“Why…why should I have to take them off?” Liv demanded, fighting the urge to submit. God, his hands seemed to be everywhere, stroking her sides and running up and down her back, cupping her ass and pulling her toward him so that the hard bulge of his cock was rubbing against her pussy. How long could she hold out? Not long, she was sure, which was why it was important to make her point now. “You…you’re just going to kiss and bite my neck again,” she whispered breathlessly. “You don’t need me completely naked for that.”
“I’m going to kiss a lot more than just your neck.” Baird pulled away for a moment to look at her with half-lidded golden eyes. “Or have you forgotten this is the start of our tasting week?”
“But…but I thought you just wanted to mark me,” she protested. “With…you said you…the Kindred have scent glands in their face.” He had also said they had scent glands lower—much lower—but Liv wasn’t about to go there. She hoped.
“We do.” He kissed her and rubbed his rough cheek against hers almost like a cat. “But that’s not where other males smell when they’re tryin’ to see if you belong to someone.”
Liv had a brief mental image of the Beast warrior who had first approached her sniffing from her neck all the way down to her crotch and suddenly understood. “Oh, I…so you want to rub your face against me there?” She nodded down to where he was still pressed unrelentingly between her legs.
“Not just my face but it’ll do for a start. And I don’t want anything in the way when I mark you.” Without waiting for her reply, Baird slid one hand down her body and into her panties. Liv gasped sharply as she felt him cup her pussy. “Gods, you’re wet, Lilenta,” he growled softly. “Can’t wait to taste all that sweet honey.”
Liv felt her breath catch in her throat as the old uncertainty came rushing back. “Wait!” She tried to wiggle away from him and failed.
“Not waiting for anything.” Baird slid her panties down her thighs, still cupping her sex with his other hand.
“You promised you would, though,” Liv reminded him desperately. “You said…you said you wouldn’t do that, wouldn’t taste me, until I was comfortable with it. You said you’d put my pleasure first.”
The look in his glowing amber eyes was one of pure frustration. “I did, didn’t I?” He sighed and his expression became more thoughtful. “All right, Lilenta. We’ll take it slow. I’ll start by just marking you and I won’t taste you until I’m sure you’re ready.”
“How…how will you know?” Liv asked, wishing her breathing wasn’t so ragged.
Baird lowered her gently to the bed and arranged her so that her calves were hanging over the side. Then he kissed her mouth, a long, slow kiss that had Liv aching for more. “Believe me, Lilenta, I’ll know,” he murmured.
Liv wanted to protest further but she was rapidly losing all power of speech, mainly because Baird was licking and sucking her neck again, his hot tongue tracing a ticklish trail down over her collarbones and sternum. He stopped long enough to rub his rough cheeks over her sensitive nipples, making her jump and gasp, and then trailed lower to nibble and kiss her trembling abdomen.
Finally he was there—his mouth hovering over her pussy. His hot breathe stirred her soft golden curls and Liv shivered though he hadn’t even touched her yet. Maybe he’ll just be content to rub against me, she thought frantically. Maybe he won’t actually have to…She lost her train of thought abruptly as Baird leaned down and gave her a long, slow lick at the exact spot where her right thigh met her body. Liv moaned as he did the same thing on the other side and then pressed his cheek against the top of her mound and rubbed like a cat. Marking me. He’s marking me with his scent, like he said he would. God, how could he make her so hot without touching her more directly? She could feel his breath against her again, blowing hot over her slippery folds, and it felt like her heart was going to pound its way out of her chest.
God…need him. Want him, so much. Please just…just…
“Just what?” Baird looked up at her, his eyes burning and Liv realized she’d spoken aloud. But there was no going back now.
“Just do it,” she whispered, ashamed of her need but unable to help herself. “I mean, if you really want to.”
“Oh, I want to, Lilenta. Want to taste you like I want my next breath,” he promised. “But first I want to look at you—to drink you in with my eyes. Will you allow me that pleasure?”
