by Pearl Tate
Falling to my knees by his legs, I reach out but hesitate. What if he’s still being shocked? I do remember that I could be shocked too.
Reaching up on the counter, I grasp a wooden spoon and step over his body. Quickly, I hit his hand away from the hole by the plug. It looks as if it’s still vibrating from the electrical current running through him. But what do I do now?
His hair was standing straight up from his head, but now it’s collapsed around him. I dig through it to find his neck, desperate to feel for his pulse.
My own hands are shaking so bad, I press and find nothing! Does he even have a pulse in his neck like I do? “Travek!” Slapping his cheek, I move my hand up and down on his neck, trying to locate something that’ll give me hope.
He can’t be dead. Life wouldn’t be that cruel to give him to me and then take him away like that. Tears are already pouring down my cheeks as I sob.
Tugging on his legs, I try to pull him further out from behind the stove, but it doesn’t help. He weighs too much more than me. Gasping and crying, I press my back against the stove and shove it away so I can make more room around him.
“Travek! Wake up!” Crying hysterically now, all rational thought abandons me as I hold his hand and search for a pulse in his wrist. Holding his hand to my face, I sob as I yell uncontrollably. “Wake up! Wake up! Don’t do this!”
“Lisa.”
When I first hear the voice in my head, I don’t consider too much of it. My personal pity party is in full swings.
“Lisa. Calm down.”
This time it registers, and I clutch Travek’s hand to my chest in fear. “Who is that? Where are you?”
“We are here. Watching… Travek is fine. He will heal.”
Looking down at him, I want to believe them. Whoever they are, they’re telling me exactly what I want to hear. Maybe it’s my own head. Maybe I’ve really completely lost it.
“No, he’s healing. He’ll be conscience in one or two minutes.”
“How can you hear me like that? Can you hear my thoughts?” Crouching on my feet, I peek over the counter and look around the room. There’s no one here but me.
“Only after you’ve acknowledged us. While we’re talking. You were calling for help.”
“Who are you? Why are we here? What are you doing with us?” Grabbing a paper towel from the roll, I blot my eyes and wait for an answer.
“We saved you from the human facility run by the Taxins. We mean you no harm.”
“Easy for you to say… where are you?” I’m standing now. Holding Travek’s hand tightly, I swivel around the room, looking for anything… anything that will tell me where they are. Who they are…?
“We are watching. When the time is right, we will reveal ourselves. You need to establish the mating. We are watching to make sure the bond seals.”
“I… I don’t understand. Why? What’s this about?” I notice Travek shift at my feet. Dropping back down, I make out their answer, but it’s faint now.
“Their species is dying out. Humans are the key…”
Fucking great! Another set of people figuring they know what’s best for me.
“Travek?” His moan is music to my ears. His hair blinds me as it springs to life around us both. His eyes open, and I sob with relief. “You idiot! You scared me to death!”
Dissolving into a fit of tears, I sink down onto his chest. Strong arms wrap around me. Why does that make me feel so much better? I’m so angry about the situation we’re in now.
“I’m alright, Lisa. Really.” Travek pats me gently on my back while I pull my shit together. “How long was I out?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. A couple minutes.” Sitting up, I blow my nose in the paper towel while he watches me. “It felt like a long fucking time!”
He has the audacity to chuckle as he sits up, bracing himself on the side of the cabinets. “I’ve had worse before. Come on.” Wiggling out of the space behind the stove, he lifts me out effortlessly over the range. I wrap my arms and legs around him in a tight hug.
“I was afraid I would be all alone in here. Don’t do that, anymore. You can’t leave me right now.”
“Right now, huh?” We’re already in the bedroom, and he lowers me down to the bed, hovering over me. I keep my arms locked around his neck.
“Yes. Don’t even think about it.” My voice softens as I run a hand down his face. “Are you okay? Did it hurt?”
Dropping next to me on the bed, Travek chuckles. “Have you ever shocked yourself? Obviously, you know what I’m referring to?”
