I thought of Brax and the way he moved his hips. How he could work his tongue in some magical way that made my eyes cross. The way he filled me up, took his time, had claimed me completely, in every way. Front, back and sideways. He knew every single inch of my body, intimately. My pussy clenched just thinking about him. My nipples had been sore for days from the jeweled nipple clamps he’d used. Adorned me with. He said he liked to see me adorned, that they were gifts to me. And yet I’d left them on his bedside table. For the next female he took to his bed.
Based on the way his cock hardened as I squirmed when he’d put them on, he liked seeing me with them on, seeing the effect they had on me. He knew it made me hot, made me wet, made me beg for it rough. Wild and untamed.
“Hello? Earth to Mira?” The laughter in Natalie’s eyes made it clear she knew exactly what I’d been thinking about.
“Yeah, sex is not the problem,” I replied, squirming on the couch. The sexy little outfit I’d worn that night was buried in a drawer. Tonight, I had on some Trion-style loose pants and a good, old-fashioned Earth t-shirt. My hair I’d put up in a messy bun. “God, if it got any better, I might not survive.”
Natalie grinned. We didn’t talk all that much about her sex life; Roark was ridiculously possessive, but I knew she was never left unsatisfied. Having had a baby recently, I imagined she should still be sitting on an ice pack and trying to remember the last time she’d showered. One thing Trion had over Earth were those sweet ReGen pods. Two hours after having Talia, she had been completely recovered. I had no doubt she and Roark had already been practicing for baby number three.
And yet I didn’t even have a male who wanted me for more than sex. Oh, I’d asked for the arrangement with Brax, so I didn’t feel used. Hell, I’d used Brax’s cock as much as he’d used me. But I wasn’t his mate, had only been adorned temporarily. I knew Natalie was adorned with all the customary jewelry of a Trion mate. Nipple rings—not just the jeweled nipple clamps Brax used on me—and a thin chain running between them with Roark’s medallion. It was hidden beneath her clothing, but sometimes the outlines of the adornments were visible. And more than once, on special occasions, she wore go
wns designed to show them off. Sexy, flowing pieces of clothing that made her look like a sex goddess.
When it came to exuding sex like a Trion female, Natalie had it down.
If we weren’t on a strange planet having sex with aliens, I’d think we were living in some kind of desert sheik porno. All we needed to do was go to Outpost Two, in the middle of the desert, to make the scenario complete. That’s where the leaders on the continent gathered for their meetings. Roark had dragged us along once. Well, insisted Natalie and Noah accompany him. I’d been the tag-a-long. And to be perfectly honest, I loved the tents and the piercings—or adornments—as the women here called them. They were intimate and taboo and hit all my hot buttons. But the sand? Umm… no. The sand I could do without.
Whatever. It turned out I liked sheik porno, especially with my own super-sexy, super-dominant sheik. Or doctor.
“Sex isn’t enough anymore,” I said, finishing off my glass and reaching for the bottle to give it a refill.
She tilted her head, eyed me. Her glass was still full. I wasn’t sure if she could drink and nurse, but maybe she was just holding the cup for me, because when I was done with the bottle, I’d be emptying her glass, too. Didn’t want to waste any.
“You fell for him.” She wasn’t asking.
“Wouldn’t you?” I countered, taking another sip of wine. I could feel the effects of it kicking in, the loose limbs, the warmth seeping into my veins.
She cocked her head to the side. “I understand. I have Roark. And no, sex wouldn’t be enough. I wanted it all.”
“You got it, too.” My words weren’t snarky or laced with jealousy, but I wanted what she had. A mate of her own to come home to after working. To cuddle with. To have his babies. A mate who would protect me and make me feel safe. A mate who would adorn me with his permanent nipple rings. And chains. And maybe even a piercing in my clit. I squirmed some more.
Did I know the thoughts chasing each other around in my skull were crazy? Yes. But I wanted to feel the tug on my nipples when my mate was somewhere else. I wanted to feel the gentle pull and know the man who adorned me would return. The adornments on Trion were a symbol of love. Of respect. Of claiming. They enhanced a woman’s beauty, made her feel special. And beautiful. And on top of all that, the adornments were a connection. A formal binding.
Permanent. Real.
And that’s what I told Natalie. “When he put the nipple clamps on me, I was reminded of what I’m missing. The temporariness of our arrangement.” I leaned back with a sigh, and I knew my voice held every ounce of regret I was feeling. How the hell had I let myself fall for a man who didn’t really want me… again. “He’s amazing, but he’s out of town as fast as the nipple clamps come off after sex.”
“He’s a busy doctor,” she replied, as if his job would justify his lack of commitment.
“He’s more than a doctor and you know it.” I stared at her, hoping maybe she’d know some top-secret stuff about what Brax did since she was mated to the councilor. But she remained silent.
I sighed. “Roark is a councilor. His schedule is insane, but he finds time for you. For Noah and now Talia. He makes time.” When she was about to say more, I kept going. “Roark puts energy and focus into the things he wants. Things which are important to him. Things that are a priority.”
“Brax puts energy and focus into sex with you,” she replied, her voice soothing. “Hell, woman, I’ve seen you after. You’re like a puddle of goo.”
My cheeks heated, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the wine or her words. But the last time I’d been with Brax, even after I’d been swing fucked, I hadn’t been a puddle of goo. My emotions that night had completely ruined the sex buzz. Dammit.
“I need more than sex,” I countered. “If he wanted me completely, then he’d put his all into being with me. I want it all, Nat. I want what you have with Roark. I’m ready now. I wasn’t when we first came to Trion, but I’m ready now.”
“He’s a good one, Miranda. Have you told him how you feel?”
“I asked him when he was going to be ready to take a mate.”
That got her attention. “And? What did he say?”
“That he would serve Roark for as long as he was needed.”
She slumped back, her outward disappointment a mirror for my internal state. “That’s romantic.”