Chapter Thirteen

 

She lay back on the bed with a sigh of relief. She was clean. She was fed. And now she could sleep. It might be a roughly built hut in a small village, and the bed might just be a pile of rushes on the ground covered in furs, but it felt like fucking heaven.

She might just lie here until the Zerconians arrived. Truthfully, she was so exhausted that was a real possibility. As soon as they reached the outskirts of the village, people had rushed out to greet them. The Savans were a tall, lean race. Both the men and women were built similarly, the only difference was that some of them had facial hair.

They were certainly friendly though. As soon as Moroco had explained what had happened, well she thought that was what he said, a group of them pulled her off to a nearby river where they’d helped her bathe, much to her embarrassment. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had bathed her.

Then they’d dried her, given her some clean clothing and fed her. She hadn’t seen Moroco, which had kind of worried her, but once she was clean and had a full belly it seemed that her body had decided it was time to rest. Obviously sensing her fatigue, two of the group had led her to this small hut.

She yawned and stretched. At least her back felt good. She wished she could say the same about her feet. She’d left the bandages on while she was bathing then pulled them off afterwards. The women—and lord she hoped they were women considering where they’d had their hands while they were helping her get clean—had clucked over the state of her feet. She’d had to politely refuse when one of them tried to put some sort of gloop on them. But she had been grateful for the rough sort of footwear another produced. They were just a wooden base with ropes that tied over the top of her feet, but they kept her feet off the dirty ground.

She needed to be careful about infection. Hopefully, Moroco had some more antiseptic and bandages in his pack. Where was Moroco?

Her mind circled back to the conversation about trust. She didn’t trust easily, most people, she’d found, would let you down. And if you let yourself care about them then you just ended up hurt.

So how could she trust Moroco? She knew he would protect her. He’d proven that time and again. He’d do whatever was necessary to take care of her, including carrying her for hours because of her injured feet. Sure, he was incredibly autocratic, he always thought he was right, and they would butt heads time and again.

But then, she wouldn’t enjoy being with a weak man, would she? A man she could walk over would never gain her respect.

So what did that mean? That she already trusted him? That she was ready to move forward? To what? Have sex with him? Oh hell, she was more than ready for that. But if he was her mate then sex was going to tie them together forever. There were no divorces, there was no leaving.

Instead of filling her with panic, that thought gave her a feeling of security. He could never leave her. If there was one thing that Moroco wasn’t, it was a quitter. He was loyal and he was honorable. He’d spent years tracking down Fancia’s killers. It made her a bit sad to realize how devoted he’d been to another woman.

And no matter how much she pissed him off, no matter if she gained fifty pounds and her hair went gray, he wasn’t going to leave.

She closed her eyes with a yawn. Maybe she should go and find him. Soon…she’d go soon.

***

He slid into the bed next to her. Her skin felt cool to the touch and he pulled up the fur she’d managed to kick onto the ground, tucking it around her. She murmured something in her sleep and he couldn’t stop himself from leaning down and kissing her forehead.

She was frowning, as though she were having less than pleasant dreams. But once she felt his touch, those frown lines disappeared. He hadn’t liked leaving her on her own for so long but he knew that the Savan females would take care of her. When he lay back, she rolled over as though sensing his presence, pressing herself up against him.

It had been the same the night before. Once she fell asleep, she’d plastered herself against him, throwing one leg over him and almost trying to burrow under him. It had made sleep next to impossible. He’d just lain there, staring at the ceiling and telling himself all the reasons why he couldn’t roll her over, spread her legs and take her.

It seemed tonight was going to be more of the same. At least they’d both had the chance to bathe and change and they didn’t have to sleep on the ground. He frowned, thinking of her feet. He wondered if she’d removed the bandages. What if they had gotten infected? The could need rebandaging.

Knowing he wouldn’t sleep until he’d checked, he carefully pulled the fur back and climbed from the bed. He relit the lamp. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to go take care of his other pressing need as well, because there was no way he could sleep with his shaft as hard as it was.

