Starlight Ecstasy

Starlight Ecstasy Prequel to the Starlight series

By

Astrid Cooper

3 The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Starlight Ecstasy Copyright © 2007 Astrid Cooper Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.extasybooks.com

No matter how far humans roamed among the stars, no matter what forms they adopted, one night was always special—Christmas Night. Some celebrated for religious reasons, others because it was the night when humans had first been contacted by the Voyagers and humanity had entered the star-faring fraternity, welcomed into a universe alive with life and possibilities. Within fifty years of first contact, Terrans had spread out across the galaxy, playing and loving among the stars, their sexual appetites and willingness to experiment saw humans become a sought-after species; they took their place among the elite of the sensualators—men and women who devoted their lives and bodies to gifting pleasure…

Starlight Ecstasy Prelude to the Starlight series

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can do this! Samantha Sinclair looked at her reflection in the bathroom holo-mirror. The black silk negligee clung to her body like a second skin, hiding nothing, highlighting everything. She might be wearing a seductive outfit, but she was no seductress. Just a thirty-eight year old widow whose Christmas Night was to be celebrated in the arms of a man—a very special man—whom her friends had gifted to her for the night. John was some gift. A flesh and blood sensualator—they didn’t come cheap—literally and figuratively. Come being the operative word. She had asked him what his true name was, not his professional name. Laughing, he had insisted his name was John. They had met, as arranged, in the spaceport cocktail lounge, had a few drinks, then dinner, before retiring to her suite on the eightieth floor, 1

Astrid Cooper overlooking the rings of Saturn. Sam was awkward at first, but John had quickly set her at ease. As a professional, he knew how to soothe and seduce. Over dinner, his touches had been fleeting, yet hinting of passion; his smiles teasing, until her shyness had disappeared, leaving in its place, a dull longing that had increased as the hours wore on. Now it was time. She swallowed hard against the tight dryness in her throat. Foreboding warred against passion. She had left him sitting in the lounge, excusing herself, using the old cliché, “To slip into something more comfortable.” His reply had made her blush—he was going to be the one slipping into something comfortable. In the mirror she watched the trembling path of her fingers as she fashioned her blonde hair into its customary bob. Her green eyes, now dark with desire, and perhaps fear, stared back at her. Inside her gut, her muscles were tensed, coiled like a spring. But beneath was tension of another kind—she ached for a man. Celibate for three years since Tony’s death, her needs and frustrations had been assuaged through other ways. Sometimes with surreal sex from the computer link, but most often through work. Bone-numbing, sex-numbing work in her art gallery. One morning she woke up knowing that she 2

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needed to be held. To be loved. Well, she couldn’t expect love, but a good fuck would be OK. To wake up for once, not alone. The light knock on the bathroom door snapped her from her reverie. “Honey, are you ok?” “Um, yes, just coming.” “Lucky you,” he responded, laughing. Another of his sexual innuendos. Samantha felt herself flush all the way to her heels. Squaring her shoulders, she palmed the door open and halted. He was leaning against the back of the metal divan, arms folded. In her absence he had removed his jacket. His grandpa collar cream shirt was rolled up to the elbows to reveal muscular bronzed arms lightly covered with golden hair. Not a man of space, his skin was sun-kissed. Which sun? Which world did he call home? His clothes were expensive, natural fibers—no synthetics for him. The bracelet around his left wrist was woven gold and platinum with diamonds and pearls embedded in the filigree chain. His raw silk trousers clung to his lean hips. She followed down the long length of his crossed legs, ending in an expanse of flesh— ankles and then a glimpse of feet before disappearing into woven brown leather shoes. Naked ankles. She hadn’t noticed before, sitting 3

