poured
into carved wooden cups. The rich red liquid stained Corry’s lips
and Ashton had to kiss her.
He curved his fingers around the back of her
neck and brushed his tongue lightly over her lips. “Delicious,” he
murmured then pushed into her mouth for another taste.
After responding for only a moment, she
wiggled away. “Everyone is watching us.”
“I know, and we’re going to have to do more
than kiss before the night is through. Are you sure you don’t want
to find another way to pacify the Deity?”
She took another sip of wine. “The only
other option is to let Lutton die for saving us. I couldn’t live
with myself if I let that happen.”
“Would it help if I spoke with the
elders?”
“Not this time Director VinDerley.
Their customs are clear. It’s one or the other.”
“Then give me some more wine.” She held out
her cup and he shook his head. “I want to taste it on your
lips.”
Her gaze darkened as she raised the cup to
her mouth. Like most of the women there, Corry was naked to the
waist. She kept her arms in front of her as much as possible, which
made Ashton smile. The fiery part of her nature that craved this
experience was buried beneath layers of inhibitions.
He took her face between his hands and
settled his mouth over hers. She wrapped her arms around his torso
and pressed her breasts against his chest. Soft, warm and his . How was he going to survive watching others touch her
and seeing her give pleasure to another man or men? His tongue
stroked her lips then curled around her tongue, sliding and
caressing.
If we’re going to do this, let’s do it
together. Let me strengthen the link.
She deepened their kiss and opened her mind,
welcoming his telepathic touch. He found the fragile strands he’d
woven before and reinforced them, binding them together, making
them stronger.
“The dancing is about to begin.” Lutton’s
tone held a note of warning.
Sending warmth and affection across their
link, Ashton separated their mouths. “Here we go,” he whispered,
and she smiled. Stars, she was beautiful when she smiled.
The acolytes stood and made their way across
the clearing, forming a neat row between Ashton and the fire. One
looked slightly older than the others and she spoke to the crowd
surrounding them.
“Do you understand their language?” Corry
asked Ashton.
“No. I’m surprised Lutton was able to speak
with us.”
She leaned around him and tapped Lutton on
the knee. “How did you learn our language? And what is she
saying?”
“I attended university on d’Arrest, as is
the custom for all Perrlain chieftains. We live our lives with
different priorities. That doesn’t mean we’re ignorant or
barbaric.” He nodded toward the speaker. “She’s calling upon the
power of pleasure to burn away your worldly taint.”
“Can a person convert to your way of life or
must one be born into your tribe?” She moved closer to Ashton so
the Perrlain prince could hear her better.
“We offer shelter and seclusion for souls in
need. Sometimes they are able to refocus their spirit and return to
the world beyond, other times they’re accepted into the tribe. If
we never took in new members, our gene pool would become
corrupted.”
“True.” Ashton tossed a piece of succulent
fruit into his mouth and tried to identify the taste. Most of the
Perrlain food was unrecognizable to him.
“Are you seeking spiritual guidance?”
“No,” Corry said. “Our goals haven’t
changed.”
“Then watch the dance. Once the high
priestess senses an adequate level of sexual energy, she will
present Ashton with his team.”
“Give, receive and then share?” Ashton
asked.
“Yes. You will give then receive pleasure.
Corry’s team will be presented to her and she will do the same.
First give then receive. After that you are free to share in the
festivities in whatever way you want.”
“This is a test,” Ashton reminded him. “What
are the tribe members looking for? What
into carved wooden cups. The rich red liquid stained Corry’s lips
and Ashton had to kiss her.
He curved his fingers around the back of her
neck and brushed his tongue lightly over her lips. “Delicious,” he
murmured then pushed into her mouth for another taste.
After responding for only a moment, she
wiggled away. “Everyone is watching us.”
“I know, and we’re going to have to do more
than kiss before the night is through. Are you sure you don’t want
to find another way to pacify the Deity?”
She took another sip of wine. “The only
other option is to let Lutton die for saving us. I couldn’t live
with myself if I let that happen.”
“Would it help if I spoke with the
elders?”
“Not this time Director VinDerley.
Their customs are clear. It’s one or the other.”
“Then give me some more wine.” She held out
her cup and he shook his head. “I want to taste it on your
lips.”
Her gaze darkened as she raised the cup to
her mouth. Like most of the women there, Corry was naked to the
waist. She kept her arms in front of her as much as possible, which
made Ashton smile. The fiery part of her nature that craved this
experience was buried beneath layers of inhibitions.
He took her face between his hands and
settled his mouth over hers. She wrapped her arms around his torso
and pressed her breasts against his chest. Soft, warm and his . How was he going to survive watching others touch her
and seeing her give pleasure to another man or men? His tongue
stroked her lips then curled around her tongue, sliding and
caressing.
If we’re going to do this, let’s do it
together. Let me strengthen the link.
She deepened their kiss and opened her mind,
welcoming his telepathic touch. He found the fragile strands he’d
woven before and reinforced them, binding them together, making
them stronger.
“The dancing is about to begin.” Lutton’s
tone held a note of warning.
Sending warmth and affection across their
link, Ashton separated their mouths. “Here we go,” he whispered,
and she smiled. Stars, she was beautiful when she smiled.
The acolytes stood and made their way across
the clearing, forming a neat row between Ashton and the fire. One
looked slightly older than the others and she spoke to the crowd
surrounding them.
“Do you understand their language?” Corry
asked Ashton.
“No. I’m surprised Lutton was able to speak
with us.”
She leaned around him and tapped Lutton on
the knee. “How did you learn our language? And what is she
saying?”
“I attended university on d’Arrest, as is
the custom for all Perrlain chieftains. We live our lives with
different priorities. That doesn’t mean we’re ignorant or
barbaric.” He nodded toward the speaker. “She’s calling upon the
power of pleasure to burn away your worldly taint.”
“Can a person convert to your way of life or
must one be born into your tribe?” She moved closer to Ashton so
the Perrlain prince could hear her better.
“We offer shelter and seclusion for souls in
need. Sometimes they are able to refocus their spirit and return to
the world beyond, other times they’re accepted into the tribe. If
we never took in new members, our gene pool would become
corrupted.”
“True.” Ashton tossed a piece of succulent
fruit into his mouth and tried to identify the taste. Most of the
Perrlain food was unrecognizable to him.
“Are you seeking spiritual guidance?”
“No,” Corry said. “Our goals haven’t
changed.”
“Then watch the dance. Once the high
priestess senses an adequate level of sexual energy, she will
present Ashton with his team.”
“Give, receive and then share?” Ashton
asked.
“Yes. You will give then receive pleasure.
Corry’s team will be presented to her and she will do the same.
First give then receive. After that you are free to share in the
festivities in whatever way you want.”
“This is a test,” Ashton reminded him. “What
are the tribe members looking for? What
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