Purity (Pure and Tainted) (22 page)

“You’re just saying that.” K lifted her chin. “I don’t want your
pity.”

“It’s not pity—I wouldn’t dare to pity you.” He gave a low laugh.
“Hell, you’d probably cut my balls off if I did. But believe me,
darlin’,
you don’t need anyone’s pity looking the way you do.”
He ran a hand through his hair and shifted uncomfortably.

Looking down, K could see a strange bulge had appeared in the
crotch of his underbriefs. It looked very hard and it was pressing insistently
against the black fabric. No
wonder
he was having trouble sitting still.

A sudden thought occurred to her—was
she
the cause of his problem? Had looking at her made him…hard? K knew
the rudiments of sexual reproduction—the male’s shaft grew rigid and he
inserted it into the female’s nether orifice. Could it be that observing her
new, changed body had stimulated Boone to want to…but no, she couldn’t think
about
that.
The mere idea of it made her cheeks feel
hot and the throbbing emptiness in her sex seemed to intensify ten fold. What
in Purity was
wrong
with her?

“Um…” Boone cleared his throat and appeared to make an effort to
look up at her face. “So what seems to be the problem?”

“I have a burning, aching sensation here and here.” Lightly, K touched
each of her tender, sensitive nipples in turn. “
Oh,
and here.” She let her hand trail down to rest just above her swollen cleft.
“There’s some kind of a little nub or button there and it aches so
much
.”

“Christ.” Boone swallowed hard and ran both hands through his hair
this time.
“Anything else?”

K wasn’t sure how to describe it. “I have a feeling…like I’m empty
inside.
Like I need to be filled somehow.
Between my thighs—here.”
She nodded at her sex again. “But
that doesn’t make any sense—does it? I mean, it’s not part of the whole
menstrual cycle thing, is it?”

“Not that I know of but Erian physiology is different from other
Earth-normal humans. How long has this been going on?”

“Three days at least,” K admitted in a low voice. Now that she was
sure he didn’t think she was ugly, she enjoyed having the scratchy fabric away
from her breasts. The cool breeze circulating through the room felt good
against her throbbing nipples and the cleft of her sex. With a sigh, she spread
her legs a little wider, trying to ease some of the tension between her thighs.

Boone cursed again and looked away quickly. “Uh, let me think
about this. It could be withdrawal symptoms from your suit but it could also be
part of the normal sex cycle of an Erian.”

K bit her lip as sudden fear filled her. “You don’t think my body
wants to…to engage in sexual reproduction, do you? To have, what do you call
it…to have sex?”

“We call it making love when it’s with someone you care for,”
Boone said softly. “But to answer your question, I don’t really know, K. I wish
I knew more about the female Erian’s cycle. I’d look it up if I could but
they’re pretty secretive when it comes to those kinds of things.”

“I don’t know if I could do that. If I could stand it,” K whispered.
“I
can’t…can’t
even imagine it, Boone.”

“Take it easy, sweetheart, we’ll be making orbit around Eros tomorrow.
We’ll get you some answers soon.”

“You’re right.” K set her jaw. “We’ll be there soon. In the mean
time, I’ll just have to endure.”

“No.” Boone shook his head. “No, you shouldn’t have to be in pain.”
He stood abruptly.

K looked up at him. “Where are you going?”

Boone frowned. “To get some answers.”

* * * * *

Boone strode down the metal corridors of the ship, trying to get
the enticing sight of K naked out of his mind.
God, she
gorgeous
.
She’d always been
beautiful with her sharp, delicate features and her air of barely leashed
danger. But seeing her naked had never bothered him before. Now it was a whole
different matter. Her breasts were full and heavy, the tight nipples a deep
pink. And the cleft of her sex was swollen with need, the ripe button of her
clit on full display when she parted her slim thighs. It was enough to make a
strong man weak at the knees with desire.