Astrid Cooper in the dining room, then walking beside him to her room. Now in the privacy of her suite, she could not help but notice his every nuance. Especially his ankles, her particular turn-on. Around his left ankle was a chain similar to the one on his wrist. Her conniving friends had obviously informed John about her penchant. What might be in store for her next? Shivers of anticipation raced up her spine. Her nipples strained against the silk negligee. In that moment she longed for his hands to cup her aching breasts, longed for him to stretch his body over hers and fuck her, again and again. Her pussy tensed. She drew in a deep breath. “Do I pass muster?” he asked, sultrily. His lazy smile teased as his hazel eyes swept her from head to toe and back again to linger on her breasts before lifting to hold her gaze with his own. The butterflies in her stomach increased their frantic gyrations. Her heart thudded against her ribs and her inner muscles clenched, flooding with liquid heat. She cleared her throat. “John, this is… I’m not…” He stood then—six feet of predatory, seductive male dominating the room. He spread his hands in a gesture to placate. Long fingers, strong… her skin goosepimpled with the thought of his hands upon her, over her; 4

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his fingers in her, teasing… “We’ve got all night, Sam. I’m not going to leave until—” “Until I’ve got my money’s worth?” He grinned. “Something like that. More champagne?” “No, my head’s spinning already.” “I’m gonna make it spin even more, sweetheart.” She lifted her chin, watching him with hooded eyes. “Is that a promise?” “Yep.” His indolent smile tore at her insides. Who was she kidding? He was a professional—he knew how to lure her, reel her in. “Honey, that black silk is something else, but I kinda think you’d look better without it.” Samantha laughed. How skillfully he played his game of seduction. It was not difficult to imagine that he meant what he said. Her friends had selected him, theirs an appropriate choice because they knew her too well. Not a toy-boy for her re-introduction to sex, but a man perhaps a little older than she. Tall, slim, muscular and bronzed. His brown sunstreaked hair, tied back in a tail highlighted the strength of his face; the crinkles around his eyes and his easy smile softened the harsh angles. Over dinner she had tried to find out about his profession, but the questions were brushed aside. 5

Astrid Cooper He would much rather hear about her, he had said. So, she had talked and he had listened…listened attentively until she realized she had told him far too much. Sensualators were good at listening—it was part of the job, to find out about the client before going in for the fuck. John moved to stand before her. Taking her hands and turning her wrists, he lifted her hands and nibbled at her pulse points. “Relax, sweetheart. No need to be tense.” She ran a tongue over dry lips, instantly aware that his eyes darkened as he followed the path of her tongue tip. His gaze flickered over her. Reaching out, he framed her face with his hands. “This night is for you, Sam. Only for you. Whatever you want; however you want it. Okay?” “Okay.” She hardly recognized her throaty whisper. He bent forward. The whipcord warmth of his arms enfolded her. Where his body touched her, muscles tensed. Through the clothes separating them, his cock strained against her stomach. His mouth slanted over hers. Again she breathed in his scent, an exotic combination of spice and man. His lips moved with gentle insistence against her mouth. At his touch, his nearness, warmth flowed heavily through her veins. His fingers traced a 6

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sensual path over the bare skin of her back, down over the curve of her hips to clasp her bottom. He raised her gently against him, and rested his pelvis against hers. Again she felt his taut arousal, now larger, hotter than before. As his kiss deepened the warmth in her veins turned to fire, a heated maelstrom that pooled heavily in her pussy. Her body throbbed and pulsed and cramped. She sighed against his mouth. He drew back to look down at her. “Still okay?” She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Again his mouth possessed her. This time his kiss was harsher, demanding. With determined, assured strokes his tongue coiled with hers, mimicking a dance of thrust, retreat and thrust. Beneath her hands muscles bunched. Still keeping her mouth captive, she felt herself raised into his arms and carried. But instead of laying her down, he sat on the bed edge and drew her onto his lap. His kiss intensified. On the periphery of her invaded senses, Samantha was aware of the rustling caress of silk as it traveled up from her ankles, to knee, to thigh. She shivered at his slow assault. Feathersoft, his hand traveled upon her, like a whisper, a hint of a caress, a delicious itch that she couldn’t scratch. His fingers stroked her inner thigh, just infuriatingly short of her aching need. She moved 7

