Planet Mail (8 page)

Her eyes flashed a challenge and she darted closer and licked the crown of his cock. “Perhaps I’ll drive you wild first.”

“I’m counting on it, consort.”

He pushed her gently onto her knees. Slowly he removed the very long supple strap of leather he wore wrapped around his thighs and groin. He bound her wrists behind her back and brought the rest of the strap between her legs. He arranged it carefully over her clit. The rest he brought up between her breasts and around her neck.

“I can’t touch your pussy now, even if I want to, so you can suck my cock all you want.”

When she leaned forward, the leather strap loosened. He wound the remainder of it around his wrist, tightening it against her flesh. She gasped as he pushed his cock between her lips. She sucked hard. He slid one hand in her long black hair to keep her exactly where he wanted her.

Her hands fisted behind her back as he flexed the leather back and forth. His balls tightened unbearably as she continued to suck him deep down her throat. As he fought for breath he realized that she was shuddering and crying out, climaxing without him laying a finger on her. With a roar, he exploded into her mouth, felt his come cascade in thick, flowing waves down her throat,
wished
he was buried deep in her sex.

He
unwrapped
the leather and released her hands. To his surprise she seemed content to simply lie in his arms, her breathing ragged, and her body still shaking with the aftereffects of her orgasm. Sleep pricked at his eyes and he allowed it to rise over him. For the first time in his life he had a woman in his bed
who
refused to have sex with him. Yet he felt as relaxed and fulfilled as a man who had experienced a hundred couplings.

In his desperate desire for a child, he’d forgotten that, alongside their physical passion, his parents had liked and respected each other. Like a prize bull, he’d begun to see females as something to fertilize rather than as potential life mates. Douglass had changed all that. His desire to sleep deserted him as he stroked her hair. What spell had this challenging slip of a woman cast over him and why was he content just to hold her in his arms?

* * * * *

In the massive palace stable yard, Douglass approached the creature warily from one side. Despite her initial concern, it seemed to be dozing in the bright sunlight. Its overall shape, especially the long nose and sharp teeth, reminded her of a dragon but it was covered in silky green feathers. She glanced up at Marcus who was grinning at her.

“What exactly is it?”

“It’s a
wulfrun
.” He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have them on Earth?”

The beast shifted on its clawed feet and sighed, blowing hot fetid air in Douglass’ face.

She took a hasty step back. “No, unfortunately, we don’t. It looks like something from a fairy tale or a legend.”

Marcus reached forward and patted the animal’s neck. “They are quite safe. We use them for all our transport needs.” He nodded to one of the stable hands who threw a blanket over the
wulfrun
’s
back and strapped on a bridle. A second animal was brought forward and tied up beside the first.

“I thought you wanted to get out of the palace, consort?” Marcus mounted the larger of the two
wulfruns
and sat looking down at her. “Are you too afraid to risk your skin?”

Douglass held his challenging stare as she approached the
wulfrun
. With Sven’s help, she managed to clamber onto the back of the creature. She gripped the reins before giving Marcus a triumphant smile. Beneath her butt, the coiled muscles of the animal shifted.

“I’m not scared, Sire. I enjoy a good ride.”

Marcus winked at her. “I know that, consort.” He clicked his teeth and headed for the archway which led out of the high-walled stable yard. Letting out a deep breath, Douglass squeezed her legs against the
wulfrun
’s
soft sides and tightened her left rein.

To her surprise, the
wulfrun
’s
gait was similar to a horse. She quickly adjusted to the smooth rhythm of the creature’s long stride and caught up with Marcus. For the first time in over two months she had the opportunity to look around her. To her annoyance, the eight men spread out around her and the king kept her from seeing much more than she had inside the palace.

“Are all these men necessary?” Douglass gestured at their escort.

Marcus looked surprised. “It’s only my bodyguard.”

“But I can’t see anything. They are blocking my view.”

“That’s the general idea. They are here to protect you.”

