Therian Prize: 5 (Therian Heat) (10 page)

He dragged his mouth from hers and shook his head. “This is not what you need.”

“It’s what I
want
.”

Her words echoed through his body and a fresh rush of blood filled his groin, making his erection painful. “You’re too upset right now to know what you want.” He gently pushed her to the bed beside him and took a deep breath. “If we do this now, we’ll both regret it tomorrow.”

She started to say something then turned her head, stubbornly averting her face.

He touched her shoulder but she twisted farther away. “Can you get back to sleep or would you like…” What? Warm milk? A shot of whiskey? He had no idea how to soothe her without giving in to his desire.

“I’m fine.”

She sounded hurt and miserable and he felt like a selfish jerk. Sex might give them both a few hours of pleasure but as soon as their passion cooled, she’d feel self-conscious and resentful. She needed comfort and security, not what his body was so eager to give her.

Knowing it was the right thing to do didn’t make his retreat any easier. He crawled off the bed and ran his fingers through his hair. She still wouldn’t look at him. “Try to get some sleep.”

She lay down on her side and pulled the covers to her chin, all the while facing away from him. Stubborn little vixen. Didn’t she realize this was just a reprieve?

Rather than prolong the awkwardness, he slipped from the room and closed the door.

“How long do you intend to keep me here?”

Zophiel looked up from her laptop and frowned. Her new toy—she’d forgotten his name—sat on the foot of the bed, naked and annoyed. His blond hair was mussed, one side sticking up at a comical angle. Purple smudges shadowed his vivid blue eyes, and whiskers darkened his jawline. Sean. His name was Sean and she still couldn’t figure out why he tasted so good. Well, it didn’t matter anyway. As usual her ravenous hunger was burning him out. It was unlikely he’d last more than a day or two.

Not wanting to leave him unattended, she’d dragged a small round table into the corner of the bedroom so she could work while he slept. He was stubborn and strong and he’d damage himself if she left him to his own devices.

“How badly do you want to leave?” She let her gaze wander over his lean body, amazed that she still found him attractive after all the ways she’d enjoyed him in the past twelve hours. Usually her interest waned as soon as she’d indulged her curiosity.

“I’ll do anything, just let me go.”

He was so cute when he begged. He’d begged so much, and so loudly, at first that she’d had to gag him. But the inescapable truth of his situation soon extinguished his hope and he fell into sullen silence. He was helpless, a prisoner for as long as she chose to keep him or as long as his body held out. When she’d ventured out to buy them brunch, she’d tethered him to the bedroom with demonic compulsion. As soon as he stepped through the doorway his throat closed and he couldn’t breathe. The sensation was only illusion, however. Even death was beyond his grasp.

“Why should I believe you?” She pushed to her feet and strolled toward the bed. “You’ve done everything in your power to resist me.”

“Not that it’s done any good,” he grumbled.

“If I keep compelling you, you’ll go insane. I told you that from the beginning.”

“What are you?” He whispered the question then quickly lowered his gaze. Unfortunately fear, not respect, had motivated the instinct. “I know you’re not human.”

“What do you think I am?” She stood within reach but chose not to touch him. Anticipation always heightened the pleasure.

He glanced at her then away and his hands moved up and down his thighs. Was he nervous or trying to draw her attention to his hardening cock?

“Your face changes right before you come. Are you an alien?”

She laughed. “You’ve seen too many movies.”

“A d-demon?”

“Most would call my father a demon though he dislikes the label. My mother was something even more extraordinary.”

His sky-blue gaze met hers and held as curiosity burned through his fear. “What is more extraordinary than a demon?”

Few humans knew about Therians. It might be amusing to tell him. No, an explanation would only bring on more questions and she wasn’t in the mood to talk. “Understanding my nature won’t make your situation easier.”

He spread his legs and placed his hands on the bed to either side of his hips. The position displayed his firm, young body to perfection and she took a moment to enjoy the view.

“I want my freedom.” He sounded stronger now, more the rebellious party boy she’d found in the alley. “What do I have to do to get it?”

She moved between his spread knees and trailed her index finger down the middle of his chest. “I’ll make you a wager.”

Though his gaze locked with hers, wariness crept over his expression. “I’m listening.”

“I’m about to make a very important phone call. If you make me come before I end the call, I’ll set you free.”

He stared into her eyes, obviously suspicious of her terms. “And if I fail?”

“You spend the next two hours
willingly
pleasuring me in any way I choose. I’m tired of forcing my will upon you.”

After a tense pause, he said, “All right.”

She fought back a triumphant laugh. Unlike humans, she had complete control over her orgasms. She could come as fast and as often as she wanted or resist the urge indefinitely. But her toy didn’t need to know that.

She rushed across the room and grabbed the cell phone and wireless earpiece off the table where she’d been working then returned to the bed. After propping several pillows against the headboard, she crawled onto the mattress. She untied the belt of her bathrobe and opened the sides, baring her body without actually undressing.

“Mouth and fingers only.” She bent her knees and spread her thighs. “Anything else will make it too hard to talk.”

Determination burned in his eyes. He lay on his stomach and draped her legs over his shoulders as she positioned the earpiece and activated the number. She’d been dreading this conversation all day, but this game should make the exchange infinitely more interesting.

The call connected and his mouth settled over her slit. She wiggled, rubbing against his warm lips. His strong hands grasped her hips, holding her at just the right angle.

“Who is this? How did you get Roberto’s phone?”

The impatient female voice triggered an image in Zophiel’s mind. Classic Asian beauty, dark hair styled in a sleek, chin-length bob, and almond-shaped eyes shining with fierce ambition. Tias was the only member of the backers Zophiel found interesting. Roberto and Milliner were useful but boring, while Tias emanated danger and mystery.

