Delivered by the Defender (Kindred Tales)

“Come here so I can heal you,” he said and patted his lap. “Come straddle me, little one—let me ease your pain.”

Selena swiped at her wet eyes and sniffed.

“All right. But will you take the bottom harness off too? It’s not hurting me like the top one was, but it’s still uncomfortable.”

“In good time,” Valen assured her. “First, come here and let me tend to your nipples.”

Obediently, she came to him and threw a leg over his hips.

“I thought you were gone for the night,” she whispered, her lovely voice still slightly hoarse with the tears she’d shed. “I thought I’d have to wait until the morning for you to come free me.”

“I’m so sorry, little one.” Valen felt another surge of remorse. Gods, how he had failed her! Well, it wouldn’t happen again, he promised himself. He would heal her and make things right between them.

“I’m just glad you’re back early.” She cleared her throat. “Er, how are you going to…to heal me?”

“By bathing your nipples with my Essence,” Valen told her. “Tell me—which one hurts the most?”

“Probably the right one.” She gestured to her breast and then looked at him from under her eyelashes. “Are…are you going to suck my nipples again…Master?”

Valen felt a rush of heated blood to his shaft at the way she was looking at him.

“Yes, little one—I am,” he growled. “Are you going to be a good girl and let me do it?”

Selena nibbled her lush lower lip and he heard her breathing begin to quicken.

“As long as you’re gentle, Master. They…they’re really sensitive right now,” she whispered.

“Of course, they are, little one.” Valen had the sudden urge to bring her lovely face down to his so that he could kiss her. But that would be too intimate. He had to remember his vow and tasting her sweet lips would only make it harder to keep.

Instead of kissing her lips, he cupped her full right breast and brought it to his mouth. His fangs were already producing the pale blue Essence which Blood Kindred used to heal and pleasure their mates. Though they would stop production at once if he bit her to drink from her, at the moment they were making plenty, because his body sensed that the curvy little Elite was injured and needed his help.

Gently, he began to run the tip of his tongue around and around her swollen nipple. At first Selena gasped and nearly jerked away from him. But then, as his Essence began to penetrate her flesh and heal her, she gave a soft sigh and thrust her breast out, as though offering herself more fully.

Her gesture of trust touched Valen deeply. He had failed her, had forgotten to remove the harness, and yet she was still willing to open herself to him and let him heal her—she was still willing to trust him.

Carefully, he sucked her tight tip into his mouth, still swirling his tongue around it, loving the salty-sweet taste of her skin and the soft little moans that she was making as pain turned into pleasure.

After a long moment, he switched to her left breast and healed that nipple, too. Before he knew it, Selena was thrusting both full mounds into his face, just as she had at the banquet table. Gods, he loved the feeling of her full, bare breasts against his face! Her skin was so soft and she smelled so sweet. He ran his hands up and down her back and sides and then cupped her breasts, sucking each in turn, teasing and tasting her now that she was healed.

Selena moaned breathlessly and shifted her hips restlessly.

“Master?” she whispered. “Master, please—the bottom harness. You…you said you’d remove it too, remember?”

Valen let one ripe nipple slide from between his lips and looked down between her legs. What he saw made him swear softly.

Her little pink Goddess Pearl was clearly swollen behind the crystal dome and her inner thighs were wet with her juices. Truly, she was indeed a numalla.

His mouth watered to taste her honey, but Valen knew if he did, it would only make him want to break his vow and Claim her. Still, he could at least massage her, as the harness maker had recommended.

Taking out the remote again, he popped open the bottom harness and helped her remove the platinum chains and rings and the suction dome as well.

“Oh, God!” she gasped, shifting her hips in apparent relief. “Thank you, Master—that feels so much better!”

“It will feel better still, once I massage you, little one,” Valen growled softly.

“Massage me?” Her eyes went wide. “You mean…the way you did at the harness maker’s shop?”

“Exactly.” Valen looked at her directly. “Are you ready to spread your pussy and let me massage your little Goddess pearl, little one? Can you be a good girl and let me in?”