Read Dara Joy - Matrix 04 Online
Authors: KATHY
Dara Joy - Matrix 04 (9 page)
Daxan's open mouth slid over her shoulder, a hint of teeth scraping the apex of the curve.
Soosha sucked in her breath. That particular spot was a very sensitive one for a Familiar woman.
Did he somehow know that or was it happenstance?
Probably a coincidence.
Or a fortunate deed.
Or. . . perhaps, Spoltami men were very interesting indeed.
"Tell me, what is wrong with a passion for knowledge, my beautiful Familiar?"
"The pursuit of knowledge to the exclusion of all else can blind one to life's true passions. "
"Do you think I am imperceptive?" He laved the skin behind her ear with a light flick of his tongue. Then he gave her the tiniest of bites on the very rim of her lobe.
She shivered. "I have not yet decided what you are."
"We all hold mysteries. I do not 'explain' myself to anyone."
"Never say that to a Familiar. We are curious by nature and your words lure me into finding out more about you."
He chuckled. "I look forward to the attempt."
Although Daxan leveled out his breathing, hot puffs of air feathered her skin as his pulse rate increased. Before she knew it, strong arms were around her, pulling her tight up against him.
Well, Spoltami men hide treasure beneath their tunics.
The hefty stone-like bulge that pressed against her buttocks left no doubt of that. Apparently a cool scholar could burn like fire when passion took control of his mind.
Interesting.
"You must be hungry," he whispered.
Oh yes, she was. Only not for food.
Soosha took a deep breath. She had to steady herself! Remember that he was different; that his ways were different. This act must done in a specific manner.
And not as a fast coupling, either.
What she had in mind was hours upon hours of unrelenting passion.
The poor man had no idea what was in store for him.
Taking another deep breath, she forced herself to a calmer state. It was not easy; she was wet with desire. Briefly she wondered if she could take him quickly at first, here on the beach under the stars...
No!
Not with him. Not the first time.
The first time they came together must be in the traditional Familiar mating stance!
So. .. how was she to get him to do that?
There had to be a way!
"This is a good spot."
At first she thought he meant on her throat, but then realized he had thrown the vine basket onto a nearby outcropping of rock that jutted out into the water.
Nimbly jumping onto the rocky ledge, Daxan held his hand out for her. "Lift your skirts to make the jump. I believe you will like it up here."
As she reached out for his hand, she noticed a bronze cuff on his forearm just below the elbow. Stretched taut over his skin, the cuff complimented his golden skin, accentuating the sinews and carved muscles of his arm.
The intricate armband was woven with hundreds of thin metallic threads! The complex pattern reminded Soosha of the patterns that Aviaran men wove with ribbons into their wives' hair.
She wondered if the adornment had any significance other than ornamental?
Probably an ancient Spoltam warning regarding their large speckled fruit.
Her nose twitched as she thought about it.
After helping her up onto the ledge, Daxan sat down and sifted through the vine basket.
Soosha took the opportunity to examine the rocky promontory they were on, noting that a partial wall to her right effectively blocked some of the wind, as well as the houses on the high cliff. Down below, the Spoltam sea frothed onto pink sand; above her, the crisp night sky winked with sparkling stars that seemed to have countless stories to tell!
The secluded place Daxan had chosen was utterly intoxicating.
All of her senses were responding to its charm.
The location could not be more perfect for what she had in mind. The wind would ignite Daxan's passion, the rolling sea would cover his cries of ecstasy.
"We can have our feast here." Daxan was staring at her,
not the food. And the sensual tone of his voice suggested that he also had a different kind of sustenance in mind.
Which was good.
He had finally given her the perfect means to carry out a proper Familiar mating.
Familiars always put high value on the physical. Like others of her kind, Soosha believed that intimacy should always come first, so that whatever remained could follow naturally. For Soosha, mated lovemaking was a spiritual awakening, a closeness, and a renewal that could only come about through the sexual act.
As Soosha thought about the intimacies she would soon be sharing with this handsome man- who was all but a stranger- a flush rose to her cheeks and her aqua and gold eyes dilated with desire.
Daxan smiled slowly. He had no trouble reading her expression. Grabbing a small pouch from the vine basket, he rose from his seat to stand next to her.
