Bonded (8 page)

“I…I can’t help it. It’s what you do to me.”

His chuckle was harsh and very male. “I’m flattered.”

He withdrew.

“Wait! What are you doing?”

“Shhh. I’m not going anywhere.” He turned her again, sat back in the tub, and drew her into his lap, facing him. Guided her onto his cock. “I want you to ride me.” A low growl punctuated his words.

“How?” A new rush of heat hit her face, and not from desire. She bit her lip, wishing she could take back the ridiculous question.

Jaren kissed her, just a brief brush of his lips against hers. “No need to be embarrassed. Not with me.” He smiled, and there was something tender in his darkened eyes. “I told you to ask questions.”

“Then…will you show me?”

He didn’t reply. Not in words. He tightened his hold and lifted her up so she rose along the length of his cock until only the tip of him remained inside her. His grip changed. Exerting just enough pressure so she slid back down his hard, thick length. She ground her pelvis into his, and their pubic hair meshed as if they could blend together into a single body.

She didn’t wait for his guidance and repeated the maneuver.

She rose and dropped. Once, twice, then he held her still so she could not move except to rotate against him. Grinding her clit into him with every movement

This was different too. She’d never imagined there could be such variety in the sensations of sex, elicited by something as simple as a change of position. The pressure and rubbing of her clit caused pleasure to build again, faster than before.

Another orgasm began to flutter to life. Taimi whimpered deep in her throat. “I’m being selfish.”

“Not complaining.” The words were forced out past his gritted teeth. He bucked up, hard, and she felt his cock swell thicker, pulsing in fierce counterpoint to her contractions. “Not complaining at all.”

“But…”

“Take what you want. I think it’s sexy.”

His words were more than permission. They gave her the final push over the edge, and she tumbled into another hard, hot climax. His body stiffened. He joined her in release, flooding her insides with the hot rush of his seed.

She collapsed against his chest.

Only his body beneath hers kept her from slipping below the water. His chest rose and fell with each harsh, quick breath.

Water poured over her shoulders and arms, rinsing away the last remnants of the soap he’d used. His cock was still mostly hard, still inside her for a few breathless, wonderful heartbeats before he slipped free from her body.

He lifted Taimi from the water and stepped out of the tub. Reached for the pile of towels. Jaren wrapped one cloth around her, and she clung to him, her legs still shaking.

He stroked her with the cloth, starting the flames inside her again with the deceptively simple gestures. Then he lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the room.

Straight to the bed.

Chapter Six

The Apothecary’s open-air market was unusually crowded, despite the early hour. The longest lines led from the chemists’ booths. Mostly household slaves dressed in their master’s livery and a few freeborn customers. Merchant class, from the looks of them.

Jaren rested his hand on her waist. He’d said it was to keep from losing track of each other in the crowd, but she was glad for the connection, however slight. His touch burned and comforted at the same time, and it took all her willpower to keep from begging him to return to their room at the inn. He nodded at the long lines. “Wonder what they’re selling?”

“Chemicals and potions. Probably to replace those used during the first night of the festival.” Her face heated. Her home system was particularly notorious for aphrodisiacs and stamina enhancers. Especially during this season.

“I see.” His eyes darkened, and a wicked grin played at the corners of his mouth. He knew what she wasn’t saying. “I don’t think we have to get into those lines.”

“No.” Desire certainly wasn’t a problem for her, and Jaren’s stamina was already impressive. If he took one of the enhancers, she doubted she would be able to keep up.

Their gazes locked. He tightened his grip on her waist, and she felt the deep pulse begin again between her legs, along with a slick wetness. Amazing how he could affect her with just a look or a few choice words.

No. It was more than that.

He had always affected her like this. A relentless desire kindled in the first moment she’d seen him.

He drew her closer and tucked her arm through the crook of his elbow. Covered her hand with his. “I’ve never been to this particular market, Taimi. Show me where we need to go.”

They continued walking. “Are you sure you wish to buy these things?”

