PrimalHunger (5 page)

Another knock sounded. Kendra took in a shaky breath and
opened the door. Azros leaned against the doorframe, all hard muscle and
strength. And bare from the hips up. Her heart slammed in her chest. She was
definitely a goner. “None of the shirts fit, I take it?” She was surprised at
how easily the words came out of her dry mouth. Lust formed a hard knot in her
core, one that ached to be filled. Oh yeah, she was definitely a goner.

“No.” The dry tone of voice told her he didn’t even try. An
appreciative gleam in his eyes kicked the heat up a notch.

She shrugged a shoulder and breezed past him. Sexual
awareness tingled down her spine at the close brush of her skin against his.
“Let’s get you bandaged.”

Synthetic skin, or esskin, was efficient for most wounds,
but it was tricky when you were dealing with high-stretch areas, like the side,
knee joints, hands. If it wasn’t applied properly, esskin could cause terrible
scarring, improper healing, or in the case of her feet, muscular atrophy. It
had taken years to undo the damage she’d accidently caused, but there was no
doubt it had saved her life.

“I had a doctor use this stuff as a bone graph in the
field.” Azros sat on a padded ottoman and gingerly raised his arm to expose his
side for bandaging. The lines of his face deepening were the only indication of
his pain.

She brought the tray to the ottoman and set it down. “I’ve
never heard it used that way. One of the ladies had an organ patched up with
the stuff. It was the most amazing thing.” Kendra washed, disinfected, and
dried the area with efficiency. Bob had done a great job of cauterizing the
wound. It looked deep, but there was no muscle showing. That was good. If the
wound had been more serious, she would have been notified. She tried to be
gentle, but going slow would prolong the agony. Her gentle probing of the
swollen tissue brought a soft grunt from his throat.

“I hope the organ patch was a temporary fix.” He smelled
like spicy male and fresh soap. A unique blend.

Kendra peeled the patch loose and gently placed it over his
wound. “It got her to an Exodus ship. Medic class.”

Azros gave a low whistle. “That’s quite a distance. I’ll
have to remember that trick.”

Kendra laughed, smoothing the edges down. “Let’s hope you
never have to use it.”

Azros cursed and she clicked her tongue in sympathy. He
visibly paled. The burn would stop once the bonding completed. An anesthetic
would eventually seep in and keep the pain levels down.

“Did you enjoy the shower?” She placed her palm over the
patch and winced at the escaping heat. It would be over in a moment.

“Yeah.” His jaw clenched and he released a breath. “Though
mine wasn’t nearly as roomy as yours.” He gave her a mocking glare. His jaw
clenched again and she could see the muscles of his side contract in agony.

“Don’t blame me. This was the head scientist’s suite. Rank
had its privileges.”

“I bet. Sheon politics at its best, no doubt.”

Kendra shook her head. The patch grew cooler and spots of
color returned to his cheeks. It was almost done. “His family was isolated to a
barren rock with fifteen months between supply drops. A luxury shower with
water reclamation isn’t too much to ask for, is it?”

Azros didn’t look convinced, but at least she’d distracted
him a bit.

She grinned. “Besides, no one else knows about it. So I
sneak out here every now and then for some peace and quiet.”

His lips twitched in the makings of a smile.

She had only the sudden widening of his eyes as warning. His
hands clenched on her arms. A full-body shudder racked his frame. Azros doubled
over and gave an animalistic cry. Kendra instinctively gripped his forearms.
What
the hell?
The muscles of his body tightened. “What is it?” Her mind raced.
There was no way she could get him to medical. Was he having a reaction to the
esskin?

Sweat beaded his forehead. His intriguing scent surrounded
them. “You need to get away from me.” Even as the words left his lips, his
hands drew her closer.

“Why, what is it?” His eyes were changing. The pupils
dilated and the delicious scent unique to Azros surrounded her. Voracious lust
clenched in her core. “Oh shit.” His hands slid up her arms. “Is this that
mating thing again?” She knew it was. Her pussy ached to be filled, leaving her
a trembling wreck.
Keep him talking.
She touched his face and his eyes
closed. Her fingers touched his stripes and she was shocked at how soft they
were. Like the finest cloth.

He grabbed her wrist and held her hand against his face.
“You don’t want to do that.”

“Touch you?”

“Tempt me.” The raw aggression in his voice sent her pulse
into overdrive.

