by Joanna Wylde
“What are they talking about?” Mali whispered, biting her thumbnail nervously. Able sighed in disgust. Mali never seemed to understand anything. It was almost scary how much she didn’t know about the world. If he wasn’t around to take care of her…
But he would always take care of her, he reminded himself. He was the man of their family now. Mali and mom needed his protection, something he’d better not forget.
“You have to be quiet and listen,” he whispered back. “I’ll explain everything later, but I want to hear what they’re saying. If you keep talking we’ll miss everything.”
Mom was speaking now. She was upset; he could hear it in her voice.
“You know, I’m sick and tired of men who think they need to take care of women,” she said harshly. “I had a husband who took care of me regularly, and I wouldn’t wish marriage on any woman. It’s a trap, and Calla’s falling into it. It’s a trap,” she repeated.
Mom was right, Able thought. They had all been trapped with dad. He hurt them. Of course, Able was able to take dad’s licks, but it had been too much for Mali. He looked down at his sister protectively; remembering what her little face had looked like, all bruised. He was glad dad was dead. He wished Aunt Calla wasn’t leaving. Mom was right. Marriage was a trap, and Aunt Calla was falling into it. Just thinking about it made the lump in his stomach swell and burn.
Jax was talking now. The sound of his voice made Able’s stomach feel worse, but he forced himself to listen.
“That’s not true,” Jax said. “For a Saurellian—”
“Don’t give me your crap,” Mom replied. Her voice was strong, and Able was proud of her for standing up to him. She stood and paced across the floor, arms folded in front of her. “Get out of my kitchen, get out of my hostel. You brought him here; you’re responsible for this. Go back to Saurellia, because I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Able’s expression turned grim and his head started to throb. Not only was Jax a threat to their mother, it was his fault Aunt Calla was leaving to get married. This was too much…somebody had to do something to stop him. The sound of his voice caught Able’s attention again.
“I’ll give you some space, Sarai,” Jax said. “But I’m not ready to leave Hector Prime just yet. I’ll see you again.”
“Don’t threaten me,” Mom replied, her voice sounding tight and harsh.
“I would never threaten you,” Jax said. “And I’ll never lie, either. I’m not your ex-husband, Sarai. I’m a good man, and I won’t hurt you.”
He left the room, leaving mom alone. Able sat back on his heels trying to think. Mali watched him carefully, her small face twisted in concern.
“What’s wrong, Able?” she asked in her soft, little girl’s voice. She plucked at his shirt, looking for reassurance.
“Well, I think he likes mom, and wants her to go with him like Aunt Calla’s going with Seth,” Able whispered back. Mali’s face crumpled, tears welling up in her eyes.
“You mean mommy might leave us?” she whispered despairingly, her small face pinched in pain. “What will we do without mommy?”
“Oh no,” Able said, pulling her small body on to his lap. He held her close, rubbing her hair with one hand. It was so hard sometimes, trying to explain things to her. “Mom would never leave us, Mali. You don’t have to worry about that. But Jax might want to stay, and that’s not good.”
“You mean stay and be with mommy?” Mali asked. “Like a daddy?”
“Yes, although we don’t need him,” Able said fiercely. “You remember what dad was like. He was horrible. We don’t want another one of those, do we?”
“I suppose not,” Mali whispered back. Daddy had been mean. He used to hurt her, and hurt mommy. But still…
Jax didn’t seem like daddy. He seemed different. Nicer. She had even seen him in the garden earlier that morning, and he’d waved at her. She’d been too afraid to go near him, but she remembered how nice he looked. And he’d been tall enough to get her flying disk out of the tree in the garden. It had been stuck up there for two days. Not even mommy had been tall enough to do that.
“You know,” she whispered. “Kally likes her daddy. He plays with her all the time. Kally’s mommy seems to really like him, too. Maybe not all daddies are like ours was.”
“We don’t need a father,” Able replied fiercely. “You and mom have me. I’ll take care of you.”
“I know you will,” Mali replied softly. “You’ve always taken care of me, Able. But sometimes I wish I had a daddy, like Kally.”
Able sat up, spilling her on to the floor.
“That’s a stupid wish, Mali,” he said. “We have to get rid of him. It’s just you, mom, and me. That’s all we need.”
“I don’t think it’s a stupid wish,” Mali said, grabbing the shelf to steady herself. She stood up and looked down on her brother, small fists on her hips. “And besides, I can wish for anything I want, and I want a daddy. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Able just stared at her in disgust. Sometimes there just wasn’t any point trying to reason with a little sister. They just didn’t understand.
Chapter One
He was out there. Watching her.
He’d been watching her for days. Seven days, to be exact.
That’s how long it had been since Calla left with her new man, Seth. Unfortunately, Seth had forgotten to take his big, stupid friend Jax with him.
Sarai rolled over in her bed, punching the pillow to soften it up. Her room was too hot. She knew how much more cool and comfortable the air would be if she could open the sliding door to the garden, but if she did he might take it as an invitation.
He’d been trouble from the minute he’d set foot in their small hostel. Usually they catered to students. After all, Hector Prime was one of the best places in the quadrant to study biology. From desert to jungle, the planet-wide nature preserve had something to offer everyone. But the only thing Jax wanted was right in her bedroom.
