Cosmic Bounty (9 page)

Her felt her lips twitch up in a grin.

“And you’re the family caretaker;
Gol
likes to be in charge, and Div is an outrageous flirt. No, it’s not hard to see your personality traits. You even walk and talk slightly different. So are you going to answer my first question?”

Again he seemed to hesitate, as if thinking it over before finally answering.

“It is true, Demos females have high standards. When a female is ready to become a
sheraz
, she will often choose one to three sets of quads she deems worthy. Then it is up to them to prove in combat and in the bed chamber just how worthy to protect and care for her needs they are.”

Another wave of homesickness and sadness swept through her, as she felt the difference in their cultures.

“I see, but that will not be a choice for me. I am after all still just property.” Kat struggled to hold back the tears.

The strokes on her hair stopped.
Ric’s
strong warm arms surrounded her, lifting her and pulling her onto his lap. She sighed as he cradled her head against his chest, offering the comfort she badly needed.

“
Gol
may very well tear me to pieces for telling you this, but you are an intelligent creature and deserve to know.”

She tensed in his arms, wondering what
Gol
didn’t want her to know.

“We have plans to set you free when we reach Demos in a few days' time.”

Her stomach tightened in sudden panic. They were going to leave her? “But I thought females had to be protected, what
will I
do—”

Ric
placed his large middle finger over her lips, cutting her off.

“We have arranged for you to be adopted into a well-respected family. You have nothing to fear.”

“You don’t want to keep me?” She raised her head to meet his gaze.

“Oh, sweet little Kat, how wrong you are. We all want to keep you, desperately, which is why we are setting you free.”

“But, but … I don’t understand.”

Ric
chuckled. “How else can we make you our
sheraz
?”

It suddenly dawned on her.
 
Her jaw dropped open and
Ric’s
smile broadened. Her heart began to melt along with her body, staring into
Ric’s
smoldering gaze.

“Why do you want to do that?” Her voice sounded low and husky, even to her own ears.

“Why wouldn’t we? In this universe, when you find something rare and special, you grab hold and never let go.”

“You think I’m rare and special?” she asked, in disbelief. “You know nothing about my race, apart from what you’ve seen of me. I could be the ugliest female on Earth, for all you know. My own husband didn’t want me because my body was too fat for his tastes.” The words sprouted out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Ric’s
red brow creased. Damn, he was gorgeous even when scowling at her. They were so humanlike, if not for their red skin and huge frames.

“Too fat?”
Ric
gawked in disbelief. “Have you not noticed how small you are compared to us? I fear any human female smaller than you would simply not do, added to the fact no other creature in the universe could possibly be as beautiful as we all see you to be.”

Tears welled behind Kat’s eyes at
Ric’s
endearing words. It struck a deep chord within her heart. Every passing moment she spent with one or all of the brothers, the fonder she grew of them. Never had someone or rather ‘anyone’, ever made her feel so cherished, so special.

“That’s very sweet of you, but … why would
Gol
tear you to pieces for telling me?”

“Once you are free and the adoption proceedings complete, then many other brothers will vie for you to be their
sheraz
.
Gol
fears, as we all fear, you will not choose us.”

Chapter Eight

Would she find another round of four brothers more appealing than the ones she already had? Somehow, she very much doubted it. The situation gave her a great deal of power. Well, once she was free.

“I think,” she said slowly, twisting in
Ric’s
arms to face him, “we all need to sit down and have a talk. If I’m going to be a part of your world and your lives, then I want to know everything about it.”

“Does this mean you will choose us?” he
asked,
his tone and expression hopeful.

“That depends on what information I get and how this whole process works. You and your brothers have been nothing but nice, and I appreciate that, and I am fond of you all.” More like a drool-crazy, horny twit over the brothers.

“So, please understand, I’ve been snatched from my world, without my permission, mistreated, sold, thrust into a world I never could have dreamed existed.”
 

Ric
gently stroked her cheek. “You are doing remarkably well, for someone so small. You are strong of will and mind. I will call the others, and we will talk to you, tell you everything you need to know.”

Kat smiled, jumping to her knees and throwing her arms around him. “Thank you,” she whispered, planting a kiss on his lips, which seemed to surprise him.

Quickly, his arms wrapped around her. He immediately took control of her simple kiss, deepened it and turned it into something hot and carnal.

****

Ric
couldn’t help himself when it came to this female in his arms. She kissed him! Never had a female kissed him or initiated the first touch. It was the male’s duty to make the first move.

