Devoured Read online

  “Here?” he murmured, his thumb brushing over the cut spot just above her nipple.

  “Yes.” Tess tried to keep the gasp out of her voice but failed miserably. God, the way he was touching her…so softly…so gently…It had been so long since a man had touched her that way. So long since she didn’t have to worry that the hand which held her breast so tenderly might suddenly turn cruel and pinch or twist her sensitive flesh just to cause pain.

  “May I heal you there?” Garron asked softly.

  “Please…” Tess cleared her throat. “Please do,” she whispered. It’s not sexual, she told herself sternly, trying to quiet the panicked little voice in the back of her skull which said she shouldn’t be doing this. It…it’s medical. That’s all!

  She almost had herself believing it until the big Kindred ducked his head and ran his hot tongue over the hurt place above her nipple. Shivers of tension ran down her spine as he caressed her gently with the tip of his tongue for an endless moment. Then he sat back, frowning.

  “What…what is it?” Tess asked breathlessly.

  “It does not seem to be healing as the others did,” Garron rumbled. “Maybe we waited to long to heal it. Or maybe because it is in such a delicate spot.”

  “Oh, well…” Tess bit her lip. “Maybe…maybe you should try again?”

  He looked thoughtful. “Maybe. I think if I could take the whole area completely in my mouth…”

  Tess’s heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was shaking her entire body.

  “You mean…take my…my nipple in your mouth?”

  He nodded. “I need to be able to give it my full attention—to really concentrate on the hurt area.”

  “I…but I…” Tess didn’t know what to say. “But it wouldn’t be…sexual?” she whispered at last.

  He looked at her, his eyes blazing.

  “Not if you didn’t want it to be,” he growled softly.

  “Well, then…” Pushing away her doubts and fears took an effort but she somehow managed it. “As long…as long as it’s not sexual,” she murmured.

  Garron didn’t answer with words. He ducked his head again and sucked her whole nipple gently into his wet, hot mouth. Then he began to run his tongue around and around the sensitive band of her areola.

  Tess moaned and found that somehow her hands had found their way into his thick, dark hair. The soft strands tickled her fingers as she pressed her chest out, giving him better access to her breasts, mutely begging for more.

  The big Kindred gave her what she was asking for. With a deep, hungry sound, he sucked harder, as though he was trying to get as much of her breast into his mouth as he could. At the same time, his tongue lashed the tender bud of her nipple, sending sparks of pleasure from her sensitive peak straight down to the hot, wet spot between her thighs.

  Tess shifted, pressing her legs together, trying to control her breathing. Moving around and moaning like this when she had been with Pierce had meant an instant “punishment.” But somehow, with Garron, she just couldn’t be still.

  Shouldn’t be doing this, whispered the little voice in her head. It’s bad…dangerous…

  But she didn’t want to stop, not even when she felt his big, warm hand pull down the towel and cup her other breast. He rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb, teasing her, sending more warm showers of sparks straight to her aching pussy. Had she ever felt this hot? This wet and swollen and needy? If so, she couldn’t remember when…

  She had a sudden image of herself reaching out to take his big hand and slipping it between her legs. He would cup her pussy as gently as he was cupping her breast and then those long, strong fingers would spread her swollen cunt lips and find their way to her slippery inner folds. Tess could almost feel his fingertips sliding over the aching bud of her clit, circling it the way his tongue was circling her nipple. And then he would go lower, would slide his fingers deep inside her and fill her up…

  Tess moaned again, then tried to stifle the sound. God, she shouldn’t be reacting this way, shouldn’t be thinking these things! This was going to get her into trouble! She had to stop this…had to stop him before things went too far…

  “Garron…” she said, her voice coming out breathy and high. “I…we…we shouldn’t.”

  The big Kindred looked up at her, his eyes filled with hungry blue fire and her nipple still between his lips. He must have seen the uncertainty in her face because he released her, letting her sensitive peak slide slowly, sensuously from between his lips.

  “Forgive me.” His deep voice was hoarse. “I got carried away. You have such lovely breasts.” He looked down at her nipple which was still stiff and achy from his attention. “It looks healed now though.”

  Tess squirmed uncomfortably. “Um, you can see it? I thought you were just…I don’t know…feeling where it was. In the dark.”

  “It’s not dark in here to me,” he murmured. “I have excellent night vision.”

  “You do?” She risked a quick glance at his face as she pulled up her towel. “How excellent? I mean, I know your eyes glow but I didn’t think… Could you read in this light?”

  “Easily. Why?” He looked up at her. “Does that bother you?”

  “Well, yes,” Tess exclaimed. “I’ve been running around in this damn towel for an hour now and rolling all over the bed and letting you see me topless and uh heal me and…” She felt her cheeks get hot. “I just…I probably wouldn’t have done that if I knew you could see me that well.”

  “Why?” He sounded genuinely curious. “Does it bother you for me to see you as you are now?”

  “Of course it does!” she burst out. “I mean, I’m hardly the right size to go running around in just a towel.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I’m not…not thin.” Tess gestured down at herself with the hand that wasn’t clutching the towel. “Not even close.”

  “I know.” The deep hunger in his voice surprised her. “Your curves are luscious. It’s a shame you feel the need to cover them up.”

  “I…but I…” Tess shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “What is there to understand?” he countered, raising an eyebrow. “You’re beautiful—you must know that.” He frowned. “Unless your standards of beauty here on Earth are vastly different from my own.”

  “Um…I would bet they are,” Tess said. “But…it’s nice of you to say so.”

  “I’m not being nice—I’m telling you my feelings. The emotions of my heart.” He put a clenched fist to his broad chest. “You’re gorgeous, Tess. With your full, ripe curves and your sweet scent…” He looked at her, his eyes glowing and half-lidded. “I could lose myself in you. Lose myself completely. Forgive me for going too far while I was healing you. For breaking my vow. I was overcome. Lost.”

  “I…” She bit her lip. “Thank you, I guess. That’s…no one has ever talked to me that way before.”

  “It’s the truth.” He ran one fingertip lightly down her shoulder, making her shiver. “I think you’re healed back and front now. There might still be some bruising but the wounds are all gone.”

  “Thank you,” Tess said softly. “That really was amazing. Thank you for healing me.”

  “Thank you for allowing me to,” he said softly.

  Their eyes met and held for so long Tess wondered if he could hear her heart drumming in her chest. If his eyes were good enough to read in the dark and he could smell how turned on he made her—not that I got turned on—not really, whispered a panicky little voice in her brain—then he could probably hear her heart with no problem.

  “Tess,” he said in a soft, deep voice and she was aware that they had somehow gotten closer. Close enough to kiss. This close she could smell his warm, masculine scent—the same dark spice that had enfolded her when he held her in his arms in the Mother Ship. It seemed to invade her senses, making her helpless to pull away, even when he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers very, very lightly.