by Anna Carven
“Huh?” Confusion clouded her voice. He relished it, anticipating her reaction to what he was about to say.
“—when I am buried deep inside you, taking my pleasure.”
“Oh.” She trembled, but it wasn’t from fear. Her sweet, heady female musk surrounded him, and he suddenly wanted to taste her arousal. Her reaction pleased him, because it proved that he could distract her with sensual promises, just as he could make her climax with the tip of his thumb.
Soon.
A jarring thud shook the Seadiver as one side connected with something solid. The dock, perhaps? All around them, people were standing and gathering their belongings.
Riana shot him a reproachful look, trying to appear unaffected. But the soft, rapid patter of her heart and her damn intoxicating scent betrayed her.
She couldn’t fool him.
“Let’s go, Carlos.” She stood, and Kail’s dick nearly smashed through his armor-plate. He rose behind her, placing his hand on the curve of her waist as he guided her through the throng.
People moved out of their path as they moved towards the exit. Kail deflected their curious stares. As he met their eyes, the Humans glanced away, pretending they hadn’t been looking in the first place.
Good. Despite this ridiculous new appearance of his, they understood. On some primal, subconscious level, they knew what he was, and they understood that Riana was his.
Kaiin help any fool who tried to get between him and his Human mate.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
They were amongst the first passengers to disembark from the Seadiver. Thanks to Kail’s intimidation factor, even the meanest looking travelers gave them a wide berth.
The route to the main tunnel was poorly lit, cold, and wet. Riana’s booted feet splashed through shallow puddles, and the occasional droplet of freezing water hit her face, dripping down from somewhere in the roof.
Terrible visions of the entire structure caving in and drowning them in a torrent of frigid seawater entered her mind, only to be extinguished by Kail’s reassuring presence behind her.
With Kail backing her up, she felt almost invincible.
The tunnel they were in was narrow and damp. It was one of hundreds of winding, maze-like tunnels that extended under the ocean. Over the years, a warren of the illegal structures had been constructed underneath the English Channel. Smugglers looking to cash in on highly lucrative underground trade routes had used their own resources to tap into the Federation’s infrastructure. All manner of contraband passed through the Channel tunnels; drugs, guns, alien tech, Humans, and even the occasional nonhuman who didn’t want to have their presence registered by the Federation.
They passed into a claustrophobic stairwell and climbed up to the main tunnel. The silent hiss of a hoverail train reached Riana’s ears, accompanied by slight vibration. Above them, the cavernous roof stretched into darkness, the shadows interrupted by the occasional ceiling light. Unlike the tunnels they’d just exited—officially, the smuggler’s route didn’t exist—this thoroughfare was one of many owned and maintained by the Federation.
Riana spied a disorganized rabble of transport vehicles at the end of the dock. “Over there. We can hire one of those guys to take us into the Underground.”
“Hm.” Kail stared beyond the lights of the dock, peering into the darkness. “It seems this tunnel extends for some distance.”
“I’m guessing we’re at least twenty miles out,” she said, more for her own benefit than his. Miles would mean nothing to Kail.
“I could take you there myself, on foot. I can move faster than those primitive things.”
“It’s not that simple. We’ll be spotted if you run, and that would be a disaster, because no Human on Earth can run as fast as you. We’ll have to get one of these guys to take us in. They all have tunnel passes.” The bot-cars and trucks stationed at the end of the makeshift dock were couriers who made a little money on the side transporting illegal entrants into the big cities. Riana only knew all this because Darius had told her.
She had no idea how her little brother knew about secret tunnels and backdoor routes, and right now, she didn’t want to know.
As they neared the end of the dock, several drivers approached them, trying to tout for their business.
“Need a ride, miss? Two hundred credits to London. Three hundred if you’re going the other way.”
“Forget about him. I’ll do it for fifty less.”
“Fuck you, Armand. Hey, lady, don’t listen to him. He’s hopeless. Almost got caught by the Tunnel Guard last week. Sure, go with him if you want to end up getting deported, but if you want to get past the Guard, come with me. I’ll do you a good deal.”
Riana looked back and forth, suddenly flustered. As the first passengers off the Seadiver, they had their pick of the couriers. She scanned the group, trying to pick a driver. It wasn’t easy. The touts all had a certain look about them. They were hard-faced men and women dressed in the unofficial uniform of the Underground; gloves and pants made of waterproof Synthwear, thick-soled boots, and long black trench coats designed to hide all manner of contraband and weapons. Some of them wore dark datalenses, others leaned against their vehicles smoking juvi.
“You.” Kail gestured towards a small woman who was squatting on her haunches. She took a deep drag on her juvi-stick and looked up.
“You want a ride, handsome?”
“You will take us.”
“Kail—” Riana elbowed him in his side before she realized what she was doing. She checked herself. This was Kail, and he wasn’t exactly the affable, touchy-feely type. She wasn’t sure whether they were on friendly-elbow-in-the-side terms just yet.
Scratch that. He was the touchy-feely type, just not in a playful kind of way. Whenever he decided to touch her, it was with very specific intentions.
Such as getting her all hot-and-bothered, or when he was being possessive.
