Chapter Four
Skiden:
“Oh, sorry. That probably made you uncomfortable.” I wince, knowing I’m as awkward as a youth around this female.
The female who, I could almost swear to it, kissed me back so sweetly. As much as she protests, I’m sure she enjoyed it. Until we got caught and then she protested viciously.
She doesn’t want the others to know and I’m okay with that. Humans are funny about such things. I can already see a gleam in my maman’s eye as she hopes we’ll connect. I caught River look between us as if she wondered what was going on. But poor Bel? She is clueless, just as she is about my brother. Of course, to be fair, right now my brother takes her entire focus.
My honesty seems to soothe Lucy.
“No, it’s okay,” she says. Her cheeks are pink, her eyes drop, and as she finds herself studying the musculature of my chest, she suddenly looks away. “I’m sure we can be adults about sleeping in the same bed.”
There is a wall of pillows propped in the middle of the bed. She scrambles into one side while I make a show of removing my shirt. I drape it over her chair, the one directly in her line of vision. I want her to know who sleeps in her bed. And then I stretch, aware of her eyes on me. I pluck a pillow from the wall between us to lay it in my spot. I crawl underneath her blankets, aware that her skin has touched every aspect of this bed. It smells like her, faintly sweet and flowery. Her back is toward me, and she lies perfectly still, as if afraid to move.
Which is exactly why I placed my shirt in her line of vision. Either way she’s going to know who shares her bed.
Ten minutes later, I’m sure she’s still awake. When a creature suddenly meows outside, she jumps.
Her window is cracked slightly open. That’s how she was able to hear me roving past earlier.
“Are you always this jumpy?” I whisper.
She takes a long moment to respond. “Living by oneself, I suppose.”
“I imagine the house makes all sorts of strange noises at night when you’re alone.”
“It does. Especially on my days off.”
“When are those?”
“The next two, actually. I’m off Tuesday and Wednesday.”
“Oh, good. I could use a mini vacation. Though, is it really a mini when you vacation on another planet and have to hide indoors?” I reach out for a pillow and fling it to the floor so I can see her better.
“I’m not sure the other ladies would be able to handle you sticking around,” she says tentatively.
“Oh, the plan was to prepare them to leave in the morning,” I assure her. “My brothers won’t let their mates out of their sight for long. And Mikhail? He begged me to come and keep an eye on Maman. Unfortunately, she’s a wild one.”
Lucy chuckles, not saying anything about the missing pillow. So, I fling another to the floor.
“I-I didn’t know Isabel was mated too.”
I sigh. “Technically, I don’t think she knows either. She wants kishren and Maman talked her into becoming a breeder. A high position within our clan where a female chooses males to impregnate her. I don’t think she realizes that Bronan will never allow anyone between her legs but him.”
“She… uh, she likes him?”
“Oh, she loves him.” I assure her. “And he is crazy over her. Always has been. Will offer her the world on a platter. I mean, think about it. She wants dozens of kish, and my anal, control-freak brother is willing to have such an unruly household for her. Is willing to keep her by letting her think she has a coveted position of breeder.”
She turns over to face me, giggling softly. I remove the pillow from between us so she can see me as I also turn on my side to face her.
“The two are ridiculous,” I assure her. “Bel innocently asking where all the other candidates are and Bronan growing all red-faced and scowling with his enormous brow, making up excuses like, ‘Perhaps we must wait until our javel’inkt trials to find the winners.’ Yet on the other hand, tells each male who enters that this one will be a life and death contest to force them away. As you can imagine, there have been no entries this year.”
“So, he’ll be the only one left to impregnate Isabel?”
“He will. And before she can blink, she’ll be mated or married, whichever her little heart desires.”
She giggles softly.
“It sounds like it would be kind of fun to sit back and watch.”
“It has been,” I assure her. “I wish you could come see for yourself.”
“Too bad it’s impossible,” she says, and I hear the regret in her voice. Whether she realizes it or not, she really is intrigued with visiting our planet.
“Tell me more about your home,” she says.
“Let’s see. Bronan and I have our father still living, while Tiran’s has passed. Maman was a breeder, you know. Anyway, when Tiran’s father died, many suspected it was our father who did it. It was rumored that Tiran’s father was going to challenge him for leadership. Sadly, the truth can probably never be proven. But Bronan has banished him from the main caves where we live. He lives in the outer dwellings, small cabins set up on the outskirts on the perimeter of our land to protect against intruders. The other hunters who live there are tasked with bringing in food. Our planet is mostly water, which is why we’ve evolved as having tentacles. We swim a lot, but once came from the sea.”
“But you don’t live in the water? Like mermen?”
I am not sure what these mermen are. “No, we don’t live in the water. I’m sure we used to; we have gills in addition to lungs, after all.”
