That wasn’t what worried her, really. She knew how to disappear if she needed to and she was pretty sure the goddess cult would help. But two weeks living with Jarek? What would that even entail? She took a deep breath. She should say fuck no. But that wasn’t what came out.

  “I’ve heard rumors about Delroi men and sex,” she said cautiously. Stories that made her wet just thinking of them, but they also scared the hell out of her. Dominance. Submission. Pleasure. Pain. They were a bunch of hedonists apparently.

  His grin went way beyond wicked. “They’re probably all true.”

  It took everything she had not to groan out loud, but somehow he knew. He finally moved, crowding her, and lifted a hand to stroke her cheek with his knuckles.

  “Just imagine it, sweetheart,” he whispered. “Every fantasy you ever had I can make come true.”

  And she trusted him to do it. She trusted him to be gentle. To not scare her or hurt beyond what turned her on. It was probably a colossal mistake but she nodded.

  “Say it, Zola,” he said, an edge in his voice. “I want a verbal agreement.”

  She took a shaky breath. She was going to do this. “I’ll stay with you for two weeks.”

  “And you’ll submit to me? You’ll trust me to decide what you need? When you need it?”

  Her whole body was shaking now. What was she getting into? She could say no, walk away right now, but she had the feeling it would be the worst mistake of her life. She was suddenly very uncertain. “You won’t hurt me?”

  It was a very real concern. She’d been a prisoner for a year and her jailers hadn’t cared how they hurt or humiliated her.

  “No.” His words were quiet but firm. He reached up to finger a length of her hair and searched her eyes. “Though you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve wanted to bend you over my knee and spank you.” He leaned close and whispered. “It wouldn’t hurt, sweetheart. I think you’d like it.”

  She pressed her thighs together against a need so sudden and fierce she was afraid she’d fall to her knees and beg.

  “I need a decision, Zola. I need the words.”

  It felt like an eternity before she could find the voice to answer. “I’ll trust you. I don’t know about the spanking thing, though.”

  It sounded exciting. Sexy. But she’d been hit before and that sure as hell hadn’t done anything but hurt.

  “I’ll be disappointed.” He pressed a lingering kiss under her ear that made her shiver. “But if you can’t handle it, I’ll live.”

  She tried to move away, towards his room, but he held her back. “The rest, Zola.”

  She swallowed hard and her legs felt weak. He wrapped his arm around her waist so she didn’t stumble. She knew what he wanted. “I’ll submit to you,” she said, voice only a little shaky. “But only in bed.”

  He picked her up in his arms and started down the hall. “Do you know how?”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “There’s a method?”

  Actually, she knew there were rules. She’d had a few friends over the years in the BDSM scene. He chuckled.

  “So you aren’t trained. That’s fine. We’ll make our own rules.”

  She shouldn’t agree, but she couldn’t help herself. “Okay.”

  ***

  He couldn’t believe she agreed so easily. Not to his two week offer—he knew she wanted him—but to submit to him. He’d expected a no and would have accepted it. Would have worked around it. Would have seduced her into it. But agreement? He hadn’t seen that coming. Excitement surged through his veins as he pictured having her exactly as he’d imagined.

  Could he survive this? Was two weeks enough time to tie her to him so thoroughly she never considered leaving him again? Was it enough time to heal her battered soul? He knew better than to hope for that, but it was a start.

  He’d spent a lot of time up north training to be a healer. It had been liberating in many ways, but learning the ways of dominance was the biggest. Women in his clan were allowed much more freedom than any other place on that planet. In public that was fine. He expected no less. But in their quarters he had a deep need for his der’lan to submit. He needed her to give up control. He needed her complete and total trust.

  In his bedroom, he lowered her slowly to the floor. She stared up at him with trepidation, but there was plenty of excitement in her eyes too. He didn’t smile though he wanted to. He slid his hands down her side, gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. She gasped and made a move to cross her arms over her chest.