She sat, her hair over her face, staring at him sleepily. “Moroco? Where are you going?”

“To check your feet. Are they hurting you? Did you take the bandages off?”

She yawned then pushed her hair back from her face to smile up at him. He liked her like this. All soft and flushed from sleep. She seemed gentler, less on guard.

“My feet are fine. You can look at them in the morning. Come lie down, you have to be as tired as I am.”

“Actually, I have something else to take care of first.”

The garment she was wearing had slipped down, revealing the top of her breasts. He swallowed heavily. Coming back to this hut had been a bad idea. He should have asked for a hut of his own. But he hadn’t liked the idea of leaving her to sleep on her own. What if she woke up disoriented and needed him? What if the Loomins decided to follow them and grab her?

No, sleeping apart from her wasn’t an option. Not that he would be getting much sleep.

“What? It’s dark outside, what do you need to do?”

“It matters not.” He resigned himself to lying against her once again with his shaft and balls fit to bursting.

He slid in next to her.

“Oh, you’re nice and warm.” She snuggled next to him. “Moroco?”

“Yeah,” he snapped, his need for her making his temper short.

She leaned up on one elbow to look down at him. She bit at her lip, looking hesitant.

“Would you…if you’re not too tired…I mean…”

“What is it?” he asked. “Is your back sore? Do you need me to massage it?”

“No, it’s not sore. Although a massage is kind of what I want.”

He sighed. “You speak in riddles. I am too tired for this conversation.”

He felt her withdraw and saw a flash of hurt cross her face. The light of lamp he’d relit flickered, casting shadows across the room.

“Of course. Go to sleep.” Her voice was cool and she rolled over to lie stiffly at the edge of the bed. That was for the best. It meant he might manage some sleep.

He rolled over to face the other wall and reached for the lamp to turn it off then pulled his hand back. The hurt on her face just didn’t sit well with him. What had she been asking him for?

“Saffron?” He reached over and grabbed her arm gently, turning her over. He stared down into her face, saw the misery and felt his stomach tighten. He didn’t like to see her upset, especially when he knew he was the cause. He brushed her hair back from her face.

“Your hair smells like flowers.”

She nodded. “The women washed it for me. They were women, weren’t they?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Think I would have let men bathe you?”

“I guess not.”

“You guess not?” he thundered. He rolled so he was over her, although he made certain to rest his weight on his arms. “No other male will ever touch you. You are mine.”

“Yeah? Prove it.” There was challenge in her voice and something else. A vulnerability he had rarely seen her exhibit.

“Gladly,” he told her. Then leaning down, he kissed her.

 

The kiss sizzled across her skin, making her shiver and groan. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, determined not to let him go. She’d known exactly what she was doing when she challenged him.

And thank God, he had taken the bait.

She kissed him like her life depended on it, throwing everything she had into the kiss. She pressed up against him, feeling his hard cock. The knowledge that he wanted her just as much as she did him gave her the confidence to reach down and brush her hand against his hard dick.

He moved back, staring down at her.

“Don’t stop,” she cried out, arching her chest up. She needed to feel his touch everywhere, her nipples, her lips, her pussy.

“I am not stopping. This time you will be mine.”

Those words, spoken so arrogantly, would have infuriated her in the past, but now she understood.

If she was his then he was hers as well.

He moved back, staring down at her as he knelt between her open legs. “Is your back paining you?”

“No. No, I feel fine. Damn it, Moroco, touch me.”

He raised one eyebrow. “Do you think you are in charge?”

Oh fuck. She should have known that he would be dominant in the bedroom. He was dominant everywhere else so why not here as well. Her excitement grew in leaps and bounds. Who knew that she’d enjoy being bossed around in the bedroom?

“I don’t know. You don’t seem to want to touch me so maybe I will have to take charge.” Daringly, hoping she looked sexy and not stupid, she ran her hand down her stomach towards her pussy, pushing it beneath the skirt the women had given her to wear. They hadn’t supplied any undergarments so she’d worn the whole outfit to bed as it was kind of chilly tonight.

Well, it had been before he arrived.

