by Ciara Lake
“We’ll call if something develops.” Kade stood up to see Val out.
“Kade, you’re in charge while I retire.”
“Sure thing.”
“Computer, Commander Kade will be in command of the Black Beast until further order. I will be in my quarters with my mate for some private time. Please do not disrupt me unless critical.”
“Yes, Captain Val Braeden.” The computer voice was crisp.
“When we leave for our mission, Commander Jerrian will be in charge.”
“Agreed,” Both men answered.
* * * *
When Val opened the door to his suite, soothing instrumental music played over the computer’s intercom. The lights were off except a small light on his desk. Also, she’d left a light on in the cleaning chamber. It spilled into the rest of the quarters, casting some light over the bed. It was obvious Zalora had made herself comfortable. For the first time, his suite felt like a home, as much as it could on a spaceship. Zalora was asleep in his, their bed. The bedding halfway covered her. She was a vision of beauty. Her gorgeous hair spread out over the pillows welcomed him to touch its silken strands. In the dim light, its curls shone like a precious metal. He wanted to run his fingers through it, to tug on it as he took her body with his.
Images of what he had in mind flooded his brain, making his cock stiff. She had on a white, modest nightgown, making her look virginal. It had long sleeves, which buttoned at her wrist. Her neckline was closed up, buttoning to her neck. After examining her, he walked over to the windows to gaze out into space. He loved to watch the stars, planets, and other celestial bodies from the ship’s viewers or windows. Standing by the window for while, he contemplated all of the happenings in such a short time. His life had forever changed.
Turning, he looked back at his bed. He had a mate, a child within her. Tomron threatened to take the things he loved. The Tomrons had plagued their family for too long. This will end. He watched for Tallusia to appear in his window.
He must have stood by the window for over an hour deep in thought. Tallusia finally appeared. It was a bright blue ball out in space as lovely as the pictures of earth he’d seen. It shone like a precious gem. The beauty was diminished by the Realmist’s attack. However, after a great amount of work, it would be restored. There was hope for it. However, the Realmist had to be stopped permanently to ensure no further damage to it or to other innocent planets.
Quietly Val moved around the room. He reviewed some papers on his desk, putting his signature on documents requiring it. After finishing his paperwork, he took off his uniform, dressing in leisure pants. Spotting leftover food on his table, he helped himself to it. After eating, he grabbed his free weights, started doing lifts. With his mind racing, he could not sleep. When he couldn’t sleep, he always exercised. He had to tire his body in order to force his mind to rest. With his mate deeply sleeping, he wasn’t going to have sex. He’d prefer sex to lifting weights. But she was exhausted.
After doing a series of exercises, he walked to the end of his bed, wishing her awake. Watching her sleeping in his bed made him feel warm, pleased, yet worried all at the same time. Now he had found her, the mate all Xihirian males sought for themselves. He couldn’t risk losing her or dying himself, not now. They had much to do, to share.
He’d never feared danger or death. Mostly he was fearless. He merely took things as they came. From now on, he had Zalora along with their child to consider. How does my father do it? He shook his head. How does any man do this when they have a mate and children? When he saw Kristal and Kara in Tomron’s custody, it infuriated him, worried him, too. He’d never felt so helpless. Anger spiraled through his body as he thought of their captivity. They were sweet, innocent girls. Never should they have been involved in such violence. They should not see what he and the other soldiers had experienced. They were not warriors in this continual war. His father and grandfather had tried to protect them. But the wickedness of the Realmist grew no matter what they did to fight back.
Making Tomron a martyr was not a really good solution either. It would rally more groups, which were prejudiced, together. They would come out stronger toward humanoids, which were different. Why the fuck can’t they leave us alone? Some would be blind to Tomron’s crimes. Things just had a way of working out unfairly. It was all in how the propaganda spun it. The Realmist would spin his martyrhood into being at the hands of dangerous beasts. Beasts who should be put down. Then the cycle would continue.
Val shook his head in disgust. Zalora rolled from her side to her back. She sighed. The sound of her sigh made his mind refocus on her instead of their impending doom.
“Val? Is that you?” Her expressive purple eyes looked at him.
