Battling Rapture (11 page)

“There are differences between and within natural
hyper-species. We are all essentially hunters, but there are levels. I am
warrior class on Ordan. There are only a few species who would be naturally
stronger than me in hand-to-hand combat. The Contu aren’t among them.”

“The Nestvur?”

“Yes, against a Nestvur warrior with no blasters involved,
it would be considered an equal match. Even that is deceptive. Within each
group, there are some who are stronger. We tend to make those men or women
leaders,” he said.

“So is that why your cousin leads your tribe?”

“Yes and no. He has special strength, but he was groomed
because he is also smart and fair. Strength without higher-order brain function
leads to animalistic behavior.”

“So the fight you had wasn’t fair?” she asked.

He shrugged and it shook her entire body.

“He had more of a chance than A’Di had against him.”

What could she really say? It was true.

“I’ve come up against Trogo before and hurt them. It took a
group of them to subdue me. Granted, I had weapons. You’re saying there are
some species I won’t have a chance against without a firearm and a head start.”
The fight had opened her eyes to her own vulnerability.

He pushed her out to arm’s length. He looked confused and
alarmed.

“Why would you be fighting Trogo?”

“My job was to protect and defend,” she said. “I couldn’t
change who I was just because the enemy was bigger and stronger.”

“You will no longer need to defend and protect. Your sister
has a guard and you will also,” he said.

“Why does she need a guard?” Her heart galloped.

“You both need a guard because people will want to steal you
away and we cannot be with you every moment.”

“You all live in the same place?”

“We stay much of the year in Huntu Keep.”

“So you’re saying someone would be foolish enough to walk
into a house full of big-ass men who can deliver a beat down equal to the one I
saw you give that Contu just to get to me?”
Paranoid much.

“They already have. An Ordanian attempted to take your
sister. He had her out of the keep before we could get her back.’

“Your cousin let Cam get kidnapped?” What was the use of her
husband being big and bad if it didn’t protect Cam?

“Which is why she now has her own guard and so will you.
Your best choice if caught unaware is to run and hide until one of us can get
to you. Attack the soft spots if you are captured and get away. They won’t play
with you as I do. Your advantage is a kidnapper won’t expect you to have been
trained.”

She stared at him in disbelief. Was he kidding? She was a
fighter. She noted his rigid shoulders and set mouth. Then she remembered the
systematic hammering he’d given the beast shifter. No, Rhine hadn’t been
playing with the man. Not at all.

“I’ll keep your suggestions in mind.” She had so much to
think about. Everything was different now and she wasn’t sure she could adapt
appropriately.

“I will do anything to keep you safe, Niki,” he whispered.
He enfolded her in his arms again.

Chapter Six

She’d distracted him on purpose. Rhine was beginning to
realize she evaded when he asked her about her feelings. Something about her
silent conversation with her sister caused her anxiety, distress, fear and
pain. Some didn’t realize empaths didn’t just sense emotions. Yes, he could
interpret the body’s physiological responses and read them as emotion. He could
also sense more complicated feelings.

Niki had issues in her relationship with Camryn. He needed
to work extra hard to help her through whatever her problem was. Venn wasn’t
likely to allow anyone or anything to interfere with Camryn’s happiness. If Rhine
wanted to keep Niki with him at the keep, he was going to have to help her.

She’d walked around the bridge for hours, quietly asking
each crew member what they did and how. Sometimes they showed her simple things
and allowed her to take over a task for a while. Now he had two women working
on his ship. Bronwyn was still in training.

As time passed, all he could think about was how easily
she’d agreed to sleep with him. In Tuetvon, it had taken the threat of
molestation by Bute Chaeen to convince her. He thought he understood what
influenced her decision. She didn’t want A’Di anywhere near him and Niki
enjoyed the pleasure his body gave her. He was going to use the knowledge
shamelessly.

It shouldn’t take more than getting naked in her presence.
He’d never thought about the way he was made before, other than to thank the
Deity he was fit and able to contribute to his tribal duties. Every time Niki
ran her eyes leisurely over his form, it made him proud that she could take so
much pleasure in looking at him.

He couldn’t allow her to explore his body this morning, but
now would be an excellent time. They were taking two-man shifts on the bridge
tonight and Rhine and Gunter were on rest cycle first. He sent Bronwyn to bed.
As he gathered Niki and she gathered A’Di to leave the bridge, the Rarian
halted their progress.

“Mistress Niki, when will I be allowed access to the
Master?”

Niki blinked at her and he sensed anger begin to well up
inside the Earth woman.

“A’Di, you do not have to serve in that way anymore. Surely
you would prefer to have a good night’s rest,” Niki’s voice held a noticeably
hard edge.

He touched her arm and guided her a few steps away.

“You better not be getting ready to say you’ll take her up
on her offer.” She stared him hard in the eyes as she said the words and it
struck him as funny. Less than two days ago, she professed to want nothing to
do with him.

