hers in a coaxing way. Oh God, he wants to make love. Abri’s heart began to pound. The tip of his tongue tasted like her favorite candy. The man was hot—why shouldn’t she like the kiss? That was all.
“You are so beautiful,” Raiden whispered into her left ear.
Many men had told her that and so she relaxed. This would just be like any sexual encounter. Raiden trailed the backs of his fingers down her throat, across her shoulders, down her arms. He brought her wrists to his lips and kissed her tender flesh. His tongue licked her skin in circles on each one before he settled her arms around his neck. Raiden lifted her with ease and took her to his bed. She was certain that now he would pounce on her. When he settled beside her she felt his long erection. She swallowed hard remembering how big he was.
“Don’t be afraid,” he muttered.
She wasn’t scared. Well maybe a little, but it wasn’t of him. His hands were turning her body traitor. His tanned skin against hers was beautiful. His fingernails were a solid white. Every touch was tender as he explored her body like a treasure. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.
“Let me in, Abri,” he crooned.
In?
What did he want? She had given him permission to have her. He didn’t need an invitation. She was willing. Raiden lifted his hand and both he and Abri watched as a droplet of moisture slid down his skin. The single drop landed on her right breast, it moved a trail round and round until it seeped into her and Abri gasped. She felt him. He was inside of her, searching. There was so much power to the man; she could feel it as his secretions ran through her veins, invading every single inch of her. Coaxing her into wanting, needing him. Now she understood.
Moisture formed between her thighs and Abri knew the second his essence found and mixed with her nether region. Raiden shuddered. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. This mating was so strange. She had only just met him, yet she felt she had known him a long time and the feeling only intensified the more he touched her.
Abri lay back on the bed breaking contact. She gazed up at him as he moved closer. The sides of their hips pressed together through the material of the blanket. She couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips. Raiden was breathing fast and hard. He swallowed a few times. His eyes were locked onto hers even though the blanket had pooled at her waist from her movement; it wasn’t an accident she had used friction from the bed to slip the blanket lower. Most men would be devouring her bared breasts by now.
“Mating to a Castian is more than sex, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Normally, I would give you time to accept my essence before mating. Our bodies would grow to know one another. My mate needs to know I am the best choice for her. I must be the best at soothing her fears, making her feel safe. My mate must never fear me—the scent is too abhorrent. Please never fear me.”
“You’ve never had sex before.”
“On a basic level, I understand the need to join to procreate. But my must cycle is over. At least, I’m told our cycle is over. There weren’t enough females around me to experience must. The most important thing to me is you. Your well-being. Your happiness. You already let me in when you allowed our essence to join. Thank you for that.”
“Your innocence is refreshing.”
“It’s my honesty. I will never lie to you. I will also never be unfaithful. I was surprised to learn humans cheated on their mates.”
“There is something to be said for Castians.”
Raiden stroked the backs of his fingers across her forehead. He then seemed to notice her breasts and for some reason he frowned.
Abri felt a little offended. “I know they’re not huge.”
Raiden offered her a grin. “I am honored you feel insulted enough to be upset by my look; I can feel if I was any other male you wouldn’t care, it means we are joining, but your annoyance is