His eyes widened as he watched her. Then he snatched both of her hands and held them with one of his, pressing them above her head. “This body is mine. You are mine. And there is no touching without permission, understood?”

“Or what?”

“Or you are finally getting that spanking.”

“Promises. Promises.”

Holy fuck, had she really just said that?

“Another challenge? You are feeling brave.”

Brave or stupid, she wasn’t certain which it was at this point.

He rolled her over and she gasped as he quickly drew her skirt down over her hips and off her legs.

“Moroco?” She peered over her shoulder at him, feeling uncertain.

He ran a hand over her ass cheeks. “I like to be in control of everything. That includes while joining. Does that make you fear me?”

There was something in his voice. Something that told her to tread carefully. That her answer was important.

“I know you’d never hurt me. Can you handle the fact that I’m not always going to let you get your way? I’ll challenge you.”

“I always thought I wanted a sweet, biddable mate. Someone who would anticipate my wishes, someone who would obey me without question.”

“Sounds boring,” she commented, even though she felt a stab of hurt. She would never be sweet or biddable.

“I never once threatened to spank Fancia.”

Of course, he hadn’t. Okay, this conversation was doing nothing for her libido. She tried to roll over but he pressed his hand against her back.

“I thought that was what I wanted. Now, I discover it is not.”

The words weren’t flowery. They weren’t a declaration of undying love.

But they were enough.

He rubbed her buttocks, squeezing them and her arousal started growing again.

“Spread your legs.” He ran his hands up the inside of her thighs, pressing a hand against her mound.

“Moroco!”

“Hush. We do not want our neighbors to hear us and worry that something is wrong. You will need to quiet yourself, as hard as I know that will be for you.”

Before she could snap back at him, he slapped his hand down on her ass.

“Hey!” she cried out, trying to roll, but he held her steady and smacked her other cheek. Once. Twice.

“I owe you several of these,” he said in a dark voice, pausing to rub the heat of the slaps into her skin. Oh God. That heat filled her body, making her clit throb and she actually found herself pushing back at him, wanting more.

He snorted in amusement. “Liked that, did you?”

He gave her several more spanks. All of them stung and each time he paused to rub, the heat drove her insane.

When he rolled her over, her breath was coming in fast pants, her pussy swollen, her nipples rubbing against her top.

He grasped the bottom of her top, pulling it off over her head. “In our bed, you will wear nothing.” He cupped one breast, running his thumb over her tight nipple.

“I will if you do,” she told him.

He grinned. “Why would I wear something to bed? It would only get in my way when I wake in the night and decide I must have you. We will both be naked so I can have access when I want you, how I need you. Sometimes, I will spread your legs and lick you into orgasm, other times I will press you to the bed and enter you in one deep thrust. Other times, I will suck on these nipples until you find your release, screaming in my arms. When we are in my home, you may make as much noise as you wish.”

“I can’t come just from having my nipples sucked,” she told him.

“You do like to offer challenges, do you not?” He ran one hand up and down her body. “But not tonight. This night I must be inside you. I have to feel your warmth around my shaft, sucking on me, taking me into you.” He circled the tip of his finger around her clit. A light touch that wasn’t nearly enough to send her soaring over the edge.

He flicked her nipple in time with her clit. Gentle movements that drove her insane and kept her on the brink. She closed her eyes as she writhed on the bed. “Moroco, please!”

Something warm engulfed her nipple and she opened her eyes to see him sucking on her nipple. His tongue flicked it right as he plunged two fingers deep inside her.

“Ohh!”

He raised his mouth, frowning at her. “What did I tell you about remaining quiet?”

“Sorry,” she said, whimpering as he paused, his fingers deep inside her. “I won’t do it again.”

He sighed and shook his head. “I wish I could believe that. Your discipline is seriously lacking.”

“Guess you’ll just have to teach me, huh?”

“Yes. I believe it shall take a lifetime.” He moved his fingers from her pussy.

“No!”

“Hush. You have no say in what I do. Your job is to do exactly as I tell you. Then you shall be rewarded.”

