His Virtual Bride (10 page)

"Prove it."

And prove it he did.

* * * *

Three or four or maybe even five climaxes later, Keely mumbled, "Um, Geoff?" She could feel his erection pulsing between her buttocks. She wasn't quite sure how to go about it, but she wanted to give him back some of the pleasure he'd given her.

"Um, Keely, I think we're turning into prunes." He held up his hand, his fingers wrinkled at the tips.

"My toes look like oatmeal," she agreed, laughing softly. "Could you give me a little boost so I can get off your lap?"

"Not necessary. Tub
tilt
." And it did, a full ninety degrees that allowed them to step out as if the tub were a shower. Well, Geoff stepped out, Keely still in his arms. Which felt kinda nice--even though it made her feel helpless and girlie.

"You can put me down."

"Not yet. Your lessons have just begun, Ms. Ketchum." With that, he carried her into the bedroom. "Lights full," he commanded as he put her on the bed.

He'd already seen her naked, but for some reason she felt shy. Before she could cover her breasts and mons, he caught her hands, drawing them over her head. She discovered she didn't mind being in such a vulnerable position. While he studied her with all the intensity he might focus on a star map, she studied him.

She knew his craggy face attracted her. He had crinkles around his hazel eyes that spoke of countless hours squinting into some sun or other. More than squinting, she amended, knowing he smiled often and laughed long and hard at jokes she barely understood. His dark hair, still damp from their tub activities, curled over his high forehead and around his ears. Surprisingly elegant, his ears lay flat against his head. Twin dimples dotted the lobes as if they smiled even when he did not.

Goddess, had she ever seen shoulders so wide? So naturally muscular the Goddess herself might have sculpted them for her own pleasure? Those wide shoulders flowed into a chest Keely knew could pillow a woman's head. A light matting of dark, crisp curls between his flat brown nipples narrowed and drew her attention downward. Those curls thickened around his cock--now only half-erect, but still seeming long and thick.

Sweet mercy! If he ever put it in her would he fit? She gulped and forced her gaze to his powerful thighs. They too had a light matting of dark hair. They'd rubbed her legs, leaving her with the sensation of raw silk running up and down her entire body.

"Magnificent," she murmured, returning her gaze to his face. His mustache twitched, giving her the impression he wanted to laugh. She reached up, stroked the short bristles with her fingertips and felt his lips curve.

"Remember what you called my mustache when we hooked up on Io?"

She felt a blush race from her toes to her forehead. "Y-yes."

"Well, you're about to find out exactly how a
womb broom
feels."

Geoff knelt on the wide bed and Keely felt a shiver course through her. Fear or anticipation, she neither knew nor cared. She kept her gaze fastened on Geoff's face.

Thick dark lashes veiled his eyes, but she thought he might be looking at her breasts. Whether he was or wasn't, her nipples pearled into rigid peaks. She wanted to cover them, but her arms felt too heavy to move. And there was that curious sense of feminine power flowing through her veins. Had she ever felt like this? As if a man's--Geoff's--admiring gaze was her due? As if no other woman could fulfill his wildest fantasies?

"Geoff, I would like--"

"Shhh." His fingers brushed her lips, caressed her cheeks and toyed with the curls around her left ear. "We have time, Keely, for you to learn how to please me."

How had he known that? That she wanted--needed--to return this amazing gift? Then nothing else mattered. His lips covered hers, soft and moist and coaxing. Gentle. His tongue teased the corners of her mouth, glided across the seam of her lips and seemed to ask for entrance with a brief foray between them. His mustache tickled and laughter flowed from her mouth to his.

Laughter vibrated his tongue as it eased into her mouth. He swirled it as if wanting to taste every inch of her mouth and cheeks. His fingers traced a lazy path from her chin to her breast. His lips, tongue and teeth followed.

His lashes tickled butterfly kisses over her belly. His mustache twitched as his lips and tongue moved over her skin. She did, in truth, feel as if he was sweeping away all her inhibitions. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to shift her legs so that he could lie between them. To moan when he gently scraped his mustache along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. To groan when he stopped. To look down the length of her own body and find him staring at her. To know her blush was more than embarrassment. Sweet Goddess, what could he find
there
to study so intently? And why did she find it so exciting?

