3013: MATED (3013: The Series)

by Roma, Laurie

  Holy shit!

  She wasn’t expecting the reaction she got when all four of them growled furiously. The low, vicious sound was frightening and made her freeze faster than if someone was holding a blaster to her throat, but with them surrounding her she had nowhere to go. Xavier used his hand to tilt her chin up, and she found herself staring into silver eyes glowing bright with fury.

  “Who dared to call you flawed?”

  ***

  Chapter Three

  Xavier barely held back a snarl of rage as he looked down at the tiny human female staring up at him with wide eyes the prettiest shade of violet he had ever seen in all the worlds he had ever visited.

  But she wasn’t just any female…she was his mate.

  As a dragon shifter and keeper of magic, Xavier was a male with immense power, far beyond anything humans could ever imagine. With his brother Galan and his two best friends and blood brothers, Thorn and Brydan, there was very little they could not accomplish. No task was too great or out of their reach, and what he wanted most right at the moment was to go out and find every single living creature that had dared insult his little female and destroy them.

  Alexis belonged to them…even if she didn’t know it yet, and no one would ever harm her ever again. She was their mate, or she would be once they claimed her, and it was their duty and privilege to care for her.

  From the moment they had arrived on Earth, Xavier had been overwhelmed with the need to claim Alexis. All it had taken was one look, one smell of her scent and he knew without a doubt she was the one they had been looking for their entire lives. He had felt something settle inside his soul, as if he had finally found the missing piece of himself that allowed him to really breathe for the first time, and knew it was the same for Galan, Thorn and Brydan.

  Dragon Warriors wished to find their mate more than anything. They were immortal, and the long years became harder to bear without the one female they would love above all else. Most males were born in twin sets, and all had dark, golden skin with dark hair and features. For those males that chose to live their lives away from their home world of Arcadia, it was a lonely existence. Despite the hardships, the need to explore was ingrained into their very being.

  Years ago, when Xavier and Galan had realized they wanted to leave home, it was only fitting to ask their closest friends, Thorn and Brydan, to join them. Their parents had been the best of friends and it was natural that the four males had formed a close friendship growing up. Since they were younglings, Xavier had always been the leader of their group. Strong and commanding, he took charge of every situation. His twin Galan was the complete opposite of him. Quiet and reserved, some thought him shy, but the truth was that he was a dreamer with a poet’s soul. Thorn was a planner and saw everything, while his brother Brydan was a trouble maker with a wicked sense of wit.

  The four of them were very different, but together they created an unstoppable force. They had always acknowledged that their close bond would make it necessary to take a single mate to share among them. They loved traveling the stars, but their desire for a mate who would love them had grown into a hunger that was too strong to ignore.

  The four of them had received plenty of offers from females on numerous worlds they had visited. Most females seemed to be drawn to their strong bodies and dark looks. Sometimes they would sate their lust, but never before had all four of them looked at one female and knew she belonged to them.

  Not until they saw Alexis Donovan.

  She was a vision more beautiful than he could have ever imagined in his wildest fantasies. The tiny female had pale hair the color of a sunbeam, and shocking eyes that reminded him of the purple moons from their homeland. He knew instantly that she would be the one to complete his soul, and the urge to claim her rode him hard. Xavier’s body had grown tight and his cock had hardened the moment their eyes had met. He had also felt the surge of lust from his brother and friends and knew they were in complete accord.

  “She is the one,” Galan had declared through their mind link the moment they had transported to the Earth’s surface.

  “Aye, she is,” Xavier had responded, feeling a wealth of satisfaction surge through him.

  “Let us claim her now and be done with this,” Brydan had growled impatiently. “We could be gone and bedding her before the humans know what happened.”

  “Tread carefully, brother,” Thorn had warned. “She is a human representative and we do not want to start a war with Earth if we claim her.”

  That had Xavier going still, and had sent anger surging through him. “If? There is no if, Thorn. She is our mate. Can you not feel it?”

  “Aye, I do, but what if she is taken or does not want us?” Thorn shot back. “And how willing would she be to mate with us if we cause a war with her people?”

  Damn Thorn and his logic.

  But hearing that her people deemed her unworthy changed things.

  “Calm, brother,” Galan said, using their blood bond to speak telepathically instead of out loud as Xavier fought the urge to shift.

  Never before had he felt such rage coursing through his veins. How dare they call her flawed? She was perfection, every inch of her lush body, and anyone who said different would learn that they would have to answer to him.

  “To all of us,” Brydan corrected.

  “Calm, both of you,” Thorn warned softly. “You are scaring her.”

  Xavier took a deep breath, trying to regain control over his emotions. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten his mate before he had a chance to bond with her. But looking at her he didn’t see fear, he saw astonishment instead.

  “You…you’re very angry,” she whispered, her voice filled with surprise.

  “Aye, I am, but not at you. You are not frightened of me because you know I would never harm you,” Xavier stated. It wasn’t a question. No, he was too arrogant for that.

  Her lips curved up in a small smile that made his heart race. “No. I’m just surprised that you are angry on my behalf.”

