by Keri Kruspe
With a hard right into another boxy room, her gawking got interrupted. The room around them was a matte off-white color, like a place made of plastic.
Great, she was in a milk jug.
The room boasted a square table with four stools. The Geidonn anthropologist sat at the one farthest from the door and waved his hand for them to choose the remaining chairs.
Ki led her to a chair to the right of Wapho while claiming the one next to her across from the alien, probably choosing that place so he could face the exit.
At first when she looked at the tiny seat, she didn’t get how she (much less the ginormous Ki) would fit. Soon it was clear she didn’t have anything to worry about. The chairs were made like the ones she’d used on the StarChance. The seat rose and formed itself to the contours of the person using it. She sat back and got comfortable.
No sooner had they settled in than a female Geidonn entered with crystal tumblers filled with a brown liquid.
A fragrant scent of coconut perfumed the air as Sherri was served. The beverage reminded her of hot cocoa with whipped cream.
“Thank you, Nuepua.” Wapho’s lipless round mouth smacked and he frowned.
Was he mad at the little female?
Nuepua returned a slight frown with fluttering four eyes.
Oh… The charmed expression told a different story.
Nuepua couldn’t have been over two-and-a-half feet tall, with fine silver hairs over thin skin instead of the light blue of their host. Her eyes were silver, but with pale metallic lashes and a thin eyebrow crossing her forehead. The compact body was feminine in design, with only one perky breast in the middle of her chest. The female rounded her mouth and twittered in answer, her head swiveling from side-to-side. All four eyes blinked independently as she left the room on quiet feet.
“Now, Zerin.” The anger in the Geidonn’s tone was unmistakable. “I must address a most important matter.” He took a sip of the drink before his head tilted in Sherri’s direction. “Why did you bring that here? As I said before, humans taken off planet to attend the Exchange are not allowed to come back anywhere near Earth.”
Sherri’s face flushed. “Hey, just who do you think you’re calling a ‘that’?” She rose and smacked her palms on the table. “I’ll…”
“Sherri.” Ki put a restraining hand on her arm and held her in place. His dual-colored eyes implored while the stern slash of lips said he wasn’t happy with the conversation. “Please, let me take care of this.”
With a narrow glare and pressed lips, Sherri plopped in the chair. Fine. She’d keep quiet and observe. For the moment.
“Researcher Wapho, I’m afraid I am confused.” Ki took his hand away, leaned back, and folded his fingers to rest on his flat belly. He ignored the glass and its contents that the female had placed in front of him.
Sherri decided not to touch hers either. Maybe he wasn’t thirsty or maybe he didn’t trust the Geidonn. Best to play it safe and mimic his lead.
“Why are you so hostile toward Sherri?” With a nod of his head, he indicated Sherri. “I thought your life’s work is studying the humans and the evolutionary path they are on.”
The snort the small alien gave was humanlike. “Humans are vile, confusing creatures.”
Sherri’s face heated and clenched her fists on the tabletop. “Why you sanctimonious son-of-a-bitch…” She rose but Ki’s firm grip pulled her back down.
“Look.” The little dweeb smacked his mouth before continuing.
“No personal disrespect to your human here, but as a whole, they are a violent, self-destructing species. They have no honor, especially when it comes to their females.”
His two right eyes glanced in her direction while the left set kept a steady gaze on Ki.
The light blue alien’s round mouth smacked before and after he took a sip of his beverage. “It doesn’t matter, anyway.” Regret crossed his face and laced his tone. “They’re at a dangerous precipice in their development. They’ll either overcome extreme adversity within their own society…or they’ll blow themselves up along with that glorious, unique planet.” He gave another smack of his lips. “Such a waste. All those magnificent species ceasing to exist because of one selfish, sentient race.”
Now Sherri’s face heated for another reason. Maybe the annoying scientist had a point, but he didn’t have to be so condescending about it. It was possible humans could pull their heads out of their ass long enough to survive. Too bad human history didn’t support her wish.
