by S. E. Smith
Riley had confronted Pearl, wanting her to tell Tina but Pearl had been adamant. “Your momma has caused enough pain and sorrow. Let your sister have her dream for a little longer. She will find out eventually. I’m just not ready for her to find out yet.”
Riley had reluctantly agreed simply because it was Tina’s twenty-second birthday and she didn’t want her sister to remember finding out their mother was dead on her special day. Tina had always been the more sensitive of the two of them. Riley wasn’t really sure who Tina took after but it was probably her dad. Riley had never found any information on him or her own father. Riley knew she had Pearl’s smart mouth while Tina just became quieter when she was confronted. Riley figured she took after her father in size. There was no doubt about that. Tina was petite like Pearl and the pictures they had of their mom when she was a little girl and had their mom’s straight, dark hair.
Tears poured down her cheeks as her iPhone finally cut off. She sniffed and let them come, quiet sobs poured out of her as she thought of her small family back home that she would more than likely never see again. She figured she deserved a good cry every once in a while. No one could blame her for that. She drew in a deep breath when she felt the bed she was lying on suddenly sink down. The covers were pulled free from around her head until she could feel the freezing air on her damp cheeks. She looked up into dark, tawny eyes filled with concern.
“Can I hold you?” The deep voice asked quietly.
Riley’s eyes filled with more tears, she bit her lip and nodded slowly. She pulled the pile of blankets back so Vox’s huge figure could crawl under them with her. She waited as he pulled his boots and vest off. He tossed them onto a nearby chair before he crawled under the covers with her. She didn’t care that she had promised herself that she would stay away from his ornery ass. She didn’t care about anything but feeling safe, protected, and warm for a little while. She needed to be held and he was offering. She would have been the biggest fool in every known star system if she turned down a heater better than any electric blanket, not to mention, she was just feeling very fragile and lost right now and needed something she could hold onto. She would kick his stubborn butt out after she had a good night’s sleep and was feeling better.
Riley curled up as close as she could next to Vox’s warm body without actually pulling him on top of her. She let out a deep sigh of contentment as he wrapped his strong arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. Her head rested on his broad shoulder and she rested her hand over his heart.
Vox held her close. After a few minutes he noticed her breathing had slowed down and her body had melted against his as she slipped into a deep sleep. A chuckle shook his body slightly. This was the last thing he expected. Why he should be surprised or have expected anything less was beyond him anymore. He had planned to claim his mate. He had expected a fierce fight, followed by some new bruises, before he would wrestle her down and make love to her so much she would have to concede that she was his mate. Instead, he had entered the room she had claimed only to hear her muffled sobs. They had broken through his fierce determination and replaced it with something inside him he had never experienced before - tenderness. When he had drawn the covers back and she looked at him with her big, baby blue eyes shimmering with tears and sadness, his heart had actually hurt. It had melted into a mushy puddle when she gazed up at him with such heartfelt need when he had asked if he could hold her. He bit back a silent groan as he felt her soft, plump flesh melt against his body. Her hand moved up to curl in his hair at the base of his neck just as she rolled over enough to bury her nose contently against his chest, a soft snore escaping her. His body pulsed for a moment before he felt it relax as his own tiredness overwhelmed him. He turned his head so he could rub his cheek against her hair.
It feels so good to hold her, he thought sleepily. I’m never going to sleep without her against me again.
Vox gave up on trying to stay awake. He would claim her when they were both well rested. It would be more fun anyway. A smile curved his lips as he realized this was the first time he had been able to hold her without getting hurt. He was making progress after all.
*.*.*
The violent shudder of the freighter woke Vox before the sound of the alarms did. He paused for just a moment before he jerked into a sitting position and looked around in confusion for a moment. He ran his hand through his hair as he felt the freighter groan again.
“Vox!” Titus voice boomed out over the communications console. “Get your ass up here! We’re under attack by two fucking Marastin Dow pirate ships! The shields are failing.”
A soft moan sounded next to him and a slender, pale arm reached out and grabbed for the covers. “Tell them to come back later, I’m still sleeping,” Riley muttered before she rolled over, dragging the covers over her head.
Vox’s chuckle turned into a loud laugh as he surged to his feet. His mate was not a morning person. He would have to let the fucking purple pirates know that if he let any of them live. He pulled his boots and vest on before he turned around to his mate who was snoring away under the covers.
“Riley, you have to get up,” Vox growled out as he felt another shudder before the sounds of hooks scraping against metal resonated through the freighter. Shit, they were about to be boarded. “Riley, get your ass up now! We are under attack.”
Riley jerked into a sitting position, fighting to drag the blankets off her head and push her wild mass of curly hair out of her face. She scowled deeply in irritation at Vox. She grabbed one of the blankets and dragged it around her shoulders.
“Well, you are the stupid warriors! Go kick them off. I am not in the mood to deal with anyone until after ten o’clock in the morning, a good breakfast, and three pots of coffee. You go on, I’ll follow in a bit,” she said before she started to slide back down under the pile of blankets again. “Besides, it’s too damn cold to fight. Tell them the heater is broken.”
“Vox, we could really use your help,” Adur barked out. “They have breached one of the lower levels that wasn’t sealed off.”
