by Sadie Carter
He frowned. “Why would you want to sweep under a rug?”
“I mean, I cannot just ignore what happened as I planned to in the beginning. But while I need you to be supportive, I also need you to be you. I miss my mate. Never thought I would say this, but I even miss your obnoxious, arrogant side.”
“Obnoxious? Arrogant?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, it surprised me as well.” Leaning in, she kissed him before he could growl at her. Their lips met and it was like coming home after a long journey. This was her safe place. In his arms.
She could feel his love embrace her.
Zoey ran her hand over his firm, muscular chest as she kissed her way down his stomach. His cock stood firm and erect, just begging for attention. Reaching down, she ran her hand up and down his shaft as she flicked his nipple with her tongue.
“I have missed touching you like this. Feeling my skin against yours.” Her body had been starving for his touch. Being so close to him anchored her.
She slipped further down his body, laying soft kisses on his taut skin, breathing in the scent of him. Waves of lust assaulted her, flowing through her.
Hard abs flexed. Her mouth grew dry.
Perhaps his strength should have scared her, should have made her hesitate. But there was safety in that strength. Because he would never hurt her, he would always stand between her and those who would harm her.
Zoey sucked on the tip of his shaft. A slightly salty tang hit her tongue and she groaned in ecstasy.
Sweet merciful heaven.
She took him slowly into her mouth, inch by staggering inch. Cupping his balls, she lightly squeezed.
Curses, low and rough, filled the air and she knew he was close. She rose quickly, running her tongue along the length of him, feeling all the bumps and lines. When she reached the head of his firm cock, she pressed the tip of her tongue into the slit.
His low mutters continued. She ignored him, determined to take her fill.
She ran her tongue around him, savoring him, relearning every inch. She moved down to his balls, drawing them into her mouth and sucking on them lightly as she pumped her hand up and down his shaft.
“Zoey, stop. I am going to explode.”
“Then do it,” she told him. She returned to his shaft, taking him deep. Up and down, she sucked strongly, holding the base of his cock between both hands.
“Zoey, Zoey!” He yelled out, his hips rising as he exploded into her mouth. Zoey swallowed him down, delighting in his loud moans of pleasure.
When he lay back on the bed, panting heavily, she drew away, giving his shaft one long, lingering lick.
“Delicious,” she told him, moving up beside him and snuggling into his side.
“That hurt.”
She stiffened. “In a bad way?”
He grinned. “Oh no, my own, in a good way. As soon as I have sufficiently recovered, you will learn exactly what I mean.”
Oh goody.
He rolled so he faced her, drawing her leg up over his thigh.
“That was a quick recovery,” she said breathlessly. Lightly, he pinched her nipple and she whimpered.
Satisfaction curled his lips up at the corners and hunger filled his gaze.
He ran his hand down her side, leaving shivers of need in his wake. Slipping his hand behind her, he squeezed her ass.
“Your bottom is plump and round. Firm.”
“Hmm. Plump isn’t exactly sexy.”
“I disagree. Plump is very sexy. Full, lush, and mine.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
He slid down her body, nipping lightly on her nipple until it was bright red and swollen. Throbbing.
He engulfed her nipple in the warmth of his mouth. Sensation sang across her nerve endings.
Moving so swiftly, she could barely catch her breath; he rolled onto his back and lifted her, sitting her on his chest, her legs on either side of his shoulders. Cupping her breasts, he weighed them, played with them and lightly brushed her nipples with his thumbs.
Zoey stared down at him with glazed eyes, her thoughts fleeing as the pressure inside her expanded, pressing against her skin, demanding to be set free.
She couldn’t take much more teasing. Dex reached down with one hand and flicked her swollen clit with his thumb. Pops of pleasure exploded throughout her body. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her body breaking out in a light sweat.
Clasping hold of her hips, he brought her forward so her pussy was aligned with his mouth then lowered her slowly.
“Oh God, Dex. Oh God.”
He was slowly killing her.
Dex slid his tongue over her entrance, prodding, and teasing, exploring her with erotic hunger. Firming his tongue, he penetrated her wet passage.
Nerve endings sizzled and burned. Grateful for his firm hold on her hips, Zoey closed her eyes, giving in to the sensations rocking her body as he drove his tongue in and out of her.
“Dex, please. I need you.”
He removed his tongue from the confines of her pulsing passage, instead using it to tease her clit. Sharp, furious need clawed at her. Had she ever wanted him so bad?
“Dex. Dex.” Her pleas had dropped to quiet whimpers. Sounds of need and desire filled the room. Their scents mingled, joined.
The pressure became almost too intense. Too powerful. Just entirely too much.
Dex drew her back, his gaze amber with desire as he stared up at her. Dampness glistened on his lips. He licked them, gratification filling his face.
“Take me, my own.”
It was the first time he had really handed power over to her. As if to prove that he was truly taking a step back, he placed his hands behind his head.
Suddenly a little nervous, she wiggled down his hard, hot body, running her hands over his smooth skin. Raising her hips, she lowered herself over his hard cock.
She groaned as his firm shaft stretched her, filled her. Coils of need tightened within her as she took as much as she could inside her.
