DangerouslyHis (10 page)

His hands, strong and hard, were on her back, massaging and
bringing her closer. Her chest heaved, her lungs unable to draw enough air. Her
breasts pressed hard against his chest. Her hands found their way into his hair
and tangled in the dark mass.

The animals in the gardens seemed to sing in the background,
only for them.

She sighed longingly as he pulled away.

“I fear Taio
won’t
spare my life when he finds out
I’ve fallen in love with his sister.”

“Come, Saia.”

She averted her eyes from where Justin sat across the room
and stood. Tonight hadn’t been any different than those since she’d arrived.
They weren’t able to keep their eyes off each other during dinner. Saia had
done her best to hide who she was looking at and who her smiles and giggles had
been for. But more than once she’d turned to find her mother’s gaze on her
before shifting to Justin.

Now, after dinner and after the last entertainment show of
the night, Saia followed her mother out of the dining hall and back to their
private apartment.

“Mother, may I join Taio and the others? I heard they were
going to relax in one of the common rooms.” She hoped Justin would be with
them.

“Surely not, Saia. Taio and Eva mingle more with the
citizens of Sonis than I’m comfortable with. I don’t pretend to know what
Ranuit Pi expects of you but until then, you’ll distance yourself from
commoners.” Her mother cut her gaze to her. “From
all
commoners.”

Saia faced straight ahead. Her mother had been paying more
attention to her and Justin’s flirting than she’d realized. “Ranuit Pi might expect
me to have a relationship with his people.”

“When that time comes, you’ll be more than prepared.”

This was a fight she didn’t feel like engaging in. “Yes,
Mother.”

Her mother sighed. “Who was that human you couldn’t stop
looking at?”

She could lie to her mother, but it would be pointless. “His
name is Justin Blake. He is a friend of Eva’s.”

“Does he have a death wish?” she asked sternly.

Saia inhaled sharply. “Why would you say such a thing?”

“You are the only daughter and only sister to very powerful
males, and you are contracted to bond with a warlord. Only a male with a death
wish would openly engage in such behavior.”

“He believes he is in love with me.”

Her mother’s steps slowed. “Did he tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“What good would come of it?”

Saia shrugged.
None.
But it still didn’t stop her
from starting to feel the same way.

“Do you return his feelings?” her mother asked.

She smiled and placed a hand over her heart. “I—I think I
do. I can’t explain it. When I first saw him, it was as though time stopped
just so I could memorize his face and capture the way he looked at me forever.
I can’t keep my eyes off him. Whenever he enters the room, my soul comes alive.
My body is so aware of him. It’s like…like…”

“Like your heart sings to him,” her mother added.

Saia clapped her hands together. “Yes! You know the feeling?
You and father? Once? A long time ago?”

Her mother shook her head. “No, there was someone before
your father. He and I were very much in love.”

The sadness in Fainia’s words struck a painful cord within
her. “Oh Mother, I am so sorry.”

“No, don’t be. That was a very long time ago and the
memories I have of him can never be taken away. That is true love, when your
heart still sings for him even though he is long gone.” Fainia placed a hand
over her own heart. “What of Raffi? I thought you loved him?”

“No, I didn’t. I found that he was compatible to the
lifestyle in which I wanted to live.”

“You mean traveling the universe?”

Saia nodded.

“Tsk, surely I had thought you would have given up those ridiculous
notions, Saia. You are a princess. You were raised to be the mate of a world
ruler.”

“I want something else for my life. Is that so wrong?”

Her mother looped an arm around her waist. “My baby, I want
the very best for you. I wish I could tear up the bonding contract and stuff it
down Olo’s throat,” Fainia snarled.

Saia put a hand over her mouth. “I’ve never heard you talk
like that.”

Fainia waved a hand through the air. “But it wouldn’t
matter. He would only find someone else. Don’t you see? Because of who you are,
you are destined to always be at the whim of a mate. Just as Taio is destined
to be a ruler.”

