Six
Stevan
Catherina was sitting in a lounge chair as I entered our quarters. She was flipping through a recording cube, pictures of women being displayed. I smiled. She never stopped working. Even handicapped by not yet being able to fully read the Firaspatciti language, she still, somehow, managed to do her duty. She was slowly learning to read our language and the cubes now had to speak to her only occasionally.
She looked up at me and smiled. The last few months I could sense the stress taking its toll on her, but this evening she looked more alive and radiant than she had in weeks. She rose from her chair and sauntered toward me, causing me to smile. When she moved like that I knew that I would have to labor long into the night to fully satisfy her.
She molded herself to me as she took my lips in a long and luxurious kiss. She slowly pulled back and held my gaze with her own. “I’d like to have our evening meal early tonight,” she breathed.
I felt a tingle of excitement. I didn’t understand how such an innocent request could cause my blood to rush hot and fast, but she had a way of speaking, a certain tone and inflection, that could ignite my passions in ways I couldn’t comprehend.
“Then we won’t delay,” I whispered in return.
I considered taking her now but I knew I would need my strength as we would surely mate multiple times this evening. I kissed her again, and as her tongue explored my mouth, I had to clamp down on my Firaspatciti nature. It was becoming easier, but sometimes the old ways still called to me and I knew she didn’t enjoy our mating when I returned to my earlier self.
I was breathing hard as I pulled back from the kiss. “Call for our meal,” I rumbled, trying to gain control of myself.
The desire to take her now almost overwhelming. She was very good at that, pulling me into the flames of desire then leaving me to burn. From any other woman I wouldn’t tolerate such behavior, but with Catherina, I would tolerate far more. She’d taught me that pleasure delayed, and the anticipation of pleasures to come often increased the intensity of our mating.
I heard her talking to the staff, ordering our meal as soon as possible as she watched me undress and change. Our meal would be slightly delayed since we were eating earlier than normal, and I smiled at the thought of the kitchen staff rushing about in a panic. Catherina was always pleasant, kind, and understanding, but she kept the palace staff on their toes with her unpredictable nature.
“How was your visit to Rastophar?” I asked after she closed the portal.
“Productive. They are keenly interested in mating with other cultures. They didn’t say as much, but I have a suspicion that they have always been open to mating with others but felt others didn’t want to mate with them.”
I nodded my head. “Probably true. I didn’t realize how narrow and self-centered our views had become until you showed me all the new ways to please a mate.”
She smiled at me in that way she had. “Variety adds spice to the mating.” Her smile faded and she became more serious. “And the vote on Pearakut? Kergah said you were optimistic.”
“The reports are that the resistance is losing ground, and decisively so. Perhaps the Peoples are not so stupid after all.”
She watched me a moment. “Then what’s bothering you? You should be thrilled that your speech had the intended results.”
I debated not telling her the rest, but then decided she had the right to know.
“Kergah is concerned that if the resistance suffers a major setback with this vote, they may consider taking more direct action. I agree.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you could become a target.” I saw the color drain from her face in a clear signal she was upset at the news. It used to upset me when she paled like that, but I have learned it was simply an involuntary reaction and it no longer bothered me. Much.
“A target how?”
“I don’t know, and it's only speculation. It appeared those that oppose what you are doing were going to win the vote on Pearakut, but now it looks as if they’re going to lose. If they lose by a wide majority, and it appears they could, it will weaken their position substantially. They won’t be able to point to Pearakut and try to rally others join them. That will leave them with few options.” I paused, dreading what I was going to have to say next. “One of those options would be to try to kill you.”
She stared at me a moment. “Why? What good would that do? I thought they were upset that you broke the Prime Law or something.”
“That’s one faction. Another thinks we are trying to change the fate of the Peoples. The two groups are working together at the moment, but it is the second group that worries me the most. Their argument is based on emotion, not logic, and that makes them far more dangerous than those who simply want me to stand for my misdeed.”
Before she could answer the chime announced the arrival of our meal. “Enter!” I called. “You are excused when you are done,” I said, then took Catherina by the arm and guided her back to our bedchamber. I trusted the palace staff, but some things were not to be overheard.
“Don’t worry, Catherina. If necessary, we can curtail your travels until the threat is eliminated.”
“No. If we do that, they win anyway. Before we overreact, shouldn’t we be sure there is a threat?”
“We may not know the threat is real until they make an attempt on your life.”
“I have my guards.”
I nodded. “Indeed, but no security is perfect.”
She nodded. “I’ll do anything you think necessary to keep me safe, but I don’t want to be a prisoner in the palace, even if it’s for my own safety. We have momentum now. People are excited about the prospects of mating with other cultures. We don’t want to lose that, nor do we want the Peoples to be afraid. If I suddenly go into hiding because mating with other cultures is too dangerous to talk about, what message will that send?” She laid her hand on my arm. “Please don’t stop me from doing this. You brought me here for a reason. Let me do my duty. Please, Stevan. As you said in your speech, this is much larger than one person.”
