Talson Temptations 2: Talson's Test (8 page)

Z frowned. “I didn’t know there was still a question about that.” He leaned closer and kissed her with possession in mind. “You’re mine, Adri. Say it.” She glared back at him. “I just spent the last nine months trying to be anything but under a man’s thumb. We may be mated, but that doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do.”

Before Z could argue, Val cut in. “Explain that, Adri. Maybe it would help us all if we knew more, like where you came from. What you’re running from.”

“I grew up in Werfal 5, like I told you. What I didn’t tell you is that my father is Tearn Rem.”

Zaret and Val shared a look. Z turned to her, his gaze incredulous. “Not Tearn Rem, the most wanted man on the Outer Colonies.
That
Tearn Rem?”

“Yes.” She sounded so miserable.

Without meaning to, he pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair. “Oh man. Well, I guess it could have been worse. He could have been a human pirate. At least he’s Otra.”

“Better not let Mom or Roarke hear that,” Val murmured.

At Adri’s look, Z explained. “Our birth mother died a long time ago, and our father remarried a human. Shea Talson, our mom. My youngest brother came from her.”

“He’s half human.”

“Yes.”

She didn’t seem to have a problem with that. “But you seem to hold him in regard.”

“We do. Hell, we love our baby brother. Shea too. But they seem so unlike the other humans we’ve met. Roarke’s mate, Jamie. She’s human too. But so strong, so different from the ones we’ve come into contact with.”

Adri snorted. “I hate to tell you this, but most humans are like that. I have a feeling you’ve been dealing with the large underbelly of society. The humans who work shipping and the docks are usually aligned with the criminal classes on Earth. I’ve spent the last months working at the Shipping News, so I’d know.”

“Maybe.” Z liked how she felt on his lap. And Stars help him, but his cock couldn’t stay soft near the woman.

“Zaret.” She shifted and flushed.

Val raised a brow but said nothing about her embarrassment. “Your family,” he prodded Adri to continue.

“They mean well, but I was raised with all boys. They know little about Selection, or what girls want. My father loves me. My brothers do too.” She met Z’s gaze. “All six of them.”

Val had the nerve to laugh.

“So why did you run away?”

“Because my father thinks that marriage and children will make me happy.”

“But…” Z needed to hear what she desired, and he wanted to satisfy her.

“But I need more. I need to be on my own. To see new worlds and experience life. A little danger won’t hurt me.”

Remembering his dreams, he frowned. “It might.”

“And I might be hurt riding my hovercycle. The point is, for the last nine months I’ve been on my own, and I’ve never been happier.”

“Then I came along and you’re stuck with another male.”

“Another overbearing male,” Val added.

“You’re not helping.” He shot his brother a rude gesture and turned to his
iriu
. “I wasn’t looking for this, but we’re tied. You feel it too, I know.”

“I do.”

He didn’t like her looking so glum. “Adri, I don’t know your family, but the Talsons, the ‘Or Fal, aren’t dictators. My mom lives side by side with my father.

Roarke’s pretty little mate won’t bow to him.”

“Ever.” Val nodded. “That woman is going to give him fits, I can tell.” Adri smiled. “I think more males need that.”

“Honey, most Otra are built to give our mates what they want and need. If we’re going to make a go of this, you need to know that.”

“So if I want to go offworld?”

“We’ll go. Adri, I run Port Nule, Wefal 7’s lane to New Hattan. From an Earth perspective, I live offworld.”

“Hmm, I guess you do.” Her eyes sparkled. “Do you have a newsprint there?”

“Hell. I’m not sure.”

Val shook his head. “We don’t, and we should have one. We could really use the added information on other shippers and galaxy trade, don’t you think?” Val glanced from Adri’s hopeful face to Z.
Think, Z. Your mate needs something you
can provide. Speak, freak. Tell her what she needs to hear.

Yes, tell me.
Adri grinned at Val, who stared at her in shock.

“She can hear us?”

“Apparently.” Z wanted to frown, but his smile continued to grow. “You’re a troublemaker, I can feel it.”

“That’s not all you can feel.” She wiggled on his lap. “What about you, Zaret? What is it you want? Women and parties? Lots of sex? Currency?”

“I—” His blood centered between his legs in his erection. “Fuck. Stop moving, woman.”

