Chapter 7
SEVEN
He wasn’t sure what he was thinking. It couldn’t be wise to sleep beside this female who had awakened feelings he’d thought long dead.
The shape of her, even with a heavy suit on, called to him.
The initial awareness he had for her when they’d met had only grown.
It had taken willpower for him to walk beside her in the desert and not reach for her, touch her.
His hands craved contact. He noticed everything about her.
He hadn’t lied when he said he would kill that rilh again.
A frightening thing had happened to him—his primitive form had begun to emerge.
It had lasted mere moments, but he had felt the heat, the strength, and the flames flicker to life when he realized the rilh had targeted Madison.
Drex didn’t understand what that meant. No female had ever before brought on even a hint of the transformation. Not even Tuli.
“We cannot use lights,” he said gruffly. “That would alert the Sifters to our presence.”
“Okay.” Madison dug in her backpack and took out a medical kit. “Come here and let me help you with your wound before the sun fully sets.”
He couldn’t argue that, either. There were males downstairs who could dress it, but the thought of having Madison’s soft hands on him was too enticing to pass up. She would be gentler, hopefully, than the ham-fisted males on his team.
Her long hair was contained in a braid that had fallen from her helmet like a silken rope. He longed to wrap his fist around it and draw her in for a kiss. She patted the floor before her. “Come on. Let’s take a look.”
He did as she directed. With clumsy hands, he undid the suit’s fastenings. She brushed his hands aside and finished for him, efficiently opening his thick suit to his waist. He held a breath as she peeled the garment back.
“Hmm.” She gently wiped the blood with wound cleaner. Her breath against his back made him shiver. “There’s some yellow pus that doesn’t look good.”
“That would be secondary venom,” he said, knowing what she was seeing. “Check the medical kit. There should be a spray to dissolve the infection, and an injection pen to prevent the spread of it.”
She searched through the kit. He observed the cross-legged posture of her and marveled at how she always held her back straight and regal, even here, digging through a medical bag in the darkness. She came up with two items and held both in front of his face. “Are these them?”
“Yes,” he said. “Be generous with the spray. Give me four injections around the wound in the healthy flesh.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him steady. “I take it you’ve done this kind of thing many times before?”
“Not really, no. I was well trained, though.” He braced himself for the spray. It was extraordinarily painful, as he knew from a few past experiences. “Go ahead.”
“Okay.” She sprayed the medicine directly into his wound as he gritted his teeth. “Ooh, it’s foamy,” she murmured. “Now for the injections. Are you ready?”
She was so close to him. Her breasts brushed his arm. Her hand slid down to his arm and held a steady pressure. Nothing about her behavior was seductive, but everything about her was.
Drex closed his eyes as she pressed the pronged pen to his skin and injected him. He remained still and quiet as she secured a new dressing to his wound. The treatment was already beginning to numb the pain. “Is there anything else I can do?” she asked.
If only she knew. “No. Thank you.”
“Thank you for saving me from that, what did you call it? Rilh? Everything is new to me, here. Even the animals.”
He turned and locked eyes with her. “I was following my instincts, that’s all.”
“Right,” she said. “Sorry.”
She let her hand drop away from his arm, but he caught it instantly. Her body froze and her breath caught. Her fingers were light and fine in his large hand. She did not pull away.
He slowly raised her palm to his lips. Her eyes went wide and liquid. The only light left came from the deep purple remnants of the evening. Soon, if they were to see at all, it would be by starlight.
Drex was thankful for the darkness. It masked everything but the rising need swelling within him. Far from the palace with all its memories, he felt dangerously free. Here, there was only him, this female who drew out his primitive instincts, and the night.
His lips brushed her palm, just above the hammering pulse at her wrist. Then, because he wanted to test them both, he released her hand and leaned in.
He gave her plenty of time to back away.
There wasn’t a single clear thought in his head as he brought his mouth to hers.
All he could hear was the thud of his own pulse and Madison’s rapid breathing.
She held herself still as his lips touched hers.
They were pillow soft, just as they looked.