Sarai rolled again, settling on her back. What was it about him? She hadn’t been able to sleep that first night, so she’d gone out into the garden, her private refuge. He had been waiting for her then, too. A twist of desire coiled through her at the memory. He’d touched her in the darkness, and she had lost control.
His hands, tugging at her gown, had been rough and calloused. She could still feel the way they caught against the smooth skin of her belly, before dropping lower…
Unconsciously, Sarai raised one hand to her breast and fingered her hardening nipple. He had touched her there, too. She remembered the scrape of his finger, back and forth against her taut flesh. Mirroring his actions with her own fingers, she twisted in her bed as an ache spread through her body.
He had been so hard.
She dropped her hand lower, searching for the space between her legs that would give her relief. She hated how much she needed to touch herself, but she knew from experience that once the ache started, it had to be appeased. Otherwise she would toss and turn for the rest of the night.
She found the small nub, then started slowly rubbing it, back and forth. Slow and steady. What was he doing there in the darkness? Did he ache, too? Was he touching himself like she was? She could just about picture him.
He would be leaning back against the bench, legs splayed out before him. One hand would drop slowly to the bulge in his crotch, testing it. It would grow, lengthen under his hand. Would he grip it? Would he work it up and down between his fingers, or simply finger the head softly?
Her own fingers were moving faster now, and she gave a little whimper at the thought of the smooth, hard length waiting for her in the darkness.
All she had to do was open the sliding door and she could have him. He would be on her in a heartbeat, pressing her back against the soft bed. Being kissed by him was an experience in and of itself. His tongue, thrusting inside her, taking what he wanted. He had no mercy when he kissed. It was a brand, a mark of ownership. Her lips burned with the memory.
She thrust the image from her mind, forcing herself to focus on her own movements. Thinking of him wouldn’t help. It would just make things worse. She needed to focus on the pleasure she could give herself. She had been massaging her nipple as she rubbed her clit, but the feelings were becoming more intense now. She couldn’t do both things, she couldn’t concentrate. Back and forth, harder and harder. She could feel the pressure building, but she wanted more.
She wanted him.
His cock was like a pillar of granite. So hard, so deep. He’d plunged into her like he had something to prove. When he’d come to her that night, it felt like the first time she’d ever been with a man. He’d stretched her open; she’d been splayed beneath his strength. Completely helpless, she had no choice but to give into the ecstasy his touch could bring.
Heat rose in her. Her fingers were moving so quickly now that it took all her strength not to arch up beneath her hand. Was he watching her? She’d pulled the drapes, but they were all too sheer. Did he know what she was doing?
What would his tongue feel like on her? She could imagine it, slippery and hot, darting back and forth against her aching center. Would he tease her, bringing her close to the edge before falling back? Or would he keep moving, bringing her to orgasm time after time? She’d never felt a man’s tongue there, but she’d heard it was a wonderful thing. If only she could feel something like that…
The pressure was intense now. It pushed against her, and she felt like she was climbing to the top of a cliff. She could see the end, she was so close to it, but she couldn’t quite make it over. Her fingers flew faster and faster, seeking desperately to provide her with some relief. She had to get some relief, or she would die. Either that, or she would call out to him to come to her.
No.
She wouldn’t do that.
She pressed harder, her body shaking from the strain of remaining perfectly still. The sensations built up in her, heart pounding. Her breath was coming in ragged breaths, but she held her position. A swooshing sound, the sound of her own heartbeat, filled her head.
Just a little more.
Around and around. Don’t think about him, his hard cock stuffing you so full that you feel like you might choke, her traitorous mind whispered. Him pounding against you, your whole body shaking from the force of his thrusts.
Her treacherous body wasn’t listening, though. There was an empty hole where his cock should be. Her entire body was ready to explode, but there was no one for her to explode against. Her fingers flew, her mouth opening in a silent gasp of aching need. Against her will, her head arched back against the pillow as the orgasm hit her. She shuddered under the onslaught of sensation, biting the back of her hand to keep from crying out. What would he see if he were watching her now? What would he think?
That night in the garden she’d seen the look on his face as she came, every muscle in her body clenching his tightly. His face had been filled with a pleasure so intense it was painful to watch. But she wanted to watch it again.
Slowly, her breathing returned to normal. She allowed her hand to drop to the mattress. The sound of her heart faded, and she let her hands fall to her sides. After a few minutes her breath was slow and steady again. The ache was better, although she could still feel a trace of tension.
She rolled onto her stomach, punching the pillow to soften it up. Then she lay her head down and forced her mind to calm. Would the night never end?
Finally, after another hour, she finally relaxed enough to fall asleep. Morning would be there all too soon.
* * * * *
Jax sat in the dark garden, watching Sarai’s room. It would be so easy to go in through the door, to push her back on the bed and kiss her until she gave in to him. And she would give in, he already knew that. Her response to him from the first time he’d touched her had been incredible.
A physical response wouldn’t be enough, though. Not to convince her she needed him in her life.