“While I would love nothing better than continue to debate the merits of human development with you, there are more pressing matters to discuss.” Ki draped an ankle across a firm thigh.
He didn’t fool Sherri for a moment. A body that tense had a tendency to explode into action at any time.
The dim lighting went out. A pulsating rhythm resounded as a booming voice announced, “ALERT! Hostile forces imminent! Report to your stations!”
Wapho jumped and raced to the wall nearest the doorway. He waved a hand in front of the brown panel as a vid came into view.
The upper body of a male Geidonn, this one with light-gray eyes, was on the screen.
“Taoll, report!”
The frantic gestures of Taoll’s rolling eyes alarmed Sherri. The panic on the Geidonn’s face was hard to watch. She stood next to Ki, who had joined Wapho at the display.
“It’s the Friebbigh!” screeched the other male. “They’ve breached our defenses and are now swarming through the halls. What are we going to do?”
The Friebbigh. The Gray aliens so prevalent in modern human mythology. Something she’d learned from Maynwaring’s memories. Talk about vile creatures. They were an outlaw race in the Federation Consortium for a good reason. Not only that, but they were responsible for the human female slave trade in the galaxy. Boy, what she wouldn’t give to have a real dragon inside to deal with the little vermin.
Oh, child. I am here. I would never let them harm you.
Sherri blinked in confusion before the surrounding chaos grabbed her attention.
The outside corridor filled with the screams and shouts of running Geidonns.
Meanwhile, Wapho tried to calm the male on the vid who was having a meltdown. “Focus, Taoll!” commanded the elder alien. “Release the evacuation protocols and get everyone to the escape pods immediately.” With a wave, he ended the communication. He turned to Ki. “Follow me. I’ll lead you to an escape pod.”
“We’ll just transport to our ship…” Ki started.
Wapho interrupted him with a shake of his head. “No, the only place you’d be able to contact your ship is the transportation room. The outer shields are now in place.” Wapho grabbed the sleeve of Sherri’s tunic and pulled her behind him.
Startled, Sherri glanced at Ki following them, matching his long strides with the shorter ones of the Geidonn.
“Once you’re in the pod and it’s ejected into space, you’ll be able to contact your ship.” The smaller male raised his voice against the klaxon alarm. The screeching, scared voices of the other Geidonns added to the bedlam in the corridor.
They pushed their way through the sea of miniature bodies. Sherri had to laugh at the panicked look on Ki’s face as he avoided stepping on several of the short bodies milling around.
Wapho yanked on her sleeve to get Sherri’s attention. Damn, he was strong for such a little guy.
The Geidonn leader took them toward a dark doorway that turned out to be the front panel of an escape pod.
A small…tiny…itsy-bitsy escape pod with barely enough room for her, much less the gigantic frame of her Zerin companion. She gulped. Boy, that was gonna be a tight fit. The image of her and Ki smooshed together made her girly parts wake up. Too bad her fears overrode anything else. Enclosed spaces made her heart pound and break out in a nervous sweat.
Swallowing past her dry throat, she tore her stare away from the sardine can to listen to the instructions the Geidonn gave Ki. The technical blah-blah-b
lah went over her head. She watched the dark hatch instead. When the coffin-like contraption slid open, it seemed the confined space beckoned with an evil leer. No way. That stupid thing was smaller than she first imagined, and tight spaces were not her friend. Even the tantalizing image of cuddling with her Zerin obsession couldn’t tempt her to think about going inside.
“Let’s go.” Ki gripped her elbow and led her to the death trap.
“Oh hell, no!” She dug in her heels. She’d rather face the slimy Friebbigh than take her chances in the dark hole. Okay, so it wasn’t really a hole—small lights and blips had activated once Wapho opened the pod. But still, it reminded her of an enclosed coffin.
Ki didn’t argue. Without breaking his stride, he lifted her and stepped in. Once seated, he rested her between his steel-rod thighs. The smoky glass door closed.
The last thing she saw of the interior of the Geidonn base was the back of its leader hightailing away as fast as his little legs carried him. She leaned against the safety of Ki’s wide chest.
