Love's Beguiling Healer Read online

  Squirming in his arms, she sought release but he denied her. Withdrawing his finger, he held her as she pushed against him, and just when she started to gasp, he slid his finger in deep once more. Every time she sought release, he withdrew, leaving her gasping and squirming. Teasing her. Drawing it out.

  "Damn you, Illam!” Frustrated tears of passion sounded in her voice. “Help me!"

  He'd been waiting for her plea. In one smooth motion he dropped to his knees, drawing her down with him so that she was raised up on her knees straddling his thighs, her back still to him. When she tried to turn, he held her still by the simple method of sliding his whole arm between her thighs, drawing up so that his arm was pressed to her flesh, and his palm splayed out low on her belly.

  Tera froze. Breasts heaving, body trembling with desire, she froze, suddenly uncertain.

  He sensed her uncertainty, and snarled triumphantly.

  Seven

  She started in a mixture of alarm, anticipation, and passion-filled need.

  In one swift move, he dragged his nails lightly down her belly and back through the curls on her mound. He stopped with his nails poised against the tender flesh of her labia, letting her feel the strength of his hands, the sharpness of his nails ... the threat that filled the air along with his low growls.

  Lust beat at him, his staff throbbed, seed leaked from the tip, and his sac pulled tight against his body. His heart hammered. The scent of arousal filled his nostrils, and made the lust beat harder.

  He literally had Tera at his mercy.

  She knew it.

  He knew it.

  The feral in him knew it.

  While she was still frozen in place, her panting filling the night, he rose up on his own knees behind her, bending over her smaller figure. Keeping his hand against her vulnerable flesh, he splayed his other hand low on her belly and flexed his fingers against her at the same time he flexed against her labia

  She shuddered.

  Placing the corner of his mouth against her shoulder, he rubbed in a smooth motion, the scent glands inside his mouth releasing his unique scent. He rubbed his mark onto her, his growls rumbling out in satisfaction. Lifting his head, he placed his mouth just below her ear and rubbed against the sensitive skin beneath, marking her again. Then he placed his mouth to her ear and breathed hotly.

  At the same time, he thrust his finger deep into her.

  She arched back against him in shocked pleasure. Her nerves, already stretched taut, were ultra sensitive to his firm invasion.

  He threw back his head and snarled his dominance as he withdrew his finger and thrust it in once again. Firmly. Sliding in deep to hook slightly before dragging back out, deliberately rubbing against the sensitive, quivering flesh of the back of her vagina. And each time he drew out, he dragged his finger back up to her clitoris, ran over the engorged flesh firmly, and slid along the seam of her body and back unerringly into the opening of her vagina.

  He felt her stiffen, and removed his hand from her belly to entangle in her hair carefully but strongly, pulling her face around so that he could muffle her scream with his own mouth. Swallowing her passion into him.

  Tera shuddered as she climaxed, and shuddered as Illam relentlessly rubbed and played with her, making her climax almost savagely again. The walls of her vagina rippled, clenching tight against his fingers, of which he now plunged two deep.

  Illam was aware of the smaller, slim yet curvaceous body in his arms, the strength with which he held her coursing through him, and he reveled in the forcefulness with which he controlled her body. His growls and snarls vibrated through his chest and into her back as he held her still for his attention.

  But not once did he scratch her, not once did he inflict pain. And not once did he smell or feel terror emanating from her. His name broke from her lips as she arched back against him once more.

  She fell apart in his arms as another climax tore through her, and this time Illam let her fall back limply against him. He removed his hand, catching her when she sagged. He eased her back against his chest, allowing her nightgown to slither back down so that when she slid down his body until she sat between his thighs, the material of her nightgown protected her from the grass.

  Panting, eyes closed, she rested back against him.

  His own erection was still raging, but his instincts had come to the fore. See to your mate until she is submissive.