“I…” Liv bit her lip. The idea of being tasted was scary enough. But to allow Baird to spread her pussy lips and take his time looking at her, well…it made her feel incredibly nervous—like she was being put on display.
“Please,” he murmured, staring up at her. “I already know you’re beautiful from our bathing week. But I want a chance to open you and explore you completely before I taste your sweet juices. Before I worship you with my tongue.”
His hot words coupled with the look of reverent desire in his eyes were Liv’s undoing. No one had ever spoken to her like this, had ever wanted so badly to see and taste and explore her body as Baird so clearly needed to. “All right,” she whispered. “But just…be gentle.”
“Of course, Lilenta,” he promised. “Always. Even when it comes time to bond you to me and I have to fill your pussy with my cock and mating fist, I swear I won’t hurt you. I’ll open you slowly and make sure you’re ready for me every step of the way.”
Before Liv could protest that she didn’t want to be bonded Baird had returned his undivided attention to the area between her thighs. Placing his thumbs lightly on her outer pussy lips, he opened her slowly but thoroughly, spreading her wide to reveal her pink inner folds.
“Goddess, look at that.” His deep voice was hoarse with lust.
“Look at what?” Liv, who was propped up on her elbows, looked down anxiously.
Baird’s eyes flicked up to hers, his gaze burning with lust. “Look at how hot and wet you are, Olivia. Look how your pussy is glistening with juice.”
“Oh God…” A rush of hot blood colored her cheeks. “I didn’t…I don’t usually get that…that way. I don’t understand why—”
“Relax, Lilenta. It’s not a bad thing.” Baird gave her a hungry smile. “In fact, it’s a very, very good thing. It just proves your body is responding to mine.”
“What…what do you mean? You’re saying I’m extra…uh…”
“Extra wet because your body is getting ready to open for me. A male Kindred’s shaft is usually too large for his chosen female to accommodate without a little extra help and in the case of the Beast Kindred, the problem gets worse because of our mating fist.”
Liv’s breath caught in her throat. “But I thought you said your body would make special chemicals…”
“That help your body open to take me in, right,” he finished for her. “And it will—this is part of it. By scent-marking you just now I started the process and your body is already responding to my pheromones. That’s why you’re extra wet—your body knows you’re about to accept my cock and mating fist deep inside your soft little pussy. It knows you need to be wet and ready to let me slide inside you.”
“I…I thought you were just going to taste me.”
“I am…for now. But I think we both know what that’s going to lead to.” Baird gave her a last, burning look and drew her legs over his shoulders.
Liv bit her bottom lip in frustration. There was a reason she couldn’t help wanting him to do this—this and much more—but it had flown right out of her head. Just now all she could think of was the man between her thighs and how close his mouth was to her wet, defenseless cleft.
“Gods, such a beautiful pussy,” Baird murmured. “I’m really going to enjoy filling you with my tongue and my cock, Lilenta. After I drink all your sweet cunt honey, that is.”
His words seemed to start a fire in the pit of her belly but as hot as she was, she was nervous too. Spread open and exposed as she was, Liv expected him to go for it. The insatiable hunger in his eyes let her know how much he needed
this, needed her. So the last thing she expected was a slow, gentle kiss—but that was exactly what Baird did.
Softly, gently, he pressed his hot mouth to her pussy and kissed her sex the same way he kissed her mouth. Liv bit her lip as she watched him nuzzle her. She was trembling with need under him and she could feel the tension thrumming through his big body like electricity but it was obvious he didn’t want to rush this. Against her will she felt herself melting, slowly relaxing into the long, luscious kiss. Baird still hadn’t even used his tongue—preferring to concentrate instead on her outer pussy lips—but she knew it was coming soon. Soon, but not soon enough. The longer the kiss went on the hotter she got. God, when is he going to—?
The soft brush of his tongue over her aching clit answered her internal question. Shivering tingles of pleasure ran down her spine as he did it again and then again, going deeper each time. Liv moaned and arched her back, helpless to withstand the pleasure. God, so good…so good… Baird seemed to know exactly what he was doing. His tongue moved in loops and swirls—alien patterns she’d never felt before that seemed designed to drive her over the edge of reason.
