by Tana Stone
“It won’t be enough,” I said, cutting him off. “There is no way my fighting unit can defend against the empire. Not alone.”
The males glanced at each other, brows furrowing. “What do you suggest?”
“There are many in the galaxy who resist the empire. Your communications system might be old, but it can send out a subspace message, can it not?”
Kerl gave a sharp nod. “It can, but the Vandar horde that brought you will be far away by now.”
My heart squeezed at the truth of this. My horde—the horde I needed to make amends with—would be too far away to receive any distress call from the planet. “It is not the Vandar I’m hoping you will reach.”
I gave them the information about the encrypted channel and told them what their message should say.
“Now you should rest,” Lerek said once I’d passed on the critical information and sunk back against the pillows.
I nodded. “Only for a short while.”
Then I closed my eyes as the three males left my room, the door shutting behind them. I didn’t remember everything about the battle with the imperial soldiers—and I had no memory of throwing my axe at the fighter who’d shot me—but I did recall how the fighters I’d trained had splintered when I ordered an attack. They’d been too scared to join me in rushing the enemy and I’d been left to do battle by myself.
I clenched my teeth at the bitter memory. I might be able to teach the basics of fighting, but I could not teach courage. None of the fighters I’d trained had the heart of a warrior. My breath caught in my chest as I thought of Sienna.
Correction. One fighter had the heart of a Vandar warrior. The one I’d sent away, and told that she could not fight. The one who’d stormed out of my quarters.
I expelled a long breath, regret filling me. Who could blame her for being furious? She’d worked tirelessly to become a skilled warrior, but I’d dashed her hopes. Not only that, but I’d also been moments away from fucking her against the wall. My heart hammered in my chest as I recalled how tenuous my control had been as I’d kissed her, and she’d moved her body eagerly beneath mine. She’d trusted me as her teacher, and I’d failed her in every way.
My face burned with shame. These were not the actions of a Vandar. The Vandar championed the oppressed. We didn’t hold them back. And by going along with the planet’s backwards rules, I’d been just as bad as the rest of the males. The truth was, Sienna was the planet’s best warrior, and she deserved to fight by my side. Even if she never wanted to look at me again, I needed to tell her this.
The sound of rustling fabric made me open my eyes and snap my head to the window. A booted foot was resting on the sill, then a leg appeared. When Sienna’s entire body popped through the triangular opening, her head bent to fit through, I gaped at her. “What are—?”
She hurried over to me, putting a finger to my lips. “Shhh. There are still people outside your room.”
I pulled her finger away from my lips, desperate to apologize. “Sienna,” I whispered, “I need to—"
“Not now, you don’t,” she said, climbing on my bed and straddling me. “Not before I do this.”
When she bent over and kissed me, her lips soft and warm as they moved hungrily against mine, I forgot every word I’d intended to say.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ch 25
Sienna
None of it mattered, I thought, as I lay on top of Corvak kissing him.
My anger had seemed foolish when I’d thought he was dead, and I’d forgotten it entirely when I’d discovered that he was alive. As desperate as I was to see him, I’d had to wait until the healer had done his work, slathering him with healing compounds and giving him rejuvenating tonics.
I couldn’t have rushed up and thrown my arms around the Vandar when he was lying on the dirt being revived, and I couldn’t even insist on being one of the ones waiting in his quarters for a progress report. I’d spotted a few of his students loitering around the door to his quarters, but I couldn’t even wait with them without attracting curious stares. As far as everyone in the village knew, Corvak was nothing to me. Except he was everything.
I pulled back and gazed down at the stunned expression on his face. Then I traced one finger down the nearly invisible scar running down his cheek, the gash now no more than a razor thin pale line. “You didn’t die after all.”
He reached up and ran a hand through my hair, tugging my face closer to his and breathing me in, his eyes closing for a moment. “Unless I have died and this is Zedna, in which case I hope to die more often.”
I smiled at him even as my eyes filled with tears. “I thought I’d never see you again. When I saw you lying there on the ground with that awful black burn mark on your shoulder, I thought…”
Corvak pulled me down and kissed me, his stubble rasping my cheek. “It takes more than a single blaster shot to kill a Vandar.”
I swatted at his chest. “Cocky alien.” When he flinched, I sucked in a breath. “Sorry. I forgot you’re still recovering.”
“I can handle some contact,” he said, giving me a wicked grin. “But maybe we could delay the return to hand-to-hand combat practice?”
I eyed him. “I thought that was off the table anyway.”
His gaze dropped. “That was a mistake.”
“What was a mistake?”
He took a shuddering breath, his body trembling beneath me. “Everything I said to you. I was wrong, Sienna. I shouldn’t have told you that you shouldn’t fight or couldn’t fight. I never should have made you feel like you aren’t the best fighter on the planet. I thought I was protecting you and myself, but I was wrong.”
I stared at him, shocked by the rush of words. “I didn’t know Vandar apologized. I thought you guys were a ‘no regrets’ bunch.”
“When we are as wrong as I was, we do.” He lifted his gaze to meet mine.
Something swelled in my chest that felt a lot like happiness. “I accept your apology. As long as you don’t regret everything.”