  Tera hadn't been submissive. She didn't know how to show her desire to mate in the way he was used to and wanted. Illam was more than aware of it, just as he was aware that, whatever had happened, for him, the time wasn't right. He would know when it was right. Until then, he would see to her needs.

  And he would see to his own later.

  Moving, he slid one arm beneath Tera's knees and the other behind her back, and in one easy motion he stood with her in his arms.

  "Illam?” she whispered, her arms twining around his neck.

  He wasn't able to speak right then. Lust still burned within him, but so did a swift feeling of tenderness. Purring low in his throat, he sought to soothe her in the only way a Felys would do in an emotional, non-speaking, but communicative way.

  With a sigh, she laid her cheek against his shoulder.

  Without a word, he carried her back to the house and into her bedroom. Gently he laid her upon the bed, and when she murmured a protest at him pulling away, he kissed her softly—and left.

  * * * *

  Space

  "They're coming!"

  The words filled him with dread. He could hear the laser fire below, the screaming and swearing. A heavy body thumped against the stairwell door, the resounding echo of it ringing dully.

  He knew better than to open the stairwell door. To do so would be to let the pirates in, and that would seal their fate. Although their fate seemed to be already on the side of doom.

  The remainder of the crew looked at him, and they all hefted their lasers, readying for the final showdown.

  The sound of a torch burning through steel sounded, and he swung to look at the stairwell door.

  "They're burning through,” one of the men stated.

  "Get ready,” he said.

  Facing the door, they waited for the first of the pirates to come through.

  * * * *

  Staring at herself in the mirror, Tera bit her lip. There was a mark on the side of her throat. A small bite mark. No, a nip mark. Damn. Blowing out her cheeks, she turned her head to the side. Nope, the mark was still there. It didn't just magically disappear by stretching her neck.

  Damn Illam. Damn her, too, for being lured out into the night to indulge in some—bloody wild hanky panky! Heat flushed through her at the memory.

  He'd been almost feral. She could still feel the light raking of his nails across her stomach and through the curls at the apex of her thighs. Hear the snarls, sense his dominance, and feel his growls reverberating against her back.

  He'd hunted her like prey and did all but devour her outside.

  Remembering the rasp of his tongue against her skin, she licked her lips. By God, I wish he had devoured me! I bet his tongue would—No! No, you're not falling for that feral Felys.

  Straightening her shoulders, she pulled a face at herself. It had been a very long time since she'd last been touched by a man; that was why she'd had such a reaction to him. She'd been easy because her body, unknown to her, was desperate for the rough touch of a man.

  You are such a liar! Groaning, she dropped her face into her hands. Face it, Tera, if he hadn't taken you back to your room and left so quickly, you'd have dragged him into the bed and practically eaten him alive.

  I'm sure he'd like that.

  Sighing, she sat up straight and looked at the mark on her neck again. Never one to fool herself, Tera acknowledged that she had enjoyed the previous night. Facing Illam, however, who was undoubtedly going to have a smug expression, was going to be distasteful. However, she had a plan. If he so much as sneered at her, she'd
bust him one.

  Leaning forward, she peered into the mirror. It didn't look so bad. Maybe no one would notice.

  "Are you ready?” Wylin called from the kitchen.

  "Coming.” Getting to her feet, she shook her hair so that it hung over her shoulders and covered her neck. No sense courting trouble.

  There was no sign of Illam when they entered the healers’ hut. Of Marx and Rilla, however, there was an enthusiastic welcome.

  "Guess who dropped by and gave us a specimen?” Rilla crowed.

  "A specimen of what?” Tera placed the data collector on the table.

  "Felys’ sperm.” Beaming, Marx handed her the glass jar. “And filled the jar up, I might add!"

  "Filled it up?” Tera looked at it in bemusement.

  Marx pointed to the label. “Illam."

  Tera nearly dropped the jar. “Illam?"

  "Illam,” Rilla confirmed.

  "But he was dead set against it yesterday."

  "He reckoned he was more than up to it last night.” Marx grinned.