He handed her a small leather covered bottle. "Try this; I think you will like it."
Soosha opened the flask and took an experimental, wary sniff. Most Familiars were very particular about what they consumed. They never took anyone's word for how good it was; they had to sniff for themselves first.
The cautious trait was deeply ingrained in their makeup.
Probably for good reason.
It took a hunter to know that there was always the thinnest of lines between hunter and hunted. Situations could turn quickly.
''What is it?" she asked warily.
"An elixir made from a large, speckled Spoltam fruit. It is called
Nightfall.
The drink is very popular with both
Spoltami and visitors, alike. You will find it served in all of the taverns here."
Soosha sniffed at the
Nightfall
again. It could not be made from that awful-smelling fruit! It could not. The scent had changed into something utterly alluring. "Um, what does it taste like?"
"Indescribable. You will have to find out for yourself." He held the vial up to her lips. "Drink."
She cautiously took a sip. The spicy blend was somewhat thick; it slid down her throat in a smooth wash. "Mmmm, that was quite re-"
Her eyes opened wide as the elixir bounded back with a strong punch.
"Oh!"
He laughed at her reaction. "I should have warned you--it has tooth."
"There is nothing wrong with a little teeth," she purred seductively, licking a droplet off her lips. "Every now and then," she whispered. The tip of her pink tongue delicately dabbed at the sweet spot.
Daxan watched her through the lowered veil of his lashes. "So you like some bite. . . occasionally?" he murmured drily.
"At the right time, it can be the perfect stimulant." She gave him a guileless look- as if they had only been discussing the elixir. "Do you export it? I would love to bring such an exotic taste home with me." Oh, she was being quite naughty!
But Soosha could not help herself. She was true to her feline sisters!
"First, you want my fragrance," his voice was a husky whisper, "Then my
Nightfall.
I best be careful what else I introduce you to, Soosha. It seems you want to take
everything home with you."
She smiled secretively. "We familiar do like to carry the odd prize back every now and again."
"So I have heard." Daxan rested back against the rock wall. "To answer your question, we do not export our Nightfall. There is a rumor that the potency does not last long once it is produced; so it must be imbibed within an evening. This means this very potent brew must be consumed at the one time. That makes it a popular tavern choice. Off-Landers think fondly of us by remembering the experience and, thus, come more often to visit. " He gave her a wink as he raised the bottle to his lips. "Good for profits, you see."
She tapped the side of her forehead with her index finger. "Smart Spoltami."
"We are a clever people." He took a healthy swig of the strong drink.
"But are you wise?"
He swirled the bottle in his hand as he mulled over her question.
"That
is a complex question. Do you think we are wise?"
"I do not know. It seems to me in some things, perhaps. Yet, there might be room for more studying." She gave him a gamin grin.
"Wisely put, my Familiar friend."
"You agree with me?" This surprised her; he seemed to have such a high regard for his people's level of knowledge.
Daxan rubbed the back of his neck under the heavy fall of his hair. Soosha thought his gesture very sensual. "I suppose Spoltam is not as perfect as we would like to believe."
That was an subtle statement if she ever heard one. "It is very different from my home planet."
"I suspect it is."
"Perhaps one day you would like to see our M'yan?" She watched him, expectantly. Few were issued such an invitation; M'yan was a protected haven.
His golden eyes locked with hers. "I would love to visit your world." His hand reached up and cupped the side of her face. "They say it is intoxicating. . . Like its people."
Soosha sighed wistfully and looked down. Just thinking about her beautiful home made her miss it.
Raising her eyes to his, she suddenly became aware of the way he was staring at her.
Like he wanted to drink her until he drowned.
"Yes," she breathed. "Intoxicating."
Daxan placed the elixir vial on the rocky ledge behind her. His free arm smoothly encircled her waist, bringing her to him. He watched her. Silently. Mysteriously.
The wind gently ruffled his hair. Silvery moonlight reflected off of lambent golden eyes.
What is he thinking behind those amber shields?
Soosha realized his features were not defined by perfection, but by angular strokes of masculine synergy.
He was capturing her.
Daxan Sahain, you are most compelling.
Right then and there, she decided to do away with the preliminaries. "I would like to make love to you."
