by Juno Wells
Chapter 19
Isla
Isla banished the nervousness that bubbled up when she saw how Vaant really looked at her — the hunger in his eyes, the way his hands flexed like he couldn't wait to drag her closer to him... She almost couldn't breathe. And when he pushed her legs apart and began exploring her body, she lost control completely. He kept making growling noises, nearly lost in the rattling of his scales, and then massive spikes stood up on his head and shoulders. As Vaant pushed her closer and closer to an unbelievable orgasm, she could only hold on and pray she didn't fly apart completely.
She'd never felt anything like it. Everywhere he touched, an inferno of heat and lightning and sheer passion ignited, threatening to consume her. She would have called it magic if such a thing existed, but maybe it was the fates or some other mystery intervening. She'd never surrendered so completely, and yet there was nothing she could do but lie back and invite him even closer.
Isla finally opened her eyes once the aftershocks subsided, though small tremors ran through her every time Vaant breathed or moved. She'd barely seen more than his chest before he distracted her with the amazing heat and rough texture of his touch, but as Vaant eased back and stood at the end of the bed, Isla's breath caught once more.
Maybe she wasn't ready for the rest of the night.
His scales rattled more as he stretched, teeth flashing in the dim light, and he looked like a full barbarian warrior, about to ravish her.
Isla shivered as she scooted back on the bed, not certain where she was going but wanting more room to appreciate his physique. A massive organ, similar to but definitely not alike to a human cock, grew as he stroked it. He devoured her body with his silver eyes. Isla swallowed hard as she watched it lengthen. The blunt head grew and dominated the thick length, which widened into something like a knot close to his body. Isla couldn't imagine that it would actually fit, but she didn't mind finding out.
Vaant growled as he stroked his cock once more. "Tell me what you want."
"I want you," she said. Isla watched his hand move again, desperate to feel his hands on her again. She touched her breasts, sucking in a breath as Vaant's attention zeroed in on her chest, and let her fingers drift down her stomach toward her slit. "I want you to touch me."
He caught her ankle and dragged her to him, snarling, and squeezed her hips as his knee shoved her legs apart. Isla held onto sanity with her fingertips and a prayer as the massive head of his cock stroked against her wet folds and she lifted her hips to meet him, to invite him in. Newton save her. The pressure increased as Vaant eased forward, one massive hand pinning her shoulder to the bed.
His hair tangled around the spikes and fell forward, nearly concealing his face from her. "What else?"
"More," Isla whispered. She didn't know what to say, what to do. The right words escaped her. She tried to reach for him, to hold his sides, but he was too far away. He held her hips in place with one hand and trapped her shoulder with the other, and the feeling of being held and dominated by his bulk had Isla whimpering in anticipation. She wanted him. Wanted more of him — over her, inside her. She'd never lost control, but that was exactly what he promised. Vaant took control, wrestled it away, and drove her to complete abandon. His cock pressed deeper and she bit back a cry as her body stretched. "Vaant, please."
"Please what?" He paused, breathing hard and fast, and leaned down to kiss her again, tongue plunging into her mouth just as his body invaded hers. Vaant nipped at her lips in bright little sunspots of pain and pleasure, then trailed his mouth down her throat. "Please more? Please everything? Tell me, Isla. Tell me what to do with this soft little body of yours."
She almost came again, trying to lift her hips to force him deeper into her channel. She wanted more. Needed more. Needed to feel his body over hers, needed to feel his weight pressing her into the mattress. Isla struggled to wrap her legs around his waist, arching her back. "More, Vaant. Please. Take me."
His mouth sealed to hers in a fierce kiss, devouring her, as Vaant's hips pushed forward and forced his cock still deeper. Isla cried out as the massive head drove into her and the thick length parted her folds until she wondered if he could tear her apart. He retreated and a warm rush of her desire coated his length, easing his way deeper as Isla arched and clawed at his sides. She broke the kiss to pant for more air, seeing stars.