Vox let loose a long stream of curses. The damn purple bastards were only a level below them. He had to get Riley out of there now! Those bastards always kill anything that isn’t of value. If they saw Riley, they would know she was very valuable. They would kill everyone else to get to her.
Vox leaned over and ripped the pile of covers off of Riley, flinging them across the room with a flick of his wrist. His breath slammed out of him and his eyes widened as he gazed down at where she lay glaring up at him. His throat worked up and down as he fought to get a sound pass the lump in his throat. His eyes glazed as he took in her lush figure in the sheer blue lacy cloth. The front had a deep vee that went all the way down to her softly rounded stomach. There were slits on each side that parted leaving her legs bare and only a narrow length of the fabric lay between her legs. His eyes roamed her full figure, noting the darker rose color of her nipples that poked up, lifting the sheer material and leaving very little hidden from his view. He could see the slightly darker patch of curls between her legs.
It was official. He was an idiot. He was the biggest, stupidest male in all the known star systems. He had fallen into her bed, wrapped her in his arms, and slept like a baby while she was wearing…. He swallowed again as she rolled over onto her hands and knees in an effort to get out of the bed. His cat went nuts. Before he even realized it, he was draped over her back molding his groin to her ass and rubbing his pulsing cock against the shadowed line while his hands kneaded her hips. His loud purr rumbled through the room as he rubbed himself back and forth against her.
“What in the hell?” Riley’s voice faded as she looked over her shoulder at Vox’s glazed eyes. “What do you think you are doing?” She demanded hoarsely as she felt his swollen cock pressing against her.
“Mine!” He purred in a deep, low voice.
The door opened behind them and Lodar stuck his head into the room. His eyes widened when he saw Ril
ey pinned on her hands and knees with Vox’s hands glued to her hips. From where he was standing all he could see was creamy flesh and a hint of sheer blue lace.
“Aw Gods, Riley,” Lodar groaned out loud. “You are killing me! Vox, you are going to have to wait. The Marastin Dow have broken through the first door and they are heading this way.”
“Gods! She is gorgeous,” Cross murmured in a low voice, peeking over Lodar’s shoulder with wide eyes at Riley’s lush figure. He could feel his dragon sitting up and taking notice. It was a good thing his symbiot was back on Valdier with the Hive. If the damn thing reacted the way the man and the dragon did, Vox might be in trouble.
Vox jerked back to the fact the alarms were blaring around them and glared at Lodar and Cross. His eyes narrowed when he saw the glazed look on their faces as they stared at the sheer cloth covering Riley’s breasts as she turned and sat down again on the bed. He stepped in front of her so he was blocking her.
“Get out!” Vox roared in outrage.
Lodar jerked back, running into Cross, and nodded. He turned to leave but couldn’t resist one more peek at Riley sitting on the bed with her hair all disheveled and wearing an outfit he would never forget for the rest of all his lives. He shook his head and hurried out when Vox took another threatening step toward him.
“Vox,” Cross started to say in a deep, husky voice.
“Get out before I kill you both,” Vox snarled.
“Just hurry,” Cross muttered before he turned and followed Lodar with a shake of his head.
Vox turned and glared at Riley. “Get dressed. We don’t have much time. I need to get you somewhere safe.”
Riley glared at him and pointed to the door. “You get your happy little ass out of here and I will. I’m not getting naked with you watching me!”
Vox growled out a warning in a low voice. “This is not the time for modesty. Get dressed now or I will dress you.”
Riley stood up and walked over to where she had laid out her clothes the night before. “Turn around and I will,” she said stubbornly putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
Vox swore loudly before he turned so his back was to her. He had to quit looking at her or neither one of them would be dressed in another two seconds. He closed his eyes but that only made the image of Riley standing proudly in front of him in that damn sheer outfit with her huge, perky breasts pointing daggers at him and her creamy flesh begging for his touch.
Drink milk, his cat purred.
Guall’s balls, Vox groaned forcing his eyes open and his mind to start reciting every damn training procedure he could remember from his youth. If I don’t claim her soon I’m going to explode.
“I’m ready,” Riley’s voice sounded breathlessly behind him.
Vox turned to see Riley dressed in a long, heavy dark green skirt, a pair of knee length black boots and a thick white sweater. Her hair was still a mass of wild curls that begged for him to twist his hands around the silky strands while he fucked her until he and his cat was totally sated. He watched as she pulled that damn huge bag that she carried everywhere over her shoulder.
“Well, are we being invaded or not?” Riley snapped annoyed. “I haven’t even had a chance to brush my damn teeth. This is really pissing me off,” she said running the tip of her tongue along the edges of her smooth, pearly white teeth.
Vox muttered the entire rite of passage ceremony speech each Sarafin warrior was required to say before he finally gave up and decided he needed to get her out of here before he just said to hell with everything and fucked her. He turned with a sharp nod and strode out of the door at the same time as a blast flung the heavy metal door at the far end of the corridor open.
“Run!” Vox snarled as he felt the change coming over him. “Get to the bridge!”
