Primal Heat (30 page)

“Yes,” he groaned, breaking the kiss to lick a hot path down her neck. “Now. Always.”

She laughed, tilting her head back to give him as much access to her throat as he wanted. His teeth grazed her neck, his fangs scoring her flesh lightly as he bit down. Her entire body jolted, her hips jerking as she began to arch in wanton abandon. Flames licked at her pussy, made her cry out as sharp hunger ripped through her.

He growled his approval against her skin, the feline loving how wild she was. A smile curved her lips, and she fumbled with the tunic fastenings at his shoulder. He pulled back just far enough to be able to rip his shirt over his head and fling it to the floor. His ebony hair tumbled down to the middle of his back, and she wound her fingers through the silky strands. It was a shiny blue-black color, like a sleek raven's wing. “You're a very beautiful man, Kyber.”

Embarrassment made the flush of lust running under his skin deepen. He jerked open the fly on his pants. His chest heaved as he panted for breath, flashing his fangs with each inhalation. “Thank you, but you are the one who is lovely.”

“I mean it. All of you is beautiful. Inside and out.” Sliding her fingers down the muscled ridges of his abs, she circled his bellybutton before reaching the unyielding arc of his cock. His skin felt like it was on fire, and his dick twitched when she touched it. His desperate need pulsed through even their weak connection—how he wanted to take her hard and fast, make her scream in pleasure and come while he buried himself deep inside her pussy. She moaned, the carnal images bombarding her mind. “God, Kyber. Now. Right now. Hard and fast and
now
.”

“Lean back,” he breathed. She did as he asked, braced her hands behind her, and arched herself in silent offering, so eager for him she felt how her wetness slipped down to dampen her inner thighs. His irises flashed with sparks of power, his gaze moving over her body. His palms covered her breasts, his thumbs chafing her nipples. “Lovely.”

One hand trailed between her breasts, over her ribs, and into her creaming sex. She set her boot heels against the desk, lifting herself into his touch. Heat streaked through her with every subtle flick of his talented fingers. He twisted her nipple, pinching it while he sank the thumb on his other hand deep into her pussy. She gasped, closing her eyes to relish the sensations rocketing through her body. She laid flat against the desk, the cold metal making her body bow in shock.

His groan echoed in the room and in her mind.
Look at me, Jana. I want your eyes on me.

A shiver passed through her, her gaze focusing on the hard lust that tightened the flesh over his cheekbones. He hissed, the beast rippling just below the surface. Their need slipped through the link, mingling, rising. Sweat gathered on her flesh as she burned for him. He shoved one long digit deep inside her, then another and another, until she moaned. He moved his hand to the other breast, giving that nipple the same treatment. He rolled the tight tip between his fingertips and she cried out. “I love your hands on my skin, Kyber.”

Bending forward, he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth, his fangs sharp against her sensitive flesh. She twisted her fingers in his hair to hold him close. He feasted on her, still driving his fingers into her sex.
Do you know how good your tight little nipples taste, Jana? The way your pussy clenches around my fingers brings out the feral in me.

She choked, her inner muscles flexing for him just as he'd said. They both groaned, and she forced herself to keep her eyes open and locked on him. He glanced up from where his mouth and teeth and tongue played over her breast, his eyes sparking. She worked herself on his thrusting fingers, desperate, greedy for more. “I want you inside me. Don't make me wait.”

I won't. I swear it.
His voice was a throaty purr in her mind. He released her breast, blowing a stream of cool air over the beaded crest. She sucked in a breath, her hips twisting against the desk.

He withdrew his fingers from her pussy, and she sobbed at the lack of contact. He murmured a wordless, soothing croon as his fingers wrapped around her ankles, bringing her boot-clad feet up to rest against his shoulders. Then her hips were in his hands and he was lifting her into the heavy thrust of his cock.

“Kyber!” He was big, and the way he held her legs made the angle so tight she could barely breathe. If she hadn't been so wet it might have hurt. As it was, she moaned every time he penetrated her.

She brought her hands up to cup her breasts, plucking at her nipples. His gaze gleamed as he watched her toy with herself. Her knees bent over his broad shoulders as he leaned forward to shove his cock deeper. He grinned down at her, his fangs showing, his excitement feeding hers. Turning his head, he ran his tongue around the top of her boot, where the leather met her flesh.
I love you in just these, Jana. The sight arouses me.

She laughed, her heart thumping at this lighter side to their lovemaking. It felt good. “Fuck me harder.”

