Mystic Flame (Beyond Ontariese 4) (10 page)

She shook her head and glanced out the
window, unable to meet his gaze. How could someone so intelligent
and powerful be so naive? “It’s survival of the fittest in a way.
The great houses make sure the opportunity to procreate is only
granted to the best and most gifted.”

“You make it sound callous and
unreasonable.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his
knees. “With almost one hundred men for every woman, strict codes
had to be established just to ensure some portion of our population
survived. The crisis is far from over. The Joint High Council is
still searching for long-term solutions to the problem. If the
ratio had been reversed, the situation wouldn’t have been so
desperate, but—”

“One man can service a hundred women more
easily than one woman can accommodate a hundred men?” There was
nothing they could do to change the past, and the global challenges
weren’t what this was about. They might be from the same planet,
but they were from different worlds.

“We were talking about procreation, not
sexual satisfaction.” He splashed water on his face and slicked
back his hair.

“No, I was talking about the elite.”

With a soft sigh, he returned his arms to
the spa’s smooth rim. “All right. How does life differ for females
not born into one of the six great houses?”

He sounded cautious and concerned, so she
kept her explanation generic. “As soon as a female develops the
physical attributes of a woman, there are a hundred men waiting for
her to declare her first social alliance. Without the protection of
an alliance, she’s fair game to be pressured and pursued.”

His gaze moved over her face, searching and
intense. “Did someone hurt you, Dro Tar? Is that what this is
about?”

So much for generic explanations. He
wouldn’t allow her to be vague. “My mother chose her first
protector in her fifteenth solar cycle. He was wealthy and
controlling and determined to have as many children as physically
possible. After her third miscarriage, he ended the alliance and
publicly announced her inability to carry a child to term. It
ruined her prospects of establishing an advantageous alliance. She
was good for one thing and one thing only.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”

“She was passed from man to man for the next
forty cycles. I was born eleven weeks premature, so her prospects
were little better even after she produced a living child. She
refused to have my DNA tested, said none of the bastards deserved
to be my father. Shortly after she died, I had a paternity test
run. I didn’t want to end up sleeping with my brother or something
equally creepy. I sent a message to the man identified by the test,
but he never responded, and that was that.” Sympathy filled his
eyes and she stiffened. Nothing pissed her off faster than pity.
“What did you expect? I’m not from one of the great houses and I
have no Mystical powers. I could have bartered my body to the
highest bidder, but I saw where that got my mother. Instead I
fought my way through life. It just seemed like the right thing to
do.”

He stood and held out his hand, his gaze
warm and caressing. “You wouldn’t be Dro Tar without that fiery
spirit. I’ve always admired your strength.”

Uncomfortable with the serious turn their
conversation had taken, she slid her toes up his thigh. “And I’ve
always admired your ass.”

Grat squirmed on the smooth seat of the
limousine. Rebecca kept saying the most inappropriate things. She
sat in the seat adjacent to his and parted her thighs, allowing him
to see up her skirt. If only she weren’t wearing panties… He shook
his head. That shiny scrap of red silk was just as distracting. It
invited him to imagine the soft, moist heat awaiting him.

How was he supposed to use the scanner if
she wouldn’t leave him alone? He had to locate the Mystic. Gine’s
guileless face flashed through his memory and his fingers tightened
on the scanner. He would do whatever it took to protect his brother
and every moment he delayed increased the chances Malos would get
restless. Let her marvel at his gadget. It didn’t matter. He had no
time to waste. Pulling the scanner out of his pocket, he said,
“Activate full spectrum.” A three-dimensional grid arose from the
flat surface shimmering in the dim interior of the automobile.

“How cool is that?” Momentarily forgetting
her determination to seduce him, she scooted to the edge of her
seat. “Is it some sort of game?”

“Yes. It is meant for amusement.” He made
several minor adjustments, optimizing the scanner’s range. “Did you
give the driver my map? It is vital that he follow the directions
exactly.”

“Jerry’s lived in Vegas forever. You’re in
good hands.”