But it wasn’t just the beauty of her newly developed body that
drew him. K still had
an innocence
about her—she truly
had no idea how lovely she was. And she certainly didn’t seem to have a clue
about the effect she had on him. There was no artifice in her—nothing coy or
artificial. That mixture of innocence and directness drew him even more than
her lush new curves.
Drew him so much that Boone had to talk
to himself sternly as he marched down the corridor.

She’s innocent. Not only that, the
idea of sex scares her to death. I have to be professional here—treat her as I
would any patient.
Can’t let myself get distracted.
Unfortunately, ignoring her new
body and acting like he wasn’t attracted to K was easier said than done. Still,
he had to try, he told himself as he stopped in front of Loki’s door.

“Loki, open up.” He pounded briskly on the metal door, producing a
hollow booming sound. “Come on, get out here.”

“What do you want at this time of night?” Loki yawned and blinked
owlishly. “The ship’s on autopilot. Is there some kind of problem?”

“Hell yes, there’s a problem and you’re gonna help me solve it.”
Boone pushed his way into the pilot’s sleeping quarters and stood against the
door with a frown on his face.

“What problem? What are you talking about?” Loki asked peevishly.
Whatever it is, make it quick—I need to get plenty of rest to look my best
tomorrow. I can’t go down to my home planet looking like Hades and expect to find
an attractive touch partner.”

“Well as it happens, you’re not the only one who might
be needing
a partner,” Boone growled. “K’s having a hard
time and I need to know what to do about it.”

Loki’s bright green eyes with their thin, single ring of gold
narrowed speculatively. “Why should I care?”

Boone leaned forward, getting into the other man’s personal space.
“You should care because she saved your ass on Minotaur. If she hadn’t
come
riding to the rescue you and I both would be dead
meat—literally.” He leaned even closer. “Now K is in a bad way and I need some
information. Are you going to help me or not?”

Loki sighed. “All right, I’ll help—but only because you’re so sexy
when you’re angry.” He batted his eyelashes at Boone who stared stonily back at
him. Loki shook his head. “
No
sense
of humor. Fine, what do you mean by, ‘in a bad way?
’”

Boone ran a hand through his hair. “I mean she’s
changing
. In the past two weeks she’s
gone through puberty and had her first menstrual cycle.”

“Ah.” Loki nodded. “I thought I smelled first blood on her.”

“First blood.
Right.”
Boone frowned. “Anyway, so now she’s complaining of feeling hollow inside—like
she needs to be, uh, filled. And having pain in her, uh…”

“In her naughty bits?”
Loki’s gold ringed eyes danced
mischievously. “You have no one but yourself to blame, you know.” He shook a
finger in Boone’s face.

Boone sighed. “I know, I know—K said the same thing. It’s because
I took away her suit.”

“No—the suit was only part of it. You
kissed
her—and it was a deep kiss too—at least that was what it
looked like,” Loki said. “Remember?
Back on Minotaur?”

“I’m not likely to forget,” Boone growled. “What with all the
pheromones that damn saurian
was
pumping out, I
probably would have kissed
you
if
you’d been around.”

“No, you wouldn’t have,” Loki said waspishly. “I practically threw
myself at you in the heat of the moment and you turned me down. No, you
wanted
to kiss K, Boone. And now you’re
paying the price—or she is, anyway. That kiss tripped her system into
overdrive. Our little Princess Paladin is going through her first sex cycle.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Boone demanded. “Can’t it kill her?”

“Not now that we’re going to Eros. She
will
need a touch partner soon. Don’t worry, Boone,” he said,
smirking. “You don’t have to be the one to fuck her. Just take her out in the
Market of the Heart the minute we land and her hormones will do the rest. Het
males
love
having first sex with
newly ripened females—they’ll be drawn to her like flies. Ugh.” He shivered and
made a face.

Boone’s heart clenched. “I can’t just throw her to the wolves like
that. Besides, I thought
I
was the one
she imprinted on,” he protested.

