by Maree Dry
“We will find her.”
She paced up and down. “What if they took her out of the country? Or to a really big, well-armed camp?”
“I am warrior.”
Julia stopped and frowned at him. “All right, don’t get all offended again.”
“No matter where they take her, I will find her for you.”
“I know you will,” she placated and could’ve kicked herself.
She did not cajole and coax. She prided herself on the fact that she’d escaped that life and made her own way.
He grabbed her by the nape of her neck and kissed her. A hard open mouthed kiss that stated his ownership with every movement of his lips and every stab of his tongue into her mouth. For someone who’d never kissed before he met her, he sure knew how to make a woman’s knees turn to jelly. She moaned and kissed him back, and she thought at least an hour could have passed when he lifted his head.
“I give you the word of a Zyrgin warrior, I will find your friend.”
“Thank you.”
He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom. Julia had to admit she enjoyed the sheer drama and romance of being picked up and carried to his bed. In the doorway, he stilled and his arms around her hardened. His whole body vibrated.
“Now what?” she snapped. Couldn’t she just enjoy one romantic moment.
“You took away the Eduki skin.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Thank heavens, she hadn’t put it away in the closet. It might have caused the sky to fall in. “I thought it would look nicer over the chair.” She’d actually tossed it over the chair with the idea of getting rid of it later. It weighed a ton.
His hold tightened. “You cannot reject me.”
“Having a dead animal in my bedroom doesn’t exactly do it for me. And how does that mean I’m rejecting you?”
The thought of walking away from him caused a strange tension around her heart. He dropped her down on the bed and she bounced a few times before she sat up and glared at him. “What’s your problem?”
“I faced the Eduki without weapons and killed it. I cleaned and skinned the pelt and invited my fellow warriors to feast on its meat.”
“You ate a bear?” Julia exclaimed, nauseated at the image of a bunch of warriors eating bear meat.
“As is proper,” he said.
“Did you at least cook it?”
“Why would we want to cook it?”
Ask a stupid question. “Never mind. Wait, where did you find a bear?”
He stared at her.
“Don’t even try that ‘you don’t need to know’ nonsense with me. Bears are extinct and I’m reasonably sure they weren’t blue.”
“I killed it for you. You cannot reject me or the Eduki skin.”
Julia knew an evasion when she heard it. What she couldn’t figure out was why the location of the bears was such a big deal.
He lay down next to her.
She leaned down and kissed the deep scars on his chest. “How did you get this?”
He’d been almost relaxed but his body tensed. He stared up at the ceiling unblinking, his teeth grinding together. “When I was very young.”
“I thought it might have been during a war.” She bit her lip and then said in a rush. “It looks more like torture than wounds received during battle.”
“I have never been captured or tortured.”
“You’re that good, huh?”
“Yes.”
“And so modest.”
She knew he didn’t tell her everything. Something in the way he held his body, the tense sound in his voice, said that there was a lot more to this story.
“I am scarred but not weak. I can protect you.”
“I’m sure you can. You proved it when the reverend caught us.”
She knew she shouldn’t feel sympathy. He’d turn dictatorial soon enough. And she still doubted that he was capable of emotion as she understood it.
“I will kill all the Raiders walking the Earth for you.”
“Okay, that’s...uh...nice of you.”
“Their heads will adorn pikes as far as the eye can see.”
“Uh, that’s very kind of you but not really necessary. I’m not all that into the dead heads decorating style.”
He continued as if driven. “I will prove to you that I am a good provider.”
All urge to laugh left her. She stroked his brow, the ridge on his head. “You are a good provider, Zurian. You protected me against the reverend, looked after me ever since.”
He kept talking as if her words hadn’t penetrated. “I will make sure you get more food so that you do not become thin and, when I am doing warrior business, I will always store you in a safe place when I cannot be here to protect you.”
“Thank you, I think.”
Julia kissed his chest, to hide her smile. She should not allow him to charm her. The smooth warm skin with scar lines patterned all over it seduced her. Tempted her tongue to come out and play. Coffee and spice filled her nostrils.
He tensed when she touched her tongue to the largest scar on his chest. The one that ran from his shoulder to his chest. When she reached his chest, she found another one and changed direction to follow it with small kisses. She could do this forever. His spicy taste dissolved on her tongue, causing her to crave more of him.
Suddenly, she was flat on her back with him looming over her. “You do not act with properness woman.”
“Properness? What? You want me to just lie here while you pleasure me to death?”
“I will pleasure you but you will not die.”
“You don’t know me, if you think I’m just going to be dictated to.”
“It is not proper for a woman to enjoy a man.”
“Are you sure?” she stroked his shoulder. Followed the vein in his neck down to his chest. “You said you wanted to care for me. That means you want me to be happy, don’t you?” She kissed his chest, licked the salty skin, and almost purred like a cat. “Touching you like this, kissing you makes me happy.” She kissed down his flat stomach. “You want to keep me happy, don’t you?”
“I have proved I can pleasure you.”
