by Lily Thomas
Susan let her head fall back and stroked her hands through her hair.
A presence filled the room, and Susan turned to find Rylnuhn leaning against the doorway, just watching her. His eyes skimmed up and down her body as a smile spread across his lips.
"Enjoying the view?" Susan arched an eyebrow but refused to cover herself and cower in front of him. Nudity wasn't something that fazed her.
"Definitely enjoying the view." He stepped forward, and her breath hitched in her chest.
Was he going to join her? Did she want it? She had no idea why he affected her in such a way.
Rylnuhn didn't even bother taking his clothing off as he stepped into the shower, his massive frame filling the space.
"Hey."
"Hey." He leaned down, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss as one of his hands worked its way into her hair.
His claws scraped against her scalp and shivers spread down her spine. She trembled as his lips started a fire between her legs. She was doing everything she shouldn't in this position. Everything she'd been taught told her not to get involved with her captor, but how could she possibly think with his lips on hers and his hands running over her naked body.
His clawed hand grabbed hold of her buttocks and squeezed them. He pushed her up against a wall, dropped down to his knees and spread her thighs. Susan trembled with need and apprehension.
She was about to let him get intimate with her. Her teeth bit her bottom lip.
His onyx eyes looked up at her. "You want this?"
Susan nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak.
His head dipped between her legs, and his tongue shot out to lick her clit. "So wet." He murmured from between her thighs.
Her head fell back against the wall, as his skilled tongue kept rubbing her clit. Two of his fingers entered her pussy in one swift motion.
"Oh my goodness," Susan muttered as his fingers pump in and out of her wet pussy.
"You taste delicious." He uttered without pausing in his administrations.
Her hands worked their way into his short black hair, and she closed her eyes, enjoying every single moment that washed over her. Here she was about to come around her captor's face, and she was going to enjoy it.
His fingers increased their rhythm, sending pleasure shooting straight through her until she felt herself clamp down around his amazing fingers. His tongue caressed her clit in fast circles.
Her fingers dug into his hair, as a moan escaped her throat, echoing off the metal walls around them.
Rylnuhn's head popped out from between her thighs, and he sent her a cocky smile.
"Proud of yourself?" She panted.
He kissed her stomach and then kissed his way up her chest and over to a breast which he gave a small suckle to, before continuing up her neck and then to her lips.
"Just giving you some help with washing yourself." He chuckled.
"Is that what you'd call that?"
His hands ran through her hair. "I may have gotten a little distracted."
"Just a little." Susan teased back.
This was such a weird side she was seeing to a Vrak'rir. He was almost loving with his actions.
Susan looked down at one of his hands. "What's this?" She brought his hand closer to her face and saw the tell-tale marks of a fight on his knuckles.
"Nothing." He tried to take back his hand, but she wasn't having any of it.
"I can see blood on your knuckles, and it's black, which means it's yours."
"Someone who worked for me didn't understand his place in the universe."
Susan raised an eyebrow. "So you used a fist to let him know?"
"Have a problem with that?"
Susan shook her head. "It's your planet, so your rules." She'd seen a lot of things in her job that she didn't agree with, but understood it wasn't her place to interfere.
His onyx eyes watched her for a brief second. "Finish up, get dressed, and we will eat."
Rylnuhn left the shower and then left the bathroom altogether.
Susan ran her hands over her skin while trying to rack her brain about what had just happened between them. Rylnuhn had just given her a fantastic orgasm and hadn't asked for anything in return. She would've thought he'd want something in return, yet he had only given her pleasure.
If he was trying to throw her off, he was doing a superb job.
Servants had piled the table high with all sorts of foods. Some she recognized and other foods were a complete mystery to her.
"For living on a planet by yourself, you sure do have a lot of foreign foods."
"I like variety. It can get boring when you have the same meal over and over again, and this planet has a limited number of edible animals and plants."
That was useful information for her to file away, in case she escaped her buyer. He may have brought her to an orgasm just a few minutes ago, but that didn't mean she would happily stay put. They were still strangers, and she had a life and a job to return to.
"Where do you get your shipments? Do you have a landing pad somewhere in this compound?" Susan tried her best not to sound too eager, but she hoped one of those transports could be her way off the planet.
"I have a shipment of food come in once every two months." His onyx eyes glanced over at her with their piercing intensity. "My last shipment was delivered only days before your arrival."
She got his hint. No need to get excited about the shipments because he'd timed them perfectly so that she wouldn't have a possible escape opportunity.
"Tell me about yourself." Rylnuhn leaned back in his chair.
"Why?" Susan glanced up at him. His eyes fixed on her, and she squirmed in her seat a little.
"I know you're the ambassador to Earth, but I know nothing about your personal life."
"My personal life?" Susan echoed dumbly. Was he never going to tell her why he'd bought her? Sheesh, but there was no harm in telling him personal information. "I like candy, especially chocolate."
"Chocolate?"
