Taen

Chapter One

Ren

It's the third time the wind has brought her scent to me, but the first she's been outdoors when it's happened. This morning I managed to sneak through the creek and wait near her home. I've stalked this house for the past three weeks trying to understand if this girl is fool enough to live so far away from her own kind. She should know better, but it appears she doesn't.

As I wait in the blue light a young woman steps out, carrying a woven basket of floral scented clothes. She takes her time hanging each item, long supple limbs doing fine work but hardly visible under her cloak. Maybe it's the chill that makes her brave. Perhaps she thinks she's hidden in her layers of wool, or that the light is strong enough to drive Sverils away. My kind may prefer the night but not all of us are uncomfortable in light. I've enough human blood in me to make the midday sun tolerable.

Finally, I see her face and my heart fists in my chest. She's lovely. Rose petal lips and nut-brown eyes which shine beautifully over her cold-stung cheeks. She cannot be much younger than me, and when she catches a thought that makes her smile, I go lightheaded. When I inhale, her scent makes me dizzy with lust. She's nearly in heat.

Humans don't seem to smell the same things as us. Which is good, because if she knew the scent she was putting off she'd never leave her house. If another Sveril comes along, he'll be after her too. I need to take her, now, before another can claim her.

Netta

I wet my lips and immediately regret it. It's too cold and far too early to take the wash out, but since our father died last month it's like the hours have been sucked out of the day. I've no idea how I'll get us through the winter let alone keep this house and Merci in shape. She's old enough to take care of herself but a fool. I'm a fool too for that matter, coming out so close to dawn, but I need to have the wash dry before the short winter day is done.

Moving my basket to the porch, I pause. Something feels odd, though the birds still call and the house is quiet. Then all at one cool hand cover my lips and a hard arm wraps over my chest. I should fight, I should kick out and scream, but there's no one to help me for miles. No one I want discovered helping me, that is. Fear freezes me.

"You're so lovely, don't be afraid. I know it's just you here." His words are hot against my cheek. It's a young voice—deep. He thinks I'm alone. Thank the gods. "Let's go inside."

When I do not move, he adds, "I could always come back with my brothers."

From the time we're girls they warn us about Sverils. They have so few females of their own, most were wiped out in a sickness over a decade ago. We didn't suffer nearly as much as they. There's still enough choice for no sane man to want me after my idiot fiancé bragged about bedding me, then got himself killed a week later over a gambling debt.

The creature holding me is why I shouldn't have gone out so close to dark. Why we should have moved to the village the day father died. I know what he wants of me.

Already ruined, what he does to me won't make much difference. I draw a steadying breath and fumble with the door. He can take what he wants and maybe he'll leave quickly. Then I can pack our things and make for the town before he can return.

One thing makes me pause; Merci's inside. But she's a habitually late riser and heavy sleeper. If I can keep him from the bedroom, she'll be safe. Hopefully, he'll be quiet, and she won't come charging out. Gods willing, if she notices him, she'll hide.

When we step inside the cabin I head for the kitchen, away from the hall with our bedroom and wash closet. He follows, never releasing his hold on me until I stop between the warm stove and the table. Pushing my hood down, he brushes the hair from my neck, then presses his cold nose to my warm skin. "You're driving me crazy. You smell so good."

"Please-" I'm not sure what I should beg for.

His arms come around and unclasp my cloak, so it falls to the floor. Then he releases me completely and I hear his palms brushing together. He huffs into his hands and then brings them to my bare arms. "That's better, isn't it?"

I blink back tears. "Just take what you want and be done."

He stills. "You really wish that?"

"Does it matter?"

He presses a kiss to my neck and his scent envelopes my senses. Dark and woody. Masculine. It would be so welcomed if he was another creature.

"No," he murmurs, "I've got a blade, but I don't wish to mar you. I prefer not to bind you, but I will if I must."

My reply comes out as a hiccup, "Okay."

"Do you know what I'm going to do to you?" My dress is insubstantial when he spreads his hands over my hips and pulls me flush with his body. His heat brands my ass through layers of cloth. I know what he intends to do. It's not like I haven't lain with a man.

I nod.

"Are you a maiden?"

My answer doesn't matter, he'll take me anyway. "No."

