Cosmic Bliss (4 page)

“You’re so tight. Are you okay?”

She was more than okay, and sought his mouth. She kissed
him. She wanted to consume him. He balanced on one forearm then gathered her
body close and began to thrust in long, sure strokes. Acia desired to
contribute but realized the feeling was so intense she could only accept. He
thrust harder and faster and Acia clutched at him, wanting to pull him deep
into her body.

She couldn’t explain what was happening to her. No one had
warned her she’d feel so close to her partner during the fervor. They’d said
she’d feel desperate for sex, a drive to completion and an urge to rut with any
man available. She hadn’t been warned she would want to wrap her arms around
him, wallow in his scent and drink him in. She ran her hand along his spine and
then lost her next thought with his next plunge into her body.

The bursting was on her again and Acia rode through it,
feeling so connected to Shunyuan at the moment she wanted to open herself fully
to him. He thrust aggressively and Acia kissed his neck, needing him to find
his pleasure. He cried out, pumping twice before pressing firmly against her
and shuddering.

A torrent of gratification flooded her. The flavor of the
emotion was distinctly masculine and forceful and completely outside her own
feelings. Joy coursed through her and she telepathically shared it with
Shunyuan. If she could feel his pleasure and satisfaction then he could feel
the feelings she pushed toward him. She hadn’t expected this. Her first fervor
and she had formed an emotional bond with him. They had formed a mate link.

They would be able to share impressions of their emotions.
Their empathic connection would grow with each passing moon cycle until they
would know each other more fully than any other being could. Her excitement
quickened her breathing and caused her skin to flush. It was a wondrous moment.

She smiled. In the entire United Universe, this man was
destined for her. She would no longer be alone. He held her tight and Acia
tried to pull him closer. She stroked his hair and any other body part she
could reach. This man belonged to her and she belonged to him. Another shudder
passed through Shunyuan, sending sparks of desire through her once again.

“What was that?” he asked.

Acia knew then he had felt it too, the psychic empathic bond
she still felt now, even after being slightly relieved from the fervor. She
concentrated, separating her sense of herself from the more aggressive and
masculine-infused feelings reaching her through the bond. The emotions she
received from him swung from satisfaction to confusion and irritation. Her
entire body tensed.

Shunyuan raised himself up so that their chests no longer
touched and stared at Acia. His expression wasn’t one of joy and contentment. “What
is this I still feel? Is it the fervor?”

She shook her head. “Not entirely.”

He pulled fully away and out of her. Acia wanted to call him
back but refrained. She righted herself up on her elbows, closed her sore legs
and bit back a wince.

Shunyuan moved from the bed and went into the bathing room.
He returned with a warm, damp cloth. He parted her legs and cleaned her before
holding the warmth there at her core, easing the sting.

“If it isn’t the fervor, what is it, Acia?” His stare was so
intense she almost flinched from it. Shunyuan was entirely focused on her face
even as he held the cloth to her core.

“I am not entirely certain, but I think you mated me.” She
hated the supplication in her own voice.

Shunyuan blinked. “What do you mean? How can I mate you,
Acia? I am not even from your world.”

“Every Dovian has a mate, an individual of the opposite sex
with whom each Dovian bonds. It usually takes many fervor cycles to find them.
But once it happens you no longer respond sexually to anyone else. You only
share the fervor with your mate. You only reproduce with your mate.”

“And you think I’ve done this to you?” he asked.

His face was tight. His eyes were blank and offered her no
hint of his thoughts. His feelings were muted and jumbled. She couldn’t pinpoint
one emotion that would help her deal with him. She needed him to see that he
was her future.

“I don’t know.”
Lie.
“What do you feel?”

Instead of answering, Shunyuan removed the forgotten cloth,
causing her to gasp at the cool air touched her woman’s place. The fervor was
returning quickly and the chilled air wasn’t providing any relief. She watched
as he went back into the bathing room. His body moved fluidly with a grace she
found irresistible.

