Devoured

  “Oh, well…okay, I guess” Tess clutched the towel to her chest with her right arm and held up the left to him, wondering what he was going to do.

  “Thank you. And as I said, I’m not certain this will work but I think…” He didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, his eyes began to glow again, just as they had when he was trying to pull the metal anti-theft screen out of the concrete around the window at Pierce’s house.

  His other—the part inside him he said was dangerous—is he accessing it now? Using it somehow—letting it come forward?

  Tess didn’t dare to ask. She just bit her lip but didn’t try to pull away as he leaned down and brought her wounded limb to his mouth. With long, slow, smooth strokes, he bathed the torn flesh with his tongue.

  Tess bit back a gasp. His mouth on her skin was hot, wet…and sensuous. But somehow she knew he wasn’t trying to seduce her. He actually thought he could help her in some way although how in the world he expected…

  Her thoughts dried up as he pulled back, exposing her hurt arm.

  Her hurt arm which was no longer hurt.

  Oh, the bruise was still there but the cut was gone—sealed up into a faint white line and even that seemed to fade as she watched.

  “How…how did you do that?” Tess gasped. She held her arm up and examined it from every angle, trying to figure it out. “Is this some kind of alien magic or something?”

  Garron shook his head. “Not magic—chemistry. The chemistry of my dr’gin.”

  “Your what?” she asked, looking up at him dazedly.

  “My other,” he clarified. “The other that lives within me. I…called on it to help me and it did. Or rather, I called it to the surface enough to use its healing powers.”

  “But…didn’t you tell me that was dangerous? Letting it come up…out?” Tess still couldn’t stop staring at her healed arm.

  “It would be if it wasn’t for you. You seem to…quiet it somehow. To tame it.” He looked as though he was groping for an explanation but finally he shook his head. “I’m sorry I can’t explain it better but I actually feel more in control of myself—of my dr’gin—when I touch you. You calm the fire in my blood.”

  Tess remembered him saying similar things the first time he held her, back when he thought she was a Pairing Puppet, and also after he had pulled the cage out of the window and had begged her to put her arms around his neck.

  “All right,” she whispered, looking up at him. “Now what?”

  “Now I’d like to heal your back as well…if you’ll let me.”

  “I…” She bit her lip uncertainly. “You want to…to lick my back?”

  He nodded. “It’s the only way.”

  “But I…I don’t know.”

  “Tess…” He took her hand in his and looked earnestly into her eyes. “These scars I bear are old—there was no one to help or to heal me when the wounds were inflicted. But yours are still fresh. If I heal them now before they have time to set…”

  “You really want to do this, don’t you?” she whispered, watching his face.

  Garron nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. “I can’t…can’t bear to think of his marks on you permanently.” His deep voice was tight. “Please…let me erase them.”

  God, can’t believe I’m actually considering this. Tess shifted, feeling incredibly vulnerable and naked behind the thin towel.

  “And…you swear that’s all you’ll do? Just…heal me?”

  He frowned. “Remember, I told you that I have made a private vow to be true to a memory of another? One I loved?”

  “Oh, yes…you did say that. Sorry. So of course it would only be healing.” Tess felt her cheeks go hot.

  “Of course,” he repeated.

  Tess felt like all the breath had been sucked out of her lungs. It’s okay, she told herself. He’s not looking to do anything but heal me. So it should be fine.

  “Well then…” she said aloud, wishing her voice didn’t sound so shaky. “All right.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  They went into the darkened bedroom and Tess was glad the only light was a thin sliver coming from between the closed drapes. It made her feel less self conscious knowing that he couldn’t see her very well.

  “Lie down on your stomach,” Garron directed, helping her onto the king sized bed.

  Tess did as he said, keeping the towel clutched tightly to her chest and wishing she could cover her bare behind as well. Unfortunately, the skimpy little hotel towels weren’t exactly made for plus-sized girls like herself. No matter how she tried, she was always somewhat exposed.