They progressed in blessed silence for a
short time. Grat studied the display, praying for a blip that would
indicate a Mystic energy signal.

The female moved into his line of vision, a
sultry smile bowing her lips. She’d tossed her jacket onto the
seat. A strange support garment lifted her full breasts, pressing
them together while leaving her nipples bare. Understanding jolted
through him. She was the personification of one of his sex sims.
But he had requested an escort, not a sexual companion. Still, her
intent had been unflagging from the start. Heat suffused his face
and a smile parted his lips. What a delightful complication.

“I must…”

She knelt before him, her warm hands resting
on his thighs. Flesh and blood. No matter how detailed the program,
none of his simulations captured the magnificence of a real woman,
the distinct scent, the unpredictability.

“Don’t mind me.” She reached for the button
on the front of his waistband, her fingers nimble and skilled.
“Concentrate on your work. You’re an important businessman.”

His hands trembled as she lowered his zipper
and freed his aching cock. He quickly amplified the audio signal.
If the scanner registered the Mystic, the device would vibrate and
buzz. She pumped her hand up and down his length, her grip firm and
fast. Stubbornly keeping his gaze fixed on the scanner’s display,
he lifted his arms, making more room for her to play. Her lips
closed around him and his thoughts scattered, lost in the glorious
slide of her warm, wet mouth.

Evan pulled Dro Tar to her feet. Water
swirled around their thighs. His hands rested on her shoulders, but
he made no move to embrace her. “If this is an amusing interlude,
tell me now.”

She licked her lips and stepped closer.
“It’s whatever we want it to be. The brothers dar Aune might have
set the stage, but this is our performance.”

“I’m not performing for anyone. This is just
you and me.” He cupped her cheek with his hand as his heart thudded
against his ribs. For so long he’d dreamed of holding her again,
touching her skin and tasting her mouth. He understood why she’d
shut him out. He didn’t agree with her strategy, but at least he
understood. “If you let me back into your life,
nothing
will
keep us apart.”

“We’re standing here naked.” She tilted her
head and gazed into his eyes. “Do you really want to talk?”

His other hand found the small of her back
and eased her closer still. His cock rubbed against her warm belly,
aching to be inside her. “I’m just giving you fair warning. I can
be stubborn too.”

He wrapped his arms around her, groaning as
her full breasts pressed against his chest. Covering her mouth with
his, he kissed her, staking his claim with unmistakable purpose.
Their lips slid and their tongues tangled. Her response was
instantaneous and eager. He guided her head to his shoulder as his
arms tightened around her slender frame. Ravenous, desperate, he
needed more of her, all of her.

The bedroom suddenly seemed an impossible
distance. He had to have her now. Her hands stroked up and down his
back, pausing every so often to squeeze his butt. She rocked
against him. The throaty sounds she made added fuel to his raging
desire. He had to slow down, savor their rediscovery. They’d waited
fifteen cycles for this moment. One of them had to remain in
control or they would both go up in flames.

“Enough!” He separated their mouths and
pushed her to arm’s length. “You will not touch me unless I give
you leave.” He hadn’t meant the words to sound quite so demanding,
but her lips parted and a faint tremor passed through her body.
Before he could whisper an apology, she lowered her arms to her
sides.

Dizzying images swept through his mind.
Their last night together had shocked and amazed him. He’d never
experienced anything like it, never dreamed such pleasure existed.
She’d willingly submitted to his every demand, her pleasure growing
in tandem with his aggression.

“Reach back and grab the rim of the spa. I
want no distractions as I touch you.” She hesitated, her breasts
quivering with each ragged breath. He took her wrists and narrowed
his gaze, focusing on the emotions emanating from her. She wanted
him, there was no doubt about her desire, but did she want to
submit? Staring deep into her tricolored eyes, he leaned in close,
his lips hovering over hers. “Each time we touched it was wonderful
but nothing compared to our last night together.”

She licked her lips, the tip of her tongue
brushing his mouth. “We had to do it that night,” she whispered,
her warm breath wafting across his damp lips. “Why do I want it
now?”

