Gladiator: A Rough Sci-Fi Romance

by Piper Stone

  I’d been protecting my mind, my psyche refusing the ugly memories until now.

  The light breeze tickled my skin, the touch of Thor’s fingers further arousing me. This was utter humiliation, scores of hungry aliens watching a human and a Cryton fuck. Mate. And I was furious with my own body for betraying me.

  I pushed away the horrible memory, realizing that this was reality now. I didn’t deserve this. No one did. I’d been a good girl the majority of my life, keeping straight A’s in college and medical school, receiving high honors. I’d been approached for an internship by the most elite science teams in the world and looked forward to helping our beautiful Earth. I was set to graduate in one month. One freaking month.

  I almost laughed but instead, tears formed in my eyes once again. I could do this. I had the courage. I’d been through so much in my life already, my parents’ horrible death. Living with someone who hated me. No other family. This was nothing.

  “Do you want to live?” Thor asked in a husky tone, tossing another look of hatred toward the impatient crowd.

  “Yes. I fucking want to live. These bastards won’t beat me. Fuck them.”

  My comment brought an actual smile to his face, lighting up his brooding features. “That’s a girl. Now, I’m going to fuck you long and hard, just like the rules require.”

  “Don’t freaking patronize me.” I tried to jerk out of his hold, as if that would do any good. “And I don’t want to hear anything from your filthy mouth.”

  Thor jerked me closer until our lips were almost touching. His breathing was ragged, heated, sizzling my skin. “You are a very beautiful woman, but your mouth could mean your demise. Besides, I have better uses for it.”

  I was shocked as he captured my lips, pulling me so close that my breasts were crushed against his massive chest. I pushed hard against him, my anger fueled by the roaring crowd thumping their approval. The taste of him was unlike any other man, sweet and tangy and he was all consuming, his thirst unquenchable.

  My entire body was warm, my tummy fluttering from butterflies even as the nagging voice reminded me this was nuts. Guilt and shame washed over me, yanking me to my private pits of hell.

  Thor fisted my hair, yanking my head back several inches as he thrust his tongue inside. The kiss was raw and brutal, reeking of dominance as he devoured me.

  Even though I dug my fingers into his chest, there was no way to get free of his hold. Our tongues entwined as he took what he wanted, his other hand squeezing my neck possessively.

  When he broke the kiss, I was thrown for a loop, taking several deep breaths. The man was delicious and sexy, the act sinful and filthy. Strings of light flashed in front of my eyes as I attempted to control my emotions and my lust.

  “Just close your eyes. This ain’t about romance, little human. One hard fuck then they check us over and we can get the hell out of this shithole.”

  Another medical procedure. Fuck the assholes. Maybe there was a chance at freedom. Somehow. Some way. One thing I knew for certain, Thor could protect me from anything.

  Any beast.

  Any monster.

  Any man.

  “Can I trust you or are you just some horrible alien also prepared to kill me?” I have no idea why I bothered to ask. I couldn’t even trust myself at this point, but the question touched a nerve.

  Thor acted as if he’d never been asked that before. “Don’t worry, human princess. I won’t let anything happen to you. I may be a bastard, just a nasty alien still hated by your people, but I still have honor.”

  Hated? I’d heard the Crytons were treated as true envoys, given special treatment on Earth. Swallowing, I tamped down my nerves then nodded. The gladiator was filled with anger. Why had he been brought here? I could tell by the way the great king had acted that their people had no love for the Crytons either, treating Thor like an animal. In my mind, the Zatan savages who’d broken every rule of humanity and decency were nothing but barbarians.

  Thor was surprisingly gentle as he guided me onto all fours, the rough pads of his fingers sliding ever so slowly down my spine. His touch was far too exciting, pulling a wave of desire from the very depths of my being. I did as he asked, closing my eyes and shutting out the ugly world, but not before watching as he lifted his arm, saluting the alien king with his middle finger.

  Maybe some part of me could actually tolerate the man, even learn to... trust. No. There was nothing around and no one I could trust. Not now. Not ever.

  Nothing about this was right nor could I put it into any kind of perspective other than basic survival.

  You can do this. You can do this.

  The mantra seemed to work, even drowning out the craziness of the aliens yelling their approval as well as nasty words of encouragement.

  That is until his cock shifted between my legs, throbbing against my wet and aching pussy. I was on overload, quivering to the very core even as a series of electric jolts shot through me. Every cell in my body was ignited from the attraction to this barbarian-like man. This was crazy, sick, and twisted in every way.

  I shouldn’t want this.

  I couldn’t want this.

  Thor rubbed the tip of his cock against my pussy lips, slickening his own shaft. As his cockhead pushed past my folds, my pussy yielded for him. I heard his guttural sound the moment his heated breath washed over my skin. He wasted no time, forcing my muscles to accept the thick invasion as he plunged every single hard inch inside. He was much larger than any human, filling me completely.

  “Oh!” My scream was met with actual applause, pulling me back to the very forefront of what we were dealing with.

  Alien monsters.

  He covered my body with his, thrusting savagely, filling me completely.

