by Ella Maven
He’d tried to tell me I wouldn’t talk him out of this mission, but he didn’t know me. He thought I was sweet, innocent, and meek, but I was also a pitbull when there was something I wanted. And I wanted Gar. I wanted his touch. His smiles. His devotion. And most of all, I wanted inside his head; I wanted his aura, because I knew there would be a lot of spring cleaning. Good thing I didn’t mind getting my hands dirty.
I ran my fingers south, ghosting over the sharp ridges of his abs. The muscles beneath me tensed.
“Little one,” his deep voice boomed a warning in the dark.
I smiled to myself, glad he couldn’t see me. “Sorry,” I chirped the lie.
His body went still, and his heart pounded. “You’re lying.”
“How did you know that?” I demanded, then shook my head. “Never mind. Yes, I’m lying. I wanted to touch you and I’m not sorry I did it.”
He didn’t say anything after that, only continued to chew whatever food he’d picked from our leather bundle.
After a while, my eyes closed, and despite the hard floor and the imminent danger outside of our door, I slept secure in Gar’s arms.
Gar
I woke up uncomfortable. Not because of my injuries but because of my cock. The flecked thing stood at attention, the tip poking the back of Naomi’s thighs as she slept tucked up against me, her long, soft braid tickling my chest.
I ignored my cock’s current stiff state to catalog my injuries. I wasn’t sure how long I slept, but in the absence of medis it was what I needed to heal. Deep inhales were no longer met with stabbing pains, and my leg moved without stiffness. The test would be if I could bear weight on it.
The dull glow from under the door gave us light, but only barely. Although I longed to see Naomi asleep next to me so I could marvel at how well her little body fit against mine, I knew it was better I couldn’t see it. Except it didn’t really matter when I could feel her, and that was all that mattered, didn’t it? The feel of her smooth skin, the way her hair tickled my scales, the sounds of her deep, even breaths, and the little mewing sounds she sometimes made as she exhaled, like a newborn welf.
Fleck Fatas for this. For all this. For taunting me this way. My curse was that those close to me suffered, and I would never ever let Naomi suffer. She was so good, so kind. Breathing her in was like inhaling the scent of the freshas as the sun rose. Clean and untainted. The women were protective of her, and I understood why. Naomi called to all my protective instincts. But I let down the last female I was supposed to protect.
I shook my head, pushing away the dark thoughts which always lurked in the shadows of my mind, threatening to take over. I rarely felt the sunshine anymore. Food had lost its taste. Everything had dulled, and that was my penance. Fatas had told me so.
I’d die a painful death, but one worthy of a warrior. That was all I could see in my future. God, I was a depressing fleck. Why did she tolerate me? Why did she want to touch me?
I indulged myself for one moment, pressed my nose against the top of her head, and inhaled. Sweet, clean Naomi.
Suddenly her groggy voice mumbled, “Did you just sniff me?”
I froze, blinking into the dark. Slowly I withdrew my nose from her hair. I couldn’t lie. It wasn’t in the Drixonian nature. So, I … embellished. “I was only breathing.” I grimaced. “Near your head.”
She let out an inelegantly adorable snort and turned in my arms. I felt her breath on my neck and then her lips at the base of my throat, the soft pillows of warmth running along the length of my left clavicle before she dropped a kiss near my shoulder.
“Did you just kiss me?” I could feel her lips twist as she smiled against my scales.
“No, I was only pursing my lips.” The sass in her voice made my cock hard. “Near your shoulder.”
A rumbled sound rose up my throat and burst forth in the darkened space, surprising both of us. I’d laughed. A real, genuine laugh. I wanted to snatch it back and shove the joy back down where it belonged, but it was too late. It swirled around us now like a windstorm.
Naomi’s small hands immediately shot up and cradled my face, her fingers digging into my cheeks. “You laughed!” she shrieked before lowering her voice to a near whisper of awe. “I made you laugh!”
“That was a cough,” I said, protesting just to protest. We both knew it was a laugh.
