“Do men really . . . well . . . kiss women
everywhere
?”
Oh hell yes.
Easy
, Mallet, he cautioned himself. She sounded very tempted, but also tentative, so he couldn’t jump her the way he wanted.
Moving slowly, he went to the side of her and brought his hands to her breasts. “Here, definitely.”
Bending one knee, she shifted and licked her bottom lip. “I know. You already kissed me there. It was . . . I felt it everywhere.”
“Between your legs?”
She nodded.
Hold on, Mallet. Go slow.
He fingered a middle seam in her tunic, but couldn’t quite figure out the opening. “How does this fasten?”
Kayli put shaking fingertips in the neck, tugged, and it parted down the middle like silent Velcro.
Hotly anticipating his pleasure at seeing her again, Mallet opened it the rest of the way, leaving her upper body exposed.
She didn’t wear a bra, and the top all but fell away. “Futuristic chicks wear some awesome clothes.” He loved looking at her, at her delicate breasts with the rosy nipples, her narrow midriff, her hip bones and concave belly.
She held herself rigid, breath suspended in expectation of what he’d do.
When he only looked at her, enjoying the sight too much to rush himself, she asked, “Are you going to kiss me there?”
“Damn straight.” He covered each bare breast with a palm, loving the contrast of his big dark hands on her delicate pale body. “Soon.”
She gave a small groan of protest.
Her nipples were already taut, and as Mallet cuddled her, her breathing quickened. “Patience, honey. Before we go there, I want your mouth.”
“Okay.” Anxious to get things rolling, she leaned up to meet him halfway. This time she knew exactly what to do. At the first touch of his tongue, her lips parted, and she welcomed a deep, scorching kiss that quickly ran out of control.
He’d made out plenty of times, but never with anyone like Kayli. Everything he did with her was different and fresh and better.
Hotter.
More personal.
He left her mouth to kiss her throat, and then worked his way down to her right breast. Teasing her, he got close to her nipple without actually touching her there.
At the same time, he toyed with her left breast, rolling his thumb over the ripe peak, stroking around it. Just as he closed fingers and thumb on that nipple, he sucked the other nipple into his mouth.
Kayli lurched up with a sound of primal pleasure; her hands caught his biceps, her fingertips dug deep into the muscles.
“The way I’m kissing you here, Kayli . . .” He drew her in again, worked her with his tongue, taunted with his teeth. “That’s how I’ll kiss you between your legs.”
Just saying it fired his blood. With agonizing slowness, Mallet drifted one hand down over her trembling belly, between her parted thighs, until he cupped her. “Right here.”
She gave a ragged moan of understanding, but for Mallet, it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t be enough until he tasted her pleasure, until he heard her coming.
“Let’s get the rest of these clothes off of you.” He sat up and helped her get her arms out of the tunic, and then stripped the stretchy, trim-fitting pants down and off her long, slim legs.
He thought she’d be modest, but instead, she rushed him, ridding herself of the clothes as fast as she could. As soon as she was bare, she reached for his shirt.
Mallet stilled her hands. “Hold up, baby. One of us has to stay dressed or I’ll forget myself.”
“But I want—”
“Yeah, me, too.” He held her knees and pressed her thighs wide apart.
Automatically she started to close her legs to conceal herself, but Mallet held her open, and she slumped back in shock. “Michael?”
“God, woman, you are beautiful.” He stared at her sex, all soft and pink and now, because she was excited, glistening wet. His heart pounded as he put his fingers on her, stroking a little, feeling her, enjoying the easy glide and the heat.
Mallet lifted his gaze to hers. “Right here, Kayli.” Spreading her moisture, he moved his thumb over her clitoris, and heard her sharp inhalation. He smiled. “Right here is where I’ll kiss you. I’ll suck you into my mouth, tease you with my tongue, and you’ll love it so much, you’ll come for me.”
Her chest rose in frantic tandem with her breaths. She stared at him, face flushed, lips parted. “Okay.”
Damn, but her agreement nearly did him in.
