Page 17 of Alien Knight Steals the Bride

He nodded. “You have no markings, but I can still apply the paste,” he said, sitting next to her. “We are very protective where I’m from. Territorial. Possessive,” he warned. “I will not tolerate others in your bed.”

Juliette batted her eyelashes playfully. “Really? No threesomes? Maybe I should re-think this.”

Torin’s eyes grew stormy. His shaft was so hard he was ready to combust, but they needed to reach an agreement before he could continue. “If you require more than one partner then our time together must end. Only warriors from the Eastern sector share their woman. And while I look forward to the day others watch our joining, I am far too possessive to actually allow another man to touch you.”

Juliette stared, her pulse pounding. “I was joking. Really. I’m good. Threesomes are definitely out for this girl.”

“Very well. Will you honor me with paint, Juliette Rosen?”

Did she want to paint his markings? What would this really mean? What did she want from him? A one-night stand? A few hours of pleasure before they reached their next stop and the dangerous mission he may not survive? Something deep inside her told her a few hours would never be enough with this man, but could she take what he was offering? Embrace all that he was offering?

She looked down into the cylinder at the maju paste, searching for answers the glittering paste couldn’t provide. She’d spent years trying to outrun the past. Run from old wounds. Run from herself. Her pain. Was she ready to let all of that go? Was she ready to move forward? Live again? They both knew he was asking for more than just one night. He was asking for a commitment she wasn’t sure she was able to give him.

“Juliette,” he rumbled, clasping his free hand around hers. “Trust your instincts. I know you can’t give me forever right now, I’ll take only what you’re willing to give.”

Swallowing nervously, she nodded. “Okay then. I can give you today. I can light your markings if it’s important to you, but I am not Caldorian. You have to know that it won’t have the same meaning for me. For us.” Smiling nervously, she added hesitantly, “I’m all for learning about each other. Your markings are beautiful. I’d love to see them lit up like you described. But today is all I can promise. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

Torrin smiled, confident in his ability to convince her they belonged together, one step at a time. “Lighting one’s markings is a unique experience for every couple. There is no right or wrong way to go about it. You honor me simply by agreeing.”

Juliette scrunched up her nose and groaned. “I should have known you were an optimist.” With one hand she reached for her discarded dress and pulled it back around herself, maneuvering to a kneeling position beside him.

He grinned. She was absolutely adorable. He was, indeed, an optimist. He could not do what he did, hidden in the shadows day after day as a Lumerian Knight if he did not believe he was working toward a greater good.

Torrin watched from the corner of his eye as she dipped a finger into the paste. His shaft twitched with anticipation. Most of his markings were on his shoulders and back. All, in fact, but the one on his lower abdomen near his groin. He couldn’t wait to have her small hands smearing the paste all over him. The more paste she used, the brighter his markings would get. The longer they’d stay lit.

“I’m ready if you are,” she said, dipping her fingers in the paste once again. Scooping as much of the paste into her hand as possible, she didn’t wait for his agreement. If she was going to do this, she would do it her way. Taking a deep breath, she smeared first one shoulder, then the other with the paste, using both hands in a massaging motion until the paste disappeared.

“Your hands are amazing,” he groaned. “Can you press any harder?”

Juliette chuckled. “You got it. One deep muscle massage coming up. Lie down.” Dipping her fingers into the paste again, she waited until he lay face down as she’d instructed, using the sparkling paste as a lubricant for the impromptu massage. The man didn’t have an ounce of fat, she noted. He was long and lean, with tightly roped muscles. Slathering more paste on his shoulders, she noticed his markings beginning to glow a brighter, opalescent blue. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, adding another layer of paste. “They’re beautiful!”

“I’m glad you approve.” He grinned, glad she liked his markings. “If you wish, we can procure more paste and you can light my markings with great frequency,” he added earnestly. “Daily, if you wish.”

Laughing, she gave his shoulder a nudge. “You just want a massage. I’m on to you, mister.”

Torrin grinned. His woman was enjoying herself. He was making progress. She didn’t think she wanted forever but he could never settle for less. He’d begun to fall for her the moment she kicked the Vilitos scum in the balls. She was fire and ice. He’d earn her love one laugh, one smile at a time. In an instant she’d become his most important mission ever. Her happiness, her love, were all that mattered to him. There would be nothing without her. He was a master strategist. He wouldn’t give her up. “More paste, princess. More paste.”

“You asked for it,” she warned. Dipping both hands into the paste, she smeared it all over his back, delighting in his groans of pleasure/pain as much as the glowing of his markings. One of her roommates back on earth was a massage therapist, and she’d given Juliette a few pointers in how to give a great massage. She sent her friend a silent thanks as she finished. “Okay, tough guy. All done.”

Torrin rolled to his back, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I have one more.”

Juliette raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”

“Yes, but it can wait,” he grinned. “It’s my turn now.”

“Uh…” she hesitated, suddenly feeling unsure. “Or we could skip it.”

“Juliette,” he admonished, sitting upright, taking her delicate wrist and tugging her down beside him for a drugging kiss.

“Torrin,” she countered, intending to be sassy, but instead sounding almost as if she were pleading.

“You have learned my body. I wish to learn yours,” he said candidly. “Lie back, princess. I intend to be very, very thorough.”

Air whooshed from Juliette’s lips in anticipation. Lying back as he requested, spreading her hair up and away from her body, she licked suddenly dry lips. She didn’t want gooey paste in her hair, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Some had even soaked into her small hands, making them tingle.

“Beautiful,” he said under his breath, almost too low for her to hear. She blushed crimson. She’s never heard a more sincere compliment. Heat spread from her cheeks to her toes. Deep inside, she began to ache. Throb. Once. Twice. Her hips twisted at the zings of pleasure, lifting off the bed slightly. She could feel wet heat trickling from her core. She wanted Torrin. Wanted his cock pounding deep inside her. Right. Now. “Torrin,” she moaned, reaching for him, his look of deep pleasure only adding to her desire.

“Patience,” he said, shaking his head. “I will not be distracted from completing this ritual.” He took her hands in one of his and lifted them back up, “Lock your hands behind your head. Do not move them from where I’ve placed them.”

---