Born of Defiance

Felicia smiled as she saw what her brother had done for them. She felt awful about every nasty thought she’d ever had regarding Lorens. “I’m so jealous! Your new barracks are at the palace. Near their guardhouse. Are those as nice as they sound?”


Galene snorted. “They’re not this.” She gestured at their bedroom. “But they’re not as miserable as gen-barr, which is what he had. He’ll finally have a private room and his own bathroom.”

“Really?” Talyn gasped with wide eyes.

She nodded. “It’s very small. Just a bed, chest of drawers, monitor, and tiny shower stall. Really a closet, but you don’t have to share it.”

The look of sincere joy made Felicia sick. What she’d learned was that Talyn had been relegated to using public washrooms at his old duty station. And he’d been allowed to use their showers only during certain hours, and never when there was a Vested soldier in them.

“It sounds great,” he said with a grin.

Not to her. It sounded miserable. But she didn’t want to dampen his happiness, so she returned his smile.

Galene headed for the door. “I’m meeting with my CO tonight for a status report so I’ll leave you two alone for a bit.”

“Be careful.” Felicia ate a piece of fruit from the tray.

“Hey, Mum!”

She paused in the doorway. “Yes?”

“Love you.”

Smiling, she blew him a kiss. “You too, baby.”

As soon as she was gone, Talyn picked the folder up and flipped through it. “This is the best present in the universe. I’ve got to do something really nice for my mom. But there’s no gift that’s equivalent to it.”

“I think the look on your face was gift enough.”

He grimaced. “I don’t.”

“Trust me. I do.” She kissed him. “Did you get enough to eat?”

“Mmm.” He nibbled her chin. “It didn’t quite fill me.”

She shivered as his fangs gently scraped her skin. “Are you up to this?”

He let out an evil laugh as he brushed her hand against his hard erection. “Oh, I’m definitely up for it.”

Sucking her breath in sharply, she pulled back. “Hold that thought. Let me get the tray out of here first. I don’t want to roll around in your food.”

Talyn pouted as he watched her leave. She was right, but he didn’t want to stop. Not when he was so happy and ready. Since the moment he’d first seen her photo, all he’d dreamed of was making love to her.

Now…

Trying to distract himself in the short interim, he pulled the file toward him and flipped through his orders while he waited for her to return.

He still couldn’t believe his mom had pulled this off. Anatole would have a stroke and he might protest it. But there wasn’t anything the bastard could do to stop it.

At least, he hoped not.

Then again, Anatole was the son of the tadara’s niece. There was no telling what kind of reach he could pull.

Don’t think about it. He had other things that were on his mind tonight. A beautiful angel to hold on to for a while.

More than eager for Felicia, he slid his pajama bottoms off and dimmed the lights.

“Felicia?” he called, wondering what was taking her so long. Had she run for the exit?

“Just a second.”

Talyn was about to go after her when the door opened and his stomach hit the floor. Probably his tongue, too.

Dressed in a sheer red negligee, she walked toward him so seductively that he was pretty sure he was drooling.

With the most salacious smile he’d ever seen, she pulled the blankets off and straddled him. “Hi, gorgeous.”

His breathing ragged, he couldn’t respond. All the blood had left his brain. Honestly, he was afraid to touch her. To move. If he did, he might ruin this by doing or saying something really stupid.

Tsking at him, she led his hand to the ribbon bow at her hip. “Whenever you’re ready, my panties are tied on. Just pull.”

“It’s like opening a present.”

She nodded with the sweetest smile he’d ever known.

His senses reeling, he rubbed himself against the scratchy lace. “Are you ready for this?”

She leaned forward, her long, curly hair brushing against his chest as she moved. “I’ve been ready since the first time I met you.”

He hoped she couldn’t see how unsteady his hands were as he pulled the ribbon between her breasts and uncovered her. Aching for a taste of her body, he slowly ran his hands over her breasts, reveling in the softness of them. He brushed his thumbs over the nipples, amazed at the way they hardened instantly. While he’d seen photos and films of naked females, he’d never seen one in the flesh.

Her body was amazing to him. So incredibly supple and beautiful.

Felicia bit her lip at the tender expression on his face as he gently and very slowly explored her. It was so obvious that he’d never been with a naked female before. He took his time and savored every inch of her flesh, inspecting it with great care and curiosity, which made her burn all the more.