With a groan, Mallet bent and bit her soft belly, left a hickey on her hip bone, put more love bites on her inner thighs, behind her right knee.
She shifted and moaned and lifted her hips to encourage him.
Moving down between her legs, Mallet parted her. She sucked in a breath and went perfectly still, waiting, waiting . . . He gave her one long, leisurely lick that sent shudders through her body. While she was still reacting to that, he closed his mouth around her.
Sucking gently at her turgid clitoris, he felt her swell, inhaled her tangy scent. He wanted to fuck her so badly, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself this time.
But for now, for this moment, this intimacy was enough. Her pleasure, her open acceptance of him and the carnality they shared, made him determined to help her feel everything that she could.
Her hips rocked up to meet the rhythm of his tongue. Mallet reached up for her breasts and plied her nipples with just the right touches, alternating the pressure to keep her tight with expectation.
Her moan was long and ragged. Her feet settled on his shoulders and her thighs opened more. Her head tipped back, eyes squeezed shut and jaw clenched. As the pressure built in her, her body bowed, strong in her reach for release.
To keep her still, Mallet flattened one hand to her belly, clamped his other hand on her thigh, and seconds later she climaxed. Her long, shuddering cry sounded raw and real, and it was more exciting than anything he’d ever heard.
Her pleasure demolished his good intentions.
Rising up over her in a rush, Mallet took her mouth hard, startling her, demanding from her.
He pressed a hand between her legs, fingered her slick, swollen lips and, unable to stop, he pushed past her natural resistance.
As she lost the badge of her virginity, she cried out again, this time in a twinge of pain.
“Oh God,” Mallet said against her mouth, feeling her tighten around his finger, feeling the incredible smallness of her, knowing how good she’d feel around his cock. “Did I hurt you?”
“Yes, a little.”
“You’re all mine, Kayli.” Knowing it to be true, he struggled with raging need. She was his, his alone. No other man had touched her.
No other man ever would.
He swallowed down emotion so strong, it overwhelmed him. This wasn’t sex. He didn’t know what the fuck this was—but he liked it. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Her hips twitched again, this time seeking. Sounding awed, she whispered, “You’re . . . inside me.”
“Not the way I want to be. Not the way I will be after we’re in a union.” What the hell was he saying? He couldn’t wait that long. He’d never outlast her. “Kayli—”
“Okay.”
Her naked breasts were against his chest, her heartbeat thundering, her sex squeezing around his finger . . . It was understandable that his brain didn’t want to function properly. “What?”
“Okay, I’ll join you in union.” Her arms came around his neck and she pressed her face against his throat. “I don’t think I can wait, though. Can we do it tonight?”
He didn’t want to misunderstand. “It?”
“The ceremony.” She opened her mouth on his skin, licked him, and then returned one of his love bites before whispering, “And have sex.”
Mallet reared up to catch her gaze. His hand was still between her legs, and she was so damn wet.
So
ready for him.
He opened his mouth—and Hauk said, “I really do hate to intrude, but there’s an incident that requires your attention.”
Mallet groaned. Although he wasn’t at all sure if a computer could actually
see
them or not, he disentangled himself from Kayli’s sweet body. Talk about
bad
fucking timing . . .
Kayli covered her face, sucked in a couple of deep breaths, and then dropped her arms to her sides. With her head back and her eyes closed in dismay, she asked Hauk, “Whose attention? Michael’s or mine?”
“Not for me to say. But Kayli, after you ordered a reconnaissance of the colony’s perimeter, the men now in training found out. They’re highly insulted that only women were ordered to take part in the current security. They, along with many women from defense, are gathered in the training field, looking for one or both of you to settle the matter.”
Mallet wanted to tell Hauk to go away, but knowing how important Kayli’s responsibilities were to her, he dredged up a pained smile and cupped the side of her face.
“Do you need a minute?”
She opened her eyes and stared at him with raw emotions he didn’t want to identify. “No. But what about you?”
“I’ll survive.” He sat up beside her. “Barely.”