I stared at her. Logically I knew she was right, but the thought of losing her chilled me to my core. I still believed she was the single most important person in the universe… and my bonded mate. To lose her could be a fatal blow to the Peoples of the universe, not to mention the loss I would suffer. I finally nodded slowly in agreement. I had to think beyond my own desires and fears, but it wasn’t easy.
“You’re right of course. If necessary, I’ll increase your contingent of guards.”
She smiled at me and caressed my face gently. “Don’t worry. Peval and Tokalas will make sure nothing happens to me.”
I again nodded slowly. She was loved by all and I knew any of the palace guards would give their life for hers without hesitation, but it took only one mistake, one overlooked detail, and she would be dead. If someone were to start making attempts on her life, the assassin would have to get it right only once, where her security would have to get it right every time.
“Come. Our food is ready and Gurot is probably wondering what we’re doing in here.”
She giggled. “No. He’s probably wondering why we called for our food if we were going to be busy doing other things in here.”
I smiled as I slid the door open and we returned to the main room where our table had been set up. Gurot was there, standing at relaxed attention in his splendid red and black uniform as if he could wait all day for our appearance… which he would.
We enjoyed a leisurely meal, talking about more pleasant things. I noticed that she was eating light and I worried that the news had upset her until she looked at me and smiled. There was a hunger in her smile that I had seen before, a hunger that food couldn’t satisfy, and I again felt my blood run hot. I wouldn’t stop her from doing her duty, which she appeared to love, but at the same time, I would do everything in my power to keep her safe. Perhaps she should spend more time on Firaspatciti for a time, helping our women. She wouldn’t be confined to the palace, but all of Firaspatciti would function as her unofficial guards.
I mulled the idea over, and the more I thought about it, the better I liked it. She had no trips scheduled in the next few days since she was scheduled to begin working with the Fire women and the Water men. That would give Kergah and me time to evaluate the threat after the vote and determine how real the threat was, and what we could do for her protection.
Now that I had a plan to keep her safe that I thought she wouldn’t object to, my mind turned to more pleasant matters. We finished our meal, talking little, but her body language and the way she looked at me said much.
She pushed her plate away in an unconscious signal she was finished as I was chasing up the last of the hirill’s juices with a bit of bread. I popped it into my mouth and then signaled Gurot.
“We’re finished. Have the remains removed immediately.”
I’d barely finished speaking before Gurot appeared. I smiled. He must have been standing with his hand on the door release.
“Shall we?” I asked Catherina as I pushed back from the table and extended my hand.
She smiled and took my hand, allowing me to lead her to the bedchamber. The moment the door closed I pulled her into my arms. I wasn’t going to wait for the staff to clear the meal. We wouldn’t be disturbed and walls were completely soundproof.
I took her lips greedily as she molded her body to mine. As we kissed, we released the hidden fasteners of our garments, causing them to automatically loosen to allow us to easily push the clothing from our bodies. We parted with a sigh and as I settled onto the bed, I watched her as she moved, teasing me with glimpses. She slowly licked her lips as she crawled over and settled onto me as she took my mouth again. Sometimes our desires were out of sync, one wanting to mate like the Firaspatciti and the other the Aquallia, but tonight her kiss was so warm, slow and tender I knew we both wanted the same thing. She pulled slowly back from my lips, smiling at me, watching my eyes as I reached up to push a lock of hair out of her face.
“I’m going to take good care of you tonight,” she whispered with a smile.
I gasped as she continued lower and took me into her mouth, battering the top of my manhood with her tongue before biting the head gently, her lips spreading in a wicked smile as she held my member between her teeth. I hissed, her gentle bite stoking my Firaspatciti nature before she released her hold and took me deep into her mouth.
She pulled back, pulling me from her mouth with a wet pop before rising higher and wrapping my cock in her breasts. She’d done this before, part of her ever-expanding ways of surprising and delighting me, mixing things up to keep our mating fresh and exciting. I hissed softly as she squeezed her breasts around me, allowing me to please myself as she kissed my torso. There seemed to be no limit to the inventive ways she could find to please me and I looked forward to and welcomed each new lesson.
After a time, she turned in the bed, offering herself to me. I lifted her over my head, knowing she liked it when I moved her around. Manhandling her she called it. It had taken some practice, but I’d learned how to please her with my mouth. She settled with a sigh as I snaked my arms around her thighs and clamped her tightly to my face before I began to probe and caress her with my lips and tongue.
We pleased each other with our mouths for many long moments, enjoying the giving and taking of pleasure. Listening to her purr and moan as I pleased her, I could scarcely believe I was once revolted by the act. As she began to gasp, pant, and struggle to pull away, I knew she was approaching her rapture. Sometimes I let her go, but other times, like tonight, I held her tightly, preventing her escape. She pulled again but I resisted her escape attempts as I kissed her womanhood. If she pulled hard enough, I would release her, but her attempts to break free tonight were too feeble to take seriously and I continued to flog her with pleasure until she moaned softly around my shaft.
