by Liza Probz
"Do you intend to mate her? Perhaps it will stave off the frenzy. It could save your life, dammit."
Xivthar looked over his display at the female hard at work. Could he do it again?
His cock twitched, a resounding yes, but could he allow himself? He could tell that she'd developed feelings toward him. They may not be as deep or as powerful as his, but they were there. If he took her again, as his body was screaming at him to do, would it make it harder on her when he passed?
"I don't think it would work," he told his brother. "We both know that no Zantharian has successfully mated with an off-world species. I know enough about human anatomy to feel secure in my opinion."
"Still, you obviously wouldn't consider it a hardship to try and see if your seed can be released. You might think it worth the chance."
He considered his brother's words. He'd been thinking about burying himself in her to the hilt since he met her and having her the night before only caused the thoughts to multiply. Something inside him had held him back, wouldn’t let him push the issue forward.
Sex had gotten him into this situation, and it was assured to only make things worse.
"I'll think about it. I'm sending over my final instructions, along with my will. Please make sure the documents are kept safe and submitted to the council upon my demise."
Drake gave a nod. "I'll begin making preparations right away. Try, brother.”
"Maybe." X moved to terminate the channel, but paused. "Drake, maroon never looked good on you, man. Time for a change."
His brother stared at him, then terminated the connection.
That was rude, he thought. His brother had always been more stoic than he, but Xivthar had expected a bit more of a reaction at the news of his condition.
He tried to convince you to mate her, to attempt to release your seed.
Had he? It had seemed he was concerned that he might try.
Xivthar shook his head. This whole situation had him paranoid. It was his brother. They'd come from the same egg, a connection that was special and rare. He could trust him.
Couldn't he?
A groan resounded from across the room, taking his attention from his thoughts. Sylvie waved the display away and headed over to one of several cushions placed around the room, plopping down and lulling backwards.
"You're exhausted, baby." He moved to join her, unable to help himself from reaching out and brushing her hair back. "You've been working at this for hours. You need sleep."
Sylvie frowned at him. "We can't be sure what the timeline is. We have to--"
"We have to take a break. You need rest, and food, Dr. Cohen."
"It’s Sylvie, and I don't think I could eat.” She moved to snuggle up beside him. "I'm too keyed up. I have to figure this out, X. I can’t stand the thought of… of…”
Tears swam in her eyes as she glanced up at him. She cared. More than she let on.
Xivthar shifted, scooting backwards and picking her up to lounge between his legs. He rubbed her shoulders soft at first and then deeper as she whimpered. “You have to relax a little. You’re far too tense."
She shivered as he smiled. She was so responsive to his touch. It calmed him to have her close, the deep rhythm of her breathing the only thing he could hear. If only he had more time with her. More time to explore her responses, to learn what made her tick. Would she moan if he licked the back of her knee? Would she cry out if he sucked each of her toes deep into his mouth? Would she pant against him if he brought her pleasure with his tongue, bathing her until she lifted from the bed?
He took a deep breath and tried to follow his own advice. Relax.
He kept rubbing, his thumbs pressing into the sensitive places near her neck until she exhaled loudly and melted against him.
"Just hold me," she said softly, turning a little and wrapping her arms around him.
"Gladly." He held her against him and allowed their breathing to sync. His fingers brushed through her silky blond hair. He leaned over and brushed his lips across her head, wanting to tell her that he loved her again, but it seemed too much. It was pressure she didn’t need.
If only he could remain with her like this until the end. He'd never been afforded such comfort, such peace. The moment was broken by the soft sound of her crying, the sobs gaining volume as he pulled her in tighter.
"Oh, baby, no." He cradled her against him and kissed at the bend in her neck. "Don't cry. I’m so good right here. Right here with you."
"There's not enough time. Just making myself familiar with your anatomy will take a week. How am I supposed to solve this in a couple days when your people haven't come up with a cure in years? How can I crack this code and save you, X?"
"You're not going to be able to, Sylvie." He kept his voice gentle, but needed her to know the truth.
"I can't give up," she whimpered. "I can't let you go without trying until there is nothing left to try."
"You have to let me go. There’s nothing else to try. Whether you figure this out or not, the odds are stacked against us. I’m making peace with it. Join me?" He hated to utter such a harsh truth, but it simply was the way things were.
"There is one thing we can try." She glanced up at him, captivating him. Her eyes were intensely green, reminding him of the moonlit waters of his favorite bay, where the giant jellies congregated. Those beautiful creatures had never failed to both calm and fascinate him.
If I survive this. I'll take you there. Make love to you under the moon, among the waves. Treat you like the goddess you deserve to be, my little Earthling.
“No, we’re out of options, and that’s okay.” He kissed the tip of her nose as tears rolled down her pretty face. Knowing that she cared was enough.
"We can mate. Make love to me again and let’s see if we’re compatible. If nothing else, we’ll at least have another night in one another’s arms."
He'd half expected her to suggest it, but hearing the words sent a bolt of desire straight to his aching cock and exploded in his heart like a nuclear missile.