“In case you haven’t worked it out, I’m not very good at doing what I’m told.”

His eyes flared. “That is what I am counting on.”

He slid an arm beneath her legs, pulling them back to her chest. “Does this position hurt your back?”

“No.” But it certainly left her feeling vulnerable and on display, especially when he shifted so he could view her pussy and ass.

“Good.” He shifted so his other arm pressed her legs back, smacking his free hand down on her ass. Oh God, in this position he could easily hit her pussy as well. With his next smack, he did. And from his smug grin she knew it had been deliberate.

She arched back as pleasure engulfed her, sharp and stinging. “Ohhh. How do you expect me to remain quiet when you do things like that?”

“You will just have to learn, will you not?”

He ran his finger up and down her slick slit then lower towards her puckered entrance. “Moroco, no!”

An eyebrow went up, the look on his face imperious. He reminded her of a pirate. Dark, dangerous, and forbidden. More than she could handle but just exactly what she needed.

“Does this body belong to me?”

“Does yours belong to me?” she countered. He was demanding everything from her and she was scared of losing herself in him. She trusted him to take care of her, but she to retain who she was.

“Yes.”

She sucked in a deep breath. “All right, then, you can touch me there.”

“I was always going to.” He rubbed his finger over her puckered entrance.

“Although I really don’t know why you’d want to. Isn’t it kind of gross?”

“Gross?”

“Gross means yucky. I mean, it’s kind of dirty.” Oh hell, Saffron, shut up. If he wants to touch you there then let him touch you there. This is not the time for this sort of conversation.

“Nothing about my body is gross. Now relax while I explore.” He ran his finger back and forth over her back entrance, pressing against it lightly and sending her arousal raging.

“Hold your legs back against your body. Do not move them,” he warned. “Unless your back is hurting then you will tell me, immediately. Am I understood?”

“Yes. Yes.” She would agree to anything right now if he would just hurry up and give her some relief. She was on fire here.

“Good girl.”

Oh dear, those two words shouldn’t have affected her so strongly but she couldn’t help the shudder of pleasure that worked its way over her.

He flicked her clit with his thumb. “I am going to take you tonight, marlia. Push my shaft deep inside you. You will be full. Taken. Mine.”

Like there was ever any doubt whose she was.

 

He had never felt impatience like this before. The urge to just slam his way inside her was almost overwhelming. He had to force himself to go slow. She was tight and he was large. He had to ensure she was well prepared. That she experienced nothing but pleasure.

He parted her pussy lips, which were still on display, and licked along her slit. The taste of her was sweet, just a little tart and so very addictive. She let out a low moan as he tongued the tight bundle of nerves at the top of her slit. Her breath grew faster, her legs shaking.

Concerned that holding herself in this position could harm her back, he tapped the side of her thigh.

“Let go, place your legs over my shoulders. I am going to feast on you but you will not come without my permission.”

“What?” she cried out. “You cannot be serious.”

“Have you known me to ever joke?”

“No. Oh, hell. You’ll kill me.”

“Nobody ever died of pleasure.” He kept his smile hidden at her dramatics. He explored her folds, licking every inch, savoring her, loving the little noises she made, the way she writhed beneath him.

He plunged his tongue deep and she let out a loud shout. Immediately, he leaned up to give her a firm look. “Do I need to find something to gag you with?”

She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No. I just didn’t expect you to put your tongue…oh hell…oh shit…I am in such trouble.”

“Yes, you are.” He smacked his hand on her ass. “No more noise or I will stop.”

“Don’t stop. Don’t stop. I’ll be good. Shit. Somehow.”

He continued to taste her, lapping at her clit, running his tongue over her entrance, circling it before once again plunging deep. This time, she seemed to be more prepared, letting out just a low grunt.

When her breath was coming hard and fast, her whole body quivering, low whimpering noises filling the room he pulled back. “You may find your release.”

He circled her clit with his tongue as he pushed two fingers deep. She started to come, pulsating around his fingers. He moved, rising and stripping then before the last tremors of her release left her body, he inched his way inside her.

