by Ivy Barrett
Their bios indicated their current positions and the accolades they’d earned since the formation of the Protectorate, but nothing about their lives before the Skarilians. It was hard to understand their personalities without knowing about the forces that shaped them.
Despite Oseth’s suggestion that they focus on the present, she asked Urrya, “Which of your parents was Celestian?”
“My mother.” He sounded begrudging. He wouldn’t put up with her prodding for long.
“Were you born before or after the Skarilians attacked Celestia?”
“After. Most of the survivors fled to Ventor. LeAuntiez was eleven and filled with rage. He’d just lost his father, and the last thing he wanted was another male in his mother’s life. But my father fell hard, and LeAuntiez despised him for daring to step into the role of provider and protector. He saw it as a betrayal of the worst sort.” He paused to drain his wineglass, then rushed through the remaining events. “When I was born the following year, it made him even more resentful. So to answer your original question, we’ve never been close. I never considered us rivals, just destined for different life paths. However, we grew much closer when the Skarilians targeted Ventor. He’d been through it all before, so I ended up turning to him again and again.”
“Did either of your parents survive the attacks?” She was pretty sure she knew the answer, but wanted things clear in her mind. He just shook his head. “How old were you?”
“Celestians and Ventori live much longer than humans. I was within the first quarter of my life, or what would be mid-twenties for a human.”
Age had never been important to Erin. She’d only asked because she wanted to understand his circumstances when he lost both parents. She’d been slightly younger when the Skarilians decimated Earth and the loss had completely overwhelmed her. He’d had years to process the tragedy, while she’d only had months. Still, it gave them a common ground. In fact, the Skarilians gave them all a common ground.
“While we’re sharing,” Urrya grinned at her. “I want to know if Azra was right. Did the guided dreams help make you less afraid?
She’d demanded honesty from them, so she considered the question for a moment before answering. “I’m not really afraid of sex. I just have very little experience with it.”
“And why is that?” Urrya asked, sounding curious rather than judgmental. “You’re young and beautiful. Why weren’t human males crawling all over you?”
“Her father was highly placed in the American government. He hoped to be their next president, so she was continually surrounded by bodyguards,” Oseth told him.
“It was more than that,” she said. She hadn’t gone into all this with Oseth earlier, but felt it was important enough to explain. “My father was so afraid that any sort of scandal would interfere with his political ambitions that he went to ridiculous extremes to keep me ‘pure.’ And not just physically. He wanted my mind to remain innocent, impressionable, so he filtered the internet and used parental controls on all of the televisions, even my phone. It made sense when I was twelve, but I just turned twenty-two and I’ve never even seen a naked man.”
Urrya shook his head, but his expression was too complex to read. “You are much too old for those sorts of protections. You should have been allowed to explore your sexuality. There is no excuse for intentionally keeping someone ignorant.”
His passionate defense made her smile. “It’s nice to hear someone say that. Even my bodyguards insisted that it was for my own good.”
A long silence followed as the males mulled over what she’d told them. Then Oseth shifted on the sofa, angling so he faced her. “What about the year just past? You were no longer under your father’s control. Why didn’t you seek comfort in the arms of another?”
She crossed her arms over her chest as memories washed over her in icy waves. “At first I was in shock. I could barely speak much less think about sex. Then civilization deteriorated and daily life became about survival.” She shuddered, but successfully forced back the horrendous images of death and destruction. “The Protectorate restored order, but Earth’s spirit was broken. We all walked around like zombies, more or less alive on the outside, but dead inside. If it hadn’t been for Kyla, there is no way I’d be here today. She is incredibly strong and compassionate. I’m so very grateful that she was in my life.”
“When and how did you and Kyla meet?” Oseth asked.
“Kyla’s mother was a live-in domestic for Erin’s family,” Urrya told him. “They were basically raised together, mostly by Kyla’s mother.”
His knowledge raised Erin’s brows. “None of that is in my bio. How did you... LeAuntiez.” Of course, her best friend was now mated to his half-brother. And Chancellor Savator. Erin shook her head. They were two of the most savage males in the Protectorate. Thinking of them with Kyla was still upsetting.
“Actually, when LeAuntiez told me that he and Bron intended to bond with Kyla, I talked to several other females to learn what was not in her bio. My snooping had nothing to do with you.”
She smiled; the admission was telling. He might resent his big brother, but he clearly cared for him more than Urrya was willing to admit.
“If sex is not what frightens you,” Urrya brought the conversation full circle, “why did you run away?”
“I was afraid of...” She couldn’t find the words, was afraid the admission would make her seem weak, even foolish.
“Becoming your aunt?” Oseth easily guessed.
Urrya looked at Oseth. “What does that mean?” Urrya seemed annoyed that Oseth knew something about her that he didn’t.
For a reason she didn’t quite understand, the observation pleased her.
“Her father rescued his sister from an abusive husband, then proceeded to convince Erin that anytime a male hits a female—regardless of the circumstances—it is abuse,” Oseth told him.
