Unending Desire: Outlawed Realm, Book 1 (21 page)

Her gaze jerked up. “No?”

“I’ll do it,” he said. “I want you undressed. Now. Go on.”

Her body softened at the allure of his command. “Once you’re in the tub, I’ll take off my clothes.”

“Regina.”

“Don’t make me wait, Nikoli.”

On a huff that sounded decidedly annoyed, he pushed to his feet and made quick work of unfastening his belt and lowering his fly. Stripped of his pants and boxers, he kicked them away.

Unable to resist, Regina rocked forward, grabbing his ass in her hands, pressing her face to his groin, inhaling deeply, filling herself with his musky scent.

A sound of delight poured from him. “Suck me.”

“Not yet.”

His satisfaction turned into a puff of protest. Settling his hand on the top of her head, he spoke on a strained sigh. “Why not? Do you enjoy torturing me?”

“Over here, we call it foreplay. Remember?” Ignoring his scowl, she kissed his rigid shaft, then ran her tongue down one of the veins to the reddish cap.

Nikoli pushed to his toes. He muttered something in his language that sounded like an oath.

Bad, bad boy. Suppressing a smile at her effect on him, Regina licked away a pearl of pre-come and asked what she hadn’t before. “Does it bother you to be hard for so long? Does it cause you any pain?”

He pulled in another ragged breath, releasing it in a rush. “What do you think?”

Regina thought his whining sounded no different from men on this side. She smacked his ass playfully and pulled back. “I’m certain a warm bath will help. Go on, get inside the tub and relax.”

His expression said she had to be kidding.

She explained, “The sooner you do, the quicker I’ll be naked and ready to do all sorts of things to you.”

Brows drawn together, he said, “How about you disrobe now and I bathe you.”

“You will. Later.”
Tomorrow, and the next day and all the ones to follow.
“I swear.”

He didn’t appear to notice how she’d referred to their future, one Regina knew he still didn’t believe in and continued to resist.

Pointing at her, he said, “I’m holding you to that.”

He padded past her. Regina regarded his broad back, narrow hips, powerful thighs and calves. Her body weakened. It yearned.

Leaning down, his tight ass fully displayed, his cock and balls hanging pendulously, Nikoli turned off the faucets. Like most men, he used as little grace as possible climbing into the tub, then plopped down with a grunt. A stream of water splashed over the side. He gave it a cursory glance before leveling his gaze on her. “There,” he announced. “I’m in the tub.” He dipped his head, the gesture taking in her entire length. “Now undress.” Hands behind his neck, shoulders against the tall porcelain back, he grinned. “Then bathe me.”

Regina’s mouth watered at the delectable scene Nikoli created. His olive skin had taken on a bronze cast from the room’s subdued lighting. The dark tufts of hair beneath his arms, his muscular build and bristly cheeks awakened female longing she had ignored, allowing worry to consume her.

Not any longer. No one would take these moments from them. She wouldn’t allow the magic of having him in her home—their home—to be diluted by anything bad.

Regina looked at him from beneath her lashes.

Nikoli’s grin caught, then wavered, desire tensing his muscles. He lowered his arms and gripped the lip of the tub. “Take off your clothes,” he said.

There was no tenderness in him now, no hesitation, only a primal command for a female to do as a male demanded, to satisfy him.

Heat rose to her cheeks. A pulse beat within her pussy. Rising to her feet, she removed her sweater, discarding it as she had his clothes. Hip propped against the sink, she removed her heels and knee-length stockings. Her bra followed, along with her pants and panties.

Naked and willing, Regina faced him, allowing Nikoli to look his fill.

He studied her entire length, pausing on her breasts, reddish curls and her polished toenails, gripping the tub so tightly his knuckles blanched.

Feeling playful, she murmured, “Careful or you’re going to hurt yourself.”

He stared at her stiffened nipples. “Come here,” he ordered.

His gruff command, its masculine power, sent pleasant sensations slithering through Regina’s belly and groin. From her sheath, a hint of moisture eased out, preparation for him filling and completing her. At the picture her mind created, her body trembled with pleasure. But she didn’t obey…at least not yet.

“Regina,” he warned, reaching for her.

“Yes, Nikoli.” She spoke submissively even as she remained clear of his grasp, opening the mirrored cabinet above the sink. From it, she chose a slender can of shaving cream and her razor.