“Kiehle is the son of a king and he is able to live his life
as he chooses.” Kiehle traveled to faraway planets, hardly ever coming home.
She envied him for that. He led the life she wanted.

“Kiehle is the second son of the king. Ancients forbid if
anything should happen to Taio. Kiehle’s carefree life would come to an abrupt
end. He would be expected to come home and take his rightful place as heir.”

“I wish I were the second son instead of the only female.”

“So do I, my love.”

Her mother’s mood had turned somber and there was no more
talk of lost loves. Saia had thought to pry but felt the pain from her mother’s
heart. They walked back to their rooms in silence.

Would her heart sing for JB when she was with Ranuit Pi? She
hoped so, for that would make the loneliest nights bearable.

When she reached her room, she locked the door behind her
and went out to the balcony. Even in the darkness, the animals were busy. She
heard them bustling about.

“Justin,” she called out softly.

They hadn’t planned to meet; she just hoped he might be in
the gardens after dinner. But she also knew the others were meeting to enjoy
each other’s company, and that likely included Justin. She called for him
again, just in case. When there was no answer, she went back inside.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Yes,” she called, walking to the door.

“Did you want me to draw your bath?” Milin asked.

“No” was on the tip of her tongue before she thought about
it. It was still early, she probably had ample time before Justin finished his
meal, met with Eva and Jess in the common sitting room and then hopefully came
to see her afterward. She unlocked the door and let her in.

As Milin made her bath, Saia began to undress, laying her
clothes across the bed for Milin to get later. The aroma of sweet-smelling
flowers wafted through the air, filling her room. All the anticipation coiled
in her muscles began to release.

“Is there anything you else you need?” Milin asked.

“No, thank you,” she said.

When Milin left, Saia engaged the lock once more, crossed
her room and went through the doors on the far side, where the private bath was
located. Steam still rose from the deep tub and she slipped in without a second
thought.

Submerged in soapy water was where Saia felt most at ease,
where she could relax from prying eyes. There was no need to hold her spine
erect, so she let it lie back against the tiles. No longer needing to hold her
head up high, she let it roll back to rest against the ledge. She closed her
eyes and let her fingers play in the water, bringing her hands up to her
breasts, letting the water run down the mounds of flesh that peeked through the
water’s surface.

She couldn’t help but sigh as her nails skimmed across her
large brown nipples. She caught them between her fingers and plucked, making
them ache with pleasure.

She twisted and teased her nipples until a moan escaped her
lips.

A sharp intake of breath came from the doorway.

Startled, she covered herself and turned to her stomach to
face the door, staying below the water with her chin rested on the ledge.

Justin stood in the bathing room doorway. His hand gripped
the frame so hard, his knuckles were a shade lighter than the rest of his skin.
His body was rigid. The thick outline of his cock could be seen clearly from
where she sat.

His normally playful demeanor was replaced with lust—carnal
lust.

She clenched her hands on the ledge.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice breaking. He cleared his
throat. “I shouldn’t have intruded.”

“How did you get in here?” she asked. Another
emotion—wanting—quickly replaced any previous embarrassment.

He pointed over his shoulder, toward her room. “The
balcony.”

“Did Ship let you through one of the apartments again?”

One side of his mouth rose in a smile. “I’m a space pirate—a
locked door couldn’t keep me from getting to you.”

“Really?”

“I’ve broken into fancier places than this.”

“And survived.”

“Clearly.”

She should’ve been mad at him for coming into her room
announced. For seeing her naked. For watching her play with her breasts. She
pulled her lower lip into her mouth and let her eyes wander to his cock.

No. Mad wasn’t the emotion she was feeling.

“I went to the garden and you weren’t there. You also didn’t
answer your com-link,” he continued.

“I thought you were with Taio and Eva in the common room.”

“I try to stay away from Taio as much as possible.”

They stared at each other in silence.

“I was going to call you later. After my bath.”

He placed his hands on his hips and then dropped them to
shield his cock. “I’m glad I didn’t wait for you.”

Her insides tingled down to her core. “This is where you would
excuse yourself.”

