The feast food was rich and varied, served on the broad, flat purple leaves of the gangi bush which grew higher than a male’s head and was as big around as a house—or so Braxx told her.
He was actually very good at describing things—almost too good, Molly thought uncomfortably as she nodded her thanks whenever a new dish was served to her. She still couldn’t get over his description of what he would have to do if he were to scent-mark her…and how much he would like it.
It had been a long time since Molly had allowed any man to go down on her—an experience she didn’t find very enjoyable, mostly because it seemed to her that the men who did it weren’t really into it.
I don’t think that would be a problem with Braxx, whispered a little voice in her head. He sounds like he would be way into it.
Just the thought of the big Kindred between her thighs, lapping and sucking her open pussy made her squirm uncomfortably. Her nipples got hard too and kept poking out of her negu top, no matter how she tried to cover them. Molly hoped she wasn’t attracting undue attention with her involuntary display but she couldn’t help wondering if Braxx was looking at her, if he could see her pink peaks pressing out between the long, silky strands of grass…
To distract herself, Molly tried some of everything that was offered to her—even the foods that smelled a little questionable.
There was a crispy, smoky-tasting meat which reminded her in texture of bacon but in flavor of blueberries—that was interesting. Braxx told her it was deep purplish-blue in color. Then came a small, round furry fruit which felt a bit like an apricot in the palm of her hand. It was sweet and juicy but when Molly bit into it, it had the distinct flavor of buttered toast and hot chocolate mixed together.
A strange combination but not a bad one, Molly thought. According to Braxx, it was bright pink with pale blue flesh inside. She wished she could see it for herself but she just kept her recorder running, asking him the names and descriptions of all the foods and making quick notes to herself about their respective flavors.
The only food she really didn’t like was a kind of fermented fish broth served in a rough bark cup. It smelled like sardines which had been sitting out in the sun for a week going bad and had a thick, gravy-like consistency.
“This is chumba,” Braxx told her under his breath as the serving girl handed Molly a cup of it. “It is…an acquired taste, even among the Tal’ossi.”
That didn’t sound too promising but in the interest of scientific curiosity, Molly tried a sip.
She nearly gagged. As bad as the fermented fish broth smelled, it tasted even worse. It’s slimy, rotten texture seemed to stick to her tongue and coat her entire mouth. Disgusting!
“Oh!” she whispered to Braxx, trying to keep her face from showing the extreme disgust she was feeling. “That’s awful.”
“I did warn you it was an acquired taste,” he murmured blandly. “Here, let me have it and take one of these.”
He took the bark cup from her and handed her a small, round, chalky pellet about the size of a peanut M&M.
“What’s this?” Molly asked, rolling it between her fingers.
“A pulla berry. Try it—it takes the bad taste out of your mouth. I’ll deal with your chumba.”
“Oh, I don’t want you to have to drink it just because I won’t,” Molly exclaimed.
“I’m not,” he murmured, sounding amused. “I dug a little hole in the dirt to one side of me. I’ll just discretely dispose of it.”
Molly was grateful to him that she didn’t have to drink any more of the rotten fish broth. Carefully, she put the pulla berry between her lips, hoping to cleanse her palate.
At first it didn’t taste like anything but a ball of chalk in her mouth. Then she bit into it experimentally and was rewarded with a burst of juice that tasted like a cross between fresh cherries and spearmint.
“Mmm!” She rolled the rest of the pulla around in her mouth, enjoying the delicious, refreshing flavor. It completely took the rancid taste of the fermented fish broth away, replacing it with minty freshness.
“You like it?” Braxx murmured. “Want another?”
“Sure—it’s delicious.” She ate several more pulla berries and before she knew it, the feast had ended—the eating part, anyway. The leaf plates were collected by the same women who had served the food and then the chieftain of the clan—Elder, Braxx had called him—began to speak again.
“Now is the time of pledging,” he called out. “If any warrior wishes to pledge to his female, let him do so now.”
“I wish to pledge to Belka!” a deep Tal’ossi voice rang out.