“Yes, my mate. It is me,” he whispered. His breath nearly caught in his throat as his need for her shot through him. He had a pain in his heart and his cock at the same time. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, my lovely mate.”
“What are you doing?” She moved her head and body as if she enjoyed the softness of their bed.
“You comfortable? You look comfortable.”
“Umm, yes,” she moaned. “This bed is very nice. You have nice comforts on this ship. What are you doing?”
“I was standing here thinking, watching you. You’re beautiful.” He smiled down at her. “Where did you get your old lady nightgown?” He waved at her gown.
“From Tantia. She was kind enough to let me borrow a few things.” Zalora smiled. “It’s not old lady. Not at all.” She motioned to herself.
“I guess it’s not. But one would certainly stay virtuous while wearing it.” He walked around to her side of the bed to sit down. “So, we have to take it off.” He reached for her. “Because we’ve passed the virtuous stage, mate. I want my passionate mate who is underneath this priestess gown.”
“You do?” She looked at him coyly. “I thought we’d be leaving soon to meet Tomron.” She sat up as he sat down on the bed. “You are taking me?”
“Not for twenty-four hours. We have time. I am taking you. Your father made us understand you would be helpful.”
“Twenty-four hours, that’s a long time.”
“Tomron has a lot of plans for us. He has us on a schedule.” Val smiled.
“I am happy you’re going to let me go. You are going to? Right? You aren’t just saying you are. My father’s talking to you was effective?”
“Yes to both.” He looked at her. “Zalora, I’m reluctantly taking you. But if it makes there be a better chance of success, I’ll agree. We’ll take all precautions. If it were only my life at risk, I wouldn’t take you.” He buried his head in his hands. “I’m distraught about taking you. I still doubt doing it.” He caressed her arm. She pulled herself up next to him to kiss his shoulder.
“I’m distressed about everything Tomron’s done. I’d have probably died in my city if you hadn’t rescued me. You saved me for a reason. So let me fulfill the reason.” She rubbed his back.
“Yes, you survived to live, to be my mate and a mother of our children. Not to foolishly lose your life in another way. Things are put in place by Xian or as you say, the Creator, for a reason. But not for you to put yourself in greater risk. Xian gave you to me to cherish, protect. Men are to protect their mates at all cost. I may be violating this sacred rule by allowing you to go.” He turned, kissing her. “I hope Xian forgives me.” Their kiss was easy, sweet. She pressed herself into him, softly sighing as he placed his hand on her back pulling her to him.
“You’re very chivalrous. Are all Xihirian men this way?”
“Yes, particularly about our mates and family.”
“Let’s stop talking. I want to make love to you.” She kissed him passionately, pulling him back onto the bed against her.
“As you wish. My role is to also please you with my body.” His partially covered her. Zalora ran her hands over his back. She playfully swatted his buttocks.
“You’re so strong and muscular. I like that very m
uch.” She rubbed his biceps as she wrapped her thighs around his. “Your strength feels good to me.” She kissed his neck up to the side of his face. “You make me feel safe, too.”
“You’re so soft. I like that. You make me feel good.” He turned his head to capture her mouth. Taking her mouth with his, he kissed her deeply. His tongue explored her warm mouth. He could taste his hormone increasing in his saliva. She broke their kiss.
“Why do you always taste so spicy?”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.” She nodded, pushing his hair back with her hand. “I do. It makes me feel wonderful. ”
“It’s my mating hormone. It’s made to shared with my mate. It makes you mine. It binds us together. Allows me to procreate with you. Eventually you’ll become fully Xihirian, like my mother. The hormone changes you. You may have already seen some affects.”
“I think I have. I can hear, see, and smell things better. Like that?”
“Yes.”
“Will I have fur, be able to run like the wind?” Zalora’s eyes widened.
“Yes, if you wish. But if you don’t wish to shift, you’ll still be stronger, faster, with greater senses. You will have a greater healing capacity like I have. You’ll live longer and be more resistant to illnesses. Xian gives this gift to Xihirian mates. It allows them to live beside us as equals. And we’ll have lots of children. We’re very fertile with long reproductive spans.”