“She is Rarian, Niki,” he said.

“Speak plainly, man. What does that have to do with me?”

“Her species must have frequent and daily sexual relations
to maintain good health.” He forgot sometimes she did not understand the rules
of the cultures around her.

“I call bullshit,” she said.

“I take that to mean you don’t believe me. It is true.” They
stared at each other. Rhine attempted to look trustworthy, even though he’d
never had his honor questioned before.

Finally, Niki made a small noise in her throat and turned
back to A’Di.

“You still can’t have,” she paused and looked back at him
with a smirk, “the master. There are three other men on this spaceship. Captain
Rhine won’t mind if you convince one of them to help you.”

A’Di’s eyebrows drew down over her black eyes. “The Master
is not available,” she said slowly.

“No, but just look around, A’Di. I’m sure you can convince
one of these guys to keep you healthy. One, two, three, I don’t care. As long
as they’re willing. But not this one.” She pointed back at him and he watched
in fascination as she laid out the rules for the other woman. “Oh, and when we
get to Ordan, stay away from my sis—stay away from Lady Huntu’s husband. You
and I are friendly now, but I don’t want to be ugly with you.”

“Ugly, but you are beautiful,” A’Di said, looking Niki up
and down, confused.

“I mean behave ugly. On my world, I was trained as a female
warrior.”

A’Di nodded. “No Captain Rhine and no Lord Huntu.”

He couldn’t help it, he grabbed Niki and pulled her against
his front. He looked around at the other men, but he didn’t have to see their
faces to know they were amused.

Gunter cleared his throat. “Since I have time, I volunteer
to be the first to help you with your health.”

A’Di looked up at him and smiled. “You are all very
wonderful to look at. I’m sure you will have beautiful cocks for me to suck and
fuck.” She frowned, then smiled. “Mistress Niki must be a master of the sexual
arts if the master will only allow her to see to his needs.”

Niki started coughing. He heard a snicker from Olaf. Gunter
led A’Di from the bridge.

“Space is going to drive me crazy,” Niki muttered. “Come on,
oh great and powerful master.”

As they left the room, he wondered if there was something
wrong with him that he found her sarcasm sexy. Probably. She amused him. He
knew she didn’t see him as her master in any way. She didn’t acknowledge he
held a deed to her person.

He had time. He was sure if he kept his little master of the
sexual arts busy for the next seven days, she would find it harder to deny him
on Ordan. She was already possessive and he gave her every opportunity to claim
him even if she thought the situation would be temporary. It wouldn’t be. She
was his.

He would let her discover the fact on her own.

He opened his chamber door and allowed her to precede him
inside. He’d brought her things over earlier. She looked around and he tried to
picture the space through her eyes. All the rooms were remarkably similar. They
consisted of a large lounging space with a sleeping space and bathing room
beyond.

He had star charts tacked to the walls and holograms of his
family. He watched her walk around. She looked at each item and he leaned
against the side wall to observe her reactions. She touched things. He watched
her trace the diaphanous outlines of a Zunchar Nebula holographic photograph.

She studied each of his personal holograms. “Who is this? I
saw him in the hologram in my room also.“

“Venn and Bronwyn’s younger brother, Hans.”

“This is different than how I thought your space would
look,” she said. She turned to face him.

“Oh?”

“I was thinking skulls and crossbones, leather and whips.”
She smiled.

“No, you weren’t.”

“You’ve worn leather each day I’ve seen you.” She shrugged.

He took off his jacket and her eyes dilated and her
heartbeat leapt. He tossed it on the couch and stood there by the door,
waiting.

“Your turn,” he said. She raised her eyebrow. “Take
something off.”

She kicked off her shoes, then smirked.

He pulled his tunic over his head and tossed it the way of
his jacket.

“I wish I had some dollar bills,” she muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing. My turn, right?” She reached under her skirt and
pulled off her leggings.

He supposed it was the taboo nature of bare legs in society,
but every time he saw her without her leggings, he felt as if something extra
illicit was happening. The slit in the sides of the dress’s bisected skirt
climbed all the way to her waist.

Suddenly, she flipped the side so her right leg was
completely bare. She turned her leg at an angle and the defined muscles of her
leg and thigh snared his attention. Long expanses of
colbruna
-colored
skin sent waves of desire throughout his body. He adjusted his cock. His pants were
distinctly uncomfortable.

She covered her leg. “Maybe a preview will motivate you to
speed up.”

His boots were next. He cheated a little and tugged off his
socks at the same time. She pulled her panties down and discarded them quickly.
The pulse throbbed at her neck and her breathing was labored. He reached for
his waistband.

“Wait, can I do it?” she asked. Her eyes traveled from his
clearly defined shaft up to his eyes.

He pulled his hands away as she walked toward him. Brown
skin peeked through the slits in the sides of her dress as she moved. The slope
of her thigh tantalized him. He wanted to grab her and end the game he’d begun.
He didn’t. He wanted her to come to him. He needed her to reach for him,
whether she thought it was a good idea or not.

