Diva (Jit'Suku Chronicles) Read online

  He was such a man. His strength made her feel safe. His size made her feel more feminine than she ever had before.

  John continued his downward journey, stopping only when he was firmly entrenched between her thighs. His hands spread her, and his beautiful blue eyes watched her every response. Maggie wanted to pull away, but the look in his eyes stilled her. The flush of her skin deepened as he dipped his head, his tongue sweeping lightly through the folds of her pussy. No man had ever done that to her before.

  “You taste even better here, Maggie. Like honey and woman, like you want to be mine.”

  “I do, John. I do!”

  With a sad smile, John shook his head. Maggie was nearly out of her mind with this new pleasure, but she saw the regret in his eyes and felt a pang in her heart. There was so much she couldn’t tell him, so much he thought he couldn’t tell her. What a mess they were—two people who wanted to be together and, by all rights, probably should be together—but were prevented by circumstances neither fully understood about the other.

  It was a tangled mess.

  But at least they could have this. At least for tonight.

  “I’m going to make you come so good, Maggie.” His words were low and exciting in the dim room. “I’ll make you come like you’ve never come before.”

  “No one’s ever done…this…to me before, John. Only you.”

  That stopped him for a moment and his eyes shot up to hers as his head came up. “No man’s ever gone down on you, sweetheart?” She shook her head, and a wide grin spread across his face. “What sort of fools have you been sleeping with, Maggie?”

  “No one, recently.” She gasped as one long, thick finger slid deep into her pussy.

  “Hmm. I can tell. You’re tight, sweetheart. How long’s it been for you? Months?”

  Maggie sighed. She owed him complete honesty on this at least. “Years, John. I’ve only slept with two men in my life.”

  “And neither thought enough to lick you?” John’s eyes narrowed as he began sliding his finger in and out in a slow rhythm. Maggie’s hips bucked as he touched her sensitive clit.

  “I was young. They were young. Just boys, really.” She spoke between gasps as John stimulated her in ways she’d never imagined a man would enjoy.

  John smiled with what looked like satisfaction. “Then, it’s time you learned what a man can do.” He moved downward. “You’re gonna love this, Maggie mine. Just sit back and relax. Let me show you how it’s done.”

  His finger paused only long enough for another to join it inside her slick channel. John’s tongue reached out and touched her clit, tentative at first, then harder, faster, longer and more certain. Maggie moaned.

  The fingers stretching her tight stroked long and deep. She was meeting his movements with little uncontrollable pulses of her hips. John looked up at her face, approval in his blue, blue eyes. Maggie couldn’t believe what he was doing…or how happy he looked doing it!

  John’s mouth zeroed in on her clit, his lips wrapping around the sensitive nubbin and sucking softly as his teeth came into play. He was gentle as could be, only giving her as much as she could handle, then pushing her higher by slow degrees. Oh, he was a master, all right.

  He’d mastered the art of driving a woman out of her mind with passion.

  Maggie dug the fingers of one hand into the bedding, the other threading lightly through his short hair, caressing his scalp with urgent movements as he drove her higher still. Then, he did something with just the very tips of his fingers inside her. He curled them just so, rubbing up against a hidden place inside her sheath that drove her straight over the edge as he bit down gently on her clit.

  Maggie shattered in his arms, her hips bucking as much as he’d let them, his mouth following her involuntary movements as she writhed beneath him. John rode her through the most intense orgasm of her life.

  When she finally calmed enough, his mouth was still there, hot, wet, his tongue lapping at her core. His fingers left her with a slow, steady suction, to be replaced by his tongue. He drank at her like a thirsty man in a desert. He licked her through the subtle aftershocks that had her womb rolling in ecstasy long after the initial storm.

  “You’re so beautiful, Maggie, so responsive.” John raised his head, one big hand cupping her pussy as he stretched out beside her. His eyes glowed with approval and something else she didn’t dare name.

  Maggie was completely wiped out by the most intense sexual experience of her life. She let John maneuver her around on the big bed as if she were a doll. He was so strong he could lift her in one arm and never strain. He settled her under the blankets, spooning her from behind.

  “Sleep, sweetheart,” he said softly, near her ear, ruffling the small curls of her hair that rested there. “Sleep like the angel you are, safe in my arms. Just this once.”

  Between one thought and the next, Maggie fell into an exhausted sleep. She’d been staying up later than usual, playing for John each night, and it had finally caught up with her. The intense, nearly debilitating orgasm, coupled with the safe feeling she had in John’s strong arms, lulled her to sleep. But she felt his hard erection against her ass, and she knew she wanted to do something about that before she let him kick her out of his bed once and for all.

  In the middle of the night, Maggie found her chance. A light sleeper by habit, when John made some movement in the night, it woke her. Rolling in his arms, she found him watching her, his eyes half-lidded, sleepy, but still alert.

  “Can’t sleep?” Her voice was husky.

  “I don’t want to waste one moment of this night sleeping, Maggie mine.”

  “I love it when you call me that.”