Astrid Cooper her hips, anxious for him to stroke her, but his hand slid away. As she moaned, he smiled against her lips. His fingers walked up her thigh to finally cup her pussy. His thumb lightly stroked against her curls. Despite herself, Sam trembled. Immediately his finger stalled. “You’re not scared of me, are you?” he asked, drawing back so that he could study her. “Not exactly.” “How…not exactly?” “John, for three years I haven’t been with a man. I’m out of practice. I… never… oooh!” She forgot what she was going to say as two of his fingers parted her folds, rubbing down to her clit. A fingernail grazed gently over her nub. She gasped. He continued his assault and she clung to him as her world was suddenly turned topsyturvy by his delicious torment. Her pussy surged sticky warm. “Good,” he said. “Now you’re relaxed. You’re enjoying this.” His playful nibbles along her throat and ear lobe made her shudder as his fingers deftly brought her clit to a throbbing peak. She held her breath as he slid a finger down to find her entrance. He quested into her and then retreated. He lay back on the bed, drawing her on top of him. His hands roamed up and down her spine, 8

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lower, raising her negligee to her waist. Samantha halted his hands. “Am I going too fast for you?” he asked. “I know it’s silly after what we’ve already done…” The lips of his sensuous mouth, now swollen from their kiss, broke into another lazy smile that made her every muscle constrict; pound. He gently lifted her from his body. In one fluid movement he had drawn his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. He took her hand, placed it on his chest and guided it down across the taut plain of his stomach, lower across his navel, lower to the cock that strained against the silk trousers. With his other hand he tugged down the zip. The pink head of his erection reared out towards her from a thatch of golden curls. Samantha swallowed hard as he fastened her fingers around his cock. Rolling her onto her back, he leaned into her, his mouth descending to hers as she held him. She hesitantly stroked. “Yes,” he whispered. “Yes, do that again. Please.” The last added in a hoarse, frantic whisper. His mouth moved lower, across her face, down her neck, playful nips along her skin, down to her left breast that he coaxed to a tight peak through the thin film of the negligee. His mouth claimed her other breast. The pressure of his feasting 9

Astrid Cooper created an urgency that swept the length of her body. Grasping his cock, she pumped him while his hips rocked against her. “That’s good, honey. It feels so good. Don’t stop.” Her hesitancy gave way to confidence; she stroked, squeezed and stretched him, varying the speed and angle of each movement. He groaned. She knew he was near to climax. Instead of allowing her to bring him to satisfaction, he pushed her hand away. She heard his long gasp of breath, held a moment before a slow, controlled release. His body shuddered as he fought to control the climax. Sensualators could deny the climax, delay it for hours, days or sometimes never—depending on the client. “John?” In response, he shook his head and kissed her deeply, completely, his tongue stroking against hers, mimicking that union she prayed would soon become reality. How she longed for him to be inside her spreading her wide, filling her. He lifted her onto his body—she felt the heated cock against her pussy, through the prickle of silk trousers. She fumbled with his belt. Patiently he waited as she tugged down his trousers, raising first one foot and then the other as she divested him of his pants. She drew her fingers over his ankles, studying the chain, delaying the moment. 10

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“You’re gong to have to look at me sometime, Sam. Unless you really have an ankle fetish…?” His gentle laugh made her lift her gaze. Samantha glanced at him. Naked. Beautiful. His penis reached up to his navel. The realization that he wore no underwear made her heart lurch. He had arrived perhaps anticipating immediate action, to satiate her without preliminaries. Samantha’s nerves spiked at the thought. “Now you,” he said. He tugged up her negligee, bringing it over her head. He flung the gown aside and gazed at her. “You’re beautiful. Well worth the wait.” I bet you tell that to all your clients; the lie was part of the game, included in the price. She did not care. “Can I do something?” “Whatever…within reason. I’m not into kinky.” “I wouldn’t know anything about that,” she said. “No? Maybe we could experiment…later?” He smiled. “On the moon of Tau Ceti—no, maybe not.” “What do they do?” “I might show you, later, when you’re used to me. They like to have a ménage…they’re shifters and they can extend certain parts of their anatomy so that the partner is entered in every orifice…” “It sounds interesting.” He laughed. “Honey, interesting is an 11