Her oh-so-soft-form felt so
good
pressed against the harder planes of his body. He never wanted to let her out of his arms. Even for her smaller stature, she fit with him and his brothers perfectly. There was nothing about their woman he could not see as perfect; her willingness, a few choice words and tender touches and she melted into tender compliance. Perfect!

He liked the ease of Katrina, compared to how much they had to work to lure a Demos female to their beds. Despite a little bickering every now and then, over cultural differences, they didn’t have to prove their strength and ability to bring her pleasure.
Demos
females were not required to lift a finger when it came to pleasure. It was their obligation to touch, taste,
kiss
and bring her to completion. Then, even after all the effort, they were not guaranteed she would agree to be their
sheraz
.

Fear stole through
Ric
. He gripped Kat tighter to him, growling softly at the thought of other quads discovering how beautiful and complacent she was. He did not want any other quad touching what was theirs. Raw, possessive emotions gripped him. He and his brothers would make sure no other could lure her away from them. She was theirs!

Soft, feminine whimpers penetrated his lust-drunk brain. His rod was so damn hard he was sure he could drive space rivets with it. He wanted to be inside her again. The memory of how good she felt, the way her hot, wet heat enveloped his long, aching rod. It was sheer bliss on a scale he’d never before felt.

He pulled his mouth from hers to taste her sweet, salty skin along her jaw line and throat. He found every part of her addictive. He felt her lungs expand in a deep desperate breath.

“Oh,
Ric
,” came her soft plea, “take this off, let me touch you.” She was tugging at his uniform top.

“Anything for you, my little Kat.”
He pulled back to see her eyes, dark with the same passion. She wanted him. No female had ever looked at him with such desire.

In record time, he stripped off his uniform top. It took all his self-control not to dive back into her, when she poked her little pink tongue out, leaving a trail of wet moisture on her pouty,
full
, pink lips.

Her little fingers trailed. He groaned at the feel of her hands running over his shoulder, across his chest, down to his lower stomach.

“You’ve got an amazing body; you all do.”

Ric
couldn’t help his smile of masculine pride, realizing she found him and his brothers attractive.

“Is that all you like, little Kat?” he teased lightly.

“
Hummm
, for starters.
Let me up and I'll show you what else I like. Take off your boots and pants for me.”

It wasn’t a demand, just a gentle request, which he was more than happy to comply with.

Jumping from the bed, he enjoyed the sound of her soft, musical giggle, as she watched him almost trip over as he hurriedly undid his combat boots and ripped down his pants.

She scrambled back on the bed, her eyes fixed on him, their depths almost matching the hunger he felt deep within.

“Lay down, please, on your back. Will you let me explore you, as you did me?”

He met her warm, green gaze. It would damn near kill him, but by the Ice Plains, it would be worth it.

“Anything you wish. I will try to control my impulse to throw you down and mount you.”

“I see.” Her lust-darkened eyes gleamed with wicked intent. He did as she bade, wondering what she was going to do. Her gaze skimmed down his body.

“My, my, this big fellow looks a little angry.” Her hand reached out, curling around his throbbing, hard rod.

He hissed at her scalding touch—so good. “Little Kat,” he warned.

She moved her body over his, her hair spilling over her shoulder, brushing against his stomach, while she carefully touched him, exploring his skin.

He burned hotter than the deepest fire pits, and groaned when she lowered her mouth, licking the nub of his chest. He had to fist the sheets, so as not to grab her and flip her over, burying his rod into her tight sheath.

She seemed to be enjoying her exploration, and there was no way he was going to stop her. It was a complete, novel experience, to be pleasured instead of doing the pleasuring.

She gave little ‘
hummms
’ and ‘coos’ of appreciation with each part she tasted.

“
Soo
yummy.”
Her voice vibrated against his skin. She shifted her attention lower. Again she took his rod into her hand, examining it.

Ric
almost choked on his own saliva when she unexpectedly lowered her head and placed a long lick across the head of his rod.

He opened his eyes, seeing her surprised expression when she lifted her head. Worry shot through him. “Kat, you do not…” His voice trailed off when he saw the impish grin spread across her face.

“You taste like dark chocolate, slightly bitter, but also sweet.”

He had no idea what ‘dark chocolate’ was.

“Is that good or bad?” Damn, he sounded breathless and needy. He was stunned at what she was able to do to him.

Her grin broadened. She went down and gave him another long lick, which had him throwing his head back, arching his hips and groaning loudly.

“On Earth, chocolate is my most favorite, sweet treat. But I think you are my new one.” Her voice sent vibrations through his shaft. She took him deeply into her mouth, sucking with ardent fever. The hot, wet suction was incredible; when she took him down the back of her throat and swallowed against his shaft, he almost came.