She felt the push of his ionwabo against her tight ass. Payton stiffened. She knew what he wanted. She pulled her lip between her teeth.
“My ndebele, I crave to put both cocks inside you. Can I?” Themba strained to say.
Could she? Cum trickled down her legs, and she found she needed more.
“Payton,” he breathed out on a moan.
Yes.
She pushed back on him, giving her answer. His ionwabo, slickened with her cum, pushed inside her. Payton caught her breath on a gasp. Her eyes rolled up and closed. Lights danced behind her eyelids.
“Oh, God,” she groaned.
Themba’s hand found the back of her neck and pushed her cheek to rest against the rock. As his hand tightened, she strained to contain the fire building in her core. She ground her teeth and pushed back, taking him to the hilt. That was all the confirmation he needed that she was ready. Themba’s thrusts were insanely slow at first, then he moved faster, slamming into her. The sounds of their pleasure bounced off the walls. His claws pushed from his fingertips and scraped against her skin. Themba held her tighter and tighter as his pumps became harder and sporadic. He came on a roar, grabbing her hips close, pinning her as he emptied inside her.
WHAT THEY WERE DOING, while all types of hot, was crazy and couldn’t lead anywhere but to a broken heart and the need to invest heavily in more sessions with her therapist.
But she didn’t want it to stop.
“Where is Dr. Rebecca when I need her?” Oh, right. Back on Earth.
Payton groaned as the pain of moving took over. She sat up slowly. Jack sat up as well and nudged her.
“I know, I know. You had to watch momma get totally worked over by an alien for a second time. Ugh. Sorry about that.”
She slid off the rock and into the water. Now she had to figure out how to get out of the cave. Themba had stepped over the edge without a care as to how she would leave. He most likely wanted her to stay put until he returned.
She paused.
What would be so wrong in resting, getting a good night’s sleep then waking up to Themba returning to her in the morning?
She had a game to win, yes, but why couldn’t she do it with him helping her along the way? She could enjoy his company. What was the harm in that? There was nothing wrong with admitting she liked him. Themba wasn’t Mike and she wasn’t that sixteen year old girl anymore. She could hang out with him and keep what made her, her firmly intact.
Decision made.
“We’re hanging out here for tonight, buddy.” She pulled her brows together and glanced around. “Is it safe though?” She peered toward the back of the tunnel. Where did it lead and was she in danger of another hunter finding her before Themba came back?
“I guess we’re going to do a bit of exploring.”
She took three steps, and the ground opened, swallowing both her and Jack.
Chapter Sixteen
Themba walked through the doors from his suite out into the hallway. It was quiet. As far as he knew only one other hunter, besides himself was left in the executive suites. The others who’d occupied this hallway with him had moved on to the Level Two lodge. They followed their prey, correction, they followed the humans they had their eyes on to that arena.
As he made his way toward the lodge doors, his comlink beeped. He frowned and looked down. Incoming call? Melisizwe’s calls came from the communication system in his room and were reserved for the evenings. Themba stopped in his tracks and accepted the incoming message.
“Yes?”
“Sorry to disturb you, Nkosana Themba, but we thought you would like to know the female you hunt progressed to Level Two last night.” It was one of the game attendants contacting him.
“Payton?” She made it to Level Two? Satisfaction went through him. He’d known she could do it. Of course his true lifemate was strong and cunning enough to survive Level One.
“We do not learn the names of the prey, Nkosana. We thought you would want this information since she is the only prey you have hunted.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Are you remaining in Level One or should we provide transportation for you to Level Two?”
“I’ll be going to Level Two.”
“A pod will be waiting for you beyond the lodge doors. We’ll have your personal belongings moved into your new suite of rooms by the time the evening alarm sounds. Your comlink will be upgraded to include the Level Two amenities as well as the appropriate gear while in transit.”
“Thank you.”
The Level Two arena would be much harder than the one she’d faced. Not only did she have the terrain to worry about, but there were animals there that could kill her. The more experienced hunters, those who’d hung back in Level One, would also become active participants.
His pride was short lived. Themba picked up his pace. He needed to protect her.
The ride to the Level Two arena was fast. The biting cold took hold as soon as he was pushed from the pod and deposited on the deeply packed snow. He’d expected the weather. The information regarding the various levels was given to all hunters at the start of the game. While he expected it, Themba still wasn’t prepared for exactly how cold it would be.
He stood and braced against the biting wind. True to what the game attendant had promised, Themba’s comlink had additional icons available now. As his teeth chattered, he pressed the icon for clothing. His new clothes couldn’t arrive quick enough.
He’d visited cold planets before. The temperature and snow weren’t new to him, but that didn’t mean he liked it.
He donned the snowsuit over his current dress and discarded his boots. As expensive as they were, they wouldn’t do him any good now. The new boots were just as good but warmer. He was also provided a winter coat, hat, gloves, and visor that helped to protect his eyes from the blinding reflection of the sun against the gleaming white snow.
