Chapter Eleven #3
“What sort— No! You’re still recovering from your wound. Lights on. Low illumination.”
“No problem. I’ll let you do all the work.” Leo kicked off the covers to reveal his nakedness. His cock thrust upward, and he wore a distinct smirk. “It’s too soon to contact the twins about your son.”
Betrys tried to ignore his cheekiness, tried to tell herself she needed to get out of bed and prepare for the coming meeting with Iseult.
She tried and failed, seduced by the twinkle in his eyes.
Scooting closer, she placed her hand on his hip, below the white dressing on his stomach, and used her fingertips to trace his silky skin.
Fire and chills warred within her body, and her mind leaped onto the same page as Leo’s. She moved her fingertips lower, one finger stroking down the crease of his thigh and torso.
“Is that all you’re going to do?”
“No.”
“Well?”
“I know you’re bossy. Are you going to order me around now too?”
“I could tell you what to do, tell you how I prefer to be touched.”
Betrys bit back a smile. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I think I can handle this on my own. I’d like some information first. How are you feeling?”
“Fit enough to fuck,” Leo said.
Betrys wanted to smile again. “Well, in that case.” She gripped his shaft and encased the tip with her mouth, taking him deep and sucking hard.
He gave a startled grunt then groaned, his hips lifting as she retreated, her mouth rising to his tip.
Betrys laughed around his cock, loving the power and the way she could draw a response from him without trying hard.
She sucked him deep again and used her tongue to explore the head and taste him.
With her hand, she palmed one of his balls while she ran her tongue over the swollen head of his cock.
“Betrys.” Desire and wonder filled his taut voice. “Aw, fuck. Betrys.”
She varied her touches, giving him the lazy stroke of her tongue followed by more suction. Her hands explored the base of his shaft and his upper thighs.
A rush of moisture gathered in her pussy, an intense burst of heat making her want to squeeze her legs together. Goddess, she’d wanted to tease Leo, but it seemed she was succeeding in turning herself on too.
She raked her tongue over the head of his cock and was gentler on the underside. A dark sound—almost pleading—issued from his throat. Her name was a garbled groan from his lips.
Another laugh spilled from her, vibrating around his cock. He shuddered, his hands holding her head in place and tugging her hair from her braid. She set up a quick rhythm. Lick and suck. Lick and suck.
Leo started to tremble, and his hips canted upward.
The scent of him filled her nostrils, and his flavor filled her mouth.
His fingers laced in her hair, his cock swelling within her mouth.
She cleaned away the fluid gathering at his slit, and he gave a raw and guttural groan.
She sucked hard once more and his cock jerked, semen shooting down her throat as he climaxed.
She swallowed automatically, drinking him down until the pulses slowed and ceased.
“Thank you,” Leo said as she released him and lifted her head. “Now it’s my turn. Lose your clothes, scoot up the bed, and straddle my head.”
Betrys frowned before moving. The curl of arousal spiraling low in her abdomen overrode her reluctance to obey his request. Without breaking his gaze, she slipped off the bed and unfastened the thin gown she wore beneath her robe.
It glided to the floor with a swish. She stepped from the circle of fabric and returned to the bed, positioning herself above his head.
She swallowed, feeling strange and a little vulnerable.
Leo’s grin was quick and bright and desire stirred, hot and expectant in her quim. His fingers curled around her thighs, his eyes heavy-lidded as he stared up at her. The first lazy stroke of his tongue dragged a gasp from deep in her chest.
“Like that, huh?” Her juices made his lips shine. “You taste good, sweetheart.”
She stared at him, part of her still unable to believe she was here with Leo, in his bed, engaging in sex.
Good sex.
Hot sex.
Amazing sex.
He licked again and applied the gentle suction of his mouth. A noise escaped her, low and breathy and hungry.
“Leo, I need…I want… Oh-oh, yes. Goddess. Just there. Right there.”
Leo tongued her. Goddess, he knew what to do with every part of his body. She writhed above him, rapidly losing her reservations about the position.
“Leo, I—” She broke off when he hit a sensitive spot. Sparks of electricity sizzled and ignited in her, and a moan rolled up her throat and out. “Goddess.”
He flailed her clit with his tongue again and hit a sweet spot. She exploded into her orgasm, her thighs quaking as she attempted to remain in place.
Long seconds later, Leo lifted her up with easy strength, and she flopped over on her side, her muscles still humming with residual satisfaction. He drew her against his chest and kissed her straight on the lips.
He tasted of her.
“It’s still early. Let’s get some more sleep.”
Heavy-eyed, she yawned and cuddled beside him, taking care not to put pressure on his stomach wound. She sighed and yawned again. He smelled so good and for the first time in many cycles, she felt secure. Safe.
“Betrys. Betrys, sweetheart.”
Someone grasped her arm and shook.
“Wake up. We’ve slept too long. You need to go to meet Iseult.”
“Goddess.” Betrys jerked from her drowsiness and leaped off the sleep-bed.
“Fuck,” Leo said.
She glanced over her shoulder and winced on seeing Leo with his hand pressed against his wound. “My apologies.”
“It’s…okay,” Leo replied through gritted teeth. “I’m all right.”
Betrys scrambled into her clothes and twitched the fabric of her robe into place. “I’m late. Iseult will be furious. Where are my shoes? Have you seen them?”
“Under the low table in the lounging room.”
Betrys hurried out to the other room, spied her shoes, and thrust her feet into them. “I’ll see you later.”