Douglass brought the
wulfrun
to a halt. “I thought you said they were your bodyguards, not mine.”

Marcus stopped as well. “They are sworn to protect what is mine, consort.”

“I’m not your possession. I can protect myself.”

His expression tightened. “As I’ve already told you, women are scarce on this planet. After your recent experiences you should know that some men would do anything to find and keep a fertile woman for their tribe.”

Douglass started moving again, her temper rising. “If you taught your women to fight, they wouldn’t need to be protected. They could protect themselves.”

“But why should they have to? Women are meant to be loved, cherished and honored for their ability to bear children. Why should they have to fight when men can do it so much better?”

“Because they are not children or possessions,” Douglass snapped. “They are adults who should be free to make choices for themselves.”

Marcus stared at her, his lips compressed in a thin line. Without another word, he dug his heels into the sides of his
wulfrun
and galloped toward the brow of the hill. After a short struggle with her temper and her conscience, Douglass followed him. He waited for her, his bodyguard spread out around him like a cloak.

Below them lay lush orchards of fruit trees and fields of golden crops. Douglass breathed in the scent of pollen and the thick cloying essence of living things. In the distance the curved purple hills of the desert surrounded the valley floor like arms around a child. Marcus stared straight in front of him.

Douglass cleared her throat. “I should not have criticized your customs, Sire. One of the most important rules they taught us in Space Academy was not to try and understand another planet’s social system and culture after a five-minute visit.”

Marcus swung around to look at her. “When she was fifteen, my sister was abducted by a band of men from one of the outlying villages.”

Douglass gulped.

“We were staying in our summer residence far in the north. By the time my father and I found her again she’d been forced to endure several pregnancies. She died in my arms trying to birth her fifth child at the age of twenty.” His smile was shadowed with grief. “So you see, even the protection I offer you might not be enough.”

The bitterness in his voice made her reach out and touch his arm. “I can only repeat my apology. As I said, I have no right to criticize.”

Marcus laid his hand over hers. “Perhaps, one day when the birthrate increases and women become plentiful again they will be able to be as fearless as you.”

Douglass didn’t know what to say. It was obvious Marcus was no woman-hater. He truly believed that women were safer kept in seclusion. And perhaps, because of his personal experiences and the current situation on his planet he had a point.

“Are your women allowed to learn to read and write?”

Marcus looked insulted. “Of course they are.”

“So the only thing they are not allowed to do is work outside the home?

“It depends on the community they live in. Some women are well protected and are able to work in the fields or alongside their men.” Marcus leaned forward and persuaded his
wulfrun
to move down the slope of the hill. Douglass followed him.

“If a woman wanted to get a job like mine, would she be able to?”

Marcus smiled at her. “I’m not exactly sure what you do, consort.”

Douglass gave him a mock salute. “I deliver parcels throughout our galaxy for the United Planetary Parcel Service, the UPPS.”

“Ah, and that is an important job?”

“I suppose it depends on whether you need a package delivered urgently. With such a small space ship, I’m fast and efficient.”

“It is more important to you to have this job than to breed children?”

“I can do both. On Earth, women are free to have both a career and a family.”

Marcus grunted. “It is an interesting concept, but one my own people would find hard to understand.”

Douglass flicked him a glance as they reached the first of the fruit trees. “Do I seem unfeminine to you then? Does having a job make me less of a woman in your eyes?”

He studied her for a long slow heartbeat. “That is the most interesting thing of all, my consort. You are the most fascinating woman I have ever met.”

With a flourish he dismounted and helped Douglass down, his hands firm around her waist. He continued to stare at her as if she were a very interesting puzzle. She could only be glad that he hadn’t taken her outspoken opinions the wrong way. His ability to listen only increased her admiration for the quiet intelligence and strength she believed lay behind his impressive physical appearance.

Was he learning to appreciate her as a person and see beyond her baby-making capacities? She began to hope he was. He was certainly the most remarkable man she’d met in a long while.

