CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“No intention, whatsoever…

I was gone for a night; nothing’s forever.

“The cruel daylight brought me back to my senses…

…got caught in here under false pretenses.”

- Ina Wolf

Parihn, who'd lain awake in a state of heightened anticipation and emotion for the entire evening, had felt Jerrell's hand brushing, and then his hardness prodding, her side—as well as what he’d achieved between—and had deferentially shifted onto her back, drawing knees together towards chin and resting her small, pretty feet against his chest… even as he’d smoothly positioned himself…

…and just as smoothly re-entered her.

For a few minutes, he’d plied her with slow, leisurely thrusts, sinking himself as completely into her as he could, time and again.

Now, Jerrell whispered, “You love this.

“You want more, don’t you?”

“Mmmmm,” she hummed affably.

While almost entirely passive for the period she’d spent with him, reacting rather than initiating, now Parihn utilized the atvahr, a technique known only to very few women—mostly because the majority of them literally lacked the muscular capability to employ it. Subtly, she used herself to caress within, to bring him, within mere minutes, to a level of ecstasy she knew he’d never before attained.

Timing was everything…

…and she’d planned it perfectly.

Even as Jerrell cried out her name and approached the brink of inevitability, Parihn opened her eyes; and as they saw the very first rays of the Mokharan sun, something in them suddenly changed…

…or, perhaps, was restored to life.

Her legs shoved…

…hard.

With a yelp of pain and surprise, Jerrell was hurtled back head over heels, tumbled off the edge of the bed, and crashed to the floor.

By the time he’d struggled to his feet, cursing both her and the bruises springing up in various sensitive areas, Parihn—with significantly more grace—had rolled off the mattress to stand near him. Angrily, Jerrell grabbed for her, but she casually shrugged him off, and pushed him back, with strength that until now he’d forgotten she had.

Hurt, and utterly bewildered, he cried, “Are you crazy? You could have crippled me with that little stunt!

“What’s the matter with you?!”

It was in that moment Jerrell’s perception of reality received an abrupt adjustment.

Coldly, Parihn announced, “Your time’s up.”

What?!

For a moment, Jerrell didn’t react… and, when he finally did, the assurance with which he seemed to handle everything else was nowhere to be found.

“But… but… I thought…!”

She took an angry step towards him, and he drew back in genuine fear: Her complexion had darkened even further, and he knew that such a woman, when angered, could kill with contemptuous ease.

“I don't understand. You were enjoying us, each time… I could sense it,” he insisted.

Parihn laughed, genuinely… and harshly.

“Oh, congratulations, Jerrell… I guess that might mean you'd actually succeeded in making an Orion animal woman like sex. What an accomplishment that would be! You’re really one in a million, aren’t you?

“The point isn’t whether or not I enjoyed it.” At that, the flush of her features deepened from emerald to forest green, and he marveled that she was still coherent, let alone eloquent.

“The point is that I felt compelled—was coerced—into coupling with you, when you knew I didn’t want to do that. This wasn't a game you could win, but it was one I could lose…

“…and I did, just by being with you.

“Think about it, you self-important, self-centered user. Did I ever say your name? Did I ever hold you… or kiss you back… or touch your face… or do any of the things that lovers do? Or did I just let you take me whenever, however you wanted, do what you required, and…” she took an indignant, shaking breath, and forced back another wave of nigh-uncontrollable anger, “…and endure the humiliation of having you slowly wring a response from my body when I desperately didn’t want to respond?

“It's not that difficult for me to let go or lose control, Jerrell. When I’m off my drugs, Shomira is never too far away.

“But Parihn… Parihn was seething…

“…and waiting for the dawn.”

Suddenly, his empathy was giving him clear, unhindered impressions… almost like he was suddenly being allowed genuine access—as if, until now, she'd only permitted him see what he wanted to see.

His senses reeled.

This is not possible.

Then, Parihn told him what was on her mind…

…and Jerrell realized, sickly, that it had probably been on her mind for the better part of a day.

“You… abusive… pig,” she gritted. “You thought that pushing me back into a life I’d left behind would somehow endear me to you?

“You thought you could fuck me into contented compliance?

“You thought I could actually love you?

“Think again.”

Vaerth Parihn looked him up and down, lip curling upward in contempt, then turned towards the door. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination or not, but later, on reflection, he almost swore she'd subtly, disdainfully shaken her perfectly rounded behind at him, as if to say, “No more for you—ever.”

What she did say, though, was bad enough.

“I'll wash this obscene cosmetic mask off my face, get dressed—in my own clothes, thank you—and be waiting in the next room. I want the information you promised me in no more than five minutes. Not ten… not six… five. And don't keep me waiting, Jerrell… because, contrary to what you might have told me, and yourself, for the last few hours…

“…you don't want me coming back in here.”

Chapter Fourteen Chapter Sixteen