The wind whipped around him as Themba pulled up the map of the new arena. He visually followed the track near the underground cave to where it would have taken Payton in Level Two. If he had the pod system for personal use, he would’ve used it to take him the fifteen clicks North. Wishful thinking. Despite how Themba abhorred the cold weather, he took off, running as fast as he could in the direction where Payton had most likely ended up. His essence called to his true lifemate. He would find her anywhere.
He smelled her fear and heard her yells long before he laid eyes on her.
Danger.
Themba ran faster, pumping his arms harder. His heart slammed within him. If another hunter was trying to claim her, he would kill him but he had to reach her first.
When Themba found them, Payton and Jack faced off with an arrancar. The formidable beast was four times larger than Jack. Its three eyes gave it an advantage over most predators and its teeth could easily tear through skin, muscle, and bone.
Payton was dressed the same as him. She wouldn’t have lasted the night if she hadn’t found the icon on her comlink for her snowsuit, gloves and hat.
Jack barked and growled and prowled around the arrancar as Payton swung a machete wildly through the air and brandished a fire stick in her other hand. Both weapons were new, most likely provided in her Level Two available selections.
The arrancar lunged toward Jack. Payton blocked its path by swinging her machete again. The arrancar snarled and fell back.
“Go away!” she yelled at it.
Themba skidded to a halt behind her. “Payton! Step back!”
Payton turned his way briefly, and in that instant, the arrancar launched. Themba sprung past her and caught the arrancar mid-air. He wrapped his arms around its thick neck and fell, tumbling into the snow. The arrancar growled and used its massive paws in an attempt to break free of Themba.
As they grappled, Themba winced from every deep swipe and painful bite of serrated teeth. He extended his claws and dug them into the arrancar’s side. The beast roared, and Themba pulled away only to rake his claws into
another fleshy spot. Jack pounced on the arrancar and ripped into its belly.
The arrancar twisted about. It weighed as much as Themba. With its flexible spine, it contorted away from Themba’s grip and Jack’s teeth. Themba reached for it again, and his hand was pushed away with a bat of its claws. Before Themba could try again, the arrancar lunged forward. Its powerful jaw clamped down on his shoulder. The crunch of bone met Themba’s ears followed by a blast of pain.
Jack latched onto the arrancar’s thick neck and shook. Themba clawed at the arrancar’s face, digging at its eyes and nose. The arrancar released him on a roar and scrambled back. With one last glance at Themba and Jack, it ran, blood dripping in its wake.
Themba laid on his back, panting heavily. He’d defeated one problem only to be presented with another. It was morning and the pod to take him back to the lodge where he could receive proper medical attention wouldn’t arrive for several hours. He wouldn’t die, but he would uncomfortable until he received proper help.
Pain radiated throughout his body. He’d been through hard battles before. The memory of the beast that had given him the facial scar was just one of them. While this fight hadn’t rivaled that one. He still knew that arrancars were not to be messed with.
Payton dropped to her knees and leaned over him. Her dark hair fanned around her face as she studied him. Concern shone brightly in her gaze. “Themba! Are you okay?”
Themba coughed, and it sounded more like a strangled gurgle. His insides hurt. His arm felt like it would fall off. He had pain in places he didn’t know possible. “Ouch.”
“Why am I even asking that? Of course, you aren’t okay. There’s blood everywhere!” She patted his body. Themba flinched when her hand hit an open sore. “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Tell me what to do. Should I call someone?”
“There’s no one to call,” he said through clenched teeth.
“What about a pod?”
He gritted his teeth as he spoke. “Not until tonight when the pod takes me back.”
She fussed over him. Her hands light and unsure as she touched certain parts of his body. “I found a cave, not too far from here, but the problem will be getting you there. You look heavy.”
“If you help me up, I can walk.”
Payton held out her hand. Themba took it, and with a considerable amount of effort, he stood. There was no point in telling her his injuries weren’t life-threatening. He enjoyed the way her arm felt around his waist and liked leaning on her as she led him to the cave she’d found.
Once in her ice cavern, she lit her firesticks to chase away the chill. The air was dry and stagnant. His nose flattened, sticking to his skin as he tried to breathe. Her cave was roomy with multiple entrances. She was secure, but he would rather she found something smaller. The good thing was that the entrances were well hidden.
Payton took out her bedding and laid it on the ground. She took care to help him sit. The groans and grunts he let out as she eased him down were very real. He wouldn’t die, but that didn’t mean his injuries didn’t pain him. He winced as she helped him adjust into a comfortable position. As she did, she cooed and spoke softly to him, treating him like a babe. It should’ve irked him. He was a warrior and prince for Ancient’s sake. But it took all he could to suppress the smile he wanted to give her. If she knew how much it appealed to him, his ndebele would surely stop.
Luckily the ground was dirt, and she was able to call a medical pod. He bit his tongue as she undressed him gently and used the medical items to clean and dress his wounds as he’d done with her. He would’ve loved something for the pain, but not at the expense of losing his control and scaring Payton again. He could get through it.
When she was done, she sat back and stared at him. “How do you feel? I don’t know much about your anatomy to determine if any vital organs were damaged or not.” She furrowed her brow in confusion. “I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure. You’re so different from humans.”