She giggled, and just when I thought the moment was over, that I could leave unscathed, lips touched mine. She kissed me.
Sweet Naomi pressed her perfect lips to my scarred, ruined ones. She didn’t shudder at their unevenness or texture. Instead she made a small noise in the back of her throat and pressed her lower body against mine. When she swiped her little tongue across the seam of my mouth, my eyes rolled back into my head. I lost all sense of self-preservation then.
I took control, delving my tongue into her mouth and lapping at her. Oh fleck, she tasted like freshas and sunshine too. Dizzy with her taste, I rolled us over, so she lay on her back below me. I slid my tail under her head to cushion it from the hard ground and lost myself in her.
She moaned below me, and my cock pressed against the front of my pants, dampening the fabric with copious amounts of libo.
I pulled back to gaze down at her face, barely making out her features in the dim glow, but marveled at the liquid brown of her eyes and the way her flushed skin made the brown dots on her face stand out.
Her fingers speared into my braids, nails digging into my scalp. She scratched, and I growled as a shudder rain down my spine.
“Gar,” she murmured, my name sweet on her lips. “Please.”
A female was begging me for pleasure. For release. The intent dripped from her tongue and flooded my brain with desire. I had never wanted to give anything to anyone as much as I wanted to hand over my entire cora to Naomi.
I slid down her body, leaving kisses and nibbles and licks in my wake. I thumbed the stiff peaks of her nipples through her shirt and she jerked beneath me, a small gasp leaving her lips as she inhaled sharply. I sucked a nipple, mouthing at it through the fabric while she squirmed beneath me, fingers tugging my hair.
When I dipped lower, her legs fell open, and I pressed my palm against the heat of her cunt. “Oh,” she moaned. “Oh, right there.”
I knew that was where she needed me. The soft light caught on the tops of her breasts, where sweat glistened. I longed to lick the drops from her skin, but I was too focused on the smell of her ripe cunt. Aroused and needy, that was Naomi right now. I ignored the throbbing ache in my cock and pressed harder with the heel of my palm over her clit. Her feet slapped the ground.
“I’m taking these off,” I growled, feeling nearly feral as I gazed up her body. “And then I’m going to eat you until you scream.”
“Oh fuck,” she whispered. “Yes.”
That was what I needed to hear. With a swift yank, I tore her pants down her legs and positioned us closer to the door. If she were giving me this chance, one I wouldn’t likely repeat, I wanted to see what I was feasting on.
Dark curls covered her mound, soft as a moira’s fur. I took my time, spreading her slick fluid all around her cunt and clit while she wiggled beneath me, gasping and panting. I pursed my lips and blew on her heated flesh. Her legs clamped around my ears as she squealed.
I couldn’t hold back anymore, not with the scent of her all around me. I dove in, lapping at her folds and circling her clit with the balls pierced through my tongue. Her back arched on a cry, and she slapped her hand over her mouth to keep her noises down. I growled as I smothered my face with her. While I licked at her entrance, I nosed her clit. I gripped her thighs where they pressed tight to my head and growled. The sound sent a vibration straight through her and she let out a muffled scream from behind her hand.
Nothing had ever felt like this. Tasted like this. I hadn’t enjoyed food for many cycles, but one drop of Naomi on my tongue, and I craved the flavor. I needed more. Better leverage. I cupped my hands under her and lifted
her in the air with her thighs on my shoulders. She cried out as I lifted to my knees, spun around, and braced her back on the wall near the door.
With my hands bracing her tight ass, I dug into my buffet. One of her hands slapped the wall behind her while the other held my head. She ground that sweet cunt into my face, her hips working as she sought her release. I circled her clit with my tongue before taking a breath and spearing her entrance with my tongue. She jolted against me like I’d shocked her, and my name left her lips on a long, breathy moan. “Gar.”
I tongued her, wishing it was my cock giving her pleasure but knowing this was right, this was perfect—me kneeling with her above me. The servant to my queen. I’d never knelt for anyone but for her, I’d walk on my knees through jagged rocks. If she asked me to remain in this position for rotations with my tongue out, ready to service her anytime she wanted pleasure, I would.