  "Obviously had the scent of some female to get him up and going,” Rilla laughed.

  No wonder. He hadn't spilled himself inside her, so he must have been just about bursting. Tera placed the jar on the table, dumbfounded.

  "Don't go looking at me like that.” Wylin scowled at Marx.

  "Fair is fair,’ Marx replied.

  "Illam gave us a sample, it's only fair you should,” Rilla added.

  "I can get a female to help you—” Marx suggested.

  "—If you want,” Rilla finished.

  "No!” Wylin crossed over to Tera and scowled. “This is your doing, wench."

  She laughed weakly. “You have no idea."

  "Get these two off my back for a sperm sample."

  "Oh, you mean you."

  "Who did you think I meant?” Wylin frowned.

  "Come on, Wylin.” Rilla's tone was wheedling.

  "Surely there must be some female who makes you get an erection,” Marx stated bluntly.

  "And what I do with my erection and sperm is for me alone!” Wylin glared at them. “The answer is no, and that's final."

  Marx and Rilla subsided in disappointed silence.

  Glad to have her mind on other things, Tera handed the data collector to Rilla. “Could you please enter in the names of the runts who come in today. Runts...” She frowned. “I don't like that word."

  Rilla looked surprised. “It's what they are."

  "Isn't there something nicer to call them?"

  "It's not an insult in our culture,” Marx replied.

  So she had to accept that. “Sorry, I didn't know.” She moved past him. “When are they coming?"

  "Soon. The first one is—” He sniffed the air then swung around to stare at her.

  Lifting her nose in the air, Rilla copied him.

  "What's wrong?” Tera raised her brow.

  Without answering, Rilla moved closer and sniffed at Tera, just below her ear, and then back towards her shoulder. She cast Marx an unreadable look.

  Tera felt chills go down her spine. Surely Illam hadn't marked her last night? But going by the expressions on the healers’ faces ... I will kill him!

  She glared at warning at the healers, and they both closed their mouths.

  "Is everything all right?” Wylin asked curiously.

  "It seems some scents linger for a while.” Tera pasted a smile on her face. “My soap is something they haven't smelled before."

  Not convinced, he gave her a searching look.

  "About the sperm specimen—” Rilla began.

  "No!” Wylin stomped out of the hut. “I'll wait out here for you, Tera."

  Thank the stars for quick-thinking healers.

  "So,” Rilla said.

  "Want to tell us?” Marx queried.

  "About you and a Felys male?” Rilla looked eager.

  "There's nothing to tell.” Sitting at the table, she broke open a new case of vials. “When is the first runt coming in, did you say?"

  "I didn't,” Rilla answered.

  "Then say something now."

  "But—"

  "Nothing is going past my lips."

  "Not yet,” Marx muttered.

  Tera speared him with an annoyed look. “Look, my personal life has nothing to do with the research on the runts, all right?"

  Rilla shrugged, and Marx nodded gloomily.

  "Good. Now, let's get a start.” Tera breathed a silent sigh of relief. “Tell me about the runts. How many are there?"

  "Six at the moment,” Rilla replied. “There are six litters of various ages in the clan, and each litter has a runt."

  "It's not normal.” Marx started labeling the vials. “A runt in now and again you can expect, but not every litter."

  "It's increasing?” Tera frowned.

  "Rapidly.” Marx laid the vials in the holders, ready for the samples.

  "Hopefully the samples will give us an answer."

  "We've tried what you've done so far, with no result.” Rilla rubbed her brow worriedly.

  "I'll send any discrepancies in the samples back to my father via this.” Tera tapped the data collector.

  "That can send it to your planet?” Marx walked towards the door.

  "No. All I have to do is go back to the scout ship, log the data collector into the communicator, and that will send all the details back home."

  "And when will your father have the results?” Rilla asked.

  "I should have the results within a day or so."

  "Then let's get started.” Marx smiled back at Tera. “The runts are coming now."