What was she doing in there, he wondered? Was she sleeping, thinking of him? Did she have any idea how much he wanted to be with her?
She was his life mate—he was certain of it. He had spent the first thirty years of his life believing he’d be alone forever. After all, he’d had no life mate among his own people, the Saurellians. Until a few weeks ago he’d never heard of a Saurellian finding a lifemate anywhere but Saurellia.
But now there was new hope. His friend, Seth, had found Calla. And Sarai had been with Calla.
What was life like before Sarai? It had only been a week, yet in those few short days his entire life had changed. He was frustrated, of course. He had made love to her in the garden that first night, but she hadn’t let him touch her since. But even though the frustration was maddening, the sheer joy of her presence filled him.
He felt alive, complete.
The sound of her voice curled through him every time she spoke, touching corners of his soul he’d thought were long dead. And her children, they were beautiful. Little Able, a child who thought like an adult. He would be a challenge, Jax realized. He felt threatened by the thought of his mother having a new man in her life. Their father, Calvin, had been a horrible man. He’d hurt the entire family deeply—Jax’s only regret was that Calvin was already dead. He would have liked to kill the man himself.
And Mali.
She was a little angel, a smaller version of her mother; only this version accepted him with open arms. She had been shy at first, but now she ran up to him every time she saw him, demanding hugs.
But no matter how much her daughter loved him, Sarai would hardly speak to him. He wanted to sweep her into his arms, to take her with him to his homeworld and make her his. And by Saurellian law he was entitled to do that; she was his lifemate, after all, a bond created by the Goddess herself.
Simply taking her wasn’t a real option, though. He’d realized almost immediately that if he ever wanted to win Sarai over, he’d have to woo her. She’d already been forced into marriage with one man. He had to prove he was different than Calvin, no matter what else happened.
He couldn’t prove himself to her unless she gave him a chance, though. He needed to show her that he wanted more than her body, that he didn’t need to control her. He wanted a partner, not a servant.
Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to want him at all.
He would have to change her mind.
Chapter Two
Sarai was stirring a pot of porridge over the stove when Jax came into the kitchen. She could sense his presence immediately, of course, but she didn’t acknowledge him. There was no way she’d let him know just how aware she was of his every move.
She lifted the porridge and turned to pour it into the bowls she’d set out.
“Mali, Able, do you want sweetener in your cereal?” she asked brightly. Then she turned and allowed herself to see him lounging against the doorway, arms folded in front of his chest.
“Yes,” Mali piped up, looking excited. Able grunted, glaring at Jax. At least one of her children hadn’t gone over to the enemy, Sarai thought dryly.
“Do you have enough for me to have a bowl?” Jax asked softly. The question seemed innocent enough, but his voice was dark and silky. It caressed her ears, reminding her of how he had sounded as he came into her that night.
“No,” she said tightly, walking over to the table and setting down the bowls in front of the children. “Food isn’t part of the arrangement here. I’ve told you that before. There are any number of places in town where you can find breakfast.”
Jax simply smiled at her, and then sauntered across the kitchen to the table. She glared at him forbiddingly, but he ignored her. Coming up beside Mali, he swung one leg over the bench and straddled it next to the small girl.
“Good morning, Jax,” Mali said brightly, carefully balancing her spoonful of cereal and blowing on it. “Would you like some of my breakfast? Mommy always gives me too much.”
“No thank you, sweetheart,” Jax said, catching Sarai’
s eye. “I’ll get something later. You’ll need all your food so you have energy to play today, and do your studies.”
Mali nodded, stuffing the spoon in her mouth. Sarai pursed her lips. She’d already asked him several times not to come into the kitchen, but she didn’t want to make a scene in front of the children. They’d been through enough without having to watch that. Instead, she filled her own bowl and turned to the table. Jax watched her as Mali chattered on about her plans for the day. Able glared.
“Are you done with your food?” she asked finally, and the two small blond heads nodded in unison. “Put your bowls in the sink, and go on outside.”
Mali hopped up and carried her bowl to the sink. Able followed more slowly, watching them carefully.
“It’s all right, son,” Sarai said, giving him as open a smile as she could manage. “You go on and play with your sister. It’ll be time for your lessons before long.”
“All right,” he muttered, and stomped out the back door behind Mali. Silence fell over the kitchen.
“Mali tells me you had to carry pails of water for the vegetables yesterday afternoon,” Jax said in a smooth, drawling voice. “She told me the water wasn’t working right. Do you know what’s wrong with it?”
“No,” Sarai said tightly.
“Have you called anyone to fix it yet?” Jax asked, watching her face carefully.
“No,” she replied, refusing to meet his gaze. “I don’t want to spend the money right now.”
“I can take a look at it if you like,” Jax said lightly.
“And what would a soldier know about irrigation?” Sarai said sharply.
“Well, I wasn’t born a soldier,” Jax replied calmly. “I was born on a farm, and I used to work on the irrigation equipment with my father. They have farms in Saurellia, you know. Even soldiers have to eat.”
Sarai was startled. She’d never thought of Saurellians as farmers. They were soldiers, conquerors. They came and took things; they fought the Empire. They didn’t fix broken pipes.
