Engulf [New World Book 5] by C.L. Scholey Page B

of her parents had been hard on his mate. It stirred memories of his own parents’ demise. One moment his mother had been kissing his cheeks, the next she was lying on the ground unmoving.
    It was hard to witness his mate’s suffering. Now that he knew what Abri had experienced, he vowed she would never again have that dream. The memory of being able to offer her sanctuary was enlightening. Raiden could take her anywhere into his dreams. The idea was startling to them both. Abri had been incredulous when she wandered amidst mammoths and other holograms created from images of earth. There was nothing on Bagron that could harm her.
    Abri stretched then settled. She lay on her back, legs spread—open invitation—and Raiden gritted his teeth. Her round globes caught his attention. They were fascinating, really. High and round, full. Raiden traced his finger across her nipples and smiled when they puckered. His own chest sported no such things, although oddly enough, the human males had them. It was a mystery to Raiden. Men didn’t nurse their children. What was their purpose on males?
    When Castians hit their must cycle to procreate, they had either a female cycle or a male cycle. Human males basically had the same thing as they were the ones who chose the sex of their offspring. Except at any given time they had either—or. Raiden had learned not all human females carried at the same time on Earth. Another oddity.
    When Abri yawned, Raiden had an urge to settle his cock past her lips. The feeling it provoked almost drove him wild. He’d had no idea a female would do that. He wondered what else they could do together. Memories stirred to the surface. A Castian needed to arouse his mate; he needed to be the best at pleasuring her. It was why his secretions were so in tune to her needs. It’s what kept mates faithful—understanding their wants.
    Abri wasn’t in love with him—he scented it. For a human female, mating and joining were complicated. Through scent memory, Raiden remembered even his species would join for pleasure. A mating didn’t always take place—especially if the male was repelled through a foul female scent gland. Raiden loved Abri; she was a part of him. It was up to him to prove himself worthy of her love. It would take time. They had all the time in the world. Through joining, he did understand she felt close to him. Humans were such complex oddities. Raiden felt lucky he was able to learn to understand the human mind.
    “See, they are more than just for babies,” Abri’s teasing words jerked him back to what he was doing. Absently Raiden had been drawing circles around her breasts and nipples.
    “They are beautiful.”
    “Taste one.”
    Raiden was startled with the idea. He was too old to nurse. But the idea was interesting. Raiden moved closer. Abri lay back with her eyes closed. Raiden flicked out his tongue to touch her nipple. Abri smiled. Encouraged, he then nuzzled her bud with his lips. When he met with no resistance Raiden felt brazen. He latched his mouth over a breast and sucked hard. His tongue played with her blossom, it’s what it looked like to him. Raiden’s eyes rose in a surprised thought. He released her.
    “This bud doesn’t open—does it?”
    Abri looked at him in confusion for a second. “Not like a flower, no. If ever I have a baby I will produce milk that will flow to feed the baby.”
    “Must there be a babe for there to be milk?”
    “Most of the time, but not always.”
    “Why?”
    “Why would I need to produce milk for no reason?”
    “Good point.”
    The object of his curiosity was only inches from his lips. Raiden suckled her again. His other hand squeezed and kneaded her other breast. He never knew a female would feel so soft.
    “How is it you know nothing about females at all?”
    “They were all killed. Animals, bugs. Anything female was destroyed four hundred years ago. Poisoned. The elders of our planet made no female holograms, thinking it would