Vaant caught her knee and dragged her leg up and out, making more room for his massive length. Isla tensed as the thick knot nudged at her opening, already so full she couldn't imagine taking any more of him, and managed to stroke her fingers up the back of his neck. He growled and the rough scales rattled, tickling the sensitive skin of her stomach and thighs, and sent a wave of ecstasy through her.
His cock pulsed, buried deep in her, and seemed to expand still more until he invaded every part of her. Isla moaned, gripping the spikes once more as Vaant's mouth found her breasts, and held on for dear life as he started to move. Vaant thrust slowly at first, moving with more force as Isla relaxed and her body opened to him. She closed her eyes and let the heat and fire overtake her, consume her, as sensations overwhelmed her brain and shorted out her thoughts. She could only feel.
Her muscles gripped him, trying to keep him close as the knot pressed into her in a sudden flash of pressure and pleasure and just a touch of pain. His scales dragged against her breasts in sudden friction, and Vaant's arm slid under her back to grip her shoulder and pin her closer still to his chest. He growled and moved faster, nearly fucking her into the mattress. Isla gripped his spikes and Vaant roared, hips punching forward until the knot plunged into her and stuck. He thrust in short little jerks, teeth bared in desperation and lust, and Isla cried out as every muscle in her body seized up. She came in a blinding flash, frozen and helpless as his hips slammed into hers over and over, and could only hang on as dark splotches covered her vision.
Isla wrapped her arm around his neck, closing her eyes as her muscles relaxed in the aftermath of the orgasm and Vaant lurched forward until the rough scales of his abs pressed against her stomach. She tensed again, her channel clenching at him to keep him close, and Vaant cursed. Isla didn't know how much more she could take as another climax barreled through her, and she fumbled to seize his spikes. Vaant groaned and jerked against her with more intensity and desperation.
She could hardly move, but managed to stroke a spike in each hand in time with his thrusts, dragging him to the edge just as she plummeted over it herself. Vaant froze, his body buried deeply, and a heated rush filled Isla as his cock swelled. Her arms fell limp at her sides, and Vaant collapsed on top of her. Isla breathed unevenly, wondering if he'd passed out completely and she'd have to wiggle free before she suffocated under his weight, but when she touched his shoulder, Vaant's arms tightened around her.
Isla squeaked as he rolled to his back, keeping her sprawled across his chest, and Isla tried to lift her head. Despite the intense orgasms, he remained diamond-hard and swollen, buried deeply in her channel. When she started to pull away, a painful twinge made her pause, and Vaant stroked her back, his eyes still closed. "We are joined. It may take a little while to go away."
It felt so strange... Isla rested her head on his chest as Vaant dragged a few layers of sheets and blankets over them, though she would never be cold with the inferno of his body so close to hers. His scales rustled and lay flat as Isla stroked his side, mesmerized by the slight texture. Vaant's head turned until he kissed her forehead, his hands resting low on her back under the sheets. "You drive me wild, Isla Lennox. I don't know what to do with someone as perfect as you."
She bit back a yawn and snuggled closer to his chest, resting her forehead against his throat and closing her eyes. "We can figure that out right after a little nap."
Vaant's arms tightened around her briefly, then he exhaled a deep breath. "Perfect."
She smiled and let his warmth flow through her in a deep languor, even with the strange pressure of his body still joined to hers. She had
just a second to wonder what the others were doing and how she would explain her absence before sleep dragged her away.
Chapter 20
Vaant
Vaant felt their bodies separate sometime in the night, but kept Isla on his chest so he could feel her breathe and hear the steady thump of her heart. He slept well for the first time in what felt like years, at least since leaving the Fleet and becoming a rebel. Her hair tangled across his chest; he wondered about getting her some beads or feathers, something pretty to put in her hair when it wasn't pulled back in the severe braid. And he'd have to get rid of whatever Fleet uniforms remained in her baggage. He wanted to see her in Xaravian clothes.
He daydreamed and dozed, imagining a life with her traveling the universe, stopping on faraway planets and exploring uncharted sectors. Vaant never thought he'd find a female who affected him so deeply and inspired the mating lust just by sighing and wiggling closer to his side. His scales rustled and Isla lifted her head, blinking blearily as she looked around. She rested her chin on his chest and smiled. "Hi."
