Quest For Earth (28 page)

She knew it had been his intention all along to manipulate her into offering him sanctuary. She only hoped she knew the reason why.

***

Her room in the women's quarters seemed smaller, more intimate, with Maaka's unsettling presence. Sherise retreated to the cramped bathroom where she scooped up a wash cloth. She leaned against the door, eyes squeezed shut, heart thudding and anticipation tingling in her lower belly.

He was here.

In her room.

Did he intend to share the narrow bunk with her? Perhaps he would be content to sleep on the floor. So far he had rejected her unspoken invitation to lay with her. Always pushing her aside, promising a ‘
soon
' in her ears but never delivering the satisfaction her body craved. For all his talk of sons and mates, he had done nought but arouse her to a fever pitch until she barely knew what was up or down.

She opened her eyes and hurried to the basin. The liberal application of cold water to her face and neck did little to abate the heat blooming beneath her skin. She used the wash cloth with quick efficiency. About to leave, she checked her image in the mirror. The sight of her flushed face and a hectic sparkle in her eyes caused her to groan and turn from her reflection.

Why would tonight be any different?

A short prayer mantra eased some of her turbulence. She blew out a thankful breath and hurried back to her room. Six hours rest, then it would be time to face a new day. The tour could well reveal the answers to their questions; she made a mental note to discuss her ideas about who was jamming their signals with Dyrke. She would order a scan for other fortresses and get their nav team working on pin-pointing the source of the jamming device. As soon as they located it, she'd make contact. Within a matter of days, they could be on the way to repairing the
Quinnie
. She would be able to fulfil her mission. And perhaps when it was all over, she would think about her future. An image of Maaka's teasing face popped into her mind. The jittering feeling in her belly settled.

Once within her room, she turned and secured the latch.

Maaka planted his hands on the door either side of her and leaned his body against hers. His breath tickled her neck as he nuzzled stray wisps of her hair.

Her stomach flipped over. Her pulse spiked to new heights. And to her horror a tear tracked down her cheek.

He spun her around.

She kept her head down, her teeth biting her lower lip.

He tilted his head and peered lower. ‘Why do you cry? Are you in pain?'

Sherise pushed at his arms but he did not budge.

‘Do not do this to me again!' she sniffled. ‘I wish to sleep and have no taste for your games.'

He kissed away the tear. ‘I do not play games.'

With tiny feather-light kisses he moved his lips over her cheeks, stroking his tongue over her lips, and whispered, so close against her mouth his breath could have been hers, ‘I would wish our first joining to be on the bed of the softest furs but I can wait no longer.'

Oh, thank you, Cercis!

Sherise flung her arms around his neck and Maaka chuckled.

His mouth fused with hers.

At first hard and demanding until her lips softened into submission beneath his, then he nibbled her mouth until it tingled. He dragged his lower lip over her jaw line, up to the lobe of her ear to swirl his tongue over the folds of her skin while he slid his hands between their bodies and plumped her breasts. She closed her eyes and shivered as delight prickled her body.

She would taste him as he tasted her and planted open-mouth kisses against the corded muscles in his neck, biting down on the lobe of his ear. His groan of approval caused her to squirm. Her breasts were taut and swollen with desire and her skin as hot as flames.

‘This cloth displeases me. So thick and rough. Remind me to burn these clothes so you never wear them again.' His touch moved to settle on her waist.

She smiled over the disgruntlement in his voice and opened her eyes, feeling as powerful as a goddess. His face was all hard planes, sharp with need. His eyes glowed with a fire that she hoped would consume her.

Sherise pushed his chest gently. ‘Sit down and I will remove these garments.'

He backed away until the bunk was behind him, then sat, all the while keeping his hands on her hips as if reluctant to release his hold.

One by one she peeled his fingers from her skin, placed his hands in his lap. When she took a step backwards, he braced as if about to spring to his feet, but she shook her head.

‘Wait.' She held up a finger.

He relaxed, settled back against the wall, legs spread open and Sherise took a long moment to admire the bulge behind his trousers. She licked her lips as a doubt lashed her confidence. Could she satisfy this warrior? Or would she fail, as she had failed that one miserable time on Gazood?