After she scrambled to cover herself, he asked, “So what do you want to do?”
“About?” She got her top on easily enough, but he’d turned her pants inside out when he stripped them away.
“The men. I think they’re ready to help out, but it’s your decision. You’ve been handling things long enough to know what’s best.”
She paused in the middle of dressing herself, and blinked at him. After a moment, she smiled and, making an obvious concession, asked, “I would enjoy your opinion before I decide.”
Mallet knew an olive branch when he saw one. He grinned, too. “Fair enough.” He hauled her to her feet. Without looking away from her golden eyes, he said, “Get lost, Hauk. You can tell the rioting horde that we’ll be there shortly.”
“Understood.” Hauk didn’t say another word.
“He’s gone?”
“Yes.” Her smile went crooked. “I doubt they’re actually rioting.”
“Who cares?” Mallet cupped her face in his hands and put his forehead to hers. “Promise me one thing, honey, okay?”
“What is it?”
“We’ll have that union tonight, no matter what.”
Her small hand briefly moved over the bulge behind his fly. “Tonight. I would insist even if you did not.” Then she took his hand and started them on their way, and Mallet wondered if he’d live through the rest of the day.
THRILLED that Michael had deferred to her, Kayli listened without prejudice to his advice. It made sense to her, and they came to an agreement before they’d reached the training fields.
As she stepped off the aircycle, she asked him, “Do you want to tell them, or should I?”
“Go ahead. I’ll just go with you to back you up.”
Back her up. Yes, that’s what she’d always wanted, and now Michael seemed determined to give it to her. Of course, the real test would be when they faced the actual threat, but she’d deal with that when she had to.
Hopefully there’d be plenty of time before that eventuality where she could better showcase her skills for him.
Until then, she just wanted to enjoy him. Being with him again in such an intimate way . . . well, it just heightened everything she felt. Physically, he was a beautiful man, rock solid with muscles and very handsome of face.
He was so big through the chest and shoulders that she couldn’t get her arms all the way around him. Even the smallest movement he made sent muscles rippling and bulging.
And yet, when he touched her, he was so sweet, so incredibly gentle.
How could she possibly stay angry at him?
Michael took her hand as they walked toward the dais where she’d address the disgruntled men and righteous women. Along the way, Kayli spotted her mother. She stood off to the side with Idola, both looking harassed by the circumstances.
It was very uncommon for them to have two gatherings of large, angry crowds in such a short time.
When they reached the platform, Michael let go of her and put his hand at the small of her back. Everyone went silent, watching them.
“Michael and I have discussed the situation, and together, we’ve made a decision.” No one spoke. No one even moved. “Because the women are best trained and most familiar with the duty of protecting the colony, at least half of those patrolling the perimeter will always be established defense members. However, the men are quickly learning what they need to know, so we will alternate the front line with longtime defense members and newly recruited men. That’ll give us better coverage of the area.”
There was some grumbling from the women, both from warriors and non-warriors. Of the non-warriors, a few got extra attention from their men as they spoke in their ears, offering comfort and reassurance.
The defense team got ribbed, until a couple of the women tossed the guys, shutting them up.
Kayli hid her grin. “Save the energy for when we start practice. Now, Michael has some things to add to our new strategy.”
She nodded to Michael, indicating it was his turn.
The corner of his sexy mouth tipped up, and he nodded back before addressing the crowd. “So that those on patrol will remain alert, we’ll change shifts every four hours. Kayli will make up the schedule, and you’ll all stick to it. Do not be late when it’s your turn to relieve someone, and don’t balk when it’s your turn to step down. In between shift changes, we’ll continue our training.”
One of the men stepped forward. “What will we work on next?”
Clasping his hands behind his back, Michael said, “Now that you’re all in better fighting shape, I want to work on some defensive moves. The men we’ll go up against are a lot bigger than you. But that won’t matter if you know what to do. Because it’s a certainty that you’ll get knocked down, we’ll start practicing how to get back to your feet fast.”