“Very well—make your pledge,” Elder returned.
Molly was on pins and needles, wondering exactly what was happening with her new friend.
“Describe it to me,” she whispered to Braxx. “Tell me everything that’s happening.”
“As you wish. Belcose, the warrior who is pledging to Belka, is motioning to her. There seems to be a choice here—she can either go to him or remain in her seat.”
“I’m sure she’s going to him—right?” Molly asked.
“Yes, she is. She was sitting with some other females but now she has crossed over to where he is sitting. She…” Braxx cleared his throat. “She has straddled his lap now and has removed her amulet.”
“Removed her amulet? Why?” Molly frowned, wishing she could see.
“Apparently in order…” He cleared his throat again. “In order to give Belcose access to her breasts.”
“What is he doing?” Molly murmured. “Is she just, uh, showing herself to him?”
“No. He’s cupping her in his hands. Now he’s sucking and teasing her nipples with his tongue and fingers,” Braxx reported blandly.
Molly could almost see the couple in her mind’s eye—Belka sitting astride her big warrior’s lap and pressing her breasts up to his mouth eagerly. But for some reason, her imagination kept wanting to show herself and Braxx in that position instead. She tried to push it away but the thought didn’t seem to want to go.
“Oh my—that’s quite a public display of affection,” she remarked a bit breathlessly.
“I think that’s the idea,” Braxx murmured dryly. “This is a very public statement that they plan to be together. I’d say it’s a warning to other males to stay away from Belka in the future because Belcose intends to claim her as his mate.”
“I see.” Molly nodded. “Um…what’s happening now?”
“They are…” Braxx coughed. “Are you certain you want me to tell you?”
“Yes—I need to know everything. Please, Braxx—you have to be my eyes here,” Molly pleaded.
“Very well. Belcose’s shaft is thrusting up through the strands of his negu and Belka has parted her own negu as well. She is…rubbing her pussy against his shaft and…and moaning.”
“Oh,” Molly whispered faintly. “That’s…uh, interesting.”
“Now she is taking him within her. I believe they are making love.”
Molly didn’t need him to tell her this. She could hear Belka’s soft moans and Belcose’s grunts as well. The sounds of sex—flesh meeting flesh in wet, hot friction—came to her sensitive ears as the two participants moved together.
“I think he intends to finish inside her,” Braxx murmured. “To fill her with his come. That will mark Belka as his in no uncertain terms.”
“I…I’m sure it will,” Molly murmured.
At that moment, the moans reached a crescendo and Molly could imagine the two participants clinging together as Belcose pumped his come deep into his female’s willing pussy. The mental image gave her a hot shiver down her spine and her own pussy throbbed in response. She pressed her thighs together, trying not to imagine being in that position with the big Kindred at her side. Trying not to think of his thick shaft thrusting deep inside her…
“Is there any other male who wishes to pledge to his female at this time?” Elder, asked, his voice ringing in the stillness following the erotic display.
“I do,” a loud and unfortunately familiar voice declared. It was Drogor—Molly was sure of it. “I wish to pledge to Molly from the Stars,” he said, which caused a whispering buzz to run through the circle seated around the crystal fire.
“What? No!” Molly exclaimed, forgetting that she ought to be careful about offending the people she was supposed to be studying. At the same time, Braxx growled,
“You cannot pledge to Molly—she is spoken for.”
“By who?” Drogor asked contemptuously. “By you off-worlder?”
“You’re Goddess-damned right, by me,” Braxx snarled. “You can’t have her, Drogor—Molly is mine.”
Hearing herself claimed in no uncertain terms by the big Kindred sent a thrill through Molly she couldn’t deny. True, she hadn’t known him for long but she was deeply attracted to Braxx—drawn to him in a way she never had been with any other male before.
“I cry falsehood on your statement,” Drogor shouted above the rising babble of excited conversation this exchange provoked. “Your scent is not on her, therefore you can not have pledged to her.”
