Swallowing, Mia licked her lips and stared up at him, strangely aroused by what had just occurred. Pleasuring him like this turned her on, almost as if he had been touching her too.
He held her gaze, and she could see that his eyes remained bright, his hunger as strong as ever. His sex was stirring again, hardening in front of her face. One orgasm had just taken the edge off, she realized as he pulled her up onto her feet.
When he touched her again, he was gentler, his desire more controlled. His hands and mouth traveled down her body, caressing and worshipping every inch of her skin. Mia closed her eyes, quiet moans escaping her throat as pleasurable tension began to gather low in her belly. Then he was kneeling in front of her, his face at the level of her hips, his hands cupping the smooth curves of her buttocks. Bringing her toward him with one hand, he used the other to penetrate her with one finger, being much more careful this time. At the same time, his mouth delved into the soft curls at the apex of her thighs, his tongue reaching between her folds to stroke her clit.
Mia jerked from the startling lash of sensations, her entire body tensing as his finger rubbed against the sensitive spot deep inside. She could feel the growing pressure, and her knees began shaking, her legs suddenly too weak to support her weight. If it hadn’t been for his finger inside her and his hand on her ass, she would’ve collapsed, falling down on the ground beside him.
“Come for me,” he whispered, his hot breath washing over her sex, and she did, his words sending her over the edge, providing that elusive something she didn’t even know she needed. Everything inside her tightened and released, the pleasure so sharp it felt like an explosion along her nerve endings.
When the pulsations stopped, he withdrew his finger and tugged her down again. This time, they were both kneeling on the hard ground. Looking at her, he lifted his hand and slowly licked his finger – the one that had just been inside her. “I love your taste,” he murmured, his eyes filled with such hunger that her mouth went dry. “It makes me want to fuck you again and again, just to have it on my tongue.”
Mia drew in a shaky breath, her loins clenching with need.
Before she could say anything, he lay down on the ground, lifting her up and placing her astride his thighs. His cock was completely hard again, standing up straight from his body. “Ride me, Mia,” he said, watching her with a half-lidded gaze.
“Yes,” she whispered, “I will.” And grasping his thick length with her right hand, Mia guided him to her opening, her eyes closing as the broad head began to push inside. She lowered herself slowly, teasing them both, and was rewarded with a low groan that escaped from his throat.
When he was all the way i
nside, she opened her eyes, meeting his burning gaze. With his face streaked with grime and blood, he looked dangerous – cruel even. She was almost literally riding a tiger – a predator who could tear her apart in the blink of an eye. Instead of scaring her, the thrill of it only added to the desire coursing through her veins.
As she began to move, she kept her eyes trained on him, watching as tiny beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and a muscle pulsed in his jaw from his apparent effort to restrain himself. His hands tightened on her hips, his fingers digging into her soft flesh, and then he was lifting her up and down on his cock, going deeper and deeper with every stroke.
The tension inside her spiraled again, and Mia threw back her head, her mouth open in a soundless scream. A powerful orgasm rippled through her body even as Korum kept thrusting faster and faster, seeking his own release. When he came, the grinding motions of his pelvis intensified her aftershocks, leaving her completely wrung out. Breathing hard, Mia collapsed against his chest, her muscles like limp noodles and her mind emptied of any thoughts.
She was so relaxed she didn’t even react when he pulled her higher, bringing her neck closer to his mouth. It was only when she felt a strange slicing pain that Mia realized what was happening . . . and her world dissolved into an ecstatic frenzy of blood and sex.
Part III
Chapter 17
Korum woke up to the unfamiliar feel of hard ground underneath his back. Before he even opened his eyes, he remembered everything that had occurred earlier – including Mia’s voluntary participation in the celebration.
He could feel her slight weight on his arm, hear her quiet breathing, and he knew she was deeply asleep, worn out from the double ordeal of the fight and the celebration. Moving carefully, Korum freed his arm, gently lowering her head to the ground. Then he stood up and created fresh clothes for both of them. A pair of shorts for himself and a robe for Mia – just enough to afford them some coverage in case any spectators remained in the Arena.
He was thirsty and hungry, but otherwise he felt great, his body practically thrumming with energy. The scientists said there was no physiological need for lonar or human blood, given the genetic fix, but many on Krina thought that some kind of a psychological need remained. Korum wasn’t certain if he believed that, but he did know that he rarely felt as satisfied as those times when he indulged himself with Mia.
Holding the robe, he crouched next to her and studied her for a few seconds, enjoying the sight of her naked body. He rarely got a chance to watch her like this; usually his need for her was so intense he couldn’t look at her bare flesh without fucking her immediately afterwards. Even now, after last night’s sexual marathon, he could feel the warm stirrings of desire – although it was nothing compared to his usual craving.
She was lying on her back, one slim arm extended over her head and the other bent across her ribcage. Fascinated by her breasts, Korum reached out and stroked one pale mound, smiling when the nipple hardened at his touch. Her skin was as soft as anything he had ever felt, its silky texture a constant lure for his fingers.
Wrapping her in a fluffy robe, he lifted her up. She didn’t even stir, her sleep so deep it bordered on unconsciousness. It was always like that after he took her blood: her human body needed to recuperate from the excess of sensations.
And so did his, albeit to a lesser extent. Korum could see how others had gotten addicted to their charl; Mia’s blood was a powerful temptation for him, its effect more potent than that of any drug. He used to think blood addicts were weak, but now Korum wondered if there was really that much difference between physical and emotional addiction. He certainly couldn’t imagine needing Mia more than he already did.
Carrying her out of the shatela, Korum walked toward the grassy area where he’d left his transport pod. He hadn’t bothered disassembling it earlier, so it was now waiting for them.
Looking around, he saw that the Arena was completely empty. It was also early morning, the sun just beginning to come up. Grinning, Korum realized that he must’ve been in the shatela much longer than usual. It was his first time celebrating with a human, and it was by far the best experience he’d had.
They reached the transport pod, and Korum sent a quick mental command to have them taken home. A minute later, they were walking into his house, with Mia still asleep in his arms.
As soon as they were inside, Korum headed straight for the cleansing room – the bathroom, in human terms. He was still covered in dirt, dried blood, and sweat, and some of the grime had rubbed off on Mia, leaving her pale skin marred with dark streaks.
Another mental command from him, and the water came on, warm jets softly massaging their bodies and rinsing away all traces of yesterday’s activities. Korum enjoyed the sensation; it was both energizing and soothing at the same time. A few minutes later, both he and Mia were clean and dry, and he carried her to bed, knowing she needed to get more sleep. She was so exhausted she hadn’t even woken up during the cleansing.
Laying her on the bed, Korum let the intelligent material flow around her and then covered her with a soft sheet, knowing that she liked the feel of blankets. Kissing her forehead, he took one last look at the girl he loved and headed out to start his day.
* * *