At this, he turns my head and kisses me. Eyes squinted shut, my body locks up. He doesn't seem to mind. He plies my mouth until my jaw relaxes and I part for him. Warm hand cupping my neck, the chill rushes from my skin. The press of his body surrounds me and without meaning to, I moan. Sweet exploring strokes of his tongue earn a few in return but my heart is rabbiting in my chest so hard I think I might faint.

He pulls away and when I do not open my eyes he begins work on my dress, loosening the laces so my breasts are free their cage, then his mouth is on me. My cheeks burn. Hot tears escape my eyes.

"Your nipples are so pretty, so pink." He rolls one between his fingers and feasts on the other.

I've wondered what this would be like. A girl cannot be warned enough about it to not let her mind roll over the events, but I never thought I'd feel this heat between my legs. My skin sparks under his attention though my hands form fists. He trades peaks, lapping eagerly. My head's so fuzzy with staccato breaths I cannot think straight.

"I do not know why you're without a male, but everyone one of them that passed you by is a fool." Then he twists my left nipple so flashes of pleasure and pain zing to my core. "So sexy, so responsive. I want to see the rest of you."

Shaking my head, I say, "Please..."

"Please what, dove?" He cups my breasts with his rough palms, massaging them fully.

"Just get it over with."

His voice hardens. "Will you not look at me?"

I swallow hard and shake my head.

"Fine." He spins me so my hips bump into the table and pushes me forward. I'm vaguely aware of fabric shifting around me before I'm pushed onto my chest. Opening my eyes, I meet the cornflower wool of my cloak. He asks, "How long has it been?"

"Has what been?"

He moves his hands under my skirt, up my thigh until his fingers splay over my ass. "Since you've been taken? This will hurt some."

Hands kneading tender flesh distract me until I'm almost too lost to think straight. "Two years."

"You're my first." When his palm cups my mound, I jump. My legs so are weak with nerves I can hardly hold myself up. While the man kisses my back until my skin pricks with gooseflesh, his hand begins slow circles over my clit without ever opening my slit. Tension begins pooling low in my belly. It's never been like this before. I've never felt so out of my head with need and fear.

He needs to stop playing with my body and finish before he discovers Merci. "Just put it in, please."

"Are you begging me to fuck you?" He sounds disappointed by this.

"I'm begging you to get this over with. Hurry up."

He scoffs, then I hear the rustle of his trousers as he frees his length. I press my head into my cloak and breath, trying to calm myself. To stop the scream in my chest.

Just let him finish and Merci will be safe.

Ren

"You're lucky I'm not human." The girl is in heat, her body is receptive but though she's submitting, she's near frozen with fear. Slipping my fingers over her slit elicits a small gasp. I press deeper, finding her bud and stroking the side until she trembles. Her mind is fighting the urge to move. She's dewy, but not nearly wet enough. If her kind were to take her like this she'd hurt for weeks.

My body aches for her. Glands oozing slick from my shaft, I pump my cock until it's glossy. My barb throbs, overfull and needing release. I try to avoid the tender area so when I do pierce her, she'll get all my venom.

Milking the glands on the underside of my shaft, I collect my slick and press my fingers into her pussy, gently fucking unto her sheath until she takes them deep. I know she wants this done, but I'm determined that she'll enjoy it as much as possible. Pressing forward against her wall, I stoke slowly, waiting for her breathing to change. When she seems ready, I withdraw and lift her skirt.

Then I make a sound like a growl. It cannot be helped.

Her pussy is so pretty. Pink and swollen with a mix of her honey and my milky slick. Ripe. The desire to taste her floods my body, but I stop myself. I'll have time for play later, she needs this now. The girl tenses as I press closer, lining myself up with her and nudging her opening. I spread more of my slick with my cockhead through her pussy, then press in so her so just my tip is lodged in her heat. "You're so beautiful."

I pull her cheeks apart to stare at the sight of my olive flesh sinking into her soft depths. Gods, it's delicious. Hot velvet and so tight all at once.

My bride trembles as I slide in gradually. When I bottom out, she makes a small mewling noise. It's so decadent, I'm terrified to move. "Do you like my cock in you?"

"Just finish, okay," she snaps.