Astrid Cooper understatement.” “You’re not a shifter, are you?” Cloned humans who had the ability to alter molecular structure to mimic any sentient life—some became sensualtors and were in demand the length and breadth of the galaxy. But they were rare, expensive and… insatiable. “No, I’m Sol-human. Born and raised on earth. Does that disappoint you?” “How can you disappoint anyone?” She meant it as a compliment, but for a second she thought she saw his eyes harden, narrow. “Harry, my half-brother is felinus.” “Your brother is a cat-shifter?” “Mmn. My tastes are a hybrid of man and cat. Which would you prefer me to be, Samantha?” “Yourself.” His smile was tender. “Most women would prefer the exotic.” She shrugged. “A sensualator is exotic enough for me. I’m not most women, just Samantha. I don’t think I could face a felinus…or any shifter. From what I’ve heard, I’d be eaten alive.” John laughed. “Honey, what makes you think I’m not going to eat you?” She lifted her gaze to his. “I…um…” “Cat got your tongue?” “You’re playing with me!” “Right now, you don’t understand what it is to 12

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‘tease’—but at the end of tonight, you’re gonna know its meaning good and proper.” She reached out to his face, ran her fingers across his cheek. His lips strained to capture her hand. She gasped as the liquid fire of his tongue tip swirled against the palm of her hand. Drawing off his hair-band, her fingers combed his hair, fanning it around his neck and shoulders. “Is that all you wanted to do?” he asked. “No.” “Then tell me what you want.” “For…for you to… you know.” “I need for you to tell me—exactly—what you want.” His gaze held hers. The silence in the bedroom beat against her senses. “I want you to love me…thoroughly.” “Love you? That’s a nice word, Samantha. Is love what you truly want? I’m here to fuck you. But if you have a preference as to how, then please be specific.” Samantha flushed, then laughed as she saw the glint in his eye. “You’re teasing me.” “I’m not. Yet. But I mean it, if there is something that you want, a fantasy that will please you, then all you have to do is tell me. I can be very accommodating.” “I’m sure you can be.” “Is that censure in your voice, honey? I am what I am. You want the illusion of a lover; you 13

Astrid Cooper want me to whisper undying love in your ear…do you really want the lie, when the truth is so much better?” Taking her in his arms, he bent his head to her neck and licked her with his tongue. Samantha squeezed her eyes shut. Beneath her hands, she felt the rippling of muscles as he undulated against her; his fingers gently feathered over her body, kneading, squeezing, massaging. Lower and lower his palm worked. Two long, strong fingers stroked across her pussy. She opened her thighs, arching upwards, inviting—no demanding. She allowed the sex-lethargy creep over her, focusing her attention on her body and its pleasure; to live for the moment… John felt her honey-warmth spill over his hand and smiled to himself. She was ready for him, as he was for her. How he ached to bury his throbbing cock deep within her. But it was too soon. She had waited a long time for this release, a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt her. It might kill him, though. He shivered with the pleasure of feeling her hands trace across the small of his back to his buttocks. His mouth teased down her breasts, tormenting each already contracted nipple to tight buds. Lower his mouth quested, sucking, licking, scrolling around her navel. He exerted a tentative pressure on her thighs, a silent question that she 14

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silently answered by opening her legs wide. He drew her knees up so that she rested her feet on his shoulders. Settling against her pussy, his fingers parted her folds as his hand braced against her pubic bone. She held her breath. Slowly, deliberately, his mouth devoured her. His tongue tip swirled across her clit, teasing it lightly, drawing it to a peak. Her thighs trembled as a wave of pleasure rippled outwards. One of his fingers, then two crept into her pussy. A movement in and out, around and around. The pressure within her built. Her climax hovered, almost there. He halted fingers and tongue, waiting; holding; denying. “John, I can’t stand it anymore!” “Can’t you? I think you could if you really tried.” “Please.” “You want more?” His whisper caressed her pussy, he blew across her nether-lips, cooling the heated flesh. His tongue lapped at her. “Mmmm!” It was all she could say. Words were forgotten, need--passion making her mute. His mouth feasted on her as his fingers began their gentle, yet inexorable massaging to that pinnacle he had denied her. Her temples throbbed in unison to the tempest between her legs. Her climax came; a sudden release of heat. A 15