He straightened in the tub, his legs splashing the water, sending more of it over the porcelain lip. “What is that? Why do you have it?”

“To shave you.” Enjoying his surprise, she went to the side of the tub and sank to her knees. “Now, don’t move. I don’t want to cut you.”

He grasped her hand that held the shaving cream. After reading the label, he asked, “Have you ever shaved a man before?”

“You’re the first.”

Delight lit up his face. “And is this what you meant by taking care of me? You intend to shave my face?”

“For starters. There’s so much more to come.”

This time, unlike the last, her vague reference to their future clouded his expression, reality and reason replacing the magic she strove to create. Refusing to acknowledge what tonight would bring, she spoke breezily. “Lean back and relax.” Edging closer, her lips so very close to his, she added, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Again, something within him shifted. This time it returned his amusement. “Whatever you do, I promise I won’t scream…at least not too loudly.”

“You are a brave man.” She pecked his lips, placed the shaver on a counter to the side and shook the can. Once she had a mound of the lather in her palm, she brought it to his face, then halted suddenly, not touching him.

Nikoli studied the foam, his manner growing cautious. “What’s wrong? Is it going to burn?”

She had no idea. “Have you ever used this stuff before to shave? Have you ever been exposed to anything like this?” Did his people use it to torment the malcontents on his side?

Nikoli shook his head. “On E2, the men use a device that vaporizes their beards and the upper layers of what you call skin.”

Regina made a face. “Oh my God, are you kidding? Doesn’t that hurt? Doesn’t that—are you laughing at me?”

“You make it too easy.” His shoulders trembled with suppressed laughter.

Dropping the can, she slapped his shoulder.

Nikoli’s smile remained. “Is that also foreplay?”

“You wish. So how do you get rid of your beard on E2?”

“With a device that pulls out the hairs one by one.”

Regina arched a brow, guessing he was putting her on.

With a sigh, he slumped against the back of the tub. “Very well, it pulls them out all at once. The pain is more intense that way, but it doesn’t last as—”

She smacked his shoulder again.

He laughed loudly this time, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes. “Forgive me,” he sputtered.

She enjoyed seeing him like this, but pretended to be annoyed. “Maybe.” With a bit of the lather on her fingertip, she said, “If this hurts at all, tell me.”

His laughter drifted away, replaced by a tranquil smile. “It won’t. The men on my side shave as yours do, Regina. The only difference is, the foam we use doesn’t have an odor.”

Hers had a faint lime scent. “Does this smell bad to you?”

“Not at all. It reminds me of the bacon.”

Sure. Ignoring his renewed laughter, she warned, “If you don’t want to be hurt, then keep quiet and still.”

Reaching out, he ran his damp fingers around her nipple, causing the areola to constrict. Regina’s limbs went weak. Nikoli murmured, “Are you certain you want that?”

Hell no, but she had to shave him, didn’t she? On a slow nod, she smeared a bit of the lather on his upper lip and waited for his reaction.

He winked.

Liking it…loving him, she spread the rest of the foam on his throat, chin and cheeks, doing her best to avoid the lacerations. Time had turned them a dark red, puffing the ripped skin near the edges. Dipping her fingers into the water to clean them, she asked, “Do your scratches sting?”

“They’re fine.” He cupped her breast in his palm.

Her lids sank at his gentle fondling. Blindly, she reached for the razor, knocking one of her perfume bottles from the counter. With a muffled thwack, the plastic container hit the tile. “You better stop doing that,” she breathed. Her fingers curled around the razor, lifting it to show him. “To use this, I’m going to need a steady hand.”

“I’d prefer to continue with what I’m doing. I could grow what you call a beard.”

That would take weeks. What seemed a lifetime, given the battle they still faced. Forcing her eyes to open, Regina studied Nikoli. He seemed unaware of what he’d just said…the time he’d given them. The hope he’d afforded.

Smiling, she whispered, “I like you clean-shaven. Now let go of me and hold still.”

“Let go? Hold still?” He squeezed her breast again. “Forgive me. I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. Your language is incomprehensible to me.”

She laughed. “Since when?”

“Very well.” Matching her smile, he brought back his hand, plunging it into the water, grabbing his stiffened cock. “I’m ready. Go on.”

