Free Bonded by Jaymi Hanako Page A

the rations on his ship. It seemed Lady Ethlinda had made some great exaggerations about the distribution of aphrodisiacs in the food and drink during this time of year. Still, Taimi thought she knew a place that might ease his concerns.
    Several street food vendors hawked their wares just outside the Apothecary Market. One in particular made a point of preparing everything in front of the customer from start to finish. No mystery spices or odd marinades.
    Simple food. Servant’s food.
    They slipped into one of the alleys near the booth, using crates and boxes stacked behind a shop as makeshift seats, escaping the worst crush of the crowd.
    As they began eating, she caught him staring at her mouth.
    Taimi blushed.
    She’d never thought something as simple as eating could be erotic, but she couldn’t mistake his look for anything else. It was flattering and a little intimidating all at once.
    Her confusion must have been obvious, because he suddenly grinned. Was he laughing at her again?
    A faint gloss of grease slicked his well-shaped lips. She wanted to taste them. Take the time to lick them clean before moving on to the more delicious tastes of his skin. In particular, she thought about one of the first things they’d done together, when she’d taken his cock in her mouth. The feel of him, so thick and hard.
    The taste of him. The expression of pure pleasure on his handsome face. Under her skirt, she crossed her legs, trying to suppress the pulsing need, but the compression only seemed to intensify the sensation. She was growing wet too.
    If only they were alone.
    Jaren set his straight white teeth into the last bit of meat and pulled it free. Set the empty skewer aside as he chewed and swallowed. “Know what I was just thinking?”
    Taimi swallowed hard. “What?”
    He brushed her hair away from her face. Her breath caught in her throat when his fingers skimmed against the sensitive curve of her ear. Jaren leaned in close. His breath was warm and moist against her skin. “You’ve got a sexy mouth, Taimi. I was thinking about how it felt, wrapped around my cock.”
    “I…I was thinking about the same thing.”
    “I know something better for you to think about.” He stood. Took her by the hand and led her deeper into the alley. Though it was still the middle of the afternoon, little sunlight reached between the closely packed buildings.
    It was a dead end filled with more crates. Jaren pulled her into the deeper shadows behind the stacks.
    Taimi thought she knew what he wanted. What he expected. She started to kneel before him and reached for the front of his trousers, but he stopped her. Drew her back up to a standing position and kissed her.
    He shifted until her back pressed against the alley wall, and he dropped to his knees.
    Not what she expected. “What are you doing?”
    “This skirt has been driving me crazy. So large and shapeless.” He fisted his hands in the fabric. “But there might be one good thing about it.”
    “Oh?”
    He gave her a quick, hot look from under his long lashes, the expression in his eyes full of wicked intent. “I bet I could fit under it with you, and no one would even know I was there.”
    “Why would you want to—” She broke off as he pushed her thighs apart, opening her body to his hands. His mouth. He teased at her sensitive nub with the tip of his tongue, and she shuddered, her legs quivering until she could barely stand. Jaren disappeared more completely under the cloth.
    “I love the way you respond. How you get so wet, just for me.” His voice was muffled by the layer of fabric, but she could almost feel every word. He parted her folds. Lapped at the moisture pooling there. “And you taste so good.”
    In the distance, she heard the noise of the crowd—a reminder of their public location—but it didn’t matter now. All focus locked on Jaren and what he was doing to her. He alternated between licking her pussy and teasing her clit, sending jolts of nearly