by ML Guida
“Agnes, are you okay? Do you want some pain medication?”
“No, I’m groggy as it is. I just want you at my side.”
“That you always will have.”
She drew on her determination not to let the throbbing consume her. Hoss needed to share his story, and she needed to hear it. “Why?” she croaked out.
“What? I didn’t understand you.”
She cleared her throat and a stronger voice asked, “Why did your father kill himself?”
“Because my mother left him.”
She frowned. “I thought they were mated.”
“Her first mate died, then she settled for my father and had me.” Bitterness crept into this voice. “I don’t think she loved either one of us.”
“I do.”
He laughed. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that.” He stopped laughing, and his eyes turned serious. He gently kissed her forehead and stroked her hair. “Because you’re my life. I…love…you.”
She raised her eyebrow. “I bet that was hard for you to bust out.”
He ran his fingers through his messed up hair and slumped in his chair. “You have no idea. I never wanted to end up like my father, never thought I could trust a woman not to leave me…Until now.” He bent over and brushed his lips over hers.
Strangely, the throbbing pain lessened, not clouding her thoughts. “Hoss, how old were you when this happened?”
“I was six when my mother left and twelve when my father hung himself.” He put both his elbows on her bed and rested his head on the top of his knuckles. “Dad and I had a fight on my birthday. Mother sent me a card every year. It was the only time I ever heard from her. I blamed him for her leaving. I left angry and went over to Damon’s house.”
Agnes was at a loss on what to say to him. She rubbed his trembling arm.
He raised his head. Tears glistened in his eyes. “I found him in the garden, swinging from a rope. He didn’t even leave a note.”
Ignoring the pain, Agnes forced herself to sit up and drew him into her arms. He lay his head on her shoulder and held her close. His heart beat pounded next to hers. She stroked his hair.
“Mother didn’t send for me even after he died. Now, she’s dead, too.”
His voice was barely a whisper.
Anger cruised through Agnes at his mother for being so selfish. She wasn’t sorry that the Kamtrinians had killed her. His mother might not have loved Hoss’s father, but Hoss was her son. She kissed his wet cheek. “I’m here. And I won’t leave you.”
He took a deep breath and slowly released her. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. It seems every time I touch you or kiss you, the pain lessens.”
“Mates have the power to heal each other. Not necessarily cure, but heal faster.”
“Well, you’re doing a great job.”
He smiled.
“So, you pushed women away after this, didn’t you?”
“Yup. I just liked them to warm my bed. I never wanted to be mated.”
“Why did you agree to mate with me?”
“Didn’t have a choice. The Fates, our goddesses, had other plans. I said no, but King Greum ordered me, too. You don’t say no to the king unless you want to die a horrible death.”
“Smart king.”
The door opened and Tryker came inside pushing Frank in a wheelchair. Dark circles were underneath his eyes, but his color was better and his eyes brighter.
“Frank!” Anges smiled.
“Hello, sis. You’re looking a hundred percent better.”
“So, are you. How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a Mack Truck, but Tryker says I’m healing.” A glint showed in his eyes. He gripped the arms of the wheelchair and stood. He tilted his head. “Thanks to him, I’ll be walking soon.”
“He’s been trying to walk everyday until he’s bone tired,” Tryker said. “He’s a man of steel.”
“Of course, he is. He’s a Malloy, and my hero.”
Tryker wheeled Frank over to the other side of her bed. Frank leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“You scared ten years off me, sis. I’m glad you’re on the up and up.”
“He’s been visiting you everyday,” Hoss said. “Tryker had to force him to leave.”
Anges swelled with love. Her brother cared. He’d proven it to her. “I never thanked you for saving my life.”
“And I hear you went to hell and back to save me. I guess we’re even.” He sighed and looked around the room. “I wanted to apologize to you for giving you a hard time about your ability. Without it, we would have been in a world of hurt down there. Do you forgive me?”
