The Melier: Prodigal Son

by Poppy Rhys

  What does this mean?

  They took down those monsters and hardly lost their breath. In a couple of calculated moves, they’d killed just to get back to her because she was scared. How many fans or subscriptions had she cost them?

  Dania was almost afraid of the answer when she asked, “Have they ever... booed you out of the arena before?”

  Jruviin shook his head and pounded a shower sensor, “Never.”

  Shit.

  “I’m sorry. I should’ve—” her voice cut off when Jruviin removed the loincloth from his waist, baring himself.

  Her gaze dipped to his erect cock, and she immediately closed her eyes and turned her head.

  Why did I just look?!

  “Sorry...” she mumbled, holding up a hand to shield her eyes... Wait, that hadn’t been there before...

  The first time she saw him, he didn’t have a penis. She searched her memory and was sure of it. Even as she’d watched him step into his pants, nothing had dangled between his legs.

  Now something blue and pointy was jutting from his groin area.

  A rumbling chuckle met her ears—Val’Koy—and she had to catch herself before she looked at either of them again.

  Dania liked that warm sound a little too much.

  “Do you want to bathe?” Val asked.

  Yes!

  “Umm...”

  “You have blood on your arm.”

  Immediately, she looked, seeing the crimson streaks etching up to her elbow. Transfer from the blood on one of them, she guessed.

  Dania gulped, eyeing the shower.

  “No one else is here,” he pointed out, a hairless brow raising. “Rare to shower alone.”

  But she wouldn’t be alone. He and Jru were there.

  In the next blink, Val’Koy took the decision from her, gripping the rough fabric of her dress and pulling it up and over her head as she squawked in protest.

  “Hey!” Hurriedly, she covered her most private parts. “What—”

  “You stink.”

  Dania’s mouth fell open.

  He smirked, disappearing into the next room and emerging with a caked gray clump.

  “Soap.”

  She moaned with longing and bit her lips, face heating. His gaze shifted, green slivers visible at the corners once more. He moved beside her; large, warm hand encircling her wrist and depositing the clump in her palm.

  He took the shower next to hers, and she was once again trying to avoid eyeing either of them. It didn’t work out very well, because she felt their eyes darting over her body and could see them in her peripheral vision.

  They washed, sharing the soap back and forth. The lukewarm water sluiced her body, and Dania thought it might be the best shower of her life, despite everything else or maybe because of it.

  The water turned off too quickly, making her long for a hot soak in a bathing pool and shampoo and conditioner and skin oils and a fucking comb—all the luxuries of home.

  Her eyes darted to Val’Koy, and she watched as he first brushed off the excess water from his muscled chest and stomach, then all four of his toned arms. Why was her mouth going dry at the simple act?

  Dania swallowed, moving her tongue, trying to wet the roof of her mouth.

  We’re in a public shower, on an illegal gaming planet, and he just killed someone.

  Even those facts didn’t stop her nipples from puckering. Her mind wandered, to that night they shared, now so many months ago...

  His furred tail whipped to the side, the excess water splatting against the cold, tiled wall.

  Dania looked over her shoulder at Jruviin. His feathers puffed up, making him look twice the size he really was, as he shook off the water glistening on his body.

  Dania followed them into the next room. It had the same drab, metal lockers as the first sector she’d been in.

  She tried to distract her rambling mind by finger brushing her hair. It was halfway useless, and her curls were like knots. Even with a real comb, it’d take some time to work through it.

  She winced, catching another knot.

  “Let me,” Jruviin moved behind her with a towel, and heat warmed her back, making her shiver. He’d done this when they had met, and she didn’t hesitate this time, but she couldn’t stop thinking about it—his pointy cock.

  Her eyelids fluttered closed when he gripped clumps of her curls, his claws running through the knots with ease. It felt good. Why did it feel amazing when someone else brushed her hair? It’d been years since anyone had done so. She’d almost forgotten the simple delight.