No, Maaka is nothing like that brutal guard. He is the warrior of my choice and I will give him more pleasure than he has ever dreamed.

Her boots would be the first to go. Sherise crouched down and released the straps, sliding the boots off her feet. Knowing Maaka watched her every move, she took her time, wriggled her toes and massaged the balls of her feet, before straightening.

She kept her eyes fixed on him as she raised her hands and untied the cord holding her braid in place. A few languid shakes and her hair fell free in long waves to frame her face and flow over her breasts.

He swallowed. The muscles on his neck and along his wide shoulders bunched.

Her breath caught at the sight. Her small room suddenly hot and airless.

She slipped her shaking hands up beneath her tunic and shimmied her pants down over her hips, then, ever so slowly, down her legs to puddle on the floor. One kick and they were swept out of the way.

‘This gives me great pleasure,' Maaka said. The hungry grin of a predator matched the intensity of his unblinking eyes.

She pointed at him. ‘Your clothes are next.'

He grinned as he kicked off his boots while he pulled and tugged at his borrowed uniform, tossing it aside to reveal his glorious body. She looked her full, liking the long lines of his limbs and his well-toned torso. Her gaze lingered on his proud erection and her mouth dried. He sat back on the edge of the bunk, linking his hands behind his head. The action thrust his chest forward and showcased his beautifully muscled physique.

Sherise pressed her legs together, the friction of skin against skin made her long for his weight pressing into her. With trembling fingers, she soothed the long line of her tunic over her belly. Fold by tiny fold, she gathered the material into her hands until her bare legs were revealed and the hemline dangled a mere centon below her sex.

She waited a beat.

Maaka unlinked his hands, braced his fists onto his thighs and leaned forward, giving the impression that at any moment he would pounce.

His breathing was heavy and slow, hers short and quick.

Ever so slowly she lifted the hem of her tunic, higher and higher. Over her stomach, her ribs, her breasts. Her movements excruciatingly slow, she lifted the garment over her head and tossed it aside.

‘So beautiful and all mine.' Maaka reached out and pulled her to stand within the spread of his legs. He rested his face against her belly, rubbed his rough cheek against her, then placed open-mouth kisses over her smooth skin. Sucking and licking, he kissed his way towards her smooth mound.

She shuddered and soothed her hands over his shaven head, pressing him closer. Her head flung back, she moaned as he delved between the folds and lapped with his tongue. A tremor shook her legs. She staggered, gripped him harder, pushed him closer, ground her sex against his hot, moist mouth. Her pulse thrummed with urgent demand and wetness trickled between her legs.

Maaka growled.

‘I can smell your lust for me.' His grip left her waist. He pushed her legs wider apart, his hands slipped round to her bottom, one to knead and grip her cheek while the other fingered her sex from behind, spreading her cum over her swollen clit and up to her star-shaped hole.

He dipped his tongue lower and under. Sucking and nibbling with his demanding mouth until a scream formed in her throat she dared not utter in case he was discovered. She clamped down, whimpered, gasped and panted. She ground herself against his face as a rapture splintered like a starburst inside her mind and she gave herself up to her first orgasm.

Her limbs trembled, her heart pounded, her breasts felt swollen and heavy, her nipples puckered and extended to tight peaks. She ached to feel his warm hands cup and mould them. She wanted his lips against hers, his mouth sucking her breasts, his weight holding her down. She wanted his cock wedged to the hilt inside her. But there was nothing she wanted more than to give him the same fulfilment.

She tried to push him away but he ignored her. Using his lips and tongue like weapons, he kissed and licked until she moaned while a crescendo of want built in her lower belly. He parted her folds with his fingers, inserting one, then two fingers deep inside her. Her muscles clamped around the intrusion. He moved them ever so slowly, in, then out. He blew over her heated flesh and she pushed down over his hand. She was sure a trillion flymoths fluttered inside her belly and her head was spinning, spiralling like a powerless shuttle falling from the sky.

