Loving a Stranger Read online

  Did she trust him not to hurt her? Not to penetrate her? Looking into those dark eyes of his, Nallah knew she did.

  “Yes,” she whispered, nodding. “Yes, Harryx, I’m not afraid. Go…go ahead.”

  “Not going to come until you do, baby,” he murmured. “Need to get you there first.”

  “You…you do? Why?” Even as she spoke Nallah felt the pleasure cresting inside her. The slick friction of his long, thick shaft rubbing deeply into her open pussy was just too much, especially since every stroke pressed him against her throbbing clit. “Oh!” she gasped as the first spasm of pleasure swept over her. “Oh, my husband!”

  “That’s why I needed to wait,” Harryx growled. Leaning down, he captured her mouth with his, swallowing her moans of pleasure eagerly before he spoke again. “Because you look so damn beautiful when you come, baby. God, watching you and feeling your little pussy spasm against my cock is too much…too good…”

  He groaned low in his throat and then Nallah felt the long shaft pressing against her pussy swell as something hot and wet spurted onto her belly. Harryx spurted twice more and then he slid down and she felt the broad head of his cock kiss the mouth of her pussy.

  Nallah tightened up for a moment but though the tip of his shaft pressed lightly against her entrance, he didn’t push all the way in. Instead she felt his shaft ripple once more and then his hot, wet seed coated the mouth of her pussy, making it look as though he had been thrusting inside her all this time and had just pulled out.

  With a last groan, Harryx collapsed on top of her—though he made certain he was resting on his forearms so that he didn’t crush her.

  “Oh, my husband…” Nallah looked up at him in wonder. She didn’t know what to say. Not only had he not hurt her—he had gone out of his way to make her comfortable and helped her enjoy the dreaded Ritual for once.

  He really has changed, she thought. He’s completely different now.

  “Nallah,” he murmured in a low, hoarse voice. Gods, baby…feel so close to you right now.”

  “I feel close to you too,” Nallah whispered. Feeling brave, she added, “Closer than I ever have. You’re so different now. I…I love you.”

  His eyes burned black with intensity.

  “Gods, Nallah—I love you too. So much, baby!”

  His words warmed her all over—it was the first time he had ever told her he loved her. Reaching up to cup his cheek, Nallah looked earnestly into his dark eyes.

  “You know, I…I always wanted to love you, Harryx. You just…wouldn’t let me in. Now I feel like you finally have. Thank you, my husband.”

  A troubled look came over his face.

  “Sweetheart…” he began but just then the priest came bustling back into the room.

  “Are you finished, Arch-General?” he demanded, obviously still miffed at not being able to see more of their performance. “If so then I have others of the Inner Circle waiting to use this room.”

  “We’re finished,” Harryx growled. “Now turn away until my wife gets properly dressed. I don’t want your eyes on her.”

  Huffily, the priest turned his back and made a long, loud sigh of apparent impatience.

  “Here you go, sweetheart.” Lifting her gently from the altar, Harryx helped Nallah put her outer robes back on and then replaced his own. “Come on.” He took her by the hand. “Let’s go home and get cleaned up.”

  They left the priest still fuming and this time when they walked through the Temple, Nallah went with a light heart.

  He loves me! He really said he loves me!

  The sweet words rang in her head and made her feel warm all over. For the first time her husband had told her how he really felt for her, and he had treated her so tenderly during the ritual.

  He’s really changed for good, Nallah thought, finally allowing herself to believe it. He’s never going to be cruel or cold to me again. He’s a different man and he’s never going back to his old ways.

  After the way Harryx had treated her so sweetly and told her he loved her, she was certain of it. Her whole life would be different now and she need never fear her husband again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I have to say something! I have to tell her! I can’t let her believe it’s that bastard Harryx who loves her! I have to find a way to let her know who I really am so I can bring her back with me to the Mother Ship.

  The thoughts ran in a loop through Reeve’s head as they left the temple and walked to their hovercar and yet, he couldn’t think of how he could tell Nallah the truth. What if she thought he was talking about the damn Hallorook legend again? How could he make her see that it was he, Reeve, who loved her and wanted to take her away from this fucking hellhole of a planet and be with her forever?

  Maybe I should just say it—just say it out. There’s no one around—the parking lot is full but everyone is in the Temple. Maybe I should just tell her the truth…

  “Sweetheart,” he began, nerving himself up for what he had to say. “Remember how you said I’m like a different person now?”

  “Yes…” Nallah looked up at him uncertainly. “But a good person—a kinder person,” she said softly. “I like you like this, Harryx.”

  “I’m glad you do, baby.” He smiled down at her. “But remember how we were talking the other night about the idea of one person’s spirit being in another person’s body? And I don’t mean that damn Hallorook thing you were talking about,” he added quickly. “I’m talking about a good spirit—a friendly spirit—maybe taking over the body of someone else.”

  “Yes, but…that couldn’t be,” Nallah objected. “The Hallorook is only a legend—I know that. And the idea of one person’s mind or spirit getting into another person’s body…it just silly, isn’t it?”

  “Suppose for a minute it’s not silly,” Reeve said earnestly. “Can you see how having one person’s spirit in another person’s body would make it seem like the person who was taken over was a completely different man?”

  “Well…yes…” Nallah was looking at him warily now. “But…what are you trying to tell me, my husband? Surely you don’t mean that—”

  “Ah, Arch-General Parokk—there you are!”

  The voice from behind them startled Reeve so badly that he turned at once, putting himself between Nallah and the perceived threat. One hand rested on the butt of his blaster, ready to shoot if necessary.

  But it was only Grand General Viceroy with a fragile looking woman who appeared to be at least thirty years his junior at his side. Presumably, his new wife, Reeve thought sourly. He wondered what had happened to the old one.

  “Hello, Grand General,” he said, saluting formally. “How are you this fine day?”

  “Of fine, fine—just finished our Ritual.” Harryx’s boss waved away his greeting as though it was unimportant. “Listen, I’m damned glad I caught you, Parokk,” he said to Reeve. “I know today is still technically a holiday but I need you to come in to the office right now—at once.”

  “At once?” Reeve frowned. “But, Grand General, I’m still wearing my, uh, temple gear.” He gestured vaguely to the long black robe he was wearing. Under it he had on only the crotchless leather trousers and no shirt at all. It wasn’t something he wanted to wear for a long period of time—in fact, he couldn’t wait to get out of it.

  The Grand General frowned at him.

  “Listen Parokk, I wouldn’t bother you but we’ve had a breakthrough at the Temporal Displacement lab. I know you were interested to see how it works so I thought—”

  The wormhole lab—that’s what he’s talking about! Reeve felt a surge of adrenaline shoot through him.

  “Of course!” he exclaimed at once. “Yes, Grand General. Just let me take my wife home safely and change and I’ll be at the office at once.”

  “No time for that—just put on the change you have in your office. Your little wife can walk home with mine—no one will bother them. Everyone is at the Temple today.”

  Reeve didn’t lik