"Good morning." Vaant squeezed her hip, relishing the soft give of her ass and thigh against the hard muscle of his leg. "Did you sleep well?"
"Pretty well," she said. Her eyes crinkled at the edges as she studied him. "Something kept waking me up."
"Oh?" Vaant frowned, looking around the room, and wondered what he needed to change to make her comfortable.
But Isla's hand rested on his abs and slowly traveled down until she stroked his cock. "I meant this. You must have had some dirty dreams."
He groaned and caught her face, dragging her closer for a kiss, but Isla didn't release him. She hummed against his lips and moved to straddle his thighs, arching her back as she leaned back and studied his body. Vaant wanted to grab her and roll her under him, but her blue eyes sparked with excitement as she toyed with him and moved her hips against him. He groaned and squeezed her waist, lifting to meet her in a slow thrust, but Isla kept his cock trapped between his stomach and her heated slit. She rocked against him, bracing her hands on his chest for leverage, and Vaant's scales rattled as he watched the flush start to climb her chest, turning her breasts and throat rosy with excitement.
He held onto self-control by the barest thread as Isla used him, moaning and tossing her head back, and when she froze, body going rigid above him, Vaant eased her up so he could slide into her. Her body clenched, nearly too tight to allow him entry, but as she relaxed, she slid slowly down the length of his cock. Isla moaned, collapsing forward onto his chest, and Vaant held her close as he lifted his hips in an easy thrust. The hunger and wildness of the night before faded into a gentle rocking as Isla tensed and moved to meet his rhythm.
They made love with an easy familiarity, as if they'd been together for years instead of just one night, and far too soon Vaant felt the pressure and lightning building in his back and chest. They finished together, and lay tangled in the sheets for quite a while before they separated and Vaant looked at the clock. He should have been on the bridge a while ago, but since no one paged him, clearly they didn't need him.
Isla started to sit and winced, and Vaant immediately caught her back. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"Just sore," she said. She patted his cheek and wiggled to the edge of the mattress. "Haven't used those muscles in a while, that's all. Do you mind if I clean up? I should get back to the others. They'll be worried."
"Of course. Take your time." Vaant smiled, watching her ass as she retreated to the bathroom. That female might be the death of him.
He cleaned himself up quickly and got dressed, balling up the sheets to throw in the laundry, and called to the bridge to check on the status of the ship as well as the port. Trazzak didn't sound particularly enthusiastic about having been on the bridge all night, and mentioned a few requirements to get the port stabilized before the Galaxos could take off after the Argo.
He walked Isla closer to her quarters, after she showered and dressed in another clean uniform, and left her there to meet back up with her colleagues. She nodded to him, and though he wanted to kiss her so badly his skin flared purple, he only nodded back under the watchful eyes of his crew. They still guarded the women, and at least one of them tried to hide a smile as they let Isla back into the room she shared with the engineer and the security officer.
Vaant didn't look back as he headed to the bridge, hunger clawing at his stomach from the night's exertions, and paused at the mess to pick up a quick breakfast. Vrix sat with Griggs and the doctor in the mess, and it felt like Griggs's glare might burn a hole in the back of Vaant's neck. She knew Isla spent the night somewhere else. His shoulders prickled, but he ignored her to get some coffee and half a dozen sandwiches. He figured it would be another long day before they could confidently leave the space port on its own.
As he turned to leave the mess, Griggs's sharp voice cut through the silence. "Hungry this morning, aren't you."
It wasn't a question. Vaant glanced at her, tempted to ignore her completely, but the smirk on Vrix's face got under his skin more than the human's irritation. "Yes. Make sure you bring something back for Isla. She'll be hungry, too."
Griggs's jaw dropped and her face turned red as she bared her teeth. Griggs lurched forward like she might have attacked him, but Vrix caught the back of her uniform and kept her from getting very far. The doc just stared at him with a horrified expression.
