“There’s a super powerful interstellar race of beings known as the Mawreg who loathe humans and have been at war with us for centuries now. The Chimmer work for the Mawreg, and we believe they gave the Khagrish the choice of dying in the mass destruction of their home world, or saving their worlds by agreeing to do specific experiments the Chimmer wanted done. This planet was set up for all forms of research. Right now the theory at sanctuary valley is the Khagrish are hiding the fact we’ve escaped and are waging war on them but, if the Chimmer find out, which they inevitably will, they’ll bring the big guns to bear on this planet, and we’ll all be wiped out. Before that happens, we need the Sectors to come in, help defeat the Khagrish and protect us from the Chimmer. But the Sectors has no idea where we are or what’s happening.”
“A lot of facts to absorb at once but I believe I’ve got the gist. I don’t like the idea of losing my mate’s company for an extended period of time, but I understand the need.” She rubbed the back of his hand against her cheek and kissed his knuckles. “That we two met, let alone fell in love, is a miracle from the goddess. The fact we’re still alive and free today is another. I can’t be greedy and wish for the planet to stop rotating in order to keep you by my side every hour of the day for the rest of our lives.”
“Or in your bed?” He grinned.
“Another excellent but impractical thought. May I claim you as my mate now?” she asked. The simplicity of the question masked all her complicated and intense emotions surrounding Gabe and her desire to have the mate bond with him.
Gabe’s answer was all she hoped for and she let out a long sigh as he said, “I’d be honored, but only if I can claim you in turn.”
“Of course.” She wriggled on his lap, savoring the hard length of him pushing against her bottom.
Gabe tumbled her onto the mattress, his cock slipping into the vee between her legs. He resumed his ardent attentions to her breasts, not that Keshara minded his focus in the least, not when his slightest caress ratcheted her own desire higher and made her burn for him to repeat the experience of making the two of them one.
Idly, she scratched his back in big lazy circles, taking note of the scars from old wounds. It pleased her to have a mate who was a seasoned soldier who’d obviously survived many battles. Guiding himself with one hand, Gabe penetrated her body, but barely, and she made impatient noises as she tried to entice him further, to quell her rising needy ache. He tormented her with his slow, steady approach to their second coupling, and Keshara was at a loss for how to turn the tables on him and bring him to the edge he was holding her at.
Gabe laughed, the sound deep and loving. “You’re an impatient partner.”
“I know how good it’s going to be,” she said, resting her hands on his well-muscled butt and squeezing. Gabe reacted to her exploration by taking her lips in another deep kiss while at the same time he thrust hard, his muscles clenching and releasing with each stroke. Keshara sighed in pleasure and attempted to contract and release her internal muscles to massage him the way she’d done with her hands earlier.
“I can’t hold on,” she said, fighting for breath as the sensations rose in response to what he was doing. “I’m too close to finishing.”
“Wait for me.” His command was quiet but firm, and she liked the challenge of holding herself in abeyance while he worked for them both. The feeling of being right on the brink of orgasm but not letting go was amazing. When she was sure she couldn’t wait another second, he said, “Now, sweetheart.”
Keshara allowed herself to experience every nerve ending’s response to his climax and answer it with her own heightened passion. As the echoes rippled through her body, while Gabe held her tight in the aftermath of his own release, she deployed her fangs ever so carefully and grazed his shoulder, tasting the slightest hint of his intoxicating, coppery blood before swiping the bite with her tongue to seal it. “My forever mate,” she said proudly.
He lowered his head and clamped his own blunt human teeth on the soft spot where her neck met her shoulders, exerting pressure for a moment before caressing the tiny ache with his tongue. “All mine.”
Curled together, they drowsed, worn out by passion.
In the morning, Keshara awoke as Gabe kissed her shoulder before rising from the mat and reaching for his clothes. She lay still, eyes closed, savoring the warm feeling in her heart and mind where the mate bond had taken hold, as if there was a glowing cord stretching between them. She wondered if he felt it or if the sensation was only for a Badari. She’d been sure there’d be no lingering doubts or uncertainty in her mind—the goddess never would have sent Gabe to her if they weren’t meant to be together.
“Planning to sleep all day?” Gabe’s voice was teasing and affectionate.
“Possibly.” Popping her eyes open, she stretched like a lazy feline. “Let me see,” she said, gesturing at his shoulder.
Obligingly, he pivoted and, laughing, struck an exaggerated pose showing off all his muscles. A golden circle gleamed in the spot where her fangs had struck, and pride rose in Keshara like a wave of hot steam. “Mine,” she said with tremendous satisfaction.
“No one else’s. You have one to match.” He sounded proud.
She couldn’t crane her neck to see the mate mark too well with anything but her peripheral vision, but the spot tingled and she brushed it with her fingertips. “Goddess be praised for allowing us to find each other.”
“Quite a feat in this crazy world.” He gave her a hand up to her feet. “I wish we had time and supplies to cook a celebratory breakfast, but we’d better be on our way. Eat on the march.” Fastening his shirt, he walked to the entrance of the cave and moved his artful camouflage screen a bit. “Clear sky, so we can move faster, but the bunch from the Retreat can track us more efficiently as well.” As he turned to her, she was surprised by his unexpectedly serious expression. “I’m sorry we can’t spend the day here, celebrate our claiming properly,” he said. “You deserve so much more of a honeymoon than a hard day’s hike. I wish I could do better to provide for my new mate, after all the happiness you gave me last night.”