Molly thought about saying that her people pledged to each other in a different way. But when she opened her mouth, what came out was,
“Well he’s going to pledge to me now!”
Then she clamped her lips shut. God—what had she just done? What had she let herself in for? And what had she let Braxx in for, for that matter? She hadn’t even asked him before she volunteered him for a public sex act!
She put her hand on his thigh, which was rock hard beneath her fingertips.
“Braxx,” she whispered urgently. “I’m so sorry—I don’t know why I said that.”
“It doesn’t matter why,” he murmured back grimly. “Because I’m afraid we’ll have no choice but to act on your words.”
“But I—”
“Truly? He will pledge to you now? This I will have to smell to believe,” Drogor exclaimed.”
Molly felt another shiver run down her spine. Braxx was right—they were going to have to go through with this. It was either that or lose the trust of the entire clan—not to mention she’d have Drogor sniffing around her the entire time she was here on Tal’os—literally—unless they acted on her rash words.
“Molly?” Braxx murmured in her ear. “Do you not wish to do this? I can fight him instead—that might work to get him off your scent.”
“No, no—no fights,” she protested. “No, I…I guess we’d better do this. Maybe…” She dropped her voice so low that she knew only Braxx could hear her. “Maybe we can, uh, fake it some.”
“Some of it, maybe. But not all of it.” His deep voice sounded grim. “Come—if we’re going to do this you’ll have to straddle me.”
“Okay—help me.”
And that was how Molly suddenly found herself sitting astride the big Kindred she’d hadn’t even known for twenty-four hours with her legs spread wide and her breasts pressing practically into his face.
She was horribly embarrassed but probably not as much as a sighted person would be, she reasoned to herself. After all, the sounds from the rest of the clan had died down and since she couldn’t see them, she was almost able to make herself believe she was alone with Braxx.
“What should I do now?” she asked him and then remembered what he’d said Belka had done. “Should…should I offer you my breasts?” she asked in a low, halting voice.
“You’ll have to,” he murmured back. “Everyone is watching us.”
Well, so much for pretending they were all alone. Feeling nervous and hot at the same time, Molly brushed the soft, ticklish strands of her top negu aside and pressed her chest blindly to the big Kindred’s face.
“That’s good, Molly. Now I need to suck your nipples—suck them so that everyone can see you’re mine,” he growled softly.
His hot words seemed to send a jolt straight to her pussy, which was spread wide beneath the long grass skirt. Molly could feel how wet and swollen she was getting there but there was nothing she could do about it—they had to do this.
“All right,” she whispered back. “Do…do what you have to do.”
“What I want to do,” he corrected softly and then pulled her closer, his big hands warm on her back.
First she felt his hot breath and then the rough brush of his whiskered jaw against her soft slopes. At the same time, his scent—that wild, dark spice which was so indefinably masculine—intensified, making her ache with need.
I don’t know why everyone is talking about how good I smell when it’s Braxx that has such an amazing scent, she thought dizzily. And then something hot and wet was enclosing her right nipple and she moaned as the big Kindred sucked her peak deep into his mouth.
“Oh…oh, Braxx,” she gasped as he nursed hard on her tender bud, taking as much as he could in his mouth one moment and then swirling his tongue around it teasingly the next. “Oh, God.”
Her only answer was the feeling of him releasing one nipple and moving to the next, nipping it lightly between his teeth before sucking it into his mouth to soothe the small, pleasurable pain he had caused with his tongue.
In response, Molly buried her fingers in his thick, dark hair and moaned his name some more. Part of her was embarrassed to be doing this so publicly but part of her acknowledged that it was practical to make as much noise and express her pleasure as vocally as she could. Anything to make the villagers believe they were really together.
It seemed to go on and on but at last Braxx allowed her nipple to slide slowly from between his lips and sat back, panting.
“Gods, your breasts are so soft and lush,” he rumbled. “Love to suck them, Molly. Love to make you moan.”