“Dex, touch me.” While she appreciated him holding back, she needed his touch. Felt bereft without it.
“I did not know how I would hold back,” he admitted, running his hands over her thighs, clasping her around the hips as she set the pace.
Up and down. She squeezed his firm shaft, making them both groan. Running his hands up her sides, he cupped her breasts.
“You are so beautiful.”
“I can’t take much more, Dex.”
“Shh. Let me help you.” He dropped one hand down, flicking her clit firmly with his thumb. White-hot hunger nearly blinded her and she moved faster, harder, her breath coming in sharp, hard pants.
“Let yourself go, my own.”
She threw her head back, gulping for breath as her body shuddered with release. Dex rocked his hips, driving himself in and out of her body before his shout of satisfaction hit her ears.
He drew her down on top of his chest, his cock still inside her. She snuggled against his warm chest.
“I love you, Dex.”
“I love you, my own.” He ran his hands up and down her back. “More than you will ever know.”
Chapter Two
Zoey woke in fear as a firm hand settled over her mouth. She immediately hit out, determined to fight. She slammed her fist through the dark, aiming for where she hoped her assailant’s face was. Her fist slammed into something hard and she whimpered in pain.
Did her attacker have concrete in his bones? Ouch!
“Zoey, it is me. Dex. Stop, my own.”
Dex. Not Targos. Targos was dead. She was safe. She slumped back on the mattress, breathing heavily. Grabbing Dex’s hand, she attempted to drag it away from her mouth.
“I need you to be quiet and listen to me. There is someone outside the hut. Once I remove my hand, grab your dress then hide yourself in the bathroom. Stay low at all times.”
She didn’t waste time asking questions. She could sense his urgency. When he moved his hand, she roll
ed and slid quietly onto the floor. Who the hell would be skulking around their hut in the middle of the night? Maybe it was another guest who’d simply mistaken which hut was theirs.
Kneeling on the floor, she searched around for her sarong. There was just enough moonlight shining through the uncovered windows for her to spot the silken cloth and she grabbed it. On her hands and knees, she crawled as quickly as she could into the bathroom. She kept the door slightly open so she could peek through as she drew the sarong around her.
Dex was in protective mode, focused on whoever was creeping up on him. He had always been protective, but since her attack, his protective instinct had gone into overdrive.
He moved silently across the room, hiding against the wall behind the door. The door opened quietly and a dark shadow slipped through. Dex waited until the trespasser was inside then he attacked.
Zoey knew it was coming, but she still jumped. The worst thing was the silence. She expected yelling, screams, even some grunting. But there was nothing. Dex took the intruder by surprise, easily pinning him to the floor and delivering a blow that made her wince.
Zoey’s attention was drawn to the doorway. Was that movement? Was there someone else there?
“Dex, behind you,” she screamed.
Dex flipped himself off the first intruder, rolling onto his back. He thrust his feet up as the second assailant attacked, sending the other person flying. Dex jumped to his feet then threw himself onto the other intruder, delivering a heavy punch to the face. Dex flipped him onto his stomach and pinned his hands to the small of his back.
“Zoey,” he said in a furious voice. “Find something for me to secure them.”
Zoey flew out of the bathroom, gazing around the bedroom frantically. Grabbing a sheet off the bed and a knife, she quickly ripped the sheet into strips.
“What if there are more out there?” she asked as she handed over a strip of sheet.
“We need to evacuate,” Dex stated, his voice short and clipped. He was in warrior-mode.
“Who are they?”
Dex tied their hands behind their back before flipping them both onto their backs and securing their ankles together.
“It’s Chewbacca,” she said with surprise.
“You know them?” Dex asked.
“Oh. No. The hairy one just reminds me of a character from an ancient movie. I loved that movie.”
Zoey loved watching ancient movies and television shows.
One of their assailants was large and hairy, the other one smaller and humanoid, with long, greasy hair.
“They’re definitely not natives. What do you think they wanted?” The natives of Rolan were very small and round with heavily wrinkled skin.
“I have no idea. But I think it wise for us to leave immediately, in case they have any companions.”
“You don’t think they’re vacationers who lost their way?”
Dex gave her an incredulous look.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She sighed. “At least I had you to myself for one day.”
“I am sorry, my own. I also find myself disappointed. But your safety comes first.” He glanced down at the two attackers. “I would like to question them, but not when we are on our own and unable to call for help.”
Because she’d broken his tablet. Whoops.
Nodding, she gathered up their stuff then they made their way up to the main lodge. They soon had transport arranged back to their ship. Dex remained on high alert the whole trip back, his body tense, his attention focused on their surroundings.
“I had a great time. Up until we were invaded,” she said as they reached the ship.
Dex glanced down at her then he reached for her hand and squeezed it.
“So did I, my own.”
***
“They just attacked you? For no reason?” Koran asked with a deep scowl.
As soon as they boarded the ship, Dex had wasted no time in contacting Koran and Thor. The few warriors who had remained on board the ship were now in the process of pulling everyone back.
Boris leaned against the wall in the far corner, silently watching while Giz curled up next to Zoey on the sofa.
