“Letting me kiss your open pussy,” Thrace corrected her in a soft growl. “After all, what better way could there be for me to show my obedience and devotion to you than to spread open your sweet, wet cunt and worship you with my mouth?” Leaning down, he kissed her again, nuzzling gently with his lips to press deep into her wet depths. He wasn’t using his tongue but it was a near thing—Trin could almost feel the tip of it caressing her throbbing clit as he gave her yet another sweet, intimate kiss.
“I…I don’t think that would be such a good idea,” she whispered breathlessly. “You…you know how I feel about penetration, Thrace. Even…even oral penetration.”
“Spreading your pussy lips to kiss your inner cunt isn’t penetration—it’s devotion,” he argued softly. “Why should I not show how very devoted I am to you, Mistress? How very much I lo—” He cleared his throat. “How much I care for you and want to serve you?”
Trin bit her lip, wondering what he had almost said. Surely not what she’d thought…
“It’s late, Thrace,” she said softly. “And I’m tired…really tired.”
“Of course, Mistress.” He kissed her pussy once more—a soft, lingering caress that made her want to moan and run her fingers through his hair—then lifted his head. “I suppose I should tuck you in and say goodnight then.”
“I suppose.” Trin couldn’t help feeling a little stab of disappointment though she knew it was irrational. What had almost happened between them?
“Well, then…” Thrace rose from his prone position and tucked the covers around her. “Pleasant dreams.”
Trin sighed. “Are you coming to bed as well?”
“As soon as I change.” He nodded down at the leather pants he still wore with a grimace of distaste. “Then, if you’ll permit me, I’d like to hold you tonight, as I did last night.”
“Well…” Trin hesitated. The night before she had at least had on a sleep dress and panties. Now she was completely naked. Should she really let him hold her like that all night long, especially after what had almost happened? But then she remembered how good it felt to be pressed against his big body, to be surrounded by him. Also, it would probably look better for whoever was watching on the blue viewscreen. “All right,” she said at last. “Hurry and get changed though. I’m exhausted.”
“As my lady commands,” he murmured.
The desire in her body gradually faded to just an ache. Trin’s eyelids drifted closed for a moment and she heard the sound of rustling fabric. After a moment, the lights went out and Thrace slid under the heavy, silky sheets beside her. He took her in his arms and Trin sighed in deep contentment as she pillowed her head on his hard chest. Goddess, they fit together perfectly. Who would have guessed that such a thing was possible? That she could find comfort and pleasure in cuddling up with such big, strange, dangerous creature?
Yet, despite being a male, Thrace was none of those things. Or rather, he was but he was also just…Thrace. He made her feel safe in his arms…protected…cherished. How did he do that? Why did he want to? And how did she feel about it? About him? Was she beginning to care for him?
Surely not, whispered a little voice in her head. Care for a male? In that way? That’s crazy…isn’t it?
Before she could find an answer, her eyelids drifted shut again and sleep claimed her.
* * * * *
Just look at her. Thrace brushed a long strand of silky hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. The room was mostly dark but he could see her clearly in the faint blue glow from the viewscreen on the wall. She looked lovely as she lay curled in his arms, lost to the world but trusting that he would keep her safe, that he would protect her all night long.
I will too. I’ll guard her with my life.
Emotion swelled within him and he knew it was true. There was no denying it—he was growing to care for Trin and not in a casual way. Havoc didn’t bond themselves to females—they went their whole lives trying to avoid emotional entanglements with the opposite sex. That was part of their heritage and their beliefs, as surely as Trin’s people believed it was wrong to allow themselves to become involved with males. Yet, here they were, the two of them, entwined in bed with her head resting on his chest and her sweet, naked body pressed to his.
What was happening to them?
You’re falling for her, a little voice whispered in the back of his brain. It wasn’t accusing or angry or guilty—it was soft and calm and matter-of-fact. Just stating the truth. You’re falling in love with her.
I can’t be, Thrace told himself. That’s fucking dangerous. It was too. Havoc didn’t avoid bonding themselves to females just because it would change their life expectancy or because of cultural beliefs and heritage. Havoc didn’t bond to females because once they gave themselves, gave their hearts, there was nothing—nothing—they wouldn’t do or give or endure to keep their female safe, to make her feel loved and protected. To show her how they felt.
“Love for a female is like a drug,” Thrace remembered his Sire lecturing when he was young. “If you even once allow it to enter your system, it will take over. It clouds your judgment, ruins your sense of self preservation, changes the focus of your whole life. That’s why we stay away from females, son, except for brief encounters. It fucks up your entire existence, falling in love. Don’t let it happen to you.”
Thrace had promised he wouldn’t and he had kept his word faithfully for years…up until now. I should get up right now, he told himself. Ought to just leave. There’s nothing keeping me here—no pain collar. No one could stop me. I could find a transport shuttle out of here and go back to The Empress, find Solar and get my old life back. I should just go.
But looking down at the girl curled in his arms, he knew he couldn’t. If love was a drug, it had already entered his system. He couldn’t help how he felt, couldn’t stop the chemical reaction in his brain. Couldn’t control the impulses he felt to protect and cherish her, to hold her for as long as he could…even though he knew she didn’t feel the same way.
She never will, either, he thought, stroking her cheek. Trin sighed in her sleep and turned toward his touch. Thrace felt like a fist was squeezing his heart. She’ll never allow herself to feel for a male. And the very idea of making love, of allowing any kind of penetration from me, is repugnant to her. She said it herself—she feels the same way about being penetrated that I do.
The thought made him shudder and unquiet memories tried to rise to the surface of his mind. Thrace pushed them down ruthlessly. He’d confronted enough of his past already, especially when he’d sucked in the bubble of nightmare vapor earlier that night. The point was, he understood why Trin didn’t want to be penetrated. And also why she could never feel for him the way he was beginning to feel for her.
Doesn’t matter though, he thought, settling her more closely against him. I still feel it, even if she doesn’t. I can’t help it—I’m fucking lost.
The thought should have depressed him but he couldn’t make himself be too upset—not when he was holding her close in his arms. There was nothing he could do about it tonight. Nothing but hold her while he still could. With a sigh, he let his eyes drift closed…
After a moment, the glow of the viewscreen showed only two people sleeping deeply in each other’s arms—two bodies entwined, the smaller one curled against the larger for comfort and warmth. The soft hush of breathing was the only sound.
Then, the cool blue glow of the viewscreen turned an ominous pulsing red and low male laughter rumbled through its speakers. The black dots in the center of each bedpost irised open, revealing four holes like hungry mouths. A soft, insidious hissing sound filled the air and a heavy black vapor poured out and drifted down. It caressed the faces of the two sleepers, stroking their helpless visages with oily tentacles.