Page 44 of Chieftain
“What happened?”
Toovis took a beat to answer, which seemed like an eternity. Reproach weighed on my tongue when he finally spoke. “Hakkar’s notes say the first female exploded.”
“Exploded?” My blood ran cold. “What do you mean exploded?”
"I'm sorry, Chieftain, that's all the note says," Toovis sounded as shaken as I felt. "The second female fared muchbetter. Hakkar managed to ease her arousal with the portable Medi-unit, and his notes state she fully recovered."
"Ease her arousal…." I repeated, remembering that the portable Medi-unit was no longer than my forearm and half its width. I groaned, realizing what Hakkar did to help the woman.
“The Medi-unit has several vibration settings. We use it for scanning bone density, but I could bring it and…."
“No!” I snarled, my hands curling into fists at the thought of Toovis daring to lay a finger on Emmy. Possessiveness swelled my chest as waves of intermingling desire and worry coursed through me.
“I will take care of it,” I told him and disconnected the comm.
Holy Valana, be merciful!
Emmy lay on the bed, breathtakingly nude, knees drawn up and swaying in a dance to an unheard melody.
Valana. Please give me strength.
“Emmy, tell me about your bath.” I remained in the doorway, not trusting myself to venture nearer.
“I took the one that smelled like lavender,” she hummed, then sighed. "I love the smell of lavender."
It wasn’t intentional. Somehow, the knowledge feels like a kick in the gut. A part of me—a larger part than I realized—wanted her naked body reveling in the arousing waters with me on her mind.
"I do not know this lavender," I sighed, stepping closer. "But you took the arousal bath, little human.”
“Oh!” Emmy lifted on her elbows to look at me. Her full breasts with perk dusky nipples beckoned like a siren. “I thoughtit was you making me feel this way.” She sighed, trailing the tip of one finger from the center of her breasts toward her belly button. “You’re awfully cute.”
At that moment, I ceased praying to the Valana. Instead, I prayed to the Valana and every god and deity I'd ever heard of to aid me in maintaining control. My cock was throbbing to the point of pain. Still, I couldn't leave her. I had to take care of her—I sure as hell would not allow Toovis to touch her or any other male aboard this ship to see her like this. I would hate to kill one of my crew members. I considered calling Orzon for assistance, but even the idea of the diminutive Framaddi, asexual as far as species went, laying eyes on Emmy's creamy naked skin made my blood boil.
Cautiously, as if approaching a skittish animal, I crept to the foot of the bed, grabbing the discarded blankets. "You need to get into bed, little one."
“Good idea.” Her tone tinkled with laughter.
Emmy lay still as I pulled the blankets up over her knees, up her thighs, over that small thatch of hair at the apex of her thighs that was as coppery as the curls on her head. My gaze lingered there, mesmerized by her beauty and the burning need to see more of what lay under that small patch of curls. I was too distracted to react with anything but pure instinct when Emmy launched upward, her fingers stealing around my neck as she pressed her lips to mine.
My hands went to her body out of shock, cupping the blissfully soft skin of her waist and hips. Touching her was like touching fire. My hands seemed welded in place, unable to move. The lips against mine were demanding, her nakedflesh pressing close as her tongue skimmed my lower lip before tangling with mine. The slight hesitation I felt from her when she taught me to kiss at the space station was gone. In its place is raging want, kindling a desire inside me that's so strong it's almost crippling.
I’ve never felt anything like this. I’ve neverwantedlike this before. My body craves her more than breath. At this moment, Emmy has become my sustenance, the succor that keeps me alive and whole.
A moan ripped from me as my fingers slid through the curls at the back of her head, tilting her face to deepen the kiss. Slowly, her body molding against me with every move, I laid her back on the bed, propping over her, my thigh settling between hers. My tongue is thrusting and stroking in an imitation of what my cock twitched to explore. When my hands trail around the curve of her waist, knuckles brushing the underside of her full breasts, her soft whimper against my lips is everything.
I want more of that.
I want her moans, sighs, and screams of pleasure as she writhes under me. I want her smiles and laughter. I want everything. I want… no, I need to claim to make her mine. I’ve never wanted anyone like this… ever.
She can never be your true mate.
The words seep into the one small corner of my brain not ravaged by desire, and somehow I find the control to pull away. My cock is so hard it causes me to stagger away from the bed, putting a fraction of space between us.
The sound that escapes Emmy is a painful whimper. Her eyes look dazed and glistening while her delicious pink tongue probes over her lips, swelled from my kisses.
“Why did you stop?” Her voice is husky and breathy and settles around my cock in an imaginary squeeze.
"Because…" My voice is thick and husky, and I clear my throat before continuing. "Because the stimulants in the bath are making you act this way."