  “Oh no, der’lan,” he whispered, hearing the gruff tone in his voice. “In these rooms you do what I want, and I want to be able to see you. I want to be able to touch you. I won’t allow you to hide in here.”

  Slowly, she lowered her arms and he exhaled a sigh relief and appreciation. He’d been afraid she’d protest. Gods, she was gorgeous. Her breasts were full and high. Her nipples dusky rose. The piercings were hot but not feminine enough. He’d known about them, had been waiting until he could see them, and had already bought jewelry for her.

  He bent to taste one and she immediately shifted, pressing against him. As much as he liked having her so close, he couldn’t handle it yet. He stopped and set her away from him. He’d spent so much of the last several days hard, he had to rein in his urge to just strip her and fuck with no thought to her pleasure. He needed her under his control. Unable to touch him and make him lose it before he was ready.

  “Have you ever been restrained before? In a sexual situation, I mean,” he added, realizing he may have just killed the whole mood.

  Of course, she’d been restrained. She’d been imprisoned for a year. But she shook her head and he didn’t see the past haunting her eyes. Thank the gods. He led her to the bed and pressed the button that released restraints from the posts. She arched her eyebrows but didn’t protest when he urged her down and strapped the buckles around her wrists and ankles. Damn, she was beautiful, spread out for him. Her skin was soft but not unmarred. She had scars, new and old, and large tattoo of some kind of bird native to Earth tattooed down one side of her back, the feathers twisting to curl over her hip. He traces the colorful lines until they disappeared.

  “What is this?”

  “A peacock.”

  “Why did you choose it?”

  She hesitated. “My first assignment.” She took a deep breath. “My first assassination was hard. After it was done I sat in a park for a couple hours. There were peacocks and it was peaceful.”

  He got the feeling there was more to the story but he let go it go for the night. He was surprised she’d opened up to him that much and he’d rather spend this newfound trust on other things. He removed his clothes, then opened the top drawer in his chest to retrieve a jeweler’s box. She gave him a curious look when he sat on the edge of the bed. He opened the box and turned it so she could see. It contained gold hoops with two drops of rubies. He removed her piercings and replaced them with his, pleased at the way they looked on her skin. She looked confused, though. Then irritated. Or maybe insulted.

  “When did you get these?”

  Yes, definitely insulted.

  “Two days after I met you. You should also know I’ve never a brought a woman here. It isn’t something that’s done on Delroi.”

  She gave him a flat stare. “Don’t even try to convince me you’re a virgin.”

  He laughed. “I wouldn’t dare.”

  “So how does that work then? You go to her place?”

  He nodded. He didn’t quite believe he was having this conversation with his der’lan. While she was tied to his bed. The hell with that. He’d dreamed of touching her, tasting her, until he was mad with it. Now he finally had his chance. He moved between her spread thighs, blew over her before spreading the lips of her sex to expose her pussy and clit. She was wet, her inner folds glistening, and he leaned in to lick her.

  “Oh, goddess,” she muttered and he was glad she couldn’t see his triumphant smile.

  She was his, hesitant though she might be. He licked her again, moving his tongue to flick her clit while he tested her entrance with his fingers. She was tight and hot. Slick. It didn’t take long before she was trembling and begging to come. He liked her pleas, so he didn’t let her. He kept her on the edge, exploring her body with his tongue and his teeth, until he couldn’t stand the suspense anymore. He had to know how it would feel to be squeezed by her cunt. How it would feel when she came around him and he came inside her. How it would feel with her heels digging into his back as he continued to make her crazy. He sat up, reached behind him to free her ankles, and dragged her legs around his waist as he lowered himself over her.

  *

  He was killing her, slowly but surely. Every touch, every kiss, every lick. It was all designed to make her crazy with need. She knew because even fighting it, she felt a connection growing between them, and he couldn’t hide his desire to claim her on an elemental level. She couldn’t deny she wanted to be claimed. By this man and only him. She wished she could touch him. Stroke his shoulders and reach for his cock. But it was pretty freaking hot to have no control. To have all the decisions made for her. She couldn’t imagine giving anyone else this level of control. He set her ankles free and pulled her legs around him, giving her a dark sexy smile that would have made her melt at his feet if she’d been standing.