He kissed her again, keeping it light as his blood roared and his cock swelled to painful hardness in the restrictive confines of his suit.
Her eyes closed. She tilted her head and kissed him back.
Her kiss was tender and cautious. One of those slender hands rested on his cheek.
The touch was so tentative, he shuddered.
Hunger rose like a beast within him. It had been so long since he had known desire, so long since he had wanted another.
Madison eased back, breaking contact. The hand that had been on his cheek covered her lips. She made a small sound of distress.
“What is wrong?” he asked.
“I said I wouldn’t touch you,” she said. “And here I am, breaking my word.”
“You didn’t exactly force yourself on me.” Drex wished he could see her face more clearly. “I kissed you first.”
“Why?” She said it so softly, he almost didn’t hear her.
“Because I am drawn to you.” He lifted the heavy length of her braid and slid his fingers over it. “Because I want you.”
Did there need to be more? He placed his hand on her thigh, just above her knee. She still wore the thick suit from their day’s travel, but he could feel her muscles soften beneath his touch.
Madison rested a tentative hand on his chest. “I didn’t think you…” she trailed off, head shaking.
“I was attracted to you the instant I met you.” His hand moved up her thigh, to her hip. “Ferias chose well.”
A chuckle came from Madison. “Well, she is a Sage.”
Drex leaned in for another kiss. This one was bolder. He pressed close, slanting his mouth over hers. She opened to him, meeting his tongue with a sigh. Her fingers burrowed into his hair.
He had no idea where this was going—if it was going anywhere. Sounds still came from down the stairs. Someone was telling a story and others were laughing. He and Madison would be undisturbed, and that thought scared him as much as it excited him.
He reached for the fastenings of her suit. She shifted to give him access. Slowly, all that softness was revealed. She wore nothing underneath.
He parted the garment down the middle to just below her navel.
He could see the V of smooth, milky skin.
She pulled down the top half of her suit, revealing full, lush breasts.
He cupped them, marveling at their firm weight and delicious, hard peaked nipples.
Stars, she was beautiful. He ran his thumbs over the tight buds and she gasped.
He could hear her fast breathing and feel her rapid heartbeat under his palms. Her hands roved over him, exploring all that was exposed to her. It felt good to be touched. It had been so long since he had known the sensation of hands on his body. He shuddered with the pleasure of it.
“Drex,” she breathed, and moved into his arms. They sat facing each other, with her on his lap and her legs wrapped around his waist. Long, silken arms wound around his neck.
Those luscious breasts rubbed against his chest, making his own nipples hard and sensitive.
Her sex pressed to his cock, which strained to be released.
He gripped her hips and rocked her against him.
She would be able to feel the thick length of him, even through the suits they wore.
She tipped her head back and let out a quiet moan.
Ah, she wanted him. It took all his will to not rip off their suits and bury himself in her pussy. Her hand moved to his cock and squeezed it through the fabric.
That was all he could take. Panting, Drex reared back and pressed his forehead to hers. “If you don’t want me inside you, tell me now.”
“I want it.” She drew his lower lip between her teeth. “Now.”
It was all he needed to hear. He opened the fastenings of the bottom half of his suit, allowing his cock to spring free. He couldn’t remember ever being so acutely aroused.
Her hands closed around him and he almost saw stars. His hands fisted and his teeth gritted against the pure, uncut lust slicing through him. Inquisitive fingers tested his length and girth, squeezing gently, then hard enough to draw out a drop of liquid from the tip.
Her exploration of his body was a torture he would happily endure, even if it cost him his sanity.
“You’re…large.” A tremble of worry wove through her words.
He wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or sorry for that. Based on her tone, he took it to mean she had concerns about him fitting inside her. He had no such worries, but he would be careful with her.
He unclenched his hands to remove her suit.
She would have to wear it tomorrow, so he used patience, which was in short supply just then, to pull down the seal without ripping it.
She shifted up to her knees so the suit could come off more easily.
Her hands came to his shoulders as he pulled the seam down her groin and over her thigh.