“Yes, once. When I was a young, stupid kid and someone dared me to stick a fork in the plug. But I’ve never been knocked out by it or anything. It just hurt.”
“Mm. Well, it hurt too. I won’t do it again on purpose. In fact, I didn’t do it on purpose this time.”
Pounding on his chest as he laughs, I lean over him. “Someone talked to me. While you were passed out, and I was freaking the fuck out.”
His arms stiffen. “Someone came in? You saw someone?”
“No… no. It was weird. I didn’t see anyone—and I looked around. I’m not even positive I heard it in my ears. It was strange. In my head… somehow?”
Travek’s face has darkened as he clutches me tighter. “The Ashen.” His voice is a whisper. “If they spoke in your mind, it must be the Ashen.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
- Travek
“What does that mean? Who are the Ashen?” Pulling Lisa tight to my chest, we lay side by side on the bed. I can tell I’m scaring her, so I try to calm down and think about what I’ve heard over the years.
The Ashen are part of fairy tales and folklore. A kind of horror story that makes you hope you never run into them. “They don’t mingle with other races. They watch them. Study them. And it’s said they can talk directly into your brain.”
“Yep. That sounds about right. But they put us here. They must’ve taken us from the cage we were in… so they can’t be all bad, right?” I stare at her and consider that reasoning.
Everything I’ve heard has always been about how they manipulate and control. “I suppose. But they're supposed to be able to totally take over your body. They can make you not even remember seeing them!”
“Wait!” Lisa’s clutching my face with her hands. “What do they look like?”
I’m not sure how that matters. “I’ve never seen one, but they’re gray and thin—with big heads. Some have said they don’t possess mouths, but others say they do, they just rarely use them.”
“Do they have big, dark eyes? I think those are the most commonly reported aliens on Earth. We call them ‘grays.’ People report being abducted by them all the time, although it isn’t taken seriously.” Lisa’s eyes are wide as she waits for my response with her hands clasped.
“Yes, that sounds like them. It’s not surprising that Humans report seeing them. Your planet is in their zone. I’m trespassing just being here. I knew, but…” Shrugging, he pulls me in closer. “…you were worth it.”
“What were you thinking? If you knew that they could end up grabbing you?” Lisa’s exasperation bleeds into our bond as she smacks my arm. She’s frustrated with me.
“I was thinking I would give anything to find you. Anything to experience a future different than the one planned for me on my planet. I also don’t expect that the Ashen will harm us. Everything I’ve studied about our past led me to believe that out of any of the other zones I might enter and try to pillage from, they are the most likely to let me live. Of course, they might lobotomize me and make me forget everything, but they won’t kill me. What exactly did they say to you?”
“That you would be fine. That you were alive.” She jumps as she remembers more. “That they would reveal themselves when the time was right or some other happy horse shit. What the hell? They need to show us right now!”
Sitting up, she moves away from me and climbs onto her knees. “We’ve established the bond!” She’s yelling at the ceil
ing and cupping her hands around her mouth. “You can show yourself! We want to leave now!”
“Lisa!” Grabbing her hands, she jerks them from me and slaps at my body as I question her. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing!” Climbing to her feet, she yells at the ceiling, “Let us go! This is fucking bullshit! I don’t want to be an experiment…”
Flipping her onto her back, I crouch between her legs and pin her body beneath me. “It’s fine, Lisa. Relax.”
“It’s not fine!” Pounding her fists on my chest, she sobs. “This is not fine. I don’t want to be caged in here. I want to go home!”
When I don’t try to grab her and stop her, her fists stop pounding and she clutches my chest. “This is fucked up! All this is fucked up! What will happen later? I don’t want to wait… I just want to know!”
As she dissolves into a fit of tears, I pull her into my chest and stroke her back. My poor mate. I’m sure it’s a combination of the stress of me hurting myself, coupled with the drugs that are leaving her system. She needs to rest.