Dex had sent a couple of warriors to retrieve the intruders, but when they arrived, the hut had been empty, the intruders gone. Dex didn’t want to waste time searching for them. He couldn’t explain why, but he knew it was urgent that they evacuate Rolan immediately.
Zoey ran her hand over Giz’s fur, looking pensive. He had been taught that mates shouldn’t be involved in warrior business. That they should be protected at all costs from any stress or worry.
But Zoey wasn’t Zerconian and he had learned that he could not expect her to act as a Zerconian female would. She was smart. She had good insight. Shutting her out of parts of his life just felt wrong. And right now, letting her out of his sight wasn’t something he could contemplate.
Torex, his communications expert, looked up from his tablet. “I think I might know why you were attacked.”
“What?” Everyone turned to face him.
“Because of this.” He pressed a button on his tablet and a small holographic image appeared. It was a three-dimensional sketch of a woman.
“That’s me,” Zoey stated.
“Wanted for murder,” an electronic voice stated. “Bounty is fifty thousand credits. Alive.”
Dex clenched into tight fists, fury filled him. “Who?”
Zoey rubbed her head and he realized that his control over his shields had slipped and she was probably being overwhelmed by his anger through their bond.
“The name is concealed,” Torex told them.
“Who would do this?” She stared at him, looking scared. “Why would they put a bounty on me for killing Targos?”
Zoey bit her lip worriedly, her face pale. Her fear ate at him, demanding that he protect her. She was slowly regaining the weight she’d lost, her hollow cheeks filling out. She needed rest and pampering, not this.
“You didn’t kill him.” Koran glanced over at Boris.
Zoey waved her hand. “Boris only killed Targos because he was attacked me. If I was strong enough, I’d have done whatever I needed to in order to get away from him. It’s my fault Targos is dead.”
“Don’t even waste one second regretting what happened to Targos. His death was inevitable and no one will mourn him.” Dex stared at her fiercely. “Understand me?”
She gave him a weak smile.
“How could anyone seriously believe that Zoey could break Targos’ neck?” Thor asked with confusion.
Dex shook his head. “That doesn’t matter. What does matter is that my mate has a bounty on her head.” Someone would die for this. He would see to it.
“How can someone just decide to put a price on my head?” she asked.
“The truth doesn’t matter if you have enough credits and power,” Koran replied.
“Dante should be on Edreinia by now. Contact him.” Dante was Targos’ cousin and the rightful ruler of Edreinia. Targos won Edreinia from Dante in a card game, forcing him to leave. The Zerconians had given Dante sanctuary, angering Targos.
“He’s there already?” Zoey asked.
Dex nodded. “His ship is smaller and faster than ours.”
“Dex,” Koran spoke up. “I just received notification that everyone is on board.”
Dex nodded. “Good. Go and prepare the ship for takeoff. I shall be on the bridge shortly.”
Koran left the room. Dex waited for a long, tense moment before an image of Dante appeared in the room.
“Dex? I thought you were having a break on Rolan?”
“We were. But we encountered a problem.” Dex quickly recounted what had happened over the last few hours.
Dante frowned. “Things are very unsettled here. There have been rumors circulating that some of Targos’ former guests believe Edreinia is available to whoever has the most power and wealth. No doubt one of them put the bounty on Zoey, thinking it would gain the Edreinian
s approval. Little do they know how much the people here hated Targos. Is Zoey well? She was not hurt?”
“She is fine. Can you get me names? I need to make it very clear that I will countenance no threats against my mate.”
“Is it wise to unveil Zoey’s true identity? That might place her in more danger. Nobody knows she is your mate so she should be safe on Zerconia.”
Should be wasn’t good enough.
“How did these bounty hunters find her?” Thor wondered.
“Bad luck?” Dante asked. “Perhaps they spotted her by chance?”
Dex didn’t believe in coincidences, but he couldn’t think of another explanation. “I know you will get Edreinia under control. But do it quickly.”
Dante nodded. “Think of it as done. Where is your next destination?”
Dex glanced over at Zoey. “Home.”
Chapter Three
Zoey stood on the verandah, looking out at the large city sprawled out beneath her. So this was Zerconia. Her imagination hadn’t dreamed up anything this beautiful.
Pristine white buildings with terracotta roofs were built along a long coastline. Stretching out for longer than she could see was a beautiful, glistening, green-blue sea.
Dex had talked about the desert, comparing it to her strawberry-blonde hair, so she’d imagined Zerconia to be a hot, arid place. But the Zerconians avoided the desert by building their dwellings along the coastline.
The buildings were white to reflect the harsh light from Zerconia’s two blistering suns. They had arrived three days ago, but this was the first time she’d been outside. The heat was stifling, the air so thick it made it hard to breathe. Dex assured her that she would grow used to the atmosphere. Inside, cool air was pumped through vents in the ceilings and if you kept all the windows and doors shut it was actually a pleasant temperature.
“Zoey?”
She turned at Dex’s voice, smiling brightly as she raced towards him. She came to a shuddering stop as his unsmiling parents stepped in behind him. Friends had often complained to her about having the mother-in-law from hell. She’d never really understood what they meant. Until now.
