Marek (The Vartik King Chronicles Book 1)

by Liza Probz

  Was she really an all-powerful entity that had been walking the worlds for centuries and didn’t know it? It seemed so far beyond farfetched that he needed to gain more understanding about her.

  The ship jolted into space and he let out a long breath before turning toward her. He stopped beside her as she continued to sob loudly, her heart breaking by the sound of her lamenting. He bent down and slipped one arm around her back, the other under her knees, before pulling her up. She curled up in his arms like a small child and he cursed himself for falling more in love with the wayward creature.

  She was complex and unruly, not to mention a complete mystery. He moved back to the bedroom and laid her down. Bending over, he brushed back her long blond hair and wiped away her tears, his voice surprising him by the softness in it.

  “Shh, you’re here with me now. Everything is fine, Jaz. Get some rest and I’ll make you something to eat when you wake up.”

  “You need to let me off the ship. I’m nothing but trouble. They will be after me and then another group will come and more and more—”

  He pressed his lips to hers, forcing her to open her mouth to take his tongue into her. She groaned and he felt like he might melt right there. He deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth and drinking her in. She was beyond delicious, soft and wet and his.

  She started to fade, her fingers reaching up to caress his cheek softly as he pulled back. He kissed her again softly, knowing that he would find a way to have her for all time. Whatever that meant, he was going to make it happen.

  Marek moved back and walked to the front of the ship, calling up his brother again. Nojan didn’t seem any better off from the last time they had spoken.

  “Tell me you have her?” Nojan leaned in, sweat collecting at his brow.

  “I do. Why is this such a big deal to you? You seem more emotionally involved than I am.” Marek sat down in his chair, pushing the ship forward and hitting the hyper-drive buttons. He swallowed hard as the ship jerked and the image of Nojan blurred for a moment.

  “A couple of reasons really. Firstly, I’ve never seen you more content. I can almost feel it on you and I assume the girl caused it.” He paused and shook his head. “Secondly, I’d like to live long enough to see a pair of tits and fuck a few more women. Having a few boys of my own doesn’t sound like such a bad idea either.”

  “What? I get the first part, but what the fuck are you rambling about with the rest?” Marek turned to glance behind him, almost wanting to leave his duties and just go lie beside her. How close had he come to letting her go forever?

  Close. His heart constricted in his chest as he thought about living for the rest of his days and never getting to touch her or experience her again. Even her smart-ass comments were welcomed. He liked everything about her and wanted to know more. They wouldn’t have an easy road ahead, and his parents would be pissed at his decision, but he would put it off as simply trying to help the girl and leave the loving her part for later.

  “She’s the harbinger of the end times, Marek. How did you miss that part?”

  He glanced up, his eyes having shifted to his fingers as he picked at them. “What? I understand that you think she might be part of this light prophecy thing, but come on, Nojan. That’s fucking ridiculous.”

  “Just get here and let’s find out more. I need to see her, to test a few things and see if she is who the prophecy says she is.”

  “We have two problems with me getting her there and keeping her there long enough for you to say more than two words to her.”

  “What?”

  “Our parents, and the simple fact that she’s in search of the jewel. She’s not going to hang out while her brother’s being hurt.”

  “Did you verify that’s what’s happening?”

  “No.” Marek stood up, twisting his torso, feeling very antsy all of a sudden. “I’m just going on the assumptions you have because they make the most sense. Some of them, at least.”

  “I spoke with Father a minute ago. He wants the girl here and has cleared you to bring her. He obviously knows nothing of your feelings for her, so be careful. Either way, you’re all set here.”

  “Good. I guess it will be my job to convince her to stay for a little while and let us look into the stone. Will you help me with that part?”

  “I’ll help you with anything you need my help with. Hurry back and make sure you stay in stealth mode. I can see three large interstellar ships on your ass. They aren’t tracking you, but simply going on instinct.”

  “Nojan, what will happen if I mate with the girl?” Marek crossed his arms over his chest, his question leaving him far too bare. He loved his brother and trusted him enough to confide in him.

  Nojan’s eyebrows lifted quickly before settling back into the calmness of his expression. “You know what will happen. Are you in heat?”

  “Yes. I’m about to claw my skin off due to the smell of her.” Marek took a deep breath, feeling his eyes shifting colors.

  “Yes, I see that. I would just warn you to think of the consequences. We are more than compatible with humans. That much we’ve proven, but she’s not a simple human, brother.”

  “I’m not sure I believe that part just yet.” Marek pressed his hands to the console, ready to end the call and check on Jazmine. “Do you?”

  “With all of my heart.” Nojan smiled sadly. “Be safe. I love you and I’ll see you shortly.”

  “Me amu adu.” Marek pressed the button to drop the call and let his head fall, his thoughts racing all over the place as need rose up and threatened to pull him under fast.

  Chapter 20

  Jazmine woke to the darkness, the soft comfort of the bed below letting her know that she wasn’t on West Zam or with the Vanfia.

  “Marek,” she whispered and turned onto her side, pulling his pillow toward her face and breathing in deeply. She shouldn’t be with him. He would meet his end simply because of her choices. But were they really choices?