Laying her gently on the pillow, I tug up the sheet and blanket from the bottom of the bed to cover us. I don’t disagree with her. The situation’s extremely frustrating.
“You know what I want?” I’m whispering as I pull her close to cuddle. Lisa’s big blue eyes are still swimming with tears as she shakes her head no. “I want to be with you.”
When her face crumples to cry again, I continue. “I don’t care where I am. As long as you are with me, I’ll take it. We could have stayed in that cold cage. Are you aware of what I liked about it there?”
She doesn’t answer, just sniffs and gives me another quick shake. “You were willing to cling to me. Sleep on me and let me touch you.”
Lisa snorts and reaches for a tissue on her side of the bed on the table there. “I’m serious though.” Brushing her hair back, she blows her nose and dabs at her eyes. “I was willing to take the chance at crossing the Ashen to get to you. Every alien race sounds scary and is so different from us, it’s creepy—well, except Humans. But I had to see. When I found out Bren had been seeing Hannah in his daily reflections, I spent double the time in mine own. Not because I thought I might see you in them, but because I knew I would come and try to find you.”
I’ve definitely distracted her. Her tears have slowed, and she’s looking at me with interest. “Sure enough, when I descended into your atmosphere, I reached out—and there you were. Just waiting for me.”
“I wasn’t though.” Her voice is sour as she stares at me. “I was going to school. I was doing what I thought was best for me, and now it just seems like everyone…” Her voice catches as she breaks into a small sob again.
Sitting up next to me, she swivels for the tissue box and grabs the whole thing to put it between her legs. “Everyone has plans for me. You. The government and that weird reptile guy. Now the Ashen.” Blowing her nose, it makes a funny wheezing sounds that makes me smile. “Everyone just needs to be honest. I’m tired of being used.”
The sad way she finishes this statement makes me realize she’s not just talking about this. Someone has hurt her. Her sadness drifts to me.
Rubbing her back, I’m not exactly sure what to say. She acts as if this is something surprising. Something not fair. My life has taught me that nothing is fair.
“I promise to do my best to get them to release us as soon as possible.” This interests her. She swings toward me with hopeful eyes.
“Really? What do you have in mind?” Smiling softly, I draw a blank. I don’t have a plan yet.
“I’m not sure, but something will come to us. Don’t you agree?” She drops onto her back next to me, curling into my body.
“Mm. I guess so.” She pulls the covers higher over us and wraps her arms around me, squeezing her entire length onto my side.
“Who hurt you, Lisa? What’s this fear I sense from you?” I keep my voice pitched low, hoping she’ll share. Her hand strokes down my chest, taking her time to admire my stomach muscles and run her fingers around my mating marks before grasping my cock.
That’s all it takes. That minuscule interest and I’m hard for her. She unties the front of my robe to have unobstructed access to me. Her soft hands feel wonderful, sending tingles through my body and straight to my balls.
“I want to believe that you want me for me.” I’m trying to make sense of her words, but she’s cupping my balls and rolling them between her fingers. “Everyone has always wanted me for what I can do for them. My ex—he used me for his grades—among other things.” I’ve no idea what she means, but she keeps talking so I listen carefully. “Now, we’re stuck here. Who knows that the Ashen or grays or whoever want us for? You. You care about me, I can feel that. I just… I want to feel like I’m more than a tool or leverage or… I don’t know.”
My straining cock is abandoned as she curves over my body to stare me in the eyes. “I realize if I’d seen you at school, I would have been attracted to you. Do you think you'd have felt the same?”
“Of course!” That’s a stupid question.
“No, I mean… what if there were hundreds of other women there? Would you have been attracted to me—for me?” She thumps her chest as she looks down at me.
My mate doesn’t really understand. “Lisa, when I entered the Earth’s atmosphere, there weren’t only hundreds of other females around. There was a planet full of females! I picked you out of all of them. You’re the one that drew me. I didn’t even need to see you. Whatever is deep in here,” I tap on her head gently. “We’re perfect for each other. You’re it for me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
- Lisa
I gaze down at Travek seriously. Maybe I am overthinking this thing between us. He’s not Charlie.