"The likelihood of it working is very slim. I'm not sure if it's worth the effort." He regretted the words as soon as he said them, but found himself unable to pull them back.
She jerked from him, her face a mask of anger. "Not worth the effort? Your life isn't worth having to fuck me again, is that what you're saying?"
"Of course not.” He reached for her as she pulled from him. She was going to be difficult simply as a way of protecting herself. Anger was easier than devastation any day. "That wasn't what I meant and you know it. You know how I feel about you. I've never gone dark over a woman before you. I've never even wanted to. I wish I could spend the rest of my short life making you happy, giving you pleasure that sent you into dizziness."
He moved a little and pulled her back down, before turning her in his arms and pressing her to the cushion below him. X rolled his hips, his cock slipping from his sarong and rubbing against her thighs. “See what you do to me? I can’t seem to think when you’re around.
She blushed and looked away as her breathing increased. He drew her face back to him, waiting to speak until her eyes met his again. "I can see that our being together is having an effect on you as well. If we become intimate again, it might be worse for you when I eventually... when I..."
"When you die," she whispered and pulled him down, kissing him softly.
He broke the kiss as pain wrapped around his heart and squeezed tightly. "It might not be worth the effort for you."
She stroked his tendrils back over his forehead. "I think the possibility of curing you would be worth the risk. I’m going to feel absolutely devastated when you die, but that’s a problem I’ll deal with way in the future when it happens. It’s not happening now, X. I can’t let it."
He gave her a small smile. She wanted to try.
He needed to make sure she understood all the ramifications of their lovemaking, should he relent and sink down into her. "If we do make love, and it works, my s
eed will release deep inside of you, Sylvie. If that happens, it means there’s a chance of a viable pregnancy."
She blinked slowly, her eyes scanning his face. While she might say she would miss him, would she really want to raise a child with him? To be his forever and never leave?
She hadn’t kept the fact that she wanted to return to Earth a secret. She’d been damn persistent about it. If they mated and a child resulted, he would not allow that. The child had to remain with him, which means she did as well.
"I understand," she said slowly. "I agree that it’s a possibility. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. You’re strong, capable, smart, witty, and beyond beautiful to me. I couldn’t ask for more, X.” She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed at his fingers as he groaned.
"What are you saying?" he asked, not daring to hope.
"I'm saying that I would be proud to have you as my child's father. That I’m willing to mate with you and remain by your side, should it work." She sucked a finger into her mouth and X closed his eyes as tears burned his gaze for the first time in his life. He waited a moment to collect himself and leaned down, cupping her pretty face and capturing her lips in a soft, gentle kiss.
He broke the kiss as Sylvie turned away from him and yawned. "I'm sorry. I'm so tired."
"Me too, baby. Let me hold you and we’ll make love tonight if you still want to.”
“I do and I will. Always.” She pressed her cheek to his chest and began to breathe deeply.
He watched her for a moment more before closing his eyes and letting the darkness take him. Everything would be all right. They would figure it out together. Him and his Earthling mate.
Chapter 32
Sylvie woke with a start, sitting up from the cushion and looking over to see the regent sleeping soundly beside her. Thank God he's still alive. For now.
He stirred, a smile touching his mouth as he opened his eyes and let out a soft sigh. She couldn’t help but reach over and brush her hand down his strong chest.
"I can't believe we fell asleep. We don't have time to waste. We don’t even know the clock we’re racing against." Fear percolated deep in her belly as she moved toward him. Lust would arrive soon, but the fact that they had passed out left her forcing panic down.
"Hush and come back here." X slid his hand up her back and pulled gently on her shoulder.
"But you could have... I can't believe I fell asleep. What were we thinking?”
"You were tired, dear. If you want to mate now, I’d love to hear you scream.” His sweetness turned into something wickedly nefarious, which was almost out of character.
Odd.
"Here? Where anyone can walk in?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I've set a lock on the lab. There’s nothing to worry about."
"You won't even take off your cloak, you're so afraid someone will see that you've gone into the frenzy. You know that these labs are observed. Don't you think we need privacy?" She pushed at him as he tugged her closer with more force. “X. I’m not comfortable with this.”
"Come here and stop bitching." He pulled again and she fell against him with a gasp. The regent wrapped his arms around her and squeezed until she had trouble getting a full breath.
"Easy! Jeez. What’s the matter with you?"
He ignored her and pressed his lips to her, moving his head back like a two-year-old giving a sloppy kiss. She jerked back and growled as he pushed against her head, his mouth clamping over her as his tongue forced its way into her mouth. He wiggled it back and forth, his action sickening her.
Sylvie pulled back again, using her nails to dig into his chest. He clamped down harder and she bit his tongue before moving back.
"What the hell has gotten into you?" She moved quickly, backing up and putting some distance between them.
"I want you," he said, climbing to his feet. “I want you and I’ll have you. Get over here.”
"Obviously. I’m not sure if this is the frenzy jacking with your system, but we’re not doing this here. Period. Your underlings could be watching us."