“My name is not important,” Zophiel began. “I am, or rather was, the person commanding Roberto.”

Ah, Roberto. The handsome Italian had been wonderfully entertaining. He’d fancied himself a sexual connoisseur, so she’d used much of their brief time together showing him just how little he knew about pleasure—and pain. His body might have been the ideal of human masculinity but his mind had been weak. Just like Sean, Roberto burned out much too fast.

She heard the rapid tattoo of high heels against a hard surface. Was Tias rushing away from curious ears or rushing toward assistance?

“What did you do to Roberto? How did you… What sort of conditioning resulted in his obedience? I’d never seen anything like it.” Zophiel nearly laughed. Tias’ heartless curiosity made her even more convinced they would make wonderful partners. Tias was rumored to be ruthless and highly intelligent, qualities Zophiel appreciated. “Did you ‘command’ him to shoot himself?”

Sean eased back and held her open with his thumbs. Then he attacked her clit directly, flicking his tongue against the sensitive nub. Sensations pulsed deep into her abdomen, pleasant yet predictable. She rolled her hips and fought back a moan then dispersed the spasms before they could fully form.

“It’s an inherent ability, nothing that can be taught.” Sean repositioned his head and Zophiel smiled. He was nothing if not persistent. “And yes, I compelled him to end his own life.”

Sean paused, his horrified gaze darting to hers. She rocked her hips and motioned downward with her gaze, refocusing his attention on the wager.

“What do you want with me?” Tias sounded suspicious rather than frightened. If Zophiel’s information was accurate, it would take more than one conversation to motivate the shrewd human. “I still have a partner. I don’t need another.” Impatience made her melodious tone sharp.

Sean slipped two fingers into Zophiel’s passage, sliding them in and out as he sucked on her clit. The combination was more stimulating than Zophiel had anticipated. She clenched her ass cheeks and twisted away but he stubbornly followed.

“I wasn’t asking,” Zophiel snapped as she frantically unwound the rapidly building sensations. Damn, that was close. “I am your new partner. You can either cooperate with me or I’ll take control of you as I did Roberto.”

“What about Milliner?” Each tight syllable revealed her agitation. “He’s been trigger-happy ever since Roberto’s death.”

“Milliner has been trigger-happy a lot longer than that.”

Sean lifted his mouth long enough to drag Zophiel downward. Once she lay flat on her back, he spread her legs wide and covered her sex with his open mouth. His tongue drilled into her core as his upper lip massaged her clit. She helplessly arched to meet him. Hell’s fire, that felt good. Her inner walls clenched and an orgasm rushed ever closer.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

The irritation in the human’s voice allowed Zophiel to push back her climax, barely. Sean was
really
good at this. If she rationed his energy, taking less at each feeding, she might be able to increase the lifespan of her new toy. “Our interaction is all you need to worry about right now. Leave Milliner to me.”

“That didn’t work out so well for Roberto,” Tias stressed.

Sean must have realized she’d fought off the spasms. His lips closed around her clit again and he thrust three fingers into her pussy. He was doing everything right and with remarkable skill. She could have come at least three times by now if she wasn’t suppressing the sensations. She definitely needed to find better ways of motivating him to perform. Compulsion forced him to find relief from his raging desire but he lost all finesse. This was so much better.

Shaking away the distraction, she told Tias, “We’ll work around the general, for now.”

“What is your interest in my project?”

“My project”? Did Milliner realize Tias considered the project hers? Interesting. “I’ve been studying Therians longer than you’ve been alive. Your project simply has resources I need to access.”

“You’re one of them, aren’t you? Is that how you were able to control Roberto?”

“We’re not talking about me.” She planted her feet against the bed and rocked her hips, driving Sean’s fingers deep into her body. “I’ll send you a disposable phone.” She tightened her inner muscles, relishing the fullness and the sensual slide.

“What will our correspondence entail? What do you expect me to do for you?”

Zophiel smiled. She was so close. All she’d have to do is let go and her orgasm would blast through her. She reached down between her thighs and tugged on his hair. He looked up without releasing her clit. “You’ll do anything I ask of you.” She looked deep into his eyes and smiled triumphantly. “I’ll be in touch.” She ended the call and pulled the earpiece out of her ear. “Not even close, you poor dear.”

He withdrew his fingers and glared at her. “You’re a heartless bitch. You know that, don’t you?”

She laughed and turned over, flipping her bathrobe out of the way as she arranged herself on her knees and forearms. “You will not come until I command it. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Mistress,” he ground out between clenched teeth.

“In me, now.”

He knelt behind her and thrust home so hard she hit the headboard and saw stars. She laughed and allowed his tantrum to set the pace. With her body primed and ready to explode, it didn’t take long. She came, fast and hard, crying out loudly in case he was so lost in lust that he failed to realize he’d pleased her.

“Can I come?”

“No!” He stopped moving, his cock still deep inside her as he muttered a long string of profanity. He was shaking, his fingers digging into her hips. His harsh panting was music to her ears. The blissful fullness of his engorged shaft eased the ache deep in her body and cruelly denying him pleasure launched a new cycle of arousal. “Nice and slow this time.” She waited until he obeyed then added, “And find somewhere really nasty to thrust those clever fingers.”

The rhythmic notes of Zophiel’s unique ringtone echoed through the room. She glared at the phone she’d set down on the nightstand then the implication of the sound penetrated her lust-jumbled brain. Only two people had the number to
her
phone and one of them was dead.

“Stop!” She shoved Sean back to ensure his compliance then scrambled off the side of the bed.

Her phone lay on the small table she’d been using as a desk. The ringtone sounded again and she rushed across the room. She accepted the call then raised the phone to her ear. “This better be important. I’m not in the mood for games.”