  She let herself access the part of her mind she kept closed off at all times. Memories of Caleb.

  A smile touched her lips as she reached out, wishing with all of her might that she could simply pull her brother in for a tight hug and lose herself in the familiarity of his love. It was unconditional and had been surrounding her for as long as she could remember.

  The sound of Marek’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, the tension in it stilling her heart. He was talking to Nojan from what she could tell. Jazmine lifted her wrist above her as she lay on her back in the bed and reactivated the tracking device he had slipped into her digits. She was more than aware of it and understood why he’d done it. If it was to help her, that was great, but even more so, to ensure that if something happened to Marek they might have a trace of the last person to see him alive.

  Marek’s brother seemed to love him as Jazmine loved Caleb. The call ended from what she could hear. She sat up on the side of the bed and let out a soft moan, her fingers bruised from hitting the cop so hard. She hoped like hell he was okay.

  Jazmine glanced up as the light from the door dimmed, Marek having moved into the open space. Not quite sure of what to say, she simply stood and walked toward him. She slid her hands into his T-shirt and around to his back, memorizing the thick curve of his muscles as images of them fucking slid across her vision.

  “You smell good,” he whispered, his voice deep and husky as he leaned down and dragged his nose along the side of her face. He kept his hands extended above him, gripping the doorframe.

  “I can’t thank you enough, Marek.” She turned to look up at him, steeling herself before brushing her lips by his. The potency of his kiss seemed dimmed, the feeling of euphoria only slight and yet still sending hot tendrils of desire down to the tips of her fingers.

  “I had no choice but to come. When I realized I had misjudged you, it allowed all of the things I didn’t want to acknowledge to come rushing forward. I have a life that’s planned out, but I wanted adventure.” He smirked a
nd moved his hands down, cupping her face. She pressed forward, needing to feel the warmth of him against her.

  “I am an adventure.” She laughed softly as he leaned down, brushing his lips across her again.

  “You’re lots of things, but I would agree that an adventure is the most appropriate.” He tightened his fingers on her face slightly, brushing his nose by hers. “I want to make love to you, but I’m in heat.”

  Jazmine moved back a little, not at all sure what it meant for a male to be in heat. The women of Vanfia went into heat, which made sense, and Territhians simply felt attraction or got turned on. He released her and took a step back, reaching down to press his hand to the front of his jeans.

  “What does that mean?” Jazmine hated how breathy her words were, but the thought of making love to him sounded like a dream beyond her wildest fantasies.

  “Our males go into heat instead of our women. We know when it’s time to procreate by that distinct desire to fuck every time we get a chance. We’re usually mated, but fate plays these fucked-up tricks with me all the time.” He chuckled and moved past her.

  Jazmine reached out and took hold of his arm, stopping him. “Does that mean that I would become pregnant with your child or that you would simply want to fuck until I couldn’t walk?”

  “Both.” He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed her palm softly before sucking two of her fingers into his mouth.

  “Oh fuck, that feels good,” she mumbled, her eyes closing to focus purely on the sensation of his warm, wet mouth. He sucked harder, his tongue flicking in between her fingers as her body reacted violently.

  He pulled back and growled, his eyes completely black with a dark red ring pulsing around the pupil. There wasn’t much she could say in the face of his dominant need. He was everything she wanted, but to be burdened with a child in the midst of her search? She just couldn’t.

  He released her fingers and moved from her, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door. Jazmine stood there in stony silence for a minute, wanting nothing more than to give herself to him fully. If her brother’s life wasn’t the core concern of her thoughts, she would have.

  She moved to the bathroom door and pressed her head to it. “I want you so bad, so much more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. I want to belong to you, Marek.”

  “But?” His words were spoken as if he had his head against the other side of the door.

  “It was two years ago when they took Caleb. I can still hear him screaming. I can’t seem to get his cries out of my head. I don’t—” Her voice cracked as she let out a sob. “I don’t even know where they have him. I can’t stop searching. I can’t have a life when he has nothing but darkness.”

  Jazmine moved back as the door opened, her heart pouring out in long painful sobs again. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I am. I want too much from you. Hush and know that I’m here to protect you.” Marek wrapped her into a tight hug, pressing his lips to the top of her head. “This isn’t just about sex, Jaz. I want more and I’m battling that too. I don’t know how to reconcile it.”

  “Me either,” she whispered and tucked her face against his chest, breathing him in and needing to memorize the moment. She lifted to her toes and pressed her lips to his throat, kissing him over and over as he gripped her tightly.

  She moved back and tugged at his T-shirt as confusion filled his eyes. “I just want to see you, to kiss you all over. Can I?”

  “Anything you want.” He moved to the bed and crawled on it, his jeans fitting him almost too well. The thick outline of his erection left her head spinning. She had moved too fast from overwhelming fear and loss to desire. It was so typical of her to cover one emotion with the other, but she couldn’t help herself. Everything about him moved her toward desire like a speeding train, out of control.

  She pulled off her pants and tossed her T-shirt behind her, leaving her panties and bra on. She would need to pick up a fresh pair of clothes in the next galaxy, but that was a concern for another time.

