AFamiliarFace (3 page)

Pheromones. Has to be pheromones.

“Tell me, little spy, what you seek here. Surely your lord knew he sent you to your death. A nest of Talians is no place for a Phrellian, no matter how attractive.” He nuzzled her neck and nicked her with his teeth, licking at the small spot of blood. Far from being repulsed, Mal moaned under his touch, arching into his cooler frame. She all too easily ignored the discomfort of his chest straps and his heavy weight.

“If you’re some kind of vamp, you should know I’m a witch,” she managed on a hitched breath. All vampires knew better than to attack a witch. Mage blood was venomous to a blood drinker, as they well knew. Core, however, smirked and licked at his lips.

“Vamp?
What manner of creature is this? You know what I am. Tell me what it is you really want. Freedom, perhaps? We all know how terribly the Phrellians treat their females. You’re little more than sex slaves, unwilling receptors of their deviant behavior. Perhaps you came seeking some pleasure?”

He ground his pelvis into her belly, and she gasped at the strong, thick erection prodding her. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, as if savoring her scent. He opened his eyes and frowned. “You want me more than any female has ever desired a coupling. Did they drug you?”

“Drug me?” Had Rattler somehow spiked her water during her last break? Muttering a quick and simple spell under her breath, she checked her health and found it to be in perfect order. “No. I don’t understand any of this. One minute I walked through the black door. I fell asleep. Then I awoke to the sound of fighting and sex.”

He smiled, his grin full of erotic promise. “Sex, hmm? So you did come here wanting pleasure.”

“No. I just wanted a nice, warm bed…”
Oh yeah, great wording there, Mal.
“To
sleep
in.”
Apparently Core heard only the word
bed
because his eyes flashed, snakelike again as he stared down at her. He lowered his mouth, and she struggled, not wanting to end up his next meal. Instead of the sharp teeth she feared, a soft, seeking tongue traced her lips and seduced its way inside her mouth.

Rich, alluring scents filled her, and she groaned under the sensual onslaught. The exotic, rough yet smooth feel of his tongue as he probed and demanded her response drove her crazy. He thrust inside her mouth, simulating sex before stroking and sucking on her tongue. The action drove her insane with lust.

He pulled back, his eyes glittering, his voice thick as he said, “You see, little spy? Pleasure is here for the asking. Take it.” He lowered his mouth again, this time to the pulse point in her neck. Flickering his tongue along her skin, he set her nerves aflame.

Mal should have cast a spell, used one of her remaining charms, did
something
to free herself from this strange and dangerous male. But she couldn’t think. She could only feel. It had been so long since she’d last experienced sex, what felt like a lifetime ago. Even then she’d never felt such hunger, such incredible lust for another. The odd feelings Core stoked felt all too similar to the rush she experienced when working with magic.

His hands stole her breath as they cupped her breasts, and she arched into him, twisting when he rubbed his thumbs over her hard nipples.

“Such treasures, but bound strangely,” he murmured. He leaned up from her and frowned, his gaze glued to hers before drifting down to her chest. A quick tug lifted her shirt over her head, and he stared hard at her bra before smiling again. “Ah, but such a tempting package.”

“Front clasp.” She pulled his head back to hers, unable to keep from touching him. She clenched her hands in his surprisingly soft hair, amazed at the silky texture of the dark black stuff. He groaned and slanted his mouth over hers, pressing harder, pushing her for more.

 A sudden snap and her bared breasts met his hands. He palmed her breasts, and without wanting or even meaning to, she exploded into a violent orgasm. Core shuddered as well, his body cool against hers as she tensed in pleasure. She barely felt the rest of her clothing being stripped away before he shoved her thighs wide and pushed his head between her legs.

“Mother of Shen,” he whispered, his breath caressing her sex like a lover’s kiss. “Such a hungry little spy.” He glanced up and met her satisfied gaze, and she heard a faint…purring? She flushed realizing it was her. His eyes widened, and he blinked in surprise before returning to study her sex.