“Oh, Moroco!”

He paused. She was in pain?

“More. More. I need you inside me.”

Relief filled him. He would have stopped if she was in pain, but he was certainly glad he did not have to. His shaft ached. He had never felt need like this before. Never needed someone so desperately.

Once he was deep inside her, he paused.

“Look at me, Saffron.”

She stared up at him, her eyes had a glassy, dazed look, her cheeks were flushed, her hair tangled and messy.

She had never looked more beautiful.

“Mine.”

Her eyes widened but then to his surprise a smile crossed her lips.

“Mine,” she mimicked.

He knew then that she would be just as possessive of him as he was of her. And he realized at that moment that was exactly what he wanted.

He started moving. Slowly pulling out then thrusting deep. Hard. Fast. She stared up at him, passion filling her gaze once more. “Moroco, oh God, Moroco. I have never felt anything like this before.”

Neither had he. He would never let her go. She was his. Forever.

The ache started deep in his stomach, need burned. He was close, so close. Saffron threw her head back, her passage pulsating around him as she came again. And he slipped over the edge, filling her, having to hold back his own shout of satisfaction.

A wave of dizziness hit him as he felt their bodies join, the mating process start. Saffron slumped beneath him and he slipped from her, concern filling him as he gathered her close. Even though he had expected it, he didn’t like watching her lie there, so still. He took hold of her wrist, checking her pulse. Even. His breath came a bit easier. He rose from their bed and wet a rag in the bowl of water that someone had thoughtfully left for them. He washed the sweat of her skin, knowing it would soon irritate her. He spread her legs then wiped between them. Just a small act, but it reminded him that he now had a mate. He had never done something so intimate with his lovers before.

But she wasn’t just a lover, was she?

She was his.

Forever.

***

Saffron opened her eyes slowly, yawning. She felt exhausted, but it was a pleasant kind of exhaustion. She stretched her arms above her head as sunlight streamed through the cracks in the walls.

Cracks in the walls? Since when did her house have cracks in the walls?

She sat up suddenly, her elbow connecting with something. She turned at a noise of pain, her heart racing in panic until she saw Moroco and she remembered where she was. The hut on Equin. Where she’d slept last night with Moroco. After they’d had sex together. Her cheeks burned as he cupped his nose.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were there.”

He raised his eyebrows as he sat. “Is that how you wake every morning? Perhaps I need to wear protective headwear to bed.”

She grimaced. “Sorry. Forgot where I was. Are you all right? It’s not broken, is it?”

“It is fine.” He moved his hand away and gave an experimental sniff. Then he studied her. “How do you feel?”

“Fine. Well, better than fine. I feel clean and rested. I slept like the dead.”

“Yes, I grew worried by how deeply you fell into sleep after you fainted. But I thought your body probably needed the rest to recuperate.”

“Faint? I didn’t faint.”

Did she?

What had happened after they’d slept together? She could remember exploding around him. Feeling him come…and then nothing.

“Holy shit, I fainted again? I never faint. It must be you.”

He looked surprised. “What must be me?”

“It must be you making me faint,” she accused, pushing her finger into his chest. “It’s all your fault.”

“Yes, it is.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“At least in this instance,” he added. “You fainted because we are now mates. Your body is changing, accepting that you are my mate. Soon, you will be able to sense me, we will be able to communicate without being together.”

She rubbed her head. “Shit. I knew that. Sounds kind of invasive.”

“I can teach you how to put in mind blocks.” He sounded a bit insulted but she wasn’t about to say no.

“That would be good.”

“At least you did not run from me this time.”

“Ah…yeah…sorry about that.” She looked anywhere but at him.

“What happened? Why did you get so upset after your release?”

She shrugged, not wanting to talk about it.

“You are fond of control, like I am. It can be hard when we find ourselves out of control of a situation.”

She looked at him now, surprised by his understanding. “I guess so.”

“I am here to hold you afterwards. To look after you.”

“What does marlia mean?” she asked, wanting to change the subject.