"I know."
There was that slightly wicked tilt to the edges of his lips. The man was matching her step for step!
She arched her brow. "Perhaps Spoltam men are wiser than I have given them credit for after all?"
"I would not judge most Spoltami by me, my honeyed savager of market stalls."
Her lips curled into a grin. His apt description of the frantic chase through the Spoltam
sacri
made her laugh.
He laughed with her.
Bending his head close to hers, he hugged her in his arms. Daxan's
stroke-aura
was just as she imagined; only better. It was like being embraced by rays of sunlight. Warm, appeasing, purrrr-fect.
His sweet breath, laden with the spices of
Nightfall,
caressed her lips. His mouth-that delectable, firm mouth-was so close!
Yet their lips did not touch.
It was said on M'yan that a male's true skill in the art of pleasure was to be found in the "tips". Of his tongue. Of his fingers. Of his member.
As a general rule, Soosha believed the adage undoubtedly true. But there was much to be said for other skills.
Anticipation was also an art.
As Daxan stared deeply into her eyes, his measured exhales teasing at her mouth, Soosha instinctively knew that he was a man who could wield anticipation with the deadly precision of a Charl lightblade.
He
was
playing with her.
And she rather liked it.
Daxan brought her closer, clasping her to him. His fingers splayed across the sleek cloth of her gown. The
tips
of his fingers pressed into her flesh as he slowly caressed the material over her smooth thighs and buttocks.
Clenching his fist, Daxan easily lifted the gown. The cool night air kissed her stroke-warmed skin.
His bare arm pressed into her bare thigh, the flat of his hands gliding across her buttocks in a smooth caress. Back and forth- he massaged the soft material against her skin, bunching it in his fists; his knuckles strumming the curve of a rounded cheek...
Then his nails skittered down the back of her thigh. Scoring just enough to tingle and not scratch. Teasingly, he pressed his face into the side of her neck.
Soosha's breath caught in her throat.
What was he doing?
Would he actually
bite
her?
Still not touching her with his lips, Daxan inhaled her scent, then blew a steady stream of cool air along her collarbone.
Tiny bumps of anticipation rose up on her skin.
Gathering her gown in both hands, Daxan repeated his actions, bunching the material, massaging her with the silken cloth, rubbing it against her flushed skin, and finally, alternating his motions with the tips of his fingers, bringing bare skin in contact with bare skin.
The hardened
tips
of Soosha's breasts jutted against the thin cloth of the gown.
Daxan dipped his head. His hands cupped her buttocks with the bunched cloth; the
tips
of his coiled , beaded hair teased across those sensitized nubs, sliding back and forth.
Then, suddenly his mouth was there.
Scalding directly through the fabric, fastening on the pebbled crest. He suckled with strength and he was not gentle.
Soosha's reaction was so intense that she jumped in his arms.
Daxan murmured low in his throat. The rumble of satisfaction reminded Soosha of male pleasure-purring.
How she loved
that
sound!
Soon the cloth became moistened from his mouth, sticking to her breasts. When he removed his pliant lips, the wet spot became instantly cooled from the night breeze.
He blew hot breath across the jutting peak.
The feeling was exquisite! Soosha moaned as she opened her senses to experience every sensation.
He repeated his ministrations to her other breast.
Drawing on the firm peak through the silky cloth, he exhaled a scorching wave of breath, following up on the action with a cool stream of air. All the while his hands massaged and caressed her buttocks and upper thighs.
Oh, he was good.
So good.
Agilely, he dropped to his knees before her.
His open mouth slid down the center line of her midriff, over her stomach directly to the juncture between her legs. Daxan was so smooth, his actions so fluid, that Soosha acquired a new appreciation of the Spoltam male.
She was soon to 'appreciate' him even more.
Palms flattened against her buttocks, he drew her right against his mouth. He had her trapped in a scalding love embrace that allowed no room for escape. Soosha's nails dug into his shoulders.
He
was
surprising her!
The tip of his tongue flicked the centerline of her nether lips, softly stabbing at the fabric.
Scalding hot.
His tongue slipped between the covered folds, tasting her 'nightfall' as it seeped right through the material.
Daxan made Soosha flow and flow and the cloth became drenched with her dewy moisture.