Riley looked at the faces of the purple creatures swarming through the door, turned and hauled ass for the bridge. She could hear the screams as Vox roared out and charged into the group. Riley decided this was definitely not the way she wanted to be woken up in the mornings. Her heart felt like it was about to explode as she raced through the corridors and up the short ladders until she was on the same level as the bridge. Fred was at the top of the ladder motioning for her to hurry.
“Vox!” Riley cried out as she let Cross reach down and pull her the rest of the way up. “Those purple people eaters are going to get him! Someone has to help him.”
“Tor and Lodar are with him. Come up onto the bridge,” Banu said gently as he wrapped his arm around Riley and pulled her toward the bridge. “The damn door won’t close so we are going to have to do what we can to keep them out.”
“Do you have a gun?” Riley asked, looking with frightened eyes at the other men who were working frantically on a control panel.
“Here, you can hold this one,” Banu said, pressing one into her hands. “Don’t worry, it is not activated.”
“Banu, I don’t think giving Riley a laser pistol is a good idea,” Fred’s left head started to say before his voice faded at the glare she sent him. “Riley, you know you have a tendency to do things….” His right head decided he better not finish the sentence when she pointed the pistol at him and glared.
Vox, Tor, and Lodar tumbled through the open doorway snapping and snarling. Tor and Lodar shifted back into their two-legged form but Vox remained in his cat form. He had blood splattered all over his coat and along his muzzle. He turned dark eyes on Riley before he shifted.
He strode over to her, gripping her arm and sitting her in front of the communications console. “You will sit there and not move! Do you understand?” He snarled.
“But what if….” Riley began, pushing her hair back behind her ear.
“No!” Vox snapped, turning to place his hands on each side of the chair caging her in. She was forced to sit back when he leaned forward, menacingly. “You. Will. Not. Move!”
“Well, fine!” She snapped back in frustration. “I wouldn’t want to have to save your sorry ass anyway!” She sniffed out indignantly.
Vox leaned forward looking deeply into Riley’s eyes. “I will not let them take you.”
“Vox?” Titus asked as he stepped forward in concern.
“They want Riley. We heard several of the bastards stating she was to be captured unharmed,” Tor answered for Vox who was still glaring at Riley.
“They have a buyer for her,” Lodar said quietly moving to stand next to the door.
“That will explain why there are two of their damn ships,” Adur said coolly. “They don’t normally waste two ships on a freighter this old. Someone must have known Riley was on it.”
Vox turned his head, finally breaking eye contact with the stubborn female glaring at him. “When I find out who, I am going to kill him.”
Riley rolled her eyes and released a loud sigh. “Come on, guys. Get real! Who would want me? I’m about as pleasant as fingernails on a chalkboard.”
Bob moved forward and looked over Vox’s shoulder. “I would want you, Riley,” he said quietly.
Riley looked up startled, blushing. A surprised smile curved her lips at her big, green friend’s words. In truth, it was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her.
“You are such a sweetheart,” Riley replied shyly. “Some Jell-O girl some day is going to be very, very lucky when you come calling.”
“I don’t believe this!” Vox exploded as a wave of jealousy swept through him. He looked back and forth between Riley’s glowing face and Bob in frustration.
“Vox, I think you are going to have to wait to tear Bob apart,” Tor said gruffly trying not to laugh at his friend and leader’s unfortunate luck where Riley was concerned. “We have more company heading this way.”
Chapter 11
Vox gave Riley one more warning glance before he pulled away. He had erupted into uncontrollable fury when he heard the command from the Marastin Dow leading the raiding group to get Riley. His comment that a king’s ransom worth of credits was at stake told him tha
t they would stop at nothing to get her. The damn purple species lived for murder, mayhem, and credits. The only difference between them and the Antrox was they enjoyed killing for the sake of killing. Their young were often encouraged to try to kill each other. The species’ philosophies were definitely survival of the fittest. It was amazing any of them survived long enough to grow into an adult. The adults who did survive were forced to commit to twenty years aboard raiding ships. Life aboard was not much better. If a position came open for advancement it was usually due to someone murdering their commanding officer.
He, Tor, and Lodar had taken out the first ten members of the boarding party before the others fell back to regroup. He knew a larger wave would be involved in the next onslaught. He rolled his shoulders, ignoring the sting from the numerous blasts from the lasers. In his cat form, his fur was very thick. It was almost impossible for a laser pistol to penetrate it. Laser swords were a different matter. He had received several deep cuts along his side as he sliced through the group that was surging onto the lower level.
“Whatever happens, do not let them get Riley,” Vox snarled before he shifted back into his cat form.
Riley scooted back in her seat when the huge cat turned its tawny eyes to her. It trotted over to her, staring at her intently. If she didn’t know better she would swear the damn thing was challenging her! The look in its beautiful eyes was one of amusement, desire and possession.
It’s official, Riley thought as she leaned forward, tilting her head to the side as she fell into the shimmering yellow depths. I’ve lost the last of my sanity if I think a cat thinks I’m desirable.
Her pulse jerked as the huge head lowered to rub its muzzle against her leg. She reached out her hand and gently touched the thick fur. She bit her bottom lip to keep the smile from showing when she felt the massive chest rumble with a purr.
