As the images and sensations tried to swim to the forefront of her mind, Jet felt her face warm, right before she looked up, meeting his gaze.
“What’s wrong?” she said, giving him a careful smile. “You still pissed off at Richter?”
“Not him.”
“Then who?”
“Trazen.”
Jet nodded, still holding his gaze. She could see more behind what he was saying, or maybe what he wasn’t saying. She wasn’t sure if she should press the point.
“Well?” she said. “Do you want to talk about it? What do you think we should do?”
He didn’t answer.
His eyes remained tense. He settled his four-fingered hands with their jointed thumbs around her waist on one side and her hip on the other, pulling her closer. As if to emphasize the point, he coiled his tail deliberately around her waist, his eyes still on hers.
His dark eyes gauged her reaction in the pause after he did it… right before his tail abruptly tightened, pulling their bodies flush with one another.
“Can I?” he said, his voice gruff.
She blinked.
“Can you what?”
“Sting you.”
She felt her face warm. “Sting me? Is that all you’re asking me, Laks?”
“No,” he said, blunt. “I want to have sex.”
Hesitating a few stuttering beats while her brain caught up with his words, she felt her face flush hotter. She studied his eyes, fighting her breathing, and her own facial expression.
“Why now?” she said finally. “I thought you said––”
“I know what I said.” His mouth firmed as he looked at her. “But I’ve waited for you to ask. You haven’t asked. So I am.”
His voice turned to a mutter, even as he averted his gaze.
“…Before I get too drunk and do something I regret. Something you’re less likely to forgive me for, Jet.”
She held his gaze, feeling a flutter in her belly, in spite of herself.
They weren’t connected through the venom, not then, but she recognized the look on his face, well enough to understand the meaning without the venom to aid with translation. She might have understood it even without how tightly his fingers and tail held her, or the set of his jaw when he began caressing the bare skin of her arm.
When his black eyes flickered over her, the flutter turned into a denser warmth, until she found herself averting her eyes, blushing harder as another memory hit her of their one and only night. He watched her stare at the door, as if waiting for her to think about his question, but his tail tightened gradually around her waist until she could barely breathe.
He continued to study her face, right before his fingers slid around the back of her neck, caressing the muscle gently as he pulled her hair off her shoulder, stroking it away from her face and neck so it hung down her back.
A rumbling purr left his throat, as if involuntarily.
“What is your answer, Jet?” he said.
Swallowing, she looked up.
Raising his eyes from where he’d been staring at her mouth, he glanced around them, his eyes harder, but holding an overt meaning.
“There are no cameras in here. You can say whatever you like. I will do whatever you ask. But be clear with me, Jet. Or I’m liable to try again. And again.”
“And if I say no?” she said. “What then?”
He narrowed his eyes, his long face expressionless. “If you say no, I will go down to the human settlement tonight and find a female who wants me,” he said.
Wincing, Jet tried to fight the anger off her expression and failed.
Pushing at his chest until he loosened his tail, she stepped back, folding her arms across her chest to force more distance between them.
He let her go, but she felt his fingers tighten on her skin before he did.
“This angers you?” he said.
She clenched her jaw. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
His fingers tightened at his sides. “Don’t lie to me, Jet.”
“Yes.” Her eyes shifted up, holding his. “It angers me. All right?”
“Why?” he pressed. “Why does it anger you?”
She fought another surge of anger. “You’re threatening me.”
“I’m not threatening you.”
He exhaled in a slow hiss, looking away from her. Briefly, some of the tension left his face, and his voice. His fingers loosened out of fists.
“The opposite, actually,” he said. “I don’t want you to worry about me forcing myself on you. I can go elsewhere. I will go elsewhere. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Worry about you?” Incredulousness reached her voice. “I’m not supposed to worry that you can just coerce some other slave into your bed? How am I supposed to feel about that? I’m human too, Laks. Or had you forgotten?”
He stared at her, his black eyes flint-like.
“I won’t need to coerce anyone, Jet,” he said. “Which you would know, if you were paying the slightest bit of attention.”
Closing her mouth with a snap, she felt her frown deepen, that time without her willing it.
“Of course,” she muttered. “You’re a prince now. You have groupies.”
“That is not what I meant.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?” she said, looking up at him.
He exhaled in another irritated purr.
“Yes,” he said. “It is. But even before, it was not difficult. There are humans who like being stung. There are those who seek it out. Every Nirreth knows this. Every Nirreth knows where to go, if they want such a thing. It is not difficult, Jet… it never was.”
Jet nodded, fighting to keep her expression still.
She avoided his eyes, but when the silence stretched, she found herself looking up, unable to help herself.
“What if I don’t want you to sleep with someone else, Laks?” she said, clenching her jaw. “Are those my only two choices? Sleep with you now or you’ll find someone else?”
“What would you have me do?” he said.
She shook her head, feeling her fingers clench. “I don’t know. But I shouldn’t have to feel like this is my fault. It’s not like I’ve slept with a ton of people, or…” Trailing as she realized what she was saying, Jet felt her face grow hotter. “Do you want me to find someone else, too? I’ve gotten offers. Samurai of the Rings, and all that. It wouldn’t be that ‘difficult’ for me, either, Laks.”