I would do anything for her.
I began to prush, something I’d never done before, but I let the vibrations leave my chest and rumbled up my throat until they reached my mouth. As my tongue began to vibrate inside of her, she went off. She bucked into my mouth, her nails digging crescent shapes into my scalp. Holding her with one hand, I reached around and plucked at her clit. That was the last sensation she needed because she went off like a spark. She cried out and shook as a tremor after tremor wracked her little body. Her inner walls clenched around my tongue and I moaned, which only caused the tremors to go on longer. Until finally she let out a long sigh and collapsed, draping her body over me as she went nearly boneless.
Reluctantly, I pulled my mouth from her cunt and lapped at the juices covering my face. My cock pulsed in my pants like a living thing, and I gritted my teeth as my balls throbbed with the need to release.
I lowered my sweet Naomi to the ground where she flopped onto her back, half-closed eyes watching me with a blissed-out expression of peace on her face.
I’d done that. Me. A switch flipped in my brain as I understood our mantra now. Before it’d been about duty, but now I knew it was far, far more than that. This was why She is All. Because seeing a female this at peace because of my actions was a worthwhile purpose. She should always be this happy and this fulfilled. I got it now, and I understood why my brothers with mates said our creed with much more reverence.
Except Naomi wasn’t mine to keep. This would be the last time I’d get to see her like this, and I mourned that we weren’t outside, where the sun’s rays would make her skin glow and eyes shine.
Instead, I’d done this in a dark, dirty, underground cave. That was all I’d been able to offer her.
Six
Naomi
I wasn’t quite in control of my faculties. My legs were jelly. My body was floating on a cloud, and my brain was foggy. I still felt the aftereffects of that earth-shattering orgasm zinging through my body.
That had been better than anything I’d managed myself and certainly better than any fumbling done by the few men who’d gotten to second base. Gar’s eyes were thrown into shadow by his prominent brow, but his expression seemed almost awed. I smiled, pleased I could make him look like that for even a second. My smile vanished just as he whirled away from me with a snarl and retreated to the dark corner of the room. It wasn’t until I heard a rhythmic sound that I realized he was pumping his cock. Away from me.
“Gar,” I called out, struggling to sit up. He released a low growl and a splat of something wet hit the ground.
After that, silence. Thick, choking silence that washed away all the remnants of the orgasm that had left me feeling so warm and full. I shivered, a cold emptiness opening up in the pit of my stomach. Why had he turned away from me? I’d have given anything to touch him.
“Gar,” I said again, crawling toward him. “Why … why didn’t you let me—”
“No,” he growled swiftly. “That was for you. Your pleasure. Not mine.”
I frowned, even though he couldn’t see me. “I’m sorry, what? So, you didn’t enjoy it?”
Silence met my words, then a scuffling sound just as a rush of air hit me and then Gar was in front of me, inches from my face, his eyes nothing but black pools in the dim light. “I enjoyed every single moment. Your taste, your softness, your sounds. I’ll remember the way you said my name when you came on my tongue for the rest of my life, no matter how long it is.”
I sucked in a breath as his words flushed my body with heat. I resisted jumping him to focus back on our conversation. “Then explain this to me like I’m five, Gar. If you enjoyed that so much, wouldn’t you have also enjoyed me touching your cock? Stroking it with my fist? Maybe putting the tip in my mouth?”
He sucked in a heavy breath, and I could feel the air vibrate as he trembled. “Stop, little one.”
The warning growl meant nothing to me. What did a girl have to do to get one of these blue cocks in her? “Why?” I demanded. “Why should I stop? It doesn’t make me feel good to think I just used you like a sex toy. Mates should give and receive—”
“You are not my mate!” He roared so loudly that I jerked, falling back on my ass with my arms braced behind me.
He rose over me. I could see his massive form like a black cloud. His fists were clenched at his sides, and his shoulders heaved as he panted. My heart twisted painfully, and my stomach soured. Suddenly I felt gross and dirty. In the moment, what we shared had felt so special to me, but I must have been flooded with endorphins. Gar had told me he wouldn’t take me as a mate, and I couldn’t talk him out of his mission. Why had I thought I could change his mind with a kiss and some oral? He might want me, but not enough to take me.
