Fire Planet Vikings (Hot Dating Agency Book 1) Read online

  She nodded. “On Earth, some use feathers, uummm, you have no animal that corresponds to our birds that I know of. But anyway, a feather is very soft, like the Hath fur you make your linens from, but it is very thin and light with a stiff spine.”

  I tried to imagine what she was describing, but couldn’t.

  “Some pairs use them during mating. They draw the feather along the skin, very lightly.” She suddenly brightened, as if something occurred to her. “It is much like your mating blade when you drew it lightly across my face or neck, only it doesn’t leave behind any sort of mark.”

  “Has that been done to you?”

  She smiled. “Not during mating, no, but I know what a feather feels like. The skies of Earth are full of birds, and feathers are common and easy to find.”

  I looked at her. “These birds, they fly?” I tried to imagine that as well, and couldn’t. I’d never seen an animal that could fly. Earth must be a wondrous place.

  She nodded. I reached out and touched her again as she showed me, and I liked the way she tipped her head into my hand and the smile of pleasure that appeared on her lips. It was an odd sensation, the enjoyment I found in giving her pleasure. It wasn’t physical pleasure, like I received while mating with Sereni, my current favorite, but it was pleasure just the same.

  “Nice,” she murmured then opened her eyes. “Now, try this.”

  She cupped my face in her hands, staring into my eyes as she caressed my face with her thumbs. I repeated the action.

  “Lighter. Softer. Slower,” she murmured and I adjusted my touch. “Slower, softer,” she whispered. I adjusted my touch again. “Nice,” she whispered. “I could let you do that all night.”

  I released her face. “I think my arms would get tired after a while.”

  She giggled, a delightful sound. “I’m sure, but think of these touches like your mating blades. You don’t keep using the same attack, right? You mix it up, trying to penetrate your mate’s defense. This is the same thing. You mix up the touches, trying to get through her emotional defense. You’re drawing her out, creating a desire for her to mate with you. Understand?”

  “I think.”

  “Okay, let’s find out. Touch me, but make up something new. Don’t touch me in either of the ways I’ve shown you.”

  I smiled, then forced it way. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to fling her onto my bed and mate with her until our star rose in the morning. But that was exactly what she was trying to instruct me against. I sat for a moment thinking, then slowly reached for her and drew my finger along her ear. She shivered and I jerked my hand away.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  She giggled. “No, far from it. That felt amazing. Do it again!” she said with a teasing mischievousness in her voice.

  I chuckled and reached for her again, but didn’t get the same reaction. I looked at her in confusion.

  She smiled. “To fast and too aggressive. Light touches. Slow movements. Take your time and enjoy the moments.”

  I sighed. Now I could see why my people had such difficulty with this. What differenced did it make with the speed I reached for her make? I bit back my annoyance and reached for her more slowly and touched her so lightly I almost couldn’t feel it. She still didn’t shiver and my frustration rose.

  “That was nice.”

  My confusion compounded. “You didn’t shiver,” I pointed out.

  “Because I was expecting it that time. It still felt good though. Remember what I said about mixing up your touches? The surprise of the first time made it much more pleasurable than the third time.”

  “So I can’t touch you in the same way but once? How can you possibly keep coming up with new ways of touching? I don’t understand!”

  She smiled. “Relax. It’s not that complicated. Remember when you were caressing my cheeks with your thumbs, and I said I could let you do that all night? Not everything has to be a surprise to feel good. And to keep the surprises, don’t do everything every time. For example, assume you have twenty ways of touching your mate that you know she likes. Some, like the caressing my face, you do every time because she enjoys it. Others, like touching my ear, you may only do every third, or fifth time. Maybe you will do it twice in a row, then not do it again for weeks. The point is, each time you mate it is new. Mix things up. Do things sooner, later, or not at all but do other things instead. There’s no formula.” She grinned at me. “You’re a great warrior, leader of all the planets, and in battle you have to adjust your tactics as the fight ebbs and flows, right? You have to adjust what you are doing based what you see and can sense. This is no different.”