“I was…enjoying it too,” she whispered, still running her hands through his hair. “But Braxx…what next? Do we actually have to, you know—”
“Fuck?” he growled softly. “I’m not sure. We can try to fake it if you want.”
Molly bit her lip.
“I…I think we should try,” she murmured. “I mean…I’m not on any kind of birth control right now.”
“Human birth control doesn’t work to prevent Kindred pregnancies anyway,” he informed her. “However, I cannot get you pregnant unless I thrust all the way to the hilt in you and filled you with my mating fist as well as my shaft.”
“Your…mating fist?” This was a term Molly had never heard before. “Is that a Kindred thing?”
“A Beast Kindred thing,” he told her. “It’s a ring of flesh around the base of the shaft which fits inside a female when a Beast Kindred is bonding her to him.”
Molly shook her head. “I can’t really…picture that.”
“It’s just part of my anatomy. But it wouldn’t come into play unless I was going to claim a female. To make her mine completely by filling her with my come.”
He shifted under her, as though to get more comfortable and something hot and hard poked her thighs, right between her spread pussy lips.
“Oh!” Molly gasped and nearly jerked away. Then she reminded herself that the entire clan was watching and they expected to see a female who wanted this kind of intimate contact with her male. She made herself hold still, even though the broad head of the big Kindred’s cock was rubbing directly against her tender clit.
“Sorry,” Braxx growled. “I didn’t mean to, uh, poke you. It’s just that sucking your sweet nipples has made my shaft fucking hard as a rock.”
“It’s all right,” Molly whispered, a bit shakily. “I mean, we’re supposed to be, uh, putting on a show here. You’re supposed to poke me. In fact…here.”
She wasn’t sure where she got the daring, but she reached between their mutually spread legs and found the thick, pulsing pole of his cock with one hand.
“Gods, Molly…” Braxx groaned low in his throat as she cupped it loosely in her hand and ran her fingers experimentally up and down his broad length. His skin was hot and silky—soft to the touch over his heated, throbbing shaft. At the base of it was a wide ring of flesh which encircled his entire root of his cock making that part of him twice as thick as he already was.
His mating fist, she thought and could hardly believe it.
“Oh my God,” she whispered unsteadily. “So this is what you were talking about. But how in the world would you fit it inside anyone? Are Kindred women, uh, more elastic down below or something?”
“Any female can accommodate my fist if she wants to,” Braxx assured her in a low, growling voice as she continued to explore him with her fingers. “My body makes special chemicals in my precum which allow a female to stretch and take my shaft—mating fist and all—without pain.”
“Wow…well, I guess I’ll have to take your word for that since we’re going to be, uh, faking this a bit,” Molly murmured. “But in the meantime…”
Grasping him more firmly in one hand, she reached down with her other hand and spread her pussy wide with her fingers. Again, this was something she didn’t think she would have had the courage to do in public if she could have seen herself doing it and other people watching her. It was like making a porno!
But since she couldn’t see anyone, she was able to focus on the sensations she felt—and on Braxx’s reactions to her as she brought his shaft to her pussy and rubbed the broad, slippery head of his cock firmly against her open folds.
“Gods, Molly…so sweet, jalanta,” he groaned as he coated Molly’s inner pussy with his hot, wet precum.
“Mmm…that feels good,” Molly couldn’t help moaning. “But what does…does jalanta mean?”
“Dear one—beautiful one,” Braxx growled. “It’s a term of endearment on my home planet. Molly, if you don’t want me in you, you’d better be careful. Things are getting extremely fucking slippery down there.”
“They are, aren’t they?” Molly murmured. God, it felt so good to have his broad shaft rubbing against her aching clit. How long had it been since she’d had a man anywhere near this area?
Way too long, her mind whispered and her body wholeheartedly agreed. She couldn’t help feeling like Braxx’s precum—which seemed to have a warming effect against her spread pussy—was doing something to her. Maybe making her more open?
“Just watch out or my shaft might slip into your soft little cunt channel for real.” The big Kindred’s deep voice was strained.