“Yes you have, now I really want to show you that I can please you as well.”
He stared at her and she had the oddest feeling he was calculating the risk of letting her touch him.
She kissed his chest. “I love touching your beautiful body. Do you work out?”
“I practice with the sword every day.”
A swoon-worthy picture of him practicing with his sword popped in to her mind. Half-naked muscles gleaming in the sun as he twirled a sword. “Will you let me watch you sometime?” His whole body tensed and she quickly added, “Just you, I only want to see you practice.”
“I will think on it.”
She leaned half on him and kissed him and he stayed still and allowed her to continue, but she felt as if she was stroking a tiger that was waiting to strike.
He drew her down into his arms slowly. She should’ve known he would take charge of this too. He arranged her with great precision. Mimicking her actions, he told her how much he enjoyed touching her, but she could see him holding on to his control. Icy calm the whole time. She waited in vain for the red tendrils to appear in his eyes. Even so she was seduced.
***
Julia woke because she couldn’t breathe. Something large and warm had her in a death grip. Her eyes opened but she wasn’t sure if she did it voluntarily or they popped out from being squeezed so tight.
“What, are you doing?” she wheezed.
He held her as if he was afraid she would run off into the night.
“Cuddling you. The manual said it was mandatory.”
“I need to get up now.”
She was a fool. A soft fool. Instead of trying to spare his feelings, she should’ve told him he was crushing her ribs.
He didn’t try to hold her to him and didn’t tease or pretend to chase her like a human man would--simpl
y lifted his arm and allowed her to walk to the bathroom. She closed the door and used the facilities. Winced when she stepped into the shower. They definitely had to talk about the number of hours she could make love.
She lathered up the washcloth and winced again at how tender her skin was. Once that alien got going there was no stopping him. The shower door opened and he stepped inside. He looked huge and threatening. Like a warrior god bent on devouring her.
“No, there’s not enough space for both of us. Get out.”
Actually, it was an amazingly large shower but if he touched her again, her skin might peel off from too much pleasure.
As it was, she was sure she’d be walking bow-legged for the rest of the day.
He stepped into the shower.
“Why do I even bother? You just don’t listen.”
Zurian took the washcloth form her and slowly gently drew it over her shoulders.
Julia placed her hand over his on the cloth. “I’m sore. I can’t handle any more. So no more sex for a while.”
“I will wash you. No pleasure until tonight.”
Julia sighed and let go of the washcloth. Who knew she would find someone who could out stubborn her?
He kept his word, carefully washing and drying her and then handing her clothes to her. Julia was seduced all over again. Afterward, they sat in the kitchen, and she could see that Zurian prepared to feed her again. She would tackle that issue later. For now she wanted something else.
“I want to visit Natalie today.”
“No.”
“Are you planning on keeping me confined in here?”
“Yes.”
“You’re making a big mistake. I won’t be held in a cage like an animal in those old zoos.” How could he make love to her, try to cuddle her, and then change into this uncompromising stranger?
“You only have to tell me what you need and I will bring it for you. I built this dwelling for you.”
“All I want is to be free, to walk outside. Visit Natalie when I feel like it.”
“You belong to me now. I will make you happy like I did last night.”
“I don’t believe this. It’s like talking to a wall. I need more than intense sex to make me happy.”
“I am not a wall. I hear every word you speak but I cannot allow you freedom until you are trusted.”
“And just how am I supposed to gain this trust.”
He hesitated. “It will take time.”
They finished eating in silence. Julia had every intention of getting out of this place.
He pressed his forehead against hers and went to the door, grunted, and it opened. The moment it closed, she rushed over and grunted as well. She had a good ear for languages and she grunted exactly like he did. The door stayed close. She turned and stared at her TC lying on the silver couch and then the wall where the broadcast had appeared.
“Well, why don’t I just call Natalie? That would irritate a certain copper green alien no end.”
It took her five hours and a lot of swearing but she managed to call Natalie’s TC at last.
Natalie’s cheerful face appeared. “Julia, this is a great surprise. I’m glad Zurian relented at last and allowed you to call out.”
“Hey, you want to have lunch with me?” Julia felt guilty for not telling Natalie she’d jippoe’d the TC. But it might be better for her friend if she didn’t know.
Natalie smiled a shy smile. “Zacar will be away most of the day, so do you want to come over?”
Julia rubbed her head. “I’d love to but I have to shower first. Do you mind waiting?” That should get her enough time to tackle the door again.
“Sure, I’ll start cooking.”
Julia stopped her before she could disconnect. “Oh and I’ll need directions. Zurian forgot to tell me.”
Natalie pressed something and an image of Zurian’s domed dwelling hovered there. “Just follow this path until you reach a stone that look like a monolith. You can’t miss it.”
Natalie blinked out and Julia turned to the door. “I’ll get out even if I have to blow it up.” In the end it took her half an hour to find the panel above the door. “Gotcha.”
