swim.
The water is cold and I stop mid-thigh deep. You splash me and start a water war.”
Ellard laughed against her temple, his warm breath feathering downward. “I bet I win.”
“We both win. Once we’re both wet, we relax in the shallow water. It’s warmer and more comfortable. Your arm is around me, holding me tight, and I feel happy and secure.”
“Give me two arms, kitten. Let me be whole in your dream.”
Her eyes flicked open, and she frowned. “I’ll do that but know this. To me, you are whole. You’re strong and kind and a good man. I don’t need two arms.”
Sadness tinged his faint smile, and she made a mental note to reassure him another time. The truth—she didn’t notice his missing arm, not when the male was so big and strong and managed to work around the disability most of the time.
“Shush, kitten. Tell me what we do next.”
Obediently, she closed her eyes and sank back into her vision. Heat. Water. Naked bodies. Ellard.
“You start touching me. A phantom skim of fingers across my face.” She felt the light touch of his fingers and smiled, releasing the tension she’d held in her body and relaxing against him.
“You grasp my hip and hold me still while you explore my breasts. You pinch and tug and stir a longing inside me, an emptiness that only you can fill.”
His hand slipped beneath her tunic and up to her breast. He stroked her nipple through the lacy cup of her bra, the friction sending the first stirrings of arousal to life.
“Your skin is soft. I love touching your skin.”
Gweneth wriggled and tugged up her tunic to bare her bra.
“Tug it aside for me, so I can lick your nipples.”
Gweneth wriggled again and unfastened the hooks so it fell away from her breasts.
“Beautiful,” he whispered and dipped his head.
The instant heat around one nipple had her sighing.
Something about Ellard felt so right. She was certain she loved him, even though it had happened so quickly.
Love at first sight. Maybe. Almost. Definitely lust at first sight, which sounded weird because she’d always pictured someone like Ry.
Understandable since he stood as her role model.
“Gweneth, where have you gone?”
“I was thinking I wanted you from the first moment I saw you.”
She heard a swift intake of air and waited for his response.
When it didn’t come, she didn’t push. Not the right time.
Instead, she burrowed her hands under his tunic and stroked his flat belly and the ridges of his abdomen.
Their mouths met, and she allowed herself to sink into the vision again—one of picnics and privacy, skinny-dipping and hot, fulfilling sex.
His muscles pressed against her, and his body surrounded her with heat and protection. Skinny-dipping, she reminded herself. Her fingers wandered, wriggling beneath his tight-fitting trews.
He lifted his hips. “Yank them down a bit. They can watch my butt.”
“I do,” she said primly. “Whenever I get a chance.”
“What?” He stared at her, questions swirling in his green gaze.
She bit her lip, unwilling to reveal her innermost thoughts while incarcerated in a cell. Although, he couldn’t get huffy and leave. A captive audience. “Because you belong to me,” she blurted. She managed to keep her focus on his face, saw the way he froze, and held his breath.
“No one has ever wanted me in that way before.” His words sounded hoarse as if she’d shocked him. “Not a woman.”
She slipped her hand downward and curled it around his cock, tightening her fingers until she garnered his full attention. “I’ve told you about my father and how Ry offered me an escape from an arranged marriage. I have good role models and I know what I feel. This isn’t a whim on my part.”
“But—”
“Ellard Tetsu, if you tell me once more that you’re ugly and handicapped, I will box your ears!”
His brows rose. “Pardon?”
“I will beat your face with my fists, and don’t think I can’t because a pissed woman can do anything.”
“I know what it means.” He stroked her face, the rough pads of his fingers leaving a tingly trail of awareness. “I can do without scars to add to my looks.”
“Well,” she said.
“You might have convinced me.”
They stared at each other for a long sec, and Gweneth found her lips quirking. Ellard laughed softly, and she lapsed into a full-out grin.
“Well, good.”
He kissed her, a tender exchange of promises and warmth cradled her heart. She thought she might have convinced him. Finally.