  She reached up and kissed him, not allowing him time or breath to respond. Plastering herself against him, Maggie was pleased to note the rock hardness of his cock. John was still primed and ready, and she was going to do something about that before this night was through.

  Keeping his mouth busy, Maggie stole one hand down his chest to fiddle with the clasp of his pants. John backed away and grabbed her hand gently in one of his.

  “No, sweetheart. Tonight is just for you.”

  “No deal, John. You gave me the most beautiful experience of my life. I want to give you something in return.”

  “I can’t make love to you, Maggie. It would kill me to have to leave you after that.”

  The raw pain in his voice stilled her. She looked up into his eyes in the dimly lit room. She could see some of her own conflict reflected there, along with a longing that touched her deeply.

  “All right, John. I think I understand. But I want to lick you the way you did me. I want to taste you. Give me that at least.”

  “Oh, God, baby! Don’t say things like that.”

  “Why not? It’s what I want.” She moved closer, bolder now as she detected his barriers weakening. “I’ve done it a time or two, you know, and I liked it. I think I’ll like it even more if it’s with you.”

  An unintelligible growl issued from his throat. “You’re making this really hard, baby. I’m trying to be noble here.”

  “You are noble, John Starbridge,” she said with absolute certainty. “You don’t have to try. Just let me do this. For you. And me, too.”

  By gentle degrees, he caved in, releasing her hand and letting her remove his uniform pants and underwear. As his body was revealed, she realized he had the most magnificent physique she’d ever seen—even in holos. John was hard muscle and strong sinew everywhere. His arms were enormous and balanced by the thickness of his legs. His butt was tight and firm, his stomach rippled with muscle, and his cock…his cock was a work of art.

  Maggie took him in her hands and smiled. She actually felt his pulse jump as she stroked him softly. If it was possible, he became even harder as she licked him, using her tongue to spread moisture and make her hand glide more easily over his satiny surface.

  “Oh, baby. You’re killing me.”

  Maggie liked the gasping way his v
oice sounded. She liked the slight tremor she could detect in his hard thighs as she made herself comfortable between them. She loved the look and feel of him. In short, she loved him. Or as close as she could come to love. Her chosen profession and style of living precluded love. Or so she’d always thought. She couldn’t love John Starbridge. It was too complicated. But she definitely did have deep feelings for him. If it wasn’t yet love, she knew it could easily develop into it, if she was fool enough to allow that to happen.

  Maggie set to work, putting the thought from her mind. Taking him in hand, she used her mouth on him, sweeping her tongue all over him first, like a lollipop. When he groaned, she settled her lips over the tip of him, sucking as she moved her hands below, one on his enormous shaft, the other gently massaging his balls.

  She felt him growing hotter as she slid her mouth down his length as far as she could go, hollowing her cheeks as she sucked him deep. His hips began a slight thrusting movement, and she knew he was close. Already, she could taste the salty pre-come that leaked from his tip.

  Maggie moved back up to run her tongue lightly into the little hole.

  “Ah, Maggie! I’m close. Let up, baby. I’m going to burst.”

  But that’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted his come in her mouth, on her face, all over her body if she could manage it. She wanted to feel owned and marked by this one special man on this one special night.

  He tried to push at her shoulders, but she wasn’t budging, and he gave in with a shout, coming hard and long in her mouth. His cum overflowed, running down her chin, and then, she milked his seed as it continued to come in spurts all over her breasts. With a devilish smile, she rubbed the hot fluid into her skin as John watched, his eyes smoldering with pleasure and possession.

  “Mmm. You taste so good, John.” Maggie kept one hand on his cock as it gave up the last of its bounty.

  John grasped her by the arms and dragged her up, covering her mouth with his own, using his big hands to rub the remnants of his semen into her soft skin. He was like a man possessed, and Maggie loved every moment of his strength, his passion and his marvelous claiming.

  He kissed her deeply, even as he repositioned them in the bed, holding her close. Long moments later, he let her mouth part from his but kept her body warm next to his as he settled back on the pillows.

  “Woman, you just rocked my world.”

  Maggie giggled. “Mmm. Mine too.”

  “If cock sucking was an Olympic event, you’d be the all-time gold medalist.”

  “Really?” She repositioned her head against his chest, enjoying the rhythm of his strong heart. “I’ve only done it a few times.”

  His arm tightened around her. “Which reminds me. Those assholes you dated let you suck them but never went down on you? Sweetheart, you seriously need to find a better caliber of man.”

  She stroked his chest with a soft smile. “I did. I found you.”

  John was silent a long moment. “You’ll never know how much it means to me to hear you say things like that, Maggie mine.”

  His voice was soft with something that sounded like sorrow, but she didn’t want to face the future yet. Tonight was a moment out of time—a moment away from the responsibilities and secrets that plagued them both.

  “It’s okay, John.” She felt like she had to reassure him. “You’re special to me too. Special in ways you’ll never know.”

  He hugged her close then, and they fell into a companionable silence as each battled with their thoughts and their fatigue. Sleep finally won out, and they rested the remainder of the night tucked close in each other’s arms.