“Delicious,” he murmured, looking up at her for a moment. “Gods, you taste so damn good, Olivia. Hot and wet and sweet and salty…incredible. And look at how open you are—how easily your body accepts me.”
As Liv watched, her breath coming in hitching gasps, he slowly entered her with two long, thick fingers.
“See that?” Baird’s voice was a rough growl of need as he fingered her. “See how your pussy opens for me? You need me, Olivia—as badly as I need you. Your body is hungry for mine—hungry to be filled with my cock and my cum. Hungry to be bonded to me.”
“Oh,” she moaned, her back arching involuntarily as he fucked into her, his finger touching the bottom of her channel. “Baird, oh God.”
“Does it feel good, Lilenta? Good to open your pussy and let me fuck you?” He was watching her face as he spoke, his fingers still working inside her. “It must feel good. Look at the way your pussy is gushing with honey.” Pressing his face back between her thighs, he gave her a long, slow lick with the flat of his tongue as though savoring her unique flavor.
“Baird…oh God, Baird.” Could that needy, gasping voice really be hers? Liv could hardly believe it but it seemed to be true. The pleasure kept building inside her as he tasted her, cresting higher and higher until she felt like she was going to explode. Close, she was so close… And Baird seemed to know it.
“That’s right, Lilenta.” He looked up again, his fingers keeping time inside her. “Just let it all go and come for me. Let me taste your honey on my tongue when you come.” Gripping one of her legs, he adjusted her, tilting her pelvis so that she was even more open and vulnerable to him. Then he put his head back down between her thighs and started again. Sucking her sensitive clit between his lips he tortured it sweetly with his tongue until Liv cried out and bucked up toward his mouth shamelessly, looking for more.
Baird redoubled his efforts, his tongue lashing her mercilessly while his fingers drove into her, pumping hard and deep, showing her exactly how he was going to take her when it was his cock filling her instead.
The thought of that—the forbidden mental image of his huge shaft stretching her open and bottoming out inside her was too much. Liv didn’t quite know how it happened but suddenly she was crying and moaning as the pleasure inside her peaked and rushed over her in a warm wave.
Both her hands were buried in his thick, black hair and she was trembling all over, spreading her thighs even wider, riding his face, grinding against him in a way that was more animal than human as the most intense orgasm of her life overtook her. It rolled her under, like a dangerous undertow at the beach, pulling at her until she couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything but feel. It was incredible and it wasn’t nearly enough. More, God, I need more of him. Inside me. So much more…
Again Baird seemed to read her mind. He came up from between her thighs, his lips wet from her juices and red from the long, intimate kiss. His eyes were blazing with hunger.
“Ask me, Lilenta. Ask me for it. Tell me you need me to bond you to me. Let me take you now—don’t make me wait another week.” His voice was half commanding, half pleading as he held her gaze and wouldn’t let her look away.
Liv’s mouth opened to do exactly as he said. Hadn’t she already begged him to do this on multiple occasions? Begged him to fuck her? Bond her? The only thing that had stopped him was his promise not to during their bathing week. But this was their tasting week and the pleasure inside her was like a drug—she needed more and more and more…
The thought stopped her. There was some reason why they shouldn’t, why she shouldn’t let him do this… Something about a drug. Suddenly she heard her sister’s voice in her head. His mating scent is like a drug and you’re being subjected to it every minute you’re with him.
“No!” Liv sat straight up in bed and clamped her thighs closed. “No, I…I can’t.”
“Why not?” The edge in Baird’s voice was dangerous and his eyes flashed. Liv didn’t think he’d hurt or force her but it was obvious he was right on the edge. Still, she was determined to stick to her guns.
“Because.” She ran a hand through her hair, trying to get her breath back. “Because I don’t want you to. I mean, I think I do but I don’t, not really.”
