by Stone, Layla
He lifted his head, used his soft voice, and said, “No, I love it.” Then he kissed her mouth.
Finally.
Grabbing his head, she kissed him back, taking his tongue deep as he rounded her sex, bringing her up to her peak. She moved against his hand, wanting more and whimpering into their kiss.
He moved expertly, bringing her to the top. When she crested her climax, she lost his mouth and let out a loud mewl. When she came down, she immediately wanted to feel that way again. “Again. Please, again.”
Yon took her chin and tilted it so she was looking at him. “Babe, I promise to give it to you as much as you can stand, but I came here to apologize and—”
“Apology accepted,” she said quickly.
His shook his head. “You’re pushy. I like that.”
He lowered his head and took her mouth. Then he moved his hand back down to her core, but instead of rubbing her again, she felt him slip the tip of his finger inside her and circle the rim before moving in farther.
“You’re soaking wet.”
“Good or bad?”
“Good.” He retook her mouth and moved his tongue in time with his thrusts inside her. Each time, he went deeper. He added a finger, and it was tight and uncomfortable at first. After a few strokes, it got better.
Then he inserted a third.
She gasped.
“Good or bad?” he asked.
“Really, really good.” She could feel her lower stomach starting to wind up again, and she was greedy for the one coming and the one after that she knew she would ask for. He pulled out, and she frowned until she noticed him pulling down his pants. She saw the massive, thick, greyish cock pointing straight up.
Widening her legs, she waited until he came back down to her. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as he lined himself up. Then he kissed her again as he pressed in. He was stretching her so much it almost hurt. But she adjusted quickly and used her legs and hips to pull him in more.
“Babe. Slow.”
“No.”
He dropped his head to the crook of her neck and growled as he slammed inside. She gasped. It felt perfect. “Yessssss.”
Yon withdrew and rocked back in, slowly, driving her mad. Reaching down, she grabbed his ass and squeezed. He pulled back and, this time, drove deep. She felt that good feeling once more. He didn’t let up, just rammed in over and over. He was breathing hard against her skin, and she loved it. Urging him on, she dug her nails into his flesh.
His mouth clamped down on her neck. He licked and then sucked deeply. It felt so good when he moved inside her that it threw her over the edge. This time, she was too far gone to speak. She cried out. Yon pulled back and took her mouth once more, kissing her hard on the lips as he plunged in two more times before he curled over.
He shook as if a shiver ran through him.
Feeling absolutely relaxed, she rubbed his back, enjoying his weight and their connection. Then she did something she’d never done before. Her chest started to vibrate, and she smiled, knowing what that meant.
Yon lifted to his arms and peered down at her. “What is that?”
“It means you’re my mate. My true mate.”
Yon didn’t say anything to that. But he did rest his head on hers and then began moving inside her again. As he pressed feather-light kisses to her skin, she smiled, aware of every part of him.
Wanting to soothe him was something her mother had said would happen only if Yelena found her mate. Yon was hers.
His pace didn’t increase, he just slid in and out slightly, still reaching the deepest part of her. Sensitive and ready for him, she kissed his chin and said, “Yes, again.”
“Again and again until you tell me to stop.”
“I don’t think I will.”
Yon leaned down to her ear and said, “I have two hundred and twelve things I want to try with you. Are you ready for number two?”
Her channel clenched in anticipation. “We’re only at two?”
“We will only be able to do the first seventy or so in our room. After that…it’s important not to get caught.”
* * *
Yon pulled her into the cleaners when they finished. While she was standing in a towel, Yon walked around naked. He snagged her black bag, set it on her small counter, and began packing up her water packages and nutrient bars.
“What are you doing?”
Yon’s voice was even as he replied, “I’m packing your things since you are moving into the family cabins with me.”
She tightened her hold on the top of her towel. “I’m what?”
Yon moved from packing her supplies to her clothes. “I filled out a Federation request for matehood with you. It was approved ten seconds before I walked in here.”
Yelena was sure she hadn’t heard him right. One hand ran through her hair as she tried to grasp what was happening. “You filled out a request to be mated to me?”
He stopped and turned, his eyes again not showing emotion. “Of course.”
Yelena was feeling too many things to describe. “Are you saying you want to be mated to me? Because you told me you don’t mate, that you would choose a partner. And you wouldn’t make that choice lightly.”
“I didn’t.”
For some reason, his matter-of-fact tone was…crazy. She heard herself laugh. “I don’t even know why I’m arguing. You’re my mate, and I don’t want to say or do anything to make you change your mind.”
Yon was silent for several moments. Then something happened because he went back to grab his clothes. He dressed in three seconds and returned to packing her things. Without stopping, he finished emptying all her cabinets, stashed her extra boots, and then pressed the zipper control. When it was sealed, he grabbed the strap and pulled it over his shoulder and said, “There is nothing that will ever change my mind about you.”
Despite her confusion and concerns, she felt a tingle in her blood at the thought of him claiming her so vocally. But she said, “I might irritate you sometimes.”
With the same even tone, he said, “You don’t irritate me.”
