She came to him, slipping onto his lap and wrapping her arms his neck. Her hands caught up his heavy braid, and she kissed him long and deep as her nimble little fingers undid the plait. He ran his hands up and down her spine, pulling her close to mold her softness against him.
When his hair fell loose, she combed it forward with her fingers, pulling the black waves around them like a curtain. She loved the feeling of Degorsk's tresses against her bare skin, concealing her from all but him, even though they were currently alone in the quarters. She moved against him, basking in his warmth. He lifted her, and she wriggled in delight to feel the dual penetration of his sexes. He fit her so well, the thicknesses causing a scrumptious friction that made her toes curl with electric reaction.
Straddling his lap, Cassidy's feet didn't touch the floor, and she rocked back and forth, only moving him in and out of her clinging sleeves a bit. She whined in frustration, wanting to feel his full lengths driving into her. Degorsk gripped her waist, slowly raising and lowering her, and her beseeching whimpers settled into throaty moans.
"Is that better?" he asked, his voice teasing.
"Wonderful." She kissed all along his jaw, down his throat, nipping a little with her teeth to make him growl softly.
He stood and leaned over so that she lay on the table top. With the hard surface beneath her, she was at last able to move better against him, to meet his thrusts with her own. The table was the perfect height for the tall Kalquorian to take her.
Degorsk straightened so they could both watch him disappear into and re-emerge from her core. Seeing the dark shaft pierce her pink-ivory flesh was a delight to Cassidy's eyes. Her passion grew at the sight, and she propped herself on her elbows to get a better view. The moist sounds of coupling and their mingled scents of cinnamon and sea salt added to the delectable sensations.
The deep tickle in her nether regions grew trembling sweeter with each plunge. Degorsk pushed with increasing force, his momentum quickening. He looked into her eyes, holding her gaze with the blue-purple depths of his stare. The intimacy of his gaze seized her as if in a gentle trap, and despite the intensity, she couldn't look away. She came that way, grasped in the embrace of his unblinking regard.
As she shuddered beneath him, her face lost in rapture, Degorsk surrendered to the gentle spasms milking his flesh. He groaned, relinquishing his seed in teeth-clenching bursts.
When the strength returned to his legs, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Already her warm center stirred him anew. Would he ever get enough of his precious little Earther?
No. If they both lived a million years, he would never be fully sated. Of that he was sure.
"Degorsk, you'll keep me safe, won't you? You won't let Earth have me, no matter how things turn out?"
His brow furrowed at the unexpected fear in her voice, at the question that seemed to come from nowhere. She was usually so confident. The drug had made her very vulnerable indeed. "You have nothing to fear from Earth, Cassidy. Your clan will keep you safe." He smoothed the almost-white hair from her face.
"Safe," she whispered. She smiled at him, as sweet as any angel of her religion. The muscles of her hearth clenched around his desire. Oh yes, he wanted her again. There was no question of that.
* * * *
Tranis and Lidon stood outside the one containment cell that held a prisoner in the detention area. The other Earther captives were held elsewhere on the transport.
The Earthers' code of 'take no prisoners' was never more apparent than the tiny detention area. With only six cramped cells, the 75 members of the Earther transport crew and nearly 200 Mataras wouldn't fit. Not that the Kalquorians would have held women in such a manner anyway. The forced re-education of the childbearing-aged females was insult enough. Treating them like criminals as well would have been barbaric.
Only General Hamilton occupied the detention block. He sat on a small bench, his hands folded modestly over his genitals. A waste disposal and sink were his only other furnishings.
"Back to gloat, I see," he sneered at them. Tranis wondered how fast he'd cower if Lidon lowered the transparent shield and walked in with him. It was the Nobek the general watched.
"We've broken the codes to access the security grid," Tranis said, letting triumph fill his voice. "An invasion fleet of Kalquorian warships is on the way. Earth will be ours in a matter of days."
He watched Hamilton's haughty expression sag. "Your forces have gotten through the outer perimeter?"
