CHAPTER FOUR

Tigh was more than muscular beneath his robes. He was downright beautiful. As finely honed as any man she had ever seen—though of course, she’d seen few outside of holos. Still, he had the perfectly honed chest of an athlete, which she hadn’t expected. Those fancy robes had hidden his warrior nature, and a band of bladed weapons worn familiarly over his heart.

“In my head, I knew you were of the warrior caste, but I never imagined…” Her fingers trailed over the warm leather, her eyes helplessly following the contours of his amazing chest.

“I trained with the Zenai priests for over fifteen years.” His deep voice purred through her, rumbling in her core. “It is a warrior priesthood. Every day, I trained my body for defense of self and others. It’s something I still do.”

“I can tell.” Her eyes devoured his muscular form as he sat up and unstrapped the band of bladed weapons, baring his magnificent chest completely. Every movement sent his corded muscles rippling, setting off similar shockwaves in her midsection as she watched his male perfection. He was amazingly potent.

“I’m glad my form pleases you. I already know I’m going to love your body as much as I admire your soul.” He held her gaze as he loosened the drawstring and pushed her pants down and off. His eyes never wavered from hers as his hands followed the path, stroking down her thighs and calves, caressing and enflaming her with his touch alone. “When I saw you in the Council chambers, I knew you were perfect. My warrior mate. I could ask for no better match in all the universe.”

“Then, you don’t mind women of rank? I thought you jit’suku warriors all wanted perfect little feminine dolls to obey your every command.” She tried to make light of her words, but inwardly, she’d worried about what he’d want from her. She was used to being in command of her own ship. It would be hard to subjugate her will to a powerful man, and she’d wondered how any sort of relationship between them could work.

“In lovemaking, I will want to be in charge. It’s my nature. But in life…in life, I want a partner. An equal. Someone to share my burdens as I share hers. I don’t want a weak woman.” He leaned in to kiss her lips, once, softly. “I don’t think you’re weak, Ginny. Not for a minute.” His whispered words made her catch her breath. “I like that you’ll challenge me, as I will challenge you. We will have a partnership in the truest sense of the word.”

Ginny gasped as one of his big hands slid between her legs. His hand was calloused, warm, and infinitely possessive. He was laying claim to her, quietly, and with few words, but he was definitely mastering her body. She could feel the wetness gathering in her core, responding to his slightest touch. Oh, this man was dangerous.

But she was loving every minute of it.

To have such a powerful, masculine being focused so totally on her was a new and exciting experience. It had been too many years since her first forays into lovemaking with Paul. They’d been inexperienced and very young. She saw now that Paul was a mere boy when compared to this exciting, intoxicating man who now dared to claim her. She’d loved Paul, and she always would, but Tigh was teaching her things about her body she had never dreamed. And they hadn’t even really started yet.

“When we join, you will understand the rightness of our being together.” His hand moved, one finger daringly dipping into her folds, circling lightly as she gasped. “Your body already knows me. It wants me.”

“Tigh…”

She couldn’t give voice to the shocking things she wanted to say. She wanted him too, but how could she feel so deeply, so quickly? She’d only just met the man, but already, she felt somehow a part of him. It felt as if a piece of her would be missing if, for some reason, he left. She would be incomplete. The very idea of it frightened her, but it also made her want to investigate where these foreign feelings were coming from. It was tantalizing. There was more there, waiting to be discovered, and she wanted to explore it all…with him.

“Yes, my love.” His strokes grew bolder now, more demanding, and her body rewarded his moves with more slick wetness. His eyes held hers as his grin deepened. “Will you come for me, sweet Gineva? Will you come on my hand and let me know the depth of your passion?”

If he didn’t stop touching her soon, she was afraid she damn well would. And then die of embarrassment. It had been so long since a man had touched her and never like this. Never with this knowing, this intense longing in his eyes.

“Tigh, I don’t want—”

He shocked her silent by insinuating one long, thick finger into her core, all the while his thumb continued to rotate around her clit. “This isn’t about what you want, Gin. In this arena, it’s all about what I want. And what I want most, right now, is to discover your passion. I want you to come for me. I want you to show me what you like so that I can learn to pleasure you.” He kissed her lips then placed little biting kisses down her jaw and throat until his face nuzzled in the barely hidden mounds of her cleavage. Just two small buttons held her top together, and as she watched in fascination, he ripped them off with his teeth, spitting them across the room with barely leashed impatience before returning his mouth to her chest and nudging the fabric away, once and for all.

His hot mouth traced paths over her breasts, zeroing in on her nipples as his finger began to stroke in and out, in a maddening rhythm. His eyes looked up as he bit down gently, but with a hint of his dominance, on one aroused nipple, and she bucked in the brightest orgasm she’d ever had.

His fingers possessed her throughout, his eyes followed her every movement, learning and, it seemed, relishing her response. She came and came against his stroking hand as he watched, a satisfied, almost smug smile on his face that she couldn’t find fault with. Not when she was feeling so sinfully delicious, all because of him. The man had magic hands. Not to mention that sexy mouth of his. Or those washboard abs.

