Darkness Read online

  “Why?”

  “We were assured it was rude and not the best idea to ask them about having sex with other males before they met their mates. Species are extremely possessive. Breeze said one of their males could overhear and decide to ‘track down and put the hurt on some poor bastard’. Those are her exact words.”

  She remembered the name. “How is your friend? She’s the one who had a roof fall on her, right?”

  “She’s well. She meant to come to your classes but something came up.” A spark of humor glinted in her eyes. “I hope you aren’t shy, Kat. They will ask you everything that comes to mind.”

  “Okay.” It beat returning to her cottage and sulking about Darkness’ interaction with that other woman. “Lead the way.” She shoved the rest of her things inside the purse. Darkness had left and she didn’t see the woman who’d been with him.

  Images of them together flashed through her mind and she hated every one. That no-commitment talk only served to remind her that he could screw anyone he chose. It didn’t mean it wouldn’t rub her wrong. She followed Sunshine to the bar area and spotted the woman who’d been mauling Darkness. She was one of the four seated at the table. He isn’t somewhere having sex with her at least. That improved her mood.

  Sunshine introduced her to the women but the name Bluebird stuck in her mind. She paid more attention to her than the rest. Her warm, friendly smile had Kat feeling a little guilty over her instant dislike. It was Darkness’ fault. He was the one who stayed aloof and had his conditions. I agreed to them though. I’m an idiot. She sat.

  * * * * *

  Darkness stood at the end of the bed watching Kat sleep. His shift had ended later than expected. One of the protestors had decided it would be a good idea to throw sealed cans of soda at the officers on the wall. His aim had been poor but they’d called the local police to haul the male away. He’d been stuck answering their questions, then volunteered to clean up the sticky mess since it would attract bugs.

  The clock on her nightstand showed it was just after one in the morning. He’d read Security’s notes and knew she had a class scheduled for eleven. It would be best if he returned home and just went to bed. Yet he stood there.

  Kat made a soft sound in her sleep and rolled onto her back. She kicked at the blanket, one foot slipping out. He smiled and his fingers gripped his vest. He applied light pressure and slowly removed it to keep the noise at a minimum. She still slept. He dropped it onto the floor and bent, removing his boots next. Within minutes he was naked and dropped to his knees. The sight of her aroused him enough to put on a condom. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her ankle. Humor sparked. He wanted to find out if Kat would react with any defensive measures.

  He jerked her hard, yanking her body down the bed. She gasped and blindly kicked out. Her foot was tangled with the bedding. He caught it and growled. She shoved the blanket off her head and sat up enough to stare down in his direction. It was pitch dark in the room, leaving her blind.

  “That better be you, Darkness. Otherwise, I’m about to kick your ass.”

  He chuckled. “Who else would be in your bedroom?”

  She slumped back on the bed and peered at the clock. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  “I was held up.” He released her ankles. “Why do you sleep with the lights on?”

  “Why did you turn them off?”

  “Answer me first.”

  “It’s an unfamiliar place. There’s nothing worse than waking and forgetting where you are. I travel a lot so it’s just a habit I’ve picked up. Now it’s your turn.”

  “I wanted to see how you’d react.”

  “You’re kind of a dick. You scared me.”

  “Your reactions are slower than they should be. I would have pounced on you if you’d pulled that stunt.”

  “I bet you have better night vision.” She lifted a hand above her face, waving it. “I can’t see a thing. Will you turn on the bathroom light at least?”

  “No.” He threw off her covers and gently ran his fingers along her calves, trailing them upward. “Why do you sleep in clothing?”

  “It’s a nightshirt.”

  “And panties. Stop wearing them.”

  “You’re demanding for a guy who has no give in him. What do you sleep in?”

  “It depends on where I am.”

  “Right. You said you live at Reservation sometimes in the Wild Zone. I’m disappointed, thinking you’re not running around the woods naked.”

  He found her statement amusing. “The other males wouldn’t appreciate it, although they do wear very little during the summer months.”

  “How little?”

  He didn’t like the idea of her imagining other males. He spread her thighs until her knees were bent over the edge of the mattress. He released her, gripped the narrow band of her underwear and tore the material easily, destroying it. He tossed it aside, leaving her bare.

  “Those were the bottoms of a matching set I have.”

  “Buy new ones.”

  He dipped his head over her lower stomach, which was exposed with her shirt trapped around her ribs. He wanted her breasts but he’d settle for any exposed skin. “Keep your hands off me.”

  Her slight protest ended the second he opened his mouth to trail his tongue just under her bellybutton. His hands opened on her inner thighs, shoving them wider apart and caressed upward.

  “I love your hands,” she softly admitted. “Your mouth isn’t too bad either.”

  He almost laughed. She was a good sport about the way he’d woken her. He stopped exploring her with his tongue and gripped her knees, lifting them. He rested her legs over his shoulders. It was easy to slide his hands under her ass and raise her hips to his mouth.

  She sucked in a sharp breath when he fastened his lips around her clit and licked at the bundle of nerves. He growled, purposely creating vibrations as he mercilessly attacked her senses. Her scent changed fast. The sweetness of her need became intoxicating and her low moans ratcheted up his aggression. He liked it when her inner thighs pressed the sides of his face, holding him there as if he were about to stop. Nothing could have pulled him away from her until she cried out his name.

  He loved the way she bucked her hips when the climax struck and she rubbed her pussy against his mouth. Her heels dug into his back too. He eased her ass to the bed and reached up, got a firm hold under her knees and jerked her almost off the bed. He looked down between them and adjusted his hips until his rigid dick was in the right position then pressed forward, entering her.

  Kat clawed the bed and moaned. The tingling in the back of his throat and his chest began. He didn’t mute his instincts. She had said she found the noises he made sexy. He closed his eyes when he was buried deeply within the inviting confines of her pussy. He wanted to just stay there, to enjoy the feel of her, but desire drove him to move.

  He tried to be gentle but the more he fucked her, the less control he was able to maintain. He increased the pace, her moans growing louder over the sounds he made. Kat came hard, her vaginal muscles clenching and unclenching around his dick. He rode out his own release and was oblivious to everything for the next few seconds until the magnitude of it passed and only their heavy breathing remained.

  He wanted to climb on the bed with Kat and hold her in his arms, remove her shirt and press his skin to hers. Just keep her close. She relaxed under him and he eased her legs down. It came as a shock when she suddenly reached for him, her fingers splaying on his chest and lower stomach. He jerked but didn’t withdraw from her body.

  Her hands were soft and gentle, almost petting him. He looked down, watching them caress his flesh. His softening dick stirred and it reminded him of the spent condom. He captured her wrists and removed her touch.

  “Don’t.”

  Her hands fisted. “Fine. Sorry.”

  He let her go and eased away. The separation of their bodies left him feeling cold. He stood and entered the bathroom, disposed of the