He touched her curls, looking up at her, his smile wicked and full of masculine pride. "You're wet, honey." His voice was a low rasp that made her shiver. "Your curls are wet with your own juices."

He nuzzled her. Expelling a hot breath over her clit, he whispered, "You smell like a woman who wants a licking." He parted her curls and she thought of his cock springing up from between his legs. If her clit were that large it would spring up, too. Which, Goddess help her, it felt as if it had. He kissed her clit, his mustache rubbing against the erect little nub. She jerked as if he'd connected a wire directly to a lazer power source. And, finally, he licked her opening.

She thought she would die from pleasure. And it only got better as he eased a long thick finger into her pussy and continued to lap her clit.

"You taste like honey," he murmured, lapping, sucking, stroking. "Give me more honey, honey. Let go and come for me."

Her hips surged up, pressing him more deeply into her body. Afraid she would yank out his hair if she touched him, her fingers clenched in the sheets. Behind her closed eyes, the colors of the rainbow sparkled like jewels in a midnight sky until--at last--she shattered, sobbing his name.

For a sweet long moment they lay in silence, his head resting on her belly. She stroked the silky curls and tried to remember if she'd ever felt so completely sated.

"Wow," she finally managed to say.

He chuckled. "Yeah."

Toying with the curls around his ear, she said, "I'd still like to return the favor."

As he slid up her body he lifted his head. Gathering her into his arms, he kissed her temple. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why? I've read that men think about sex sixty times an hour. So why don't you want me to… Ahh. This was just a pity fuck. A pity face fuck I guess is more accurate."

He tightened his grip, effectively holding her prisoner. "That isn't it at all. I just…I don't think I could stop."

"Stop what?"

"I'd want to be in you. Buried to my balls inside you. I've never made lo--had sex with a virgin, Keely. That's something that carries a lot of responsibility. I don't think either one of us is ready for the baggage that comes with--"

"By the Goddess, Geoff! I don't expect you to marry me. Besides, like I told you before, I don't know if I'm a virgin or not. I could--"

"You are."

She stuck out her chin and glared at him. "How do you know? If you've never had sex with a virgin, how do you know I am one?"

* * * *

"I know. I've necked and petted enough women who aren't virgins to know you still are one." Or had been until he finger fucked her. She probably thought he had to put his cock in her, that she was still a virgin. Which, technically, he supposed she was.

"P-petted?"

"What we did in the tub and just now. It's called foreplay."

"Oh."

"Go to sleep, Keely."

"I still want to pleasure you."

"Sleep."

* * * *

Sighing, she forced herself to relax in his arms. They soon slipped away and the rhythm of his breathing told her he'd fallen asleep.

Good
. This way she could look at him as much as she wanted. Even in sleep he had a guarded look about him--as if he would waken at the slightest noise or touch. So for a long time, she simply gazed at him. At the easy rise and fall of his chest. At the sculpted perfection of his wide shoulders and rock-hard stomach. At his long and powerful thighs and calves. At his flaccid cock where it rested on his thigh.

Her palms itched, she wanted so badly to touch him. To feel him grow in her hand. To taste him on her tongue as he'd tasted her. To feel him--his cock--inside her, buried to his balls.

As if it sensed her scrutiny, his shaft twitched. Hoping he dreamed of her touching him, she slid her hand down his chest to the thick nest of curls surrounding his sex. Palm flat, she lightly rubbed his cock. He gave a startled snort, then sighed, sounding pleased. She risked closing her fingers around that warm flesh. It pulsed. Grew in length and rigidity until it curved against his stomach. A milky bead formed in its slitted tip. Unable to resist, she touched that bead with her tongue. He tasted salty. He smelled like sex--a little like the lavender they'd bathed in, a little musky, a little…uniquely Geoff.

He groaned--again a sound of pleasure. Emboldened, she licked around his cock head, then took it completely into her mouth. His fingers fastened in her hair, pressed her closer. Cupping his heavy balls, she gently squeezed them as she licked and sucked him.

"Good," he muttered, his hips rising and falling more rapidly.

She felt his climax near. His testicles tightened in her hand, mere seconds before his cum squirted into her mouth and he shouted her name.