“As my empress desires.” His white teeth flashed as his smile widened. He did as she demanded, hammering into her pussy. She moved one hand down to play with her clit, flicking her fingers in time with his hard plunges. Her sex clamped around his cock, and she could feel her orgasm shimmering, sending waves of building pleasure through her.

Panting breaths pulled from her throat, and the muscles in her legs strained as she tried to push closer, to move faster, to increase the sensual friction. Her head thrashed on the desk, and she moaned. He answered her unspoken demands, his claws biting into her hips as he lifted her deeper into his thrusts. She could feel the hard point of all ten talons, but the sting just whipped into the vortex of sensation that threatened to consume her. And he was there with her, a muscle ticking in his jaw, the beast shining through his eyes as much as the man. He was wild for her, feral and possessive. His hunger poured through their connection, making her scream as she slammed into her orgasm.

He threw back his head and roared, his fangs extended, the big cat taking over. His chest heaved with each breath, sweat sliding down the flexing muscles of his chest. Her inner walls fisted around his cock every time he sank into her. There was the slightest pinch on the link between them, a narrowing when orgasm urged them to fling it wide open. Together, but not yet ready to trust all the way. The barriers between their minds held firm. Still, he fucked her hard, just as she'd asked him to, grinding himself against her as he sought his own release. Aftershocks of orgasm went through her, left her sobbing and shuddering, shivers racing over her skin. He hissed, slammed into her twice more, and pumped his cum into her pussy.

Her body arched as ecstasy lashed through her. “So good, Kyber. It's so good.”

“Yes.” He let her legs fall to the desk, slumped over her, and dropped his head between her breasts. His hair tickled her skin, made her squirm. He turned to kiss the swell of one breast. “I'll never get enough.”

“Don't get enough.” She stroked her fingers through those silky strands, and he purred. She smiled, closing her eyes as she worked to catch her breath, to slow her heart. A sigh slid from her throat, and she breathed out the deepest longing of her soul. “Don't ever, ever get enough.”

J
ana sat curled on Kyber's lap. He had his feet propped on his desk and his hands stroked up and down her bare back. They were naked and still sweat-dampened from their last round of lovemaking. She grinned and cuddled closer, breathing in the warm scent of him. “Are they going to wonder why we missed the rest of our meetings today?”

His torso rumbled in a chuckle, and he kissed the top of her head. “No, my empress, they aren't going to wonder. They'll know exactly what we've been doing in here.”

“Oh.” She sighed, unable to muster the will to be embarrassed. Her fingers drew patterns on his chest, swirling over his pecs and down his abs. When she brushed his nipple, his cock jabbed into her hip. “You're insatiable.”

“When it comes to you, yes. I freely admit it.” His claws splayed across her lower back, and she shivered.

“Good.” Satisfied pleasure bloomed in her chest, the feeling so sweet, so unusual for her, that she blinked back sudden tears. She cleared her throat, shifted on his lap, and reached between them to stroke his dick. He arched into her touch, a hiss tripping over a purr. She grinned, then moaned when his fingers slipped between her thighs.

He hummed. “Mmm, wet. I'm not the only insatiable one.”

“Oooh, yes.” She slid her legs open, fire licking at her core. Biting her lip, she squeezed his cock tighter and pumped him harder.

“That's my duty, I think.” He licked her lips, sucking the bottom one into his mouth and scraping it with his teeth.

She moaned, melting into his kiss. He had the most amazing mouth, his taste sliding over her tongue. He palmed her breast and her nipple tightened for him. She squirmed, her sex drenching with juices, and his talons flicked over her nipple. Rolling her thumb over the flared crest of his cock, she dragged her fingernails lightly up the long, hard shaft.

He hissed into her mouth and dropped his feet to the floor. The chair swiveled until his elbow smacked into the desk. He snarled but didn't stop, grabbing her hips and moving her until she straddled his thighs. She clutched his shoulders for balance. He settled her over his cock and forced her down onto the full length of it. The stretch made her grit her teeth, but she was already too far gone to mind about the sting. Throwing her head back, she arched against him and her nails sank into his flexing muscles. He lifted and lowered her on his dick, working her hard, driving them both toward orgasm.

The feel of him inside her was beyond incredible, made fire and lust and a longing so deep she couldn't contain its rage within her. Their connection had opened to a wide cord, and needs and images seeped through the cracks in the psychic walls they'd built to flow back and forth between their minds. She could tell how much he liked having her take him deep, how her scent called to the feral side of him, how her wetness made his jaw lock as he fought coming right away. It turned her on even more, made her burn hotter for him, made her pant for breath.