“People adapt,” she says easily. “It’s rumored that my people used to live in caves. Over time we built houses to live in.”
“We have houses too. Castles, even. But it suits my clan to live in the majestic caves where we’ve lived for centuries. River calls them plush apartments made of stone.”
“Stone apartments,” she murmurs. “Imagine that. Like a fairytale.”
I tug a strand of her silky hair, winding it around my finger. “If you like.”
She seems to notice the pillows have gone askew and kicks a couple to the floor. “Seems kind of silly to have a barrier, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” I agree huskily. “Especially since we’ve already kissed.”
We both reach for the last of the barrier between us and fling them to the floor. Then I hold out my arms toward her.
She sinks right in.
It’s been so long since I’ve been held, and I didn’t realize how much I craved it. His arms feel like a steel wall around me, keeping me safe from the rest of the world.
“Thank you for trusting me not to hurt you,” he whispers.
I’m not sure why I trust him… maybe it’s because his mother and two sisters-in-law are right in the house. Maybe it’s because he’s funny and teasing while he looks dangerous and badass, but I snuggle in and for once in my life, make a rash decision.
“Skiden?”
“Mmm?” I can feel his chest where it rumbles.
“Would you like to kiss me again?” I hate the vulnerability in my voice. It’s almost like I’m afraid he’ll say no, or that he’s already kissed someone of another species and doesn’t need to do it again. I know that’s silly considering he’s in my bed and holding me but there’s still that niggling doubt that no one wants me.
He tilts my head up with a clawed finger under my chin, and I hope those claws are retractable. I hope maybe it’s just emotion that’s extending the sharp tips.
“Never doubt it, Lucy. You are the most beautiful female I’ve ever met. Right now, I’m regretting that promise to remain a gentleman.”
“Would a gentleman turn down a lady if she requests it?” I’m not flirting, I’m asking honestly.
His pupils constrict, leaving his eyes more glossy-purple than black. “I would give you anything you want. Do you want this?”
His hand moves from my chin to cup my jaw, running his thumb along my jawline, tilting my head up to receive him. His gaze searches mine all the time he lowers his head, taking his time, and I’m aware of his breathing, the way my heartbeat pounds through my veins, his warmth, his scent. The firm touch of his lips, the tenderness of his hands. I shove my hands onto his thick shoulders and open my mouth to his.
His tongue hungrily sweeps past my lips, devouring my mouth like a starved man. With every stroke, my heart pounds and pleasure zings through my veins. The kiss is just as magical as it was out on the back porch.
A desperate moan rolls up my throat and I try to press closer, except there’s no room, not with the clothing between us. Somehow my arms are wrapped around his thick neck, and his hand is skimming the line of my hip.
Boldly, he cups my pussy and the heat from his palm is like an inferno on my sensitive flesh. Heady lust flares through me, zinging through every pleasure spot in my body.
“Is this okay?” he whispers.
“God, yes.” My voice is husky, unrecognizable in the hedonistic moment and suddenly I realize that this is going to happen. This is my only chance to seek pleasure; it’s my version of a one-night stand, forbidden love that can never happen. “I need more.”
“You’re sure? I don’t want you to regret this in the bright light of day.”
“I won’t,” I assure him. Hell, it won’t be long in that bright light before he’s gone anyway. This is my lifetime chance.
“I’ll pull out,” he promises. “Because we’re compatible.”
Compatible? Oh. Pregnancy. Just like Isabel with River. Is that what males do, then? I nod, not needing that burden.
He searches my eyes once more, as if seeking some sort of waiting period where I have the right to still object, and then he nods too. “Reach between my front tentacles and feel that I’ve extruded.”
I’m not sure what that means, but I’m eager to touch him and there’s nothing delicate or tentative about my grip. My hand is full of hot, steely flesh. He groans at my grasp, and it spurs me on to explore the thick rod of his cock. It has three enormous bulges along the generous length, each as big as the head. As my fingers tentatively explore, he groans when I touch the area between the bulges, and it must be more sensitive there. He’s heated and slightly slippery, which I guess is pre-lubed from being inside his body.
“May I touch you too?” he grits.
“O-okay.”
There’s no way to prepare for his touch. Other than when he cupped my pussy, I had no idea what it would feel like to have another’s fingers on my body and the sensation takes my breath away, it feels so good. His touch is addicting.
His fingers slide up my thigh, skimming my nightgown up, all the way to my waist. Then the same touch slips inside the elastic of my panties and the palm of his hand cups my pussy.
It’s much more tantalizing than I could ever have expected and my heart thuds in my chest at the first touch. It’s heat and possession and…
His finger lightly skims over my slickened seam and when a groan escapes me, he seals his mouth to mine.