  I clawed the blanket, fighting with my own body as the desire continued to build. The sensations were incredible, pulling me to the most scintillating heights of pleasure, but Thor was right.

  This wasn’t about romance.

  This was about escaping the alien tyranny in any manner possible.

  He rocked his body against mine, skin slapping brutally against skin, delighting the crowd of beasts and humans alike. The other girls had been forced to watch the savage mating, and I could only imagine what they were thinking.

  Within seconds, we’d turned into the animals that the aliens believed us to be, issuing strangled sounds, his growls floating above us. Every part of me was quivering, my breasts jiggling from the power of this roughhewn creature. My muscles constricted, tightening around his cock until he roared.

  I was shocked as his hand smacked down on my already bruised ass four times. The pain was blinding, scattering through me like wildfire.

  “You will learn to obey me or you will be punished.” His words were even more disturbing but said loudly enough I knew they were for show. Another series of hard smacks was given, further fueling the fire.

  I was taken aback as my nipples hardened even more, shattering my mind from the realization that I was hot all over.

  Thor gripped my hips with both hands, powering into me like a hungry beast. He stretched me wide open, forcing me to take every inch and so deep I could swear he’d reached my womb. With every thrust, his brutal actions jazzed the crowd even more.

  Every tiny portion of my body was electrified, even though the rush of shame continued. Although I did everything I could not to enjoy it, another betrayal occurred as a climax jetted into my pussy, catching me by surprise. I bit back a scream as my body began to shake and I clamped down on my muscles before becoming lost in the debauchery.

  I felt a warm gush as he erupted deep inside, filling me with his seed.

  I was his possession.

  His mate.

  And to add insult to injury, the audience members cheered.

  Chapter Three

  Xander

  A friend once told me that Cryton men were divided into two categories only. The first were omegas; those who would never consider hurting women or c
hildren for any reason, even in times of war. The second were the wolfbeasts; hunters who enjoyed stalking their prey, capable of killing indiscriminately as necessary.

  I was a wolfbeast and at this moment, I was bloodthirsty.

  The Zatan aliens had fucked with the wrong Cryton.

  Our species had been one of their many enemies for millennia. They’d plundered our planet, killing many of our own. While we hadn’t been considered a warring people, a vicious war several years before had changed the mind of our leaders.

  But the Zatans weren’t the only monsters of the galaxy.

  Then there were the Earthlings, humans similar in form to our own kind. I’d had several Earth years to learn their cultures, perfecting their language. I’d worked with their military, providing alternative methods of winning battles. Given my specialized skills, my mission had been mandatory, even considered an honor amongst our people. An envoy had been sent to Earth in order to guide the humans in methods of protecting their planet. I hadn’t relished the task, never trusting them, or any species for that matter. Now I had reason to fuel my distrust of them.

  I’d been betrayed, the majority of humans believing the Crytons were their enemies.

  I’d even been tossed into one of Earth’s barbaric prisons, left for months before being taken in the middle of the night.

  The clanging of chains that continued to shackle my body was a reminder that freedom came with a price. I might have won an unexpected battle, but I knew the Zatans wouldn’t allow me to leave without some form of penance.

  Thor.

  What a ridiculous fucking name but it suited the barbaric atmosphere and the two-bit aliens who lorded their fun and games over the hundreds of prisoners. I’d watched thousands of human films during my time on their planet. I’d heard what humans called rumors, many of their kind disappearing. Those under my command had been asked if we’d known why. I’d suspected the Zatans, even mentioning the possibility to several of the humans in charge of the operation I was working on. They hadn’t seemed interested in what I’d had to say. Even my own superiors didn’t believe the Zatans capable of a full attack on Earth. They were primitive, barbaric people, their technology incapable of transporting the thousands of soldiers needed to colonize an entire planet.

  My superiors had been wrong. Sadly, humans had no idea what was in store for them.

  I’d been locked up for long enough to see dozens selected for the wretched gladiator game, all hopeful they’d win against the powerful enemy. They were never seen again. Other prisoners had even attempted to escape, all to be brought back in chains, bloodied from the horrific punishment they’d received.

  And the girls.

  God above help us. The women who’d been taken, mostly humans, treated like nothing but baby-making machines. Now I stood in the center of a bleak and sterile room, waiting for the final ‘check’ from the person the Zatans called the doctor. I think the asshole got far too much pleasure from feeling up men and women on a daily basis. I was completely naked and locked in chains; however, the barbaric assholes were still terrified of me.

  Bully for them.

  I snickered at the thought, relishing in the fact I’d killed one of the bastards. Their star. I’d seen the moron in action, knew his every move. The brute was as stupid as he was lethal. They hadn’t expected I would even have a chance, although I’d been handpicked on this day. I knew better than to believe my selection had been based on luck. My gut had told me today my number would be chosen. How ironic. However, today had been all about the girl. I’d lost my shit in a matter of seconds.

  A weakness, one I couldn’t afford.

  A beautiful redhead with a feisty attitude and a sassy mouth to go with her brazen demeanor. She was impossible to ignore. Still, I’d risked my opportunity to keep her from being punished severely. Now she belonged to me. To care for and protect against the elements and the beasts roaming the terrain outside the protected walls.