“Slip my trews down,” he urged.
This time, she followed his suggestion. She wriggled down his body and took him in her mouth.
“No, I—”
“This one is for you, Ellard. I want to do this, and it might be enough.”
“But—”
“Stop arguing.” She bent to explore his shaft, delighting in the contrast in textures, the softness over rigidity, the way he expanded his length and size. He groaned, a low sound full of need and urgency, and she enjoyed that too.
Gweneth became aware of her feline part, the weight of tension exploding through her mind. A rumble squeezed up her throat and erupted free.
“You’re purring,” Ellard whispered.
She swiped her tongue over the head of his cock, savoring his wild, musky flavor so much she repeated the move.
“Your tongue feels rougher than normal.”
She lifted her gaze. “What?”
His breath whooshed out, and he stared at her face. “Nothing.”
Gweneth went back to her task, licking and manipulating his flesh, dragging grunts and groans from him as she took him inside her mouth. Kaya had told her about this, described the act and what to do. She remembered everything and sucked him as deep as she could.
His big body trembled, and the amount of pre-cum increased.
She licked and teased, thrilled that he’d allowed her this intimacy.
His hips shifted, pushing him deeper. Recalling Kaya’s words, she used her hands at the base of his shaft for better control while she made free with her lips and tongue, teasing the head and giving him the friction he needed to orgasm.
His hand smoothed across her head, gripping and releasing her hair. His hips bucked, pushing his shaft deeper. He jerked back, allowing her respite before he thrust again.
He cried out, his cock pulsing, then he was coming, shooting his seed down her throat, his big body shaking with the force of his release.
Gradually, she pulled back. She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth and grinned at him. “Doing that makes me feel powerful.”
Ellard yanked up his trews then reached for her, dragging her into his embrace. “It also brings out your feline. Did you feel her?”
“I felt something.”
“You were purring and your tongue felt rougher than normal. For a sec there, your eyes shifted.”
“Really? I wonder if I’ll manage to shift one cycle. Watching Jannike and Camryn play with their mates in cat form… I suppose I shouldn’t tell you this, but I get jealous. A bad character flaw.”
Ellard slid his mouth over hers in a tender kiss that she felt clear to her toes. His eyes were bright as he smiled at her. “There is nothing flawed about your character, kitten, you’re the nicest feline I know.”
“Ellard.”
The soft whisper had them both sitting up to stare around their cell. An almost transparent figure stood in their cell with them.
“Niran?” Ellard murmured.
“It is I. My apologies. I didn’t mean to peep on your private moment.”
“It’s all right,” Gweneth said.
“Thank you. The Indefatigable is close. I said I’d shimmer aboard to see what we’re up against. Are Sheera and Leeam here?”
“Uncle?” Leeam’s voice crossed between the cells.
Niran turned to face them, relief filling his expression. His shoulders slumped momentarily before he turned back to Ellard. “Report for Ry, Shiloh, and Ransom.”
“Scothage reiver crew, not overly intelligent but they managed to set traps for Leeam and Sheera. Paid by a Kiraxes called Malasses to collect Incorporeal specimens. He has collared Sheera and Leeam to prevent them from using their full powers. Scothage consists of a captain and six crew. There could be more, but that is the number we can confirm. The Kiraxes is the dangerous one. He seems to know a lot about the Incorporeal race.”
“He would,” Niran said tersely. “Old foe. The ship’s destination?”
“Destination is Kiraxes.”
Niran nodded. “I’ll tell them.” He faded from sight.
Gweneth and Ellard stood and walked to their cell door. Sheera and Leeam had also stood and appeared healthier than earlier.
In the distance, a siren sounded.
“They know they’ve come for us,” Ellard said.
Niran flashed back and presented two small blasters and two knives to Ellard. “Ry said to tuck these away. They might come in handy.”