Riana began to tap her foot on the plexfloor. The rapid-fire motion disguised her edginess and hid the fact that she was still suffused with the afterglow of Kail’s… attentions. A wild, nervous kind of energy bubbled up inside, threatening to spill out of her at any moment.
“North or south?” The woman rose to her feet, dropping her juvi-stick, which she crushed under a heavy boot. She fished a pair of datalenses out of her coat pocket and put them on, concealing her dark eyes.
Kail looked questioningly at Riana.
“Uh, north,” she answered, ignoring the curious stares.
“Unlike those assholes, I won’t rip you off. Fifty credits each. I’ve got good a good rep with the checkpoint guards, and there’s plenty of room for you to hide in the understorage. My drop-off is at the Russian Market on the East Side. Big crowds there. You’ll be able to slip away unnoticed.” She headed towards a large dual-level freight hauler parked close to the tunnel wall. A nondescript logo was printed on its side. It read: Epoch Antiques.
“Let’s go.” Kail placed a hand on the small of her back and glared at the man who’d originally tried to solicit Riana’s business. The man looked away nervously, waving at other potential customers as the dock started to become crowded.
“Why did you choose her?” Riana narrowed her eyes as she looked up at Kail. Since when had he become an expert in illegal Earth transport?
“She is honest.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just know.” He said it with utter conviction, as if it were something natural and innate to him, like breathing. “I always know.”
Even though his low voice did funny things to her, for a split-second, Riana wondered whether Kail was a little mad. She shook her head and allowed herself to be guided towards the hauler, deciding to trust Kail’s instincts for now. After all, he’d just managed to score them a hefty discount on the dubiously flexible market price.
“Get in the back.” The woman nodded towards an open door at the back of the truck. “Don’t touch anything, don’t break anything. You brea
k it, you pay for it. I’ll buzz you if we get stopped by the Guard. If you need to hide, there’s a hidden compartment in the subdeck. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but the two of you will fit.” She stared at Kail a little bit longer than she was supposed to, looking him up and down.
It was an insolent, appraising kind of look. Without thinking, Riana grabbed Kail’s gloved hand and entwined her fingers with his, glaring at the woman.
Maybe it was petty, but he was her Kordolian, damnit!
There was no longer any doubt in her mind. Warmth continued to pool between her legs despite their damp, miserable surroundings.
Kail stood beside her, cold, silent, intimidating, and unwavering. He didn’t let go of her hand. He just grunted approvingly, and for some reason that meant the world to Riana.
Outwardly, he appeared as controlled as ever, but his hand trembled ever so slightly, and his breathing was a little more labored than usual. The changes were minute, but Riana could tell the difference. For Kail to be showing signs of tension… perhaps he was closer to unraveling than she realized. Her breath hitched as she remembered what he’d said to her on the Seadiver.
You can’t escape me now.
“I don’t have all day. Let’s go.” The hauler driver turned abruptly, her boots squeaking on the plexfloor. “And no funny business back there. I don’t want you ruining any of my stock.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The door slammed shut behind them, leaving them in darkness.
But Kail could see everything. He grinned for the first time in longer than he could remember. The expression felt strange.
Kail never smiled.
But he was smiling now as he held her in the darkness. He mapped the contours of her exquisite face, taking in her widening eyes and slightly parted lips. Such generous, luscious lips. He’d never seen anything like them. A trace of moisture glistened on her lower lip and he wanted to taste it.
He did. He kissed her softly, and she gasped. The stuff on his face; this SecondSkin or whatever it was, truly lived up to its name, for he felt nothing out of the ordinary.
“Kail! What are you—” She stepped backwards, almost tripping over a low box.
He pulled her towards him. “Careful.”
The cargo hold was full of random, useless looking things. Human things. A certain scent lingered in the air. It wasn’t unpleasant; it was the smell of age and weathering, of preserved plant bodies and woven animal fibers and parchment and oxidation.
These were the kinds of objects that could be found on sun-planets like Earth, where things actually grew.
“Kail…” She pressed her hand against his chest, holding him at bay.
“Why do you protest? Do you not want this?”
“I do.” Her affirmation was swift and direct and it pleased him immensely. “It’s just that we’re in the back of a freight hauler, and now is not the right—”
The vehicle’s engines hummed to life. He pushed her back until she was against the wall. She searched for him in the darkness, but her gaze was unfocused. She couldn’t see him at all.
Kail’s grin widened. “I promised you,” he whispered, leaning in so that his lips were almost brushing her ear.
She trembled. The hauler started to move, causing her to shift on her feet as she tried to maintain her balance. Kail put his hands around her waist, steadying her.
Gods, it was too much. He wanted to tear her garments from her lush body and fuck her senseless. He was ecstatic and frustrated, teetering on a blade’s edge between self-control and savage abandon.
There was nothing holding him back apart from his own need to savor the moment, his own desire to maintain control. He slid his hands up her body, feeling her sensual curves underneath the layers of her clothes. He cupped her breasts, appreciating their roundness.
Perfection.
She caved under his touch, pressing herself against him. He moved closer until his body connected with hers. They were still fully clothed, but he could feel her heat and hear the thunderous pounding of her heart.