The speed of the escape pod was impressive. They zoomed into space like a fastball at the World Series.
The vessel spun and swirled around the image of the moon, and Sherri squeezed her eyes shut against the threatening nausea.
Flush against his broad chest, Sherri was covered in a blanket of his signature scent. Warm breath fanned her neck as her skin pebbled in reaction. A strong surge of adrenaline blazed, and she scuttled into the juncture of his rock-hard lap.
Hot damn! Her eyes opened wide as the crease of her ass encountered the rigid line of a solid erection. She couldn’t help squirming.
His hold tightened as his warm breath bathed the back of her neck.
Yum. His length was in direct proportion to his body size. And boy howdy—was he ever happy to see her.
Chapter Six
SHERRI
The thud of Sherri’s heart pounded in her ears. Thrown into the throes of sexual anticipation, she wiggled her butt in appreciation.
“Don’t do that.”
The masculine whisper feathered against her neck. His massive arms tightened around her. Wisps of warm breath fanned her sensitive skin. The clean musk of his mesmerizing scent sent a thrill down her spine. In reaction, she grasped a steel forearm, not sure if she wanted to get loose or pull them closer.
“Do what?” A scratchy rasp came out before she cleared the lump from her throat. But really, her nightly fantasy personified held her close, how could she not move? Her stomach tensed as a large palm encircled her waist while the other hand rubbed the top of her thigh. She shivered, eager for more. Maybe being stuck in the small space was a good thing.
“Stop moving.” His wicked whisper accompanied his tightened grip. “It’s hard for me to think when you do that.”
“Is that so?” She ran a tongue across dry lips before giving him a coy smile over her shoulder. Yeah, something was hard, all right. She turned around to hide her smirk. Mr. Prickly might not like being seduced. What? Since when did she want to pursue the attraction between them? But then again why not? He triggered something inside. Everytime she came near him a jolt zapped her hands and feet straight to her gut. Then her stomach drops like she’s in a car going over a hill quickly. Yeah, the tension between them was hot.
Hot enough to for her to go up in flames and take him with her. Definantely time to get the man on board with the program. She slid backward to rub against his erect cock. The movement sent a sizzle of lust down her spine. Damn, she liked being a girl.
His nose caressed the sensitive area behind her ear.
“Naughty girl.”
A rough, slick tongue suckled her lobe.
“It’s like that, is it?”
A sharp nip of his teeth startled her before he licked away the sting. Eager for his kiss, she turned.
He had other ideas. His large palm glided up the sensitive skin of her inner thigh until it reached the crease between her torso and leg—and stopped there, fingers folding and unfolding as he massaged her plumped sexual lips.
Sherri squirmed. Desperate, she wanted him at the center of her body. With a wiggle, she opened her legs a smidge, inviting him to explore.
Which was ignored.
Her alien tormentor continued to rub the outer junction between her legs while the other hand tugged her head back and exposed her vulnerable throat. It was hard to breathe, not knowing if he would use those pointed teeth on her or not. A mixture of panic and arousal thundered through her. Ki inhaled and her skin pebbled. When the expected sharp pinch didn’t happen, her tight nerves relaxed. One lick, two…then gentle lips suckled as the soft hairs of his beard caressed.
Son of a bitch! A jolt of passion squeezed her lower body. Sherri reached behind her to grab a fistful of mahogany hair.
His devastating play resumed before he settled on the side of her mouth. With a small swipe, he demanded entrance.
She didn’t hesitate…she opened so they could join.
At first the moment was soft, two people learning the texture and taste of each other. Slow, gliding skin against skin. Their combined breaths mingled and mixed into something unique. The memory of their previous embrace didn’t come close to reality as they physically connected.
Then the soft moment turned into one of intense awakening. From one swipe to the next, his tongue took control.
She drowned in his heady flavors…a fresh sea breeze that swirled and combined with the enhancement of an aroused male. A low moan escaped from deep within as she relished the masterful way he took over.