“I don’t care why as long as this is what
you want, what
we
want.”

Without breaking eye contact, she moved her
hands to the rim of the spa, dragging him forward as she went. Her
hard nipples teased his chest and her scent filled his nose,
stirring dark, primal instincts he hadn’t recognized before he met
her. He knew her scent, craved her taste, longed for her
surrender.

Easing away, he framed her face between his
palms and kissed each feature in turn. “Open your mouth.” She
didn’t hesitate and he explored every silken recess as she shared
his breath. Her tongue ventured beyond his lips and he sucked it
deeply into his mouth, savoring her soft whimpers and muffled
cries. Long moments passed as they kissed. He fought the urge to
press against her, to wrap her legs around his waist and bury
himself to the hilt.

He stepped back, separating their bodies.
She protested with a throaty moan. “Move your legs apart. I want to
touch you.” The water sloshed as she adjusted her stance, making
room for his hand between her thighs. He bent toward one breast as
he cupped her mound. His lips closed around her nipple and his
middle finger parted her folds. The water was warm. Her body was
hot, slick, silky—hot!

She canted her hips, making it easier for
his questing fingers to locate her sensual triggers. The cycles
rolled away. He remembered the feel of her nipple pebbled against
his tongue. His heart leapt then dived into his stomach when he
found her opening. He slowly pushed two fingers into her snug
passage.
There
, he wanted to be deep inside her.

“Please,” she gasped, “I need you too badly
to wait.”

Her plaintive tone nearly pushed him over
the edge. He raised his face and met her passion-darkened gaze.
“Then don’t wait. Come for me. Right now.” He slid his fingers in
and out, rubbing her clit with his thumb at the apex of each
stroke. She tossed her head and arched her back, drawing him
deeper. Her inner muscles fluttered. He firmly circled her clit,
savoring each ripple as it signaled her release.

Dro Tar clutched the edge of the spa as Evan
slowly withdrew his fingers. She felt weightless yet hollow. His
clever fingers would never be an adequate substitute for what she
really wanted. Orgasms were delightful, she’d never pass one up,
but she craved the press of his body over hers and his fullness
deep inside her.

He lifted her to the deck surrounding the
oversized tub. Her bottom connected with the cool tiles and she
started violently. “That’s cold.”

“I’ll warm you.” He pushed her legs up and
back, bending her knees and spreading her thighs.

“There’s a perfectly good bedroom right
through there.” She tried to keep the quiver from her voice and
failed. She needed him thrusting into her hard and fast, not—

“I’ll fill you when I’m ready and not
before.” He caught both her nipples and squeezed. Pleasure spiked
into pain and she gasped. “Do you understand?” His harsh tone
fanned the embers of her desire. Why did her body burn when he
commanded her? If it were anyone else, she’d kick their ass, yet
Evan’s aggression made her feel safe.

Maintaining a firm pressure with one hand,
he traced her slit with the other. “Say ‘I understand’.” He took
her clit between his thumb and forefinger, his intention
obvious.

“I understand.”

“Good.” He rewarded her with a gentle caress
and released her aching nipple. “Now I’m going to taste you, but
you will wait until I’m inside you to come.”

She whimpered. Just the thought of his mouth
on her sex made her core clench and her clit throb. How in the
world would she stave off an orgasm? Kneeling in the water, he
slipped his hands under her bottom and raised her toward his face.
She heard his deep inhalation and trembled. He was like a wild
animal scenting his mate. Elemental. Inevitable.

His tongue touched her clit, flicking over
the ultrasensitive bud before descending to explore her folds. He
lifted her farther, covering her entire mound with his open mouth.
Over and over he licked, darted and nibbled until she squirmed
against him. An orgasm hovered just out of reach while she arched
into his tantalizing caress.

“Please.” Her legs shook and her arms
trembled. Lights danced before her eyes. He stood suddenly, hooking
her legs over his arms and filling her completely with one forceful
thrust. She cried out, the abrupt penetration triggering her
orgasm. Wave after scalding wave crashed down upon her. She ground
herself against him until the last spasm passed.