Page 31

Tanin

I n the past, when Tanin indulged in exchanging pleasures with a female, it was done quickly and roughly, and they parted ways soon after. Lingering begged for trouble, and he didn't trust anyone enough to sleep beside them. Before, he’d take his partner from behind, and when he came, he’d hold her down and keep her from moving until his barbs retracted. And she’d let him, because she knew it would hurt if they were ripped out early. After that, however, they’d part ways, satisfied.

Well, he thought he had been satisfied.

The difference between the quick sex he had with those faceless females of his past and Garnet was incomparable. Like a starving man who’d survived off gruel thinking that was the best he’d ever get suddenly being offered a feast fit for a king. Tanin didn't think he could ever go back to the frantic, unsatisfying fucks anymore.

So, while it was not his first time having sex, this was his first time cuddling a female. Letting her linger around him. Letting her doze off on his chest, her breaths sweeping past her open lips, making a little strand of hair curl in and out with each push and pull of air.

Garnet was beautiful when she rested like this. She was beautiful when she was needy for him. When she was desperate and crying for more. When she was lost in the height of her pleasure. When she was needy and pouting afterwards, holding him so tightly.

They had been locked in his room for a couple days now, learning and exploring each other. Tanin was insatiable for her. Wanting her beyond reason. Beyond her capabilities.

She was exhausted from his attention. It wasn’t the first time she’d fallen asleep, but it was the first time she’d done it before he could even pull out. But after that last time, she’d been too exhausted to move and had passed out even before he got them comfortable.

Before, when she fell asleep, he’d leave her side. To get her food, to get her water, to get something to clean up the mess he made of her. He’d not gotten much sleep though, because he was too busy being obsessed with watching her. With needing her. With waiting for her to wake up so he could have her again and maybe ease some of this burning need inside him.

But it never eased. He never had enough. And now, still connected to her, he was just watching her sleep. Fatigue pulling at his mind, trying to tempt him down as well. But he refused it. He’d been forced to stay awake for days on end before, usually to preserve his own life. He could do it now for something he treasured more than that.

His cock had softened some time ago, the barbs once again lying flat in position. But he remained inside her. One hand firmly on her ass, keeping her hips tilted so he remained that way. He wasn’t yet ready to leave her warmth, even as their combined fluids trailed down between his thighs.

They’d made a mess. Again. But he found he didn’t care. He’d clean the bed later. Right now, however, he liked the idea of his seed dripping out of her.

This female was a threat to him. The very fact that he didn't want to let her go made her a weakness he never would have allowed before.

On Rik-Vane.

And that was it. Everything always came back to Rik-Vane. He compared his entire life to how he had to live there. The precautions he needed to take, the trust he couldn’t afford to give, the terrible things he’d done to survive – none of which he’d ever let Garnet know about. She already knew he was a killer. She didn't need to know details beyond that.

More blood he’d never put on her. No matter how willing she was to be stained with it.

Tanin would carry the weight of his crimes all his life. And it was a burden that didn't pull him down. He didn't regret a thing he had to do on Rik-Vane.

But he wasn’t on Rik-Vane.

He told Garnet he’d put his past behind him, and she’d called him a fool. And he thought that maybe she was right. Because he clearly hadn’t. He still compared everything in his life to Rik-Vane. He still lived how he would have on Rik-Vane.

He couldn’t put his past behind him. It was the foundation holding his weight.

But he could build on that foundation. He could rise above it. Make a better past for himself to stand upon so he wasn’t always saying ‘on Rik-Vane…’

‘On Rik-Vane…’

‘On Rik-Vane…’

He wasn’t on Rik-Vane!

And he should stop living like he expected to be there.

Garnet made a cute little sound. It wasn’t quite a snore, but she wasn’t talking either. It was a tiny little sound in her throat. Adorable and quiet. As he watched, the hair strand that had been dancing with her breath tickled her nose. She rapidly shook her head, dislodging more strands, but clearing that one from her face. She then nuzzled right back against his chest, sparks from his skin lights exploding with each movement, popping steadily where she rested.

He wanted to pose for her. To tempt her in with his mating dance. To have her respond to him. To bond to her in that way. A powerful dance turned sensual, turned sexual as their movements joined them together. Forging a mating bond that would never break until the day they died.

On the Humility, he could have that. He could have her.

Her eyes fluttered and opened. She focused blearily on him, a tiny, sleepy smile pulling at the corners of her eyes, her lips, as she let out a long breath. Melting further into him.

“You’re staring at me,” she mumbled, voice sleepy and soft. Not a single fear or worry tensing her frame. That was exactly how he wanted her to be. Always.

“You’re nice to look at.”

Her body rocked as she giggled. The motion made his cock twitch within her.

“I think that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He frowned. That was probably true. He couldn’t really offer her flowery words. He didn’t have any to draw upon. “I am… Compliments do not come easily to me.”

“Oh, I wasn’t complaining,” she turned, pressing a sweet kiss to his chest. Making a little spark with her mouth. “I don’t expect poems or anything from you. Probably wouldn’t really feel comfortable getting them anyway. I like it like… this. Just like this.”

