Page 34 of Instinct for Disaster

“I purchased the Terran archive. It has music and entertainment as well as information on colloquialisms and references.”

“May I look at it?”

He grinned. “Read and sign. It is a standard Hmrain contract with your additions. The behaviour I request is normal.”

She read further. “You choose my clothing?”

“Yes. And jewels. That way, you will always be appropriate for the occasion. Hmrain visit here frequently as we are on several trade routes, and of course, our stockpile of certain minerals is a draw.”

She smiled. “Of course. As long as I get to wear leggings and tunics frequently, I will not kick up a fuss. If it isn’t a fancy event, I don’t need to dress fancy.”

“As long as you understand that, I will determine what is needed. You may not be in leggings and tunics, but tall boots and belted dresses might be more the daily wear I would like you to wear.”

She grimaced. “Fine. If I am riding, I want leggings, though. It would probably weird out the animal if I jumped on commando, as you have not mentioned undergarments.”

“They will only be offered if the clothing requires it. I do wish you to be accessible at all times.”

“This is a helluva retirement.”

She went through the rest of the contract and signed it, pressed her thumb, and a small needle took a drop of blood from her. She sighed. “There. Signed.”

Yasku took the tablet from her, nodded, and put it in a communication link.

When there was a soft chirp, he turned to her with glowing eyes. “How tired are you?”

“Not very. Why?”

He grinned and showed all four fangs. “That is about to change.” He stripped his clothing off, and she saw the mark on his chest that was nearly invisible against the colour of his skin.

“Is that your mark?”

“It is.”

“It’s very attractive.”

Yasku smirked. “I am glad you think so; you will be seeing it frequently.”

Her gaze dropped down, and she blinked. “Oh. Right. I suppose it is to scale.”

He snorted and walked toward her. She stood and gripped the top of the sheet she was wearing.

Yasku moved to stand in front of her. “Time to begin our contract, Cassandra.”

“Shouldn’t we wait until after the party tonight?”

He threaded his fingers through her hair. “Absolutely not. I would end up slaughtering any male who came your way or hauling you to my city home. Perhaps both.”

She looked at his feline features and pressed her head into his hand. His fingers caressed her scalp and held her head as he kissed her. His tongue scraped the inside of her mouth as the kiss went from soft to intense to mindless. She felt his arms come around her, and they were moving. The sheet was pulled away, and she was tilted downward to lie on her belly.

She frowned in confusion until the scrape of his tongue went from neck to shoulder over and over again. He worked his way down her back, licking and scraping his teeth over her. Cassandra had to admit, she liked it.

He licked all the way down to her ankles and back up the other leg. Her skin was humming softly, and she was waiting for the next contact, the next scrape. When she had started to hold her breath, he flipped her.

He didn’t give her time to freak out. He nuzzled her ear and licked down her neck. Everywhere his tongue went was super sensitive. Her back was giving her rushes of sensation. She could feel every thread in the fabric under her. Her back, butt, and thighs were all alive and bright, with the feeling of being touched just below her skin. She knew what a cat’s tongue did to the skin, but he didn’t do more than wake up her nervous system.

When he got to her breasts, she started twisting under him, biting her lip to stifle moans and whimpers. His hand reached up, and he gently tugged her lip free. “I am earning it; I want to hear it.” He lifted his head from between her breasts. “Also, no one is allowed to injure the consort, not even the consort.”

She gasped as he returned to waking the rest of her torso. Her voice rang in the room, and she could hear his breathing getting faster with the occasional chuckle. He liked to hear it.

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