  “Don’t worry about covering yourself—just try to get comfortable.” The big Kindred’s deep voice was gentle as he propped a pillow under her head and arms. Then he lowered himself to the bed beside her.

  “I’m…trying.” Her voice came out slightly strangled. Having a big, powerful male looming over her in the dark wasn’t exactly the most relaxing experience.

  Hold still you little slut and take your punishment!

  Tess bit her lip and clenched her pillow, fighting the urge to curl into a protective ball. Her whole body felt tense as Garron leaned over her. God, why had she agreed to this?

  Somehow, just as he had before in the dark hallway in her apartment, he seemed to sense her tension.

  “Tess,” he murmured, crouching low so that his warm breath stirred a tendril of hair at her cheek. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine,” she lied. “I just…this is…harder than I thought.”

  “I can tell,” he murmured.

  Tess tried to laugh but it came out as a breathless gasp.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “For one with my senses, yes. I can smell your fear.”

  “You can what?” She turned her face to look up at him. “Seriously?”

  He nodded, his eyes glowing softly in the dim room.

  “Yes. And I know why you’re afraid. I know how hard it is to trust again after trust has been betrayed. But please know this…I will never hurt you.” He stroked a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Never, Tess.”

  Tess bit her lip, staring up at his lovely, inhuman eyes.

  “I…I want to believe you,” she whispered.

  “Then do it—trust me. You’re safe with me. Just relax and let me heal you.”

  “I…I’ll try.” It was the best she could do.

  “Thank you.” He stroked her cheek. “I promise I’ll go slowly. And you can stop me at any time if the healing becomes too…intense.”

  Tess wanted to ask what he meant by “intense” but just then he bent over her again and she felt his hot breath on her wounded back.

  She froze instinctively—waiting for the first blow to fall. The first punch from a fist, the first slap of a belt, the first crack of a cane…

  Instead she felt only softness…warm, wet softness. The press of lips to her wounded shoulder…the soothing glide of his tongue over her vulnerable flesh. Soon the stinging ache which had accompanied that particular cut melted away—erased by the gentle action of his mouth.

  Tess felt her fear ease to be replaced by a different kind of tension. He wasn’t just healing her—he was kissing her better. Literally kissing each cut and wound as tenderly and gently as a lover kissing his mistress’s mouth. And with each press of his lips, each stroke of his tongue, she felt a deep tingling spreading out all over her body. A tingling that somehow found its way from her torn back to the tight tips of her nipples and the warm, wet spot between her thighs.

  She bit back a moan as his mouth moved downward, finding the cuts Pierce’s belt had inflicted on her lower back. His big hands held her lightly in place, resting just on the curve of her hips as he trailed tender kisses lower and even lower.

  When she felt his mouth against the top curve of her buttocks, heat surged through her. Tess bit her lip. God, was he even kissing her hurt places anymore? Or was he just kissing her because he wanted to? No, no, she tried to remind herself. He’s not intere
sted in me that way—he’s just trying to help. But still the tension kept growing until she began to wonder if he would he ever stop. And even more confusing was the question, did she want him to stop?

  Tess shifted and the harsh material of the towel rubbed against her nipples, making them ache. It stung the little cut right above her left nipple as well but she had other problems to think about. Her pussy throbbed between her legs, feeling swollen and hot and very, very sensitive. She found herself spreading her legs—just a little—to ease some of the tension. God, what was going on with her? Was having the big Kindred’s hands and mouth on her really affecting her that much?

  Stop it, she told herself uneasily. He’s just healing you. Not…doing anything else.

  Except now his hot mouth had moved down the curve of her buttocks and he was kissing the place where her thigh met her body. Tess felt his tongue flick out and lap almost right between her thighs. He made a soft, hungry sound deep in his throat and she felt his hot breath blowing against her pussy lips.