Val sighed. “You have no discipline, bro. So easy.”

“Shut up. You try having a conversation with her in your lap.” Val’s eyes narrowed. “Hmm, good point.”

Adri sucked in a breath when Z’s fingers slipped between her legs. “Um, Z? I thought you were feeling possessive. As in, no sex in front of your brother anymore?”

“I was. But I changed my mind.” He pushed his hand between her legs and cupped her. “I need more. Val, finish what you started yesterday before I remember I don’t share.”

Val chuckled. “Finally. I’ve been waiting. The energy’s building again, and you feel it, don’t you?”

“Do I ever,” he and Adri said as one.

“Now finish eating,
iriu
. It’s time to get back to The Testing.”

“I thought we’d finished yesterday.” She wiggled again, putting a fire back in his cock.

“Your Selection, maybe. But I feel more distance between us. And that’s the only thing between us I won’t tolerate. I can handle arrogant ‘San Fal. Even Tearn Rem. But you not all the way linked with me won’t work.” His aggression levels rose, and he couldn’t stop himself. Z lifted her in his arms and carried her away from the table.

“Now let’s finish this, Val. Once and for all.”

“Zaret, I need you,
iriu.
”Adri knelt on the bed, on her hands and knees, facing Val.

Like Zaret, he had the brawn and strength of an ‘Or Fal warrior. But he was leaner, less intense than his brother. And he didn’t call to her the way Z did.

She cupped Val’s sac and licked the sides of his shaft. A glance up at him showed him clenching his teeth as he struggled to hold on. She tasted the seed at his tip and felt him on the edge of orgasm. The energy roiling in his
psychei
settled closer to hers and Z’s. But it wasn’t quite there yet.

Behind her, Z poised, his emotions crashing. Affection, lust, need and a painful welling of what almost felt like love coalesced into a ball in his chest. For such a powerful warrior, he seemed to have no problem letting himself emote, though she could tell he wasn’t at all comfortable about his uncontrollable passion.

Val moaned.
Damn it, Z. Fuck her already. I know it’s a meaningful moment, but Christ,
you two are killing me! I can feel everything from both of you, and I’m torn between crying and
coming, so hurry up.

But Z wouldn’t be rushed. The tease spread her legs wider and pushed his tongue over her clit, licking her pussy with slow strokes that drove her insane. Then, to her shock, he moved from her pussy up, rimming her anus.

“Oh Stars.” She gasped as he toyed with her ass, the nerve endings overly sensitive to anything he wanted.

“I’m going to fuck you here too, baby. But not today. I don’t think Val has the patience to hold out that long.”

“Asshole.”

“Yeah. And a tasty one at that. You should see how tight she is. So hot and firm.” 

“Shit. Come on.” Val groaned and thrust deeper into her mouth.

Adri worked not to gag. Her body would accommodate anything for her
iriu
, but his
eda
had to work with her.

“Sorry, Adri. I can’t help it. Your mouth is killing me. I need to come.”

“Not yet,” Z ordered. “Not until she’s creaming all over my tongue.” Adri wouldn’t take long, not when he continued to play with her, his desire and affection growing with intensity. She felt her taste on his tongue, and felt the slight burn of penetration when his finger rimmed her ass. Dual sensations, in addition to the desperate need Val held on to, his
psychei
aching with it. She came hard, trembling under his touch. Yet she needed more.

“Please
,
iriu.”
She knew how much Z liked her calling him that. But did he realize that in allowing him to claim her, she’d claimed him right back?

I know, and I love it. You’re mine. And yeah, I’m yours, baby. All yours.

She sucked Val harder, driven by this first instance of Z’s voluntary telepathy.

Though she’d conversed with him before, this was the first time he’d answered, mind to mind.
Zaret? You’ll let me into your mind?

Honey, you’ve been in there from the get-go. Yesterday, last week, last month. Hell, the first
time you invaded my dreams you stuck in there and wouldn’t go.
He leaned back from her, and then she felt his cockhead prodding her entrance.

“Then fill me up,
iriu
. Stop stalling
.” She licked the underside of Val’s cock, feeling how hard he was, how he trembled under her touch. His energy whispered to hers with each pass of her mouth over his shaft.

“Yeah, cut it out,” Val added out loud, breathless. “Fuck her already. She needs it.