Tanin relaxed again. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if she needed such a thing from him. He could try, but he imagined it wasn’t something that would come easily, or naturally, to him.

He might not be able to declare all the feelings she inspired in him, but he could show her. She would, he promised, never have reason to question his devotion to her.

“You asked me once about my people’s mating dance.”

She stilled for just a brief moment. It was a flash, over in a blink, before she said, “I did.”

“It’s a private thing. I start the dance. It’s harsh, based on power and strength. You would respond to me by moving in your own way. I don’t really know how s’skree females would typically dance, but it doesn’t really matter to you. You would dance however you liked. I’m told that the female version is more sensual than the male’s, but that’s all I know of it.”

“Hm…” The soft sound made deep in her throat told him nothing. It was totally neutral. But he did notice that there was a slight upturning of her lips again.

That was good… right?

“During the dance, we come together and mate properly. That is what forges the bond.”

“The mating bond?”

“Yes. The dance triggers it to start. Mating at the end seals it in place.”

She turned her head so her chin was resting on his chest, looking up at him. “They talk about that on Earth. Mating. It’s part of True Match’s advertising and everything. So, it’s real? It’s not just some marketing gimmick they made up?”

“It’s very real,” he said softly. “For some, it’s sacred. I can’t say I know the culture of it for myself for the rest of the s’skree, but I do know that a male will dance for many females in his life. But only the female he can bond with will respond and join with him. Our females feel the bond most strongly. So, they are the ones who decide.”

She frowned. “I’m human though. Aren’t humans, like, notoriously bad at recognizing that kind of thing?”

“That’s what they say.”

She continued to look concerned, so he tightened his hands on her ass, making her wince as his cock moved within her.

“But I’ve never danced for any female. So, I imagine, when I do, it will be the only time.”

Her smile started to come back. “Are you saying you want to dance for me?”

He hesitated. Not because he didn’t know, but because he wanted to be sure of himself before he gave her an answer.

“I do.”

She started in surprise.

“What?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Nothing. Do you, like, want to do it now?”

He cocked a brow. He hadn’t expected her to be so enthusiastic about it. Not after how hesitant she was about fucking him for the first time. His only intention had been to tell her his intentions. What he planned for later.

Because he’d already done more with her than any female in the past. The fact that he was so willing to hold onto her like this, to keep her close, to even want to sleep beside her, already said so much about how he thought of her. How precious she was becoming to him.

But also, he’d made his decision. Tanin wasn’t one to change his mind easily. When he made a choice, it was done. He’d do whatever he needed to, use whoever and whatever he needed to, in order to meet that goal.

However, he understood most people weren’t like that. Conviction was in about as short supply as trust was in his past. Even the males he’d gathered for his crew, the ones that helped him leave, needed time to think. To decide to trust him.

He figured Garnet would need that too. But she was smiling at him, like she was eager to get started right now.

Which concerned him.

“Garnet, you-”

“ Captain, sorry to bother you during your personal time. ”

Tanin frowned, looking up at the ceiling. Alred wouldn’t look into one of the private rooms without permission, but he would speak through the intercom system if necessary. He chose quite a poor time to do it, however. Tanin’s annoyance was tempered though, because he knew that Alred wouldn’t have interrupted him like this without a good reason.

“What is it?” He asked, grip tightening on Garnet.

“ Garnet is requested to come to med bay. I told Goldie that you two were… occupied. But she insisted. It’s important. ”

“Is something wrong?” Garnet asked, sitting up. Wincing when doing so meant he was driven deeper inside her. It didn’t hurt, but she half expected it to, and so she flinched before she even felt anything. But she relaxed again when she experienced only delicious soreness.

Tanin had to grit his teeth to avoid moving. He was getting hard again. And the little shudder she let out, biting her lip to not make a sound, didn’t help.

Alred, hopefully oblivious to what they were doing, answered calmly, “ I wouldn’t say anything was wrong. She had me download some tutorials for the mediring. She thinks she’s figured out how to find a hidden object on a scan. However, she needs someone to do it on, and she cannot operate the machine effectively from the bed. ”

“This can’t wait?” Tanin growled through his teeth, his hands rocking Garnet’s hips despite his best efforts. She just felt so fucking good. Hot and messy and slick. He was fucking his own cum right back into her, and that made it better.

“ I suppose it can wait a quarter mark or so while you two finish, ” Alred said, amusement clear in his voice.

“Alred!” Garnet groaned, head falling back. “Stop looking!”

Tanin grabbed her by the neck. He pulled her back down. Putting her face in his. He snarled, not caring if Alred heard. “Don’t you dare utter another male’s name while I’m inside you.”

She shivered, cunt pulsing around him as he pumped his hips in earnest, shamelessly fucking her while she sat straddled on his lap.

“ I’ll just tell her you two are finishing up your discussion and you’ll be right down. ”

Neither of them responded, staring into each other’s eyes as he fucked her just like that. Hand around her throat, fingers digging into her ass, bouncing her up and down as she drug her nails down his chest, setting his skin alight, burning him with the fiery sweet touch.

It took a bit longer than a quarter mark to get down to medbay.