"So good," he repeated, gathering her to his chest and pillowing her head over his heart.

She listened while its rapid tattoo slowed to a steady thump. Licking her lips to savor the last tangy taste of his cum, she snuggled against him and went to sleep. But as she slid into Morpheus's welcoming arms, she made a promise to herself.

The next time she had him that hard, she'd have him deep inside her pussy. Buried to his balls.

Chapter Seven

When she awoke, morning sunlight filtered between a gap in the heavy drapes around the bed. Her left leg rested between Geoff's splayed legs, her left hand gripping his morning erection.

He made a little humming sound as he eased her hand to his chest. "As good as that feels, we need to get up."

"Why?"

"Time to go to work. We need to plan our attack. On how to tour Sedna's asteroid belt," he clarified when she snuggled closer and licked his nipple. "Keely." His voice sounded tight.

"Well hell." She sat up, surprisingly unembarrassed by her nakedness, then glanced at his still rigid cock. "Besides, I think your friend has a better idea."

"So do I, but…" He shrugged. Getting to his feet, he added, "Duty calls." He scratched his belly and the curls around his cock. Shooting her a puzzled glance, he wandered into the bathroom.

She hoped he was wondering what she had done to him last night. Had he dreamed that she'd sucked him to climax or had she truly done it? Remembering his taste, she licked her lips and believed she still carried his cum on them and deep in her throat. She jutted her chin and followed him into the bathroom. There, she joined him in the shower, determined to show him last night was more than a dream.

She knew he hadn't heard her. He was standing under the showerhead, alternately whistling and singing about Clementine, his darling.
So, he loves somebody other than his Jove-blasted spaceship!
Swallowing a vicious stab of jealousy, she knelt between his legs.

At the touch of her tongue to his limp cock, he gulped, obviously inhaling a lot of water.

"Jove, Keely! What the hell do you think you're doing?" He bent at the waist and reached for her hands. Instead, his fingers tangled in her hair and he thrust his hips forward.

His cock swelled, filling her mouth with pulsing heat. She sucked him deeper and swirled her tongue over and around his shaft. He smelled and tasted like cream. Squeezing his balls, she felt as well as heard his groans.

"Come for me, Geoff. Come for me like you did last night."

"Jonathan Jacob Jones!" he swore as he shuddered to completion. Collapsing against the shower wall, swiping water and hair from his forehead, he stared down at her for a long moment. His hazel eyes seemed glazed and sated as he pulled her to her feet.

"You may be a virgin, but you have a courtesan's mouth."

The comment sounded more like praise than criticism and brought a flush to her skin--over every inch. "Thanks."

"My pleasure." He quirked a grin. "Believe me, it's my pleasure. Again." Eyeing her speculatively, he touched her nipples.

She bit back a moan as she eased away from his hands. "We don't have time," she reminded him. At least now he knew for sure what she'd done last night.

He waggled his eyebrows. "Wanna bet? Bet I can make you howl in under five minutes."

She thrust out her chin. "What'll you give me if you can't?"

"The information about
Le Roi
you claim I stole from you. What'll
you
give
me
if I can?"

"I won't accuse you of stealing anymore." She poked his chest. "Not unless you steal from me again." She took the soap from him, slathered her body and then rinsed off. "That is,
if
I intended to let you touch me right now, I'd bet. Since we're in a hurry, I won't bet anything.

"Shower off." Stepping out, she wrapped a towel around her, slanting him a speculative look. "Besides, I still owe you at least three more climaxes before we call ourselves even."

"E-even?"

"Even," she repeated. "Like partners--
equal
partners--who share information and pleasures equally." Winking, she left him standing in the shower.

As they ate breakfast they talked about The Dream. Speculating as to why it felt as if they were in Versailles and why they were costumed like characters from some seventeenth century ribald tale.

"At least I didn't have to wear a corset or panniers," Keely said, laughing. Remembering how easily Geoff had removed her clothes, she blushed.

"One nice thing about dreams like that… If I'd had to get out of that costume in real time, I'd still be undressing."

The communications console chirped.

"The mayor will see you in half an hour."

"Great!"