"Two days ago with heavy casualties on both sides, unfortunately." The reports had been as bad as Tranis had feared. The invasion was indeed their last-ditch stand. Without victory and enough Earther females to carry their children, the Kalquorian civilization wouldn't last much longer.
The general's expression was satisfyingly bleak. "You must have thrown everything you have at us."
"The defenses of the Kalquorian Empire are still well manned, but our allies have been overrun. It won't matter once our fleet reaches Earth."
"Cut off the head and the body dies." There was grudging respect from Hamilton.
"We're not planning to destroy your world or people."
"But you will. And then like carrion eaters, you'll feast on our flesh and bones. Animals."
Lidon snarled, "You declared war on us. All we wanted to do was survive."
The Earther's lip curled, matching Lidon's scowl. "By polluting God's greatest creation with your infernal seed. Did it ever occur to you your kind's extinction might be part of a divine plan? That the virus that killed most your women and left the rest barren was God's will?"
Tranis gripped Lidon's arm to stop another lengthy and loud debate between the two men's ideologies. Hamilton was a fanatic, and disputing his views was wasted breath. As Lidon liked to quote, 'Blinded by thoughtless faith and deafened by clamoring zeal, the intolerant stumbles in an exitless maze of his own making, never to find his way out.'
The Nobek's tension eased at Tranis' touch. Instead of arguing he said, "With the taking of Earth, I'm curious about the several notations of 'Armageddon' imbedded in the codes, especially in reference to unauthorized use of the wormholes. As I'm to understand it, it is an indication of the end of your world as you know it. In other words, the overthrow of your government's regime. Is that correct?"
A myriad of emotions ran across the general's expression; sorrow, hatred, and finally resignation. "'The just will be uplifted by God, and the infidels will perish.'" His smile was a pained grimace. "All things serve God's will. Even monsters like you. It is the Flood again, wiping the slate clean of our sins."
Tranis had heard enough, but Lidon persisted. "Talk sense for a change."
Hamilton rose. Not bothering to hide his nakedness, he strode forward to face them. Slow tears ran from his eyes. "I see now it is God's will for this end. It is written, set down by the hand of God millennia ago. 'As for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, idolaters and all liars; their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire.'" His head hung down. "My punishment will be to see this come to pass before I too am cast into the pit. God forgive me."
Tranis shook his head. "He has nothing more of worth to us, Lidon. Let's go."
They left Hamilton sobbing in his cell.
?
Chapter Sixteen
The clan's new quarters had one round window in the sitting area that looked out on the port side of the ship. Cassidy stared out at the large number of vessels gathering in space on this side of the defense grid. She recognized them from schematics she'd seen in her grandfather's home: Kalquorian destroyers. No doubt every one of them had a full complement of hundreds of single-man fighters.
The door behind her whispered opened, and she saw her clan's reflection as the three men entered. They paused, seeing that she looked outside.
"How bad will it be?" She couldn't keep the pain from her voice.
Lidon took a breath before answering. "That all depends on the amount of
resistance we encounter."
Tranis stepped close, but he wisely didn't touch her. She would have pounded on his already battered body if he had. "The plan is once the destroyers go through the portal they'll take out military installations right away. Then they'll enter the airspace of major cities and threaten the population unless Earth's government immediately surrenders to Kalquorian authority."
Lidon was quick to add, "It's only a threat to force cooperation, Cassidy. Our survival depends on Earth. We have no intention of attacking civilians and wiping out our only salvation."
Cassidy spit the bitter words out. "People will die."
Tranis' voice was low. "Many on both sides already have."
"It was Earth that declared war on Kalquor," Lidon pointed out.
Cassidy swung around to face him. "But it was Kalquor that kidnapped Earther women first. Don't pretend your race is the innocent victim in this conflict."
"We're not." Tranis' voice was heavy. Degorsk and Lidon stepped up to flank him. They looked unhappy too. "I know you're angry to see your planet about to be attacked. You have every reason to be. If there was some way to do this differently, I would, but Kalquor is out of options."