Astrid Cooper tension, painful, harsh bursting forth from her. Raising her hips from the bed she feverishly ground against him. “Do you want me inside you, now, honey?” he asked. “Mmmm...” Impatiently, Samantha awaited his entry. Instead he leaned forward and reached down. She heard rustling and felt him fumbling with something. His body returned against her. More fumbling and rustling. What was he doing? Turning kinky on her? She opened her eyes. “Oh,” she said. “Boy scouts,” John said. “Are always prepared. I’m a careful guy. I’ve got a sheath with ticklers, if you prefer?” “What is that thing you’re wearing on your…um…it’s red and green and silver!” “You want me to explain? It’s a sheath, and because it’s Christmas Night, of course, it has to be red, green and silver.” He laughed. “You don’t know the trouble I had to get one made with these colors. I can see you’re laughing at me. Anyway, I prefer a sheath to drugs…medication impedes the pleasure. This will drive you crazy and it’s also protection.” “You don’t have to worry about that, I had my shot.” “It’s the law for me. Protected sex.” 16

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“Can’t have you break the law, then.” He laughed and kissed her and she tasted her own musky self on his lips and tongue. Kneeling between her thighs and bracing himself on his outstretched arms he used the tip of his penis to trace a line across her stomach, probing downwards. His cock slipped back and forth across her labia. Her hand fisted around him, holding him. “Now?” he asked. Their gazes locked before he lowered himself into her. Samantha gasped and he halted. “What’s wrong?” “You’re so big, and it’s been a long time. I don’t think I can. And you’re vibrating! Is that what that thing does…?” “It enhances. You like it? Is it too much?” As he went to draw away, she grasped his buttocks. “No, I want this. I want you. All of you.” Smiling, John settled against her, his knees taking his weight. He entered slowly, giving her time to grown accustomed. Her warm honey flowed around him as her woman’s muscles sheathed him. It took all his will power to control the urge to bury himself to the hilt. Three years without a man. She had told him that. Now he knew it to be true; despite her arousal, she was tight. Ignoring his own body screaming for 17

Astrid Cooper release, he focused instead on extending her pleasure. One centimeter in, and then retreat, slowly his cock probed her, the sheath straining, pulsing—for them both. It was a delicious massage of every inner muscle and Sam thrashed on the bed in delirium, pain, pleasure, passion. “John, now.” “No, honey. Wait.” He smiled to himself. He was going to tease her, fuck her good and proper as she deserved. He would truly make her head spin, to turn her inside out before he soothed her from inside out. He slipped his hands beneath her buttocks and raised her, rocking his hips against hers, easing his full length into her. He drew back, his cock resting at the entrance to her pussy, to return again to full possession. Again and again, the slow seductive rhythm that she began to match. His languid pace increased until they moved as one, a tempestuous joining. He came, paused, then continued to rock against her. She pinioned her legs around his waist, crossing her ankles to hold him tight. She was almost at the brink when he halted. Unfastening her legs he turned her sideways. Lifting her, he drew her back between his thighs and entered her again. With one arm holding her to him, he used the fingers of his other hand to 18

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splay wide her pussy, to assault her clit as he fucked her, slowly, deeply. The delicious pressure-pain built and built. Lights danced before her eyes. Her body strained against the hand that worked her, bucked against the cock that impaled her. A moment of suspended awareness, she felt certain she would explode. She screamed. “That’s it honey, give it all you’ve got.” And she did. Wave upon wave of excruciating pleasure. She writhed against him as his body and fingers continued to work on her, in her. Her next climax matched his. They cried out together. With one long, slow, deep thrust that seemed to stretch forever, he drove into her and calmed… John brushed aside her hair and kissed her neck. “That was a good entree.” “I thought it was dessert.” “We haven’t had the main course, yet.” “There’s more?” “A full menu. Now what can I tempt you with?” “I’ll leave it up to you.” “A wise choice.” Samantha opened her eyes. Beside her, the bed was empty, with only the indentation in the pillow and the tangled sheets to remind her that she had not slept alone. 19