“Yes, but you’re not Erian.” Loki raised an eyebrow at him. “No
offense, Boone, but her DNA will draw her to another of her kind. Don’t be hurt
when that happens—just accept it. It’s simple biology.”

Boone frowned. “I don’t know that K is ready to have sex with
anyone,
let alone some horny stranger
she meets in the love market, or wherever it is you guys hook up.”

“Well, she’s not going to have a choice once her cycle reaches its
peak. Don’t worry—she won’t be too picky once that happens,” Loki assured him.
“That hollow feeling you mentioned? That’s her body telling her she has to get
fucked or die. That kind of biological imperative tends to trump any little
issues she might have about screwing a stranger.”

“But how do I know he’ll treat her right? That he’ll be as gentle
as…” Boone trailed off.

“As gentle as
you
would
be?” Loki finished for him, one eyebrow raised. “Look, Boone, it’s just better
to have another Erian as a touch partner. The first sex cycle can be a long,
drawn out process. Only another Erian has the, ahem,
stamina
to keep up.” He sighed. “Besides, there are sacred customs
to be followed—rituals too complex for a non-Erian mind to comprehend. It’s
really quite beautiful.”

“All right, all right—beauty and custom and stamina—not to mention
the biological urge to get with your own kind, I’ll keep all that in mind,”
Boone said grimly. “Though I have no idea how I’m going to break the news to
her.”

“Don’t tell her anything,” Loki suggested. “Just let nature take
its course.”

“I have to warn her,” Boone insisted. “I just…don’t know how.
Isn’t there any way to back off the cycle?
Just for a little
while in order to let her get used to the idea?”

“Tell her to get herself off,” Loki said. “Oh come on, Boone—don’t
look at me like that. Having an orgasm helps satisfy the sexual cravings—at
least for a little while. It won’t work forever but it should stop at least
some of the pain she’s having until we get to Eros.”

Boone ran a hand through his hair. “But she’s so innocent, Loki. I
mean, she’s never done that before. I just don’t know—”

“Boo-hoo, poor little Princess Paladin.”
Loki’s eyes flashed angrily.
“She’s
sooo
innocent and pure. She
doesn’t even know how to touch herself and she’s too
delicate
for sex. Let me tell you something, Boone.” He poked a
finger in Boone’s chest. “She’s going to have to get over all that delicacy and
innocence pretty damn
fast.
The Erian
sex drive is a monster and it will
eat
you alive
if you don’t give it what it wants.”

“I understand that, Loki, but—”

“No, you don’t. None of the other Earth-normals in the system do.”
Loki crossed his arms over his narrow chest. “But you’re about to get a crash
course, especially if you stick with Little Miss Purist.”

Boone clenched his jaw to keep from spitting out an angry retort.
“All right, Loki, I get it—you have to have sex or die. The problem is, how is
K supposed to, uh, touch herself when she’s so
sensitive
?”

“Oh, that.” Loki shrugged and reached for a small pink tube which
had been sitting on the table beside his sleeping platform. “Here.”

“What’s this?” Boone took it, frowning suspiciously.

“Serra-berry gel.
It soothes the ache,” Loki
explained, obviously seeing his uncomprehending look. “I’ve been using it
myself but I won’t need it after tomorrow.”

“So I just tell her to rub this where she hurts?” Boone motioned
with the tiny pink tube. “And then…”

“Uh-huh. And then just keep on rubbing.” Loki tapped his fingers
together impatiently. “Have fun with
that
,
big boy.”

“Thanks, I guess.” Boone sighed. “This should be interesting. Is
there anything else you can tell me?
Anything that might make
this whole thing easier for K?”

“No,”
Loki frowned peevishly, apparently
losing his patience. “I’ve given you my expensive berry butter and told you
much more about the Erian sex cycle than I should have already. I refuse to
skip any more of my beauty sleep in order to hash out disgusting hetero sexual
practices with you. Good
night,
Boone!” Putting both hands on Boone’s chest, Loki shoved him out the door of
his sleeping quarters and slammed it closed behind him.