When she finally stood before him, she slid her hands from
his shoulders down his torso and back up. She repeated the process again,
pulling her hands a little closer together. Every place she touched tingled.
His cock twitched each time her hands slid closer to it.

“You are a beautiful man. This is the first time I get to
explore you.” She smiled. “Somebody forgot to tie me up.”

Her hands on him weren’t a laughing matter. He remained
still while she stroked him. She ran her hands around his side to his back and
tucked herself in close. He felt her hardened nipples rub his torso and
groaned. She shimmied slightly and rubbed her body against his.

“That’s nice,” she whispered. Then, more loudly, she said.
“I’ll have to get to your arms later. I’ve been waiting to do this for a
while.”

She unfastened his pants and directed him to step out of
them. Right after she tossed them to the side, she caressed his ass before
sliding her hands around his hips to gently take hold of his cock. The first
contact was electric. He jerked against her and she gripped him tighter.

He wasn’t the only one affected. He opened his senses wide
and studied her reactions. Her skin was flushed. Her chest heaved. She breathed
more quickly than normal and he watched her tongue peek out and moisten her
bottom lip as she gazed down. Her hands made a slow, but firm slide up and down
his shaft. He could smell her arousal, spicy, piquant yet sweetly redolent.

He reached for her updo and quickly untied the cloth she
used to keep it in place, then finger-combed her soft curly hair. It pooled
around her face and she looked up at him through several flyaway strands. Her
eyes were heavy with desire.

“You’re breathtaking,” he said.

“See, I knew you were smart.”

She slid slowly down his body, not releasing his shaft for
even a moment. He gathered the mass of her hair and pulled it away from her
face with one hand. She looked up at him before opening her mouth and slowly
taking him in. Her mouth was sublime. Warm and wet. She sucked and
simultaneously pulled him in deeper. His eyes tried to close as he groaned, but
he fought the impulse. He didn’t want to miss a moment. Watching her take him
slowly into her mouth was rapturous.

He felt the back of her throat before she ran out of shaft.
She took a deep breath. He felt it all the way to his toes. She watched his
face as she sucked, pulling back until she sucked only the tip of his cock
before taking him in again. She gained speed and he tightened his hold on her
hair. She gasped around his cock. Her tongue swirled as she maintained a tight
seal around his shaft and increased her speed.

He felt one of her hands begin to mold and caress his balls.
It was simply too much for him. The sight of her on her knees before him, the
glassy desire-filled look in her eyes, the tight sweet suction of her mouth and
her warm hand stroking him sent him over the edge.

“I’m coming,” he gasped.

She didn’t pull away. His release was massive. All the blood
rushed from his extremities to his cock. He never looked away as she struggled to
swallow every drop.

He recovered slowly. He felt her gently pull her mouth away
and stand. He leaned forward, pulled her to him with the hand still tangled in
her hair and kissed her.

Their tongues tangled and she reached up and clasped her
hands behind his neck. He released her hair and unfastened her dress in the
back. He interrupted the kiss to pull the dress up and off. He tossed it on top
of his clothes and looked down at her.

Her body was a delicate combination of voluptuous and
powerful. He picked her up and carried her to the bed in the next chamber.
Spread out over the coverings, her body invited him to join her. He spread her
legs and gazed at her core. He wasted little time on preliminaries. He wanted
to taste her and tucked himself between her thighs.

He inhaled deeply before placing both her feet on his
shoulders and pressing her thighs toward the bed. He felt them quiver beneath
his hands and ran his hands up her thighs slowly to steady her. She was open to
him. Her folds were drenched. Seeing the abundant evidence of her arousal was
as heady to his senses as her scent.

“Come on, man. I wasn’t this mean to you.” She grabbed
handfuls of his hair and urged him forward.

He chuckled. She shivered as his breath teased her delicate
skin. He covered her core with his mouth and kissed her deeply.

“Yes,” she hissed.

Every time he tasted her was better than the last. It had to
be the anticipation. In the back of his mind, every moment of the day, was the
thought of feasting on her and drinking her nectar. He devoured her, sucking
and caressing her folds with his tongue. She urged him closer, lifting her
hips. He helped by grabbing the plush globes of her ass and lifting her closer
to his mouth.

“My damn, you are eating me just right,” she whispered. “I
am so close.”

She whimpered and he redoubled his efforts. He loved when
she climaxed against his mouth. Lapping up the extra succulent liquid her pussy
created was quickly becoming his second favorite thing to do behind fucking her
with abandon. He’d get to that next.

He concentrated on her clit and she exploded. He caught all
her juices in his waiting mouth. He swallowed all he could before kissing her
pussy lips gently. He lowered her ass to the bed and slowly climbed up her
body. She heaved and twitched under him, but didn’t hesitate at all to kiss his
mouth passionately at his urging. She separated their mouths and licked his
chin.