Ellard handed a knife and blaster to her and she tucked the knife in her boot, the blaster in the internal pocket of her trews. With her tunic pulled over the top, the Scothage reivers wouldn’t notice the weapon during a quick visual.
He flashed into the other cell and handed Leeam and Sheera thin blades.
“The Kiraxes is vulnerable to strikes in the gut. Wounds in this region are always fatal to them. Use the weapons wisely since you will have one chance. I will be back and attempt to shimmer you off the ship, but those collars are a problem. The Kiraxes will have the control on his person, and I fear the collar will prevent you leaving his vicinity.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Leeam said, but his uncle had already gone.
Running footsteps sounded, heading toward them and two breathless Scothage reivers appeared, weapons brandished, eyes wild while the sirens continued to wail. The Kiraxes arrived, expression angry yet determined.
“Ah, my property appears healthier.”
The dull boom of an explosion sounded, the ship jerking violently. The Kiraxes lurched off balance, striking the cell doors. The two reivers squawked in alarm. One flew against the wall, bounced off and hit the Kiraxes, knocking them both off their feet.
Sluggishly, the ship righted and Malasses rose with a ferocious scowl. “If anyone comes near my property, you will shoot to kill. If you fail, I will skin you alive.” His tone said this wasn’t a threat. With one final, glare to reiterate his warning, he took off at a sprint.
“Attract their attention,” a voice whispered against Ellard’s ear.
“Hey,” Ellard said. “What’s going on? Is someone attacking? You need to let us out of the cell. We can help protect the ship.”
“We not be stupid,” a reiver said. “They be coming for you.”
Another boom, closer this time made the entire ship shudder.
In the Incorporeals’ cell, sparks flashed without warning. A pained groan filled the air, and a weird curse that came from the corner of the cell snared everyone’s attention. Leeam and Sheera stood there, mouths open, then belatedly Leeam doubled over and groaned.
Gweneth caught the faint flicker, gone in a blink. Was Niran injured?
One of the reivers edged closer. “What be wrong?”
“Stomach,” Leeam groaned. “Must be a reaction to the collar. You’ll have to remove it.”
“I no think so. The Kiraxes never make threats,” the reiver said.
While Leeam had their guards’ attention, Ellard pulled out his blaster.
“I’ll take the one on the right,” he murmured.
Gweneth nodded, cautiously removing her weapon. She pressed the safety, the faint click loud in the cell area.
“They’ve got a—”
Twin blasts rang out, striking the reivers before they could draw their own weapons. They fell and didn’t stir again.
Gweneth pulled out the knife Niran had given her and started to work on their lock. Niran flashed into sight, groaning as he attempted to rise from the floor.
“Those collars kick,” he said. “I suspect he’s built something into them to stop other Incorporeal beings flashing in and attempting a rescue. We need to get his control.”
“If it’s on his person, we’ll have to kill him,” Ellard said.
In the distance, weapon fire sounded.
“They must’ve boarded,” Ellard said. “Kitten, how are you going with the lock?”
“Patience,” Gweneth said, her expression intense with concentration. “Almost.” A click and the cell door opened. “After you, sir.”
“Smart arse,” Ellard muttered. “I think we should stick together. Open the door for Leeam and Sheera. Niran, will you be all right?”
“Not full power after touching Leeam,” he said. “Collar must suck from other Incorporeal somehow. Modified since last saw a Kiraxes. Can’t shimmer back to ship.”
“Can you stay invisible?”
“Yes.”
Gweneth straightened from working the lock on Leeam and Sheera’s cell and tugged the door open. “Practice makes perfect.”
“I’ll take point,” Ellard said. “Niran, you stay behind me with Leeam and Sheera. Only act if necessary, since they aren’t aware of your presence yet.
Stay invisible. Gweneth, you protect our rear.
” He stooped to pick up the blaster from the nearest reiver while Gweneth stripped the other reiver of his weapons. ‘Let’s go kick reiver arse.”