Devoured: Brides of the Kindred 11 (18 page)

“No.” He shook his head quickly. “No, your
scent was the one that drew me. None of the others held any interest for me.”
He frowned. “Speaking of scent, I still smell blood on you. Not much but is
there another wound? One I missed before?”

“I don’t thin—” Tess shifted uncomfortably
and felt the rough towel rub over the tiny cut on her left breast. “Um, well…”

“There is, isn’t there?” He leaned closer.
“Please, Tess, if there is someplace else he marked you, let me take care of
it.”

“I…I shouldn’t,” she whispered. “It’s
in…in kind of an awkward spot.”

“You don’t have to be ashamed or afraid.”
His deep voice was gentle. “I swear I wish only to heal you.”

“Well…”
Shouldn’t do this,
whispered a panicked little voice in her brain.
It’s okay,
Tess argued back.
He’s just going to heal me—that’s all.
Besides, he took a vow!
Slowly, with trembling hands, she pulled down the
part of the towel that covered her left breast. Then she realized he probably
couldn’t see what she was showing him—it was, after all, quite dim in the room.
She could only see his facial expressions because his eyes were glowing softly.
Again, knowing he couldn’t see her made things a little easier. “It’s here,”
she said, taking his hand and bringing it to her chest. “Right here.”

She had meant to put just his index finger
over the small cut, so he could know exactly where it was. Instead, she somehow
found that his big, warm hand was cupping her whole breast.

“Here?” he murmured, his thumb brushing
over the cut spot just above her nipple.

“Yes.”
Tess tried to keep the gasp out of her
voice but failed miserably. God, the way he was touching her…so softly…so
gently…It had been so long since a man had touched her that way. So long since
she didn’t have to worry that the hand which held her breast so tenderly might
suddenly turn cruel and pinch or twist her sensitive flesh just to cause pain.

“May I heal you there?” Garron asked
softly.

“Please…” Tess cleared her throat. “Please
do,” she whispered.
It’s not sexual,
she
told herself sternly, trying to quiet the panicked little voice in the back of
her skull which said she shouldn’t be doing this.
It…it’s medical. That’s all!

She almost had herself believing it until
the big Kindred ducked his head and ran his hot tongue over the hurt place
above her nipple. Shivers of tension ran down her spine as he caressed her
gently with the tip of his tongue for an endless moment. Then he sat back,
frowning.

“What…what is it?” Tess asked
breathlessly.

“It does not seem to be healing as the
others did,” Garron rumbled. “Maybe we waited to long to heal it. Or maybe
because it is in such a delicate spot.”

“Oh, well…” Tess bit her lip. “Maybe…maybe
you should try again?”

He looked thoughtful. “Maybe. I think if I
could take the whole area completely in my mouth…”

Tess’s heart was pounding so hard it felt
like it was shaking her entire body.

“You mean…take my…my nipple in your
mouth?”

He nodded. “I need to be able to give it
my full attention—to really concentrate on the hurt area.”

“I…but I…” Tess didn’t know what to say.
“But it wouldn’t be…sexual?” she whispered at last.

He looked at her, his eyes blazing.

“Not if you didn’t want it to be,” he
growled softly.

“Well, then…” Pushing away her doubts and
fears took an effort but she somehow managed it. “As long…as long as it’s not
sexual,” she murmured.

Garron didn’t answer with words. He ducked
his head again and sucked her whole nipple gently into his wet, hot mouth. Then
he began to run his tongue around and around the sensitive band of her areola.

Tess moaned and found that somehow her
hands had found their way into his thick, dark hair. The soft strands tickled
her fingers as she pressed her chest out, giving him better access to her
breasts, mutely begging for more.

The big Kindred gave her what she was
asking for. With a deep, hungry sound, he sucked harder, as though he was
trying to get as much of her breast into his mouth as he could. At the same
time, his tongue lashed the tender bud of her nipple, sending sparks of
pleasure from her sensitive peak straight down to the hot, wet spot between her
thighs.

Tess shifted, pressing her legs together,
trying to control her breathing. Moving around and moaning like this when she
had been with Pierce had meant an instant “punishment.” But somehow, with
Garron, she just couldn’t be still.

Shouldn’t
be doing this,
whispered the little
voice in her head.
It’s bad…dangerous…

But she didn’t want to stop, not even when
she felt his big, warm hand pull down the towel and cup her other breast. He
rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb, teasing her, sending more warm
showers of sparks straight to her aching pussy. Had she ever felt this hot?
This wet and swollen and needy? If so, she couldn’t remember when…

She had a sudden image of herself reaching
out to take his big hand and slipping it between her legs. He would cup her
pussy as gently as he was cupping her breast and then those long, strong fingers
would spread her swollen cunt lips and find their way to her slippery inner
folds. Tess could almost feel his fingertips sliding over the aching bud of her
clit, circling it the way his tongue was circling her nipple. And then he would
go lower, would slide his fingers deep inside her and fill her up…

Tess moaned again, then tried to stifle
the sound. God, she shouldn’t be reacting this way, shouldn’t be thinking these
things! This was going to get her into trouble! She had to stop this…had to
stop him before things went too far…

“Garron…” she said, her voice coming out
breathy and high. “I…we…we shouldn’t.”