I felt her relax with a sigh, lying on me for a moment as she panted softly before she slowly turned to face me. She was smiling as she took my lips in a long slow kiss.
“If you keep improving, I may not be able to stand it,” she whispered as she released my lips, her grin playful and her eyes bright.
“I have an excellent teacher.”
“I have an outstanding pupil.”
She began to swing a leg over me but I blocked it, pushing her first to her back, then rolled her to her side as I snuggled into her back. Our earlier conversation and the thoughts of possibly losing her made me want to feel her close tonight. I steered myself into her then slowly pushed in deep, her soft gasp at my entry joining my own. I paused, holding her close as I kissed her shoulder and neck, my hands cupping her breasts as finger and thumb gently caressed her nipples into hardness.
“What’s the matter?” she whispered.
She was amazingly adept at reading people.
“The thought of losing you… disturbs me,” I admitted.
She rolled away from me away and then turned to face me. She held my gaze a moment then softly took my lips.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I worry.”
“Don’t,” she said as she caressed my face. “I trust Tokalas and Peval almost as much as I trust you and Kergah. I have my escort. Peval is teaching me to defend myself.” She paused as she watched my eyes. “The only way I will be one hundred percent safe is if I never left our quarters and you surrounded me with guards. I don’t want to live like that.” She smiled softly. “I want to live, not be locked away like a treasure.”
“I know.”
“Living is a risk. You or I could die tomorrow… that’s why we need to live each moment as if it’s our last.” She took my lips in another slow kiss. “Don’t worry my love. I plan for you to make me feel alive each night for many, many more years.”
I smiled as I rolled her onto her back and settled between her thighs, her gaze and smile speaking to me in ways no woman’s had before. She gently caressed my face, pulling my lips to hers as I slowly entered her again.
Feeling her surround me again, I groaned, my hands tangling in her hair as I pulled back from her kiss. “I love you, Catherina Hume,” I whispered into her ear. “I would stand in the breach and battle the long darkness alone so that you may live.”
She pulled me down tighter, holding me to her as I began to thrust into her with purpose.
“I love you, Stevan Gerrett!” she cried softly, her voice tight and strained. “I’ll stand on your weak side and we’ll battle the long darkness together so you’ll never be alone.”
I gripped her tight and kissed her, trying to contain my lust. No man could ever ask more from a mate than Caterina gave to me.
“Faster! Fuck me faster!” she begged while kicking at me with her heels.
With another groan, I began driving into her hard and fast, pounding into her, trying to drive her through the bed.
“Oh…my…God!” she gasped, then mewled softly as her embraced tightened.
My orgasm arrived from nowhere, overwhelming me before I had a chance to stall it. I shuddered as I groaned low and deep. I continued to slam into her, my pleasure trying to rip me apart. I was Lord of Firaspatciti! I wouldn’t waver. Nothing or no one would ever take her from me and I would give my last breath to please her. I reared up and bellowed, at war with my body as I forced it to my bidding, driving into her, refusing to succumb as I battled against the pleasure.
“Oh, God… oh God… oh God,” she whispered, squeezing me tight as I fought to please her. “I’m cumming! Oh, God, I’m cumming so hard!”
Her nails bit into my back as she became alive with motion, her face twisted in pleasure, the bite of her nails exciting me all the more. She may be Human, but there was much Firaspatciti in her. She gasped as she suddenly relaxed and I stilled my pounding hips with a shudder and a groan. I lay gasping for a moment before taking her lips for my own.
I slowly pulled back from the kiss and buried my face in her neck, still breathing hard from the power of my release. I lay still, panting as we held each other tight, unwilling, unable to move but unable to stop. She sighed softly, slowly nodding her head as I began to move again, slowly pushing in deep before pulling out to slowly push in again.
We moved together, kissing, touching, whispering of our love and our future together, taking our time. Mating with a Firaspatciti woman was hard, fast and intense, but after mating with Catherina I had come to appreciate slowing down, to draw out the giving and taking off pleasure. ‘Making love’ she called it.
I smiled as I caressed her face with my finger. We’d made love until exhaustion overtook us, our stresses giving energy to our passions. Now she was curled comfortably into my side, her breathing slow and regular as she slept. I caressed her face again, and the small smile that appeared made my heart swell with joy. I sighed with a contentment I’d only felt with Catherina. Yes, I could lose her, but I could deny her nothing and I didn’t wish to cage the free spirit that made her who she was.
I felt my eyes growing heavy, and in that moment between sleep and awake, when everything seemed so clear, I knew she was right. To be locked in the palace would destroy her, and I couldn’t, wouldn’t, do that to her.
Nobody could predict the future or know how much time we had left before we faced the long darkness. She was younger than me, and though it was selfish of me to think so, I was glad I would likely die before she did, sparing me the agony of having to live even a day without her. I smiled as sleep stalked me. The long darkness was far into the future, and until that time came, we would continue to live our lives unafraid. Let the universe do its worst. With Catherina at my weak side, we could do anything.
I was still smiling, thinking of all the things that Catherina and I had yet to do, as sleep slowly took me.