“I should heal with intervention. And even without, I’ll heal faster than a human.” Her eyes roamed over his body, studying his naked form. Instead of disgust, she inspected him with curiosity. “I know you think I’m a strange species, but to us, so are you. Humans come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. It’s very intriguing. Most worlds don’t have the vast differences in their species as humans do.”
“What does that mean? Everyone on your planet looks like you?”
“There are five major kingdoms on Ipakethe, and the people of each have slight variations between them. But nothing as drastic such as different skin tone. One kingdom may have smaller statured people while another may have larger. It would depend on diet and resources. But one look at a Ngonyama and you would know what we are and where we’re from.”
“Do the people of different kingdoms get together and have babies?”
“Only when a true lifemate is found. Otherwise, the people like to keep the ancestral bloodline of each kingdom pure. I believe that is how it works on Earth too and why there are major differences between the humans?”
“Not totally. Some people believe in keeping the race pure, but not everyone. Fortunately mixing bloodlines isn’t a rare event. I’m mixed.”
“From two different kingdoms?”
She laughed. It was genuine and made his heart lighter. Was this the first time he’d heard her truly laugh? “Uh, no. My mom is White, er, Caucasian, and my dad is of African descent. Two different races.”
He stroked her hand, needing to touch her skin. “They made a beautiful child.”
She cleared her throat and moved her hand. “You look like you could be mixed too. There’s an animal on Earth called a lion, and every time I look at you, that’s what I think of.”
He grimaced. “You compare me to an animal?”
“I’m so sorry! That’s not what I meant. Maybe I’m saying it wrong.” She touched his whiskers lightly. “Lions are fierce and strong and known as the kings of the jungle. That’s what I see when I look at you. You’re what I would imagine a human-lion hybrid to look like. Not quite human and not quite lion. You have the whiskers, mane, tail, teeth, and claws, but your nose, lips...” she touched both as she talked, “and the shape of your eyes are like mine.”
“So I’m not so strange to you?”
She dropped her hand and chuckled. A beautiful sound that caressed his ears. “Oh, no. You’re strange. People who look like lions aren’t walking around willy-nilly on Earth.” Her eyes moved down to his groin. “You’ve got one thing neither humans nor lions have. Your...um...penises.”
Despite the almost incapacitating pain, he smirked. “Because two are better.”
“If you say so.”
It didn’t matter what he thought. She was what mattered to him. “What about you? What do you say?”
Her face flushed to a nice red coloring.
“I’ve been with many females of different species. But you’re the one I want to make sure that I please.”
She put up a hand. “Whoa. Hold up. You don’t have to give me the rundown of all your sexual conquests. I don’t know why you need to hear me say it, but you’re great in bed.”
“And on the ground.” He winked.
“You shouldn’t be thinking about that right now anyway. You’re injured. You should be resting until you can get out of here.”
“All I have to do is lay still and let you do all the work.”
“There will be no talking about sex while I’m trying to keep you alive. Besides, I wouldn’t want you to ‘lay still.’ I don’t like it like that. My ex, Mike, used to do that sometimes and give me performance ratings.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going down that road again.”
He narrowed his eyes, his jealousy peaked again. “First, Ben, now Mike,” he ground out.
“I met Ben when I woke up here. Mike...” She began fidgeting with his bedding, smoothing it around him. “Mike was my husband.”
The translator quickly gave him the definition. He gas
ped. She had another? “A husband is a mate.”
Payton chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. Sadness pulsed from her.
The file hadn’t mentioned if humans experienced true lifemates or not. He understood most worlds didn’t mate for life and weren’t monogamous, but what of Payton’s relationship? Did she miss her husband?
Themba didn’t know how to feel about that. On one hand he should’ve been elated that he didn’t need to compete with another for her affections. She would never return to the husband on Earth. But on the other hand he cared for her. If she hurt, so did he. “Are you upset you left him behind?” he asked softly.
“Upset?” This time when she chuckled, the playfulness didn’t reach her eyes or her voice. “No, in fact, I would be happy never to see him again.” At his confusion, she continued, “I was going through the process of divorcing him—ending our marriage—and he wasn’t too happy about it.” She glanced away again. “I had to stay away from him until the divorce was finalized. He kept, I guess you can say, hunting me.” She chuckled again and sat down on her butt. “So you see, I should be able to beat this game.”
Divorce. A legal dissolution of a marriage.
Marriage. The legal recognition of the bonding between two people.
He frowned. “You were mated, and you separated?”
She nodded.
“It’s rare for mates to separate on my planet.”
“Are there rules against it?”
“No, it’s not that. My species mate for life, whether with companions or true lifemates. Some wait to find their true lifemate, though finding one is rare. Unions are sacred and treated as so.”
“I guess it isn’t so weird. I mean, if humans mated for life, the divorce rate wouldn’t be so high.”
“Unions aren’t sacred on Earth?”
She shook her head. “We even have a place that specializes in quick and easy unions. Strangers can go to this magical place called Las Vegas, Nevada, and get married within an hour. Then, when they sober up and decide they’ve made a mistake, they can get it annulled just as quickly.” She laughed. “No. Humans don’t give two hoots about marriage.”
Hunted by the Alien Prince Page 16
