Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

T ogether, they walked back to the beach, Peri frolicking around their feet. As they emerged onto the sand, she had to admit it was a gorgeous view. The blue palm trees framed the shimmering purple ocean that stretched into infinity. She could see why he felt free when he was here.

"I have something to show you," he said, then guided her past a low bush.

He had started building a low platform of poles from the bamboo like plants, lashed together with vines.

"What's this?"

"The start of a house—if you would like it here. It won't flood, but I can still see the water."

"You did all of this last night?"

"Yes," he said stiffly. "I could not sleep."

Her eyes filled with tears and she flung her arms around his neck. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."

He picked her up and stepped up on the platform with her. A thick woven mat already covered one corner, and he carried her over to it. As he put her down, she realized that the branches had been cut back to frame a view of the water.

"This is beautiful," she said, as he sat down next to her. "You picked the perfect spot."

Peri scrambled up after them, exploring the space before settling down in a sunny spot and pulling his tail over his nose.

She laughed. "Even Peri approves."

"I'm more concerned with your approval," he said solemnly, his eyes flaring silver.

"Well, I approve."

"Good." His hand traced along the edge of her skimpy top.

Her nipples responded, the taut peaks pushing through the woven vines.

"Oops. I guess I didn't make that tight enough," she said breathlessly.

"I think it's just right." His thumb moved slowly back and forth across the exposed nubs. Somehow, it was even more erotic than if she'd been naked in front of him.

"I was thinking about what you said."

"What was that?" She had a hard time concentrating on his words, more interested in that slow, tantalizing touch.

"That a female's body is designed to stretch." He whispered the words against her ear, and she shivered.

His hand moved away from her breast and she almost protested, but then he slid it under her skirt, making circles on her inner thigh until he was grazing her flesh with each touch. A small trickle of arousal escaped and his eyes gleamed.

"You like this."

"Yes. I'd like it even more if you stopped teasing me."

The words had barely left her mouth before he had her on her back, her skirt rolled up, and a thick finger plunged into her with shocking suddenness. An equally sudden climax rolled over her, leaving her limp and quivering.

He growled approvingly as wetness bathed his finger. "Do you want more?"

"Yes."

He added a second finger, more slowly this time, working past her resistance as he watched her face.

"That's two," he murmured when both fingers were deep inside. "Another?"

She already felt full, but his cock was so much larger.

"Yes."

The third finger stretched her to her limits, but the aching pressure slowly transformed into a shocking pleasure. His thumb tapped lightly against her clit, and her channel quivered as she slipped slowly and inevitably into a second climax.

He pulled his fingers free, leaving an aching emptiness, and brought them to his mouth, licking the gleaming surface. "I think you're ready."

A'rien strained to keep his body under control as he rose over A'reka's slender figure. Pearls of seed dripped from his swollen, aching cock. He had never been so hard, so ready, but he was determined not to hurt her.

He gripped her wrists together with one hand and raised them over her head. Pink flushed her cheeks and traveled down across her tempting little breasts. Holding her in place, he used the other to guide his cock to her small entrance.

Despite the wet kiss of heat that greeted him, despite his attempt to prepare her, her body resisted at first. He was about to draw back when she pushed her hips up with a sharp thrust and he slipped inside. By the gods. He had never felt anything so exquisite. His body hovered on the verge of climax just from that hot, tight clasp around the sensitive head.

Her hips jerked up again, and the first of his bayal entered her. Her eyes widened and she gasped, but it wasn't pain on her face.

"That feels…"

"Good?"

"Oh, yes. Like you're touching all of me."

He pushed forward just as she moved again, and he went deeper than he intended. Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip.

"Stop moving," he growled. "You will take me slowly."

"I can't help it."

"Then I will help you."

Now that his cock was lodged inside her tight little channel, he shifted his grip, holding her hip firmly as he slowly pushed his way deeper. Her body quivered as she fought to take him, his own muscles just as tight from the effort of holding back. Her channel fluttered around him, a fresh rush of heat easing his way as he sank the final few inches.