“Good thing I like children.” She giggled, lightly punching him in his side.
“What’s the punch for?”
“I don’t know, just wanted to. I’m playing with you.” She smiled.
“I know.” He nuzzled her neck.
“We’re amazingly fertile, huh?”
“Yes, but you love children.” He gave her his best smile.
“Yes.” She pushed his hair out of his eyes. “But I didn’t think about getting pregnant when we were busy surviving on the planet. I guess all I could think of was you. Anyway, even if you were Xihirian, there was always a risk of getting pregnant. I should have been thinking. But how can I think with you looking at me like you do?”
“I know the feeling. When you look at me, I can’t control my actions.” He kissed her again. She tried to tickle him.
“Oh, I see. You want to play? I’m sorry to tell you, I’m not ticklish. Are you?” He lifted his eyebrow then winked at her. “I can play tickle games. But you’ll never win. I’m immune to tickles, had to be growing up with so many siblings and cousins.” He tickled her ribs.”
“Stop.” She giggled harder. Her hair fell beautifully around face. Val pushed her back again, pressing his growing cock against her. “I love playing with you. Makes me forget all other worries. I’m happy with you.” He nipped her ear. “You like to play with me?”
“Yes,” Zalora cried out. She nipped his ear back.
“Oh, she likes to bite. I’m rubbing off on you.” Val sat back on his knees, making her sit up, too. “Let’s take off this gown. It’s in my way. I want to see all of you. You are beautiful.” He helped her unbutton the wrists. “You are locked into this gown.” Then he helped her unbutton the neck. After she was all undone, he pulled it over her head. Her breasts bounced free. Val bent down and licked her nipple.
“Much better, I can touch you, lick you.” He licked the other nipple. Lovely auburn curls fell around her shoulders to her breasts. Pushing her hair aside, he admired her breasts, kissing their firm globes. Enthusiastically, he cupped them. Bending his head down, he took a nipple into his mouth, then the other, licking them more.
“Oh, Val.” Zalora arched toward him. Her hands were on the waistband of his pants. “I want to feel all of you, too.” She was breathing heavily as she struggled to remove his pants. His stiff cock sprung out into her hand. The elastic allowed her to easily work his pants down his hips. She took hold of his thick cock, rubbing it as she kissed him. He moved against her, moaning. After she pushed his pants so far, he kicked them off the rest of the way.
Wrapping his arms around her shapely body, he rolled with her, putting her on top of him. Both his hands cupped her breasts. He toyed with them, watching them bounce near his face. “What are you doing?” She giggled and pushed up more with her arms, watching him.
“You don’t know? I thought you knew what we are doing.” He gazed up at her, smiling. “I want to enjoy you fully. You can have your way with me.” He lifted his brow again.
“I thought you were having your way with me?” She sat up on him. His cock was trapped between them. She rubbed her wet pussy over his rigid cock. “Feels so good.” She squirmed on top of him. He rubbed his hand over her bottom.
“Yes, it does.” He closed his eyes. “I want to be inside you. I need you. Come down on me. ” He worked her body to where his cock was positioned near her opening. Zalora ignored him, lying flatter against him. Her breasts tickled his chest, making him tremble. She kissed his chin, working down to his chest. Her soft, warm hands explored his chest, his biceps, and down his arms. She took hold of his hands, weaving her fingers with his. Never had just holding a woman’s hand made him feel such emotion. The feeling trailed up his arm to his heart. He squeezed her hand. Zalora continued to hold his hands as she kissed him deeply. “You are so sensual. I like what you do.” He looked up into her purple eyes.
“I like holding your hands.” Val felt as if he was going to lose his mind, her kiss was so concentrated. With every effort, she tried to please him, and she did. Holding back his beast was a challenge. “Oh, baby, I love the way you make me feel.”
“Hmm, you do taste good,” she moaned into his mouth as she pushed against his cock in a pumping motion.
“Oh, Zalora.” He growled, and it rumbled deep in his chest.