  “I hope you’re ready, baby.”

  Ready? One thrust and she was going to explode into the best orgasm of her life.

  “You do not have permission to come until I say so. Do it too soon and all you’ll get is my cock in your mouth.”

  She stared at him, sure she’d heard that wrong. He’d spent most of the last hour winding her tight, teasing her, and he was going to deny her now? His eyes softened just a bit as he watched.

  “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

  She nodded because what choice did she have? He’d stop if she told him to, she knew that, but she had to feel him inside her. So. Delayed gratification for the win. But then he pushed into her and she wondered how the hell she could achieve that goal. He felt so damned good. Thick, hard, and long. He didn’t just fill her. He possessed her. She should be worried but nothing had ever felt so fucking right.

  He laughed and she realized she’d inadvertently shared the thought. She got the impression that was going to be a problem with him, but he didn’t protest so what the hell. In some things, she’d always been a live in the moment kind of woman. The chance to let go with a sexual partner? Once in a lifetime opportunity.

  “This is not a once in your life event, baby. Don’t even try to push me into that corner.”

  She trembled at his possessive tone. “I don’t do relationships, Jarek. My life has always been too crazy for that.”

  “I can handle crazy,” he said.

  She didn’t have any choice but to take him at his word, did she? If he really wanted her, he had to take on her baggage too. She wasn’t keen on that, but he was a grown ass man. He could make his own choices. Right now, she just wanted to feel.

  “Are you gonna fuck me or are we gonna spend the rest of the night at en impasse?”

  Goddess, she hoped not. He gave her that hard dominant look again but he started moving so she didn’t care. Each thrust hit her G-spot and then his lips closed over her nipple, playing with the new ring. She couldn’t hold back and the orgasm rushed through her, intense and powerful. He moved to bury his face in her neck and groaned. A moment later she felt him coming too, the rush of semen hot inside her. His body stiffened over her. But she barely registered his reaction, too blissed out to care. A few minutes later he released her hands and tugged her into her arms where she slept better than she had in years.

  Three Days until the Rebirth Celebration

  She couldn’t remember the last time she was so nervous and she hadn’t left the Keep yet. Hell, the sun wasn’t up yet. A couple of hours ago, she’d reluctantly left the warmth of Jarek’s bed and headed back to her quarters to pack. Even if she hadn’t accepted his offer she’d be moving this morning, temporarily at least. She’d lost track of all the clan chief’s and families that were slowly trickling in for the Rebirth Ceremony. The warrior Overchief, Daggar Torfa, and his family and senior staff were taking over Roarr’s guest wing today. She’d been planning to stay with Kayna, Roarr and Jarek’s younger sister, but that plan had obviously changed.

  She had one bag packed and was standing over her bed, shifting through the rest of her clothes, when she heard someone enter the suite and felt Jarek’s energy. She looked up when he walked into the room, set aside an outfit for the day and began to fold the rest into the remaining bag.

  “Good morning,” she said, surprised at her hesitation, at her nervousness, of seeing him after the night spent in his bed. She didn’t really do morning afters. In her line of work, affairs never lasted long.

  “Good morning,” he replied, looking her over with a heavy lidded gaze that made every erogenous zone in her body stand up at attention. Damn. The man was seriously talented. A sexy smile slowly curved his lush mouth. “What are you wearing, sweetheart?”

  She looked down at the short satin robe she’d put on after her shower, belatedly realizing the gift from Lady Rona was in the Idis house color, maroon. Somehow it seemed presumptuous to wear it even though no one should have seen it. Embarrassed, she shrugged.

  “It’s just a robe. One of the things your mother gave me.”

  “Hmm,” he murmured.

