Hitting the Target Read online

  But not just yet…he intended to take things slowly.

  Mia was too precious to rush.

  Chapter Eleven

  Mia woke with a start and looked around the dim, unfamiliar room with wide, uncertain eyes.

  Where am I? What is this place? Why aren’t I in my own bed at home in Neemah’s flat?

  Indeed, the bed she was lying on couldn’t have been more different from the one she was used to. It was vast and molded comfortably to her curves, unlike the hard, ancient mattress she was used to. There weren’t even any springs poking out to stab her if she moved the wrong way.

  How did I get here? Mia asked herself. As if in answer, a mental image rose to her mind’s eye…A broad chest under her cheek, a warm, spicy scent in her nose and then strong arms tucking her under the covers as someone gave her a soft, slightly scratchy kiss on the cheek.

  Trey, she thought. Had she been dreaming of him again? No, she realized, coming more awake—it was no dream. The events of the day before came flooding back to her…the Commandant and the near-rape…crossing the Great Barrier…getting her bag stolen and Trey saving her from being hit by a speeding transport…taking her to the Care Center and healing her leg…shielding her on the crowded ride home…feeding her the delicious alien food for supper and then…

  And then when I tried to meet his needs, he wouldn’t let me. He showed me how to meet my needs instead.

  The memory of how she’d touched herself in front of the big Kindred made her blush. It was exactly the kind of thing she’d sworn not to do when she took The Oath. And yet…it had felt so good. And Trey had assured her it was natural and right. Could it really be so bad when it didn’t hurt anyone and it brought such pleasure?

  At first she’d been embarrassed and afraid that someone might see. But then she remembered that the Mercy Star pin which was transmitting back to The EYE was pinned on the lapel of the shirt she wore. It was pointing outward, not downward. So there was no way it could show where her hands were going.

  And they were going there again. Without conscious thought on her part, her right hand had crept between her thighs. She almost stopped herself but then she remembered what Trey had said—what harm could it do? Though she was still tied to the Republic, she felt freer here than she had in her whole life. Why shouldn’t she bring herself pleasure if she wanted to?

  Women have needs too, she thought as she parted the outer lips of her pussy and began to stroke the sensitive little bump that Trey had called a “clit” with a single fingertip. I have needs—why shouldn’t I meet them?

  Why not indeed? Soon she was panting and making soft little moaning sounds as she explored herself, even daring to put her fingers inside her channel a little way, to see how it felt. The idea of having someone—of having Trey—inside her there was still intimidating but she no longer found it terrifying. And the idea of him touching her there…even kissing her as he had admitted he longed to do…well that made Mia incredibly hot. The more she thought of it, the closer she got to the edge until, with a muffled cry, she found herself falling into pleasure just as she had the night before.

  “Oh…Oh!” she moaned. “Oh, please yes…yes!”

  There was a rapping at the bedroom door.

  “Mia?” Trey’s deep voice sounded worried. “Are you all right?”

  “Oh!” she gasped, feeling a moment of intense guilt. Then she reminded herself that Trey was the one who had encouraged her to explore and know and own her body and she felt a little better. She sat up, making certain to keep covered with the blanket and sheet. “I’m fine,” she called back. “Um…you can come in if you want.”

  Trey came in, still wearing his long black sleep trousers and nothing else. It was clear he’d been taking a shower because his long hair was damp around his shoulders and there were water droplets on his broad chest.

  Mia had to admit to herself he was a mouthwatering sight and she couldn’t help wondering what those big hands might feel like on her body. Yesterday when she had nerved herself up to try and seduce him, she’d been nearly sick with fear. But the big Kindred had a way about him—a way of relaxing her and making her feel comfortable and accepted and cared for—that somehow drove away the terror and left desire behind.

  “Sorry to burst in on you,” he said apologetically—then he inhaled deeply and his green eyes were suddenly half-lidded. “I hope I didn’t…ah, interrupt anything.”

  God, could he smell her desire? The thought made Mia squirm with a pleased kind of embarrassment.

  “I was just…remembering the lesson you taught me last night,” she said, lifting her chin to look him in the eye. “About…women having needs too?”

  “I see.” He sat on the edge of the bed beside her. “And was your study time…productive? I hope I didn’t keep you from finishing the lesson.”

  “I finished,” Mia admitted. Her cheeks were getting hotter but she refused to drop her gaze though her heart was pounding. “That was…was probably what you heard when you knocked on the door,” she told him. She couldn’t believe they were really talking about this—that she was essentially admitting to touching herself and breaking The Oath. But somehow it seemed okay—being with the big Kindred made her feel brave—made her feel like for once The EYE couldn’t see her.

  “I see,” he murmured and somehow the warm, spicy scent that always surrounded him seemed to intensify. It made Mia want to lean towards him, to get closer to his muscular body. “I’m glad you could put the lesson to good use,” he said. “Are you…” He cleared his throat. “Are you in need of some help cleaning up, like you were last night?”

  Mia understood what he meant. Biting her lip, she drew her fingers from between her legs and held them out to him.

  “Do you really want to—” she began but before she could finish the sentence, he had taken her small hand in his much larger one and was slowly sucking her fingers which were still wet with her juices.

  “Mmm…” The rumble of pleasure was almost a growl and Trey kept his eyes locked with hers the entire time he cleaned the honey from her hand. “So good,” he said at last when he finally released her. “Fucking delicious, little one.”

  “Thank you, I guess.” Mia felt like her heart was beating in every part of her body at once and her skin felt hot and flushed all over. Between her thighs, her pussy was throbbing with need all over again as though she hadn’t just given herself intense pleasure not five minutes before.

  “You’re very welcome.” Trey gave her that lazy smile that made her stomach flutter. “I wish I could stay here helping you ‘clean up’ all day but I have to get dressed for my shift at the Care Center and I thought you might like to learn to use the Interweb to study before I go.”

  “So I’m going to stay here without you?” Mia was surprised at the wave of disappointment she felt at the idea of being parted from the big Kindred.

  “Unless you really want to come to the Care Center. But I think you’ll have an easier time studying here,” he said. “It’s quieter and there are fewer distractions.”

  “I guess that makes sense.” Mia bit her lip. “But…I’ll miss you when you’re gone,” she admitted. She wasn’t trying to seduce him again—it was the truth and somehow it just slipped out.

  Trey smiled. “I’ll miss you too, little one. But I promise I’ll be back tonight and we’ll have Last Meal together and maybe watch another vid.”

  “That sounds nice,” Mia murmured. She felt her cheeks getting hot all over again as she remembered how the vid watching had turned into something else the night before. She knew she still had to seduce the big Kindred, but now she found she was rather looking forward to it, instead of dreading and fearing it as she had been.

  “Then it’s settled—I’ll go to the Care Center and you stay here and study until I get back. Oh, and I’ll pick up some new clothes for you while I’m out too,” he promised. “But in the meantime, I’m afraid it’s either wear my shirt or your dress.”

  “I�€