  Insult had his eyes narrowing on her. From the sound of the growls coming from Galan, Thorn and Brydan, they obviously felt the same way.

  Her head jerked to the side, looking at the other males then settled back on Xavier’s face. He watched as she gulped, and couldn’t help but imagine her doing that while drinking down his seed. He held back a groan as he shifted his stance to ease the pain of his erection trapped inside his leather pants. If he didn’t get her under him soon he felt like he was going to die.

  “Why is this such a surprise to you?”

  She sputtered for a moment, not knowing what to say then she simply shrugged. Xavier was not satisfied with that response and would have questioned her further if her wrist unit didn’t beep.

  He stepped back, allowing her to leave the cocoon they had created around her and immediately felt bereft at the loss of her nearness. They watched her silently as she moved across the room and answered the call. No matter how far she had moved from them, they were still able to hear the call with their enhanced hearing and relaxed as they realized she was speaking to her commander.

  “I need her,” Xavier whispered, all the longing and need he felt clear in his tone.

  “We all do, but I fear rushing her into a mating that she does not understand,” Thorn replied.

  Brydan blew out an impatient breath. “I still say we should just take her with us and leave. Once she is truly ours we can return to visit.”

  “I wonder how you ever have female company,” Galan growled in disgust, making Brydan grin.

  “I have never had one complain yet, my friend.”

  Brydan’s low laughter had Alexis turning back toward them, smiling at the sound. The four males straightened as she walked back to join them, her eyes filled with hesitation. “That was my commander. There has been an informal dinner planned for this evening if you’re willing to attend. We have a larger celebration planned at the end of the week but—”

  “Would you
like to go to this dinner?” Brydan asked.

  She frowned. “That’s not up to me. This is your—”

  Galan stepped closer and cupped the side of her face in his large hand, rubbing his thumb over her cheek as if savoring the feel of her. “We have no preference except to spend more time with you. If you would like to attend then we shall.”

  “I…okay. Yes, I’d like to go.”

  Galan nodded. “Then we will be happy to go wherever you wish.”

  She cleared her throat and took a step back, looking around at the four of them. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t prepared for your arrival yet. I have to go back to my living quarters to pick up a few things. As a liaison officer, we usually stay with the visitors we are in charge of looking after. That is, if it’s alright with you if I stay here…in case you need anything.”

  “We would love for you to stay with us,” Thorn said so reverently that it had her blinking.

  Thorn glanced at Xavier, reading the sharp hunger flooding through their link. He knew Xavier was close to losing his mind with the need for her, not that he wasn’t. But Thorn knew that Xavier had always been closer to the dragon spirit that lived within them, and it was more difficult for his friend to control his animal nature. “You and Galan go with her. Prepare her for what is to come, and by the goddess, explain to her what it is we want before pouncing on her.”

  Xavier looked at Thorn with gratitude glowing bright in his molten silver eyes. “Thank you, my friend. I will do my best to convince her to bond with us.”

  “Just try not scare her.”

  “All will be well,” Galan promised. “We will allow no other outcome. She belongs to us. All four of us.”

  “This bites,” Brydan grumbled. “Since Thorn and I will have to wait for our turn to bond with her, at least keep our mind link open so we can experience her pleasure that way.”

  Xavier and Galan nodded then smiled as Alexis shot them a confused look. “We shall accompany you to your domicile to collect your things,” Xavier said.

  “Oh, well…”

  “Thorn and Brydan will stay here to relax for a bit while my brother and I join you,” Galan said, making Brydan snort. “It will be interesting to see where you reside.”

  Before she could argue, Xavier took her small hand in his. “We do not wish to be parted with you, and would feel better if we could come with you to offer our protection.”

  Her brows shot up at that then she sighed. “I’ll be fine, but you can come with me if you really want.”

  “We do.”

  The looks of satisfaction on their faces gave her pause, but figured she could take them with her if they really wanted to go with her. Really, they were just curious.

  What could happen if she took them home with her?

  ****

  Alexis fidgeted uncomfortably as she led Xavier and Galan to her living quarters.

  Acutely aware of the curious eyes on them as they walked down the street together, she led them toward the building she lived in that catered to elites. The large men stubbornly refused to leave her sides, which meant other people had to move out of their way. Of course, most people would have moved anyway, considering how big the Dragon Warriors were.

  They were like her own personal force field.

  Their glowing eyes seemed to scan the street as if searching for some unseen threat. Their big bodies shielded her protectively, as if she were the most important person in the world to them. It was an amazing feeling, yet also slightly bewildering.

  And It made her heart ache with longing.

  They were large men and very intimidating…not to mention so wickedly handsome she felt the need to change her clothes when she got home because she was sure her panties were soaking wet. She wanted to cringe as the men at her sides took a deep breath, closing their eyes as if to savor the scent. They had been doing that ever since they had left the guest suite. She hoped to god that they were scenting the savory smells of food drifting from the various restaurants they’d walked past instead of her lust for them.