Astrid Cooper Correction … not much sleep had occurred. She raised herself on an elbow. He must have left as soon as she had fallen asleep. Satiated sleep after hours of making love. No, not love, she reminded herself. Sex. He had been her Christmas Night gift and whatever the cost, he had been worth every cent. John— a gentle lover; insatiable. Inventive. She blushed to remember what he had done, what he had coaxed her to do to him, to herself. Together. They could teach those shifters on Tau Ceti a thing or three. She winced at the thought, the longing. That for them there could be a future. With him there could be nothing more—just a night of pleasure, paid for. But—oh God! Once she had him, how could she forget the sensations…? How could she forget him? She wouldn’t. She would have him again. Soon. Her pussy tensed at the thought. Pulsed. If only he was still here, she’d fuck him senseless. Pushing herself off the bed, Samantha hobbled to the bathroom, every muscle protesting her movement. Her inner muscles ached, stretched and thoroughly used. The thought made her body pulse anew. On the vanity she saw a three-D business card and beneath it a long black velvet box. 20

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Going to it, she lifted the card. It took some moments to overcome the shock, to make sense of the red writing. Johnathan Lucas. Pearl Farmer. Broome, Australia. Alias—Kuno, followed by a familiar email address and a cell phone number handwritten in red ink. She read the card over and over. Opening the box, she gasped at the black pearl necklace lying in folds of red silk. Realization made her giddy. John, her male escort, was in reality Kuno, alias Johnathan Lucas her internet confidant. She didn’t have to be Einstein to figure it out. Her friends Sue and Rob must have arranged it with John/Kuno. Against such a determined threesome, she hadn’t stood a chance. The fine details of how it was accomplished didn’t matter. The end result was that after eighteen months of shared confidences in their private chat room, she had met John in the flesh. In the flesh. As memories surfaced of John and their night together, her pussy tensed, flooded. She was beyond embarrassment; she couldn’t even blush! With a trembling hand she reached for the phone and keyed the cell number. It was answered after one ring. “Good morning, honey,” John said. 21

Astrid Cooper “Where are you?” “Room next door.” “Get in here, Kuno.” “Just coming, sweetheart.” “Lucky you.” His laughter tugged at her insides. Seconds later, the sensor rang. She raced forward, the door slid open and she dragged him inside. He wore a red silk gown and nothing more; untied, the gown hung from his body, revealing his erection. “You and I aren’t finished,” Sam said. “Do I call you John or Kuno?” “Kuno is my felinus name.” “I like Kuno…you were the first man I spoke to and trusted.” He inclined his head, his folded hands over his heart. “Kuno, saer wan naemis-al.” “What did you say?” “In felinus, I was declaring myself to you. My name is Kuno and I exist for you.” “Oh. Well…” She cleared her throat. “You and I aren’t finished, Kuno!” “I know that.” He leaned into her, bending her backwards onto the divan. “I’m going to take you to Tau Ceti and then after that…” “I’d like to see Broome and swim with the dolphins.” “You can talk to them you know. The stories they can tell…” 22

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“I’d like to go swimming and fuck you at the same time.” “Can be arranged,” John said settling between her legs. “Are you really a sensualtor?” He laughed. “Was I that good? Yes, it is my profession, beside being a pearl farmer.” “And a reprobate!” She slapped his bum, pinched him for good measure, then tugged off his robe. “Thank you for the pearls.” “Pearls can be used for a lot of things other than to grace your neck, Sam. Do you know what?” “I can imagine. But I want my pearls around my throat and I want you inside me. Now, Kuno.” “And later?” He smiled that lazy smile that she would never grow tired of watching. “We’ll make it up as we go along.” “I know a bar on the lower level—” “That place’s forbidden to tourists.” His brow quirked. “Do you always do what you’re told, Sam? Don’t you want to live on the wild side?” “Yes, of course. I’m tired of being safe and secure, but what I’ve heard about the lower level, my adventures would end real quick, before they had begun.” She paused, studying him, seeing the light in his eyes, the smile. “Do you go there?” “Often. It’s where the shifters hang out and the others; sex and danger walk hand in hand, honey. 23