The big Kindred looked up at her, his eyes
filled with hungry blue fire and her nipple still between his lips. He must
have seen the uncertainty in her face because he released her, letting her
sensitive peak slide slowly, sensuously from between his lips.

“Forgive me.” His deep voice was hoarse.
“I got carried away. You have such lovely breasts.” He looked down at her
nipple which was still stiff and achy from his attention. “It looks healed now
though.”

Tess squirmed uncomfortably. “Um, you can
see it? I thought you were just…I don’t know…feeling where it was. In the
dark.”

“It’s not dark in here to me,” he
murmured. “I have excellent night vision.”

“You do?” She risked a quick glance at his
face as she pulled up her towel.
“How
excellent? I mean, I know your eyes glow but I didn’t think… Could you read in
this light?”

“Easily. Why?” He looked up at her. “Does
that bother you?”

“Well,
yes,”
Tess exclaimed. “I’ve been running around in this damn towel for an hour
now and rolling all over the bed and letting you see me topless and uh heal me
and…” She felt her cheeks get hot. “I just…I probably wouldn’t have done that
if I knew you could see me that well.”

“Why?” He sounded genuinely curious. “Does
it bother you for me to see you as you are now?”

“Of course it does!
”
she burst out. “I mean, I’m hardly the right size to go running
around in just a towel.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m not…not
thin
.” Tess gestured down at herself with the hand that wasn’t
clutching the towel. “Not even close.”

“I know.” The deep hunger in his voice
surprised her. “Your curves are luscious. It’s a shame you feel the need to
cover them up.”

“I…but I…” Tess shook her head. “I don’t
understand.”

“What is there to understand?” he
countered, raising an eyebrow. “You’re beautiful—you must know that.” He
frowned. “Unless your standards of beauty here on Earth are vastly different
from my own.”

“Um…I would bet they are,” Tess said.
“But…it’s nice of you to say so.”

“I’m not being nice—I’m telling you my
feelings. The emotions of my heart.” He put a clenched fist to his broad chest.
“You’re gorgeous, Tess. With your full, ripe curves and your sweet scent…” He
looked at her, his eyes glowing and half-lidded. “I could lose myself in you.
Lose myself completely. Forgive me for going too far while I was healing you.
For breaking my vow. I was overcome. Lost.”

“I…” She bit her lip. “Thank you, I guess.
That’s…no one has ever talked to me that way before.”

“It’s the truth.” He ran one fingertip
lightly down her shoulder, making her shiver. “I think you’re healed back and
front now. There might still be some bruising but the wounds are all gone.”

“Thank you,” Tess said softly. “That
really
was
amazing. Thank you for
healing me.”

“Thank you for allowing me to,” he said
softly.

Their eyes met and held for so long Tess
wondered if he could hear her heart drumming in her chest. If his eyes were
good enough to read in the dark and he could smell how turned on he made her—
not that I got turned on—not really,
whispered a panicky little voice in her brain—then he could probably hear her
heart with no problem.

“Tess,” he said in a soft, deep voice and she
was aware that they had somehow gotten closer.
Close enough to kiss.
This close she could smell his warm,
masculine scent—the same dark spice that had enfolded her when he held her in
his arms in the Mother Ship. It seemed to invade her senses, making her
helpless to pull away, even when he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers
very, very lightly.

The kiss was soft, sweet, and
feather-light but it made her heart pound like it was trying to break out of
her ribs and run away. She wanted desperately to lean into it, to return the
passion she felt behind his tender gesture. But something stopped her.

Slut,
whispered Pierce’s voice in her head.
You want it, don’t you? Of course you
do—whore.

She pulled back abruptly. “I should…I need
to get dressed for bed. And then get some sleep. We still have to drive all the
way to North Carolina and Asheville…”

“It’s all right.” He stroked a strand of
hair out of her eyes and stood up. “I understand. Forgive me if I took what you
weren’t ready to give.”

“It’s not that, it’s just…” Tess thought
about telling him what was really bothering her—the block she tried to put
between herself and any kind of sexual desire. Because it was better that
way…safer.

“Yes?” He stood there staring at her,
waiting.

“Nothing.” She looked down. “Would you
hand me the duffel please? I need to get something to wear.”

“Of course.” He gave it to her. “I’m going
to go into the fresher for a moment and give you some privacy.”

