Hinekiri (8 page)

“What the hell else am I meant to think, woman?”

“I would never force myself on a man,” Hinekiri said with quiet dignity. Just when Richard was beginning to believe her, she punctured his faith with an impish smile. “I have to admit I’ve imagined it a time or two. Having a man helpless and at my command. I’d dress myself in tight red leather with lots of strategic slits.” She waggled her brows up and down and stared into the distance as if she were pondering the scenario. “And a whip. I’d definitely have a whip. Maybe a feather tickler as well. A red one to match my leather outfit.”

“Let. Me. Go.” A vein pulsed at Richard’s temple. The damn thing beat a noticeable tattoo. No doubt Hinekiri was having fun at his expense. The vein twitched again. He was getting on in years so he hoped the bloody thing wouldn’t pick this moment to burst. He’d prefer to retain some dignity.

The smile dropped off Hinekiri’s face, replaced by a grim scowl and a taut jaw that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a pugilist. She glided to the door.

Panic roared through Richard even as he admired the sway of her backside. “Where are you going? You can’t leave me bound.” He glared at his erection and swallowed. As he watched, a bead of pre-cum formed at the tip. What the hell? Heat suffused his face. He fought the cuffs encircling his hands and feet, uncaring that Hinekiri could see how uncomfortable he was with this weird situation. She’d already seen him at his worst. His gut wasn’t as flat as a younger man’s and his face bore the wrinkles of experience. Any man would feel this way, waking up bound with a hard-on. Even a young man in his prime.

Hinekiri opened the door, but instead of leaving, she whistled. “Killer! Here, Killer.”

Richard heard a dull bark. The dog, who was still very purple, galloped into the room at top speed. Momentum took her halfway across the room then she suddenly rose into the air. The expression on the dog’s face was one of astonishment and Richard chuckled despite himself.

“Woof. Woof.” Killer’s legs scrambled as if she was trying to run. The move shot her upward. Her head struck the ceiling with a dull thud.

“Woof.” It was a cry of pain and fright.

“Don’t panic, Killer. I’ll get you down. Keep calm.” Hinekiri seemed to bend her knees—Richard wasn’t one hundred percent sure since her gown covered her legs—and she floated toward the ceiling. She controlled her ascent better than the dog. Before she hit, she waved her arms and hovered. Reaching out, she scooped up the little purple dog and calmly descended again. She glided over to the door, let Killer out and moved back to him.

Understanding dawned in Richard. He was bound for his own safety. But that didn’t explain the painful erection. “What is this room?”

“A guest cubicle. All our private cubicles are gravity enhanced.”

“Why?”

“Our scientists have found it is easier on the body and it decreases the aging process if gravity is adjusted upward when the body is at rest. How’s the arm?” Hinekiri trailed a hand across his bare chest.

His skin jumped beneath her stroking fingers. Every bit of blood not already in his groin region zapped south. “The arm is fine. Other parts of me are not.”

Hinekiri licked her lips, leaving them moist and shiny. “So I see, sailor.” Her fingernails scraped over his pectoral muscles, alternatively stroking and scratching until he shuddered.

“Enough.” Richard’s eyes remained fixed on her body. In truth, he didn’t really want her to stop, but he was getting to the stage where embarrassment was becoming a deciding factor. He gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain his dignity.

“I haven’t used Dalconian healing liquid on a human before. The balm has drawn out the poison from your system, but this…” She smirked when she studied his groin. “Seems to be a side effect of the healing process.”

“Will it go down?” He’d never used pills to get it up before but imagined this was how the drug must feel.

“I don’t know.” Hinekiri pursed her lips, attracting his attention. The need to taste her lips again was a fever in his blood. The twinkle in her violet eyes told him she knew of his desperate need to touch. “I managed to complete the repairs while you were healing. I’ve put the ship on autopilot after doing a couple of test circuits around Sloan. We have a few hours…” she trailed off, one brow arching in a silent question.

“Touch me.” Richard’s voice was hoarse with need.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to take advantage.”

Richard snorted. “I’m in pain here. Be gentle with me.”

“I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” Hinekiri smiled. “I have plans. A holiday together. Ten days exploring Africa, watching the sunset, tasting the local food and spending our nights together. Lots of loving. A romantic interlude. How does that sound? Do you still want to go to Africa with me?”

