Devoured Read online

  “Gods, I can hear your heart,” he murmured at last.

  Tess stiffed in his arms, her hands frozen in his hair.

  “I…uh…”

  “It’s truly amazing, this Kindred technology,” he continued, nuzzling against her. “If we had such things on Rai’ku, perhaps…” He trailed off with a sigh.

  Perhaps what? Tess was relieved that he’d put her very real heartbeat down to amazing artificial technology but this one-sided conversation was becoming extremely frustrating. Where was Rai’ku? Was he not really Kindred? He certainly looked Kindred although she hadn’t seen any other warrior with such extraordinary eyes before. Also, what was his name? She found herself wanting to ask but she was afraid a real Pairing Puppet wouldn’t do that. From what she’d seen, they acted very mechanically—wanting to know their client’s name probably wasn’t in their programming.

  “If only you were real,” he murmured, breaking her train of thought.

  If you only knew… Tess wondered if she ought to say something. Maybe if she explained her situation he would understand. Maybe…

  “But I suppose it’s better you’re not,” he continued.

  Okay…guess I’ll keep my mouth shut.

  “After all,” he continued. “It’s only because you’re a puppet that I can really talk to you. I can tell you things…things no one else may know.”

  He looked at her, searching her face with those gorgeous eyes. Tess looked back, fighting to keep her expression impassive though her heart was pounding again. She wasn’t sure if she should answer him or not but he seemed to be waiting for some acknowledgment of his words.

  “Yes,” she murmured at last, deciding that less was probably more.

  “I can do things with you.” The fire was suddenly back in his eyes, making them blaze with the same hunger she’d seen when he first chose her back at the Pairing House.

  “I…um…yes, I guess…” she whispered, starting to feel nervous.

  “Forbidden things,” he rumbled.

  “Um…what? What kinds of…of forbidden things?” Tess couldn’t help it. She knew her reaction wasn’t what it should be or would be if she was a real Pairing Puppet but the words just slipped out.

  His eyes blazed.

  “I want to hold you…to touch you everywhere. And I want to taste you.”

  “I…I…” Tess had no idea how to react. What exactly did he mean when he said he wanted to “taste” her? It wasn’t what she was thinking, was it?

  “Take off your clothing.” He was already tugging at the black lace negligee-dress she was wearing and before she knew it, Tess found herself down to her bra and underwear.

  At least you have on a nice, matching set, the little voice in her head pointed out helpfully. Both bra and panties were black satin, shiny and smooth with little bows in the front.

  “I…but I…” she started to protest, but the big warrior was already rubbing his cheek against her skin. The gesture was both animalistic and strangely sensual. For a moment he reminded her of a cat—a really freaking big one. It was almost as though he wanted to scent mark her all over—to claim her as his own.

  Tess felt tongue tied—unable to stop him as he rubbed his face between her breasts and then down to her trembling abdomen. She was still frozen, even when he laid her gently on the bed and continued down, sliding past her belly button to rub his cheek directly against the black satin crotch of her panties.

  “Gods,” he murmured, inhaling deeply, as though he wanted to breathe in her scent. “You smell so fucking good.” He looked up at her again. “I want to taste you, little one. Want to rip away this tiny little garment and spread your sweet pussy with my tongue.”

  “Y-you do?” Tess stuttered. His hot words made her feel like her entire body was blushing.

  Slowly, he nodded. “I’m going to spend hours between your legs, mapping every secret fold, making you come over and over again. Gods…” He inhaled, his eyes burning. “I can smell how hot and wet you’re getting. Can’t wait to taste your honey right from the source.”

  Oh my God…oh my God! Tess felt utterly exposed even with her underwear still on. She could feel the big warrior’s hot breath through the thin material of her panties and though she didn’t want it to, her body was reacting to him, her nipples getting hard and her pussy hot and wet in a way that scared her.

  Shouldn’t be feeling this way. It’s dangerous…wrong…

  Pierce never wanted to see such signs of arousal in her—never wanted her to show pleasure or suggest anything new. Anything like this. In fact, he had never done what the big warrior was describing except for that one time when he…

  Is this what you want, Princess? a mean little voice—the voice of her ex—whispered in her ear. Something new? Something kinky? Something only a little whore would want?

  No, don’t think of it. Don’t remember! Tess told herself fiercely. She clenched her fists at her sides and stared up at the ceiling, willing the memory away.

  “What’s this?” The big warrior sounded as if he was frowning.

  Tess looked down and saw that he was staring at the small, white scar on her inner thigh. Seeing the mark brought back the memory she’d been trying so hard to suppress. The heat she’d been feeling turned to ice down her spine and her stomach clenched in a sick knot of tension.

  “I thought you said you were new. That you were a prototype,” the warrior said, frowning. “But this looks like a scar—an old one. Who did this to you, little one? Who hurt you?”

  Suddenly Tess couldn’t take it anymore.

  She wriggled away from him and scrambled off the bed. Snagging her dress from the floor, she started pulling it on with trembling fingers.

  “What…?” The warrior was still on his knees in front of the bed. He looked up at her, frowning in confusion. “What are you doing?”

  “Okay, all right, you got me,” Tess babbled. “I didn’t want to blow my cover but I can’t…can’t do this. I’m not a Pairing Puppet. I’m sorry—I’m really sorry.”

  His face grew dark and he stood suddenly, towering over her.

  “You’re not a puppet? What are you—some kind of a spy?”

  “What? No!” Tess backed away from him, her heart pounding. God, why did he have to be so big? She had an idea that her dress was on inside out and backwards but she didn’t care.

  “What were you doing at the Pairing House, posing as a puppet?” he demanded.

  “I was hiding, all right?” She was backing away from him now, fumbling for the door. The anger on the big warrior’s face was frightening. She had seen that look before often enough in Pierce’s eyes to know what it meant. Trouble coming… It was written all over his face, brewing like a storm. And she wanted to be out of the way before it hit.

  “I told you things,” he said, his deep voice throbbing with anger. “I did things…forbidden things.”

  “No, you didn’t—not really!” Tess protested, still feeling for the door. “I mean we really didn’t even…”

  “We did enough. On my planet the things we did…the things I told you…” He shook his head. “You let me break the ancient taboos. Let me believe you weren’t real—that you would keep my secrets.” He was still advancing on her, his face like a thundercloud.

  “I’m sorry!” Tess had found the door at last but it wouldn’t open. “Look, I’ll go, okay?” she gasped. “I’ll leave the Mother Ship. I’ll give myself up to the authorities and I’ll never come back, I swear. You’ll never have to see me again.”

  “You can’t—” he began.

  But just then, to her vast relief, the metal door panel at last slid open. Tess practically fell out of it, into the narrow street.

  “Wait a minute.” Moving much more quickly than such a big man should have been able to, he was suddenly out the door and had her by the arm.

  “Let me go!” Tess yanked against his big hand but she might as well have been pulling against an iron handcuff. He wasn’t hurting her but it w