Ginny sighed as she mentally cataloged all his magnificent features. She was only halfway through her list when he removed his wonderful hands from her body. But he didn’t go far. Tigh lifted her arms and dragged the remnants of her shirt upward. She thought he was undressing her, but he left the sleeves to tangle around her hands, using the rest of the fabric to secure her to one of the bed posts. He’d tied her up.

She hadn’t thought she could feel anything remotely arousing after that massive orgasm, but she was wrong. His act of dominance—tying her up, for heaven’s sake!—turned her on like a switch. She felt herself cream and knew she was leaving a wet spot on the sheet, but she didn’t care. Her body was primed and wanted that hard cock she could see making a deep ridge in his leggings.

If she’d been free to move, she would have tackled him, but as it was, she had to wait for him to make the next move. She didn’t have to wait long.

Tigh stood next to the bed, and her head swiveled to watch him. He was so close. He made short work of the lacings on his leggings, but it seemed to take him an inordinate amount of time to work them down over his amazingly muscular buttocks.

He was stripping for her.

The thought sent shivers down her spine and shocked her eyes up to his. He was smiling as he winked at her, and she knew her suspicions were correct. This bold man was taking his time, teasing her, tantalizing her, in a way she’d never known a man could do outside of holos and vids. Paul had been all business when it had come to making love. He’d stripped quick and met her under the blankets, almost shy about his body, but Tigh… Tigh was something else altogether.

Tigh was a man, sure of himself and his appeal to women. He licked his lips as he watched her body move. She found it impossible to hold still, and his sinuous movements as he undressed made her squirm.

“Do you like what you see?”

He’d worked his leathers low on his abdomen, but his cock was still hidden.

“I haven’t seen anything yet.” She chuckled, daring him, wondering only belatedly if she was pushing too far. But he just grinned and pushed down his leggings in one smooth move that bared him completely. Her mouth went dry.

He was magnificent.

Thick and long, and oh, so aroused. Taking in the whole picture of him, she realized he was male perfection. Perfectly balanced muscle and grace, his body was long, lean, muscular and in beautiful proportion. His cock was proportional too. It was the largest one she’d ever seen, even counting vids and holos. She wondered absently if all jit’suku males were built on such a grand scale. If so, the human women they entertained would undoubtedly be a happy bunch of girls.

Leaving his leggings behind on the floor, he stepped toward her until he was at her side, his hard cock directly in front of her mouth. She looked up into his eyes, reading the command there. She knew what he wanted. Dare she?

Sucking cock wasn’t something she had a lot of experience with. She’d only done it a few times with Paul and hadn’t thought herself particularly skillful, though he seemed to like it. But Paul hadn’t been built like this man. And somehow, she hadn’t ever felt the same unbridled desire to taste him as she was feeling for Tigh. It felt disloyal, so she shut the thoughts of Paul from her mind.

But Tigh was waiting, and hoping, if she was reading his expression right. He’d said he was dominant, but it was good to see he wouldn’t force her. She needed that. She needed the reassurance to know that he wouldn’t push her beyond what she could handle. Oh, he’d definitely stretch her comfort zone—and a few other places—but she could see the respect in his eyes for her safety and wellbeing. It meant a lot to her and gave her the courage to try to please him in return.

Boldly, she stroked out with her tongue, licking around the head of him, liking the groan of pleasure from deep in his throat. Feeling her way as her confidence increased, she took more of him into her mouth. Tigh stepped forward slightly, to make it easier for her, and her mouth was suddenly full of cock.

Blissfully full of cock. The way she wanted her pussy to be as soon as she was done here. Ginny almost giggled at the thought. He was already corrupting her, and they hadn’t even had sex yet.

“I like the way you suck me, Gin.” His voice caressed her senses. “I’m going to fuck your mouth now, little one. Just relax.”

His muscles strained as he moved forward and back, just a bit, moving lightly in and out of her mouth. She could tell he was trying to be as gentle as possible, wary of hurting her. It would be easy to be overwhelmed in this position, and again, his care with her wellbeing impressed her.

She could taste the saltiness of his desire, and she sucked harder, hollowing her cheeks as he moved in and out. He groaned and pulled out. Ginny was surprised by her disappointment. She’d never swallowed before, but she wanted to drink Tigh down and know his taste. The idea should have been shocking, but somehow, it just seemed right. She was becoming very possessive of this man she’d only known for a day or two. The idea should have frightened her, but she couldn’t summon the fear that she’d always had of jit’suku warriors.

Since coming to know Tigh, her old fears were proven false. The jit’suku were just men. All right, she amended, they were incredibly tall, amazingly fit, skilled warriors, but men all the same. They seemed to want the same things all men wanted—a willing bedpartner, a warm meal, a safe home, and in Tigh’s case, at least, an equal partner to share his life, if his earlier words were to be believed.

But she did believe him.

“Come back, Tigh. Come in my mouth.” She found herself fairly pleading for his come. Not something she’d ever done before. But this man was special, she was discovering, in so many ways.

He bent to kiss her sweetly. “No, honey. I want to be inside you when I come. I want us to find pleasure together. But I promise you can have all you want, another day. Today is for making babies.”

