Logic Read online

  Chapter Seven

  Toyo’s bed was huge, and he was sitting next to her, reading from a data tablet while he waited for her to wake. His pants were loose and silky, leaving the smoky grey of his pearlescent torso open to her gaze.

  After the muscles, she saw the scars and reached out a hand to touch one.

  He turned to her and smiled. “Feeling better?”

  “Less in shock.” She trailed her fingertip along one long, puckered line then a smaller puncture wound and a thin trail down his chest to his belly. She paused. “Is the light strange in here?”

  He chuckled. “No. I didn’t do it properly, but we bonded earlier. It seems you are destined to be pearly white no matter what.”

  There was an opalescent gleam on her skin that didn’t stop at her hand. “What the hell?”

  Toyo put his reading pad down and took her hands, pinning them to either side of her head. “You know how W’lyn formalize a union?”

  She nodded. “Sure, there is a blood exchange, but we didn’t do that.”

  He kissed her softly. “I sort of did without mentioning it. It is why you were so tired.”

  Her eyes widened and she arched in irritation. To her surprise, her hands came up off the bed and she shoved against his shoulders.

  He tumbled back to the end of the bed. He blinked and laughed. “It seems the change went deeper than skin colour.”

  Beryl looked at her hands. “What the hell was that?”

  “Enhanced strength. You will get used to it. Just don’t hug anyone that isn’t me for the next few days.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I received additional strength from your Terran blood and you received my mutation. I just hope you don’t get flight as well. That was a hard one to get control of.” He rolled to his hands and knees and stalked closer to her.

  She blinked and looked down at the flowing black shirt that covered her. Beryl scooted back up against the headboard and looked at him warily. “What are you doing?”

  He grinned and kept coming. “Testing your durability and your reflexes.”

  Her instinct was to squeak and run, but she moved onto her knees with one hand supporting her and watched him. The moment he lunged, she went up and over him, skidding to a stop before she fell off the bed.

  She turned to face him again on her hands and knees, instantly, he was on top of her, flattening her into the sheets.

  “Oof.”

  He chuckled, and he let up a little, nuzzling her neck with his lips and blowing hot air against her skin. “I was not expecting that, but then, I have a bit more combat training than you do.”

  She tried to lever up on her hands, but he held her down. “I never expected to use it while waking from a nap. It seemed unlikely.”

  She could feel his grin against her neck.

  “Now you are aware of the possibility.”

  Beryl felt his erection prodding the back of her thigh. “I am aware of a few things.”

  The thin cloth separating them was a far cry from the normal suit and hardened leather.

  He licked and nipped both sides of her neck before lifting and allowing her to flip over. The hungry look was in his eyes, but she no longer feared being consumed; she welcomed it.

  Beryl leaned up and kissed him, her lips to his, her tongue slipping into his mouth in delicate forays that brought his taste to her. Fire blossomed along every nerve, burning, but not hurting her.

  She slid her legs to either side of his hips and rocked against the ridge of his erection. The fabric between them grew damp from the slick invitation she was exuding, and with an instinct she was unaware of wrapped her arms around his chest and drew her nails across his skin.

  W’lyn skin was thicker than the original Vimpyrs. The mixture of Admaryn genes had protected them against UV rays by making their skin thicker and reflective. Her nails didn’t do any damage, but they got his attention.

  He caressed her thigh, dragging the shirt out of the way. Toyo slipped his hand between them and pressed two fingers into her, slipping in an inch at a time, stretching her slowly.

  His mouth completely engaged hers, his upper fangs had descended and he nipped at her lips while she moaned from the sensation of fullness when he slipped in a third finger.

  The ache in her sex wasn’t painful, but the nerves he was triggering wanted more. She knew he wouldn’t leave her incomplete, but wondering when it was going to happen was driving her to the edge all on its own.

  He twisted his hand against her, and she began to shake as her release got closer. When his thumb found her clit and pressed hard, she screamed against his lips and clawed at his back while her senses blew apart.

  She felt the softest of kisses against her cheek, another on her eyelids and another on her lips. She smiled and stirred. Beryl opened her eyes and looked up at him, “Your turn?”

  “I would rather we be together this time.” Toyo smiled, his fangs stood out in sharp relief against his deep grey skin.

  “Ready when you are.” Beryl stroked his ribs and ran her hands between them, up his torso and then slowly down again.

  “Not quite, but that can be remedied.” He kissed her again and she tasted blood.

  If someone on Earth had told her that blood and sex would be combined in a long-term relationship, she would have sent them to a therapist, but here, it seemed the most natural thing in the world.

  His taste sent her senses soaring again, and his hands roved over her in a delicate exploration that made her shiver. Her senses were overloading and she loved it. He could crush her with one hand, but he was touching her as if she was made of silk and porcelain. It was humbling and an incredible turn on.

  She lifted her left leg high against his hip, opening herself completely to him. He groaned into her mouth, and she heard fabric tear.

  Cool air curled between them, and she shivered. His pants shredded the same as the top she had been wearing, and then, it was Toyo and his heat that she was wearing.