After a moment’s pause, he thrust a thick finger inside her. His lips found her clit, and he lapped up the moisture pooling between her thighs. She moaned, lost in his touch. As if she hadn’t already climaxed, her body coiled again, preparing itself for another release.

Mal couldn’t understand it, but when he added another finger and increased the pressure on her clit, she didn’t care if she ever understood it. Her purring grew louder, and he began to rumble as well. His skin lit like holiday lights, and he craftily slid out of his chest straps and kilt without missing a beat. His mouth promised bliss yet again, but Mal pushed against his shoulders to slow him down.

“I want you in me this time,” she gasped, twisting under his talented tongue. Her spells would protect against any unwanted pregnancy or disease. A good thing, because right now she didn’t care about anything but Core’s thick cock.

“Yes. Inside you,” he agreed, and slid up her body. Watching her, he slowly pushed the head of his cock inside her, his eyes flashing with heat. His own purring grew louder the farther in he moved. He kept the pressure steady. As thick as he was, she felt some pain mingled with the pleasure, urging her for more.

She wanted to feel him come inside her, wanted to see him reach his peak, to know that she brought him as much pleasure as she’d been given. This stranger, this Core, had given her more than anyone had in years, and she felt a subtle softening in her heart at his unselfishness.   

“You see, little one, pleasure is mine to give and yours to receive.” He thrust deeper, seating himself fully inside her. He grunted and pulled out, then shoved himself back in, as if unable to remain still. “You taste like
sauri
cream, and feel like the finest of
ven
silk.” He groaned as he pummeled harder, his strength an awesome sight as his muscles bunched and tensed under her roving hands. “Yes,
kina
, take me.”

Rocking and pushing, he continued to graze her clit, sending her into another bout of orgasmic bliss. But this time he joined her, his release magnifying her own. He cried out as he spilled, and his climax lasted a good
minute
as he continued to jet inside her. For her part, Mal couldn’t contain the spasms of desire that still shook her, each shudder of his body releasing one in her own.

Moments later, after he’d withdrawn, he propped himself up on his elbows over her and asked in a hoarse voice, “How did you do that?”

“Do what?” she asked in a daze. “I’m swimming in you, Core. Just one big mess of stickiness, and I’ve never felt so good in my life.” She sighed and snuggled into his chest, comfortable at last with his soothing scent. Nothing made since but this. And hell, after her day, let her at least have something worthwhile to cling to.

He said nothing.

When she looked up at him, she saw his concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I released. Inside you.”

“And?”

“This is not possible.”

“How so? I saw you guys sexing it up out there. There’s no arguing you just came inside me.”
And all over me
. The thought caused her to squirm with unbidden desire.
Again?

“No. When we play with others outside of our kind, the sexual bliss we experience is not so…physical.”

Since it seemed important to the big guy, she tried to understand. Shaking off her lethargy, she stared up at him. “You mean you feel all orgasmic, but you don’t get hard?”

“No, we get hard. But there is no seed expelled.”

“Oh. You feel good, but no ejaculation.”

“That is so. But with you, it was different.”

“You bet it was.” She sighed again, with pleasure. “Don’t worry about it, Core. I won’t get pregnant and I’m disease free. This was great and all, but I have a job to get back to. Rats to hunt, spells to create, debtors to evade. Such a fulfilling life,” she ended sarcastically, only to see him stare at her in sudden confusion. “What?”

“Spells? Debtors?” he mangled the word. “Just tell me the truth, little one. I promise you’ll never have to return to them again. We’ll keep you safe here. Tell me about the Phrellians, and know that in the doing, you help us all.”

She frowned. “First off, my name is Mallory West. While compared to you I’m little, at home I’m considered quite tall.”
A lie. Not tall, just average. But a girl could dream
. “And I’m not, never have been, and never will be a Phrellian, whatever that is. I’m a trade witch.”

