Page 35 of The Warrior's Oath
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
The Skrizzit’s hands were steady and strong. They’d need to be given the amount of effort it would take to ink the human woman’s entire body with the runes and connecting lines all adults in the Dotharian Conglomerate were required to possess.
To do it all in one sitting would take time, and a lot of it. Fortunately for Nyota, the pigment naturally soothed the skin as it was applied. It was still uncomfortable, having tiny needles rapidly jabbed into her flesh over and over and over, but all told it was far less painful than she’d expected.
Of course, the massive rush of sexytime endorphins Korvin’s extremely talented hands had flooded her body with could also explain that. He had said he would prepare her, and he had sure as hell done a magnificent job of it.
Nyota had watched with a wicked gleam in her eye as he did his best to hide his beautiful erection when he lay down on the table. Seeing it press into his stomach as he lowered himself face-down, she couldn’t help but think of all the wonderful things she wanted to do with it.
“Ow!” she gasped, pulled from her erotic daydream.
“Apologies,” Dahrag said with a little shrug, pausing for only a moment before continuing the detailed work. “Some areas of the body are more sensitive to my needles. This section will only take a little longer.”
“I hope so,” she replied through clenched teeth. “That really sucks.”
“Every race reacts differently. Yours, it seems, is a bit more sensitive than most. I will endeavor to speed this portion of the work, but one does not want to rush a Skrizzit.”
“A rushed Skrizzit means lesser runes,” Korvin said, turning his head to watch the master artist at work, his eyes lingering on Nyota’s bare flesh a bit longer than he’d intended.
His own damaged runes had only begun to be repaired, the Skrizzit opting to direct the majority of their attention to the human requiring so much work. The Nimenni man, on the other hand, was a relatively easy fix, and the needles used for the initial repairs lay neatly lined on the table beside Nyota’s far greater assortment of implements.
She was having larger swaths as well as fine work done, and that required the Skrizzit to switch tools and techniques frequently. The results thus far, however, were impressive.
“They look good on you,” Korvin admired. “Your natural lines are well suited for them.”
“Thanks, I guess. I’d never planned on getting any tattoos, but I suppose after alien abduction, a little ink isn’t nearly as big a deal as the rest of all this.”
“Indeed.”
The door chime softly sounded, announcing a visitor. Dahrag sighed, finishing a line with an expert touch before setting the needles down and crossing the room to the door. A uniformed guard stood at attention when it opened.
“Yes? What is it?” the Skrizzit asked, annoyed. “I am in the middle of a session.”
“I am aware,” the guard replied. “The magistrate has directed that the Admani pigment is to be provided to you for our guests.”
At this Dahrag’s eyes widened. “The Admani pigment? Really?”
“Yes. But you will need to come sign for it in order for it to be released from the vault.”
“Oh, I see,” Dahrag said, glancing back at the Nimenni and human lying naked on their worktables.
A lot had already been done, all of it freehand, applied with expert skill. But to have some of the Admani pigment to work with? It was an exciting honor to be permitted to use it.
“Are you coming?” the guard asked.
“Yes, yes. Of course.” Dahrag turned back to the others. “I need to step out for a few minutes. I will be back as soon as I am able.”
“We’ll be here,” Nyota said with a relieved little chuckle. “Honestly, it’s good timing. I could use the break.”
Dahrag simply nodded once and shut the door, following the guard to the heavily fortified vaults.
“What’s that all about?” Nyota asked, pushing up on an elbow to better look at Korvin’s gorgeous body.
His violet eyes met hers with a smoldering but conflicted look. She’d unsettled him earlier. Somehow, this little woman from Earth had affected this alien warrior like no one else had, and that made their brief interlude even hotter.
“The Admani pigment is an extremely rare extract from a powerful flower. It can only be harvested in full moonlight, when the pigment must be extracted within minutes of the flower being cut.”
“Powerful?”