  In the place the aliens called the Wild.

  The odds of survival were slim.

  I’d accepted that fact weeks before. I’d heard various stories from prisoners forced to work in the different camps, once-virile men turned into little more than frail and mindless slaves. A few had even described creatures from the Wild after returning, vicious animals with teeth capable of tearing apart a two-hundred-pound man in seconds, as well as ever shifting weather patterns and impassable mountains. I knew of the pitfalls that had been placed throughout the game, sinkholes and something akin to volcanos. There was no other choice.

  Not if I wanted to return to my own planet or perhaps Earth to kick the shit out of the human leaders for putting humans in this position in the first place. Yeah, the rage fueled my power and my survival efforts. Even locked in a cage with barely scraps of disgusting food to eat, I’d been able to maintain body mass, exercising every chance I had.

  As the two Zatan guards unlocked the metal cuffs, I took several deep breaths, curtailing the increasing rage as I heard approaching footsteps.

  “So, you get your freedom, Thor, ugly Cryton creature,” Dr. Tamborka said as he walked into the room, snickering under his breath. He allowed his dark eyes to roam over every inch of my tense body as he walked around me in a complete circle.

  “Freedom. Do you monsters even understand the concept?” I retorted.

  A hard punch was given to my kidneys, enough that the pain doubled me over, only the chains keeping me standing. “You should feel grateful that our king would even allow such blasphemy.”

  “Your king is oh-so merciful,” I countered through clenched teeth. There was no love lost with this asshole. I’d been forced to see some of the brutal treatments given to several of the prisoners, the weak and the sick, those in mental anguish. They had no compassion in any regard.

  The second punch I’d braced for, although I couldn’t afford to be injured given what the girl and I were about to face.

  “You should mind your manners, or I’ll cut off your hand. That will make it much more difficult for you to accomplish your... goal.” His laugh was laced with pure evil.

  If only I had one of my weapons. The freak would be dead within a split second. I noticed the two guards watching every move. One of them had become as friendly as the fuckers could be, giving me certain details about their kind, as well as what information he had about the planet they’d overrun. I knew him as Dakar. I gathered a sense he was close to the king in some manner, although I’d never been able to find out how. Still, he’d been a lifeline, at least in certain ways, making certain I was allowed an opportunity to enter into the game.

  Then again, my acts of aggression had sealed the deal.

  “Do not harm him, Doctor. Those are the king’s orders,” Dakar said in a subdued manner. To the Zatans, the doctor was a very close second in position to the king, a man not to be questioned. He moved to unchain me, giving me a watchful eye.

  Dr. Tamborka snarled, speaking a few curt words in his language. Dakar refused to back down or to give him the usual sign of respect I’d seen so often. What few stories I’d allowed Dakar to hear seemed to have had an effect.

  “Very well, but this low-life prisoner means nothing, and he will never disrespect any of us,” the doctor stated. “You betrayed your own people.”

  I’d done nothing of the sort, but I knew exactly where the information had come from.

  The Zatans’ ability to speak any language fluidly was uncanny, which meant they’d been planning their attacks on various planets for some time. If only people of Earth’s government or their military leaders had heeded my warning. Sadly, the majority of the population knew nothing. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Right? Horseshit.

  All the great think tanks and governments had acted surprised when the Zatans had appeared in Earth’s atmosphere, their ships brilliantly cloaked until they were in an ambush position. Even though my clearance wasn’t high ranking enough to be a party to the hundreds of conversations and co
pious amounts of information, I knew the Zatans had made threats as well as demands. I’d found certain details with ease, reports that quite frankly curdled my blood.

  That’s the moment I’d been shut out, certain humans discussing sending our entire envoy back to our home planet.

  For Earth weeks, the Zatans’ presence had been hidden from everyone on the planet, the governing refusing to acknowledge the threat.

  Sick bastards.

  It had begun to look like the mass population would need to be told of impending doom.

  Then all talk had changed, switching to treating the Zatans as friends instead of mortal enemies. That’s the very minute I knew certain humans had sold out my people. While the Cryton president had been warned, there was little that could be done given our warriors were lightyears away, our soldiers unprepared for the Zatans’ advanced military operation. Sadly, I hadn’t been able to create a plan of attack before the night of my abduction, the day I’d planned to announce the betrayal to Earth. I’d known that could have destroyed our relationship with the planet, but I’d also known what the Zatans were capable of. I had several reasons to be pissed.

  Maybe I’d asked too many questions in my capacity as advisor, angering a number of human leaders.

  Yet several questions remained in my mind regarding a military operation on Earth, one sending their scientists into space, the entire mission top secret. Early settlers on this bleak piece of shit. Was it possible that any of them were still alive? Not from the satellite transmissions I’d been privy to.

  “Let’s have a look at your body after the battle. Shall we? I’ll make certain you’re well enough for your... journey,” the doctor said, laughing softly. “By the way, you selected a fine specimen to accompany you. She is ripe and ovulating. Her examination was especially tasty.”