“Are you kicking me out?” he asked. His voice seemed much
deeper than before.

She should. Ancients knew she should. “No, Justin the space
pirate.”

She turned around to lie on her back once more and closed
her eyes. Her body shook with anticipation. She heard the door closing and
resisted the urge to turn around. As she heard his soft steps approaching, her
chest constricted. She clenched her jaw shut.

Next came the soft sound of what she thought was Justin
pulling off his boots. He eased his legs in the water, one on each side of her.
She found enough courage to open her eyes and saw that his pants had been
rolled up to his knees, displaying toned, hairy legs. She let him cradle her
head in his hands as he sat down on the ledge. Gently, he eased her head back
to rest squarely on his groin.

She didn’t know which was worse. The compromising situation
or that she was so excited by it.

His fingers ran massaging tracks along her scalp and by her
temples. “Do what you were doing before I interrupted.”

Everything stilled within her. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I was… I can’t do that with you watching.”

His hands trailed down her face…her neck…her chest…until
finally he reached her breasts.

She arched her back and inhaled sharply. Insistent throbbing
began between her thighs. She squeezed her knees together. His fingers massaged
and kneaded her breasts. He cupped them as if he were trying to guess the
weight. When his fingertips skimmed her nipples, she moaned. Embarrassed by the
sound, she put a hand over her mouth.

He pulled her hand away. “I want to hear how good I make you
feel.”

And there it was again, stronger. The throbbing.

“Am I making you feel good?” he asked.

She nodded, not trusting herself to talk.

He scooped up the bubbles that skimmed the water and rubbed
a handful over her breasts, covering them. His hands were smooth against her
flesh. Her nipples were alive with sensation.

She held on to his arms as he massaged around and across.
She ached for him to touch between her legs—where the throbbing continued to
build.

Could she?

She could.

She tugged his hand, making him reach farther.

“Do you want me to massage you down there?”

“Yes,” she moaned.
A hundred times yes.

He slipped his arms beneath hers and pulled her out of the
water. Wet and naked, she slid out of the bath until she lay fully displayed on
the floor. He was on his knees between her legs in the blink of an eye,
watching her intently.

“How much different am I from human females?”

“There
is
one difference that I can think of offhand.”

Suddenly feeling shy, she covered her breasts.

“Don’t.” He pushed her hands out of the way.

“But—”

“You’re beautiful.”

“But different.”

“Not by much.”

“Oh?”

“A woman has what’s called a clit that sits outside their
vagina. When stimulated, it gives them…” He paused.

“It gives them what?”

“An orgasm. It makes them feel good.”

“Oh. Did you say it sits
outside
their vagina? Where
it can be injured? That seems odd.”

He chuckled. “I never thought of it that way.”

“I have something like that, but it’s inside me. It’s called
a
miltori
.”

“And when you touch it, how does it make you feel?”

Heat crept over her face. “I don’t touch it.”

“Why not?” He lowered to his stomach. “You should touch it
all the time.” He placed his hands on the inside of her thighs and gently
pushed them to open wider.

“It’s something princesses don’t do.”

“And you always do what you’re told,” he said in a low
voice.

“I-I used to.”

His finger trailed across her lips and left a tingling path.
Her eyes fluttered in response to the pleasure that was building. She pulled
her bottom lip into her mouth.

“I would like nothing better than to show you how to touch
yourself.”

He heart seemed to leap out of her chest. “Are you going to
teach me now?” she whispered.

His eyes dropped down to where his finger had begun to
caress around her opening. “I want to, I really do. But I’m afraid that I’ll
have to be selfish here.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.

“I’m going to do something better.” His head dropped to her
pussy.

She reached out to stop him. “Wha—”

His tongue darted across her opening.

Her hand froze in midair. “Ahh!” she bit out as her back
arched toward the ceiling.

Her body hummed.
This
was what she craved, what she
needed.

His tongue entered her, flicking in and out.

Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined this
feeling. All this pleasure was too much. Her body seemed to spill over with it.
She could feel her insides boil as he moaned and lapped at her.