That wasn’t true. She had upset him before. “But if I did?”
“Nothing would change. You’re still mine, and you will be mine forever. I thought you said you didn’t want to argue with me about this?”
Pointing at him, she said, “Your words sound irritated but not your tone.”
“My cybernetics. But if you prefer me to sound like this, I will accommodate you.” Yon softened his voice at the tail end of the sentence. The same soft way he used to speak to her. “Now, get dressed, then turn around and walk out the door so I can show you what I like to do to you until you can’t think straight.”
Yelena couldn’t breathe, but she did have the energy to turn around and walk out the door. Yon followed, giving her a little space. When they were in the elevator, he told her in the same soft voice, “I’ve thought about having sex with you in here several times. But it would have to be quick, and I’m not ready to give you fast.”
Her core clenched at the images he put in her mind. Even more when he told her that he wasn’t ready to give it to her fast. She totally could have gone for fast right then.
The elevator stopped on level seven. Yon grabbed her hand and led the way to the family cabins. Inside the room, he dropped her bag by the door.
She moved to the bed, then reached down and pulled off her shirt and unfastened her bra. Yon grabbed her neck and pulled her mouth to his. “I’m going to take you until you ask me to stop.”
Pulling his shirt up and off, she said, “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
* * *
She was wrong. She did say she was too tired to keep going. And…she was a little sore. A good feeling that reminded her how amazing her mate was. The most interesting thing she discovered was how much Yon liked how aggressive she was.
The more demanding she got, the more he gave. She fleetingly thought of his ex-wife and couldn’t think of one t
hing he had done that she didn’t like. The female must have been an idiot. But then again, if she hadn’t acted so foolishly, Yelena wouldn’t be mated to her warrior.
Yon had gotten up to use the cleaner. On the way back, he grabbed a pair of shorts and pulled them on, then took her bag that was by the door and unloaded it by hanging her clothes next to his and adding her food packages to his.
When he finished that, he held out his hand. “You’ve lost weight. I intend to fix that.” His voice was back to the toneless one. Taking his hand, she let him pull her up. She went to grab clothes, but he shook his head. “I prefer to see you without clothes.”
Okay. She wasn’t against it.
He sat her down and then pulled out two packages of food and heated them up. He opened hers along with a water packet and set them in front of her. She wasn’t overly hungry, but she didn’t express that. “Thank you for the food and drink.”
He didn’t respond because his mouth was already full of stew. When he swallowed, he pointed at her untouched package. “Eat.”
That sounded a lot like the Yon she knew. Not that the male in front of her was not the same, but this one was calmer, and she liked that. Taking the food, she forced in a few mouthfuls. When she was done, Yon threw away her food and pulled out another package. Warming it up, he handed it to her.
She didn’t recognize the picture. “What is this?”
“Cherry cobbler, but it’s similar to the cherry pie you wanted to try.”
Excited again, she found herself taking the offering as if it were a delicate treasure. Gently placing it in front of herself, she sniffed the contents and realized that it smelled sweet. Of course, Cami would say this was her favorite. The Terran loved sweet things.
Yelena also noticed that Yon didn’t have one. “Did you want to share with me?”
“I don’t eat many sweet things. Drinking a Niffy is as far as I go.”
Could he be more perfect? Smiling, she said, “Me, too.” Then she explained that Cami had loved sweets. Yon told Yelena she didn’t have to eat the cobbler.
But she was going to eat it anyway. In remembrance of her friend.
Consuming the sweet treat, she enjoyed it, but it would never be her favorite. After she’d eaten and used the cleaner, she saw that Yon was dressed and ready for work. Her clothes were laid out for her, too. A picture of a house with the back against a mountain and a small stream in front of it was up on the Minky screen.
“Where is that?”
Yon looked at the screen. “Our home.”
“Our home? You bought a house?” A domicile with him. She could see him working around the house and teaching their children to be strong warriors. She hoped they had his pretty eyes.
“I did. As soon as we finish these missions finding the Numans, we’re leaving the Federation to live in our home.”
All of that sounded perfect. “I look forward to it. One question, though, where is our home?”
Yon turned back to her. “Hettan. It’s the safest planet to raise children.”
If he weren’t already her mate, she would have mated him again right then.
Yon activated the screen and pulled up Decoud’s information. “I can stay if you want me to be here while you talk to your friend’s brother.”
If he stayed, he would get caught up in her illumia, because there was no way she was going to be able to keep it at bay. Taking a small breath, she told him, “No, it’s probably best for me to do this alone.”
A curt nod. “Done. I will come and get you after your shift today. Sands knows you will be late. Don’t rush your conversation.”
“Thank you.”
28
Interrogation
Yon was in the elevator when his Minky pad pinged. Pulling out the device, he saw that it was an incoming video call from the captain. Accepting the transmission, he said, “Captain.” The image on the screen showed that his friend was walking down a hallway.
“Now that you’re done playing sick, you can help me. Get down to the brig. I’ll be in the interrogation room with Veeda.”