"Yep. It's delicious and smooth. It melts on your tongue, and it makes every bad situation into something better. Well, maybe not all situations, but close to it. Hot cocoa is my favorite. Its chocolate melted in milk. Now, that does make every situation better."
"I'll have to get some of this chocolate then."
"You should." Susan popped a small piece of fruit into her mouth. "It will make your life so much better."
"What else? How about family?" His eyes bored into her soul.
Susan glanced down at the food in front of her. "I have a mother and a father. They aren't together anymore, but I see them both as much as possible. My job doesn't allow me that much time off, but I do see them for human holidays."
Glancing up she saw his lips pursed.
"I've heard about this divorce before. It's a strange concept for a Vrak'rir to understand, but it seems to be a common occurrence for humans."
"I'm sure it is confusing. As a mated species, things must be a lot easier when it comes to knowing you found the perfect person for life." It'd be easier if she found herself a mate in one of the mated species. It would save her valuable time. She didn't have much time on her hands for dating.
"It can get complicated."
"I'd assume you don't have a mate since we had… a little fun this morning."
There was that cocky grin again.
Rylnuhn leaned over the table. "Thinking about my tongue on your clit?"
Susan's cheeks heated and her pussy clenched with the memory. "No." Maybe. "Just trying to learn a little about you as well."
"No mate yet." Rylnuhn eyes stayed on her for a heated second and then drifted back to the food.
She got the feeling he was still hiding information from her, but they had nothing but time to get to know each other.
"Do you enjoy being an ambassador?" He switched the topic of discussion.
"Do I enjoy it? Yes. It's everything I've ever dreamed of, even with being bought and kidnapped." She
sent him a pointed gaze. "I've worked for years to get this position. It means everything to me."
Rylnuhn shrugged. "It wasn't like you would come here with a simple invitation, so I had to resort to kidnapping."
"But at least it would've given me the chance to decide for myself. You could've raised whatever issue you have with my secretary. I give all matters equal consideration."
"My issue couldn't be solved with distance."
"Maybe you should tell me what your issue is, and I could see what I can do about it."
"How often have you dealt with Vrak'rir? Have you been to Vrak?"
Susan shook her head. He was never going to relent. "No, I haven't."
"Were you with the President of Earth a lot? Were you involved in any major decisions?"
Susan watched him. He pretended to be involved with the food in front of him. "I was in contact with the President, yes." She would tread lightly because she got the feeling he was fishing for information.
"How much does an ambassador know about Earth's defenses and its people?"
"If you want information about Earth, I think you'll be sorely disappointed. My thumbprint probably couldn't even open doors anymore. They've probably got everything of mine monitored. The moment I surface they'll swarm like insects."
"So, nothing?" His black eyes refocused on her as he put down some food.
Susan folded her arms in front of her chest. Then she reached out and took a sip from her cup.
"You need to tell me what you know, Susan."
She snorted, resulting in liquid flying out of her nose. She raised a hand to her face to wipe away the moisture. "I can't believe that just happened." She was completely mortified.
Rylnuhn tossed her a napkin and mopped up the table as she dried off her face.
"You need to tell me about Earth and her defenses." He insisted, not even fazed by what just happened.
"Why are you so insistent about this? Why do you need to know about Earth?" Susan tensed up. She'd had a lot of fun this morning, but now he was stressing her out. Rylnuhn wanted to know about Earth, but she couldn't tell him anything that might jeopardize the safety of any human.
Rylnuhn paused.
"What is it?" Susan pressed. "Are you planning an attack?"
"I need the information for my clients."
Susan froze. She hadn't thought he would admit his reasons to her. What to say now? "Who are your clients?" She tried to rack her brain for who would want to know about Earth defenses.
Rylnuhn shook his head.
"You can't just tell me that and not give me any decent information. Who are your clients? What harm could it be to tell me who the clients are?" It wasn't like she was going to give up any information no matter what species wanted her.
"The Sri'thaens are my clients." Rylnuhn's eyes zeroed in on her, and she assumed he was trying to gauge her reaction, but she had none.
"I've heard of the Sri'thaens, but they mainly keep to their space, so I've never met one or really know too much about them. I'm not sure anyone knows much about them because they are so private."
"Pray that you do not meet them."
Was it just her or did his voice even portray some fear of the Sri'thaens?
"Not nice I take it?"
"You would not survive a meeting with them."
Susan was slightly taken aback. "They'd risk a war with Earth?"
"You have no idea what is coming for Earth."
"What's that supposed to mean?" God, he was cryptic, but now she knew there might be a new enemy for Earth to worry about. She had to get back to her people and let them know about what she was learning.
"Come. I will show you around the compound." He rose from his seat.
"Is it always this hard to get information out of you?" Susan huffed. He gave her a bad feeling with these Sri'thaens, but wouldn't justify it with any reasons. It frustrated her. Communication. It was the one thing that made her job hard because no one wanted to say too much without something in return.
"Always." He sent a smirk her way.
He might be a handsome man, but he was sure frustrating for her to understand.
"Lead the way." Susan stood up from the table, as he came around.
She followed him out of the hall and into one of the main corridors.