“I like the sounds you make.” Letting go of his hands, her hands traveled to his abdomen to his penis. His huge penis jutted past his belly button, bold and ready to possess her. Her fingers lightly touched the tip of his cock, and then she caressed it. Sperm mixed with hormone seeped out, making it moist. Welcoming the moisture, she used it to massage him further. His whole body shook as he was about to come. “Oh, Zalora, put me inside you. I’m going to come so hard.” He pushed his hips up against her, inviting her to let him in. She touched herself, making her hand wet with her wetness. More boldly, she gripped him, massaging him. “Zalora, you’re so amazing.” He moaned. His head was swimming. His beast was close to the surface, his sharper teeth dropped down into his mouth. His beast wanted to experience the pleasure, too. “My cock’s so hard, it hurts. I want to fuck you now.” He pushed his hips up against her again. She sighed, lying fully on him again. Her long hair brushed over his chest. Her hair did tickle him, making him tingle all over. She kissed his neck, the side of his face as she gripped his swollen cock, massaging it. She was incredibly skilled in her innocent way.
Frustrated, excited, thrilled, Val pulled her into his arms, rolling her over. He put her beneath him again. “You make me wait. I can’t wait any longer.” He positioned himself between her thighs and then shoved his cock into her core. She moaned loudly, encouraging his force. Her generously wet pussy enclosed around him. “Your pussy feels so nice. It’s so wet and welcoming to me.” As a response to his appraisal, she clenched her muscles, clasping him within her. “Oh.” He pumped his hips, pushing as deep as possible. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her. Warm, wet, tight, his penis pulsed with pleasure, throbbing as he pumped within her. Opening his eyes, he looked into hers. Strong emotions played on her face. He could see she loved him. She wanted him as he wanted her. “I love you, beautiful girl,” he whispered. She kissed him, rewarding him for his words.
“I love you, too.” She squeezed her pussy around his greedy cock. Pulling himself from her tight wetness, he got off the bed, tugging her to the edge of the bed. She giggled. “What are you doing? I was feeling so good.”
“Oh, baby, you’re going to feel good some more. Let me show you.” He kissed her cheek.
“Please.” Zalora shook with her need.
“My love, I’m going to fill you.” Flipping her on her stomach, he bent her over the bed’s side. Lying against her, he shoved his cock into her. Zalora gasped, surprised. His hands fondled her pussy, rubbing his finger over where they were connected.
“Val. Oh, Val, you…you’re making me.” She trembled. “Push harder, I like it hard.” She pushed her buttocks into him. Encouraged by her response, he pumped harder. Perspiration streamed down his back. Taking hold of her long hair, he pulled her head back, kissing her neck. She turned her face to kiss his mouth. Intensely they kissed deeply as he pounded in her. Their tongues dueled, plunging in and out of each other’s mouths.
“I love how you respond to me. You’re perfect.” A shiver raced down his spine. The bed moved with the force of his fucking her. When the bed hit the nightstand, the lamp fell to the floor, shattering.
“Oops.” Zalora laughed, then clenched her pussy around him again. “You’re tearing down the place.”
“It’s okay, baby.” He voice sounded gruff. Pleasurable vibrations rode him hard, making his vision change. He bit down hard to control his hands from growing claws. With passionate concentration, he continued to pump into her soft, wet core. “You’re mine.” He growled loudly. Feeling another climax take hold of him he tensed. “Zalora!” His seed spewed from him. The exquisite feeling overtook him as he released. Closing his eyes, he absorbed the pure joy of having her. He squeezed her breasts as he mischievously nipped her shoulder. After the waves of pleasure passed through them, they lay there for several minutes basking in the warmth, the tenderness of just holding each other. Reluctantly, he pulled from her, helping her back to the center of the bed. “I love you.” His cock was still erect. “I’m ready to fuck you again. I feel drugged by my passion for you.”
“I love you.” Her eyes were closed. A sheen of perspiration was all over her.
“I’m so hot, baby. I’m not done.” He rolled her to her side, spooning her against him. Licking her ear lobe, he tenderly bit down. She squirmed, pushing her bottom back against him. Guiding her leg up over his, he slipped between her wet folds. Slowly he took her while they lay on their sides.