Astrid Cooper There’s holo-dancing and—” “What’s holo-dancing?” John rolled his eyes. “I’ll take you there and show you, but suffice to say that if you enjoyed my performance here, you’re gonna love my dancing.” “And the shifters hang out there?” “Mnn. The cats mostly. You know what they’re like.” “I don’t actually. I’ve never met a shifter.” John smiled, running his finger over her mouth. “The cats love a virgin, I’m gonna have to put my scent on you, before we go out. I don’t want to have to call challenge to any felinus. It’s messy.” “But I’m not a virgin,” Sam whispered. “Honey, a cat will tell you any woman who hasn’t had a shifter as a lover has never been loved properly. Unless you’ve fucked a cat, they consider you a virgin.” “And you want to take me to this bar? What is it called?” “Rendezvous.” “It sounds harmless enough. And what do you mean you’re going to put your scent on me.” “You’re my woman, now, so I don’t share, except with your permission. I have a cat-brother and he’s gonna love you. From a distance, at first. After that, well, maybe you might want to ménage.” 24

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“Two lovers at the same time?” “Two is the basic number, the initiation for a virgin. Once you get used to us, all bets are off.” “John…” He kissed away her protests. “Sam, you don’t have to worry, no one is gonna do anything against your will. Especially against your will. We have a code of behavior. No more talking, I want to love you and then fuck you and then take you out of this synthesized, homogenized hotel and introduce you to the real universe.” He carried her to the bed and laid her upon it, kneeling between her thighs. The tip of his cock touched her clit and she lifted off the mattress. “You’re very sensitive, aren’t you? Mmm, good.” He touched her again and Sam gritted her teeth as the quivers raced through her. “And you’ve got good control—even better. You’ll need it for what’s ahead.” “What’s ahead?” “A surprise.” “I’ve already had my share of surprises.” “Relax. It’s Christmas and I’m going to give you something you’re never going to forget.” “You already have.” “You think?” “I want you inside me, Kuno. Now. I don’t want you to wear that sheath. I want to feel you, all of you; I want you to make me vibrate with 25

Astrid Cooper your flesh and blood. I know I can do it for you. Kuno, now.” He bent forward, his cock sliding into her, he settled over her, his face pressed into her neck. He nibbled and licked, and then sucked. Then bit. “Now any cat looking at you will see my mark. You’re mine, Sam. Now. Forever.” “Forever is such a long time.” “In the universe’s scheme of things, honey, just a blink of an eye. Now, look at me, I want to watch your eyes when I love you. You want it this way, under me? I can de-activate the gravity…” “You can do that?” “Mmm. Making love in free fall is an experience all its own. You can touch me all over. Not as good as holo-dancing, but close.” “What is holo-dancing?” “Come to the bar with me and find out.” “You’re not going to tell me?” “It’s not something you talk about, it’s something you do. And once you’ve tried it, you’ll never be the same.” He pressed into her for emphasis, drawing back and then re-entering her, this time changing direction. “Ahh…” Sam moaned. “What did you do?” “A trick of the trade, honey. There’s a pleasurespot high up to the right.” “Do it again, oh please!” “Now, wrap your legs around me, lock your 26

