She stopped in surprise, but let out a moan of protest. He brought one hand forward and began to toy with her right nipple. His rhythm remained ruthlessly steady even when he said softly, “You will not come until I allow it.”

The tug on her nipple was a passionate torment. She ached with it. She was growing frustrated at the slow rhythm of his thrusts. She arched her back to take him deeper. She wanted more, damnit.

He knew what she wanted, but he was the one in control. He had the nerve to laugh. “No,sherree.”

She felt another stinging tap. Anger was beginning to mix with need. “Faster. Go faster and deeper.” She wasn’t sure if it was a demand or a plea.

He responded by slowing and gentling his thrusts. “Ask me nicely and I will consider it.” His mocking tone deliberately provoked her.

She could feel her temper straining and struggled to rein it in. “Go to hell. I don’t want this anymore. Let me up.”

Suddenly, he thrust his cock all the way into her, in one hard thrust. Buried to the hilt, he brought his arm from her nipple down to her sex. He found her clit and began teasing it. “What is wrong,sherree? Will you beg me to continue or to stop?” His mocking tone said he knew she wouldn’t ask him to stop.

She wanted to demand that he stop immediately, but he was filling her and pressing against her clit with such skill. “Bastard.” She muttered it.

He laughed again. “Your language is deteriorating, Sharon.” He gave her a couple of hard, deep thrusts in reward.

She moaned and pushed against him, fighting for each stroke of his cock. The war waged for some time. She was getting desperate for release. Frustration, passion, and anger were raging inside her. Each time she grew close, he would pull back and then change rhythms. It was maddening.

She spat angry words in between strokes. “You’re driving me crazy. Cut it out. I mean it. You fucking tease.”

His only response was another slap to her bottom as he continued the torment. His hand on her hip moved and he trailed one finger between the cheeks of her bottom. Drawing moisture from below, he circled her tight bud with teasing strokes.

She went hot and then cold. He wouldn’t. She had no sooner thought it, then she felt a gentle probing pressure as his finger dipped inside her a small way. It was foreign and scary, and she was ashamed to admit, exciting. It didn’t hurt, but she felt the last shred of her control snap away. She let out a scream of sheer frustration.

As if he had been waiting for that sound, he merged with her in one hard push. The feel of his pleasure mixing with hers sent her right to the edge. She was terrified he would stop. “Don’t stop.”

His voice was dark with need and sex. “Ask me to fuck you harder.” It was an order.

“Please fuck me harder.” Need was clawing at her. She was completely out of control.

“Swear you’ll never leave.”He ruthlessly pounded his cock into her sex.

“I swear it.”She almost screamed the words.

“You’re mine. I can do anything, have anything I want.” His thrustsbecamefaster and she was moaning over and over.

“Yes, anything…”

He spoke through gritted teeth, “Then come for me.” His finger on her clit pressed inward as he arched his spine to add strength to his thrusts. Her scream echoed loudly as she shattered into a million pieces. Her lower body clenched and pulsed around his cockand his still embedded finger.With a loud groan, he lost control and found his own release. He fell forward and leaned against her back, his big body covering hers. His hands came around her to gently stroke her breasts.

Sharon lay beneath Liken, too exhausted to move. She felt hollow inside, as if someone had come in and swept everything away. It was strangely peaceful. She felt totally vulnerable and exposed in a way that had nothing to do with her body’s nakedness. She loved Liken and needed him and had no defenses against it.

She felt tears on her face and realized with a sniff that she was crying. She had lost all control, acted like an animal, and the world hadn’t ended. Liken was still holding her, pressing gentle kisses to the side of her neck. She felt his feelings run through her. His tenderness, his warmth, and his love wrapped around her. Realizing he did love her brought on a flood of fresh tears.

Liken grew aware that Sharon was crying beneath him. He quickly rose up and turned her over with concern. Tears were streaming down her face. Looking horrified, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the couch. “Sharon, did I hurt you?”

She shook her head and tried to say no, but only sobbing sounds came out. She ducked her head into his chest and wept. Liken wrapped gentle arms around her and tried to understand. He was relieved he hadn’t hurt her, but he couldn’t understand why she was crying. Sharon never cried. She had come to his planet and confronted massive changes without shedding one tear. Now, suddenly, she was sobbing as if her heart was broken. He thought about scanning her thoughts, but remembered his promise.

With dismay, he wondered if he had pushed her too far too fast. Rubbing her back as she sobbed in his arms, he ached at the sight and sound of her tears. He whispered, “Sherree, please… you are killing me with your tears… I am sorry… Please tell me what has hurt you. I love you. I cannot bear to see you hurting.”His words of comfort continued, in both Shimerian and English, but Sharon was too shattered to respond.

Finally, she pulled away from his chest and tried to get herself under control. She felt free suddenly. She knew she was naked in the arms of a nearly fully clothed man. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her face was splotchy with tears. Her nose was running and she looked horrible.

Gone was the cautious, tidy, undemanding Sharon. The end result wasn’t as pretty maybe but it was honest. Her life was in shambles, but she had found herself and someone who loved her in the midst of total chaos. It was everything she had avoided, and at the same time, everything she had secretly wanted. “I love you, too. It’s okay. You didn’t hurt me. I just feel relieved and overwhelmed.”

He had been in her mind for nearly two weeks and he could not understand her still. She was a mystery to him, one he hoped to spend his life solving. “I do not understand. You are crying in relief?” It made no sense.

Sharon gave him a shaky smile. “I’m fine.”

He shook his head. “I think you are still hurting because of this morning. I am sorry I did not come after you and explain about Elana.”

“No, really. I do understand. And I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough to ask for explanations. I had gotten my nerve up to risk telling you about my feelings and seeing you with her just shocked and destroyed me.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. “Sherree, there are things in our cultures that are vastly different. I know that there are adjustments we both will have to make. I have been arrogant in thinking all the adjustments would be yours. We will work together to solve any problems that arise.” It was said like a promise.

Sharon placed a hand to his cheek. “We love each other. We trust each other. We can face whatever we have to face together.”

Liken’s arms tightened. “I am so fortunate to have found you,sherree. I want a life with you and children. I want to make you happy.”

Sharon’s smile was blinding. “I wouldn’t mind a few little Likens myself. And you do make me happy.”

Their mouths met in a kiss of wonder and love. When at last they pulled apart, Sharon dropped her hand and began unbuttoning Liken’s shirt. With a playful grin, she said, “Now,let’s talk aboutthis tendency you have to dominate me in bed.”

He let out a satisfied laugh. “I am a Shimerian male, am I not? Do not pretend you dislike it,sherree. I know otherwise. I know all kinds of interesting, dark fantasies you ache to explore. Would you like to discuss them?”