“I think you’re just too keffing innocent, that’s all. I don’t want to be the one that spoils that.”
“You spoil nothing,” I tell him, and let my fingers wander over his lips. They are surprisingly soft for all of the frowns he tends to do over a day. “Let me be in control of my innocence.”
I can feel him smile under my fingertips. I want to put my mouth there again, to do the mouth-matings and see how he reacts now that we know each other. Will he touch me back this time? I hope so. I slide forward, moving up his chest just a little, and lean forward until my nose bumps against his.
“Farli,” he murmurs. I do not know if it is a protest or encouragement. I will take it as encouragement.
My khui is singing wildly as I bend my head and brush my lips over his. He is motionless underneath me, and so I increase the kiss, letting my lips move over his. I have seen how the others mouth-mate and know that tongues are involved, so I let mine play along the seam of his mouth. He parts his lips, and I take the opportunity to flick my tongue against his.
It feels as if a fire has sparked in my body. Need surges through me, and every nerve ending responds to the feel of his body under mine, his mouth against mine. He hesitates, only for a moment, and then his hands are in my mane and he’s holding me against him as our mouths slant together, our tongues locked in a dance. His tail flicks under the blankets, and a moment later, I feel it wrap around mine. My body ishumming with need, and my teats feel tight and achy, and there is a hot pulse between my thighs that will not go away. Over and over, his tongue flicks against mine, until we are both breathless and panting.
“Well,” he says between breaths. “I’m pretty sure we just broke a hygiene law on at least three different planets.”
I giggle. I have no idea what he just said, but I like the wonder in his voice. “It was a good mouth-mating, yes? I liked it. We should do it more.”
He groans. “Have mercy. I won’t be able to control myself if you do that again. Give me a moment to compose myself.” His hands stroke my mane again and then slide down my sides. “Gods, you are really, really naked.”
I wiggle on top of him, because I am pleased with how this is going. I loved kissing him. It was so fun, and it has made me so aroused. I want to do it more. “I really, really am.” I lean down and lick the tip of his nose, just because I want to lick him everywhere.
“Where did you learn to do that with your mouth?”
“Humans taught me. It is common on their planet. Is it not on yours?”
“No. Kef, I think I’ve only seen stuff like that in vids. Most mesakkah women aren’t quite so…open. They’re worried about disease. Mouths are so unclean.”
“Pfft. Do you think my mouth is unclean?” I press another kiss to his lips.
“I think your mouth is amazing,” he murmurs. His hand slides along my flank and then lightly caresses my buttock. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Farli.”
I preen under the compliment and give another wiggle. He sucks in a breath, and I realize the hard ridge I am straddling is not his hip but his cock. Oh. My body flushes with heat, and I rock my hips over him experimentally. It dragshis blanket-covered length against my folds, and the sensation is dizzying.
Mardok groans again, and then, sky-claw fast, he wraps his arms around me and rolls until I am at his side and not straddling him. We face each other, so close the curves of our horns are practically touching and I can feel his breath on my face. “Tell me you’re real,” he says to me. “I feel like if I go to sleep, I’m going to wake up and this will all have been a dream.”
“I am very real,” I tell him, and trace my fingers over his cheek again. “Why do you have drawings on your face?”
“They’re tattoos. I got them when I was…” He hesitates. “When I was in the military. At war.”
“What is military?”
“Nothing good.” His tone has changed. It’s no longer sensual and full of pleasure, but turning cold. This is something that hurts him. I decide to change the topic, letting my fingers glide up his arching horns and along the curve. “Why are your horns shiny?”
He gives a short, breathless laugh. “You’re very curious, aren’t you?”
“Mm. It is because you are a very curious man.” But the darkness is creeping out of his voice, so I am happy. I want nothing but his smiles. Whatever bad things are in his past, I will make better for him with my love. “Is it a secret?”
“No, it’s custom. People cap their horns because…well, I don’t know. It’s just what you do. I guess it’s polite. Keeps you from accidentally scratching someone if you move wrong.” I can feel him shrug. “I’ve never met anyone without capped horns except you.”
“I am special,” I tease. “You like that.”
“You’re very special.” The husky note is back in his voice, and I wish his eyes glowed in the dark like mine so I couldsee them. He is just…dark.Soon enough he will have a khui,I remind myself.
“Can we kiss more?” I ask him, snuggling closer. My nose rubs against his. “I like kissing you.”
“We shouldn’t. It’s against Captain’s rules to have relations with ship guests, and I’m pretty sure you qualify.” But his hand glides up and down my arm, touching my bare skin, and his tail is still twined with mine. “I’ll lose my position.”
“What position?”
“My job.”