She’d waited a lifetime to hear those words, gone over what she’d say, how she’d bawl him out, but all she could do through the tears brimming in her eyes was utter yes.
She wiped her eyes. “Okay, I think I’m done crying for one day.” She took a deep breath, looking at the two men who meant more to her than anything. She asked in her best cop voice, “I know this is a dumb question, but are we on Earth or in space?”
“Earth,” Tryker answered. “Our ships are still invisible, and the captain ordered us not to move you or Frank until you were completely healed.”
“I think he’s worried that if the space medicine didn’t work”––Frank smirked––“that they would need to rush us to a hospital.”
Her stomach let a rumbling roar. The three men looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Would you like something to eat, mate?” Hoss asked.
“Obviously. Can I get a cheeseburger and fries?”
“Definitely, my sister,” Frank quipped.
“Of course, you can.” Hoss kissed her forehead. “I’ll get you anything you want. You’re my mate.”
Two months later
Agnes snuggled next to Hoss, listening to his heartbeat. Her body still tingled from their love-making. He snored softly next to her. She never wanted to leave his side. It had been difficult to say good-bye to Frank, who had returned to the FBI. He was a different man, more open minded, and aware that humans weren’t the only ones in the universe. He’d be an excellent ally for the Zalarians.
The one who drew the death stick had been Kathy. She was devastated over her sister’s death and blamed herself. No matter what she or Hoss or Frank had told her, she said the death was her fault. If she’d believed… If she hadn’t gone out for Starbucks… Lisa would have been alive. Kathy was wrong. If she’d been with her sister, she’d be dead, too.
Agnes sighed, knowing she was helpless in changing Kathy’s mind. She wished she could be there for Kathy, but her place was with Hoss. He’d promised that she could visit Frank and Kathy whenever she wanted. She’d hold him to that. But as far as she could tell, her mate would deny her nothing.
She drew on his chest with her finger.
“You keep doing that, and I’m liable to take you again, mate,” he mumbled.
She looked up into his hooded eyes. “Promises, promises…”
“You’re such a tease.”
“I know. But we’re a team.”
“I don’t know what the captain was thinking putting you on my team.” He shook his head. “You could get killed.”
“He knows a good cop when he sees one. He was impressed with what I did on Earth.”
“Such a stubborn wench.”
He rolled on top of her and kissed her hard. He moved his hands all over her body, caressing her breasts. His thumbs brushed over her nipples, igniting a fire. She caressed his back, his muscles rippling underneath her fingers.
He left her hungry mouth and trailed kisses along her throat. He slowly edged down her body, kissing and suckling as he went until he captured a nipple. She gasped and threaded her fingers in his hair. He stroked the curls between her legs, teasing her with his strong fingers.
Another wave of passion built inside her. She wiggled beneath him as he brought her pleasure. She spread her legs, wan
ting to feel him pumping inside her.
He released her nipple, lifted himself up, and in one swift thrust, filled her with his cock. She gripped his shoulders as he rode her hard, stealing her breath and rushing her toward another orgasm. Her heart thundered, sending blood roaring through her, pooling between her legs. She met his rocking thrust each time, skin against skin, heat stirring heat.
She dug her nails into his shoulders, as the furious orgasm built inside her. She inhaled his fiery breath. Her dragon demanded to be satisfied, and she locked her legs around his hips, imprisoning him. Her orgasm burst through, sending her on a mountain high. She screamed out his name.
He pounded harder then followed, spilling his seed inside her. He collapsed, panting. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you scream out my name.”
She kissed his hot lips and broke away. “I’ll never get tired of saying it. I love you.”
He stared at her with possessive eyes. “And I you. You’ve unhinged the nightmares inside me and killed the madness. With you by my side, we can rebuild my world.”
She put her palms on his sleek cheeks. “And protect mine.” She caressed his buttocks with the back of her leg. “Claim me one more time.”
He ran his hand down her side. “Never satisfied.”