  Jazmine moved to hover above him, her legs on either side of his waist. She sat up, straddling him as his fingers brushed up her ribs and over her breasts.

  “Are you okay? I hate that Nojan was right. Your brother is the reason you have been forced to steal?” Marek swept his hand up the column of her neck and pulled her down to lie flush against him.

  She moaned at the contact of his stomach against hers. His skin was warm and smooth, his muscles thick and hard. The arousal his hardened cock caused as it rubbed along her softness left the world around her fuzzy and fleeting.

  “Yes. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know you.” She slid her fingers into his hair. “Are you pulling back your power?”

  “Yes. I’m trying to hold back everything I have.”

  “Don’t. I want to fight against it. I think I am something different than I believed myself to be.” She let her eyes move across the beautiful planes of his face, every part of him something to behold.

  “You are, but we’ll figure that out later. Get to kissing me as promised or I’ll flip us and start licking and biting you.” He pulled her down and pressed his lips tightly to hers as power rolled over her.

  She groaned into his mouth, flattening her back and forcing more of her body to press against his. His hand moved down her side, over her hips and cupping her butt. Jazmine broke the kiss as heat burned down her throat and slammed into her core, the vibration of it causing her to almost come.

  She dragged her nose down his throat and slipped down his body, licking and sucking at his nipples, biting his stomach and hovering just above his jeans, his cock bouncing violently in his pants.

  Pressing her teeth to the outline, she growled softly and tugged at him.

  “Oh fuck, Jaz. Yes, baby. Take my jeans off and suck on that for a while. You’ll love it.” He slipped his hands down and pushed at his pants, his eyes bright blue as he watched her closely.

  Desire swam through her like she’d never experienced and she moved down, tugging at his pants until they hit the floor behind her. She slid her nose up his thigh, licking softly at his sack before following his physical directives.

  He had slipped his hands in her hair and pulled gently until her mouth was aligned with the head of his cock, the sticky white fluid coating it covered in glitter and shimmering in the darkness. He took his arousal in his hand and lifted it, pressing it to her lips and smearing the liquid on them as he watched, his teeth biting into his lip as he panted softly.

  He was beyond gorgeous. Easily the most sensual creature she had ever seen in all of her life. She licked her lips and slid her hand down his shaft, opening her mouth and groaning as the taste of his skin lit her world on fire. Colors burst from every angle as she took in as much of him as she could.

  The sound of his groan was nothing compared to the tightness of his muscles, the flexing of his fingers as he petted her. His voice was low and commanding but beautifully soft.

  “More, Jaz. Open yourself to me and take more.” He groaned loudly, lifting his hips and forcing her to take more of him into her mouth. He was far too large, bigger than any male Territhian and yet she found herself wanting to take all of him, to shock him, to please him. To leave him breathless.

  She exhaled softly and tilted her head, pushing hard and working herself into a frenzy simply with the sound of him losing his mind under the pressure of her teeth, the soft swipe of her tongue, the pawing of her nails against his balls.

  “Oh fuck, baby. That’s it, Jaz. A little harder and I’m going to—oh fuck.” He lifted his hips as he sank his hands deeper into her hair and held her in place. He rocked his hips against her hard, heat filling her mouth and leaving her dizzy with a need to be fucked violently.

  She moved back when he released her, the bright blue light around her having doubled in size. The whole room illuminated as she sat up and wiped at her mouth, his come having warmed every cell in her body.

  “I need you,” she whispered, r
ealizing her words. “I need you, Marek.”

  “Yeah you do, baby.” He sat up, rolling them quickly and pinning her to the bed as she rolled her hips, wanting so badly to feel him press against the wetness between her legs.

  “I’ll help you with Caleb. I’ll find him. Just don’t leave me. Ever.”

  “I won’t,” she whispered and reached down, tugging at her panties. It didn’t take much effort, seeing that she had tied them back together from the last time he was a brute. He kissed the side of her mouth, reaching down and ripping them away quickly.

  Sitting up, he nodded to her bra. “Get rid of it. I want to see all of you.”

  She arched her back and undid the bra before throwing it across the room. Nothing was better than watching him watch her with wonder. He leaned down and brushed his lips across her breasts, sucking her nipples deeply into his mouth one at a time as he let out a series of groans that left her panting.

  “Fuck me.” She slid her hands in his hair, yanking hard to get him to look at her.

  “This night and every night for as long as we have.” He moved up her body, pressing himself to her tightly and sliding his hands between her and the bed. “Hold on tight, Jaz. It’s going to be a tight fit.”

  Closing her eyes, she screamed loudly as he pressed himself into her, the pressure delightful as it mixed with pain. He didn’t relent until he was completely tucked inside of her, the soft encouragement to relax and open up almost causing her to explode.

  He rocked against her and pressed his teeth to her ear before fire spread through her. She released herself to the orgasm, rocking against it.

  “Give it to me, Jaz. Cover me with it, baby.” He pressed his face into her neck and sucked her skin into his mouth, biting her hard as he continued his assault.

  Jazmine tried to keep up, the pleasure overwhelming and leaving her to feel like a limp rag doll at times. He whispered the same word over and over and she knew without a doubt that he would help her. Love her. Protect her.