“Yes to everything.” Richard’s heart punched his ribs, and it wasn’t thoughts of watching a beautiful sunset that increased his pulse rate.

“Good. I’ll leave you bound for the moment because it takes time for the body to adjust to the gravity, but I promise not to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. How about a safe word?”

“A safe word?”

“Hmmm.” Hinekiri’s hand swept down his chest and across his belly. Richard sucked in his gut, holding his breath as he wondered what she was going to do with that hand. “Maybe the knowledge bank is out of date. What I mean is we’ll agree on a word that you can use if you want me to stop doing whatever I happen to be doing to you.”

“How about stop? That sounds like a great word,” Richard said dryly.

“Agreed. Your body is well-preserved.” Her hand lingered, the pressure of her fingers light and very, very distracting.

“Thanks. I think.” Richard wondered what Hinekiri would come out with next. She was so different from Felicity—confident with not a shred of hesitation or self-doubt. Ten days… “When are you going to show me yours?” Damn, where had that come from? He glanced at Hinekiri to gauge her reaction and let his breath ease out when he saw her broad grin. When it came to sex, he was a little behind the times. He’d bet Hinekiri could teach him a thing or two. A bark of laughter erupted. An old dog learning new tricks. Hell, he might even enjoy learning something new.

Hinekiri’s hand continued to sweep down his body. Richard’s breath caught. He shuddered. And then she wrapped her warm hand around his cock. He froze as desire kicked him squarely in the gut. She massaged his erection. Firmly. A heavy, pulsating sensation pumped through his body. Richard’s eyes drifted shut to concentrate on every sensation. He smelled her perfume—heady with the same citrus scent as his soap. The soft rustle of her gown sounded in time with the beat of his heart. Her hand released his erection.

“Please.” His eyes flew open. “Don’t stop.”

“I have no intention of stopping, sailor. Lie back and enjoy.” She gave him a bright, toothy smile then leaned over his floating body.

Richard felt her warm breath on his balls seconds before she took him into her moist mouth. Her tongue lapped delicately across the extended tip of his cock. Richard held his breath, unable to believe she would love him this way. It was intimate. Personal. His breath eased out with a hiss. Damnation, her mouth was soft. Wet. Teasing. It felt damn good the way she licked across the head of his cock.

Hinekiri used suction, drawing lightly on his shaft. The shockwaves ignited a fire inside, the sensual pleasure better than anything he’d experienced for a long, long time. His body quivered and he couldn’t prevent thrusting his hips upward and digging deeper past her lips. He made a dark sound low in his throat and she glanced up to meet his gaze. Her eyes flashed full of devilment, fuelling his carnal fantasies—hell, taking them to new heights.

“Oh man.” Words failed him so Richard went with touching, trying to communicate silently. He threaded his fingers through Hinekiri’s hair, tearing the blonde locks from her normally immaculate style. “Hinekiri,” he whispered when the cuffs binding him in place rustled and creaked.

His balls drew tighter beneath her ministrations. The wet rasp of her tongue brought another groan, husky and heartfelt. He wondered if his heart would pound right out of his body due to the attentions of her talented mouth. She seemed to know exactly what to do and when, what he needed. Each quick flick of tongue, each draw of her mouth on his flesh stoked the fire roaring through his throbbing body. Another thrust. His hands tightened in her hair, but she never stopped licking and sucking, laving his swollen, sensitive flesh.

His hips pistoned as release crawled to the surface, shimmering in his balls, gathering momentum. Hinekiri took him deep, her cheeks hollowing when she worked him. Strands of her hair rubbed against his scrotum, the delicate brush of her fragrant-scented locks, combined with the heat of her mouth, pushing him into an explosive release. He gasped, his entire body jerking and restraints clacking with the force of his ejaculation.

Gradually, his body relaxed, his hold on her hair gentling.

Hinekiri pulled away and licked her lips with a hot, saucy grin. “Sailor, you do that so well.”

“Let me see you. Touch you. Take off your gown for me.”

“I’m not young and beautiful.” Hinekiri tossed her head, her hair falling in a golden stream down her shoulders. “I’ve never been beautiful. Interesting perhaps,” she mused, her lips curling into a self-depreciating smile.