  “I think I understand, but I am hardly the ruler of the galaxy. Each planet rules themselves.”

  She nodded. “I understand, but back on Earth there is a nation, the United States of America. If you think of your Peoples as our Earth, the United State doesn’t rule the Earth, but they lead it. Where they go, many will follow. Not everyone loves, or even likes them, but everyone respects them for what they are capable of doing. You, and the Firaspatciti”—she still had trouble with our words but I appreciated her trying—“are like the United States. Where you lead, many will follow.”

  “Is the United States your country?”

  She shook her head. “No. And they sometimes do things that make no sense to me. But I still respect them, and what they do influences what my country, the United Kingdom, more specifically, Scotland, does. The Fires are like that. You took the lead on this. You reached out and took the risk of bringing me here. You are trying to mate with another people. None of the others did any of those things. They were content to sit and risk going into the long darkness waiting for someone else to solve the problem. That’s you, Stevan, and the Fires. That’s why it’s so important that we make this work. The Fires can do this. I know they can. Look at you. In just a few hours, I’ve taken the edge off you as far as the Waters are concerned. You need practice, and there is much more to learn, but are you beginning to see where your people need to go? It’s not such a bad place, is it?”

  I smiled. Catherina could make me want to lead an army into the long darkness just because she said it was a good idea. Perhaps we could learn much from the Waters. I know I was surprised at how pleasurable simply touching Catherina’s face was. Getting pleasure from giving it? The idea made about as much sense as saying not eating satisfied your hunger, but it seemed to be true.

  “No, not a bad place.”

  I reached out and drew my finger lightly along her jaw and was rewarded with another small shiver and a smile. No, not a bad place at all.

  Chapter Eleven

  Catherina

  “Thank you, Kergah,” I said as he escorted me to the door to Stevan’s quarters.

  I was allowed to roam the palace freely, but I couldn’t travel alone. The only place I was forbidden entry without invitation was Stevan’s quarters and the various rooms where Stevan ruled his world. As Stevan didn’t want to cause rumors, only his most trusted ally, Kergah, was allowed to deliver me to his private rooms and know the reason for my visits.

  “You look tired, Catherina.”

  I smiled. “I am a bit. I’m not sleeping well.”

  “Is there something I can do to ease your discomfort?”

  I smiled. “No. Thank you for asking.”

  He nodded. “You have been working hard, and you have taken no mate that any one has seen. Perhaps you should relax for an evening. This problem has been ten thousand years in the making. Taking a day off to relax and enjoy the company of another won’t make any difference to the outcome.”

  I giggled. “Have you been spying on me?” I teased.

  He smiled in return. “No, but it is common knowledge you sleep alone, and have since Quathaul returned home five months ago. You do nothing but work, eat and sleep.” He took my arm and pulled me to a stop. “While I appreciate your dedication, there is still much work to do. If you destroy yourself before it’s complete, who will pick up your
sword to fill the gap?”

  “So, you think I need to get laid?” I asked, unable to hide my smile.

  “I don’t understand the reference.”

  “I should mate.”

  He smiled and shrugged. “You have no shortage of willing partners. Perhaps that will help you sleep.”

  My grin spread. “Perhaps it would, but the Fires are too aggressive and the Waters are too passive.”

  Kergah started us walking again. It wouldn’t do to keep the leader of the galaxy waiting. “Perhaps one of your students, then? I understand you have made great progress.”

  I liked the sound of that idea. I liked it a lot and had considered taking a lover from the group many times, but I needed to keep them focused on the Waters. I was discussing with Quathaul when the time was right to introduce the Fires and Waters to each other and allow nature to take its course. We agreed we were very close now, perhaps within the month. There were about four Fires for every Water. I might take one of the Fires that didn’t mate with a Water. I mentally shook my head. No, that was a bad idea. I was going to use them to help train the next batch of Fires, a much larger group, to introduce to a much larger group of Waters.