Maaka raised his head and removed his hand. He stood and examined her face which felt as if a solar flare had scorched her skin. He captured her lips in a hard dominant kiss that ground his mouth against her teeth. She tasted her cum on his lips, mingled with his minted breath. She could do nothing but hold onto his shoulders when he swept her up into his arms then positioned her face down on the bunk.

‘Move around to face the wall,' he ordered.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her onto her hands and knees until she was on all fours facing the wall, the bottoms of her legs and feet hanging over the edge of the bunk. He spread her legs wider, his fingers mined her cum and smeared it over her clit and hole, then he gripped her waist.

She held her breath and closed her eyes. She could feel his thick cock pushing at her entrance. In a little. A little bit more. Sherise flung her head back and pushed back against him but he gave a short soft laugh and eased away.

‘Please … what are you doing?' The pleading sob burst from her throat.

She wanted him. Now.

He slipped a little further inside, rotated the rounded knob of his cock until her juices soaked her skin. His fingers dug into her waist holding her still and she could feel all that heat, all that luscious hard weight of him, a centon or two from her body.

Then, before she could collapse screaming onto the bunk, he thrust. Hard. To the hilt. His heavy balls smacked against her skin. His breath was hot as lava against her back. He thrust again, and again, and again. Each time driving a little further inside until he was grunting while he rammed into her, over and over. His touch left her waist, snaked with rapid swiftness around her to clutch and squeeze her breasts in his hands, his body now lying against hers while he slid back and forth, in and out.

Pressure built, she pushed back against him. She no longer knew where she ended and he began. Faster and faster. There! White heat flashed over her skin, brilliant sparks of colour exploded inside her mind like a super nova as his climax plunged her into a rapture that shuddered through her with volcanic force.

Maaka collapsed onto the bunk and gathered her to his side. He nuzzled her hair, pressing kisses against her temple. Gradually, the pounding of Sherise's heart lessened. Replete, she snuggled into the shelter of his tight embrace and fell asleep, soothed by the steady cadence of his breathing.

Chapter 19

Sherise slavered a liberal dose of some thick golden substance over her bread and took a healthy bite. The sweetness hit her taste buds and she moaned with appreciation.

‘It's called honey. Made by bees,' said Kade. ‘What happened to you last night? I came back to the temple and found you'd hightailed it out of there.'

But did you return alone or with peacekeepers to arrest Maaka?
Sherise tensed where she sat and, head lowered, busied herself with her morning meal. ‘I came back to our quarters.'
Eventually.
She took another bite and chewed.

‘Humph.' Kade shoved her plate aside and rose to her feet. ‘You'll be collected in about half an hour for that tour. Don't keep them waiting.' She fished inside a pocket of her tunic and brought out her sun shades. With a flourish, she covered her red-rimmed eyes and strode out of the room. The door slammed behind her.

It appeared Sherise wasn't the only one who had lost sleep the night before. But she wasn't tired. Rather, her blood sung in her veins and her heart felt so light it could have floated up to the stars if not anchored within her skin.

The rectangular-shaped eating room was empty apart from Sherise. Where were the other occupants? Were they workers or scholars? She had yet to even lay eyes on them. Her gaze settled on the empty place beside her. Bree was another who appeared to have eaten early and departed.

If her friend was not careful, she would miss the tour. Her continued insistence on solitude was not healthy and Sherise chanted a prayer of comfort for Bree. Sometime this day, she must see what she could do to ease her friend's pain.
If we can repair the Quinnie, I have a chance to fix her unhappiness. But in doing so, I will lose Maaka.

She finished the remainder of the bread doggedly, even though her hunger had fled. She'd learned long ago to make the most of every opportunity to eat. Absently, she swirled her fingers in the droplets of honey left on her plate. Around and around, much like her thoughts this morning.

Maaka had left as soon as the night faded into the day. One essence-stealing kiss and then he was gone before she could even think about questioning him. She shifted on the chair and winced, feeling a few aches and pains that definitely hadn't been there yesterday. She smiled, remembering how many times Maaka had turned to her and caught her up into his arms.