Shivers of desire pumped through her. “Not with you I’m not.”
Hoss claimed her again and again, leaving her little doubt that she’d captured the heart of a dragon.
Do you love dragons? Want to read more? Check out Madness Unmasked! The adventure continues. You’ll also meet the dragons’ allies–Arians. They’re space bears!
In this next book, Ysam is Daidhl’s brother and he’s blamed for what his brother did on Earth. He’s problems get even worse when he learns his mate is none other than Kathy Strong who wants nothing to do with aliens. But if they don’t mate, it spells doom for the Zalarians and Earth. Will those two ever be mated or will both their worlds be destroyed?
Excerpt from Madness Unmasked
Vrae Galaxy
Stars whizzed on the main bridge screen, but the Kamtrinian ship was faster, leaving the Intrepid in the dust.
Nucl pressed flashing buttons rapidly on his navigation and security board. “Captain, the Kamtrinians are out of our phaser range. We’re losing them!” His panicked voice matched his shaking fingers.
Tash, captain of the Intrepid, leaned forward on his command chair that had control panels on each side of the arms. The right panel readings listed the damage to the colony––buildings disintegrated, vegetation burned, and lifeforms dead. “I can see that helmsman. We need to remain calm.” His heart was thundering, pumping adrenaline at ultra speed, but his voice remained in control. His bear demanded to be set loose so he could tear apart a Kamtrininan, but he drew on his training as a United Planet Confederation Captain to push back his anger and control his animal.
The Intrepid rattled as it chased after the faster ship.
Tash’s intercom binged on the left control panel. “Captain?”
Tash cringed. It was his youngest brother, Ryruc, who they called Rye. He was the chief engineer, but when he was annoying, he called him by his real name. “Yes, Ryruc.”
“Damn it, Tash. What the hell are you doing? The engines can’t take much more of this. The Intrepid will shake apart.”
Rye was the alarmist of the family and the one with the shortest temper.
“Captain,” Vaughn, the Intrepid’s science officer and Tash’s brother, looked up from his red-colored scanner. He narrowed his green eyes. “If we enter the Chronos Star Solar System, we will be violating Confederation Command.”
Knup tapped his headset and punched the smooth buttons on his blue keyboard. “The Kamtrinians are demanding contact, Captain.”
Tash sank back into his black chair. “Put them on the screen.”
A tall, muscular humanoid with smooth white skin and three black eyes flashed onto the soft gray screen. “I am Yagok, Captain of the Executor. You are about to enter our solar system, which is a violation between our two confederations.”
Tash refused to show fear, but something about those three beady eyes reminded him of swirling, black holes and sent the hair on the back of his neck standing up. “This is Captain Tash of the Intrepid. You murdered innocent men, women, and children on Taurous. We have––”
Yagok growled, his eyes glowing darker. “They were invaders.”
“Taurous and Sutois are part of our solar system. You had no right to destroy them.”
Yagok smiled. “Only the strongest will survive, which you will soon discover. Prepare to be destroyed. Communications out.”
Nucl turned around, sweat glistening off his temples. “We have to do something. We have to destroy them. They decimated the colony!”
“I’m very aware of what they did, Nucl.”
A group of scientists had recently set up a settlement on the farthest orbiting moon––Taurous––of Sutois, which was the farthest and unknown planet of the Vrae Galaxy. Their mission had been to study the unknown planet of Sutois for possible life and development for the Confederation.
“The engines are overheating,” Rye growled. He was very close to letting his bear escape. The Intrepid was his baby and his bear was fiercely protective of her.
Nucl gripped his console. “Captain, we can’t reduce speed.”
“She’ll break apart,” Rye snarled.
“I suggest, navigator,” Vaugh said. “That you remain calm and not endanger the ship. Or you risk tangling with our chief engineer.”
Nucl’s face turned several shades of grey. Rye was twice the bear he was, and when the Intrepid was in danger, he showed no mercy.