  “Perhaps,” I said, wanting to drop the conversation.

  I loved it here, and I loved what I was doing, but I was beginning to miss home, Earth, and I was certainly missing having sex and cuddling afterwards. I’d been in a two-month drought when Stevan had taken me. Added to the length of time I’d been here, and the Fires longer units of time measurement, I’d been without a man for nearly an Earth year. I’d never been in a drought that long before and I was craving the tender touch of a lover.

  Worse, Stevan was an apt pupil, and as his touches became ever more pleasant and natural, and the sheer animal magnetism of him, meeting with him once or twice a week wasn’t helping. It was making things worse.

  We stopped before Stevan’s door and Kergah touched the wall.

  “Enter!” Stevan called.

  I’d never been able to figure out how people outside the door could hear someone inside bid them entry, when at the same time they couldn’t hear the doorbell or any other sound in the room. More of the magic. Sereni had tried to explain it to me once, but she might has well have been trying to explain calculus to a baboon.

  I stepped inside and paused on my knee until Stevan called me forward. I approached and he smiled at me, giving my face a soft caress and a gentle kiss on the lips. It was all part of the lesson, all part of allowing him to perform the actions naturally and without thought. And goddamn, was he good at them.

  “Are you ready to begin our lessons?” he asked.

  “No, my Lord. Your lessons are complete. I have nothing else to teach you.”

  He looked almost disappointed. “Are you sure. I feel I have so much more to learn.”

  I shook my head. I wanted to cry. I simply couldn’t do this anymore. “No, my Lord. You simply must practice what you know.”

  “But it’s been only two months. The others you have worked with for five months. I don’t understand.”

  I nodded. “I… worked with them during mating.”

  I saw realization dawn on his face. “Ah. That explains a few things. Sereni has been… different of late.”

  “She has?” The news surprised me, and my astonishment was clear in my voice. “In what way?”

  The women were just a prop to help the men, but perhaps they were learning a thing or two along the way. During our classes we discussed, but the mating was occurring in private. I had been so focused on the men, I hadn’t even realized the women were changing as well.

  He smiled and shrugged. “Difficult to describe. She’s just a lusty as she ever was, but her touches were more like yours.” He paused then smiled. “She was giving me pleasure, not just taking it.”

  I smiled, but my heart was tearing. It was then that I realized how lonely I was. Not for friends, or companions. I had made many friends in my time here, Sereni and Quathaul, Tokalas, Kergah, and even Stevan, along with many others. But none could fill this empty place in my heart. I was lonely for someone to care for me, to hold me in the night and kiss away my tears when I felt overwhelmed, to smile and laugh and share my successes with me.

  I looked to Stevan. “Then the trickle is already turning into the mighty river,” I said, then looked away.

  “Catherina? What’s wrong? You should be celebrating!”

  “I can’t do this anymore!” I cried, then broke into sobs and turned away in shame. I felt weak and helpless, but I couldn’t hold it in any more.

  He stepped in front of me and pulled me into his arms. I sniffed. He was such as good student. He tipped my face to his. “Tell me, Catherina, what’s wrong? Why are you sobbing? Is it because you wish to return home?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know. I like it here, but I’m lonely, Stevan.”

  He nodded and pulled my head to his chest. “I understand. You’ve been without your own people for so long. If you wish to return, I won’t ask you to stay. You have carried us so far. Perhaps we can walk the rest of the way on our own.”

  I nodded into his chest, his warm strong embrace comforting me. He stood, holding me for a long moment and I could feel the ache inside me subsiding. I could return to Earth, but I couldn’t let these people down. Not when we were so close to success. I could stand it for a little while longer.

  “I’m sorry,” I said with a sniff. “I don’t wish to return home just yet. I just…” I couldn’t finish the sentence as the ache returned along with my tears. I wiped at my eyes, thankful the Fires didn’t wear makeup. “I’m sorry. I should go.”

  “Please stay,” he said. His voice made it a request, not an order.