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ankles at my back and I can probe deeper, touch another place. Ready?” “I…” Sam’s words died in her mouth as John’s body impaled her, deeply, fully and his hands beneath her tilted her to another angle. Her mind exploded with light, the world closed in on her, the only sound that of the blood pounding in her ears. Time stood still; she forgot to breathe as the exquisite pleasure rippled through her. She bit him on the neck and John cried out, not with pain, but pleasure. He moved against her, alternating angles, speed. Sam became slowly aware that she was drifting. Opening her eyes, she discovered that she and John were hovering over the bed. Somehow, sometime he must have de-activated the gravity…he kissed away her questions. His hands fanned around her body, beneath her, probing, stroking, as his cock within her probed and stroked. She explored his body, every inch, every crevice, every secret. She bit, she licked, she clawed. “You’ve drawn my blood, Sam, do you know what that means to a felinus?” She shook her head. “It means, sweetheart, that you’ve marked me as your own. Forever.” Sam reached up and brushed back the hair 27

Astrid Cooper flying around his face. “Forever is such a short time, let’s not waste a moment.” “My sentiments exactly. I always knew there was a tiger lurking within you, the passion curbed by pain and memories. Now, there’s no more pain…well, not much…and I want you to be the tigress—claw me, bite me, love me, Sam.” “Like this?” She ran her nail down his spine. “Ah, yes!” Sam teased her nails over his flesh and he writhed against her. In the null-grav his movements made them turn over and over, spinning out of control, as passions span out of control, as he loved her, as she loved him, insatiable, inexhaustible and inventive. “This is only the beginning, Sam,” John whispered. “Naturally. I didn’t come more than a billion kilometers just for a one night stand.” He laughed and looked down at her, holding her face between his hands. “You can come for another billion kilometers… My promise to you!” “You promise?” “Yep. Under every known star, I’m going to love you Sam; starlight ecstasy—that’s what the shifters call it.” “I think I’ll settle for a Christmas ecstasy. For starters.” “Definitely for starters,” John said. “And after 28

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that…the whole menu.” “Again?” “Again!” He locked his legs around the back of her thighs and pressed into her. Sam opened her eyes and gazed down at him. Then his body angled and probed and she squeezed her eyelids closed. Christmas Night had been and gone, but there would be many more nights to come … she smiled at the play of words, of the future stretching ahead, of a life lived no longer alone … to explore a universe that she barely glimpsed until this moment; of a life barely lived until this moment. She bit him hard and he groaned and laughed. “You’re mine,” she said. “No she-cat had better look at you, either, or I’ll scratch out her eyes.” John turned them both and they hovered close to the ceiling. “Bite me again, hell-cat. Bite me; love me, Sam! And then after that, you’ll know what ecstasy means.”

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Coming Soon

Book 1 of the Starlight Series

Starlight Rapture Herimal (Harry) is delighted that his half-brother, John, has finally found his mate—even if she is a “virgin”, untouched by cat-shifter loving. Starlight Ecstasy will be Samantha’s—that is the felinus promise. At Rendezvous, Sam and John holo-dance with the other shifters and sensualtors, but none of them know that security has been breached by a star-lord and what is meant to be a private and erotic sex-dance is witnessed; watching Sam’s unrivalled sensuality, the lord wants her for its own pleasure, no matter the cost, no matter who has to die…

About the Author Astrid has been writing since she was five years old and even then her stories were of the “fantastic”: aliens, spaceships, knights on magical quests. Astrid is an award-winning, best-selling author whose works encompass many genres and many formats (traditional print, electronic and POD). Active in s.f. fandom, she has organized s.f./fantasy conventions, edited over 100 fanzines, and run several fantasy ‘fan’ groups. When not writing, Astrid works in her two and a half acre ‘garden’ in rural South Australia. She has other speculative fiction and paranormal erotica with Extasy Books (Pride’s Passion, Forbidden Nights and For Eternity and 3 stories in the “Violet Visions” anthology) and is working on a five-book mainstream fantasy series of “epic proportions”. She is contracted to edit an anthology (“Fabled Towers”) featuring stories about the Arthurian myth. Astrid is a freelance editor and is contracted by an agency to assess and edit manuscripts. Astrid invites all readers to her website: www.astridcooper.com and maybe sign her guestbook and/or email her, as she enjoys hearing from readers and other writers!