Urrya’s expression darkened and iridescent streaks of light flashed within his eyes. She tensed. Was he mad at her?
“Did you explain the difference?”
“Of course,” Oseth snapped.
Now Oseth looked annoyed. Perfect. She’d managed to piss them both off when what she really wanted was to finally lose her virginity.
“The aunt was beaten bloody, more than once, and still defended her husband,” Oseth related. “Needless to say, Erin’s father used the situation to justify his disdain for a social dynamic he didn’t understand.”
Urrya stood and moved toward her with the mesmerizing grace that defined all his movements. He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “What happened to your aunt was true abuse. There is no excuse for her husband’s behavior. That is not at all what we want from you. In fact, such behavior is dealt with immediately and severely by the Protectorate. Would you like to experience the difference?”
She lowered her gaze, feeling vulnerable. “Azra already took care of that. What I need tonight is...”
He curved his fingers around her chin and raised her face until she looked at him. “Don’t be afraid, love. Tell us what you need and it’s yours.”
“I want—no, I need you to make love to me. I don’t want you to fuck me. I want... what every virgin wants. Are you capable of that?”
He shook his head. “I’m not.”
Her heart fell and she tried to look away.
He guided her gaze back to his and smiled, his expression warm and sensual. “I don’t think I can keep it soft and sweet. I want you too badly. But if Oseth helps me arouse you, we’ll make you so wild you won’t mind if I become aggressive.”
She’d hoped to ease into this, maybe spend a night alone with each one before they dove right in to multiple partners. But if she accepted their claim, she would belong to three virile males. Maybe two was easing in.
“Say it, and be specific. I want no question in your mind about willingness,” Urrya urged.
She licked her lips as the import of the moment pressed in all around her. If she said thi
s, did this, she was willingly entering a new reality. The neglected socialite would be no more and Erin, passionate mate of Ventori Defenders would gradually take her place. She was tired of running from her past, tired of being afraid. This pod offered affection and pleasure, safety and attention. They would be strict with her, even aggressive. They would challenge and discipline her, but she still couldn’t think of a single advantage to denying them.
“I want to make love with you and Oseth. I want that very much.”
Urrya swept her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She melted against his tall, muscular frame, feeling tiny and intensely desirable. She opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue with the curling embrace of hers. Suddenly Oseth pressed against her back, his warm mouth teasing the side of her neck as he rubbed his rock-hard cock against the small of her back.
“Not here,” Urrya decreed as he picked her up and left the library, Oseth on his heels.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Being carried should have been annoying. She was perfectly capable of walking. Instead, she felt feminine and special.
“You’ve got the biggest bed,” Oseth pointed out.
“That’s where I was headed.”
All of the bedrooms were on the second floor, and the three they occupied were down the same short hallway. Oseth triggered the door, so Urrya didn’t have to set her down. The room they entered was about the same size as her bedroom, but as Oseth had said, the bed was much larger.
“How did you score the massive bed?” She looked up into smoldering eyes.
“When I’m really tired, my wings can manifest while I’m sleeping.”
“And they destroy anything in their path,” Oseth warned. “LeAuntiez says it’s an anomaly only found in hybrids, but it’s still a good idea if Urrya sleeps alone when he’s exhausted.”
“You’re not that tired tonight, are you?” She hadn’t meant it to sound so desperate, but she was really looking forward to falling asleep while safely nestled between their big, warm bodies.
“Not even close,” he assured.
They started undressing her the second her feet touched the floor. Not that there was all that much to remove. She kicked off her shoes as Urrya untied her belt. Oseth unwrapped her like a present, so she pulled her arms out of the sleeves and fought the urge to cover herself with her arms. She’d always been on the thin side. Her breasts were small, and her hips only slightly curved. She had plenty of padding on her rear end, but she’d always wished her boobs were bigger. Her mother had suggested she have them augmented. The procedure was common practice among their friends. But her father vetoed the request. He was afraid it would provide fodder for the paparazzi.
Urrya and Oseth slowly circled her, gazes boldly assessing her from every angle. Were they disappointed with what they saw? She didn’t have much to recommend her.
“Legs apart.”
Authority snapped through Urrya’s words and something deep inside her stirred, coming to life with tingling heat. She moved her feet farther apart, heart fluttering wildly in her chest.
“So beautiful,” Oseth murmured as his gaze swept up and down her body. She’d been naked in the guided dream, so they knew what she looked like. Still, they seemed fascinated by her breasts, her neatly trimmed bush, and the crease just barely visible below.
“I wondered if your hair was naturally red.” Urrya motioned toward the apex of her thighs. “Clearly it is.”
Her face flamed. This was so embarrassing.
Urrya touched her first, gently cupping her breast as his thumb lightly teased her nipple.
She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth and slight pressure. Human males had done this, but she’d never been completely naked while they touched her, never been utterly vulnerable.
“Open your eyes. See who’s touching you.”