“It is a small animal. It has spikes on its upper body. When it is threatened, it curls in on itself, using its spikes to protect its soft stomach. You remind me of this animal.”

Great. So basically, she was a hedgehog.

“When we return to Zerconia, you can organize a mating ceremony.”

“I can organize it?” She dug that finger back into his chest. “Listen to me now, buddy. That’s not the way things are going to work between us.”

“What is?”

“I’m not going to stay home day after day and keep your house clean and your bed warm. Just because I don’t mind you taking charge in the bedroom doesn’t mean that extends to the rest of our life, got it?”

“I understood one part of that.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“That you enjoy me dominating you in the bedroom. A lot.”

“I don’t know if I’d got that far,” she muttered, even though it was true.

“Are you sore this morning?”

“My back seems to be okay. My feet will probably start aching when I move around on them.”

“I was not talking of your back or feet.”

“Then what?” He gave her a heated look. Oh, that. She felt herself blush. “I’m fine.”

“I believe I should inspect you to make sure.”

She frantically shook her head but he ignored her, pushing her legs apart and wedging himself between them. A knock came on the door just as he pulled the lips of her pussy apart. He sighed and sent her a rueful look. Regret filled her. Damn, she had it bad for the big lug.

He threw a fur over her and once she was fully covered, he quickly pulled on his pants and went to the door. There was some quiet talk then he closed the door and returned.

“I must leave.” He grabbed his shirt, pulling it on.

She sat up, keeping the fur over her. This thing between them was still too new for her to feel comfortable being nude with him while they just talked.

“I must go to the closest town to send a communication to Zerconia.”

“What? How far away is this town? Are we leaving now?” She pushed the fur off and was about to stand when he grabbed hold of her arms and gently laid her back.

“I am going. You are staying here.”

“What?” She hated the panic that welled at the thought of him leaving her. She was tougher than this. She was used to being on her own.

His gaze narrowed and he stared at her thoughtfully. “I am coming back.”

“Of course, you are.”

“I will be back by nightfall.”

“Yep.” Her mind whirled. What would she do if he didn’t return?

“Look at me.” The dark depth to his voice had her turning her gaze to his immediately. Damn. How did he do that? It would be a good trick to learn. “How is it you trust me enough to let go when we are joining? You trust me when you are asleep, when you curl up against me, yet you do not trust my word now. We are mates. You know what a mating means to a Zerconian.”

“Yes, it’s just…”

She knew he didn’t love her. It’s not like she needed love. Stupid, fickle emotion. People fell in and out of love all the time. She should be grateful that a mating wasn’t based on love.

Except, Moroco had loved Fancia so much that even after she used him, he sought revenge for her death. And stupidly, she found herself wanting that. Craving it. For someone to love her like that. With everything.

“I would rather come with you. We are in this together, right?”

He shook his head. “You need rest. You need to stay off your feet. I know it is hard for you to allow someone else to care for you, but in this I must insist. You will remain in this bed and not move except to use the toilet.”

“These guys don’t have a toilet, it’s a big hole in the ground.”

“You know what I meant.”

“I know we’ve been mated less than twelve hours and you think you can boss me around.”

An argument. This was safer territory for her. She didn’t enjoy feeling vulnerable and uncertain. But anger, that was an emotion she was only too familiar with.

He gave her a firm look. “You will do as I say, Saffron. I am your mate now. I am in charge of your health. Now, if you are a good girl, I shall reward you when we get home.” The look in his eyes made her breath quicken. Shit, she’d gone from feeling uncertain to angry to horny in less than five minutes.

This mating stuff sure could mess with a girl’s mind.

***

As soon as he returned, he knew she had disobeyed him. He was tired, he was dirty, and he was hungry. Yet all those irritations drifted away as he stared down at her. He knew he should be upset that she had so blatantly disregarded his orders. He should punish her. The thought made his body tighten. His shaft, which always hardened around her, pressed tightly against his pants. He’d thought about her all day, worried over her, wondered if he had made the right decision in leaving her alone. What if something happened to her? What if someone hurt her? It had pushed him into getting back to her quickly.