She waited for some derision, an inkling of distaste. What she normally got at home. But confusion remained in his gray-green eyes.

“I do not understand. You appeared of sudden in our pleasure house, and you claim you do not know the Phrellians.” He scowled down at her. “For all your beauty, you cannot possibly hope to enthrall me into believing your lies. I am the War Leader, which you already know. Play, no matter how enjoyable,” he paused to lick his lips and stare at her breasts, “will not sway me from my intent.”

She swallowed loudly. “Intent?”

“To destroy your master’s kind, and more importantly, the Phrellian stronghold.” He leaned close and took her nipple in his mouth. He bit softly, the press of sharp teeth so incredibly erotic that she cried out. “But I admit, never has a female been so successful in securing my attention. What are you, Mallory? Sernan, Tak? Maybe Gerlyan?”

When she could catch her breath, she answered, “I’m a witch.” She waited for some response. Instead he sucked and nipped at her other nipple. Then he nudged her legs apart and teased her folds with his hard cock. So much for Core needing recovery time.

“Yes,” he hissed. “You’re a witch to have captured my root with no more than your scent.” He thrust deep and groaned, locking himself within her. “Perhaps you would have more from me than this though.” He rocked against her, levering up so that only the contact of their joined bodies remained.

How he could think to talk at all, while she could barely do more than feel, baffled her.

“Answers, locations, perhaps?” he continued.

A hard thrust made her see stars as he hit a magic spot inside her, and she arched into him on a gasp. “Hecate’s staff, what do you want me to say? I came through the black door.” She panted and moaned when he rolled his hips, shifting his thick cock inside her. “R-Rattler told me to take a break, so I did. I fell asleep, and then you pulled me through the doorway.”

He withdrew and straddled her waist, his cock bobbing, shiny with her essence. The scent of their mingled fluids made her mouth water and her body itch for something more. She could only attribute the feeling to being bespelled. God, she wanted him. All of him.

“The doorway, tell me about that.” He inched closer to her mouth, and the overpowering urge to taste him clawed at her.

She quickly explained about The Python Palace and Rattler. Her description of her boss seemed to stun him for a moment, and then he was muttering under his breath, a benediction of sorts.

“Very good, Mallory. Very good. Now open wide and swallow your prize.”

Having never been a big fan of oral sex unless the one on the receiving end, Mallory didn’t understand her need to taste him. She greedily accepted his thick shaft and licked, stroked and sucked for all she was worth. The taste of him, of their combined scents, made her crazy for more. Having him writhe and moan above her as she fondled his velvety sac and sucked on his cock brought her to closer to climax than she could have imagined.

“Yes, little spy, that’s it,” he rasped as he pushed, stretching her lips tight. He gripped her hair, firmly but gently, and thrust. “Swallow my essence and accept my gift.”

She tried to nod but couldn’t move around his thick shaft. He tasted so good, like Ambrosia of the Eternal. She grew wetter the harder she sucked, and when he tensed above her, her vaginal walls spasmed and she came. Closing her mouth tightly around him, she heard his hoarse shout and swallowed large mouthfuls of his seed.

He tasted pure, like strong magic and warring male, and she couldn’t understand why she felt their connection so strongly. Strangers a short time ago, yet she felt as if she knew him, had always known him.

Slowly withdrawing from between her lips, Core leaned down and placed a soft, loving kiss on her mouth. “That, Mallory, was more than I deserved, and so much more than I could have expected.”

He lay next to her and groaned. “You’re no Phrellian. But what you are, I’m afraid, will not be easy to accept.”

Chapter Three

Core had prayed, and he had sacrificed. But nothing could have prepared him for
her.
 He stared at the woman, his gift, and wondered if he would be allowed to keep her once he had done what he promised.

“Okay, big guy. What exactly
am I
?” She humored him, he could see it in her captivating eyes. Flecks of brown and green co-mingled to produce a color so fantastic it must have been god-sent.