  His cock pressed between her thighs. She wiggled, and when he rocked into her with his hips, she groaned in relief. This was the part of the equation she had been missing.

  He gnawed at her neck, careful to only abrade the skin. The prickle of pain mixed with the pleasure as his hips moved him into her by degrees. She held onto him again, running her hands over every bit of him that she could reach as sweat coated his skin.

  She rocked herself onto him, and he growled, thrusting hard until he could go no further.

  He paused, and they both shuddered as they tried to get control.

  Beryl slid her hand into the scarlet length of his hair, and she used her grip to pull his mouth back to hers.

  When she bit his lip, he growled and his hips pounded into hers. She held onto him and rode out the storm.

  She closed her eyes and focused on the sensation of the head of his cock stroking into her and pulling back with a fit so tight, she could feel a pressure vacuum. It felt like he was swelling even further with every thrust.

  Beryl teetered on the edge of release and remained there as he moved faster and faster. She clawed at him, and he lifted his head from hers to bite her sharply in the slope of her shoulder.

  Pleasure blazed with the pain, and she did the unthinkable and bit him back. Her teeth were not designed for a clean puncture, but blood flowed.

  He howled against her, and she was silent as light flooded her soul and burned out through every pore.

  She could feel his hips bucking against hers, but she was lost in waves of pleasure and heat. When she finally let him go, she licked at his shoulder and watched as his skin healed with only the crescents of her bite left behind. His blood still warmed her tongue, and she licked her lips to get the last of the taste.

  Toyo was slower to release her. It was only when his cock stopped twitching inside her that he unlocked his jaw and licked at the punctures.

  Beryl let herself drop boneles
sly back to the bed.

  Toyo pulled out of her and hauled her back across the sheets until he could tuck them both under the covers.

  He dropped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, spooning her with his body warming her entire backside.

  A nap was inevitable. She could feel that she was still changing. As she dozed off, she tried to remind herself to call work and tell them she needed a few personal days.

  Beryl threaded her fingers with Toyo’s between her breasts. Nothing could be more personal.

  Two days later, she was back in Teanic City, and in a peculiar switch, she was shopping while Tamra was assisting.

  “I can’t believe how much you have changed, Bebe.” Tamra grabbed a few light dresses and handed them over. “Try these.”

  The shop assistant scuttled over and took the dresses to the change room.

  “I can’t believe it either. Mind you, I can’t believe I had to wait until they were off on a mission so I could sneak out. I am tired of spending the days wearing nothing but a man’s shirt.”

  Tamra grinned. “Even if that man is your bond mate?”

  Bebe snickered. “Especially then. There is no surprise and frankly, no underwear to even slow him down. I am not complaining, but I think a few more layers might be a good idea.”

  Drovin had caught them twice, Rand once and Loesh had warned them that he could hear what they were doing and asked them to come to dinner when they were done. If she hadn’t been running around bottomless, she didn’t think that Toyo would have been so easily aroused. It was a theory.

  Tamra’s free day had been enough to get Bebe into town for shopping. She had stolen a Guardian skimmer and headed for the market area wearing clothing that she had cut and tied to fit her. Currently, she was wearing a tunic and trousers with delightfully comfortable underwear beneath it.

  It was a shopping outfit, and she had six months of wages to blow through in one afternoon. She planned to shop, and she had just the friend to help her.

  Nine dresses, ten tops, four pairs of trousers an armload of underwear, shoes and some skirts later, they were sitting in one of the open-air cafes and having a late lunch.

  Tamra grinned. “I have to confess, I had no idea you had it in you.”

  Bebe saluted her with a teacup. “Thank you. It was thanks to him that I managed to stop sending out a come and get me signal to every W’lyn.”

  They had agreed early on to avoid using names. Bebe didn’t want to attract any more attention than she already did. Mind you, with her pearl-white skin, she got less attention than she did when she looked pure Terran.

  “Your manager is really feeling your loss.” Tamra picked up a small sandwich and nibbled.

  “I am planning to either return to work or telecommute. It isn’t like I have to be there to do my work as long as I have a secure connection.”

  Tamra sighed, “But you won’t be there for lunches.”

  “You will have to sucker someone else into sharing sweets with you.”

  “Spoilsport. I know you will be content as long as you have puzzles to solve. And now you have a new playmate, so your time is all consumed, leaving none for me.”

  “Don’t pout. I am here today, am I not? I knew you had a free day, and I called you to see if you would help me. This luncheon is by way of thanks.”

  Tamra raised her wineglass and smiled. “It is more than sufficient. I must say, I do love your new look. Those suits sucked.”

  “Thank you, it was an opinion shared by many.” She nibbled at her own food and came to the conclusion that if you prepared them properly, gashki tasted like peanut butter.

  Damn it. The changes in her body had reached her taste buds.

  “I have to confess to curiosity. What is he like in bed?”

  Bebe sipped at her tea. “He likes to cuddle and prefers the right side.”

  Tamra rolled her eyes. “No, I mean what is sex like with a man strong enough to snap you in half?”

  Bebe smiled and winked at the figure that suddenly landed behind her friend. “Why don’t you ask him yourself? He has been in his bed with a partner many more times than I have.”