Now, his relief at finding her safe and in one piece was quickly morphing into a desire to push her back, spread her legs and claim her.

“You’re back early. I wasn’t expecting you for another few hours.”

He guessed by the way she was panting slightly that she’d had to race to get into bed.

“Were you successful? Did you get through to Zerconia?”

“Yes. They will be here within the next three or four days.” He eyed her steadily. “You were told to remain in bed.”

She pressed her hands against the furs covering her. “And I am in bed, aren’t I? Why are you frowning? Shouldn’t you be pleased?”

“Oh, I’m very pleased. I didn’t want to have to punish you when I returned.”

She scowled. “Punish?”

“Yes.” He moved to her feet, raising the furs and checking them. At least they were still bandaged. Although the bandages looked a little dirty. He unwound them. “Would you like to know what I would have done?”

“What?” Her eyes had widened, a slight look of alarm filling them.

“I would have stripped you naked, inspected every inch of you to make certain you were unharmed. Then I would have had you lie back on the bed where I would bring you to the peak of pleasure time and again, pulling back just as you were about to come. Then I would have taken my own pleasure and left you aching and in need all night.”

Her mouth dropped open and she stared at him in shock. He studied her feet, pleased to see they were healing nicely. “I’ll leave these bandages off for a while and rewrap them in the morning.”

He stood and grabbed a rag. “I’m going to go bathe and find some food for us. Is there anything else you require?”

“No. Moroco!”

He looked back at her. “Yes?”

“You wouldn’t have done that!” There was a nervous note to her voice but also something else. Excitement?

“Yes, I would have. By the way, you have smudges of dirt on your face and your hands. You might wish to wash them off. Most of the women do after they’ve been working in the garden.”

He left before his smile broke free. There, that would give her something to think about while he bathed.

 

She stared after Moroco in shock. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Besides, he didn’t know for sure that she’d left this bed. She looked down at her dirty hands with a grimace. Well, if he hadn’t come home earlier than expected, she’d have had time to wash herself first.

It was his fault she was in trouble.

And what right did he have ordering her around, anyway? She didn’t need to rest. Although she had been a little grateful when she’d seen him entering the village from the fields, as her back was aching a bit from bending over and her feet had been sweltering in the bandages.

But she wouldn’t tell him that. Wouldn’t do to let him have the upper hand. He already thought he got to order her around.

And punish her.

That thought actually made her shiver. She rose and moved to the basin of water, quickly washing herself. A dip in the river would be better, but she thought that might be pushing things.

When he returned, she was dozing lightly. The scent of food soon roused her.

Moroco frowned as he sat on the bed facing her, putting down a platter loaded with roast meat and vegetables. “You overdid it today.”

“Lying in bed? Doubt it.”

“Do not lie to me.” She paused in the act of bringing a piece of meat to her mouth. The dark note in his voice told her he meant business, but not in a sexy way. “It is the one thing I will not tolerate.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I get that. Sorry.”

“When I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed, Saffron.”

“I think I’ve mentioned I don’t take orders well.”

“If you had gotten the cuts on your feet infected you could end up very ill. There are no regeneration chambers on Equin. You could die.”

“Okay, hold up. I get that things are primitive here. But it’s a few cuts on my feet, I haven’t been sliced apart. And I’m not going to get horribly ill and die, all right?”

This was kind of an overreaction and completely unexpected. He needed to calm down or he was going to give himself a heart attack.

“Eat.” He pressed a piece of something to her lips. She tried to ask what it was, but he quickly popped it into her mouth. As she chewed, flavor burst on her tongue.

“Yum.” She reached for another bit, but he gave her hand a light smack and then fed her more himself. She blushed a little, but got the feeling that he needed to do this. So she sat there and let him feed her.

When he put the platter aside, she was pleasantly full and tired. Moroco pulled back the covers.

“You are dressed. What is my rule about that?”

She blushed a little. Then raised one eyebrow. “And what about you?”