He heard her inhale of breath as air hit her pussy and released the sweet scent of her arousal.
She was as naked as he, upright on her knees.
He ran his hands over her curvy bottom, squeezing the firm globes, before sliding to the front of her.
She spread her knees, giving him full access to her sex.
His fingers found the wet folds and he stroked there, learning the shape of her, the soft, moist heat of her.
She let out a whimper of need and rocked her hips against his hand. He slipped his first two fingers inside of her. Sweet suns above, she was tight. Her sheath gripped his fingers and drenched them in liquid arousal.
There was no more waiting. “Come here,” he growled, and he gripped her hips.
He pulled her forward and positioned her above his upright, jutting cock.
Madison gripped his shoulders and settled above him.
His cock slipped over her folds, nudging, searching for her opening.
He felt her breath hitch and her body tense when he slid between her pussy lips and an inch inside.
He bent his head and laved his tongue over a breast, pulling a turgid nipple between his lips and scraping his teeth over it. She moaned and he felt her body unwind a bit. “You were chosen for me,” he rasped against her skin. “You can take my cock. I promise, you will enjoy this.”
She nodded. He kissed her neck, breasts, under her jaw. He gently rocked her pussy onto the head of his cock, allowing her to get used to his size. Bit by bit, her muscles loosened and he slid all the way inside. She was as tight as he imagined and his balls immediately tightened upon entering her.
Sweet stars, he would wind up blowing his seed if he did not discipline himself.
He kissed her, swallowing her moan. Keeping a grip on her hips, he set a pace.
Their labored breathing melted together, as they tumbled into a fevered rhythm of ecstasy.
Her tight sheath gripped his cock like a wet vise, driving him ever nearer to the edge.
Her fingernails dug into his shoulders. Drex felt her inner walls clench on his shaft.
Her body tensed. She pulled in a deep breath.
He felt Madison’s orgasm rip through her as intensely as if it had been his own.
Her pussy pulsed and throbbed as it squeezed his cock.
She tossed her head back and prepared to let out a cry, but he covered her mouth with his own to muffle the sound.
The last thing he needed was his guards running up here right now.
At last, he could hold back no more. His balls ached with the need to release.
With her body beginning to slacken, Drex drove into her like a demon, thrusting deeply, fully sheathing himself in her sweet heat.
His own body went rigid, taut with release.
He came—his orgasm both vicious and mind-bending in its intensity.
He barely contained his own bellow of completion as he clasped her to his chest and pulled in great gasping breaths.
He slid out of her, reluctantly. Together they rolled to one side and sprawled on the floor, on top of their discarded suits. They were a tangle of limbs. He pulled a thin, thermal blanket from his pack and tossed it over them. It instantly shut out the chill night air.
Madison said nothing, but was soft and pliable against him.
He could find no words for what they had just done.
The most glorious chemicals were swirling through his brain.
His body had not felt so relaxed and replete in many cycles.
He was thankful when she settled in against him, instead of demanding a discussion.
There would most definitely be a discussion later, when they’d both had time to think.
It had been a hard day. She was undoubtedly tired.
He knew he was. He wrapped his tail around her leg, just below the knee.
She started at the feel of it—as if remembering that he had a tail—then one of those curious hands touched it.
She explored his tail in the darkness, running her fingers over the sharp barb at the end, which he kept well away from her delicate skin.
Her movements stilled as she started drifting off to sleep.
The feeling was so comforting, so warm, he let out a low purr of utter contentment.
Then he remembered. Tuli used to touch his tail like this. They fell asleep with his tail around her leg and his hands in her hair. This felt comforting because it was familiar. The knowledge brought on a tightness in his chest. He’d thought he would never want anyone else…
Here was a warm, willing female who had reawakened passions within him that he had thought were dead. This thing with Madison was purely physical. Confusion wrapped him in a coil of need and frustration and self-recrimination.
The outpost had gone silent. He slid his tail off her leg and out from under her touch and let the heavy hand of sleep drag him under.