“I’m very aware of that,” he said, eyes blazing.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry. “I’ve been offered sums, Jet. Large sums, if I would share you with others of my kind. You know this.”
“So? Do you expect me to thank you for not selling me, Laks?”
He exhaled again, that time sounding more frustrated than angry.
Unwinding his tail from around her entirely, he flicked it behind his back in a few whipping arcs, his mouth in a hard line. After another moment, he released her with his hands, stepping back from where she stood. He folded his arms, his legs slightly apart as his dark eyes met hers. He looked like the soldier again, like how he had when she first met him.
The stance had a flavor or suggestion to it as well, or maybe she was imagining that part.
“I told you,” he said. “It’s not a threat. It’s not meant to be coercive. I am merely telling you what I would do. What you decide to do with that information is up to you, Jet.”
She looked up at him, feeling her face harden more.
She didn’t speak, though.
“What would you like me to say?” he asked her.
She bit her lip. Shaking her head in anger, she hesitated, then said it anyway, not looking at him as she squeezed her ribs with her arms.
“I thought you liked me,” she said. “I thought we were friends, Laks. That it wasn’t just about the sex thing with us. Not anymore. But if you’re going to go sleep with other humans whenever I say no, or whenever you catch me off-guard… then…�
�
She trailed, not sure how to finish that thought.
She just stood there, staring at the floor.
“Shit.” She ran a hand through her hair, fighting to think. After another pause, her jaw hardened. “Forget it, okay? Just go find some human in the city, if that’s what you want. I’ll find somewhere else to sleep tonight. Okay?”
She started to walk away from him, but his tail wrapped around her without warning.
Before she could think, he pulled her against him, closer that time, until her breath got stuck in her chest.
She grabbed hold of his arms once she’d regained her balance, looking up at him. At the expression in his eyes, she hesitated. His eyes looked sad, not quite bright, but filled with more emotion than she’d ever seen, at least without his having stung her.
“What?” she said. “What do you want me to say, Laks?”
“Are you afraid?” he said, speaking as if she hadn’t spoken. “Are you afraid of me, Jet?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Are you afraid of sex with me?” he persisted, his dark eyes unmoving. “You were stung many times before. Are you afraid, when you are not stung?”
She stared up at him, frozen in place by his words.
She tried to think about them, but her hands only tightened on his arms. She grew aware somewhere that he was stroking her hair again, watching her face.
“You are afraid,” he said.
It was no longer a question.
He let out another purring sigh, and that time, it rumbled through her chest. She heard an apology somewhere in that.
“Jet, I am sorry. I had forgotten. I had forgotten you are new to this.”
She shook her head, feeling her face burn in embarrassment.
“It’s all right,” she said, low. “It’s stupid, right?”
“No.” His voice was softer too. “Not stupid. No. Not even a small amount stupid.”
He purred as he spoke, stroking her hair and shoulders, his fingers gentle. He pressed more closely against her, tightening his tail around her. After a pause, he was kissing her neck, one hand in her hair as the other rubbed the small of her back.
He touched his cheek to hers before raising his head, studying her eyes.
“Apart from this fear, what are your memories of this thing?” he said. “Are they pleasant, Jet? What do you remember?”
She shrugged, still gripping his arms as she tried to keep her expression level.
“Pleasant. Yes.” Hesitating, she glanced up at him. “It was great, Laks.”
He nodded, but a faint smile quirked one side of his mouth.
“So, you just wish me to wait? To not sleep with other humans, but to wait for you to be comfortable with this again?”
She felt her jaw harden, even as she shook her head. “Laks, no. It’s not that…”
“It’s not?” His expression grew quizzical. “Then what?”
“I get that you don’t want to do that,” she said. “I get why. It’s okay.”
“I did not say I would not do that.” His voice carried a faint warning. “I said I would not avoid sex if you did not want me. I said I would find someone else. Someone who did want me. But if you want me and are afraid, I will wait.”
He paused, gripping her tighter with his hands and tail.
He held her tightly enough that Jet felt herself flushing again, as soon as she noticed he was ready for sex in more ways than one. Even as she thought it, he pressed against her deliberately, murmuring in her ear.
“I don’t want you to have sex with other Nirreth, Jet,” he said. “Or other humans. Were you serious about this?”
She shook her head where he held her against his broad chest.
“No,” she said.
He relaxed where he held her, but his fingers didn’t loosen their hold.
“Are you comfortable asking me?” he said. “When you’re ready? Or do you want me to ask you?” He kissed her neck, nuzzling her with one cheek. “I will ask every day, if you like.”
“You’ve been stinging me,” she said, remembering. “For practice. For the Rings.”
“Yes,” he said he said, still holding her tightly.
“Have you been taking the shot?” she said.
Jet knew he’d understand what she meant.