His brow furrowed. “What words do you wish I don’t regret?”
“Not your words,” I said as my cheeks warmed, and nerves fluttered in my stomach. “I hope you don’t regret your actions last night because I don’t regret mine.” I said the last few words in a rush so I wouldn’t be able to stop myself.
His pupils flared, making his eyes dark pools of desire. “I regret stopping and sending you away.”
I frowned, not wanting to remember how furious I’d been at him and how badly I’d wanted to hold a grudge. All of that had melted away the moment I’d thought I might lose him and felt like a hazy memory that belonged to another version of myself. The Sienna who had a chip on her shoulder and was always spoiling for a fight. Not the version of myself that was just grateful I’d have another chance with the Vandar raider.
“It’s forgotten,” I whispered, very aware that there were still villagers on the other side of his bedroom door. Then I rubbed a hand across the dark swirls on his chest. “I mean, not everything is forgotten. I don’t want to forget all of it.”
“No?” He cocked an eyebrow, fisting one hand in my loose hair. “What parts do you wish to remember?”
“You’re an expert in battle strategy,” I lowered my head until I could feather my lips across his, kissing him lightly and then nipping at his bottom lip. “Why don’t you figure it out, tough guy?”
With a low growl, Corvak lifted himself slightly off the bed and flipped me onto my back, bracing his body over mine with one elbow. Even though the movement was sudden, his touch was gentle as he stroked a hand down one side of my face, dipping his head to my neck and kissing me as he whispered, “Do you think you can be quiet?”
Ripples of pleasure sizzled across my skin, and the heat of his body on top of me made me almost lightheaded with desire. “I…I think so.”
His thumb traced the line of my jaw. “Good because I’d hate for all those males outside to hear me claiming you.” He lifted hi
s head slightly, so his molten gaze met mine.
I sucked in a quick breath. At least the doors were thick and not easy to hear through, but he was right. We were tempting fate. The touch of his rough hands made it difficult to concentrate, but I shuddered at the forbidden thrill. “What if someone walks in?”
“And sees me fucking you?” His gaze took on a predatory gleam. “Then they’ll have to leave in a hurry. I don’t share what’s mine.”
I was almost afraid to ask him. “And I’m…?”
“Mine,” Corvak answered, capturing my mouth in a kiss that was both possessive and sensual. His body might be as hard as stone, but his lips were soft as they moved against mine, his tongue caressing deep. I lost myself in the taste of him and the warm, masculine scent that clung to his skin. Then in a breath, the kiss shifted from gentle to fierce.
Corvak growled softly as he pressed into me, the effort he was making to restrain himself obvious. His breath was ragged as his hands slid down my body and tugged at the fabric covering me. I was suddenly very aware that he wore nothing as he lay on top of me, the thin blanket he’d brought with him when he’d flipped me onto my back the only thing between us, aside from my clothes.
Memories of the night before crowded my hazy thoughts. Not the anger and humiliation that I’d been so focused on since he’d sent me away. Those were forgotten now. It was the hunger, the thrill, the pounding desire that rushed back to me. I gave in to that driving need as I fumbled along with him to rid myself of my clothes. When we’d tossed them to the floor and Corvak had ripped the blanket from between us, he paused.
Blood thundered in my ears, drowning out any noises from outside the room, but I was aware of the stutter in his breath as he gazed down at me. I’d never been especially modest, but I’d also never considered my body something to be stared at, and never in the way he now gaped at it.
“Perfect,” he husked, his gaze roaming my naked body hungrily.
Although my body was already pulsing with heat, my cheeks burned even hotter. “I’m covered with bruises.”
“Like a female warrior.” He moved down so he could take one peaked nipple in his mouth, the warmth of his flicking tongue sending desire to throb between my legs. “My female warrior.”
I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from crying out as he moved to the other hard peak, sucking on it until it ached, and I was writhing beneath him. His tail, which had been stroking up the inside of my thigh, dipped between my legs, making me jerk in surprise.
Corvak glanced up, grinning at me. “My tail can be used for more than restraining you.”
My eyes rolled back in my head as I arched back, letting my thighs fall open for his tail. I didn’t care who was outside the room anymore. All I cared about was surrendering to Corvak. For once, I was willing to give in to him and let him dominate me. I wanted it.
The furry tip stroked the length of my folds until it found my sensitive nub. When I drew in a sharp breath, Corvak shifted himself lower, closing his mouth over me as his tail pressed at my opening. A moan rose in my throat, but I bit it back, instead fisting the sheets to keep from making a sound as his tongue sucked me until my breaths were agonized pants.
Encouraged by the bucking of my hips, he increased the tempo of his tongue until my legs trembled and the pleasure made me reckless. His tail was fully inside me now, the sensation both strange and intoxicating, but I wanted more. I wanted all of him.
“Corvak,” I gasped as I shattered, my body knifing up and my vision blurring.
Before my tremors had subsided, he was moving up my body, sliding his tail out and notching his cock at my slick entrance. “Sienna.” His face twisted with effort as he hovered over me on his elbows. “You have never…?”
I shook my head, still dizzy from my euphoric daze.