I closed my eyes and turned away, so he didn’t see the silent tears running down my face. I felt around the floor for my pants, needing the security of my clothing as I felt too vulnerable right now. I thought I’d done a decent job holding back a sob, but I forgot the Drixonians had excellent hearing. “Naomi?”
I ignored him, crawling around on my hands and knees. “Shit,” I blubbered. “Where the fuck are my pants?”
“Naomi?” His voice held a tinge of panic. Good, I hoped he choked on it.
With fumbling hands, I finally found my pants and tugged them on as the stupid tears refused to stop. Stupid Gar stepped close to me, the stupid ass. I knew because I was always aware of his stupid presence.
“Na—”
“Say my name one more time, and I’m going to shove your own tail up your ass,” I growled at him. “I get it. I’m not your mate. You licked my pussy to shut me up. You don’t want me touching you, trying to talk you out of your mission, or overall attempting to speak any sense into your thick skull.” I blinked into the dark at the big silent, stupid head. “Fine. Get me to safety and then blow yourself to bits.” Shit, I couldn’t hold back the sobs, so my words came out all mushy. “See if I care! You dick!”
I stumbled my way to the far corner, as far away from him as I could go. I patted the ground until I found the leather pouch of food and shoved a few handfuls of nuts into my mouth. I chewed and drank qua and ignored Gar as he remained motionless and silent. For real, he didn’t move. I would have worried he was dead, except I could just detect the sound of his breathing.
“I’m sorry,” he finally said so softly I thought I imagined it.
I didn’t answer at first, because I was still in a snit. He’d yelled at me, hurt my feelings, and made me feel cheap when being intimate like that with him had meant so much to me. Finally, when I felt like I’d made him wait for a sufficient amount of time, I muttered, “Good for you.”
He approached me. I heard his footsteps and saw his bulk in the low light. Then he crouched in front of me on the balls of his feet. I looked away from him.
Fingers brushed my chin, then closed around my jaw. Those fingers turned my head until I was forced to look into the dark shadows of Gar’s face. “Little one,” he breathed, his voice a low, soft rasp I’d never heard him use. “I—”
A commotion outside our door cu
t off whatever he was about to say. He lunged to his feet and stood at the door, his bulk seeming to swell. I gathered our supplies and shoved what I could in my shirt and pants before hurrying to his side.
He stood motionless with his head cocked slightly to the side. I mimicked his posture and made to step closer to the door to get a better listen. His arm shot out, stopping me in my tracks. I got the message. Stay put. Don’t get closer.
Armor clinked somewhere in the distance outside the door. Kulk voices rose. I could hear them shout back and forth to each other.
“Rear left and right quad are clear.”
“Check here.”
“On it.”
They would find us. It was only a matter of time Even now I could hear the distant sound of a door opening and the pounding of armored feet. They must be searching each room in this hall one-by-one. There was nowhere to hide in here. At least, nowhere to hide a seven-foot-tall Drixonian.
We had no plan. We’d spent our time in here sleeping, fighting, or making out. We could have used our time wisely and discussed productive ways of escaping. Of course, the Kulks and Uldani would search for us. For a while, in our dark little hideout, I’d been able to believe we were safe.
Guilt soured in my gut. This was real life to Gar. He’d spent most of his life fighting the Uldani and for the survival of his race and had the many, many scars to prove it. I’d done nothing but pick at the scabs until they broke open. He had a right to choose how he ended this battle and his life. It wasn’t my decision. I didn’t have the decades of hurt behind me he’d had to live with. And I had a feeling I only knew a small, small portion of what he’d been through.
I’d apologize when we were safe again. And with a broken heart, I’d let him walk off into my past.
The thought raised a lump in my throat, but now wasn’t the time to get sentimental. We had a storage room to break out of. “So,” I whispered, “What’s your—”