  I hesitated. I wanted him so badly, more than I’d ever wanted a man in my entire life. He was now everything, everything, I wanted in a man. Big, strong, handsome, fully in charge of himself and his surroundings, but at the same time, he had a gentle side. Granted, I’d had to teach him his gentle side, but that didn’t matter now. I looked at him, wanting desperately to stay, to have him take me to his bed and make love to me, but I knew it was wrong.

  He smiled, and pulled me to him. He held me again and I could feel the pain receding. I wept into his chest, clinging to him desperately tight, not wanting to let him go but knowing I had to. Finally, after a time, I cried myself out, and still he held me, his big hand on the back of my head, holding my cheek to his shoulder.

  With a sniff I backed out of his arms, and he allowed me. Then, he took my lips and I melted into him. We had kissed before, as part of his lessons, but I had always held myself in tight control, calling a stop when I felt my passion, my desire starting to overcome me, but tonight, I didn’t. I couldn’t. I simply didn’t have the strength anymore.

  He responded as the kiss became deeper, my arms going around him and holding him into the kiss. He began to lose himself in the kiss and the kiss became harder, more brutal. I broke away from his lips.

  “Gently,” I reminded him as I took his lips again.

  I was lost, adrift in a sea of desire, desire for Stevan. Fire men and woman didn’t make noise during mating, but I couldn’t contain my voice and moaned into kiss as his hands began to roam. I grabbed his manhood and his lips went to my neck. He bit me and I hissed.

  “Gently!” I reminded him.

  He bit me again, but much softer this time, then kissed away the string. I was beginning to pant in desire. I pulled his mouth and tongue from my neck and back to my lips as he manhandled my breast.

  I pushed him away. I was losing myself. “We have to stop!” I gasped.

  He didn’t answer and moved back in, taking my lips again. I couldn’t help it and returned his kiss before pushing him away once more.

  “We can’t!”

  He paused, his red eyes hard as he held my gaze. “Is that what you want? Is that what you really want, Catherina?”

  I didn’t trust my voice so I nodded.

  “I
wish to mate with you, Catherina. Tell me you don’t wish to mate with me and you are free to go. No dishonor will follow you.”

  “But—” I began before he held up his hand, commanding me to silence.

  “There is no but. Tell me you don’t wish to mate with me and you may go. Or stay. The choice is yours.”

  I licked my lips. This was so wrong! “I… wish to stay.”

  He smiled and moved in again, kissing me hard, but not brutally so, and I again moaned into his mouth.

  “That sound, are you in pain?” he asked as pulled back from the kiss and touched the closures on my gown. It loosened and I shrugged it to the floor. He then touched the closures on his clothing and allowed it to fall away.

  “No, my dear Stevan,” I said softly as I took him in. He was simply stunning, the perfect example of a male, cut and ripped to perfection. “That is the sound of a human woman in pleasure.”

  He smiled as he lifted me and carried me to his bedchamber where he threw me into the bed as if I weighed nothing at all. I bounced to a stop in the center. There was no danger of falling off as the bed was easily twenty feet on a side.

  “Then I shall have to cause you to make more of those sounds,” he said with a smile.

  For the next eternity, he pleased me and I made a great many sounds. He was a hard, aggressive lover, and I had to keep reminding him to be gentle, but he always followed my instructions. Fire mating consisted of kissing on the lips and neck, biting on the neck and shoulder, fighting and fucking. I was up for that, but there was so much more for them to learn. I showed him how to use his mouth to please a woman, and as he licked and suckled at my breasts I swooned in pleasure. I pushed him lower, but I sensed he was reluctant to use his mouth on my womanhood, so I didn’t press.

  I smiled as I nudged him to his back and began to return the favor. I kissed his lips and chest, working my way lower. He kept wanting to take control, and I kept reminding him that part of my pleasure was pleasing him.

  As I approached his manhood with my lips I felt him stiffen. “What are you doing?” he asked.