Keshara walked over to join him, winding her arms around his waist and leaning her head on his chest, enjoying the steady beating of his heart. “Claiming is forever—we’ll have many opportunities to celebrate the bond but not if we don’t make good our escape from those who pursue us. I’m a practical person—I understand our situation.” She gestured at the cave with one hand. “This may not have been the most romantic setting and there’s no time to linger but we’ve made the best with what we had. You can do romance and flowers and whatever else a human woman might long for once we’re safe.”
Laughing, he hugged her close. “Not to burst your bubble of how you view me, but I gotta admit I wasn’t the most romantic guy in the Sectors. I uh wasn’t in any relationships requiring the hearts and flowers.” He framed her face with both hands and kissed her. “But with you it’s different. I want to give you the damn stars and all three moons, and…hey, what does a romantic Badari lady crave from her mate anyway? I might need hints.”
“I have no idea.” She snuggled closer to him. “I think I just crave you. I’m addicted to you.”
“That request I can satisfy but regretfully not now. We’d better hit the trail. I promise you though, once we’re safe and we’ve rescued your sisters, I’ll make up for the way things are right now.”
They came together in a kiss Keshara found highly romantic and which would have led to more love making if the situation regarding the pursuers had been less dire. Regretfully she tore herself away from Gabe, breathless and smiling, and retreated to put on the rest of her outerwear.
Dressed, she was soon packing up the sleeping mat and other odds and ends. “I can be ready to go in two minutes.” Tossing him a nutrient bar, she took one for herself and shoved an extra in a convenient pocket. “We’ll have to hunt for game soon at this rate. Is our plan to hike to your sanctuary valley?”
&nbs
“I can think of worse things than having you all to myself for a long time, although I know your people need you.”
“Not too many pilots in our ranks,” he agreed. “Three or four of the Badari were taught to fly shuttles and the like, as part of their combat training, but I’m one of only two trained to fly…other things. As we discussed last night.”
When they were ready to leave the cave, Gabe pulled the camouflage the rest of the way to the side while Keshara extinguished the smoldering fire. She paused in the entrance to the small cave, remembering their closeness and the excitement of claiming each other, while her heart beat faster. “It was magical last night, yes?”
Gabe drew her in for a hug and a kiss. “Absolutely.”
Feeling warm and loved, she took her place in the lead, since she’d traveled this route before, and set off into the forest, Gabe at her back.
Following his new mate as she trekked through the fringes of the forest, her speed steady and ground covering as she broke the trail, Gabe was proud to say she was his partner. Keshara was an amazing woman, strong and resilient, sexy and loving. He shook his head, rubbing his shoulder where her claiming mark sat. Hard to believe I’m now effectively married. Didn’t see that coming when I got in the damn flyer for the short flight home to the valley. How his buddies in the Special Forces would laugh if they could see him now, after all the years where he maintained he was a casual affairs or nothing guy. Love them and leave them, but make sure both parties understood the situation before any clothes came off. Those were his rules.
Before Keshara.
The Badari would be happy for him and Keshara. He owed it to her to make sure her tiny pack was properly integrated into the larger pack Aydarr commanded. There’d definitely be challenges. But there would be pleasures too. Anticipation of having time alone with her again tonight sent a pulse straight to his groin, and he grinned. Hours and hours of hiking lay ahead, with much ground to cover before seeking shelter. Keshara might be sore from all the unaccustomed activity last night, and he needed to be mindful of her comfort, although she’d given no signs of feeling any lingering effects of their vigorous lovemaking. Badari physiology at work, no doubt.
Telling himself sternly to focus on the here and now, rather than the night to come, Gabe did a quick scan of the forest in the immediate vicinity. Inattention can get a guy killed. His instincts were on high alert but the danger pricking at him wasn’t immediately apparent. Before he could say anything to her, Keshara paused, wheeling to the right and motioning urgently for him to close the distance between them.
“We’re being stalked,” she said in a low voice.
“Khagrish?” He held the pulse rifle ready and scanned the trees and underbrush, finding nothing of concern.
“Something else.” Keshara pointed toward a pair of massive trees, surrounded by deep shadows. “Stay back.”
As she advanced a few feet forward despite his objection, Gabe finally realized what had been stalking them. Emerging from the bushes on all fours was a gigantic carnivore, sniffing the air and eyeing Keshara as if trying to figure out whether she was prey or foe. Finger on the trigger, he cursed when the creature stood on its trunk-like hind legs because the animal was easily 7’ high and the dinner plate sized paws carried multiple hooked claws. Its coat was an odd mix of white, silver and gray, in a camouflage-style pattern making the animal hard to focus on and the fangs were like daggers. Gabe smothered a curse. If the animal charged her, the situation would go from tense to deadly in an instant. “Keshara, get back here, slowly.”