  Toyo came over and took a seat at their table, sending the server scurrying for a plate. Toyo didn’t wait; he reached over and took Bebe’s cup out of her hand, sipping her tea. “Hello, love. Thank you for the note. I would have worried.”

  She smiled wryly and pushed her plate of sandwiches toward him. “Busy day, dear?”

  Bebe refilled the cup and added the sweetener and drop of cream he preferred.

  “Loesh got stuck in an erupting volcano, so Drovin and I had to get him out while Rand cleared all the wildlife.”

  Tamra was sitting with her mouth open in astonishment.

  “Oh, Toyo, this is my friend Tamra. Tamra, this is Toyo of the Guardians in case you wondered.”

  Toyo inclined his head while eating all of Bebe’s food. He had started nibbling from her plate on day two, whether she was done with it or not.

  The server came forward, and she ordered another round of snacks for the table. It wouldn’t take Toyo long to clear them all. Flying worked up an appetite.

  Women around them began to look at him longingly. To Bebe’s embarrassment, he took her hand and pressed a long kiss to her knuckles. When he placed her hand back on the table, he refused to release it.

  The majority of women sighed mournfully and looked away.

  Bebe frowned. “Don’t think that you can use me to turn away your adoring fans. I mean, if you are taken, who will be left? Rand?”

  He grinned. “Are you telling me to flirt with those women? Or is the wrong answer here going to get me an ass kicking.”

  Tamra gasped in horror.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “I am testing you, as penance for eating my lunch.”

  The replacement food arrived and was all set in front of Toyo. He nodded and offered the platters to Bebe first.

  Tamra couldn’t believe what she was seeing, and it showed on her face.

  Bebe took her favourites and blithely waved away the others. She grinned and he grinned as they finished their meal.

  “That…that is some weird foreplay, isn’t it?” Tamra was catching on.

  Toyo and Bebe dissolved in laughter that drew every eye in the café. Once she was finished eating, he hauled her into his lap and they continued their visit with Tamra.

  She adapted quickly, and after a few hours, she regretfully left them to their own devices and headed home.

  Bebe watched her friend walk away and picked up her parcels. “That was a good afternoon. Thanks for coming along.”

  Toyo grabbed her bags in one hand and offered her his arm. “I saw the skimmer on the way in. I will fly escort, because with all these bags, we would drop over the bay.”

  “Ha, ha. Who is the one constantly complaining about my suits?”

  “That would be me.”

  “Well, now that I no longer smell like walking sex, I can wear normal clothing. Today was all about comfort.”

  “Why am I suspicious?”

  “My tone? Or perhaps because you are beginning to appreciate my sense of humour.” She laughed and squeezed his arm.

  “I appreciate many things about you; now, let’s get back to base so I can demonstrate how many.”

  He waggled his eyebrows and she laughed again. Time to go home.

  Chapter Eight

  Toyo thudded against the wall of the combat-training room.

  “What do you mean you all had dibs on me?” Beryl shrieked and lunged at her mate again.

  He winced as her fist cracked the stone next to his head. “I meant it as flattery. We all caught your scent that first night and decided that the first one to win you could have you without challenge.”

  She slammed her other fist down, but he moved out of the way of the crushing blow.

  Panting, she pursued him across the glorified
gym. She analyzed the way he moved and struck where he was going to be. He went spinning along the floor.

  Rand called out, “Bebe, enough.”

  She snarled and followed her mate. “And what if I had taken up with Rand? Or Drovin or Loesh?”

  Toyo got to his feet and lunged for her. He spun her around and lifted her off her feet by flying a few feet from the floor. He bit down on her shoulder and the seething fury calmed.

  He lifted his head. “And if you had taken up with them, I would have broken my word and pursued you anyway.”

  She leaned back with her head against his shoulder, “Right answer.”

  He sighed and set her back on her feet. “It is getting harder and harder not to provoke your temper.”

  The other three came in and started to straighten out the wreck that they had made in the room.

  Beryl sighed and rubbed her neck where the skin had already healed. “I know. I wish I knew what was causing these fits of fury.”

  Loesh called out, “Maybe you are pregnant.”

  Everyone turned and stared at him as if he had grown a second head.

  Beryl said, “But Toyo is sterile, and as far as I know, I haven’t had sex with anyone off this base. Of course, I could have nocturnally piloted a skimmer into the city and strangled the first citizen I found until they screwed me, but I think I would have had a stain or a record or something.”

  “Bebe, you are also the only Terran on W’lyn, and your blood has strange effects on our physiology. Not only are we faster and stronger, but we have no idea what alterations are going on in Toyo’s systems. Of course, we can just run scans on both of you.” Loesh shrugged.

  Bebe narrowed her eyes. “Him first.”

  Toyo tightened his arms. “Better move fast, Loesh. She is cycling up again.”

  With that warning, they made their way to the medical chamber with speed.

  Loesh ran the scans on Toyo, and he raised his eyes in surprise. “I should be less shocked, but yes, the chemical sterilization that you underwent has been removed from your system, and your sperm have been altered to survive longer periods of time.” He turned to Bebe. “Your turn.”