  Her breathing deepened, and her palms pressed against the lockers to keep her upright when Jruviin ran his hands through her hair, as if checking for any missed knots. Delicately, his claws scraped against her skull, and she thought she heard herself whimper.

  No, I imagined that.

  Those claws trailed down the back of her neck, sliding across her damp skin. New shivers traced her spine, sizzling all the way down to her curled toes.

  What was that?

  It felt close to thrumming electricity, and she was shamelessly reminded of how delicious Val’Koy’s tongue felt on her skin while Jruviin’s claws gently scraped at her.

  Her teeth sank into the tip of her tongue, and she silently hoped he did it again.

  Yes!

  Her voiceless plea was answered. He trailed those claws down her back, and she thought she would vibrate from the delight.

  Warm breath fanned her shoulder, a soft nose followed the curve of her ear, and her knees knocked together.

  She opened her eyes to see Val’Koy leaning a shoulder against the lockers, watching her with parted lips and onyx eyes. His tongue darted behind his teeth, and Dania thought another whine escaped her.

  What was happening? She burned from the inside out, and her arousal hit a new level as Val ate her up with his intense gaze while Jruviin touched her.

  She wanted more.

  And this was something she could have. A small pleasure in a cruel world.

  As if the towering beast could hear her silent demands, a dark grin tugged Val’Koy’s mouth to one side.

  Jruviin’s hands explored her flesh. His searing, roughened palms touched her back, her sides, and farther down, the sharp tips of his talons always hovering, grazing.

  Dania jumped when his hands covered the cheeks of her ass and gripped. Her mouth dropped open, and she tore her eyes from Val’Koy to stare at the metal locker in front of her. Dania watched Jru’s shadow move, as if he were crouching behind her to get a better look at her bum.

  “Wh-what are you doing?” Her pulse kicked up another notch. She’d always been self-conscious about her bum when those pesky dimples that dotted her flesh weren’t hidden and sculpted into a tight-fitting pair of jeans. He pawed and poked those imperfections now.

  “Stop poking my cellulite!” Dania’s voice rasped from some instinct. It wasn’t true because she didn’t want him to stop touching.

  He paused his callused hands mid-squeeze. “Cellulite?”

  She could feel the blood etch across her nose and cheeks. “The dimples on my butt that you—you’re touching.”

  She dared to peer over her shoulder. The corner of her lip caught between her teeth when he squeezed again and moved on to her equally dotted thighs.

  “I like these dimples.” His raspy voice made her core clench as if he’d physically touched her there.

  Dania snorted a laugh, unable to catch herself.

  Then the humor swept aside at the persistent feel of his hands gripping, kneading, and feeling her body. A low groan rumbling from his chest.

  At that sound, her pussy clenched, eliciting a sharp intake of breath. It felt like her pulse thrummed at her clit.

  Jru stopped just as Val’Koy sniffed the air. A purr broke the silence, and Dania turned around, pressing her ass against the cold lockers. Still crouched, only now in front of her, Jruviin’s nose hovered above her skin as he slowly sniffed down her torso.

&
nbsp; The pouch of her abdomen shivered, curling in on itself. His attention skipped down farther, landing at the apex of her thighs.

  A thumb brushed over her mound, and to her embarrassment, her knees nearly buckled. Dania pressed her hands to the metal behind her, steadying herself.

  “Her scent is maddening,” Jruviin groaned, his breathing almost labored.

  She remained silent, unable to find her voice. The idea they could scent her arousal only turned her on more. Did that make her weird?

  Val’Koy licked his lips, unmistakable hunger morphing his features.

  Stars above.

  She knew that look all too well. The last time, it had been Val’Koy who kneeled in front of her. She remembered the consuming heat when he sucked the slick from her fingers.

  Jruviin stood, backing away as if she were aflame and singing his feathers. His hands clasped his skull, his thick, pointed blue cock jutting upward and drooling a sky colored precum. The veins pulsed, visibly beating and altogether bizarre.

  It lured Dania in.

  She moved to him, crossing the aisle and slowly reached out to drag the tip of her finger along the hot underside.