And what’s attraction anyway. What draws us to someone when we see them in a crowd? That little spark that makes us want to know them better? Potentially date and then start a sexual relationship?
It’s chemical, right? Visual to a certain extent? It’s pleasing to the eye, and then we get to know them. Over time, all the rough edges smooth out and you decide to build a life together.
He did pick me. Sure, the reasons aren’t the best in the world. But if I knew when I went home, I was getting married—let alone married to someone who already had a bunch of lovers I’d have to live with—who can blame him? I’d be looking for my mate too!
Crashing my lips to his, I work on untying my robe and shimmying out of it. I need him in me. Filling me. Distracting me!
He doesn’t disappoint. Plunging his tongue into my mouth, my pussy clenches with need. With want for him. As our frenzy grows, I pull on his shoulders, but he pulls on my hips too.
Flipping the sheet over our head, I try to give us some semblance of privacy. Pulling away panting, I drop over onto my back, spreading my legs in invitation.
Dropping my hand to my cleft, I stroke through my wet folds. “Mm hm. Definitely ready for you. Are you ready?”
He’s frozen in place as he watches me circle my clit before plunging two fingers inside myself. He likes that. Groaning, he drops back, pressing a hand flat to his cock that looks red and angry, pointing at me.
“Do you want to be on top?” As I offer, shock flickers across his face before a predatory expression take over. I suspect he has less experience than I do, and missionary style isn’t the norm.
“Yes!” He doesn’t lack enthusiasm though. I pin the sheet over my head while he maneuvers between my legs. While he’s on his knees, he presses kisses to my chest. I gasp as his mouth closes tightly around a nipple, sending shocks of pleasure straight to my groin.
He tugs off harshly as if he’s sad to leave it before his mouth latches onto my other nipple as I continue to play with myself. He doesn’t linger there. Instead he cups them, tweaking each nipple between firm fingers as he kisses down my stomach. When he licks my belly button, I giggle and squirm under him.
Swatting my fingers awa
y, he replaces them with his wet tongue. My thighs clamp around him involuntarily. “Oh, Travek! Yes!” His hair is everywhere around us as I sink my hands into it and arch against his mouth.
Growling, he wraps his arms around the outside of my legs and pulls them down. Maybe to breathe? I try to relax but the suction… and the way he’s right on my clit makes me close to exploding. Licking me again, he sets a rhythm I can’t keep up with.
My breath hitches as I pant. Gasping and keening, the pressure increases as his licking turns to swirling and then back to sucking. A finger enters me and that’s it. Game over!
My hips arch as I tighten and seize, caught up in my own pleasure as he removes his fingers to replace them with his tongue. Probing me, he fucks me with his strong mouth as I gasp over and over, trying to relax.
Tugging on his hair, I attempt to pull him up to give me some reprieve. He seems intent on killing me as his fingers and tongue continue to wring every ounce of pleasure from me. As my breathing settles, I realize he’s studying me. “Does it look okay down there?”
He’s in my face instantly with a huge smile. “It’s perfect. Like you.” His kiss is wet as his tongue plunges into my mouth to share my taste. It’s sinful and decadent, and I don’t mind at all. Moaning, I pull him closer.
Wrapping my legs around him, I pull him lower until his hips settle. I feel him pressing against my opening. Tilting his hips back, he presses forward and slides inside.
The satisfying sensation of him stretching me, makes us moan in unison. Our lips break apart as the pressure builds. Moving slowly at first, he rocks in tiny pushes, working his way inside me. Our eyes are locked when he begins to thrust in earnest.
His enthusiasm is endearing as he plows into me. He looks at me like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever seen. Spreading my legs further, I feel him graze my clit on each inward thrust. He’s so big, I’m stretched tight to accommodate his size and wide open to his thrusts. It's amazing.