“Would be pretty foolish of me to hire you as a medic, only to deny you the tools you’re most used to working with.” He shrugged. Took a quick, almost furtive glance at their surroundings. “Buy more than you think you will need, if it can keep its usefulness over time.”

Why was he looking around?

Taimi thought she knew. An odd sensation pricked along the back of her neck: the sense of being watched. Perhaps he also felt it.

She glanced around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Tried to ignore the feeling. It was probably a holdover from her days serving Lady Ethlinda. The household had been run mainly on fear and suspicion among the servants and slaves.

That didn’t explain why Jaren seemed to be feeling it too.

He did another quick survey, turned, and caught her staring at him. A faint smile, barely more than a flicker of motion. “Sorry. Don’t mean to be paranoid. Guess all the accusations are making me jumpy.”

Should she tell him he wasn’t the only one on edge?

She didn’t need to. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re nervous.”

“I’m so used to being watched on everything I do.” Taimi forced a laugh. “Anything else takes some getting used to.”

Jaren gave her a long, considering look but dropped the subject. Yet he continued checking over his shoulder, as did she. The sensation of being watched never waned even as they stopped at several booths to select various dried herbs that would travel well, even in space. Despite his words, she tried to be conservative about what she chose.

Two hours of walking the market made Taimi’s feet ache and her stomach rumble. They carried no packages, no burdens. The merchants would ensure their purchases reached the hangar in good time, though nothing could be loaded on to the
Marama
until the government finished their search. The ship remained under tight guard and—due to a bureaucratic delay in the needed paperwork—the inspection had not yet begun. Much to Jaren’s annoyance.

Jaren expressed some hesitation about eating the local foods, longing for the rations on his ship. It seemed Lady Ethlinda had made some great exaggerations about the distribution of aphrodisiacs in the food and drink during this time of year. Still, Taimi thought she knew a place that might ease his concerns.

Several street food vendors hawked their wares just outside the Apothecary Market. One in particular made a point of preparing everything in front of the customer from start to finish. No mystery spices or odd marinades.

Simple food. Servant’s food.

They slipped into one of the alleys near the booth, using crates and boxes stacked behind a shop as makeshift seats, escaping the worst crush of the crowd.

As they began eating, she caught him staring at her mouth.

Taimi blushed.

She’d never thought something as simple as eating could be erotic, but she couldn’t mistake his look for anything else. It was flattering and a little intimidating all at once.

Her confusion must have been obvious, because he suddenly grinned. Was he laughing at her again?

A faint gloss of grease slicked his well-shaped lips. She wanted to taste them. Take the time to lick them clean before moving on to the more delicious tastes of his skin. In particular, she thought about one of the first things they’d done together, when she’d taken his cock in her mouth. The feel of him, so thick and hard.

The taste of him. The expression of pure pleasure on his handsome face. Under her skirt, she crossed her legs, trying to suppress the pulsing need, but the compression only seemed to intensify the sensation. She was growing wet too.

If only they were alone.

Jaren set his straight white teeth into the last bit of meat and pulled it free. Set the empty skewer aside as he chewed and swallowed. “Know what I was just thinking?”

Taimi swallowed hard. “What?”

He brushed her hair away from her face. Her breath caught in her throat when his fingers skimmed against the sensitive curve of her ear. Jaren leaned in close. His breath was warm and moist against her skin. “You’ve got a sexy mouth, Taimi. I was thinking about how it felt, wrapped around my cock.”

“I…I was thinking about the same thing.”

“I know something better for you to think about.” He stood. Took her by the hand and led her deeper into the alley. Though it was still the middle of the afternoon, little sunlight reached between the closely packed buildings.

It was a dead end filled with more crates. Jaren pulled her into the deeper shadows behind the stacks.

Taimi thought she knew what he wanted. What he expected. She started to kneel before him and reached for the front of his trousers, but he stopped her. Drew her back up to a standing position and kissed her.

He shifted until her back pressed against the alley wall, and he dropped to his knees.

Not what she expected. “What are you doing?”