“Well, we are supposed to be making love,” Molly pointed out breathlessly. “Maybe…maybe I should, uh, pretend I’m putting you inside me and then we can press close together and you can pretend you’re thrusting.”
“Yes…all right.” He sounded as though he was speaking through clenched teeth. “Do it, then.”
“All right,” Molly echoed. Taking a firmer grip on his shaft, she rose on her knees and made a show of fitting the broad head of his cock to the mouth of her open pussy.
She’d meant to act like she was sinking down on his shaft and then press hard against him to hide the fact that he was still outside her. Only Braxx was right—things were getting extremely slippery down below.
When she started to sink down, Molly gasped when she felt the big Kindred’s thick shaft actually breaching her pussy. Before she knew it, the wide, plum-shaped head was inside her, along with at least an inch of his big cock.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Oh, my…”
“Don’t move,” Braxx murmured, his breath hot against her face. “Think you just put me in you for real, sweetheart.”
“I did,” Molly confessed. “I didn’t mean to, but—”
“If you just pull off me quickly—” Braxx began but they were both interrupted.
“This is a false pledge!” Drogor’s voice rang out, making her jump. For a moment she’d forgotten there was anyone there but herself and Braxx. “It is false, I say! Is the off-worlder even in her? I hear no sounds of coupling!”
“A pledge has been called to question. I will verify,” Molly heard Elder say.
“Oh God, what now?” Molly whispered. She was still in an incredibly awkward position, straddling the big Kindred with his thick shaft piercing her pussy. Even though he was barely inside her she still felt they were way past the bounds of professional courtesy.
“Elder is coming over to verify that my shaft is actually inside your pussy,” Braxx informed her.
“Well, you are,” she pointed out.
“I’m barely penetrating you,” Braxx pointed out. “I’m pretty sure what he’s looking for is complete penetration.”
“Oh God,” Molly moaned as quietly as she could. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“I’m afraid not.” Every muscle in Braxx’s big body was tense and it seemed to Molly he was holding himself back from thrusting inside her by main force of will. “Molly, forgive me but you may have to…have to come down on me and take me all the way inside you. At least once.”
“But your mating fist—what if it, you know, slips inside me?”
“That wouldn’t happen right away,” he promised her. “I would most likely have to come in you first to ease the way and completely coat your pussy with the chemicals in my precum and cum that would allow you to open to me.” His big hands tightened on her hips. “Elder is coming over.”
There was nothing else she could do. And if Molly was completely honest with herself, there was nothing else she wanted to do.
So much for keeping a professional distance between us! she thought, tightening her grip on his broad shoulders.
“All right,” she whispered to Braxx. “I’m going to come all the way down on you—just once—and stay there until you tell me it’s safe to pull off. Okay?”
“Yes.” Again his voice sounded strained. Molly reflected again how difficult this must be for him—the big Kindred must have nerves of iron to hold so still partially inside her like this. Then she heard Elder’s voice behind her saying something about verifying again and knew she had run out of time.
Biting her bottom lip hard, she allowed herself to slide down, taking Braxx’s thick, long shaft deeper and deeper into her pussy.
How far should I go? she wondered as she felt her inner walls stretching to accommodate his massive girth. How far is far enough—and how far is too far? Should I try to stop with him halfway…or should I let him bottom out inside me?
The decision was taken from her when she felt someone twitching the long strands of her grass skirt to one side.
“I see only partial penetration,” Elder sounded disapproving. “What kind of pledging is this, off-worlders? Do you dishonor our feast?”
Abruptly, Molly knew she had no choice. With a soft little moan, she let herself come the rest of the way down until the big Kindred’s hard cock filled her completely, his long shaft stuffing her little pussy to the limit and beyond.
“Oh!” she gasped and wiggled involuntarily, drawing a low groan from Braxx. But he didn’t say anything to her, instead he addressed the chieftain of the tribe.
“As you can see, my pledge to Molly from the Stars is real,” he said, speaking in a low, strained voice, as though he was trying desperately not to move or come. “Now if you would please allow us the courtesy of some privacy to finish our pledging?”