This feels so good, his kisses, tongue plunging deep, his finger parting my folds, my hand gripping his cock.
He pulls away long enough to remind me, “Shh.”
My breathing is in soft pants now and he smiles as he kisses the corner of my mouth, almost like he’s so pleased at my reaction. And this… I’ve never felt this before. This rush, this excitement, this… craving.
“Skiden,” I beg, and I can’t believe just a few hours ago I thought he was a youth. And now here I am, in bed with him, and having sex for the first time.
Ever.
“I’m glad to experience this. With you.” I press a kiss to his mouth.
“Mieka,” he whispers, and there’s a stunned look in his eyes. “You haven’t done this before?”
“Nope.” I smile. “Which is why I’m glad it’s with you.”
“I’ll make sure it’s good,” he vows.
There’s no doubt in my mind.
My heart races when his tentacles wind around my ankles and slowly drag my legs apart. I feel exposed and wanton—and incredibly sexy. He kisses me, offering drugged, languid kisses, using his tongue to dance with mine. His finger is doing the same dance inside me, plunging, twisting in and out and then something down there attaches to my clit… and it feels like kissing. Like sucking.
Then he curls his finger inside me and uses a tentacle to push down on my mons so I can feel everything moving inside me, ecstasy rolls across his face as his tentacle sucks harder…
And I explode.
I gasp in air as a spiral of wondrous sensations dance through every cell of my body, tingling my limbs, my core… even my heart is skipping around in my chest, like a ballerina spinning on a pedestal. Fireworks explode behind my eyes.
“Oh. My. God,” I gasp.
“That’s sweet,” he says. “But just call me Skiden. Because you’re so sensitive right now, I’ll let you recover. Touch me in the meantime?”
Yes, please.
He takes my hand and places it on his beautiful, dark cock. It’s thick and long, with protruding veins that line the darker black shaft. It pulses in my hand. The whole thing is shiny and wet, leaking a clear fluid from the purple tip. His cock is darker at the base, but lightens near the head.
He staring at me with an intense gaze as I study his cock—as I hold his cock in my hand. And then, in one smooth move, I twist my fingers into the sensitive path between the bulges and lean down to lick at the same time.
He’s… sweet. Sweet and delicious so I get up and kneel over him, open my mouth and engulf the head of his cock, tapping the flat of my tongue against the little hole.
“F—” his voice cuts abruptly, aware that we have to be quiet, and his tentacles writhe on the bed.
“Oooh,” I whisper. “I love this. I love the way you react, I love the way you taste, I love everything about it.”
“Not much of this,” he whispers back. “Not sure we can keep quiet at this rate.”
I laugh softly, but my mouth is full of cock and it comes out like a vibration against his skin.
He groans and shudders, his tentacles frantic, and that makes me chuckle again.
“Sorry, sweet Lucy,” he whispers, and hauls me up from where I’m crouched over his cock. “Not while we have to be quiet.”
I’d like to say to hell with being quiet. Let them all wonder what we’re doing in here, but part of me thinks I might regret that tomorrow.
Two tentacles wind under my arms and over my shoulders, one comes around my waist and I’m maneuvered up quickly, poised with his cock at the slick entrance to my body. The show of strength is overwhelming and I lean backward, letting him support me as I arch my back slightly, my breasts thrusting out.
He leans up, his claws digging into my hips, and sucks the tip of one into his hot, wet mouth.
I slide down, feeling his cock as it penetrates the lips of my pussy, feeling them stretch and separate around him. The sensation is odd but wonderful and I sink down another inch. God, we feel so connected like this—like one being, and I’d like to ask him if it feels so magnificent on his end, but we have to be so quiet.
Tilting my hips sinks me down a little more and it feels so exquisitely full inside, but I’m so greedy I want more. He’s guiding me with his hands on my hips and I love the darker color of his hands on my lighter skin, which I can see when the curtain flutters from the window. Such a gorgeous contrast.
Before I know it, I’m seated fully on him, his cock locked deep inside me. I stare down at where we connect like I can see the magic there, but of course, I can only squeeze my sheath and feel him inside.
He traces a pattern on top of my leg. “It looks perfect,” he whispers. “Connected like this.”
Then he grips my hips and moves me back and forth.
I’m breathing hard, he’s breathing hard and the same tightening as earlier begins deep inside me. I start grinding down onto him, craving even more. And like he senses it, he reaches out and uses his thumb to rub circles on my clit.
I love this—I love giving pleasure to one another.
He loses control first, his fingers tightening to the point of pain on my thighs, his back arching slightly, and a look of ecstasy that roves over his face before I’m filled with a throbbing liquid heat. The temperature change flings me into another exploding orgasm, rolling over me, tingling my limbs, making me jerk and twitch in his hold. When I’m spent, I collapse onto his chest.