“The bandage has set. It should hold for a while.” She
gently brushed a thumb across his striped cheek. Azros had a rugged and wild
beauty that she’d never seen before. It had to be the mating thing talking.

Another shudder racked his body. The mating scent grew
stronger. Kendra realized what Azros wouldn’t say…the mating was taking over
his body. She dropped to a knee in front of him. “How does this mating thing
work?”

She watched his battle for sanity. A part of her wanted him
wild, but she didn’t know enough about him to trust him not to go too far. The
medscan had proven no diseases or radioactive contamination. They were
consenting adults, right? She clenched her eyes shut. This was a very bad idea.
Wasn’t it? The back of his hand brushed against her breast, and she clenched
her teeth against the raw sensation.

“Be sure. Once this starts, it will have to run its course,
or I’m afraid I’ll…” He pressed his forehead against hers. His fingers ran down
her arms, awakening another level of sensitivity.

“Territorial madness, right? You’ll get possessive and
angry? Sounds like a lot of my exes.” She ran her fingers through his
still-damp hair, reveling in the silky texture.

He gave a rough chuckle. “No man will be able to touch you,
or I’ll kill them.”

“Ah. That might be a problem in my line of work.” She
swallowed. “How long does this insanity last?”

“A week, maybe more. Involves lots of wild sex and devotion.
Complete abandon. Wicked temptations. You know, the usual boring sexual
depravity.”

“Oh, is that all? What about my body’s reaction to the
mating? Do you look for other females, because I don’t share well.”

He shrugged. “It’ll be just you. Your reaction, however, I
don’t know. I’ve never heard of a non-Valorian mating.” His lips brushed
against hers. “It’s your choice.”

My choice?
“Mind-blowing sex for a week or more. Are
you crazy? I’m overdue for a vacation anyway.” She hesitated. Some things were
just too good to be true…right? “Just until the mating is over, right?”

“You have my word.”

She trusted him. And that was the most dangerous feeling of
all.

It was her hesitation. Mistrust in her gaze. “I won’t force
you.” He brushed his thumb against her lip and abruptly stood. “You don’t trust
me.” He nodded and scanned the area. “We need to find me a room I can’t escape
from. Lock me up.” He doubted if this lab held anything that would be able keep
him away from her.

“Wait.” She growled the word, standing to her full height.
Her voice shook and he dared not turn back.

His cock was stiff and bulging, so hard he doubted his
ability to go slow. To take it easy. The longer he waited, the more barbaric
he’d become. Valorian past was peppered with tales of extended mating rites,
and the death of one or both mates the result.

“Do you blame me for doubting you?”

He heard the tremor in her voice. He didn’t blame her, but
fate
.
“I trust my instincts.”

Her breathing was harsh. Rough, like his. He could taste her
lust in the air. It grew more intense, more erotic every moment. She was
killing him with her sweetness. “It’s not a matter of trust. I don’t even know
you.”

“This isn’t the way I would want to do this. I would wait if
I could.” He could feel the heat of her body as she stepped close, the moment
her hand would have touched him. “Don’t touch me unless you’re willing to
continue this. Once I start, I can’t stop.” His body cried from the loss of her
heat. “I have never had my control this close to the edge. Please don’t tempt
me more than your delicious body already has.”

“You don’t have to wait.” Her voice was husky.

He turned, slowly, carefully. “Explain what you mean.”

“I have never had this kind of need before. It’s
terrifying.” She waved her hand in irritation, a movement that swayed her
breasts in a delectable fashion.

Azros clenched his fists at his sides, not trusting himself
to touch her. Something burned deep inside her, something that spilled out into
her gaze. A simmer. A simmer he wanted to turn into an inferno, to make her
scream for him, beg, love what he could give.
Need.
“That’s likely from
my mating urges, my
lambyre
.”

“Is that what it’s called? I think it should be bottled and
sold.”

He couldn’t help the reluctant grin from spreading. “You
like it?” A primal urge to mark her slid down his spine. Azros fought it with
every ounce of his control. He wouldn’t turn feral.
Not now. Not ever.

Her head tilted and she dropped her heavy-lidded gaze to his
lips. He licked his, wanting to taste that heat, let it drive him insane. This
close he could see a light dusting of freckles on her nose.

“Is there anything I need to know?”