“Betrys.”
Leo limped from the room and halted in front of her. He tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. “Be careful. You have your com-circle?”
“Yes.” She slipped her right hand into her pocket to double-check for the rigid communicator. Along with her com, she felt the sheath of the knife that Caspar had gifted her.
“Felix is going in with you.”
“No. We should save that for another occasion.” She placed her fingers over his lips to halt his objections. “I promise I’ll be fine. Iseult has never physically harmed me. Her threats are always directed at Ricci. When do you think we’ll hear from your brothers?”
“Soon,” Leo promised. “We’ll hear something while you’re dealing with Iseult.” Leo bent and kissed her slow, tender, and when he lifted his head, she drew in a sharp breath. The man kissed with skill. “Be safe, sweetheart.”
“Always.” She forced a smile to hide the nerves dancing in the pit of her stomach. Failure wasn’t an option.
Betrys had to force herself to follow the gravel path that wound through the plants and fragrant blooms. A selection of variegated blue leafy bushes lined the path, their vivid blue and white flowers perfuming the air with the same spice scent of the cookie things Eva and Anna produced in the resort kitchens.
They gave way to tall trees with bright coral trunks.
Their green and coral foliage cast shade over the gravel walkways.
Despite the sweet scent and the beautiful surroundings, the distant music from the waves coming to shore, her gut churned with apprehension.
She had to manage Iseult and make sure her suspicions weren’t aroused.
Betrys exited the trees and caught glimpses of the jade-green sea. The waves were louder now and tumbled to shore, several guests already swimming and enjoying walks along the shore.
Betrys lifted her chin and approached the large bungalow. She knocked on the door, a sound behind her attracting her attention.
“Perfect timing,” she said to the droid waitress who wheeled a trolley of food toward the bungalow. “Let me take that for you.”
Betrys knocked on the door again, and on hearing a summons to enter, she wheeled the trolley into Iseult’s room.
Iseult sat in a chair, the light muted by the drawn shutters. The woman seemed to have shrunk in the short time since Betrys had seen her last.
Betrys hid her frown. “Would you like me to serve your meal first, before I make my report?”
Iseult gave a curt nod, then appeared to drift with her own thoughts because she barely blinked when Betrys dropped one of the covers the kitchen had placed over the meal.
She placed the food in front of Iseult, poured her a glass of cool water and took a cup of coffee for herself.
The stuff was addictive and seemed to wake her up.
“What is that scent?” Iseult asked in an abrupt voice. “It seems familiar.”
“It’s the coffee.”
Iseult picked up her glass and took a sip. Her hand trembled, and Betrys concealed her astonished reaction.
“You were late.”
“I needed to collect the breakfast.” It was surprising how easy it was to lie, how the false words rolled off her tongue when so much was at stake.
“False,” Iseult said. “I heard the vibrations of a second being.”
Betrys felt herself blink.
“Why were you late?” Iseult leaned closer, her nostrils flaring.
“I slept in.”
“Truth.” Iseult drank more water without taking her penetrating gaze off Betrys.
Don’t move. Don’t blink. Don’t let Iseult suspect there is a plot afoot.
Iseult leaned forward, sniffed the air around Betrys. “You don’t smell right.” Her nostrils quivered. “The scent on your skin is combined with another. Have you been with a man?”
Heat burst in Betrys’s face and a croaking sound emerged from her throat. “I-I—”
Iseult leaned back, more her old self—unpredictable and in charge.
“Don’t bother to deny it. What I want to know is why you’re enjoying yourself, partaking of the resort amenities, when I sent you here to do a job.
” Her gaze journeyed up and down Betrys until it landed back on Betrys’s face, and she scowled.
“Why would a man spend time with you when he could have me and get paid for the episode? Is this man blind?”
A lump bloomed in Betrys’s throat, blocking her emotions and the mechanism of successful speech. She bit her bottom lip and concentrated on keeping a professional image.
“I need a man,” Iseult said.
Betrys wanted to tell Iseult that most women wooed on their own. She wanted to tell Iseult that Leo appeared to enjoy taking her to bed. She wanted to tell Iseult to get fucked, and not in the way she wanted.
But she knew better.
Control was the key here. Hidden by the folds of her robe, she balled her hands into tight fists, dug her fingernails into her palms.
Control.
Instead of replying, Betrys said the words that tingled on her lips in her mind. Get fucked, Iseult.
The act of rebellion cheered her, lent steel to her backbone, and she lifted her chin.
“I have a suggestion. I could arrange for several suitable men to come and meet you, and you can put your case to them yourself. Maybe if they met you in person, your offer of employment would prove more attractive.”
A slow smile curled across Iseult’s lips, and Betrys knew the woman liked the idea. She thought she’d sweet talk every man she met into signing her contract. Betrys knew that wouldn’t happen.
“Should I arrange the meetings?”
“Yes. That is a good idea. Arrange this for tomorrow. That will give me time to recover from the journey and refresh.”
“Of course,” Betrys said. “Was there anything else you required before I leave?”
“No, you may go. Report back to me tonight before dinner.”
“Should I order dinner for you?”
“Yes, make sure you order fruit nectar and red meat. I wish to build my strength.”
“Of course.” Betrys turned away to unload the various plates of food items before wheeling the trolley to the door.
“Oh, Betrys.”
Betrys turned to face her employer. “Yes?”
“I expect you to work, not play with the resort employees. You are here to do a job, and your son’s safety depends on your success in recruiting a man for my use.”