“Thank you.” Tess watched him go and then
looked down at her bag.
Forget it,
she
told herself.
He’s gorgeous and he seems
to think you are too but I’d bet a month’s salary that Pierce is still after
you. You don’t have time to fall for anybody right now—especially a hot,
enigmatic alien who took a vow to be true to the memory of his dead girlfriend.
An alien might decide to go back to the Mother Ship at any time. So just forget
it, Tess. Forget it.

She started digging in the duffel, looking
for a night shirt, and wishing she could take her own advice. But somehow the
memory of those glowing turquoise eyes and the feather-light brush of his lips
just wouldn’t leave her mind.

Chapter
Seventeen

“What the fuck is this?” Detective Pierce
Hughes looked down at the metal anti-theft screen—the screen he had personally
been assured was completely and totally escape proof by the company rep—lying
like a discarded shell outside his house. “What the fuck is going on here?”

He’d come home from working a case, all
ready to continue Tess’s punishment, only to find her gone. The little slut had
flown the coop without even triggering either of his booby traps. How in the
hell had she managed it?

Finding the open window and the missing
screen had only answered part of the question. How had she managed to get past
the anti-theft cage? There was no way she could have kicked it out—she wasn’t
nearly strong enough. No one was—no one human, anyway. Was it possible that
she’d gotten a friend—maybe that nosy old bitch, Di, to hook a chain to the
cage and use a car or truck to pull it out?

But he didn’t find a chain or any marks
where a chain might have been when he examined the thick metal mesh. Besides,
there was no room in the little backyard for a car—and no tire marks either.
What the hell had happened here? He reached out to touch the heavy thing,
hooking his fingers through it and lifting it experimentally.

The weight nearly pulled his arm out of
his socket. It was fucking heavy and completely solid. How had it come out?

He let the mesh drop with a muted
clang
and pulled back his hand. There
was something sticky on his fingers. He started to wipe his hand on his pants
automatically and then stopped.

Taking a step closer to the open window
with its sheer drapes blowing out into the night like ghosts, he held his hand
up to the light. Smeared on his fingers was a familiar, dark red substance.

Pierce frowned and rubbed his fingers
together. It was blood—but whose blood? Had someone actually pulled this metal
cage right out of the concrete by sheer force? But how the hell could anyone do
that? Pierce was sure the anti-theft screens were good quality and had been
installed properly—he’d overseen the process himself. So if there were no
weaknesses in the materials, the person who had pulled this out must have been
incredibly strong.

He took a sample, scraping it into the
plastic evidence bag he had left in his suit pocket from the homicide he’d just
worked. Then, looking for answers, he drove to her apartment. It was locked but
Pierce had no problem getting it open. Inside it was empty but clean. He
frowned. Someone had gotten rid of the mess he’d left as a warning. All traces
of their divorce papers and that stupid mutt she’d bought to try and keep him
away were gone—wiped clean as if his carefully staged scene had never happened.

Stalking down the narrow hallway he looked
into the bedroom and found a bunch of discarded clothes and knick-knacks on the
bed. It looked like his dear little Princess had packed quickly, decided she
had too much, and dumped half of it in her haste to be gone. But if she was in
such a hurry, why had she taken time to clean up the kitchen?

The bathroom had splashes of some liquid
that wasn’t water on the counter—hydrogen peroxide probably—that was one of
Tess’s favorite first aid items. She always had a good supply of it in case he
had to break the skin while punishing her. That was her fault though—if she
didn’t fuck up so much, Pierce wouldn’t have had to mark her so often.

Lying across the toilet was something much
more interesting. A big white towel—one of
his
towels from the house—he realized on closer inspection. And on the towel was a
huge bloody handprint. A handprint too big to be human.

He thought of his earlier assessment—that
no one human was strong enough to remove the anti-theft cage. That was the key—no
one
human.
And where had Tess been
hiding for the past week? Why, up on the Mother Ship with those fucking aliens,
the Kindred, of course!

Could a human man have pulled out the
screen or left this handprint? No.
But
a Kindred now…they were big sons-of-bitches. Big and extremely strong. It was
difficult to believe that one of them could have been strong enough to pull a
metal screen out of solid concrete but maybe this was a special breed or
something.

Pierce’s hands curled into fists, his
fingernails biting into his palms. Tess must have met him up there on that
fucking ship—that cheating little whore! Didn’t she know she still belonged to
him—to Pierce? Had his punishment with the belt taught her nothing?

Apparently not. She was probably holed up
in some hotel room with him right now, fucking his brains out—the little slut!
Spreading her legs for his big alien cock and loving every minute of it…

“Oh, Princess…” he muttered thickly,
staring at the inhumanly big handprint. “I’m afraid you just earned yourself
another punishment. And I promise this time, I won’t stop punishing you until
I’m done…”