"How do we get to his office?" Keely asked. Whispering to Geoff, she reminded him they couldn't get out of their suite. They'd tried last night, intending to explore before they ate dinner. Room service could get in, but they couldn't get out.

"Step outside in twenty-nine minutes and you'll be taken to him."

"Thanks. I guess."

After checking to make sure the console was off, Keely turned to Geoff. "This place gives me the creeps. We don't even know what floor our room is on. Or how we can get out of the building if it catches fire."

Herma-Frodie materialized as if on cue.

"All visitors are…" Herma looked to Frodie to finish.

"Confined to quarters until the mayor sees them."

"Afterward, you may go wherever you wish."

"Almost wherever," Frodie corrected.

"Is that what you wanted to tell us last night?" Geoff asked.

"You need to step outside."

"We have--" Keely protested. Looking at the console clock changed her mind. "No time to wait."

"Time runs differently here," Herma told them just before they entered the mayor's office. His reception area anyway.

"No shit," Geoff mumbled.

Keely poked his ribs. "E-tay uklay."

"Why are you talking like that?"

"Look at the girl," Keely whispered without moving her lips

He looked. Shrugged his shoulders. "So what?"

"She's green."

At that the girl looked up. Smiling, she battered her dark green eyelashes at Geoff. "I'm Marsian."

"No shit," Keely sniped
sotto voce
.

"I think I smell a rat," Geoff grumbled as they followed the girl across the reception area toward a pair of etched brass doors. They were burnished with reds and greens and royal blue. "Pretty."

"Thanks," the girl said, "They were made locally." She battered her eyelashes again. "The artist's a friend. I can introduce you to her over drinks. Just the three of us."

Keely did her
sotto voce
routine. "Queen Paris would just love your propositioning her man." She took a chance that even on this remote
object
Paris' name had importance.

"I'm not--" Geoff began to protest.

By the time Keely had pinched his ass the Marsienne had the doors opened and was heading back to her desk.
If she were a cat
, Keely thought, grateful her ploy had worked,
her tail would be twitching
.

"Come in, come in," a cheerful voice called out.

"Son of a bitch," Geoff swore. "I should have expected this."

"Who is he?" Keely whispered, hearing fear in her voice.

"I am Mayor
Le Roi
. Formerly of Mars via Pluto and, most recently, Sedna."

"Keely, what's wrong?"

"I think your little friend recognizes me,"
Le Roi
announced, sounding amused.

"You do remind me of someone," Keely admitted, willing her knees to support her long enough to get to a chair. Geoff cupped her elbow, but she flinched away. For some reason she knew she had to show nothing but strength to the man standing behind his massive desk.

Geoff slanted her a look that combined puzzlement and concern. Puzzlement she could deal with. Concern weakened her, made her want to burrow into his arms as she had last night. Cry her heart out as she had last night.

"I have cafftea from Saturn if you'd like some."

"Still living in luxury, Your Majesty," Geoff said, standing, hovering at Keely's side until she sat.

"Do you want it or not?" Mayor
Le Roi
snapped.

"Yes," Geoff growled.

"Thanks," Keely added. If this man were the former king of Mars--and Geoff had as much as named him such--he would view courtesy as his due. She would give him that much. For now anyway. Once she figured out why he made her feel afraid was a different matter. Taking the cup of cafftea from Geoff, she inhaled its fragrant steam and then sipped.

"Do you trade a lot with Saturn?" she asked. Geoff still stood at her side. Protecting her, she supposed, doubting he'd give
Le Roi
an ounce of courtesy. Surprising her, after
Le Roi
sat, Geoff sat as well. His military training served him well--at this moment.

"I trade--Sedna, that is, trades throughout the galaxy, Ms. Ketchum. With a few notable exceptions of course."

"Mars being one of them," Geoff observed, his tone neutral.

"By necessity, yes."

While she sipped her drink, Keely took a moment to study the former Marsian king. Standing, she'd gauged him about five feet nine or so. Tall for Marsian. A little portly like his brother Pushin. His complexion was greener than either Pushin's or Paris', but atmospheric differences between Mars and Sedna might account for that. What kind of man he was under the polite veneer he now presented, she didn't know. Her jumpy nerves made her want to get away from him--as fast and as far as
No-Name
could take her. Since he might know how to find
The Honey
… She sighed, resigned to staying as long as it took to get the information they needed.