“Do you like me like this, Riana?”
“Huh?” Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.
“Do you prefer me in the guise of a Human? With this brown skin and dark hair? With different colored eyes?” He took the soft lobe of her ear into his mouth, rolling her tender flesh between his lips.
“I don’t care how you look. You’re still Kail,” she whispered. She’d gone very still.
“You would fall for someone like me? An alien?” His tone was slightly mocking. He brought a hand up to the back of her neck, sliding it under her scarf, caressing its slender curve with his gloved fingers. So far, the only part of him to directly touch her had been his lips. “You know what my kind are capable of, don’t you?”
“I know.” She stiffened under his touch, tension thrumming through her body. But he didn’t sense any fear. Instead, she seemed… excited.
“You know, my people have enslaved species more advanced than yours. We have brought ancient civilizations to their knees. Kordolian rule is never benevolent. It is ruthless and bloody and it never ends well for races like yours.” His words were a hot, harsh whisper in her ear. Kail began to unwrap the red scarf at her neck. He leaned in and tasted the soft, warm skin at the base of her neck.
“Why are you telling me all this? Why now?”
“That is the reality of what I am.”
“Are you going to enslave me too, Kail?” Her eyes flashed in the darkness. Her pupils were as big as moons, and whether that was the effect of her arousal or the absence of light, he wasn’t so sure. “What happens when your Imperial warships come to Earth?”
Kail brought his fingers to the opening of her coat and dragged the fastener down, revealing her breasts. Her nipples were large and prominent underneath the silken fabric of her blouse. He buried his face into her chest and inhaled deeply, catching the distant memory of spices and desert heat. “I don’t know.” No-one knew Akkadian’s mind; he was notorious for being a cryptic bastard at the best of times, but Kail had sensed a change in the General of late.
“After I help you find your enemies… do I go back to being just another inferior Human?” There was a sting in her voice, and he liked that.
“No,” he growled. To his delight, she wore only the flimsiest of garments underneath. He slid her outer jacket over her shoulders, allowing it to drop to the floor. A soft, breathless moan rose in her throat. “No-one will be allowed to touch you. No-one will even look at you without my permission. I know my people well, Riana, and in turn, they know what my kind are capable of. Believe me, once they understand that you are mine, they won’t dare lay a finger on you.”
He took one of her perfect nipples between his lips, sucking it through the thin fabric of her top.
“Ohh.” She quivered and exhaled slowly, placing her hands on his shoulders. “Kail, you’re impossible.”
She was so, so lovely, and in her innocence, she still didn’t realize what she did to him.
Or perhaps she did. Perhaps she had been winding him around her little finger all along.
“Kail,” she said, her voice low and husky and full of barely suppressed heat, “what are you waiting for?”
And just like that, she tore away the last shred of his self-control.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hoooly hell. What had she just done? She was playing with fire, and she’d just tipped Kail over the edge.
She couldn’t see a fucking thing, but that didn’t matter, because her body was on fire, and her nerve endings were finely attuned to his touch. She barely heard the distant thrum of the freight hauler’s engine above the beating of her own heart.
His mouth was all over her. His hands were all over her. He was all around her, a towering, undeniable presence.
“Enough,” he growled. “You are mine now.”
Then his hot lips were on hers, and he was kissing her savagely, his insistent tongue meeting hers as he pushed her back
against the wall, pressing against her. The massive bulge of his cock strained against her lower belly.
Riana whimpered.
Wetness seeped between her legs. Her pussy throbbed as she imagined him sliding into her.
There was a tearing sound, and then the front of Riana’s blouse came apart, the expensive hundred-year-old silk ruined by Kail’s rough, powerful hands.
She didn’t care.
Cold air kissed her chest, followed by his hot lips. His hands were on her hips now; he was tugging down her skintight leggings, followed by her panties, which were soaked through with moisture.
Gooseflesh rose on her belly and thighs as the cold air hit her skin. Fabric rustled and shifted as their bodies moved together, and suddenly Kail was on top of her, his bare cock resting on her skin.
Jupiter, he was huge.
“Come here.” His voice was thick and rough. He hooked his hands under her legs and ass and lifted her up so that she was straddling him. “You want this.”
It wasn’t a question. She curled her legs around him, amazed at his sheer size and strength. It was obvious that Kail was a big guy, but to have him towering over her in the darkness was something else. He enveloped her in his strong arms, running his hands up her back and neck, breathing deeply.
He was power and grace and barely restrained fury.
Just when she was about to beg for release, he pressed a naked finger to her entrance, stroking her.
“Ohh.” They both moaned at the same time; hers was high-pitched and breathless, his was a deep growl.
And then he was there, stretching her, filling her, his thick shaft sliding between her silken folds.
“Ahhh.” She groaned as he stretched her. He pushed deeper and deeper until he’d filled her to the hilt.
Then he stopped.
And for a moment, they just held one another, and Riana stared into the darkness. She didn’t need to see anything. The darkness was Kail.
And she was in awe of the fact that this terrifying, savage creature could be such a tender beast.