While she concentrated on the pleasure their combined mouths brought, it took her by surprise when his hand wandered upward to brush against the underside of her breasts. She trembled as her body flushed with internal heat. Wide fingers from his other hand brushed the sensitive juncture between her legs, causing her clit to swell.
Her sex quivered in reaction.
“Ah…so responsive.”
His throaty growl in her ear made her quake.
He eased back from their kiss. “Yes, you delicious female…right there.” With deft hands, he encompassed her right breast and gently squeezed the hard nipple in sync with a dive between her intimate folds with the other hand.
While he didn’t caress her naked skin, the dexterity and pressure he used were stimulation enough. Twisting nerves stretched in her lower stomach. Oh, Holy God. She braced for the oncoming orgasm.
“Yes, fly for me, yofie-na.” Ki jerked as if whatever he’d said startled him.
She couldn’t care less what he said. He could spout nonsense at her whenever he wanted. As long as he kept strumming and crooning in that wicked whisper, she’d go from zero to orgasm in no time.
Ki delved deeper into the crease and moved across her clit.
Her core tightened, the pending release out of reach. She moaned and looped an arm around the back of his neck. Squirming over the hard ridge under her bottom, she made a futile attempt to direct him where she wanted him to go. Desire rose in response to his sensual campaign.
“Sherrilyn, I’m going to give you so much pleasure.”
The exotic accent caused her adrenaline to soar. His ribbed tongue licked the shell of her ear even as his lowered voice seduced.
“Do you give permission for me to do this?”
Coherent words died in a dry throat. With wide, unseeing eyes, she managed a nod.
“Exquisite female.” Lips suckled along the pebbled skin at her neck. He tugged her head toward his mouth. “Time to worship you.” His palm slid lower until he grabbed the edge of the tunic and pulled it up. He bunched the soft fabric to burrow under the waistband, slow enough to make a grown woman cry.
With a light touch, he skimmed over her stomach and made it quiver. Breath held, she waited on the edge. Ack… too slow! Sherri squirmed, trying to force him where she wanted. It was useless. He wasn’t going to do something he wasn’t ready for. Her breath shuddered. In a sensual daze, she gripped the hair at the nape of h
is neck tighter. There…now he’d get to the tip of her curls saturated with arousal.
A rumbling growl of approval reverberated from deep in his chest.
Thoughts scattered as he parted her folds and stroked the length of the hidden plump flesh. He had an unerring ability to rub the sensitive skin that made her eyes close in ecstasy. Never…never had anyone played her with such skill.
“Ah…there you are, my lovely. Do you enjoy my touch?”
Ki’s rich baritone added to her bliss and that commanding purr inflamed her reaction. He gave another stroke before heading to her trembling entrance. A large finger slowly encircled the opening and entered with careful ease. A gasp and moan rolled out of her throat as he pumped and stretched the inner channel. Sherri grabbed his thick wrist to hold onto. He’d better not stop; on the contrary, he’d better go deeper. The sheer magnitude of her response caused her to shake. Her fingers became numb from her tight grip.
“I…you…yes…ah...” Great, impressive, Sherri. The deep pumping motion against sensitive walls made her moan.
He chuckled. “Hmm…you like this, yes?”
Dry. There was no moisture in her mouth to form any sort of answer. It was impossible to swallow so she nodded instead. Her core tightened when his finger, damp with her juices, came out to fondle the swollen clit. “Ahhh…”
He massaged the hardened flesh with painstaking skill.
If he kept that up, she’d detonate in no time. She sucked in a bliss-filled breath as the tension pitched to a higher level. Yeah…just one more flick… He complied…she exploded.
A loud, undignified wail escaped her as tension released and toes curled. As she inhaled, her body collapsed, liquid and limp. Boneless in her alien lover’s cocoon, she was surrounded by the warm scent of her sexual musk mixed with his unique tangy blend. So what if her yowl was embarrassing? Dignity was overrated.
Ki caressed her stomach with lazy strokes while nuzzling the back of her neck.