“Would you care to stroll in the orchard out of the heat?” Marcus guided her into the shade of the wide canopied trees. She laid her hand on his arm.

“I think that would be delightful.”

Something flew past her head and hit the king right in the chest. She gasped as he pushed her behind him and drew his sword. The bodyguards spread out, shouting to each other as they pursued a small shape that flitted between the trees.

“I have him, Sire!”

Douglass let out her breath as Sven emerged, grinning, holding the culprit by the scruff of his neck. Marcus started to laugh as he wiped splashes of overripe
ozan
fruit from his face. He let go of Douglass and went down on one knee in front of the young fruit thrower.

“That was a very good shot. What is your name?”

She guessed the boy was about the same age as Danny and obviously just as mischievous. He was the first child she’d seen since her arrival on the planet.

“My name is Erik.” He glanced back at Sven and scowled. “Are you going to tell on me?”

“Of course not.
No damage was done. “Marcus said.

Douglass glanced to her left as a woman emerged from the trees, her yellow head covering flapped in the wind. From her stricken expression, Douglass guessed she had a good idea what her son had been up to. The woman fell to her knees beside Erik and drew him into her arms. Erik immediately tried to wiggle free.

“Please, my King. He meant no harm. He is just a boy.”

Marcus reached forward and touched Erik’s thick brown hair, his fingers lingered. His gentleness no longer surprised Douglass. She allowed herself to imagine how Marcus would deal with Danny when he misbehaved.

“I was just congratulating your son on his excellent marksmanship.” Marcus got to his feet, bringing the woman with him. “You must bring him to the palace when he is older to watch my warriors train. Perhaps he might win a place among them.”

Erik’s face glowed with excitement as he faced the king. “I would like that. Can we go tomorrow, Mama, please?”

Marcus patted his head. “Your mother will decide when you are old enough, so don’t pester her or she might change her mind.”

The mild threat was enough to make Erik stop talking although he couldn’t quite stop jumping up and down. His mother wrapped her arms around him. With a sharp pang of longing, Douglass wished she could hold Danny like that. Inhale the intriguing scent of little boy before he grew tired of the caress and fidgeted to be set free.

Leaving Marcus to talk to the young woman, she walked back toward the
wulfrun
. She no longer saw the beauty of the valley around her. How long would it be before Danny forgot her and turned to another woman for the comfort only a mother could give? She rebuked herself for the self-pitying thought. She and Danny had always been close, sharing secrets and laughter as easily as they shared milk and cookies.

One of the
wulfruns
nuzzled her hair and she patted its nose. Whatever the risks, Danny needed her and would expect her to get home to him. She would simply have to find a way.

Chapter Six

Douglass stared out of the window and strained to imagine the darkness of space beyond the purple-tinged planetary atmosphere. The sun hadn’t risen yet and the palace was shrouded in shadows. She wiped a tear from her cheek. Dreams of her son had woken her from an uneasy sleep. Had Danny realized that she should’ve been back by now? Had her mother had to endure the UPPS officials arriving at the door to tell her that her daughter was missing?

“Why are you crying, consort?”

She shivered as Marcus placed his hands on her shoulders.

“I was thinking about my family on Earth.”

He kissed the top of her head.
“And missing them, no doubt.”
He sighed, his breath warm against her skin. “I will talk to the engineer at the spaceport again tomorrow and see if we can increase our signal strength and make contact with your people.”

“I still don’t understand why they haven’t responded to my ship’s emergency calls.”

He shifted her back until he could wrap his arms around her. “It’s possible that if our planet isn’t on their charts, they simply haven’t realized exactly where you are yet. I’m sure they will find you.”

She leaned back against his chest, surprisingly grateful for his presence. “Then there’s nothing I can do but wait, is there?”

He chuckled, the sound resonating deep in his chest. “You could try and enjoy what I offer you, consort.” He nipped her ear until she squirmed against him.