  The runts, Tera found, were a lot smaller than their larger counterparts. They were also a little more cantankerous, and within a very short time she made Rilla collect the samples they needed, while she stuck self-adhesive on her other thumb, and dabbed a scratch on her wrist.

  A tiny tortoiseshell hissed at her, and the mother of one tabby boy was having a problem keeping him still for Marx to take a nail sample.

  "Is this normal behavior for runts?” Tera asked Rilla.

  "They're worse around strangers.” Rilla grinned. “Because they're allowed free reign in the forests, they don't like being made to conform."

  "Maybe it's due to their knowing the reason why?"

  "Could be.” Rilla capped a sample jar and set it in the container.

  "Doesn't it worry you?” Tera caught the back of one little Felys’ pants who was making a run for it, and swung him towards Marx, who caught him easily.

  "The runts deserve to have a life of fun,” Rilla returned.

  The mother of the tabby boy nodded her solemn agreement.

  Tera sat at the table and studied the mother. “Don't you think it would be easier to teach the runts their place in your clan?"

  The mother looked away, but not before Tera saw the glint of tears in her eyes.

  Tera cast a questioning look at Marx, who shook his head. Understanding the unspoken warning, she waited until the runts had scampered off with shrill yowls of delight. Turning to ask Marx the reasons, she was surprised to find all six mothers still standing in the hut, obviously waiting for her.

  "You think we do not love our kits?” A blue-cream tortoiseshell mother asked tiredly.

  "Not at all,” Tera replied hurriedly. “I'm just trying to understand."

  "My kit,” she whispered, “Will possibly not live long enough to take his place in our clan. And neither will the runt kits of my friends.” The mother gestured to the silent Felys females standing around her. “It is the right of the runts to enjoy their lives while they can."

  Tera was silent for a minute, then she gently laid her hand on the Felys’ arm. “I can see how much you all love them. On my world, the weaker are still taught to prepare themselves to take a place in our society. I know your society is different."

  "Our society,” the mother replied steadily, “is survival of the fittest. The fit are taught survival. The runts are cared for and g
iven love, but not expected to take on the duties of a healthy kit. That is our way."

  Not wanting to pursue the matter further, Tera said soberly, “Thank you for explaining that to me."

  The hut was silent after the Felys had left. Tera looked at Rilla and Marx, who were packing the samples into containers.

  Rilla glanced up, her gaze steady. Marx straightened, his face impassive for once.

  Giving nothing of her thoughts away, Tera smiled at them. “I'll spend this afternoon studying the data and recording it on the data collector. I'd appreciate your help in correlating it."

  Tera wasn't finished with the subject of runts, but she wanted to talk to someone who'd traveled outside the clan.

  When the time came for the noonday meal, she was right in the middle of recording data and didn't want to stop.

  "You have to eat,” Wylin told her.

  "Right.” She peered into the microscope. “Fascinating."

  "That you have to eat?"

  "No. This is fascinating.” Frowning thoughtfully, she made a notation on the data collector.

  Wylin's stomach rumbled loudly, and he gave a rueful grin when she looked up and laughed.

  "Go and get something to eat,” she told him.

  "I will when you come."

  "I'm not leaving for a while yet.” She gestured to the microscope. “If I can get all this data sorted out, then I can have the information collected so far sent to Father. We'll get an answer in a couple of days, and then we can sort out where to start."

  "Start on what?"

  "Whatever needs to be done."

  "Tera, that can surely wait for an hour or so?"

  "It can, but I can't."

  "Fine. I'll go get us something to eat and bring it back here."

  "You don't have to do that, Wylin. Go and relax for a while."

  "I'll be back with food for us both.” Wylin left the hut.

  In the quiet of the hut, Tera stretched, then she flicked a switch on the data collector, and soft music filled the room. Bending down over the data collector again, she continued to make notes.

  "Such dedication,” a voice drawled from the doorway. “I'm impressed."