  The scene back at the visitors suite had her confused, and being around Xavier and Galan wasn’t allowing her to process what had happened in peace. All four of the men had been killing her with the waves of lust pouring off of them. When they had closed her in between their massive bodies she had been close to ripping off their clothing and begging them to take her.

  Never before had she felt so connected to anyone, and it baffled her even more because the intense desire hadn’t been for one or two of them.

  She wanted all four of them.

  Needing to get the hell out of that room before she did something she’d regret, she had taken the opportunity Jax’s phone call had afforded her and said she had to leave. She’d never expected them to want to join her.

  “Hey, Lexie!”

  Alexis turned as she heard the sound of her friend Skylar’s voice calling her. She smiled as the other woman hurried over.

  “Hi, Skylar,” Alexis greeted the other woman warmly. She introduced Xavier and Galan to her friend, covertly watching them for their reaction. Skylar Aris was a beautiful woman, tall with the perfect body of an enhanced elite, and long black hair she usually had pulled back in a bun, but was now falling over her shoulders in sexy waves.

  All men reacted to Skylar’s beauty, much to her friend’s consternation. She usually had the ability to make men speechless with one look of her eerily light-blue eyes, but Xavier and Galan seemed…unaffected. Puzzlement rocked Alexis back a mental step. She had been so certain the males would forget about her as soon as they met another beautiful woman, but the only thing she sensed from them was mild curiosity.

  “It is nice to meet a friend of Alexis,” Xavier said in his deep, rich voice as he casually placed a hand around Alexis’ waist, pulling her to him. Galan stepped closer so he was practically pressed to her other side. Skylar’s eyes widened as she watched them and Alexis was even more bewildered by their possessive display.

  “Ah, nice to meet you as well.”

  “Are you ready to move?” Alexis said, trying to act normal when she was feeling anything but. Her heart was racing at the feel of Xavier and Galan’s heated skin against hers even through their layers of clothing. She had to stop from simply closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of Xavier’s hand rubbing her side gently as they stood there and forced herself to focus on the conversation.

  “Almost. I have a month before I actually start with the new unit they’re putting together. I sure will miss you. Who knows where they will station us.”

  Alexis laughed, glad for the distraction. “You’ll be too busy with your new unit to miss me.” She turned to look up at the men at her side. “Skylar used to be a liaison officer, but she just transferred to the interrogation unit.”

  “What is that?” Galan asked.

  Skylar smiled. “We investigate crimes. It’s going to be so exciting. I can’t wait to start, but I can’t help wishing you were coming with me.”

  Xavier frowned. “This interrogation unit sounds dangerous. I would not want Alexis doing anything that could put her in peril.”

  “And you think being a liaison for alien races never puts liaison officers in danger?” Skylar laughed. “Lexie, you should tell them some of the more exciting stories…especially the one about the Reema group last month. Boy, were they a pushy bunch.”

  Alexis flushed at the memory then paled as she felt a flood of rage coming from the men so strong it almost brought her to her knees. The sensation was so much stronger since she was touching them that she hadn’t been prepared for the rush of feelings. Gasping, she found herself in Galan’s strong arms, the front of their bodies plastered together as he held her up.

  “What is it, sweetling? Are you unwell?”

  “No, I’m fine,” she lied. Her senses were calmed by the concern she felt from him, but the steel-hard spike of his erection pressing against her had her freaking out for a completely different reason. Reminding herself t
hey were on a street where anyone could be watching her unprofessional behavior, she took a deep breath and fought the urge to hump his leg to gain some relief.

  “Please put me down.”

  Galan’s jaw clenched, but he did as she asked, holding onto her as her feet touched the ground. “I believe I should carry you to your domicile.”

  “I’m fine, really.” Alexis found herself rubbing her hands on his arms. She told herself it was to soothe him and not just because she wanted to touch him. Feeling the waves of pleasure coming from him, she smiled shyly before stepping back only to bump into Xavier. He stroked a hand over her hair and the gentle touch made her want to purr with pleasure.

  Holy jump drives, what was wrong with her?

  “Ah, Alexis? Could I have a minute?”

  “Sure,” Alexis said, blushing at her behavior. With her head down she excused herself from the two Dragon Warriors then walked a few feet away with her friend.

  “What the hell is going on? First of all, those are two of the hottest men I have ever seen, and honey, they are all over you,” Skylar said in a rush. “Go, Lex!”

  “I don’t know what is happening to me,” Alexis groaned. “Ever since I met them I’ve been unable to control myself. And it’s not just these two. There are two more back at the suite.”

  “Four? Seriously? You lucky bitch,” Skylar hissed as she grinned.

  “Sky, I can’t. You know I would get fired if I let anything happen. And I don’t think I can be around them anymore without something happening. I can’t seem to control myself around them.”

  Sympathy clouded Skylar’s eyes then they took on a speculative gleam. “Why the hell should you control yourself? No one has to know. And it’s not like you’d be the first officer to indulge a little. Plus, you deserve some happiness after what those assholes put you through. Don’t hold back just because of the job.”

  “You think? I mean, I feel that they want me, but I don’t know if it’s me or they just want to be with a human woman.”