  Tess suddenly remembered some of the things he’d said to her on the Mother Ship—back when he still believed she was a Pairing Puppet.

  “I want to taste you, little one,” he’s said. “Want to spread your sweet pussy with my tongue.”

  But he only said those things because he thought I wasn’t real—he probably just needed a release and he thought doing it with a puppet wouldn’t violate his vow. Once he found out I was a real girl, not an artificial sex toy, he lost all interest…didn’t he?

  If that was true, why was he kissing her so gently, in such an intimate place…a place Tess was pretty sure hadn’t been wounded at all? And why did it feel so good even though she tried not to let it?

  Suddenly another voice intruded in her head—Pierce’s voice. “Only sluts like it—only whores enjoy having that done to them. Is this what you want? You little slut!”

  “Um…” She shifted away quickly, pressing her thighs together tightly.

  Garron let her go at once.

  “Are you all right?” His voice was hoarse in the dim room.

  “Yes, fine. I just…I think I’m healed now. So you don’t have to…don’t have to…”

  “But I want to.” His eyes were glowing more brightly than she’d ever seen them.

  “You…you promised.” She rolled over, making sure to keep the towel clutched to her chest. “You said you’d only…only heal me. Because of your vow—remember?”

  “So I did.” Garron took a deep breath and ran a hand over his face. He looked down for a moment and when he looked back up, his eyes were dimmer. “Forgive me. For a moment I forgot my vow…the scent of your desire overcame me.”

  “I…my…desire?” Tess sat up, still holding the towel.

  “Your pussy,” he said frankly, his eyes flashing. “You smell so sweet and hot and so Goddess damned wet.” He took a deep breath, inhaling through his nose as though savoring a delicious scent.

  Tess felt a flash of heat go through her again…followed by a cold finger of fear.

  “I…I’m not…I would never…” she started to deny.

  Garron frowned at her. “My nose doesn’t lie, especially not about your scent, Tess.” He sniffed again. “And now I smell your fear. Why do you fear your own desire? Is it forbidden to you?”

  “I…” Tess bit her lip, thinking of how angry Pierce got if she seemed to be enjoying herself—even a little bit—during sex. Not that there was much to enjoy—it was pretty much wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am every single time. But still…

  “It was forbidden to me,” Garron said in a low voice, as though imparting a secret. “But then, you probably already know that from talking to my brother’s mate, Becca.”

  “She did tell me a few things,” Tess said carefully. “Mostly that your people are kind of, uh, judgmental. And that you don’t hug each other.”

  “We don’t. It is the way of my people never to touch except during mating.”

  “So, no hugging…no holding…so signs of affection at all?”

  “No physical signs, anyway.” He sighed. “They say that you cannot miss what you never experience in the first place. But growing up, I used to long to be close to someone. To hold and be held…”

  He sounded so wistful that Tess felt her chest ache for him. Her mom had been a single parent, usually holding down two jobs, but she had never mistreated Tess or withheld affection. Tess had so many happy memories when she was younger of hugs and kisses…her mom brushing her hair…sitting on her lap…cuddling under a warm quilt together before bedtime while they read a good book…

  Just the thought was enough to bring the sting of tears to her eyes—she still missed her mom terribly. And yet, at least she had these memories to pour over and cherish. From what Garron said, he had nothing like them. What would it be like to grow up touching no one and never being touched? What would it be like to never get a hug or a kiss or any kind of physical expression of affection?

  “Lonely,” she murmured aloud. “You must have been so lonely…”

  He shrugged and looked away. “I managed. I was close to my brother, Truth—that helped some.”

  “But to never even be hugged…to know it was forbidden…”

  “It’s not the only thing that was forbidden.” He looked down at his hands. “The things I told you when I thought you were a Pairing Puppet… I must ask, when you spoke to my brother’s mate, did you—?”