“This skirt has been driving me crazy. So large and shapeless.” He fisted his hands in the fabric. “But there might be one good thing about it.”

“Oh?”

He gave her a quick, hot look from under his long lashes, the expression in his eyes full of wicked intent. “I bet I could fit under it with you, and no one would even know I was there.”

“Why would you want to—” She broke off as he pushed her thighs apart, opening her body to his hands. His mouth. He teased at her sensitive nub with the tip of his tongue, and she shuddered, her legs quivering until she could barely stand. Jaren disappeared more completely under the cloth.

“I love the way you respond. How you get so wet, just for me.” His voice was muffled by the layer of fabric, but she could almost feel every word. He parted her folds. Lapped at the moisture pooling there. “And you taste so good.”

In the distance, she heard the noise of the crowd—a reminder of their public location—but it didn’t matter now. All focus locked on Jaren and what he was doing to her. He alternated between licking her pussy and teasing her clit, sending jolts of nearly unbearable heat and pleasure racing through her veins.

It felt like her heart would pound right out of her chest, the crazed beat matching the heavy contractions between her legs.

“You like this, don’t you?”

He didn’t really expect an answer, did he? She bit back the needy cries that threatened to give them away. “Jaren…”

“Come for me, sweet. That’s it. Let go.”

As wave after wave of pleasure began to wash over her, there was a loud crash. A tower of crates, just a few feet away, toppled to the ground. Followed by the sound of footsteps, of someone running out of the alley.

Jaren slipped out from under her skirt and smoothed it back into place. His mouth was slick with her moisture, but he made no move to take their encounter further. “We should go.”

“I’m not sure I can walk.”

“I’m not sure I can either.” He drew her hand to the front of his trousers, and the feel of the large, hard shape outlined by the taut cloth sent a fresh surge of need through her. “But if we want to get back to the privacy of the inn…”

“Maybe I could—”

“No. Don’t tempt me.” Jaren softened the harsh words with another of those quick, fleeting grins. He pulled her away from the wall and tucked her arm back into the crook of his elbow. “Come on.”

* * * *

Ethlinda pulled the hood more securely around her face. Though she’d used magic to alter her appearance, it never hurt to be cautious.

Anger coiled deep in the pit of her stomach as she watched the couple emerge from the alley. Even if she had not watched them, the looks on their silly faces would have given them away. The girl was flushed and flustered. Jaren wore a particularly smug expression, almost strutting with the knowledge of the pleasure he’d given his partner.

How nice for them.

She should have known they would find each other. Perhaps their involvement had begun years ago. It would explain her slave’s betrayal. Such an innocent girl would do many things for the first man who condescended to bed her.

Ethlinda immediately dismissed the notion.

Impossible. During their marriage, he had been wholly and completely hers. She was sure of it, and if there was one thing she knew best, it was men.

Captain Caradoc, as her fourth husband, would have been the biggest prize of her life. His assets, though mainly off-world, were enough to rival even the wealthiest nobles of Lorus. And he’d fallen for her charms more than easily enough, giving every indication of being completely besotted by her. Like a schoolboy, almost.

Of course, no man could resist Ethlinda when she chose to pursue him.

Her beauty had always been both a blessing and a curse, raising her from relatively obscure, merchant-class roots to Lorus nobility, though it also brought her more attention than she cared for. Like the amorous aggression of her former jailor.

In the past, however… Pair her appearance with a willingness to do anything a man wanted in bed, and her lack of high birth became irrelevant, though society still deemed each union the worst of scandals.

Especially her first.

He had been a lower-ranking noble. One of her father’s debtors—Ethlinda had been the final payment of what was owed to the man.

Her first husband taught her the power of her appearance, and how to satisfy a man she didn’t want and didn’t care for. She blamed him for her father’s death, and even if she had not, he had been more than forty years her senior. Ancient and repulsive. An old woman working in his kitchens had taught her about poisons. Once he was out of the way, she’d taken the lessons learned in his household to continue climbing up the ranks of Lorus society.