He grinned, stepping closer and waiting for her to touch
him. Her hands on his body tortured him. “Well, when a male and female get
together, there are certain urges…”

She smacked his chest. He captured her hand and turned it so
that he could press a kiss on her pulse point. “That’s not what I mean.”

His tongue rasped against her wrist. “I know.” She tasted
better than he could have imagined. He watched her eyes grow to storm-lined
silver.
Dark, beautiful.

“Your tongue is rough.” Wonder and curiosity burned from her
gaze. Wonder, curiosity, and no small amount of lust.

He fought against the feeling of relief. There was a change
in pressure, the increased frenzy of the wind outside. It mirrored the fire
raging through his body. “I can’t do anything about that.”

She glanced up and he was surprised to find humor bouncing
back to him. “Why would you want to? That’s got to come in handy.”

He opened his mouth to comment and she met his lips with
hers. Her kiss was like wildfire, full of heat and lust, exploring his lips
with delicate intent. His tongue sank into the dark velvet of her mouth,
tasting the edge of need that was driving them both insane.

“You are so delicious.” Her breathless words ended on a
growl and he grinned against her mouth.

“You taste even better.” Like warm honey and heat. Her kiss
was addicting. “You’re going to burn me alive.” He buried his face against her
neck and drew in a shaky breath. She wasn’t ready. He could taste the change in
her body, the acceptance of the hormone. Something important scratched at the
back of his mind, but he shoved it away. Her nails dug into his shoulders and
he licked against the racing pulse point going wild beneath the skin. She
shattered his thoughts with butterfly kisses along his jawline.

His mouth watered and his teeth ached to sink into the sweet
flesh. He growled, reining in the beast that threatened to overwhelm. “Are you
sure you want to do this?” Her breath fanned across his neck. Teeth nipped at
the skin. The stinging bites shot bolts of pleasure straight to his cock. It
wasn’t too late to stop her change. Gods help him if he didn’t want to stop.

“What are you waiting for?” She arched against him, begging
with her body. “A handwritten invitation? Stop teasing.”

“Oh baby, I haven’t even begun to tease.” His lips pressed
against her temple. “Open for me,
Desh’ra
.”
Dear one
. His lips
explored hers in a dance that had her moaning against his. Her flavor was fresh
like summer rains and raw like the awakening fruit of his home world. “Tell me
there is a more comfortable place to take this.” His mouth pressed kisses
against her throat. Her moan made him smile, and then she dug her fingernails
into his scalp, tugging him closer. His palm slid up her ribs and cupped the
swell of a full breast, dragging her shirt with him. In a moment, her shirt
came over her head and dropped to the floor.

“The bedroom. Door.” His lips latched on to her nipple
through the soft mesh of her under shirt. She gave a throaty moan. “Behind
you.”

“What was that?” His fingers toyed with her other nipple.

“Door. Behind. You.” She gasped. “Oh yes.”

She liked his touch. Male satisfaction rumbled through his
body and mind. She arched against his mouth and held him against her.

He needed her hotter.
Wilder.
He pulled away from her
delectable breast and smiled at her. His fingers ran down her arm before
interlocking with hers.

Her eyes lit with surprise and gazed at their clasped hands.
It twisted something in his heart to realize this kind of affection was alien
to her. He pressed a light kiss to her wrist and dragged her toward the door.
He couldn’t get enough of her lips, tasting and sipping with every step. Azros
had her against the door and inside before she could blink. He walked her
slowly backward, tugging at the mesh undershirt, pulling it over her head. Her
body took his breath away. Perfect round breasts, rose-tipped perfection.
Beautiful eyes lit with an inner fire.

Her hands flattened against his chest and he could feel her
warmth blazing all the way through his skin. “You’re going to burn me alive,
love.” Her gaze was unfocused and full of desire. The sultry glow of her eyes
was a window to the depths of her soul, rocking him back. Tiny nails dug into
his skin and he wrapped his arms around her narrow waist. Pleasure nipped down
his skin. Lips tasted the column of her sweet throat. His hands gently cupped
her nape, keeping her still. Teeth scraped against the sensitive spot where
neck met shoulder. Her soft moan was full of the same need that gripped him.
Her hands explored down the planes of his stomach, scratching lightly at the
sensitive stripes on his skin. Every nerve ending came to attention and he
moaned.