  “I didn’t repeat any of them,” Tess hastily assured him. She tried not to blush when she remembered how he’d told her he wanted to spend hours between her legs mapping the secret folds of her pussy with his tongue. Did he really feel that way? Or had he just said it because he didn’t think she was real?

  “You didn’t?” He looked up at her swiftly.

  “No, of course not. That’s…private.”

  “Thank you.” He had a relieved expression on his face. “I value Becca’s good opinion. I would not have her think less of me.”

  “I doubt she’d think less of you for wanting to do…” Tess cleared her throat. “The, uh, things you said to me. They’re not so terrible…not terrible at all, really.”

  “Then why do you fear them? Why do you fear my desire for you and your body’s reaction when I touch you…taste you?”

  Tess felt her mouth go dry. “You didn’t really taste me. I mean, not the way you talked about back on the ship. When you thought I was one of the Puppets,” she clarified quickly. “I mean, you were probably just saying those things. You don’t really…”

  “Want to taste you?” His eyes flashed in the dim room. “Of course I do. How could I not?”

  “But…why?” She knew she ought to change the subject and talk about something else. But somehow the question popped out anyway.

  “Your scent is so sweet and hot and it comes from here…” His big hand brushed the part of the towel that covered her pussy. “How could I not want to bury my face between your legs and taste that sweetness right from the source?”

  Her heartbeat ratcheted up a notch. “You…I…I thought you just said those things because you thought I wasn’t real—because you thought I was a Pairing Puppet.”

  He looked down. “It is true I felt more…free to say what I wanted, to act on my forbidden impulses because I believed you were one of the Puppets.”

  “I see. And this vow you took…” She looked at him closely. “You said it was for one you loved. Did you, uh, break up with her?”

  “She died,” Garron said shortly. “And I vowed to remain true to her memory. She…she will always be in my heart.”

  “Of course.” Tess wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. On one hand, it was clear he wasn’t interested in a relationship because of his vow for his deceased girlfriend. So she could stop feeling so nervous and jumpy around him. On the other hand, he wasn’t available, even if she decided she did want a relationship.

  Don’t be stupid, Tess, lectured the little voice in her head. A new r
elationship is the last thing you need right now! Especially when you’re still on the run from the old one!

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said aloud.

  He shook his head. “It was a while ago. I have been trying very hard to stay true to the memory of the one I loved but at the time I came to you in the Pairing House, my blood was boiling and my…other was very close to the surface. I felt I needed a release.”

  “Did you ever get one? I mean…after I left?” Tess couldn’t believe she’d asked the question as soon as it popped out of her mouth but Garron didn’t seem offended.

  “No.” He shook his head quickly. “No, your scent was the one that drew me. None of the others held any interest for me.” He frowned. “Speaking of scent, I still smell blood on you. Not much but is there another wound? One I missed before?”

  “I don’t thin—” Tess shifted uncomfortably and felt the rough towel rub over the tiny cut on her left breast. “Um, well…”

  “There is, isn’t there?” He leaned closer. “Please, Tess, if there is someplace else he marked you, let me take care of it.”

  “I…I shouldn’t,” she whispered. “It’s in…in kind of an awkward spot.”

  “You don’t have to be ashamed or afraid.” His deep voice was gentle. “I swear I wish only to heal you.”

  “Well…” Shouldn’t do this, whispered a panicked little voice in her brain. It’s okay, Tess argued back. He’s just going to heal me—that’s all. Besides, he took a vow! Slowly, with trembling hands, she pulled down the part of the towel that covered her left breast. Then she realized he probably couldn’t see what she was showing him—it was, after all, quite dim in the room. She could only see his facial expressions because his eyes were glowing softly. Again, knowing he couldn’t see her made things a little easier. “It’s here,” she said, taking his hand and bringing it to her chest. “Right here.”

  She had meant to put just his index finger over the small cut, so he could know exactly where it was. Instead, she somehow found that his big, warm hand was cupping her whole breast.