"If you follow it down that way," Rylnuhn pointed to their left. "You will find an entrance to the courtyard where all the ships are on lockdown and require several ways to unlock them." He eyed her.
"Ok, ok. I get it. Escaping from this planet will be the hardest thing ever, and there is no point." But it didn't mean she wouldn't keep her eyes peeled for an opportunity.
It took them about an hour to see the whole building, and Susan was fairly impressed with the life he'd built himself on the planet. She could see the appeal of such a life, but she loved managing other people's problems, and she wouldn't be able to do that on such a lonely planet.
Susan spied a door that had yet been explained or explored. Her curiosity drew her forward, and she pushed the door open. Her eyes popped wide to see an expanse of nature spread out before her. Rylnuhn's compound had a backdoor, and she would have expected it to be locked like everything else.
She stepped out and took in the beauty around her. It was amazing.
"What are you doing?" Rylnuhn stepped up behind her.
"Not running away, but I thought it would have been locked."
"Should have been." Rylnuhn didn't look pleased at all. His jaw was set firmly in a frown. "Come, we'll go back inside." His hand came out to grip her upper arm.
Susan dodged his hand. "I'd like to explore out here if you don't mind." She watched his jaw tense. "You can't coop me up in there and think I'm not going to lose my mind. I enjoy walks and runs. Stretching my legs is a necessity I'm afraid."
His hard onyx eyes softened a bit, and then a smile teased the side of his lips. "If you like this view, I know of another that might appeal to you."'
Susan sent him a smile. Now, this was a side of him that she would like and be able to get used to. "Lead the way." She was eager for this opportunity. It might allow them the chance to get to know each other. She wanted nothing more than to have him identify with her. It would make it easier to get information and perhaps allow her to convince him to let her go.
Chapter 9
Susan couldn't believe she was strolling through a forest with a Vrak'rir beside her. She eyed him slyly.
There almost appeared to be blue streaks in his black hair every time the sun pierced through the dense foliage of the trees. Her eyes dropped to his lips. There were thin straight lines, but they'd thrown her off earlier. All she wanted was for those lips to demand her surrender again.
Her eyes wander down his biceps and the tattoos that littered his skin.
"I know your tattoos symbolize life triumphs, but I don't know what each means specifically."
"And you would like to know?"
"If you don't mind."
"I don't." He smiled. "I'm glad you have an interest in them."
"What do those two mean?" Susan pointed to a couple downward pointing curved horn tattoos as they continued walking through the forest.
"It means I killed an iur."
"An iur?"
"A big creature that walks on all fours, has long teeth and claws, bushy fur, and two curved horns on its head."
"When did you do that?"
"It was a rite of passage. I killed it when I was fourteen while alone in the forests of Vrak."
"Fourteen?" Susan's mouth dropped open. "I have no idea what an iur is, but I can imagine anything on Vrak would be just as intimidating as the Vrak'rir."
"It was a great achievement at my age."
She shook her head. "I couldn't imagine sending my child out to stroll through such dangerous forests."
"All Vrak'rir go through it."
"Women too?"
"Of course."
"I couldn't imagine strolling through your fores
ts."
"They are plenty safe if you have a knowledgeable guide."
A roaring could be heard in the distance… it sounded like… water.
"Here we are." Rylnuhn moved to the side as they left the forest, allowing Susan to pull up beside him.
Her breath stuck in her chest, as her eyes widened. "It's stunning."
Right in front of them, a waterfall poured over a cliff face pounding down into a lake, which then fed into a small river.
She wasn't sure she'd ever be able to move again. She didn't want to ruin the tranquility of the scene before her.
Rylnuhn moved in beside her. His arms snaked their way around her waist, turning her to face him. Then his head descended and planted a firm kiss on her lips.
"I could do this forever." He murmured against her lips.
She couldn't help but smile. "You're the most charming Vrak'rir I've ever met or heard of."
"None of those Vrak'rir were your mate."
Susan laughed lightly and punched his blue forearm lightly. "True." Then what he'd just said sank in some more. "Wait… are you saying?" Susan pulled back a little, but his arms didn't give much.
His onyx eyes were serious, there was no joking in his voice, or on his face.
"You are my mate."
Susan's mouth hit the floor. She had no idea what to say to such a declaration.
"I'm your what?"
"My mate."
She knew Vrak'rir had mates, like a lot of other species, but she'd never thought the chances were that high for her to run into a "mate" of her own.
"And you're a hundred percent sure?"
Rylnuhn looked a little shocked by her question. "Of course. There's no doubt in my mind."
"No." Susan struggled in his grasp, but he kept his hold on her. "Release me!" She barked, finally managing to slip out of his arms. "I can't be your mate. You bought me! You think that was the best way to approach this situation?"
"Before I bought you I wasn't entirely sure you were my mate, but now I am. And if I hadn't bought you there is the possibility you might not even be alive anymore. The Sri'thaens want information, and they have their eyes trained on you. They may have kidnapped you themselves. What I did, I did for you."
