“Anywhere,” Deus says. “But I must do it.”
Yet again, his lips meet mine for a long, lingering, spinetingling kiss as I’m scooped into his arms, and in a smooth motion, we are running. Out of the clan hall, into the neutral sector, past warriors who stare at our progress, past the scorched walls and floors, through the airlock into Deus’s sector where the air is fragrant and heavy with humidity.
Like a gazelle, Deus bounces from rock to rock swiftly, easily, moving so expertly I hardly feel like I am being carried at all. The cabin rises up ahead of us, and in no time, we are inside, and I am kissed to oblivion once again.
“I will need you to remove your garments, little mate,” he whispers. “If I am to taste your nectar.”
Deus watches me with burning eyes as I initially reach for the catch on my pants then hesitate.
“I…haven’t done this for a long time,” I say in a voice which is barely audible. “You should know.”
“Sarkarnii males are schooled in pleasuring females,” Deus rumbles. “It is what our ancestors want us to do. I can promise you pleasure and only pleasure, my Lydia.” He plants his hand on the wall above me, those incredible eyes mesmerizing in their beauty. “But I will not do anything you do not wish me to do.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I say, panic rising in my chest.
Deus leans into me, his warm body and soft scales ever so close. He trails his hand up my side, gently sliding a finger under my top, skirting my waistband.
Making me freeze involuntarily.
“Whatever you want, my sweet mate,” he rumbles. “If not now, then whenever you are ready. But I will taste you, I will enjoy you, and I will pleasure you until you come undone on my tongue.”
I clutch at his arm, steadying myself, wanting to lean into this experience, wanting him more than anything.
But I can’t quite let go.
“I was…once…someone…a human male…he…forced me to do something I didn’t want to do.” I stumble over the outpouring of words. “And then when I was taken from Earth…there were times I didn’t know what was done to me.”
Deus’s eyebrows knit together. I expect he’s going to threaten to go to Earth and do something unspeakable, which is not what I want at all.
“Human males do this to their females?” he queries, lifting his lips to reveal vicious fangs.
“We can’t envenomate like your females can.”
“Envenomation is not about fending off a male. It is about displeasure at a poorly executed rut,” Deus says. “No Sarkarnii male would ever force a female to do anything, regardless of her venom.” He gently brushes the back of his huge hand against my cheek. “I will only ever do what you want me to do, my Lydia. No questions, no push back, nothing. It will always be you.”
LYDIA
Without a second thought, I lean in, pressing my lips to Deus’s. I wasn’t expecting this feeling, not at all. The fear hasn’t gone, but instead I have something else creeping into my psyche.
Safe.
I feel safe.
With him.
With the biggest, maddest Sarkarnii warlord on Vorostor. His simple act of respect is almost overwhelming. Heat returns to my body, and it bends to his, curving against his hard abdomen. I didn’t know I needed this.
I didn’t know I needed Deus.
His finger runs around my waistband but nothing more. Instead he concentrates on stealing all my breath with his kiss, his hand clutching me against him, more than spanning one buttock, his tongue, that incredible tongue, sweeping through my mouth.
Deus wants me to choose and he’s showing me exactly what I will get.
When I’m finally let up for air, I gasp it in like a woman surfacing from the depths, but at the same time I am more than ready to dive for more.
“Lydia,” Deus rumbles, brushing my hair back from my face. He studies it, his eyes gazing into mine. “I am going to pleasure you now, because I’ve seen you pleasure yourself, and I know it is something you enjoy. At any time, you can tell me to stop, and I will stop. This is about you and only you. Do you understand?”
I nod, biting down on my bottom lip, swollen from our kisses.