There was a drug Nirreth could inject––one that made it easier for them to control themselves under the influence of the venom. It didn’t do much for Jet, but it calmed Laks right down, making him indifferent to sex, no matter how many times he stung her.
Raising his head, he gave her a bewildered look.
“Of course,” he said. “Yes.”
She sighed, looking up at him. “Why, Laks?”
He let out a rumbling laugh, but still didn’t relax his hold on her, not with his hands, arms or tail.
“You need to ask me this?” he said. “Because I would have kept stinging you, Jet. Like the first time. Because you wouldn’t have made it to the Rings at all.” He held her tighter, wrapping his tail further around her waist.
“I should take it now,” he muttered.
He pressed tighter against her, as if to emphasize the point.
Jet looked away, but despite his words, she didn’t push his hands off, or let go of his waist. She was still focusing past him, trying to pull her mind together, when his tail tightened more. She found herself stroking the skin of his arms when he didn’t let go, marveling at how soft his skin was, even over the harder muscle.
When she slid a hand under his shirt, he let out a low growl, clutching her tighter.
“Please,” he murmured, caressing her hair. “Please, Jet. Let me. Don’t be afraid.”
“Laks,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s not you. I promise.”
“I won’t hurt you. I won’t hurt you… I promise. Please.”
She felt her face grow warmer, but didn’t look up, or meet his gaze.
After another pause, she took a breath.
“What is this thing to you?” she said. “Us. You and me. What is it really, Laks? Is Richter right? Are you just trying to keep me away from him? Am I just another pawn in the power struggle with you two?”
“No.” Laksri’s arms tightened more. “Richter is not right. Richter is an ass.”
Jet let out a startled laugh.
“Yes,” she said, smiling. “He is. That’s not exactly what I was asking, Laks––”
He cut her off, his voice gruff as he spoke into her ear.
“I want you,” he said. “You’re not a pawn to me. I consider you my lover. I consider you my companion. I consider you my friend, too… and I don’t want to hurt you. I won’t let Richter hurt you.”
His voice grew lower, softly cajoling.
“I don’t want to share you,” he murmured, purring in her ear. “Not with him. Not with Anaze, or another Nirreth. I want you, Jet. I want you to want me. It feels like you do. It felt like you did that night. It feels like you do now. It’s confusing me, Jet. But it’s also driving me crazy. I want sex with you. I want to sting you. Please let me. Please…”
She glanced up at him, fighting to control her expression.
It only got more difficult when she saw his.
Feeling that flutter return to her stomach at the way he looked at her, she found herself nodding, almost before she’d let herself think.
“Okay,” she said. “Okay. Sting me, Laks.” She met his gaze, giving him a faint smile. “You should do it now. Before I lose my nerve.”
His fingers tightened, but he didn’t look away from her face.
He seemed to take her last words to heart, though.
His tail loosened, just enough for him to catch hold of her shirt, yanking it up her body. Once he had enough of her skin showing, he pressed the end of his tail to her side, giving another rumbling purr as he wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, kissing her cheek before he pressed his against her neck.
He pulled her tighter into the curve o
f his body, right before his whole body tensed.
Before she could second-guess any of it, he stung her.
Jet gasped, feeling the barb enter her skin and flesh.
It felt different from how he’d done it prior to the Rings fights and practice sessions already, even before he’d finished with that first one. She gasped as the venom continued to let go, holding him around the waist as he let out a lower sound, nearly a groan as he panted against her neck. It came from deep in his chest, a kind of pained sound, one that grew louder when he pulled her tighter against his body.
He’d barely finished, the barb had barely left her skin, when he stung her again, in the same place, without removing his tail.
He groaned louder that time, crushing her in his arms.
The venom had just started to hit her system when the second sting finished.
Once it had, she was tugging at his shirt, fighting to get it off him, even as he did the same to her, half-ripping the long tunic over her head.
The instant he got it off, he pulled her down to the carpeted floor, stinging her a third time.
Then a fourth.
Pausing as that one finished, he lay on top of her, panting, gripping her shoulders as he groaned. The fifth time he stung her, she cried out, and then she had her hands on him, fighting to get off the last of his clothes.
He pinned her to the floor, kissing her face, shoulders and mouth as he purred in another long growl against her chest. He raised his tail in an arc, about to sting her again, when the door abruptly opened behind them.
Jet barely heard it.
She definitely didn’t hear it enough to take her hands or eyes off Laksri.
Laksri heard it.
He turned his head, holding her under him.
His hands on her grew protective, right before his anger blazed violently around her. It happened fast, like water forced through the membrane of her skin. Within seconds, she felt it so keenly, she let out a cry, gripping his arm and shoulder.
She fought to calm him down, to send him reassurance––
It didn’t help.
Through the venom’s glow, Jet saw his eyes blaze, the pale blue flecks standing out like stars inside the deep black of his irises. Pulling her further under him, he let out a sound she’d never heard from him before.
The Complete Alien Apocalypse Series (Parts I-IV Plus Bonus Novella): An Apocalyptic, Romantic, Science Fiction, Alien Invasion Adventure Page 51