  He stepped closer and tugged on the belt until it unraveled and the lapels fell open, exposing her, though he held her gaze with his. Her nipples were hard and her pale skin betrayed her arousal, flushing hot as he watched. He cupped her breasts, squeezing her nipples while never looking away from her eyes. She felt him measuring her. Now that she knew he had a psychic ability, knew the nature of it, she could feel him. It was strange. Like he was under her skin, sharing her body. Though that may have been because of the connection she sensed growing between them.

  “Do other people feel it when you use your ability on them?” she asked, dying of curiosity. She didn’t like the idea of sharing that intimacy with anyone else. He looked surprised at the question.

  “No one’s ever said anything. They’d probably have to be a sensitive at the least.” He paused. “What does it feel like? Does it bother you?”

  She wasn’t sure how to answer that. If it was anyone else she’d be deeply disturbed. She should be that it was him. But after last night she was starting to trust him with more than just her body. It was a foreign experience for her.

  “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like I can feel your mind moving through my body. More like your senses, I guess. It doesn’t feel like telepathy.”

  His hands settled on her waist, but he didn’t pull her closer, just gave her an uncertain look. She’d never seen that expression on his face. “Do you find it disturbing?”

  “I should,” she admitted. “Anyone else I’d probably kill without even thinking about it.”

  He finally pulled her flush against him. “Anyone else and I’d probably kill them for you,” he said.

  She should not be pleased by that show of possessiveness, but she couldn’t deny a certain thrill. Had any man ever gone possessive or jealous over her? She hadn’t noticed if they had. Somehow that seemed like the kind of thing most women had probably experienced, but it was just another way she was different.

  He shifted closer, sliding his hands up her sides to cup her breasts. She gasped when he squeezed her nipples, flicked at the rings through them, and some instinct made her drop her mental shields. She’d felt him inside her before but this was so much more intense. He felt it too. His eyes darkened and she felt his arousal grow.

  “What did you do?” he whispered as he lowered his head to suck one hard tipped nipple into his mouth.

  She shoved her fingers into his hair, holding tight, unable to find her voice.

  “I lowered my shields,” she murmured into his mind.

  “Mmm. It’s intense,” he answered the same.

  She was so shocked by the contact she couldn’t form a protest or put her shields back up. And he was right. It was intense. Incredible. Explosive. She was so turned on she knew she’d come with very little effort. She reached for his weapon’s belt, surprised he was wearing one and deciding to ask why later, and released the clasp. It fell to the plush carpet silently and she moved onto his pants, flicking the button then reaching for his zipper. She worked it down and slipped her hand inside to circle his cock.

  Groaning, he released her nipple with an audible pop and used one hand to shove his pants to his hips. Then he lifted her. She gripped his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist, centering her pussy over the head of his erection. She met his gaze, saw her desperation reflected there, and held her breath as he slowly pushed in. He filled her, hot and throbbing, and she was gasping when he reached the hilt, already on the verge of coming. She was afraid he would drag it out like last night, make her beg and plead, but he was different in the light of day.

  “This is going to be hard and fast,” he whispered, voice rasping over her nerve endings.

  She nodded. That sounded good to her and besides, words were beyond her at the moment. His lips crushed hers in a kiss so hungry she wondered if she’d ever find her way out, then he started to move. Hard, fast, and rough just as promised. She came on the third stroke, clenching so hard he groaned in response. She felt his cock jerk inside her, his warm semen fill her, but it barely registered and she shuddered with the tremors of the aftermath. When his comm started a rhythmic beeping, he reluctantly lowered her.

  “Let’s get cleaned up, baby. We can’t be late.”

  It wasn’t until after he’d rushed her through a quick shower and she was reaching for her clothes that she glanced at the time piece on the wall. The shuttle wasn’t scheduled to leave for ninety minutes.

  “We aren’t late,” she said as she pulled on her pants.

  She noticed he was already dressed. What a shame.

  “The Torfas will be here in about ten minutes. We’re meeting them with the others.”

 

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