“But…”
Tash clutched his navigator’s seat, dominating the bear’s fear. “Nucl, stay on course. Reduce ultra-speed to nine. I’m not sure what Yagok is planning, but we have to keep our wits together.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” he grumbled. He was wise enough not to argue with Tash, since Rye was still listening.
Tash swiveled his chair. “Knup, have you been able to reach Confederation command?”
Knup shook his head. “No, Captain.” He furiously typed on his beeping keyboard. “Static is blocking our communications. It’s coming from the Kamtrinian ship.”
“Vaughn, what do we know of Sutois?”
“Not much, Captain. The atmosphere is similar to Aria–oxygen atmosphere, water, plants, minerals–and the planet can support life. No advanced civilizations inhabit the planet. However, the scientists had reported before their demise that there was life on Sutois. They were preparing to investigate when they were attacked.”
Tash rubbed his chin. “Maybe that’s why they were attacked.”
Vaughn nodded. “Possibly.”
Nucl glanced over his shoulder. “Captain, the Kamtrinian ship is slowing down.”
“Be prepared. Yagok said they planned to destroy us.” Tash stood. “Why wait until they reach the edge of our galaxy? Vaughn?”
Vaughn had returned to his scanner. “Unknown, Captain. But they appear to be firing up their weapons. Wait, there’s a second ship.”
Tash’s adrenaline whisked through him, his bear demanding to be released. The hairs on his back rose and his nails lengthened. He clenched his fist, struggling to remain in control. “How could we have missed them?”
Vaughn jerked his head up. “The second ship appears to have had a cloaking system.”
Tash’s mouth ran dry and the adrenaline pushing through his veins spiked, making him sweat. He hit the alert button. He scrambled for his captain’s voice, almost got it. “Red alert, red alert. All crew members report to battle stations.”
Rather than calm, cool and collective, he growled. “Nulc, raise our shields!”
Nulc cried, “They’re firing, Captain!”
Two torpedoes fired. The spinning white lights slammed into the Intrepid’s shields, and she jerked.
Vaughn pushed the shields’ control on his p
anel. “We lost shield number one.”
Tash ordered. “Return fire!”
Nucl fired photon ruptors. The ruptors smashed into the first ship, but the second one disappeared.
Another hit slammed into the Intrepid from behind, and she lurched forward.
“The second ship is behind us, Captain,” Vaughn said. “We’re trapped.”
“Not yet, we’re not. Nulc, navigate to maneuver five.”
Maneuver five meant the ship would move down rather than forward or backward. Just as the first ship was to return fire, the Intrepid vertically dropped, so the two Kamtrinian ships were facing each other. A crash rocked overhead.
“Captain?” Vaughn smiled. “The first ship fired on their own ship, but it disappeared.”
“We were lucky,” Tash said. “I doubt we will be again. Nucl, circle around to the first ship.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Vaughn, scan for the second ship. Look for any unknown gas.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The Kamtrinian ship filled the screen. “Fire, Nucl. Full proton torpedoes.”
Torpedoes blazed toward the Kamtrinian ship. Victory was at hand, but another blast slammed into the Intrepid, sending her into a spinning nose dive. Tash somersaulted, the bridge rushing around him. He crashed into a wall, dots blurring his vision.
Sparks bursts through the bridge like a chain of explosions.
“Captain!” Rye yelled over the intercom. “We’re down to one shield and one engine.”
Tash slowly crawled to his feet, ignoring the pain throbbing in his back. “Vaughn, what the Jiarus happened?”
“That second ship has a new weapon, Captain. I should have surmised this.” Vaughn was surprisingly still at his post, his hands gripping the scanner. “We can’t withstand another direct hit.”
Knup snatched his hands off his flickering console. “Our communication system has short-circuited, Captain. Even if we get out of here, I can’t reach Confederation command.”
Phasers zapped the ship. Lights blinked. The Intrepid jolted, then slowed.