"I don't know how to address you," Geoff admitted, drawing her attention to him. Geoff never admitted not knowing something. What was going on here? Or was it just a ruse to get
Le Roi
talking?

"
Mayor
will do,"
Le Roi
replied, a touch of…irony perhaps, in his voice.

"How did you become mayor?" Keely asked. "You died--that is--"

"Died will do as well,"
Le Roi
drawled.

"You abdicated only a couple of years ago." She shrugged. "I'm nosy."

"Curiosity is admirable--up to a point."

Geoff growled. Keely flashed him a grin, repeating to
Le Roi
, "How did you become mayor?"

"Sedna's council requested I take on the duties. The planet was in chaos. The former mayor had absconded with the treasury, leaving them bankrupt. They'd had an outbreak of some venereal disease so tourism credits had dwindled to nothing--or as close to nothing as one can get."

"Why you, Mayor?" Geoff asked, demand in his voice.

"Other than experience--forty years of it--as king?"
Le Roi
steepled his fingers in front of his face. "I offered them an infusion of credits to get them through the rough patches."

Even to Keely, who had grown accustomed to Geoff's spurts of rudeness, his derisive snort came as a surprise. She wanted to throttle him, but held her tongue and her hands in check.

"I guess, when the rough patches lasted longer than expected, they offered you complete control."

"Begged me to take it in fact."

"Is it true you greet every visitor? Isn't that risky? I mean, suppose someone recognizes you? Tells Paris… She knows, doesn't she?"

"Of course she knows."
Le Roi
stood to show them his belt buckle. "Part of my successful advertising for the Sednan Tourism Bureau includes a personal greeting from Marsian Queen Paris." He pressed the buckle and Paris stood before them. "Naturally, Marsian citizens know nothing about this."

"Jove–blasted Marsienne, I'm gonna kill her!"

Keely couldn't stop her grin. "Please tell me, Mayor
Le Roi
, how you did that. How you acquired Queen Paris' face."

"Geoff can tell you the details, Ms. Ketchum. I filched the idea from him. As for killing my great–niece, you won't," he said to Geoff.

"Wanna bet? Or maybe I should just kill you. Then Ki--Paris wouldn't have to worry about you popping up unexpectedly."

"But she'd feel compelled to hunt you down. And if you kill her…"

The dramatic pause had Geoff surging to his feet, jutting his chin and clenching his fists. Keely might've found his palpable fury funny. If what
Le Roi
said next were less important than what she expected, she might even laugh. Instead, placing her cup on
Le Roi's
desk, she went to Geoff and put her hand over his fist.

She felt his rage as if it were her own. She fought it even as she took it into her. His fingers uncurled to entwine with hers. He still looked murderous, but she knew he'd at least listen.

"Go on," she commanded the man with Queen Paris's face and body.

"You'll never find your precious
Honey
."
Le Roi
reappeared and sat.

* * * *

"Jove–blasted bitch!" Geoff said, his voice low and menacing even to him. Feeling Keely tug on his hand, he looked down. And found self-control shining from her eyes into his, willing it in to his body and heart. "You --you're an emp--"

"Please sit down, Geoff. Maybe
Le Roi
can explain it to you."

"Explain why that bitch sent me all over the galaxy looking for her demented great-uncle? Sent me on a wild goose chase when she knew where he was?"

"Breathe," Keely murmured.

He did, but clung to her hand as if it were his lifeline. His single hope to retain his sanity.

"Sit."

He one-handed her chair next to his and sat, keeping hold of her hand. When she placed her other hand over their joined ones, more of this rage seeped out of him.

Le Roi's
heavy sigh drew his gaze from Keely face to the former king. He looked… sad. Which would have sparked Geoff's rage had Keely not been holding on to him.

"Not that it's any consolation,"
Le Roi
confessed, shaking his head. "I believe Paris has fancied herself in love with you since you met."

"Sure. At the same time she was in love with my cousin. And let's not forget that she also loved my cousin's wife."

"Lust isn't the same as love, Geoff."
Le Roi
now seemed tired. Old and tired and sad. Geoff searched his heart for pity, but failed to find it. "But you know that."