His breath came in harsh pants as he forced himself to hold still, to wait for her, but her channel continued to milk his cock in long, pulsing waves. Soft cries escaped her lips as she wiggled against him. For a terrified moment, he thought she was trying to evade him, but then he realized she was urging him on. The last shred of control vanished. He thrust blindly, lost to everything but the feel of her body, the sound of her voice, the climax that roared up his spine and erupted in long, heated surges, and left him limp and drained.

He came back to himself as her hand gently stroked his back. He raised his head to look at her. Her eyes were wet with tears, but her smile was radiant.

"A'rien," she whispered, and the sound of his name on her lips sent one last pulse through his aching cock before he bent down and kissed her.

Erica melted into A'rien's kiss, still overwhelmed with sensation. Those marvelous spines had found every sensitive spot inside her body. It had even felt as if they were stroking her clit from the inside. He slowly pulled free, and she quivered the whole time as aftershocks rolled through her body. She felt him respond, felt him start to swell inside her again, and her body reacted, despite the lingering ache. He hesitated, but before she could decide if she could handle a second time, he slipped free.

"You could be the death of me, zenska," he murmured ruefully. "And I would die a happy male."

His words created an unexpected sense of panic. Even though she knew he was joking, the thought of losing him terrified her.

"You're not supposed to talk about death after sex."

She tried to keep her voice light, but she suspected she wasn't entirely successful. He bent his head and kissed her again, so tenderly that fresh tears sprang to her eyes.

"I'm sorry, zenska. I lost control at the end."

"I was never in control," she admitted. "But I don't care. That was amazing."

"Does that mean you would consider doing it again?"

"You'd better believe it." She started to roll towards him, then winced. "But perhaps not right away."

"I was too rough."

"No, you weren't. You were perfect."

She wasn't sure that he completely believed her, but his body relaxed and he tucked her against his side.

The soft sounds of the jungle filled the air, with the rush of the waves a constant backdrop. The lush scent of flowers mixed with the fresh breeze from the sea, and she was half-asleep when he spoke, his voice oddly hesitant.

"What did you do… before?"

She almost hated to admit it—were lawyers as universally disliked as they were on Earth? "My father had a law firm. I worked for him."

"You were involved with the law?" He rolled over and looked at her. "How did you end up here?"

"I have absolutely no idea. I went to sleep in my bed and woke up on the beach." She smiled ruefully. "I almost thought it was magic at first. I'd been dreaming about taking a tropical vacation."

His muscles had stiffened and she frowned up at him. "Is something wrong? How did you get here?"

"I was in… trouble." He eased her gently to one side, then stood up and began pacing back and forth on the small platform, "When I woke up here, I thought I had been granted a second chance."

"A second chance," she said thoughtfully. "Maybe so. I wouldn't have said I was in trouble, but then again, I wasn't very happy."

Had she even realized just how unhappy? In spite of everything, being here felt like being free.

"You don't wish to return?"

He looked strangely anxious, and she smiled at him.

"It's not really an option, is it? And being here definitely has its compensations. Come back to bed."

For a second, he hesitated, but before she could ask him what was wrong, he laid down next to her and pulled her into his arms. She expected him to kiss her, but instead he stared up at the sky overhead.

"What kind of trouble?" she asked softly.

"I was accused of killing two guards."

That was a little more trouble than she was expecting. "Did you do it?"

"No." He lifted up on one elbow and looked down at her. "But I have not led a virtuous life."

"What did you do?"

"Whatever I needed to do to survive."

There was a world of pain behind those words, and she reached up and stroked his cheek. He turned his head to kiss her palm, then made an obvious attempt to push aside his unusual seriousness.

"But that's all in the past now."

"It's a second chance," she agreed.

He started kissing his way down her arm, and then there was no more conversation.

A'rien lay awake long after A'reka settled into a satisfied sleep. His initial assumption had been wrong. She hadn't been sent here because she was framed. She wasn't even a criminal. Instead, she was a representative of the law. He shook his head.

But if she hadn't been sent here because of past misdeeds, why was she here? Should he show her the map and tell her that there might be a way back to her planet?

But then she shifted in her sleep, her soft curves nestling against his side.

No , he decided, ignoring the unaccustomed feeling of guilt. She had said she wasn't happy in her world. But she would be happy here. He would make sure of it.