Degorsk rubbed his brow. "We don't want to see you hurt, sweetling. This is torture for us."
She didn't doubt his words. Lidon's hands were fisted at his sides, and she knew for the warrior to show such obvious emotion, he was indeed upset. Tranis was as pale as his dark skin allowed, and Degorsk blinked over bright eyes.
They love me, and it's ripping them up inside to be a part of this. Still, the pain won't keep them from handing over my people to Kalquor.
Somehow it made their situation worse. She battled hot tears and lost. They flowed down her cheeks, and it was several moments before she could ask her next question.
"What happens if you win?"
Tranis looked over her shoulder at the destroyers. "Occupation. Dismantling Earth's military until a government more in line with our wishes is established."
"And carting off Earther women to Kalquor?"
Degorsk was able to meet her eyes on that one. "Only volunteers, at least at the outset. Our Empress is adamant the women who come to Kalquor do so willingly."
Cassidy stared at him. "I wasn't willing, not at first."
Tranis looked ill. "The women we've captured are considered spoils of war, to be kept as Kalquor sees fit. Once the fighting ends, the rest of the Earther females must join us of their own accord. The situation will be re-evaluated in five years, but at this time we cannot force them to leave Earth and clan with our men."
Lidon nodded. "Empress Jessica fought hard with the council for that concession."
Surprise shut down her tears. "But she's just a slave for breeding heirs to the throne."
It was the men's turn to look startled. Degorsk answered, "Our Empress is every bit as esteemed as the emperors. She is no slave. We serve her just as gladly as the male members of the Imperial Clan."
"Even though she's an Earther? Even though she's female?" Cassidy gaped at them.
Tranis chuckled, finally managing to find humor in the situation. "She is probably the most respected member of the Imperial Clan, and the most intimidating. I'd hate to be the man who tries to rule her."
Degorsk finally touched her, his fingers whispering trails through her hair. "Women are revered for their strength and intelligence on Kalquor. You will learn that we don't want to enslave your people, not when there are Earthers like our empress. Like you."
If they spoke the truth, Kalquor's successful invasion of Earth would give women opportunities they hadn't realized in decades. Cassidy's inner turmoil ratcheted up another notch as she realized the clan had no reason to lie to her about the outcome of the Kalquorian takeover. She was theirs, after all.
She met Tranis' gaze. "You swear Kalquor will do all it can to treat my people humanely?"
"You have my word Cassidy, as a military leader and as your Dramok."
"It would be so much easier if I could hate you," she whispered. It was the closest she'd come to admitting the love she felt for her captors.
"I'm glad you don't." Tranis pulled her close so he could kiss her. She fell against him, wanting nothing more but to forget the opposing forces pulling at her loyalty.
The hands stripping her of her underdress and the mouths tasting her bared skin helped her do that. She didn't know they'd taken her to the bedroom until she was lowered to the small bed.
The men's formsuits were gone in a twinkling, and their skin was hot to the touch. Cassidy glowed in their warmth, in the rough laps of their tongues. They savored her as if she were the most delectable of morsels to delight their palates. She arched and sighed as they found the most sensitive places to taste. She clutched the backs of their heads, pressing them close, encouraging them to take all she had to offer.
Each sampled the sweet cream that flowed from between her thighs, their moans of pleasure as profound as hers. She writhed against the softness of the sheets, every languorous lick setting off little explosions of delight. At last she could take no more of the magnificent torture.
"Tranis," she whispered.
He looked up, his eyes so very, very drowning dark. "Yes, my love?"
"I want you inside me. I want you now."
Lidon and Degorsk fell back. In an instant, Tranis' great bulk covered her, and Cassidy opened herself wide to take him in. He slid inside easily, and she cried out with welcome.