Vaant walked out, enjoying the sandwich immensely. Isla probably wouldn't thank him for provoking her friends, but neither one of them owed the women an explanation. Or so he hoped.
Chapter 21
Isla
Isla's cheeks burned from the moment she left Vaant's room until she slid into the room she shared with Griggs and Rowan. Part of her was definitely relieved that Griggs wasn't there, although she wondered where the security officer could have possibly gone. Maybe she decided to spend the night with the surly Vrix. But Rowan looked at her with arched eyebrows and her arms folded, and Isla held up her hands to stave off any questions.
"I need a second, okay? And some coffee. Do we have any coffee?" Every muscle in her body ached, not unpleasantly, and Isla flopped onto her bed so she could stretch out. Everything felt colder without Vaant next to her.
"Griggs went to get breakfast and everything." Rowan's voice sounded curiously flat. "She should be back soon."
Isla closed her eyes, covering her face with her hands. "I'm sorry."
"We stayed up all night waiting for you. Worried. Afraid you'd been hurt on the port or something happened. No one would tell us anything." The engineer took a deep breath. "What the hell is going on, Isla?"
"I can't explain it." Isla didn't think she could sit up again until someone tempted her with coffee or food. "He’s… I don't know. He's different. Annoying, sure, and kind of overbearing, but he can also be really gentle. And he appreciates what I can do."
"Isla," Rowan said, and the bunk jostled as the engineer kicked the ledge next to Isla's elbow. "For fuck's sake, girl, you know better than this. You're smarter than this! He's using you. You're a... convenience, that's it. He stole us off the Argo, and —"
"He saved us from Witz," Isla said. She moved to her side so she could see Rowan without having to test her sore abs by sitting up. "The Argo sent us away. They gave us up, and Vaant took us so that Witz didn't trade us to someone else. Someone worse. The Galaxos is an opportunity, Rowan."
"They're kidnappers —"
"In the last two days, we've done more with our training than two years on the Argo," Isla fired back. "They didn't have to let us out to assist that other ship, and they sure as hell didn't have to give us access to the space port. The Xaravians actually appreciate our skills and training, Rowan. You saved that squid ship by yourself — would Witz have given you the opportunity to even try?"
Rowan shook her head, starting to scowl. "You're crazy, Isla. I don't know what he's done to you, but you're not yourself."
The door whooshed open bef
ore Isla could say anything else, and Griggs appeared. Her normally stoic expression looked even grimmer than normal, and she handed over coffee and breakfast without a word. Isla finally sat up, wincing yet again, and dug through her bag for a better uniform than the baggy clothes she'd borrowed from Vaant as she drank the coffee as fast as possible. Rowan muttered and retreated to the other side of the room.
Griggs leaned against the wall and watched Isla wolf down the food. "Do I want to know what happened?"
"You can use your imagination," Isla said. They'd been roommates at the academy; Griggs of all people wouldn't judge her. "And I don't need a lecture, okay?"
"I'm sure you already got an earful." Griggs glanced at Rowan, then sighed. "We've been here two days, Isla. Possibly three — some of it blurs together. That's not long enough to make an accurate assessment of this guy's character. I get that Witz did the fucked-up thing by offering us up, but you can't forget that this guy accepted. Witz wanted to sell, but Vaant bought. Don't forget that."
Rowan's frown deepened. "What the hell do you mean, Witz wanted to sell? Us? Isla said this alien dude threatened to destroy the Argo if Witz didn't hand us over."
"That wasn't true," Isla said, rubbing her forehead. "And I'm sorry. Things happened so fast on the bridge, I thought I heard him threatening Witz. He didn't."
Before Rowan could speak, the bell outside their room rang, then the door opened. The guard kept his eyes respectfully on the floor. "Captain wants to see you."
"Which 'you'?" Griggs asked.
"All of you." The guard gestured at the hall and stood back so they could exit, joining the other three women as they left their room.
Isla looked around uneasily; this seemed like quite a departure from the previous few days, when all six of them were kept separate. Griggs leaned closer to Isla and muttered, "You did a hell of a job, it seems."