“Lilenta, you’re not making any sense.” Baird was still on his knees before her and now he took both her hands in his. “If it’s because you’re afraid, don’t be. I swear I’ll be gentle. I’ll make you come over and over until you’re more than ready to take me deep inside your sweet little pussy.”
Liv shivered at the spike of lust his words shot through her. God, that was exactly what she wanted. To be open for him, under him. To take him deep and long and feel him— No! No, remember what Sophie told you.
Regretfully but firmly she pulled her hands out of his and scooted further up the bed, away from him. “It’s your scent. Your mating scent.” She crossed her arms over her bare breasts protectively.
He frowned. “What about it?”
“It makes me think I want you…want, all this.” She made a sweeping gesture with one hand. “When I really don’t.”
“What?” Baird frowned. “What makes you think that? And where did you hear so much about it?”
“Are you denying it?” Liv wasn’t about to admit her source—she’d promised not to get Jillian in trouble.
“Gods.” Baird ran both hands through his wild black hair. “Sylvan warned me about something like this. I tried to tell you what the mating scent does, how it works.”
“No you didn’t, not really. Oh, you made a few allusions here and there but you never came right out and told me you were manipulating me chemically. That your body was making a drug tailor-made to keep me with you.” Liv knew she sounded accusatory but she didn’t care. The feeling of betrayal was coming back, the anger she felt at being deceived filled her until there was no room left for anything else.
“It’s not like that.” Baird stood up and began pacing in front of the bed. “Not like that at all. The mating smell does help attract a mate, but it doesn’t work unless a warrior and his female are well and truly matched—as we are, Lilenta.”
“I don’t…don’t know if I believe that.” Liv drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. “How can I want so much with my heart to stay here with you when I know in my head that I want to go back to Earth where I have a family and friends and career waiting for me? How can I imagine staying here, making love with you, having…having your sons when it would mean almost never seeing the people I care for most again. How do you explain that?”
“Love.” Baird sank down beside her on the bed and tried to take her hands again. Liv wouldn’t let him.
“What?” She tried to give him a skeptical look even though her heart was pounding again with his proximity.
“Love,” he rep
eated simply. “You love me as I love you. That’s what makes you want to stay with me, Lilenta. That’s why my mating scent works on you so strongly. And why your scent drives me crazy too,” he added with a sigh. “It’s because we love each other and we’re meant to be together. Can’t you please just accept that?”
“I…” Liv bit her lip, looking down at her knees which were still drawn up to her chin. God, she wished she could believe him. But maybe that was just because he was so close and he smelled so damn good. Just being near him gave her a contact high. How could she trust herself when she was in such a state? “I can’t,” she said at last, looking up at him. “I’m sorry, Baird, but I just can’t.”
“Gods! Lilenta, please—”
“Stop!”
The voice from the bedroom doorway made them both look up with a jerk. Sylvan stood there panting, his face drawn in lines of unhappiness.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Baird moved at once to shield her nakedness. Placing himself in front of Liv, he glared at his brother. “How dare you invade the privacy of my bed chamber? If we weren’t kin I’d tear you limb from limb.”
“Forgive me.” Sylvan made a brief motion of apology. “I know my actions are inexcusable but it can’t be helped. Baird, please tell me you haven’t bonded her to you yet.”
“If I had, we’d still be locked together,” Baird pointed out in a growl and Liv shivered at the mental image.
“True, I hadn’t thought of that.” Sylvan looked relieved. “Thank all the Gods. Baird, you can’t bond her. Not now.”
“What? Why? Who are you to tell me what I can do with my own bride?” Baird started to rise.
“She’s in breach of contract.” Sylvan’s ice blue eyes were filled with pain and regret. “I’m sorry, Brother, but it’s true.”
“She…what?” Baird sank back down again. He looked at Liv and then back at his brother uncertainly. “Is this about what happened in the unmated males area? The Tis’Dane?”
Sylvan shook his head wearily. “Nothing like that. After I was sure you and Olivia were all right, I went back to talk to the Twin warrior who had called you in the first place.”