He used the same autocratic tone, so she immediately obeyed, focusing on his strange alien eyes. Rather than flashing, the iridescent lines gently glowed, making the black appear almost purple. She’d grown accustomed to the Ventori’s pale gray skin and black lips. Urrya’s unique eyes and sculpted features made the combination look exotic rather than threatening.
“When you accept our claim,” he stated it as if it were a foregone conclusion, “it will be our right to touch you anywhere and anyway we like. Does that frighten you?”
Oseth joined them, pressing his body against her bare back. She shivered, instinctively reaching back to grasp his hips. She wished they would undress. She wanted to see them without their uniforms. She was especially curious about their cocks. One of their parents came from different planets. How different did that make their sexual bits?
Oseth’s hands replaced Urrya’s as Urrya bent to suck on her nipples. She gasped from surprise, then pleasure as his lips latched on with nearly painful force. She arched, trying to ease the pull. He just sucked harder and allowed her nipple to scrape against his teeth each time he released her.
Her head dropped back against Oseth’s shoulder as desire erupted between her legs. Already she was growing wet, she could almost feel the sensual melting of her core. Her clit throbbed, echoing the rhythm of Urrya’s mouth. He held her waist, securing her in place as his mouth moved from side to side. When she was breathless and both nipples were wet and tightly beaded, he looked into her eyes.
“Your sweet little breasts will be ours to enjoy,” Urrya told her. “Ours to pinch and clamp and slap.” He watched her reaction to his words, but didn’t demonstrate. “Do you understand?” When she didn’t answer, he grasped her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, gradually squeezing until she cried out. “You are required to honestly answer any direct question. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she cried, not wanting another cruel pinch.
“Yes, Sir,” he corrected.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” He bent and soothed the small hurt with his warm, wet mouth. He flicked his tongue over the sensitive tip, then looked up as he moved to her other breast. “Now answer my original question.”
“Yes, Sir. If I accept your claim, my breasts will be yours, and you’ll do whatever you want with them.”
“When you accept our claim.” He sucked her nipple deep into his mouth, lightly twisting the other side with his fingers. Each strong pull of his lips triggered a little spasm in her pussy, and moisture trickled out onto her inner thigh. Oh, God, she’d never gotten this wet this fast before. She was in serious trouble.
Oseth held her breasts for his podmate, occasionally squeezing, but apparently content to watch Urrya play.
They enjoyed her breasts for several more minutes before Urrya straightened again. “Many of our choices will be painful, but we will never break the skin, never cause you lasting harm. It’s important that you understand that.”
They would discipline her, but never abuse her. They would protect and care for her. “I do, Sir.”
“Good.” A slow, sexy smile curved his lips, then he pointed to the bed. “Lie on your back and open your legs. We’re both dying to taste that sweet pussy.”
Taste. They were going to lick her, like Oseth threatened to do on the roof. “Please, Sirs. Can we just move on to the fucking? I don’t like that.”
Oseth laughed. “How would you know? You’ve never felt it.”
“Is this true?” Urrya demanded.
If she lied they’d punish her, and then probably do it anyway. “Yes,” she grumbled begrudgingly.
“Then you will try it tonight. If you still object after both of us have had our fill, we will never eat you out again.”
“What about Azra?” Oseth asked. “He loves to eat pussy as much as we do.”
She grimaced. “Why would you love something so... nasty?”
Both males laughed, then Urrya picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. “You’re about to find out.” He drew her hips right to the edge of the mattress, then pushed her legs up and out. She tensed. Her knees were
bent, legs open wide. Her pussy was on display, even her outer lips parted, revealing her inner folds and the thin membrane obstructing her passage. He started to lower his head, then stopped. “I get to fuck her pussy first. You can have first taste.”
Thrilled with the offer, Oseth eagerly traded places with Urrya. “I thought your breasts were pretty, but your pussy is even prettier.” He knelt on the floor and gently traced her slit with his finger. “Do you taste as good as you look?” After flashing a charming smile, he lowered his head and repeated the caress with his tongue.
She covered her face with her hands, horrified that his mouth was on her sex. She knew females did this for males, but this seemed even more disgusting. She held her breath, waiting for the wave of revulsion. His tongue was soft, his lips warm as they pressed against her.
“Move your hands away from your face and keep your eyes open,” Urrya ordered. “You will not hide from this.”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered, moving her hands to the bed on each side of her head.
“You will submit to anything we require of you.”
Submit. The word sent a strange rush of emotion through her mind. They expected her to surrender, trust, submit to them regardless of her fear or dislike. Why would she want to do that? Yet here she was, allowing them to touch and taste her pussy even though she found it unnatural. Or she had when they suggested it. Already her objections were melting like a snowman in the sun.
Oseth licked her everywhere, but he seemed obsessed with her hymen. He stroked over her opening and pushed against the membrane, as if testing its determination to keep him out. “Gods, I want inside her,” he moaned. “I really want to fuck her with my tongue.”
“Next time,” Urrya promised.
She shivered. Was that really a thing? Men shoved their tongues inside a woman’s core? Their tongues were inside her body when they kissed, her inner voice argued. Would tongue fucking really be any different?