“Most assuredly.” The Elder withdrew, his footsteps shuffling in the dust.
Privacy, Molly thought wildly. That’s a laugh!
But at least no one had a close up view of the place where Braxx was filling her now. Still though, he was filling her—how was he going to get out of her without being really obvious about it?
She moved restlessly, uncertain what to do and drew another ragged groan from the big Kindred.
“Gods, you’re tight around me! Be careful, Molly, unless you want my seed coating the inside of your pussy.”
No, of course I don’t want that—do I? she thought wildly. But the thought gave her an idea.
“Braxx,” she murmured, leaning forward to whisper in his ear. “I don’t think you can, uh, pull out of me without everyone knowing.”
“You’re right about that,” he murmured grimly. “Every eye is fixed on us. But what am I to do? I can’t actually fuck you.”
“I…I think you’re going to have to. At least…at least a little,” Molly whispered back. “I think we’re going to have to make a big show of it—of you thrusting inside me—pulling almost all the way out before you, uh, go back in. That way when you actually do pull out, it will seem like part of our motion.”
“Agreed,” he murmured. “But are you certain you’re all right with this, Molly? We barely know each other. Are you certain you’re all right allowing me to fuck your pussy—even a little?”
Molly bit her lip, feeling the place where the head of his cock was kissing the mouth of her womb. The big Kindred was already inside her—what difference would a few thrusts make?
“Yes,” she whispered. “As long…as long as you don’t come inside me. Just…just thrust until you feel that you’re going to come and then pull out and come on my belly.”
“Yes, jalanta,” he groaned softly. “Slowly now—I’m going to move in you.”
Big, warm hands gripped her hips firmly and Molly felt herself being lifted until all but just the head of his thick cock was still inside her. For a moment she thought he would slip all the way out but clearly Braxx wasn’t ready for that yet. With a low groan, he brought her back down again, filling her pussy to the limit with his thickness, making her moan and gasp and scratch his broad shoulders shamelessly as the feeling of him so deep inside her made her crazy with need.
“Braxx,” she moaned, as much for her own benefit as the villagers who were watching. “Braxx yes—pledge to me—claim me! Please, I want you to!”
“With pleasure, jalanta,” he growled and pulled out only to thrust in again…and then again and again.
Molly wondered deliriously how long this would go on. She’d only expected a few thrusts inside her pussy and then to feel him pull out. Instead, the big Kindred kept going and going, pushing deep inside her as he stuffed her little pussy with his cock and then pulling out with long, slow strokes that seemed designed to drive her wild.
She found she was moaning his name and joining his rhythm—giving herself shamelessly to being taken by a man she felt so incredibly drawn to. She never wanted it to end…
Until she felt the beginnings of his mating fist start to slip inside her.
That feeling of stretching without pain, of being filled even deeper, got her attention, even in the midst of intense pleasure.
Oh my God—what’s happening? What is he doing? He said I couldn’t get pregnant unless he got all of his mating fist inside me. But it’s starting to slip in!
She never would have believed it was possible that something so large could actually fit inside her. But now she was desperate to make it stop.
“Braxx,” she whispered urgently, gripping his shoulders more tightly. “Braxx, it’s time to end this. I feel…feel your, uh, fist starting to slip inside me.”
“I feel it too, sweetheart,” he growled. “Feel your sweet, wet, pussy opening to take me in. Gods, it’s incredible.”
“But we can’t do this!” Molly protested. “You said that was how I could get pregnant with you. I can’t get pregnant, Braxx—I can’t!”
He seemed to see the problem because he nodded shortly.
“I understand. Very well, I’m close now. I think I could come if you could come first, around me. Do you think you can?”
“I…think so.” Molly’s fingers drifted down to her aching clit and she began to rub and caress the little button, willing herself to let go—to climb the peak and jump off to fly. Having Braxx still thrusting inside her helped a lot—his girth and length made her feel incredibly full—incredible sexy. Soon she felt her belly tightening as the pleasure began to wash over her. “Oh,” she heard herself moaning. “Oh…yes.”