Reminded of the point of this exercise, Ginny blushed. She was so embarrassed. She’d forgotten this wasn’t about making love—it was about cementing a deal to make peace.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was small, her face turned away from him.

 

Tigh sat on the side of the bed, looking down at her with concern. He saw her shame and puzzled over it. How could she go from intense, sexy heat, one moment, to painfully shy mortification, the next?

“What’s this?” he asked softly. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Ginny. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and much too good for the likes of me. I want you, sweetheart. All of you.”

Her sad eyes lit the tiniest bit as she looked up at him. “I feel like an idiot. Untie me?” She tugged on her hands, and he knew it was wisest to comply, this once. Something had changed here, and he needed to understand what it was. If his cock would just let him think straight enough to do so.

After he released her arms, she sat next to him on the side of the bed. She refused to meet his eyes. “I said I was sorry because I forgot our goal here for a moment. Let’s just have sex and see if I can get pregnant. That’s what’s important. I’m sorry I distracted you.”

“Distracted me?” Tigh could barely contain his astonishment, or his glee that his woman had responded so fully to him she’d forgotten all her reservations, including her very reason for agreeing to bed him. “Sweet Gineva, you are the sexiest woman I have ever known.” He tackled her gently and swept them both down onto the bed. He rose over her, insinuating one leg between hers, ready as he’d ever been to make them one. “When we’re married, you can distract me all you want, but first, I have to get you to agree to be my wife. That’s the most important thing. Not babies or even our people. What matters most to me, in this moment and in life, is you. Having you, my destined mate, at my side through whatever comes. Having you in my bed every night, in my home every day, wherever that may be. Being in you as often as possible, in every way. Those are the things that matter to me most as a man. This is about Tigh and Ginny. Not about anyone or anything else. Just you and me.”

He could see tears start behind her eyes, but they weren’t signs of distress. No, her smiling face told him his words had touched her, and he was glad. He wasn’t an eloquent man, but he was glad he’d found the right words to reassure his little human mate. He was sure he’d make even more mistakes as they made their way in life together, but he would make up for each and every one—if she would only agree to be his wife.

He levered himself over her, placing his knees between hers on the bed, widening her legs as he made a place for himself. Gently, he lowered his body until he rested on his forearms, just above her. His hardness nudged along the sweet line that was flowering open, dewy and waiting for him. His chest brushed her magnificent breasts, the hard nipples puckering up into his flesh as he reached down to kiss her.

“You are all I will ever want in life, Ginny. You are my most basic need.” He held her eyes as he pushed gently forward with his hips, joining them little by little. “This,” he pushed deeper, slowly, giving her time to adjust to his size, “is what we both need.” He pushed inward, her wetness allowing him to glide, though the fit was tight. Still, her body was made for him, elastic and willing to bend around his size, expanding to take him in and hold him tight.

He pushed all the way home and just stayed there for a moment, savoring the feeling.

 

Tigh’s possession was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. His cock was so long and thick, it filled her completely, almost painfully, but the edge of pleasure soon removed any pain there might’ve been. He lay thick and hard within her, filling her, for long moments as his eyes held hers in a magical communion. It felt as if his soul touched hers in that moment, though she was probably being fanciful.

Still, as they locked together, something in her heart clicked with his, joining them in more than just body. She could just feel it. Though, she didn’t pretend to understand it at all.

Then, he started to move.

Gentle, at first, he moved within her, letting her get accustomed to the feel of him. He was so big, his muscles so powerful, she felt a little overwhelmed by his size, but in a good way. He melted her bones with the powerful, steady motion of his body over hers, in hers. She liked the way he moved, accelerating his rhythm and moving with him after the first few strokes.

“That’s it, sweetheart,” he encouraged her as he picked up the pace. “A little more now. You can take it.”

“Oh, God, Tigh!” She moaned as he moved faster and harder within her, lighting little fires throughout her being. He felt so good. Nothing had ever felt quite like this before.

“It’s gonna be quick, this time, Ginny. It’s got to be.” He was panting above her, and she could see the lines of strain on his face. “Come with me, baby. Come with me now!”

Tigh moved even more powerfully within her, driving her passion higher until she burst in a shower of sparks. Ginny cried out as she hit a peak and tumbled over, higher than she’d ever been before. Tigh was with her every step of the climb, shouting his own release as he came inside her, filling her with warmth, bathing her in his essence.

Whether they made a baby or not, she would never trade this experience for anything in the universe. Being made love to by a jit’suku warrior such as this was something she wouldn’t have missed for the world. Though of course, if things worked out as he hoped, she would be in his bed for the rest of their lives.

Offering a quick prayer, she hoped for a baby. She hoped for a reason to marry this man and keep him in her life and in her bed for a good long time to come. Just that easily, he’d won her over.

But it was more than the sex. It was the respect he’d shown her before, during and now after, as he withdrew and lay at her side, breathing hard. He seemed to actually care for her, aside from the need to gain her compliance with his plan for political purposes. He seemed to truly want her in his life, and that was a miracle to her in itself.