Fuck that hot little pussy. Like I’m fucking those beautiful lips. Here it comes, Adri. All in you.” Val groaned and shot inside her mouth, his seed sliding down her throat with the press of power.

Z slammed home in one huge, hard thrust. “I’m going to fuck you so good, baby.

Oh yeah. Fuck, Val. Give her more. So much light.” Silver bands of
psychei
ran through her, from Val into Adri and deeper into Z. Z

pulled back then rammed inside her again. Huge, hot thrusts with a rhythm that stole her breath. Right now, on her knees, with Val’s cock in her mouth and Zaret filling her pussy, Adri felt owned.

Possessed and domineered by the large warrior behind her. And she loved it.

She groaned and pushed back, but Z gripped her hips and pistoned into her with a hard, steady drive that marked her as his.

“That feels so good,” Val moaned, his cock hard again, as if he hadn’t just come.

Adri continued to suck him as she encouraged Z, drawing his plunging cock farther inside by subtly raising her hips. Z squeezed her ass cheeks, and the sensation of tightness increased.

“Now, yes. Oh yeah,
now
,” Val said and came hard a second time, prodding another orgasm in her.

Adri groaned and swallowed him, and she knew Z caught the echoes of their climaxes, pulling at him until he came. Swelling to an unbearable size, he stuffed her full and stilled, flooding her until she could feel his cum sliding down her thighs, mixing with his freed
psychei
binding them together.

Val pulled out and swore. “Christ, I need a drink.” He stumbled off the bed to a nearby chair. He closed his eyes and within seconds was sound asleep.

Adri glanced over her shoulder and stared at Z with smoldering eyes she could feel heating up. “I love you inside me.” She rotated her hips, amazed at Z’s size within her.

But more, she couldn’t believe the emotions stirring in her
iriu
, and in her.

Affection for this male she barely knew had turned into a strange kind of—
love
. She couldn’t say why or how she knew, but her
psychei
recognized his own as a part of her.

He was unselfish, caring, stubborn and aggressive. Her mate would never let her go without, nor would he tolerate anything but her all. The same demands she’d make on him, and she accepted them without hesitation.

Z remained within her, though he’d finally started to soften. He leaned down to hug her tight.
Veyu, I’m in you. And I’ll always be a part of you, the way you are with me. You
know that now, right?

Yes.

The Testing… I wanted to outrun it, but I’m glad it caught me. So fucking glad.

Tears filled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the surge of emotion hitting her hard.

“Shh, I know. It’s been an intense two days. It’s okay, baby. Easy.” He kissed the top of her head and lulled her into sleep.

Finally sated, at least for the time being, Z gathered her to him, placing her head on his chest as they lay on the bed. His heart had finally calmed, and he knew hers was the same. They were in tune now, her
psychei
with his, her body with his. Though they wouldn’t necessarily always share thoughts unless they both wanted to, they now shared one spirit.

The sane part of him knew he should rebel, but he couldn’t. She now dwelled within him, and he couldn’t imagine not feeling a part of her anymore. Between one breath and the next, she’d infused herself into his soul. His fears that me might one day be mated to someone he didn’t even like didn’t return. And he knew them for the false doubts of a confirmed bachelor.

His
psychei
could never ally with someone with whom he had nothing in common.

That sixth sense humans felt but could never quantify made up an Otra’s life. Without
psychei
, he was nothing, a shell of the ‘Or Fal warrior and man he’d been raised to be. In Adri, he could sense a life partner. Granted, they still knew very little about each other.

He knew how she tasted, the soft moans and mewls of pleasure she made when she came. The important things, he thought with a grin. But her favorite color? What she did for fun? What she liked and disliked? Where she’d choose to live with him? From what she’d mentioned, she didn’t want to live on Werfal 5—thank God—or in one particular place all the time. Like him, she wanted to travel.

Well, besides sex, we have that in common.

Before returning to Werfal 7, he and Adri needed to spend quality time together. So they could learn about themselves and each other without the interference of Z’s loving, but interfering, family.

And he’d make sure they had that time.

Hours later, when they woke, he looked for his brother and found a note telling him Val had booked another room for the next few days. Apparently his little brother knew him better than he knew himself. Z grinned, called Val and thanked him.