“What about you?” she asked, putting a hand on his hip and looking up at the big Monstrum.
“Are you afraid to find out if I have a taste you’ll recognize?” V’rone demanded. “Or will you kiss me too, little Terra?”
Shouldn’t do this—you’re getting into dangerous territory, whispered a little voice in her head. Terra almost listened to it—then she remembered the way Kat had advised her to stand up to the big Monstrum. V’rone might irritate her with his heavy-handed ways, but there was no denying he was extremely attractive with those sharp black horns and dark maroon eyes.
He looks a little like a devil, she thought. And a very sexy devil at that.
“How many times do I have to tell you I’m not afraid?” she asked, going to stand in front of him with her hands on her hips. “How many times—”
V’rone gathered her into his arms and cut her off with a kiss.
It wasn’t a gentle kiss like Tem’s or an exploring kiss like Rive’s. V’rone’s kiss was hungry and demanding. He bent her over his arm and ravished her mouth, exploring her as though he had every right to do so.
It took her breath away and she gasped, opening to him without meaning to. V’rone took advantage at once, tasting her hungrily and demanding more.
To her utter shock, Terra found she was kissing him back! Not only that, her body was throbbing with desire—her nipples tight and between her thighs her pussy was liquid.
Oh God, can’t believe I’m doing this—shouldn’t be doing this! a little voice moaned inside her head, but somehow she couldn’t seem to stop…
Until the flavor of red-hot cinnamon burst across her tongue—a fiery, stinging spice that was painfully delicious.
Gasping, Terra planted her hands on the Brawn’s broad chest and pushed away from him. V’rone let her go—reluctantly, she thought—and stood staring at her. He was breathing hard, as though he’d just run a marathon. Terra realized she was doing the same thing—almost panting in the aftermath of the passionate kiss.
“Well?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“Cinnamon,” Terra admitted.
“It’s an Earth spice that’s often used in the baking of sweet confections,” Rive put in helpfully.
“Doesn’t matter what they fucking use it for—I’ve proved my point,” V’rone said, looking at Terra. “You’ve tasted us all and every member of our colony has a flavor for you. Why don’t we just forget this fucking nonsense with Mistress Bodikin and go into the bed chamber and bond you to us right now?”
“What? No!” Terra took a step back from him. “You mean why don’t I just form a permanent and unbreakable bond with three strangers I just met this morning? I don’t think so!”
“We’re hardly strangers now, Terra,” Rive protested mildly.
“But it’s true we haven’t known each other long,” Tem said. “I understand our Lady’s reluctance—I don’t believe Earth relationships work the same way they did on our home world. They have a period of courtship before bonding—the same way other types of Kindred observe the Claiming Period.”
“Yes, we do!” Terra nodded eagerly. “On Earth, you don’t just walk up to someone and say—‘Hey, I think we’re compatible. Let’s get married and stay together for life.’ It just doesn’t work like that!”
V’rone let out a growl of frustration.
“Fuck courtship and fuck the Claiming Period! You want us—all of us! I can tell by how hot your scent has gotten, little Terra!”
Terra felt a hot flush of embarrassment creep over her cheeks. Could they really tell how turned on she was just by her scent? Looking around at the three of them, it seemed likely, since she saw three sets of nostrils flaring and three sets of hungry eyes staring at her every move.
“Look,” she said. “Do I find the three of you attractive—of course I do! But does that mean I want to bond with you for life? No, it doesn’t. I’ve told you, I just got out of a long-term relationship which ended badly—very badly. Also, I’m too—”
“Don’t you dare fucking say you’re too old for us or we’re too young for you,” V’rone growled, cutting her off. “A Queen matches her colony perfectly after bonding.”
“Besides which, a Mature Elite like yourself is the most sought after type of female for any Monstrum,” Tem put in. “We find you incredibly desirable, my Lady.”
“Tem is correct,” Rive murmured. “You are, in every respect, our ideal, Terra.”
“Well, I…I’m flattered, of course,” Terra stammered. “But I just can’t promise to make a lifetime commitment with the three of you. It’s just…too much.”
“Fine.” V’rone tugged on his horns in a gesture of frustration. “Then what do you say to a courtship period so we can all get to know each other?”
“Well…”
Terra hesitated. Only an hour before, she would have said that no amount of courtship would make her agree to bond herself for life to three huge, muscular aliens she hadn’t even known a whole day. But after the Taste-test, she was no longer quite so certain.