Shaking her head, she said, “We don’t need this adversary to deal with as well. Right now he’s curious, not battle ready.”
And you’re risking your life needlessly. He knew better than to voice his objection. His mate was every bit as capable of handling the situation as he was, but in her own style—his job was to back whatever play she chose to make, not to take charge. Despite his resolve, he heard himself say in a command voice, “Move out of my field of fire and I’ll shoot it if it charges us.”
“We will not do that, except as a last resort.” Her voice was like steel and she didn’t even glance at him. “The animal has just as much right to be here on the mountain as we do.” She stepped forward another step and the creature tracked her movements, stubby ears flattening and tail thrashing. Gabe wondered if she was attempting to touch the predator’s mind telepathically.
Keshara took a deep breath and seemed to grow taller as she deployed her fangs and her talons, spreading her arms wide, displaying all her armament in a challenge which struck him as foolhardy, as the beast was bigger and outweighed her. A curious sound poured from his mate’s throat—a snarl he wouldn’t have expected humanoid vocal cords to be capable of producing.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up and goose bumps prickled along his arms. Well, remember she’s Badari, not human.
As he watched in disbelief, never relaxing his shooter stance, the beast growled before falling onto all four paws and retreating into the forest, moving faster than he’d have believed without seeing the evidence himself. Now they had the trail all to themselves again.
Gabe took a few steps and caught Keshara to him, giving her a hard hug. “I think my heart stopped for a minute there. Were you actually challenging that massive creature to a fight?”
She laughed, planting a quick kiss on his lips. Eyes sparkling, she said, “Just telling it who was boss. I think it must look for quick, easy kills and I made the situation clear, that we were neither.”
“I’m impressed.” Gabe could tell she was high on the adrenaline of the situation, full of restless energy now the confrontation was over. He was sure familiar with the intoxicating feeling. “There’s an old saying among my people the female is deadlier than the male and after that little show, I’d believe it. I’ve claimed myself one tough lady.” He offered her the canteen. “After the epic snarling vocalization you did, your throat must be parched.”
Taking the container in both hands, Keshara nodded and drank deeply before handing it to him to stow safely away. “We should get moving again. The bigger danger is the one coming after us from the Retreat.”
Keshara continued to set a good fast pace, taking a break for a midday meal of ration bars and a few berries found along their path before resuming the trek.
About an hour later, Keshara paused, head tilted and eyes scanning the sky. Taking his cue from her, Gabe froze as his less acute human hearing picked up a new sound intruding on his consciousness. He took a quick step to grab Keshara by the elbow and steer her into the lee of a fallen tree, where they sheltered in the hollow below the huge trunk, weapons at the ready.
“A flyer,” he said in a low voice, lips close to her ear. “There’s only one on the damn planet now belonging to friendlies, and no one in the valley knows to search for me up here in the northern mountains. Which means the Khagrish are above us.”
“From the Retreat? Hunting for us?” She sounded calm and kept her gaze on the sky, tracking across the horizon. “I don’t see anything.”
Gabe remembered she had the exceptional Badari vision and relaxed a fraction. He’d been regretting the lack of distance viewers, but she probably didn’t even need them. “Could be a random flyover from another installation, but this is a really isolated part of the planet. We’ll hang tight here for a few and then if it doesn’t come back, we’ll move out. Can we vary our route and still arrive at the site of the crash in a reasonable time frame? No more narrow mountain trails?”
“Certainly. It’ll add to the walking time but, if you think we should, I’ll take an alternate route through the forest.”
The flyer soared overhead again, made a quick turn, and came in their direction.
“I don’t like this,” Gabe said, studying the flight path. “Seems like the Khagrish might have a fix on our position.”
Hand over her eyes to block the glare of the sun, Keshara watched the craft head to the horizon and loop back. “But how? Infrared scanners for our heat signatures?”
“Maybe. Or maybe the damn lab techs injected a tracker into one of us, or both of us during our captivity. I was out of my head for five days, seven hells, Farahnnim could have done any damn thing she wanted to me.” He shifted position and moved away, signaling for her to follow him. They ducked under the tree trunk and hastened through a narrow rift hidden from the sky by the dense brush and tree canopy. Once Gabe left the ditch like depression, he took a hard turn to the east and then doubled back, staying in the densest cover he could find.
The flyer stayed pretty much right on them, circling lazily in the bright blue sky.
“Should we split up?” Keshara asked. “They can’t follow both of us.”
“No,” he said, unwilling to be parted from her as he headed for a rocky outcrop whose mineral content he hoped might defeat whatever scanners the flyer was using. “We stay together.”
As they crouched together under the cliff, tucked in among boulders and invisible from the air, she said, “I can walk out there into the clear and surrender. Tell them you abandoned me. Then, once Branggin’s satisfied and takes me to the Retreat, you can go on your way to the valley. Bring a force of Badari and rescue me and the others as soon as you can.” She gave him a hard look. “I don’t know the way to your sanctuary nor the conditions on the rest of the planet. It has to be you who escapes.”
Her bravery made his heart beat faster with pride but he had no intention of accepting her offer. Gabe had his own pride and a fierce determination to protect his mate. “I won’t leave you.”
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