When he returned he sat beside her and almost absentmindedly
leaned over and kissed her woman’s core. She sucked in a breath, her inner
muscles tightened and her nipples hardened painfully. Shunyuan straightened and
distractedly ran his fingers through her nether lips, gathering moisture and
rubbing it into her button. Acia fell back, squirming.

“I feel extremely connected to you. I feel as if there is an
invisible cord connecting us here.” He tapped his chest over his heart. “I
don’t think I like it.”

If he’d pulled out a blaster and shot her she wouldn’t have
been more hurt. Acia’s elation at finding her mate evaporated. Since he wasn’t
Dovian, would he be able to leave her despite the mating? She sighed. Acia sat
up, dislodging his hand, and crawled to her warrior. Despite her emotional
pain, her body wasn’t up for the conversation. She burned and it was worse than
before. Shunyuan watched her, his expression fierce.

She felt slinky and connected to every part of her body.
When she reached him, Acia simply straddled his lap and impaled herself on his
thick member. He groaned and grabbed her hips. He seemed ever ready, which was
good because Acia was certain she was mated and the heat would be twice as
demanding now. Simply having him touch her wouldn’t be enough. He would have to
fuck her every time to ease the pressure.

He helped her find a rhythm and she rode him steadily. Her
head fell back and she took what she needed. She felt his soft lips along her
throat and leaned into his mouth. He slid his hands around to her ass and
readjusted her ride. Shunyuan pulled her completely up and to the tip of his
cock and then back down. The motion brought her clit in contact with his cock
and drove her into ultimate pleasure, shoving aside the disappointment she felt
at her mate not wanting her.

She opened her mouth to scream, but the pleasure was too
intense. Suddenly, Shunyuan lifted her off his shaft and crushed her to him. He
jerked twice, releasing against her belly.

“Acia,” he groaned.

She needed to sleep for a few minutes because the next flare
of the fervor would come soon and strong. She collapsed into him, running her
hands over any part of him she could reach. She had to touch him. She nestled
into his body, taking his scent in. He was hers no matter what foolish Earth
thoughts he had. She would make him see reason.

“I must sleep, Shunyuan. You must drink something and try to
rest as well.” She drifted to sleep.

* * * * *

It wasn’t just the fervor that woke her, it was being moved.
Shunyuan had arranged her stomach down and lifted her hips, placing a pillow
beneath them. She could feel him behind her and knew from the way her body
throbbed and the wetness between her legs, he’d been busy making her ready as
she slept.

“You’re awake finally.”

Acia arched back toward him in response. He lifted her hips
higher and drove into her quickly and efficiently. Shunyuan caught a rhythm and
Acia could feel her woman’s joy rising.

Suddenly, Shunyuan pulled almost all the way out and
stopped. Acia tried to move, but he held her firm. She forced herself not to
panic. Surely this was just some game he played with her, even if she didn’t
find it funny.

“Did you do this to me on purpose, Acia?”

She froze. “Shunyuan, what?”

“Did you do this mating to me on purpose? Every minute I’m
bombarded with feelings that aren’t my own.” His tone was harsh, lashing at her
in the stillness of the room.

“No, Shunyuan,” she whispered. Desperation caused her voice
to waver. Having him so close and yet not moving within her hurt and caused
spikes of pain through her body. “No, I have no control over the mating or the
fervor. I can’t make you feel or do anything.”

“You have no powers? No hypnosis?” he asked. He pulled out
of her another inch.

Acia shrieked. “No! Our people work with the land. We work
with plants. My only gifts lie there. Please, Shunyuan, don’t do this to me.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” The last was barely a whisper as pain lanced through her
belly.

“Dammit.” He slammed back into her and almost immediately
gentled. Shunyuan folded his body around hers, chest to back, and gathered her
up. He levered into her insistently but gently. Acia cried out in relief.

Shunyuan kissed her cheek and whispered, “Come undone for
me.”

And she did. She could feel along their connection that he
had reached completion with her. He slowly lowered them to the mattress. She
remained there until her heart rate began to slow. His breath tickled her ear
as he lay lightly against her back. His weight and scent surrounded her. The
feel of his body pressed to hers as he basked in the aftermath of their
lovemaking called to the part of her that was his mate. The part of her that
liked to kick ass fumed.