While he masturbated? Again, she warned, “Keep still.” With her hand on the side of his head, she tilted it back to expose his throat.

His Adam’s apple bobbed with his swallow. Finished with her first stroke, she swished the razor in the water to clean it and snuck a peek at his hand on his shaft. “You okay?” she murmured.

He swallowed again. “Give me a few minutes, no more than an hour on this side, and I’ll be ready to cli—”

“Nikoli.”

Grinning, he brought his hand up and gripped the edge of the tub. “You make this too hard on me, Regina.”

“I’ll make it harder than you ever believed possible.” Slipping her hand into the water, she stroked his dark curls and the length of his erect cock. “Just as soon as I shave and bathe you.”

Her promise and touch did wonders. Lids closed, Nikoli didn’t move. At times, Regina had to check his chest to make certain he continued to breathe, noting the difference in their respiration. For each breath he took, she needed three. It reminded her of how slowly the clock’s second hand had moved on his side, making her wonder how well he’d adjust to life here, his only recourse. She refused to consider any other outcome.

“Doing okay?” she whispered.

His brows drew together. “Have you cut me? Am I bleeding? Should I scream?”

This time, she slapped the water, driving a wave of it into his face.

He grinned. So did she, gliding the razor over his skin. In the following minutes, not once did Regina nick him.

“Finished.” She rolled her shoulders to relax them. Tossing the shaver on the counter, she grabbed a sponge. “Now, for your bath.”

Through hooded eyes, Nikoli watched Regina concentrating on his right arm. Directing him to drape it over his head, she ran the sponge down the dark tangle of hair in his pit.

He inhaled sharply at the water’s warmth, the bursts of sensation travelling from his chest to his belly, settling in his cock. It bobbed away from his body, eager, needy, wanting her touch.

Seemingly oblivious, she drew the sponge across his pecs. Nikoli’s toes splayed, then curled. He dipped his head to the side, exposing his neck.

Regina latched on to his throat immediately, her lips suckling, her tongue sweeping.

Nikoli’s pulse jumped. His legs shot out, his feet smacking into the tub. Water sloshed over the side.

On a moan that sounded like pure pleasure, Regina trailed kisses from his throat to his ear, pausing to nibble his lobe. He groaned loudly. Driving her tongue into his ear, she reached beneath the water to grab his cock, her grip firm, her thumb stroking the bumpy skin at the back of the crown.

It was more than Nikoli could withstand. He pushed his feet so hard against the tub, he feared he might break it. Ass lifting, he growled, then fell back down, sending a wave of water to the floor.

Unruffled, Regina ran her tongue over the contours of his ear and worked her hand up and down his shaft.

He gasped at the shock of delight whisking through him and choked out a protest. “Enough.” In a flash of movement, Nikoli removed her hand from his cock, pulled away from her mouth and pushed to a standing position. Dripping water, dizzy with need, he left the tub and stumbled back.

Still on her knees, Regina looked up in what appeared to be surprise and concern, reaching for him. “What is it? Did the water get too cool? Did it start to hurt your skin? Don’t you use it on—”

“Quiet.” Grabbing her hand, Nikoli pulled Regina to her feet.

She stared at him. “Quiet?”

“That’s right.” With his forehead against hers, he growled, “My bath is over. Now be quiet and do exactly what I want. Take care of me as I want.” Pulling back, he slipped one arm around her waist, the other beneath her knees, and lifted her to his chest.

She grinned. “We’re going to bed?”

He carried her to the shower. “Open the door.”

A blush darkened her cheeks.

“Now,” he added.

Brows lifting, she reached over and opened the door. He carried her inside, lowered her feet to the tile, then used his body to push hers against the wall, trapping her length. She moaned softly. He ordered, “Quiet.” Capturing her mouth, he thrust his tongue inside.

It muffled her next moan and clearly fed her passion. Hands on his back, she dug her fingers into his skin, attempting to get closer. Pleased, Nikoli ground his groin into hers, his cock pressed against her pussy, his heart banging into his throat. He couldn’t wait any longer. They had so little time. What she wouldn’t admit. What he knew to be true.

Pushing his hand between their bodies, he lifted his cock, directing the crown to her moist cleft. She trembled and yielded, her arms moving from his torso to his shoulders, her legs wrapping around his lean hips in concert with him cupping her buttocks, urging her body upward.