Sweat sealed the front of their bodies together and their skin slipped and slid as they moved against each other. His rougher flesh stimulated her sensitive nipples, piling more sensations on her already overloaded system. Contractions built in her belly, and she cried out, riding him fast and wild.

He pushed her down to the base of his cock, lifted his hips into her, and exploded inside her. It was enough to send her flying. Her sex milked his length, shivers racing over her skin. He groaned, his head falling back against the chair, his eyes rolling back.

The cord had restricted again as orgasm hit them, each of them pulling back behind the barricades, unable to make that final psychic connection. The pall of Arthur still hung over them, the commitment to give their bond another chance too new to rely on just yet. If they opened themselves wide to each other, were fully vulnerable again, would it end in disaster as it had the first time? She didn't know, and that scared her. Could she survive that kind of pain again? If she had all of Kyber and he turned away from her again, she doubted she could stand it. A shiver went down her spine.

An imager flickered to life and projected a hologram above his desk, flashing the date, time, and a reminder of another appointment they were going to miss. The numbers sparked something in her mind and realization slid through her. “Shit!”

When she pulled herself up and off his cock, he groaned and reached for her. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.” She swatted his hands away, scooped her gown off the floor, pulled it on, and finger-combed her hair so she looked more presentable. “I don't look like I've been sexing you up for hours, do I?”

He blinked and shook his head, his mouth gaping.

Snatching his pants off the corner of the desk where they'd fallen, she threw them at him and hit him in the face. “Put these on, would you?”

“I'd rather you took all of yours off again,” he grumbled but obliged her by standing to slide them on. Then he flopped back down, every inch the disgruntled feline, the denied emperor, as he draped a knee over the arm of his chair, and laced his fingers over his flat belly. “Can you tell me why you're calling a halt to our lovemaking? I thought we were having a rather enjoyable reunion.”

“Well, you're about to meet my parents. Sort of. I thought you'd like to have your pants on.” Jana pulled in a deep, steadying breath. She set her palms on the desk. Keying the imager on the smooth glass surface, she received a prompt for orders. “Please connect to my parents.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,”
Vishra
replied. The imager flickered for a moment as the direction processed, then a hologram of the Sueni imperial star began to spin as the call was made.

“It is really so urgent that you contact them
now
?” Kyber's voice faded for a moment as he scooted his chair back, leaned down to retrieve his tunic, and jerked it over his head. “It couldn't wait for a few more hours?”

“No. With everything that's been going on lately, I'd almost forgotten what day it is.” The anniversary of her brother's death. Her stomach clenched in dread. She had to get in touch with her parents.

“What day is it?”

She winced, reluctant to talk about it, but he'd been revealing about his past, so the least she could do was return the favor. “Nine years ago today, my older brother was killed. He was on the way home from a football game his freshman year of college. His team won after he ran in the final touchdown.” She passed information about the Earthan game to him through their link. A bittersweet smile curved her lips, remembering the excited sound of her brother's voice when he called them on his cell phone to tell them about his touchdown afterward. God, she missed him. She shook her head and sighed. “A man fell asleep behind the wheel and collided with Craig's car. They both died.”

And then it was all over. A bright future wiped out in a single moment. Had he suffered? Alone on the side of road in the middle of the night. She swallowed, pushing away the questions she'd never know the answer to. “He was a great brother, an amazing person. Valedictorian, full scholarship to the local university, athletic.”

“I'm sorry, Jana.” Kyber's voice softened with sympathy.

“Me, too.” She cleared her throat, staring down at the desk. The imager blinked, letting her know that a connection had been made on the other end. “Display call.”

“Jana?” Her mother's face appeared. It was pinched with worry, the way it had been every time they'd spoken since Jana had last seen them.

“Hi, Mom. How are you? How's Dad?” The Sueni technology interfaced with the camera on her mother's laptop, so they could see each other when they spoke. At first, she'd thought it would comfort them to
see
her and know she was safe on the
Vishra
. Now, she knew she needed to have a conversation that wouldn't be a comfort to them.

Her parents had never recovered from Craig's death, and Jana had done everything she could to fill in the gap. She'd found a job she liked, that made her happy, because they wanted so badly for her to be
happy
. Being a flight attendant was great for the travel and interesting people, but she also knew it would let her escape their worry and expectation for days and weeks at a time.

After Craig died, she was
always
aware that she was all they had left. They'd smothered her in their overprotective attempts to ensure that nothing bad would happen to her. This last year had to have been a nightmare for them.

Her mother sighed. “I'm fine. Dad's good. He'll be in to talk in a minute. When are you coming home?”