  What sounded like a mixture of a coo and a groan vibrated from his throat. At the same time, his penis flexed, the small hole opening, closing, like it was winking at her.

  Clearly alien, it only snared her curiosity. She touched her finger to it, Jru’s raspy breaths guiding her. It sucked at her digit and Dania momentarily glanced up at Jru before edging her fingertip inside.

  “Mmm,” he moaned, letting loose a string of incoherent words.

  “Do you like that?” she whispered, further intrigued when Jru shakily nodded. Dania licked her lips and gently withdrew her finger only to slide it back in, deeper this time.

  Jruviin hissed a breath, his hand coming up to clasp the back of her neck. A dash of fear had her stilling, but she couldn’t deny how hot the hint of danger made her.

  At any moment, just like with Val’Koy, Jruviin could slice her open with a flick of his wrist or the clench of his jaws.

  God, I’m fucked up.

  “You want more, don’t you?” Why did she insist on poking the beast?

  Jruviin’s brow puckered, his teeth bared, his chest rising and falling while his talons twisted in Dania’s hair. She whimpered and licked her bottom lip, feeling her arousal slide against her thighs.

  “Tell me you want more,” she exhaled, her fingertip circling his pointed tip.

  His words about how the males of his species pierced the females resurfaced in her mind. His tip hardened and softened underneath her digit and she realized he could literally pierce someone with his cock if he kept the tip hardened.

  “Tell me,” she repeated firmly. Fuck, she was so turned on.

  Jruviin grunted air, and then thickly stated, “I want more.”

  Dania grinned, slowly working her finger in and out of his tip, never too deep, but just enough. She watched his feral expressions, his kind demeanor mostly gone in the face of lust.

  When his hips rolled to and from her, she gripped his length, pulling a deep groan from him.

  “Feels good, huh?” Her hand worked up and down, sliding to his base and back up again. His heat licked fire along her palm and she wondered what he would feel like inside her. This beast, the warrior, was under her control, and her own power was intoxicating.

  “Indescribable,” Jru moaned, meeting each one of her hand pumps with his hips.

  Dania felt his base thicken beneath her hand, and she wondered if it indicated anything, so she whispered, “Come for me.”

  “Come?” he panted.

  “Yes,” she pursed her lips to keep her smile hidden. “Release. I want to see how much you’ve been saving up.”

  Dania could tell her words weren’t entirely registering with him, but when she pumped her hand faster, neither of them cared.

  The most delicious sounding, throaty groan rose from him as his back arched, hips stilling, cock jerking. She could feel something different beneath her fist. His base hardened, knotted, and tiny lumps traveled his length on the inside.

  Hot ropes of blue semen shot across the aisle, and with it, small orbs that resembled cyan marbles no bigger than a retro pencil eraser. Each load produced a new orb and Dania’s mouth fell open at just how much he expelled.

  By the time he finished, and she pulled her hand away, a small river had formed along the floor. It oozed and dripped from the bench dividing the aisle, those tiny orbs, at least ten, glistening in the dim light.

  “Wow,” she sighed, wide eyed. Jruviin untangled his talons from her hair and she let go of his cock. The bulbous base was swollen and a darkened navy color, nearly hidden beneath his feathers. Dania nervously chuckled, “You made a mess.”

  Val’Koy’s massive shadow covered her, and she slowly canted her head. She barely had a moment to gulp at the mask of desire darkening his features before his many hands lifted her, squeezing a surprised yelp out of her.

  Her arms quickly circled his neck, draping over his toned, broad, lickable shoulders. Glossy scales slid across her skin.

  Words died on her lips when his black eyes devoured her gaze. That pink tongue darted against those cobalt lips, and Dania knew. She knew what would happen next.

  Both breathing heavily as if the oxygen had depleted, she felt it.

  Felt his cock slide down her slick, puffy folds, sending salacious waves through her b—

  Mumbled chatter jarred her and the heavy sounds of multiple footfalls touched her ears.

  The reality of where they were shattered the moment. How could she have forgotten? This was a public space. “Put me down! Someone’s coming.”