“My father always used to tell me beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To me, you’re attractive.” He held out his hand in a silent demand for her to move closer. “You’re everything I could want in a woman. You have beautiful eyes—kind eyes. Your smile makes me want to grin in return and your hair.” Richard eyed the curtain of blonde hair that reached halfway down her back now he’d tugged it loose. “What man doesn’t want to trail his hands through hair like yours? It’s a male fantasy to have a woman’s hair pooling over his body as he loves her.” He traced her lips with his thumb. “You make me laugh. Hinekiri, I don’t want to be with anyone else. Besides, I’m no oil painting.”

“I want you.” The humor bled from Hinekiri’s face until it was expressionless. He wondered what she was thinking. She’d changed the moment he’d informed her he found her attractive.

“Then we’re agreed. Wanting each other is enough. Nothing else matters.”

Hinekiri stilled before she nodded.

“The healing balm you put on me is better than any of our Earth sex drugs. I want you again. I need you, Hinekiri.”

The sudden smile on her face was blinding. He stared in wonder as her gown dropped to the floor with a few muttered words from Hinekiri. More alien magic but not very practicable. Anyone could say the words required to disrobe her. His eyes took in her naked body. His gaze shifted up and down her body. She appeared a little bit different from Felicity.

“The gown works on voice recognition,” Hinekiri said when she stepped from the circle of rainbow fabric. It floated up toward the ceiling. “Why are you staring?” She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes wide and apprehensive. Her mouth pulled to a tight line of disappointment. “Have you changed your mind?”

“Free me, Hinekiri.” His voice was urgent. Panicked.

“It’s all right. I understand.” Hinekiri gathered her dignity like a warm blanket and undid the cuffs on his feet first before moving to release his hands. She kept a firm grip on his upper arm to stop him from shooting up toward the ceiling.

Quiet pride kept her shoulders straight and the tears at bay. Rejected. Talk about feeling used. She had to get out of here before she started howling. Hinekiri never lost control—it was a point of pride. She’d go to the flight deck and plot her course to Africa. She’d forget about the extreme and unusual attraction she felt toward him and her desire to keep him close. Pragmatism was called for since this time spent with Richard was temporary.

She was destined to live alone.

Hinekiri forced a smile. Knowing her destiny didn’t stop her from hoping for a different path.

Chapter Five

“How do I keep my balance under control? I want to make love to you, but I don’t want to knock myself out at the same time. Hell, what about condoms? I’m a board member of a condom company. You’d think I’d plan better.”

“But I thought… Are we going to love each other?” Hinekiri heard the surprise in her voice and saw it on his face.

“That’s the general idea. Apart from the condom problem.” Richard cupped her cheek with his hand and instantly shot upward.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I received inoculations for
everything
. Nothing will happen that shouldn’t.” A gurgle escaped and she grabbed his thigh before he rose any higher. “If you find yourself ascending toward the ceiling, don’t fight. Struggling against the gravity makes you go faster. Just relax and you’ll hover.” She tugged at his legs and waist until they were face-to-face.

Richard nodded, but he wasn’t paying attention to her words. Instead, his eyes roved her naked breasts. He reached out, his hand trembling as it settled on her flesh. A delicate lacy tattoo swirled across one breast and around the other, the blues and greens making him think of the changing colors of the ocean. Even her nipples sported a vibrant turquoise.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, glancing up to meet her eyes. His fingers drifted across one pouting turquoise nipple, touching for a fleeting second. It contracted to a hard point as he watched. Bending his head, he took her nipple into his mouth. She made a gurgling sound and when he glanced up, he saw her head lolled back. She’d closed her eyes and displayed a bright, wide smile. Her open sensuality and enjoyment did more for his ego than all the words in a dictionary. Without opening her eyes, Hinekiri cupped both breasts, offering him easier access. Richard settled in to enjoy the treat, licking along the swirling patterns, nipping, tracing her areola with his tongue. She tasted rich and spicy, reminding him of Felicity and baking day, but Hinekiri didn’t resemble his late wife.

He followed the swirls down her body, across her ribs and toward her pelvic bone. Here, another difference tweaked his curiosity. “There’s no hair.”

“Dalconians don’t have body hair. It’s not so bad since it makes me very sensitive. Believe me,” she purred, her fingers busily mussing his hair. “That’s a good thing.”