I close my eyes and fight the urge to flip her over and force her to look at me while I breed her but my barb pulses threateningly, so I slowly withdraw and fuck her shallowly. My slick oozes out, milky and dripping from between us. Never have I been this turned on. Never have I had someone to want like this. I know she wants me done but I cannot help angling my hips until my cock brushes something electric.

"Oh-" she gasps.

Her unintended praise is like a drug. Lifting her hips, I fuck her firmly, igniting that spark between us.

She begins mewing with my thrusts, then her words take form. "Stop, please don't, I don't want-"

In anger, I reach around her hip and find her clit, massaging in time with my thrusts. When her cunt begins to tighten around me, I thank my cousin for every night he spent boasting about pleasing his bride. Though I'm doing my best to keep my barb out of her sleeve, I deepen my thrusts until she combusts under me. She moans, curses, writhes, as I hold her tight.

Her scent is so ripe and ready I must breed her. It's all I can do to ride out her pleasure without sheathing my barb, stinging her.

The ache is so strong it almost hurts.

Then she squirms under my press and I cannot stop myself from surging deep until my cock strikes her womb. Trembling on the precipice, I beg, "Don't move. Lay still."

"Just cum already." She lifts her head, looking at something so I follow her gaze to a clock. Next to it hangs a long mirror and what I see in it nearly undoes me. The dark-haired girl pants under me with wild, red rimmed eyes. Her cheeks are flush, lips swollen. Her breasts press into her cloak, keeping them from the chill of the table and her pale ass is flush with my narrow hips. Moreover, our gaze connects in the reflection and she draws in a sharp breath at the sight of my green cat eyes.

The girl closes her eyes quickly and bites her lip

. If she can't stand the sight of me, fine. I'll worry about that later.

I begin thrusting deeply, waiting for my barb. It builds like an orgasm until I feel it slide from its sheath and press into tender flesh.

Unfortunately, the girl chooses this moment to panic. She's been practically docile until now, but she starts scrabbling at the table for purchase.

"Stop! Stop! It hurts!" She bucks, dragging my barb inside her before it can get a proper hold.

Of course, it hurts, she's slicing herself up. I grip her shoulders, seating myself firmly in her. "Stop moving! You'll cut yourself to ribbons!"

I don't know if it will, but she needs to be still or she's going to bleed. Either way, she catches the lip of the table and manages to slide her body sideways. I grip her hips and crush them down into the table, pinning her tight to me and pressing my shaft and barb deep.

Pleasure slams through me. It's like I'm cumming as the tension drains. It's a dizzy euphoria I've waited my whole life for but the girl sobs and screams. She tries striking at me, so I release my hold on her hips and catch both her hands in mine, pinning her upper body down.

"Stop moving," I groan as my venom sack contracts, fully empty. I could cum it feels so good, but I cannot thrust just yet.

The girl has begun a chant and is weeping into her cloak. "It hurts—it hurts—it—"

In the mirror I watch as her chin tilts up and her mouth falls open. I grin,

there it is

.

Her body contracts around mine again as my venom spreads, and I let her buck, drawing out her orgasm. When the sound of her pleasure fills the room, I cannot be still another moment. I fuck her harshly, knowing she'll be bruised where her flesh bangs into the table.

The slap of our skin is delicious, her cunt like fiery pleasure. I loosen her hands and fist her hair, turning her mouth to mine. Then the tension in my spine breaks as my cum spills into her. Animalistic grunts escape me. The girl is all ragged breaths and incoherent moans. My balls tingle, drawing up as my seed continues to spill. Dizzy from the breeding, I fall forward and try not to crush her.

Netta

I'm so lightheaded I cannot even turn my cheek away from him. His cock still stretches me. Whatever he's done aches dully but my body glows with something strange. Though I feel faint, I whisper, "What did you do to me?"

"Breed you." His lips brush my cheek with a lazy kiss. "Shouldn't you know? You said you weren't a maiden."

"It doesn't—you did something to me."

"My barb?" He chuckles and the sound makes me shiver. "I gave you my sting. My venom. You liked it. I felt how much you liked it." As if to punctuate his words he grinds his still hard cock into me. "It would have hurt less if you'd just held still."