  He looked back toward the showers, then at her, seemingly debating how much time he’d have before they had an audience.

  A look crossed his face—reluctance?—a hint of a growl seeped into her chest, and then he did as she asked. The knot in his throat bobbed repeatedly and Dania shivered at how sexy the Adam’s apple of an alien looked.

  Cool it, girl.

  Snatching up her sack-dress, she hurriedly put it on, and watched as Val reluctantly wrapped his sarong around his waist just as the showers started in the other room.

  Inhale. Exhale.

  What had gotten into her?

  They were tugging her toward claims, leaving the mess behind. “But what about, you know, that.” She pointed at the veins of colorful slime.

  “The sarniki will clean it,” Jruviin muttered and gently tugged on her hand.

  “The wh...” her question drifted into silence as the same red bugs from the arena snuck up from between the stones in the floor and from underneath the rows of lockers and dark corners around the room to swarm Jruviin’s spend.

  What the fuck...

  Just like the corpses on the sands, when the bugs dispersed and scurried out of sight, the blue rivers and odd little marbles were gone.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  VAL’KOY

  Robbed.

  He’d been fucking robbed of a much-needed release. Months. It’d been countless months since he’d been with Dania—since he hadn’t performed for anyone but his own hand.

  What he would’ve done just for five more minutes of privacy. That alone irritated him. He prided himself on being able to last longer with the concubines than any other male in the palace, but just minutes ago, he’d been near spilling on the floor simply holding Dania.

  Her scent, those pheromones, were slowly dismantling his mind, and his damned erection would not cease. She reeked of arousal, and it was all he could do to breathe properly.

  He moved ahead, Dania and Jruviin following him through the claims line. The entry guard stuttered through his speech, and Val’Koy didn’t like how the male’s eyes lingered too long on the human.

  Clearly, he scented her. Her pheromones—made more potent by the mouthwatering slick between her legs—would be obvious to any individual with sensitive olfactory organs. An arouse
d female was a bullseye anywhere, but especially here.

  It made his skin tremor and teeth gnash angrily. Every fiber in him roared, OURS.

  No one would get what was theirs.

  That gave him pause. He knew there was a possibility he would wind up sharing a mate with one of his brothers—if he ever settled on one female—but Jruviin wasn’t his brother. He wasn’t even Melier.

  Val’Koy’d always been selfish. From hoarding the best toys, to hogging the palace concubines as a grown male. Sharing had never been in his nature, but just now... his instinct laid claim to the Therran and the Draekiin at his side.

  Wait, mate? Dania wasn’t his mate.

  “Val?” her voice pricked his ears.

  Yet, when his mind reeled back, he realized he’d been growling, and his tail lashed the sand at his heels. Immediately, he silenced.

  “What?” Val’Koy bit out, feral gaze never leaving the guard whose evil grin spoke to the violations he, no doubt, imagined slaking upon Dania.

  “Are you okay?” She curled her fingers, possessively digging them into his back, and it took an immense amount of willpower to stop himself from dragging her to the ground and staking his claim on her body. He’d ruin her for the other males. They wouldn’t want to touch her, look at her, with his scent clinging to every inch of her delicate skin. He’d rip their limbs off, beat them senseless and tear into—

  He snapped out of it.

  What the fuck was wrong with him?

  ****

  DANIA

  She throbbed everywhere. Her body felt like a beating drum, the image of Jru shooting his load while groaning and writhing beneath her hand kept flashing in her mind, and she couldn’t get rid of it. Even while Val’Koy went savage and started growling and whipping his tail for no apparent reason.

  He glared at the attendant—who had freakishly smiled at her, but the attendant hadn’t done anything. Some species just looked scary when they grinned, if they grinned at all, and Dania had gotten used to it.

  “I am fine,” Val’Koy finally replied, not bothering to tear his eyes away from the grinning alien.

  “Are you s—”

  A howl pierced the atmosphere and Dania jumped, backing into Jruviin as her eyes followed the direction of the sound.