He stared at her for a moment then nodded and reached for his shirt, stripping it off, revealing his muscular body. The suns were starting to set and it was growing darker, but she could still make out his wide shoulders, firm biceps, the way his abs rippled as he moved. He was gorgeous, breathtaking. Hers.

As he pulled off his pants, her mouth went dry, her heart beat thundering in her ears as she took in his firm cock. It stood proud and thick and she couldn’t help but wonder what he tasted like.

“Your turn.”

She stared up at him, feeling her cheeks redden as she pulled off her top, revealing her full breasts. The Savans didn’t seem to wear underwear of any sorts so all day her boobs had been swinging around. Not that anyone had paid much attention.

She raised her hips then slid her skirt down. His gaze roamed over her body, his eyes heavy-lidded, his face cool and stern. But she saw the way his eyes narrowed as his gaze rested first on her breasts then her pussy.

He was just as affected by her nudity as she was by his.

She knelt, staring at his dick. Then she licked her lips. “I want to taste you.”

He fisted his cock and moved closer. The rushes she knelt on meant she wasn’t raised high off the ground, but it put her at the perfect height to take him into her mouth. She licked her way along his shaft, sneaking a look up at him. His jaw was tense, the muscles on his neck standing out and she sensed how hard he was having to work to hold himself back.

She sucked the head of his cock into her mouth, licking her tongue over the slit at the top. Slowly, she took him into her mouth. She couldn’t fit the whole length of him into her mouth. He ran his hand up and down the base of his cock as she pulled back then took him deep.

She looked up at him again, noticing how his eyes had grown amber. Oh yeah, he wasn’t unaffected by what she was doing to him. She thought she heard him groan then he gently tugged her away. He pulled her up and kissed her, his mouth savage, hard and she melted against him.

“I wanted you to come in my mouth.”

“And I wish to come inside you.” He set her back on the furs then flipped her over so she rested on her hands and knees. “And you do not get what you want. Not after you disobeyed me.”

“You need to learn when to let go.”

He smacked his hand down on her ass and she groaned. Fuck, it was crazy how that turned her on.

He ran a finger around her clit, slipping it lightly over the top, so lightly that she wriggled her hips, trying to get him to press harder.

He knelt behind her, his cock pressing against her entrance. He slid just the tip of him inside her then reached around and drew her back so she knelt up, resting half on his lap. His cock slid in further as he cupped her breasts, squeezing them lightly and flicking her nipples.

“Oh. Oh.”

He bit down on her neck where it met her shoulder and it felt like an electric shock hitting her clit.

“Moroco!”

He pulled her off him, turning her then plunging deep. She straddled his hips, clasping hold of his shoulders, as she shook with need.

“Place your hands in the small of your back,” he demanded.

She quickly moved her hands. Her nipples rubbed against his chest as he moved her up and down his cock. She ached with need as he moved slowly at first then faster and faster. She knew it wouldn’t take much for her to come. Just some pressure on her clit and she would go flying.

He suddenly laid her on her back. “Hands above your head. Keep them there.”

“Touch my clit. Please,” she cried out as he plunged deep.

“I should make you suffer,” he growled. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Even he wouldn’t be that much of an asshole. “But I find I cannot. This time.” He gave her a strict look. “But let this be a little taste of what would be coming your way should you disobey me when an order is given for your health and safety.”

“I’ll be good,” she found herself promising. “I’ll be totally good from now on. Promise.”

Surprisingly, his lips twitched. “I am not asking for a miracle. Just keep yourself safe.” He flicked her clit firmly and she fell over into bliss with a cry that soon mingled with his as he followed her over.

The emotions crashed through her, almost too much for her to breathe through. But when she tried to wriggle out of his hold, to attempt to gather herself, he just held her tightly.

“Moroco! Let me go.”

“Hush. I know you think you have to deal with this alone. As you always have. But I am here. You are not alone.”

He rubbed her back. Up and down. Round and round.

“I just need a few minutes.”

“No. What you need is me.”

He continued to rub her back. Eventually, the tension left her body and she sighed, leaning against him.

You are not alone.