I have an impossible time believing this was his first time fucking anyone, and had I know it would feel like this, I'd have had a harder time staying inside near dark. I'm drunk with pleasure. It's made me giddy and stupid. For a moment, I forget how much I want him gone and relax into the table. My blood buzzes with whatever's in his venom.

"You're smiling," he says softly, "Will you not look at me now?"

I open my eyes, taking in more of him that I'd seen in the mirror. Maybe it's this drug he's pumped into me, but I cannot help thinking he's beautiful. Sleek black hair falls forward over bright green eyes which seem to glow are made a little more eerie by his cat-slit pupils. His skin is deeply tanned with the mossy green tint of his kind, but it suits him. He wears no beard, so the sweet dimple in his chin is visible. Leaning close I kiss his pouty lips like he's a real lover.

Still fucking me softly, I wonder if he'll ever be satiated. It's Merci that worries me, well that and I've got a cramp growing in my side. I'm content to let him continue until it pinches something terrible and I wince.

His eyes widen in concern. "What is it?"

"Charlie horse, I think I need to move."

"Where? I can massage you." He hooks an arm under my leg and uses the other to help me upright, staying impaled.

"My pelvis," I say, although now the cramp is only a dull throbbing.

"That's good, my venom is working. You're taking my seed." He kisses my neck. "I knew you were ripe. You should know if you're with child soon."

My eyes fly open and I begin to struggle until I nearly fall forward. He catches me and untwines himself. I spin to face him, skirts falling in place. Hot cum runs down my leg. I'm torn between glaring at him and staring at his cock, amazed that was it fit inside me. It's thick, deep olive and slick with cum. His shirt is open, showing off washboard abs and a soft coating of dark hair that climbs up to his defined chest.

He frowns. "Are you upset?"

"I thought you just wanted, you know, to fuck me." I'd been so worried Merci would be found that I hadn't considered what he'd meant when he said I was

ripe

.

"You were so willing, I thought you must know." He leans close and my breath stutters with his proximity. There is too much in my blood for my mind to sort through this past hour. "You'll have my babe. Be my bride. You've got my venom in you, encouraging your body to receive my seed. I'll take you away from this place, make sure you never hunger. I'll worship your body, make sure you know nothing but pleasure."

"I—I can't." I shake my head, willing reason to take hold. "I thought you only wanted..."

"To fuck you and leave? Why when there are so few of you? You're my prize." He leans close to my ear. "You liked it, even when you fought, you liked me fucking you. Taking you."

I shake my head.

"Do you know what my venom does? It bathes your body in hormones. Makes us feel incredible together. All the while it opens your womb, makes a ripe female fruitful. Girl, there's no fighting me. I'm already inside you."

I try to find my feet, to put space between us but he's lifting me to the table again and slipping himself under my skirt. His heat warms me as he urges me open. The club of his sex is hot, stretches me wonderfully as he fits into me and holds me close. I'm putty in his arms. Unable to think as he fucks me. From this angle his pelvis grinds into my clit. When his barb swells, I feel the knob of flesh moments before he stills, then it strikes. The pain is so much smaller this time. I've hardly a second to notice it before I've gone delirious with pleasure again. He's moaning in my ear, cumming while his venom makes me feel like I'm liquid.

When we come down, he devours my mouth, sucking my lip into his and nipping it. I cannot stop kissing him back. I'm not even sure where I am. The only thing I can process is his hard girth within me and the taste of him in my mouth. Finally, I gather my thoughts and ask, "Who are you?"

"Ren'lin, but you can call me Ren." He shivers as he thrusts one last time. "What is my bride's name?"

I look into his brilliant eyes, noting the flecks of blue against deep green. Thick lashes that accentuate the beauty of his features. If he were human, I'd have pined for him, he takes my breath so. I kiss a flush cheek, tentatively run my finger along his jaw and up to his pointed ear. Sverils are so human, but so different. I wish that he'd give me the space to put my thoughts together. To make this more than a dream. I open my mouth to speak but an unwelcome voice meets my ears.

"Netta?" Merci's hazel eyes widen as she stares at us from the darkened hall. Barefoot and in her nightdress, she looks like she's just woken. I'm too scared to cover myself, but she's got eyes for Ren only. "Oh—Oh gods!"

She tears off into our room, slamming the door. Ren breaks away, shoving his dick into his trousers and chases after her.