He feathered his lips across mine. “This will hurt, but only for a bit.”
I nodded, too sated to speak or to care.
He pulled me into a deep kiss as he pushed inside me slowly. I held my breath, startled that as thick as his tail had felt, his cock was definitely bigger. Twitching my hips to adjust to him, I spread my legs wider.
“Tvek.” Corvak tore his mouth from mine and then drove into me fully.
I buried my face in his neck, biting down to keep from screaming as he whispered words to me in Vandar. Words I couldn’t understand, but which sent pleasure skimming down my spine.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ch 26
Corvak
It took all my control to hold myself inside her and not buck wildly like I wished to do. Her tight heat gripped my cock like a vise, and her nails scoring my back and teeth on my neck did nothing to help my crumbling restraint. I’d never been known as a Vandar who could easily control his urges, and Sienna’s lusty movements were making it impossible.
“Kor misthra?” I whispered through gritted teeth as I kept my cock buried to the hilt inside her.
“Mmmmm.” Her response was only a wordless hum, but then I realized I’d been speaking to her in Vandar and not the universal tongue. It took so much focus to stay still so she could adjust to my size that I’d slipped into my native tongue.
“Are you okay, Sienna?” I asked, this time in the right language.
“More than okay,” she murmured into my shoulder as she wrapped her legs around the backs of mine. “You can move if you want.”
I did want, more than she could know. But still, I moved slowly at first, savoring her warmth and tightness as I drew myself out and pushed back in. It had been so long since I’d been with an untouched female, and I did not want to terrify her with my rough fucking.
When she started to shift her hips to meet my long strokes, emitting a breathy sigh each time, my control slipped from my grasp. Sliding my hands down underneath her round ass, I tipped her hips up and plunged deeper. Instead of flinching, Sienna welcomed this, thrusting up and matching my pace. Just like on the battlefield, Sienna met me stroke for stroke.
I found her mouth again, delving in and swirling my tongue with hers. Everything about Sienna, from the sweet taste of her mouth to her velvet heat made we want more. As much as I wanted to savor the moment, I could not control the savage rhythm that overtook me as my release consumed me.
The faint keening noises she made into my mouth only fired my blood further, sending me careening over the edge when her body spasmed around me, her tightness clenching around my cock again and again. I lost all ability to think, the thundering of my heart deafening me to all else as I hammered hard. When I gave a final thrust and pulsed hot inside her, her mouth swallowed my roar.
I collapsed onto the bed beside her, pulling Sienna so that she lay half on top of me. My breath came out in desperate gasps, my chest rising and falling as I attempted to steady my breathing.
“Kor misthra?” she whispered, her words skittering across my chest.
I lifted my head to gaze down at her. “Did you just speak to me in Vandar?”
Sienna gave me a dazed smile. “In case you forgot the universal language again.”
I slapped her bare ass. “That’s for insubordination.”
A look of mock outrage crossed her flushed face. “Who says you’re my teacher anymore?”
“You believe you have learned all there is to know?”
She swirled her fingers across the slick skin on my chest, tracing the dark marks. “Maybe not about everything.”
A growl rose in my throat, but I didn’t let it escape. There was much more I would like to teach her in bed, as well as in the battle ring. I’d never had a student so well-matched to me in every way. Not that I’d ever taken a student to bed before.
“I believe we should resume our sessions,” I said. “Or possibly increase them.”
She lifted one eyebrow lazily. “Which sessions?”
My cock twitched to life, heat rushing south again. Vandar did not need much rest, and it had been a long time since I’d been with a female.
I rolled her so
that she was fully on top of me. “Why don’t we start with these?”
Her eyes widened and she pushed herself up, so she was straddling my waist. “I know Vandar are super warriors, but you did just survive a blaster shot. Shouldn’t you get some rest?”
“Your healer was very effective. Besides, I’m feeling the rejuvenating effects of the planet already.”
She cut her eyes behind her where my cock was already jutting out ramrod stiff from my body. “Trust me. Those aren’t the effects of the planet.”
I hesitated as I grabbed her by the hips and started sliding her down my body. “Are you sore? Is this too much for you?”
Her gaze flashed hot. “Don’t worry, Vandar. I can take anything you can dish out.” She braced her hands on my chest. “But if I don’t get back home soon, my sister might send out a search party.”
From what I’d noticed, Sienna usually came and went as she pleased. “She’s expecting you?”
“I told her I was coming to check on you. She’s worried.”
“She knows you’re here?”
“Don’t worry.” Sienna sat up, swinging one leg over and sliding off me. “She knows about our secret training sessions, but she won’t tell anyone.”
“So she thinks you were coming to check on me because of our teacher-student relationship?”
She scooped her clothes off the floor and started tugging them on. “It’s the truth.” She gave me a wicked grin. “She just doesn’t know everything you’re teaching me.”
I sat up and looped an arm around her waist, pulling her to me. “Then maybe we should try to fit in one more lesson before you go.”
She stifled a laugh, wiggling her pants up over her hips and then squirming out of my grasp. “Maybe I should teach you something.”
I narrowed my gaze at her. “What do you wish to teach me?”