She half expected to see Zurian waiting for her with his booted feet apart and his arms crossed over his chest. Instead, she stepped out into a beautiful fall day--a slightly cold wind and a painfully beautiful blue sky above her. Julia looked at the abundance of trees. Natalie’s hand in restoring the mountain could clearly be seen. Not for the first time, she thought that the world needed more Natalie’s.
Finding the cave was ridiculously easy once she spotted the monolith.
She stopped and stared at the dome covering the entrance of the cave. The huge rock hid the cave entrance with the door camouflaged to blend with the mountains. Some kind of force field hummed over a large area in front of the opening. It looked like glass but she was sure it was something like a magnetic shield. “You just have to love copper green guys with technology like this.”
It shut off abruptly. An alien stepped out and motioned her inside. He looked younger than Zurian. In a million years, she would not describe him as boyish but he seemed less threatening than Zacar and Zurian and even the doctor.
“The breeder of our leader is in the kitchen area.”
She noticed he kept his distance from her and was careful not to look at her. Remembering the way Zurian reacted when other men were near her she didn’t blame him.
The cave was huge with smooth silver walls. She frowned at the perfect flat roof.
“Did they do that? I’m sure caves normally have jagged rocks sticking out everywhere.”
“They seem terminally opposed to uneven surfaces,” Natalie said.
“I would love to get my hands on their gadgets,” Julia whispered to Natalie. She remembered what the alien had called Natalie.
“The breeder of our leader?”
“Don’t ask,” Natalie said. “Have a seat. I have everything served already.”
Julia sat down. Fresh baked bread, butter, jelly, and some sausages were arranged on the large kitchen table. She took a bite and then looked at Natalie. Something had been bothering Julia and she might not get another chance to ask questions. “Do Zacar’s eyes sometimes show hints of red?”
Natalie blushed and studiously buttered a piece of bread. “They do. Especially when we...you know.”
Julia had a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Natalie speared a sausage. “It’s perfectly normal for Zurian’s eyes to turn red when he looks at you.”
“They’re this beautiful tar black. Oh, I don’t know how to describe it, but sometimes I can swear I see red sparks in there.”
“Natalie concentrated on buttering the bread. Oh?”
“Then it’s as if something inside him shuts down and the red disappears.”
“I’m sorry, Julia.”
“Why are you apologizing? Don’t hide things from me, Natalie,” she begged when she saw Natalie hesitate.
“Their eyes turn red when they do battle. And whenever they feel strong emotion.”
Julia swallowed the bitterness in her mouth. “That’s what I thought.”
They sat in silence for a while. Neither one of them eating. They both knew Zurian felt no strong emotion for her.
“Are you sure his eyes never turn red?” Natalie asked when the silence had dragged uncomfortably.
“Yes. Sometimes there’s these red tendrils or they’ll flash red but he always goes sort of cold and they’d turn black again.”
“Zurian always kept to himself. To tell you the truth, he always scared me” Natalie gestured at the young alien who’d let Julia in. “Azagor is always around and he even answers my questions sometimes. The others seem to talk more to each other. Although to be fair, it seems as if all they do is work.”
“So you’re saying he’s, what? A loner and that’s why he doesn’t show emotion?”
“I don’t know. Zacar gets really difficult if I try to
get to know them.”
Julia became aware of snatches of conversation. She paused with her food halfway to her mouth. “Drill through...” The rest of the sentence was just grating sounds. “...will get the...”
“I think my language chip is kicking in.” As well as the mother of all headaches.
“You can understand them?” Natalie asked.
“I’m getting snatches so it must be starting to work.” The pain in her temples became intense. She moaned and rubbed her temples. If it hurt this much for it to work, she’d rather not understand a word they’re saying.
“Strange, mine kicked in all at once,” Natalie said. “I didn’t realize, because they spoke SG in front of me and Zyrgin when they didn’t want me to understand what they were talking about.”
“They have two languages?” Julia resisted the need to clutch her head.
Natalie motioned to a comfortable looking couch in an area of the cave clearly designated as living space. “Let’s sit here. There is Standard Galactic and apparently everyone in their galaxy understand this.”
“And Zyrgin?” Julia got up carefully and walked to the couch. She was determined to enjoy this visit and get as much information as she could before Zurian found her. No headache was going to stop her.
“They call it the old language and, apparently, it’s almost impossible to learn. And they refuse to implant breeders with it.”
“Why?” Julia relaxed as the headache faded away somewhat.
“They don’t have women on their planet. They take wives from the planets they conquer.”
“Ah, so they make sure they don’t speak the language since they don’t trust them?”
“Yes.”
“Your asthma is better?”
Her friend looked subtly different. Always before Julia had thought her skin had a sullen, sickly look and worried about the asthma overtaking Natalie while she was alone and in need of medical attention. Except medical attention was scarce these days. Especially in rural areas.
“Yes, I rarely have problems now.” Natalie briefly touched her chest. “It’s been two years since I’ve had a serious attack. The doctor said it would stop in time.”
“I’m so glad for you. You had me worried sometimes.”