Veeda. Yon’s body had a sudden influx of anger, but he used his dampener to ignore it. To the captain, he said, “I’ll head down and watch the interrogation from the viewing room. Wait five minutes to start.”
“I’ll wait three.”
Yon knew it would take him just shy of five minutes to walk to the viewing room. The fact that Rannn had said three was ridiculous. The desire to give the male a snide comment in response rose up, but he ignored it.
Rannn’s expression changed when he asked, “No response?”
“There’s no reason to respond. You and I both know you’re going to wait for me. “The doors opened for level five where he had intended to grab more food for Yelena and himself. He remained inside and pressed for level two just as another person from the ship stepped in and went to reach for the buttons. Yon knocked their hand away.
“Hey.”
Yon heard the captain say, “Hurry up,” before the call terminated.
Four and a half minutes later, Yon was down in the viewing room, watching Rannn walk into a dark grey room with a single chair and table. In the center of the space was a bald and withered-looking female. The only reason Yon knew it was a female was because he knew it had to be Veeda. Otherwise, it looked like something from Terran lore. The word hag came to mind.
Her skin was pale, and her eyes were dull, but her body didn’t move slowly or shake as she began to tap the table with her nails. Her voice wobbled like he remembered as she greeted the captain. “I’m tired of listening to you, Yunkin. There is nothing you can say to change my mind.”
Yon didn’t hear what Rannn said in response because the door opened and Pax walked in, stopping as if he hadn’t expected anyone to be in the room. Quickly overcoming his surprise, he smiled. “Heard you got cybernetics. Figured you’d have Ansel fix your face while he was at it.”
Yon felt the desire to respond sarcastically, but he didn’t. “Did the captain ask you to watch the interrogation?”
“No, I saw you walking down the hall so I came in to see if you looked more cyborg-ish, but seeing your face, you don’t look like you’re in the mood.”
“I’m never in the mood for your jokes.”
Pax rubbed his chin. “Ansel warned us that you’d be different, but I can’t see it. You’re still the same grouch.”
For some reason, Yon appreciated that. “Thank you.”
Pax chuffed. “Uh, you’re welcome. I guess. Now you’re getting weird.”
“If it helps, I still have a constant desire to punch you in the face.”
Pax nodded. “Good, then everything’s normal.”
With the silence, Yon focused back on the interrogation. Rannn was describing what would happen to Veeda if she were sent to Debsa, the prison planet. In graphic detail, he told her that the males would eat her before they even thought to use her body.
“I wouldn’t even think of eating her. I’d be afraid of getting worms. I mean, look at her. That can’t be natural,” Pax said.
Matter-of-factly, Yon said, “The best cooking method for aged meat is in a stew. Add in some potatoes, onions, and carrots with the right seasonings, and it would be fine.”
“What about drying it into jerky? Then you could store the extra meat. It’s not like Debsa has meal packages.”
Yon thought about it. “Old meat wouldn’t have the right marbling. The jerky would be extra hard. But if you’re starving, I’m sure it would be a decent idea.”
“It would be more realistic than expecting to find vegetables on a prison planet,” Pax added. And rightly so because there wouldn’t be much farming there.
“Agreed.”
Pax held up his hand and made a dramatic expression as he said, “Did you just agree with me?”
Yon’s emotions were calling for him to cover up his faux pas, but instead, his cybernetics decided to say, “You were right in regards to the most realistic way
a prisoner could consume Veeda’s body, but my cooking method would still be the best option. If they had it.”
Pax chuckled. “You had me worried for a second.”
Yon made a note in his memory to adjust his responses with Pax to always be sarcastic. Not to feed the anger but to feed the friendship. Apparently, Pax counted on it.
He had already adjusted his tone of voice with Yelena and added in several calibrations to ensure that he never responded to her in anger. It was something he couldn’t have controlled before his cybernetics, but now that he had the control, he appreciated it more than he could express.
Yon noticed that Veeda had stopped replying to the captain. Rannn changed from nice to harsh, but nothing worked. Yon thought that was interesting and looked forward to his chance in the room with her.
Three hours later, Rannn walked out of the interrogation room and into the viewing room where Pax and Yon were. “It’s been a week, and that’s all I get. Silence.”
“That’s because you haven’t used the right pressure,” Yon concluded.
Rannn snorted. “I’ve pressured in every honorable way possible.”
Honor was a strange word to use. Yon interpreted that as Rannn saying he didn’t want to torture her. But with Yon’s cybernetics, he could easily color any action with honor if he really wanted to. And being honest with himself, that’s what Yon wanted to do. But he didn’t recalibrate the objective. He would act with honor. With that concept, he asked the captain, “Is it my turn?”
Pax grunted. “You’re not the type to ask questions. You’re the type to punch first and worry about finding the information later.”
Yon ignored his friend as per the calibration.
“What he said,” Rannn agreed.
Yon didn’t like that Rannn thought the same of him, because even Yon’s emotions didn’t want to hurt the old lady. They wanted to do something completely opposite. But he could see the males’ unease, so he used a tactic that he never would have used before. “Please, let me try.”
A white eyebrow rose. “Did I hear you right?”