She moved to the console and swiped her hand across it, pulling up his bedroom to show him how much better it would be in there. Quiet and private – perfect. He took up position behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders and squeezing them until she let out a yelp and turned.
"Knock it off." Annoyance stung her and she swatted at him. Mating because she was attracted to him and cared about him was good and well, but he was acting like a complete idiot.
The regent grabbed her hips and forced her to press against him, a growl leaving his lips as his eyes glossed over. "No more delaying. It's time to mate."
"What's gotten into you?"
"The mating frenzy," he replied, matter-of-factly.
"I don't understand. Before we fell asleep, you said it wasn't worth the effort. Then you were so tender, and we talked about... about possibly creating a child... and now you're trying the full court press."
"Full court press?"
"Yeah, the hard sell." Something wasn't right here.
"Enough of your Earthling colloquialisms. Attend me, female."
Sylvie's jaw dropped. "Attend you? You've got to be kidding me."
"It's well known that Earthling females prefer aggressive males as sexual partners. Submit to me, female. Go over there and bend over and I’ll give you what you need, dirty bitch."
Sylvie rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation. He was out of his head and she wasn’t putting up with his shit anymore. He could reset his attitude and then she would consider getting back in bed with him. Maybe.
X undid her top and pulled it off, baring her breasts as he licked at his lips.
She crossed her hands over her chest and yelled at him, but he ignored her and concentrated on getting her pants down. She slapped at his hands, but he made quick work of her pants, not seeming to care that she was upset and highly pissed. Standing there half naked left her vulnerable to anyone that passed by, but also to him and he wasn’t acting right.
"Stop it, you son of a bitch," she said, her fear on the rise. "What's gotten into you?"
Her regent would never be so forceful. He may be aggressive. He may be possessive. But he's not a rapist.
He was tugging at her panties when she slugged him in the face.
The regent smiled and wagged his eyebrows. "Is this what your kind considers foreplay?"
Sylvie aimed carefully and with all her might she kicked him in the crotch, half expecting him to drop in pain. He didn’t. Her efforts had zero effect.
This isn't X. The thought rose up suddenly, but she realized right away that it was true. There was no way the regent she’d started to fall in love with would treat her with such distaste. She jerked away and moved back to the console as fear rose up from her stomach.
“Help?” she whispered and started to press buttons.
Chapter 33
Xivthar pulled the petite woman in his arms closer to him with a happy sigh before jerking up with realization.
"We fell asleep. I don't know how, but we passed out." He rubbed her back and leaned down to kiss the side of her face. She glanced up sleepily as he started to move out of the bed.
“No, come back to bed, darling. Ride me."
Her words, more than her touch, brought him to full arousal in mere moments. He fell back onto the cushion and brought her into his arms again, a little surprised at her commands.
“Sylvie?” He brushed his nose past her ear, something leaving him wanting to question her. He needed to push past the additional layer of paranoia that the mating frenzy caused and mate with his woman. It was time.
"Are you ready?" she whispered into his ear. Her breath was warm on his skin and it made him shiver.
"Ready?" he asked, almost unable to focus on her words.
"To mate." She all but purred at him and nipped his earlobe.
"Here?" His tone was incredulous. She had to know that others were likely watching. He'd
not once taken off his cloak, although he had risked pushing back his hood. The Supreme Regent requesting that a lab not be recorded would likely draw more attention than his saying nothing.
"I want you." She slipped her hand beneath his cloak and brushed the back of her soft fingers over his stomach, playing with the tiny tendrils that led to his erection.
Xivthar froze. Sylvie had welcomed his advances, but he had been the one making all the moves. To feel her taking control was jarring.
Her hand moved lower, then brushed the outside of his sarong over his cock and he groaned, arching into her hand. He wasn’t able to help himself from slipping from a reasonable, clear-headed leader to a sex-starved male.
A shred of sanity returned and he grabbed hold of it tightly. "Not here. We can return to my quarters, baby."
"Why? This is good and I don’t wanna wait. I’m wet and my girl hurts.” She nibbled his earlobe, then ran her tongue around the whorl of his ear.
Her girl hurt? How odd. Something about her choice of language turned him off, pulling at his sense of reason.
Move back. Figure this out.
This new, more aggressive female was disturbing, but only to his intellect. His cock danced below the sarong as the room blurred a little. He needed her, regardless of how odd she was being. He lost his breath as she started sucking on the tender skin of his neck.
Something didn't feel quite the same. Despite how turned on he felt, he didn't have the same urge to possess her, to claim her. The tight knot that had been in his guts since he'd taken her the first time was absent.
Curious.
Chapter 34
Sylvie held up her hands, moving away from the Supreme Regent, or more accurately, whatever had taken the regent's shape.
"Back up. Stay away from me. I know you’re not him."
"Aren't who?" it asked, striding forward and making another grab for her.
Sylvie danced backward. "You aren't the regent. You're Hareema."
"Very clever, Earthling.” It smiled with X's mouth and spoke with his voice. “How did you know?"