The conversation was the same one they'd had every single time they spoke. Until today, she'd been grateful for the routine; it meant she could give the same answers, the same false smiles and promises, and then disconnect and bury herself back in her fanatical dedication to saving Kyber.

She met her mother's gaze. “I'm not coming home, Mom. I hadn't lived there for years before I bonded with Kyber, and I'm not going to live there now just to make you feel better about my safety. I'm not going to live on Earth ever again.”

Her mother blinked at the blunt speaking, so unlike the prevarication she had to have grown used to. “General Arthur called to tell us that…that
Kith
man had escaped and that we might be in danger now.” Her mouth twisted. “Please come back down here, baby.”

“I know Kyber escaped the
illegal imprisonment and torture
General Arthur put him through. I helped save him.” She felt Kyber twitch behind her, but he was out of view of the imager, so her mother couldn't see him.

Her father sat down next to her mother, his lined and worn face coming into view. He looked just like an older, more serious version of Craig, and the reminder made her heart clench. “How do we know for sure that's true? When we've seen you in these calls, you haven't looked or sounded good, pumpkin.”

“Look.” She made her tone matter-of-fact. “I know you want everything to be okay with me, but it's not okay, and I'm not going to pretend anymore.” God, it felt good to say that, to admit it out loud. She loved her parents so much, and she did want everything to be all right, but there had to be room to admit when things
weren't
all right. “I know what Arthur told you, and it's a lie. When I went to Arthur and asked him to let Kyber go, he hurt me. He did horrible things to me. It wasn't Kyber or the Sueni who hurt me, it was Arthur.”

“Honey, Arthur said they'd brainwashed you, that you're part of some cult or harem they recruit women for. We don't…we don't want to believe it, but all the things you've done lately have been crazy. You're not acting like the Jana we know.” Her mom touched the screen, her gray eyes reflecting her worry and her desperation not to have to admit that Jana had had something horrible happen. It would take time, Jana knew, but that was their problem, not hers. She would be okay, truly, but not because she'd pretended it was so. Doing that had almost ended her life. If she had admitted to Kyber, to
anyone,
that things weren't okay, would she have had to go through so many months of mental torture?

Jana felt Kyber stiffen behind her, felt his concern for her pulse along their link. She pulled in a deep breath. “I'm not the Jana you knew, Mom. No one is forcing me to stay here, and everything I said is the truth. You're going to have to deal with that whether you want to or not. I did. Craig died and that wasn't okay, Arthur hurt me and that wasn't okay. Bad things happen, and I can't pretend they weren't
bad
. It takes time to heal, to be okay inside, but those things were and always will be
not okay
.”

“I know.” Her mother swallowed and looked aside, but Jana knew those two words were probably the hardest her mom had ever had to say. “I wish we could see you again. I miss you so much.”

“I want to see you, too, Mom.” She pressed her fingers flat to the desk. She took another deep breath, then another. “Mom, no matter what Arthur says, the Sueni are not here to take over the planet. In fact, I know for sure that Kyber's not going to stay here forever. When he leaves, I'm going with him.”

A thought, a plan, formed in her mind. Turning, she held her hand out to Kyber. He took it without faltering, and that support warmed her. She smiled at him, pulled him into view of the imager, and perched on his lap. “Mom, Dad, this is Kyber.”

Her parents paled, blindly reaching for each other. This was the monster Arthur had told them about. Jana's stomach turned as she remembered her hateful words to him. It was Arthur who was the monster, not Kyber, no matter what beast lurked beneath the Kith's surface. Her connection with him still vibrated with worry, his muscles were tense beneath her legs, but his voice was calm. “Mr. Townsend, Mrs. Townsend. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Her father's mouth opened and closed. Her mother's voice was no more than a squeak. “Hello.”

Jana twined her fingers with Kyber's. “We'll be leaving Earth in the next week, and I've decided that we're taking you with us.” She recognized the regal edge to her voice as Kyber's. How much of what she'd absorbed from him the day they'd bonded had helped her during the months they'd been apart? More than she'd understood until now. “This is not negotiable.”

What do you think you're doing, Jana?
The tension in Kyber's body doubled.

She prayed he wouldn't say anything to countermand her, that'd he'd go along with her until she could explain herself, and kept talking to her parents. “I know you'll want to meet Kyber in person, so we're coming to get you ourselves. Pack a bag, only the few things you can't live without, and be ready for us tomorrow night.”

It would take time, but like her connection with Kyber, she wanted the chance to rebuild her love for her parents on healthier, more solid ground. They all had a lot to learn, but they could do it together. She wanted all the people she loved with her. She wanted that time to make things better. Not
perfect
, but better.