  Chapter Four

  Maggie and John parted professionally the next day. Maggie—or rather, Diva—thanked the men of the military contingent who had seen to her safety, giving each a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug. They departed, one by one, as John dismissed them and saw to welcoming the replacement crew. He was the last to leave, as was only right, and if she hugged him a little tighter, kissed him a little longer than the rest of the men, no one made note.

  At least not among the military contingent.

  Some of her band members may have spotted something, but her manager, Binki, warned them against saying anything. Binki was a tall, lean man, and he settled his frame against the bulkhead where Maggie stood, watching John walk off down the long hall that led to the orbital space station. Walking out of her life. Possibly forever.

  “He’s quite a guy,” Binki commented.

  Maggie didn’t mind Binki’s slightly questioning tone. He’d been her best friend since they were just children. He knew her better than anyone.

  “He’s the best. The absolute best.” If her voice caught on the words, Binki didn’t make a fuss. He simply slung one of his long arms around her shoulders and turned her gently from the now empty exitway. John was long gone.

  “I had a chance to chat with him some on the journey. You couldn’t do better, sweetheart.”

  Maggie stepped back, frowning at him. “But you know damn well why it’s impossible.”

  Binki sighed deeply, his face serious for once. “No problem is insurmountable, doll. Whoever said you didn’t deserve a chance for real happiness in your life?”

  “No one.” She’d admit that much, though her voice was small and rather unconvincing. “But other things have to come first. At least for now.”

  “I think you’re making a mistake.”

  “Duly noted. Now,” she turned briskly back to her ship and crew and, most especially, her band, “we have some work to do on the new songs, and some messages to craft that have to go quite a distance.”

  Binki sighed again, this time dramatically. “You are such a slave driver. I’m going to have to pay the band overtime if you keep pushing them so hard.”

  “Don’t worry,” she threw back over her shoulder as she moved forcefully down the hall. “I’m good for it.”

  Binki watched her go with sad eyes. “I know you are, doll, but what good is all the money in the galaxy without love?”

  But Diva was already gone down the hall and didn’t hear his question.

  *

  John went back to the rim and his men with a heavy heart. Oh, he was glad of every moment he’d spent with Maggie and replayed them in his mind whenever he could, but he missed her. Just her smile, her laugh, her lovely voice and quick wit. He missed talking with her about even inconsequential things, and he missed that little peck goodnight.

  Now that he knew how she tasted, he missed her kiss even more, and the softness of her in his arms. The short trip back to his unit was hell, but once he resumed command, things were marginally better. Instead of missing her at every moment of the day and night, he only missed her every other moment.

  But she sent him little care packages. The first arrived only a day after he got back to base. It was a disc with the song she’d written for her dad and a short personal message. She included a few holos of the places she’d played and descriptions of the people she’d met too, and it made John feel as if he were still a part of her little show, trekking across the galaxy. Funny how easily he’d fit himself into her entourage.

  Hell, he even found himself missing her oddball tour manager, a guy who went by the name of Binki, for cripes sake. For a guy with such a stupid name, he really was quite sharp. They’d had some good conversations about the state of the galaxy and inter-galactic affairs. Binki had a good head on his shoulders for a tour manager, but John guessed he’d need to know all sorts of background info to keep his client in comfort, style and safety. John knew Maggie was in good hands with Binki. He’d keep her out of the hot spots and keep the show traveling safely.

  The care packages kept coming, sometimes by special courier, which raised eyebrows among his unit, but John didn’t mind. He ignored all the speculation and lived for the small parcels she sent him from just about every stop she made on her tour.

  If he’d harbored any doubts about her sincerity at all, they were long gone. Her le
tters and holos were intimate, though she never said anything too revealing, probably because she couldn’t be certain her parcel wouldn’t go astray. Still, John was touched by the things she wrote about and the new songs she sent to him. He lived for her letters and found himself writing in return, though he’d never been much of a correspondent before. Still, Maggie was an expert at making him do all sorts of things he’d never even thought of before. Why should this be any different?

  “Mail call, Captain.” Jase, his XO, handed John a small packet containing a disc. It was from Maggie, and John just knew a shit-eating grin spread across his face as he stood from the table to head for his quarters and the private viewer there.

  “How much you think he’s paying Diva’s fan club to send him those discs?” Pete, the smart-ass, joked.

  Several of the other men laughed as they ate their chow, but John didn’t care. When Maggie sent him a disc, he knew it contained music she didn’t mean for others to hear—only him. She gifted him with her music, her voice, her innermost thoughts, and he loved her for it.

  In the dark of space, when he began to regret the choices he’d made and what could never be, he remembered her words and her caring heart, and it gave him reason to go on. She might never know it, but she was the inspiration behind his actions. She drove him to be a better man than he was, to keep fighting the good fight to keep her, and the rest of humanity, safe from all threat of danger.

  *

  Months passed without much fanfare. After a few flare-ups on the rim that were easily dealt with, John and his unit came up for their annual leave. They were traveling back to Sol Sector for some well-earned R&R, but John was stopping off on Io Station for a Diva concert.