Tranis rose to kneel on the bed, bringing her up with him. One hand cradled the back of her head, tilting her face so he could smash his lips to hers. The other cupped her buttocks, supporting her while he thrust deep inside. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, rising and falling upon his staffs. She felt she claimed what was hers even as she gave herself up to him.
They moved together, instinctively knowing the choreography of life's most ancient dance and performing each step with precision. Over and over Tranis filled her, and she clutched at him with inner muscles, drawing him deep into her well. The darts of bliss grew to spears of ecstasy, and she bit his lips as light suffused her being.
Tranis bore her back down to the bed, spasms wracking his hips as he ground against her. She clawed at him, furrowing his shoulders with ferocious glee, marking him as her own. With a strangled cry, he surrendered his seed to her. She gloried in every throb of his flesh within her own, in her mastery of the brute who'd dared to try enslaving her.
Cassidy allowed him a moment to collect himself before shoving against his chest. When he moved away, she held her hand out to the wide-eyed Imdiko. "Degorsk."
He bowed his head and came to her, his graceful movements as he crawled onto the bed making his muscles ripple beneath his skin in a way that had her catch her breath. She rose to greet his advance, her hands and mouth greedy to sample the pleasure of his body. Her teeth scraped his skin as she feasted on his neck, his shoulders, and his chest.
"Matara," he groaned, his voice lost in wonder. His hands tangled in her hair, raising the tresses to his face and inhaling. She rewarded his worship by licking a nipple,
to which he arched and groaned again. Cassidy licked and nibbled her way up to his lips. Capturing his face between her hands, she plunged her tongue deep into his mouth, taking the orifice as demandingly as he had taken her sex so many times. He submitted, letting her have all she wished.
"Mine," she declared.
"Yours," he hoarsely agreed. His lips parted in acquiescence when she demanded another taste.
Degorsk obeyed her silent command when she pushed against his chest, allowing her to roll him onto his back. She crawled over the magnificent behemoth, her body charting the muscled terrain as she committed every swell and dip to memory. No part of the stunning physique went unremarked: his thighs, the double row of muscles of his abdomen, the width of his chest were catalogued.
"Mine," she whispered. She lowered herself over him, filling her womb with her prize. Degorsk's neck
corded with tension as she slowly took him over, his fists gripping the bedding.
When she'd enveloped all of his offering, Cassidy sat still for a moment, relishing the possession. Her fingertips traced the contours of his torso as she soaked in the sensation of absorbing the double thicknesses of the Kalquorian male. Seated deep inside, Degorsk awaited her command, to be relieved of his need or denied.
She leaned forward to capture his mouth with hers, slowly releasing his shafts from their sweet imprisonment. Just as they came close to freedom, she ensnared them once more, trapping them in tight cages of clutching flesh.
Cassidy propped herself over Degorsk, her hands splayed on either side of his head. She closed her eyes to feel him better as she slipped back and forth over him. She took him slowly at first, the better to feel every fraction of his lengths as they dove deep into her core.
His hands covered her breasts, and she moaned to feel the heat of his touch. Her nether regions clenched, and he groaned in answer. Still, he dared not move except to knead her soft mounds with trembling hands. He was hers to do with as she wished, yoked to her desire. His own wants were subservient to hers, and he would demand nothing.
Cassidy, however, was free to exact any pleasure she wanted from her devoted servant. As the slow friction built a mountain of need, she drove faster against Degorsk. She rammed him deep inside, insisting he relieve the ravenous hunger that could only be sated for a short time before rising to be fed again. She panted through parted lips, the exertion and growing exaltation quickening her breath and heartbeat to match the pounding rhythm of her hips.
"Oh," she gasped as the orgasm sent its first flickering warmth through her. "Oh. Oh, oh, oooooh…"
Degorsk arched beneath her, his hips rising to press him even deeper inside. She felt his larger organ flex hard, and his groans joined hers.
She fell to lie on against his chest, riding the swells of his gasps as the spasms slowly left her. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips before pulling free of him. "Mine," she whispered one last time.
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