Slowly and deliberately she crawled forward, moving the
pillow from under her pelvis. He tried to clutch her, but she used the sweat
soaking her fevered body to slip from his hold. Shunyuan grabbed her right
thigh and she kicked out with her left foot, catching him in the chest. She
ignored the dull thud of his pain coursing through the mate link.

They each rolled to opposite sides of the bed. Chest
heaving, she watched him widen his stance and hold his arms loosely. His cold
eyes never left her. He took a deep breath through his nose. His body shifted
slightly and as he blew out the breath quietly, his feelings receded from their
link.

Her eyes widened. How was he able to lock her out? It
shouldn’t be possible this early in the mating. An uncontrollable urge to maim
welled inside her. Her mate could hurt her. He could block her.

“Don’t you ever do that. You have no right to hurt me. I
won’t let you touch me in anger again.”

His jaw clenched tight and he closed his eyes. She waited,
tension thick in the air. What would he do next? Was she in danger? Had Dovana
united her with a mate who wouldn’t value her? When he opened his eyes, his
features softened until he no longer appeared prepared to do battle.

“I didn’t understand. I’m sorry.” He sighed. “But I don’t
want whatever you’ve done to me.”

“I didn’t do anything to you. The mating just is. If you
can’t help me, get out. I won’t let you abuse me. I won’t let anyone ever abuse
me again without causing them bodily harm.”

Unfortunately, her body chose to violently protest her
callous treatment of her mate. Clawing pain in her belly doubled her over.
During the fervor her body would rebel against any ill feelings toward her
mate. She gasped and straightened with difficulty. Shunyuan rounded the bed and
stood within arm’s reach. She flung up her hand, palm extended.

“No! Stay away. I am vulnerable, not powerless.”

He stopped. “Let me help you. How can I help?”

She looked up. He stood still before her. Then she noticed
he was on the balls of his feet and his mouth was so tight he’d created little
lines at the corners. She swallowed, trying to moisten her dry mouth.

“You know.”

“Tell me. Say it, Acia.”

She automatically responded to the command in her mate’s
voice. “I need you to fuck me.”

He grabbed her arm gently and she flinched at the pain. He
let go instantly.

“What?”

“The fervor is adjusting my attitude.” She grimaced. “I need
you to be inside me. Until then, your touch will hurt.”

She looked up at Shunyuan, desire and pain coursed through
her. She needed him now.

“I have to touch you. It will only hurt for a moment.”

“Hurry, I need you.” A moan escaped her throat.

The sting of his hand on her arms was quick. He lifted her
against the wall and entered her quickly. Relief and pleasure replaced the pain
almost immediately. She blew out deeply and raised her hands to clutch his
hair. Like the man, the strands were strong and vital.

He kissed her hungrily and began to swivel his hips, driving
deep into her pussy. She bit his lip lightly and pressed her forehead to his.
Relief engulfed her. She would have died if he’d left as she had commanded him
to. None of the other men on the ship could help her now. She would have spent
days in agony.

He turned his head and kissed her. Their tongues swirled
together before they each pulled away, panting. Acia flung her head back. The
wall was cool and hard against her back. With each of his thrusts, she slid up
and down the smooth surface. The muscled warmth of his chest at her front and
the wall at her back aroused her further. Her channel tightened around him and
they both groaned.

His control slipped and his emotions and feelings flooded
her through their link. His pleasure and passion soothed her wounded pride. He
did care for her, even if it was only in this sexual way. Maybe in time there
could be more between them. Acia tightened her legs more securely around his
waist. She breathed his musky scent in deeply.

His hands clutched her ass firmly. Each hand palmed a cheek
as he almost roughly kneaded and separated the globes, pulling and pushing her
body in a rhythm that started a fire in her pussy and consumed all of her nerve
endings.

There were things she wanted to say to him. She desperately
needed him to know the mate bond was special and good. They would be better
together, helping and caring for each other until the end of their days. Every
Dovian waited breathlessly for the mate bond. She had to have him because she
would simply wither away without him.