Her Mate and Master (Zandian Masters 6)

Her pert little ass lifted high in the air, her protruding sex taunted him. He started spanking her again, enjoying the new position, the way she bucked and jerked under his palm. After a dozen smacks, he stopped and kissed each reddened cheek. “That’s for being an unbelievable temptation to me.” He lowered her hips to his lap, tucked her knees against his chest, and stroked her tantalizing curves.

“What’s holding you back?” Her husky voice nearly made him come in his combat pants. Her head lay on the mossy ground, chestnut hair fanned out around her heart-shaped face.

He delivered a light slap to her flank. “You’re not mine to take. Veck, I wish you were. The planet—” He tightened his grip on her thigh.

She leaned up on her elbows, causing her breasts to shift and slide with gravity.

His mouth watered to take each of those dusky nipples in his mouth and suck until she clawed at his shoulders for more.

“What is it about the planet?” She sounded breathless. “It’s doing something to us, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “The crystals—they fuel our bodies. Plus, it’s breeding season. Once a solar cycle, Zandian females come into season. It lasts forty-five to fifty planet rotations. Have you felt it before?”

A furrow appeared between her brows, and she shook her head. “What makes you so sure I’m Zandian?”

He gave a short bark of laughter. “Starshine, you are everything that is sacred and beautiful about a Zandian female.” He allowed his gaze to roam where it had wanted to be the entire time, absorbing the lusciousness of every curve, every valley. Nothing about her wasn’t perfect, from the delicate slope of her collarbone to the twin globes of her breasts—just enough to hold in each of his hands—and her flat belly and long, muscular legs. And he’d never forget exploring the sweet flower hidden between those thighs.

“But why can’t I see in the dark like you?”

He frowned. “Perhaps because you’ve been away from the crystals for so long. And you appear underfed, love.” He hoped she wouldn’t take it as an insult, but she certainly seemed too small to be the daughter of the enormous warrior, Seke.

She attempted to roll away from him, but he held her captive.

“Am I right?”

Her jaw firmed, but she nodded. “I was often hungry, yes.”

He dropped a kiss on her knee. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ll recover quickly now that you have access to the crystals.”

She tilted her head. “What about you? Haven’t you been away, too?”

“I was lucky enough to escape. My mother put me on an airship with the governor of my district. They took as many children from our province as they could. Later, I was fostered for arms training to your father on the palatial pod that became Prince Zander’s home. Prince Zander escaped with several large specimens of crystal, and they created crystal baths on the pod for any of his species to use. If he’d known of your existence, you would have been invited to use them, and given refuge and training, if you desired.”

She studied him warily, as if unsure whether to believe him.

He stroked his palm up her firm thigh, circling it around the curve of her hip. “I speak the truth, Talia. I would never trick you. Zandians have honor.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Is it honorable to strip females and slap their bare asses?”

He grinned. “You’re not hurt. Tell me that you’re hurt, and I’ll never do it again.”

Even in the darkness, he saw her face flush darker purple. She reached for her ass and stroked it. “No, I’m not hurt.”

“You liked it.”

More violet stained her cheeks. “I did not.”

Yet, the scent of her arousal bloomed once more.

Veck. He’d been attempting to alleviate the ache in his cock by not moving, but his erection punched out again.

“I’m hungry,” she said, probably to distract him from the conversation.

He arched a brow. “Are you, starshine? The crystal core of the planet should provide enough.”

Confusion flitted over her face. “You don’t eat?”

“Once every ten planet rotations. We don’t require it for energy, only to provide a few nutrients our bodies require.” He shifted her off his lap, the need to satisfy this lovely female on every level too strong to remain still. “If you’re hungry, though, I’ll go hunt.”