“Gods, Molly,” he groaned. “I feel you spasming all around me—your sweet pussy is gripping me like a fist.”
“That’s because…I’m…coming,” Molly gasped, riding him harder. Part of her couldn’t believe she was doing this—actually having sex and coming in a public place. But part of her never wanted it to end. “God,” she moaned. “Oh God, Braxx please…please!”
With a low roar he pulled her all the way down onto his thick shaft and she felt him get even thicker for a moment. She gripped his shoulders tighter and gave a little gasp.
Oh my God—is he coming inside me?
For a moment, she was certain she felt a rippling bulge of come making its way from the tip of his cock to her unprotected womb. But the next minute, Braxx had pulled her off and was coming, jet after jet, spurting harmlessly against her belly.
“Braxx,” she moaned, collapsing against him, hiding the evidence that most of his copious load of come had ended up outside her pussy rather than in it. “Oh God, that felt amazing.”
“For me too, sweetheart,” he assured her hoarsely. “Gods’ your pussy is so sweet. I just hope you’re not upset about it later.”
“Why would I be upset?” Molly asked. “We had to do it. Otherwise Drogor was never going to leave me alone.”
As though to answer her statement, she heard Elder speaking again.
“And there you are—a completed pledge from the off-worlder Braxx to his female, Molly from the Stars,” he said firmly. “She is no longer available to any other male—Braxx has stated his clear intention of claiming her.”
“We will see about that,” Drogor growled. Then there was a scuffling sound and someone else said,
“Drogor, don’t go—the feast isn’t over yet.”
“It is for me.” And without another word, Molly heard him leave.
“Well, I guess that took care of things,” she murmured to Braxx, who grunted in agreement.
“And now, does anyone else want to pledge? No?” Elder asked. “Then I declare this feast to be over.”
There was talking and rustling all around them and Molly got the impression that people were leaving. Some of them sang good night to her and Braxx and they sang back cheerfully.
But inside, Molly wasn’t feeling very cheerful. She’d never been a one night stand kind of girl—let alone a sex in public kind of girl—and she was feeling very conflicted and extremely awkward. How had she gotten into such an intimate situation with the big Kindred?
And how was she ever going to get out of it?
That’s not the real question, though—is it? whispered a little voice in her head. The question is, do you want to get out of it?
Of course I do, Molly told herself uneasily. I haven’t even known him a whole day yet. And just because we had sex doesn’t mean a lifetime commitment.
Except she’d heard that with the Kindred, that was exactly what sex meant. Braxx had already been acting extremely protective and possessive of her. Would he think what had just happened between them meant more than it did?
For that matter—what did it mean?
Nothing, Molly tried to tell herself. It was a necessity.
Oh sure, sneered the little voice. It’s not like you had the best sex of your entire life because you wanted to.
Wait a minute—the best sex of her life? Could that be true?
Molly had to admit it was. But she still didn’t know how Braxx felt about it—and she was too embarrassed to ask him. She climbed stiffly off his lap, feeling wet and sticky between her legs and completely uncertain of the whole situation.
So much for keeping it professional, she thought. I haven’t even been here twenty-four hours and I’ve already messed everything up.
* * * * *
Braxx’s body was demanding he finish the claiming which had been so rudely interrupted. He wanted Molly for his own—wanted to take her again but this time do it right and fill her with his mating fist and his seed. He couldn’t help his feelings—he had formed a deep attachment to the beautiful Anthropologist during the little “show” they had put on together—an attachment which his body longed even now to strengthen.
There is no such thing as casual sex with the Kindred.
We had no choice, he tried to tell himself. We were putting on a show for the benefit of the village and so Drogor would keep his Goddess-damned hands off her.
Well, they had managed that, at least. There was no way the Deep Dweller would dare to come near her now. The chieftain of the clan himself had declared Molly off limits to any male but him.
Braxx just wished he could make her his in reality.