by Lynnea Lee
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Hang in there!” Angie’s voice came from the comm. The hives on her neck looked much calmer. “We will be back tomorrow afternoon. But I don’t think we can get you a new translator until you return to the colony.”
“That’s fine. I can pick berries without it.”
“Where’s Vore?”
“Vore’s out checking the perimeter.” Not enjoying being completely alone, Lettie had borrowed Vore’s comm to make a call to Angie while he was out.
“So, how are things between the two of you? Getting along while we are gone?” Angie looked at her expectantly. She was clearly expecting some girl talk.
“Vore’s been really sweet.” Lettie wrapped the thin blanket around her shoulders tighter. Considering how hot the sun had been at noon, it sure was cold this evening.
“And?”
“And nothing. Vore hasn’t made a pass at me since after the coilbeast.”
Angie looked sympathetically at her. “You didn’t want him to, right? We decided we are going to the baths after. You can find someone there. And he’ll continue looking for his mate elsewhere.”
The idea of Vore out hunting for his mate, made Lettie see red. But she didn’t understand why. He wasn’t even her type!
Angie laughed. “You should see the look on your face. Admit it. You want him!”
“But I shouldn’t!” God, she sounded like a whiny bitch! It must be so frustrating to watch her indecisiveness. Even she was getting annoyed at herself. It was time to stop being so silly. “Do you think it’s true that the Tallean males who play the hardest are looking for the one?”
“I don’t know, but that’s what some believe. But remember, Vore is a mercenary who lives most of his life on a ship. Most females aren’t interested in living in space, so most females treat them as one-night stands. It must suck to be thought of as that his whole life.”
“But what if he likes that. He gets all the ladies without needing to worry about the commitment. Isn't that every man’s dream?” She thought of her ex, and bile rose in her throat.
Angie looked at her like she grew a new head. “Girl, I love you, but you are messed up in the head. You don’t honestly believe that, do you? That’s fucked up! Men, or males, want to be loved too. Didn’t you see how over the moon Arus was with Mia?”
“I guess. Maybe I should give Vore a shot, even if it’s just sex.” Lettie thought of the heated kiss they had shared in their tent that first night. “Vore is really freaking hot!”
Angie laughed. “You got that right! Many Tallean males are! And you will need to sleep with them to see if a bond forms. Unless your future mate somehow forms a bond without ever being intimate with you.” Angie shrugged. “I mean, I’ve heard of stories. But they were just that, stories.”
“You’re right.” She blew out a breath. “Angie, I need to learn how to separate sex and love. Help me!”
“Sometimes, I’m not sure I can do it either. Honestly, every time I spend more than a few days with Holden, I start thinking we might be mates again. But there’s no bond. When we part ways, it hurts for a bit, but then I start seeing other people, and the pain fades, and we go back to just being friends.” Angie looked pensive.
“Do you want Holden to be your mate?” Lettie realized that this whole mate business was much more complicated than it seemed.
“Maybe?” Angie looked pained. “Aw shit, what a horrible response! I feel like we are good together, but something is missing. I just don’t know what.” She was quiet for a moment but spoke again. “But I do have a suggestion for you on how to separate sex and love. Why don’t you start with Vore? He’s leaving right after the harvest. So if no bond forms, he will go on his way, and you won’t be spending enough time with him to get too attached. It will be easier because you won’t bump into him all the time. Just in case you accidentally catch feelings.”
“Then, won’t I just be like all the other females who use him for sex?”
“If it’s mutual, is it honestly an issue?”
“I guess not. I’m still against starting a relationship with a known player. But sex, I think I can do that.” Lettie knew she had to learn to see sex and love as separate things. And Angie was right, Vore was the perfect candidate, he was leaving on the Defiant soon, and she wouldn't have the time to get too attached.
A familiar form strolled towards the camp.
“Oh shit, zip it! He’s back.”
They said their farewells and hung up. It was a brief call, but it gave Lettie a lot to think about. She had been a bitter bitch for far too long, and it hadn’t made her any happier. It was time to make a change. Lettie understood that Vore might not form a bond with her, but she wanted that to be because they tried, and it didn’t work, rather than be because she never gave him a chance. She planned on making something happen with Vore before he left.
Vore set up a small fire for just the two of them, and they quickly ate their bland meal of ration bars. They had worked later today, trying to make up for the long break they took when the sun was at its zenith, and the sun was already setting.
Lettie was disappointed when instead of making any moves on her, Vore took out the bottle of Rhean spirits again and sat down across from her. It almost seemed as though he was trying to ignore her. As she had said to Angie, he hadn’t tried anything since the coilbeast. Was it too late? Had he lost interest in her already?
Lettie looked straight at him, trying to see if he was avoiding her gaze on purpose. He kept his eyes averted and took a big swig from his bottle. Was Vore trying to get drunk? He took another drink, remaining silent.
This wasn’t going to work; Lettie needed another plan if she wanted some sexy time. She retreated to their tent as an idea popped into her head. Vore had an impressive sense of smell. He was always able to scent her arousal, fear, or any strong emotions she had. She planned on using it to get what she wanted.
Every nerve in his body fought him, as Vore tried to ignore the distracting female. He didn’t trust himself not to seduce Lettie if he paid attention to her. And he didn’t think he could handle it if Lettie rejected him again. Stars! It would kill him. Trying to distract himself, Vore took a giant glug of the Rhean spirits.
The dangerous predators around Reka 5 were all diurnal, and Vore was sure that they were safe from attack at night. The coilbeast needed the heat of the sun to hunt, and the dragus packs never prowled after sunset, as they needed sight to co-ordinate their group attacks. There were no other dangerous predators in the area unless he counted himself.
Vore only had one prey in mind, and she had made it plenty clear that she was not interested. He was pathetic! No female had ever taken him seriously. He had always been the one females wanted to have in their bed a few times and no more. He played it up, of course, filling his life with one meaningless conquest after another. Just because Lettie was looking for something serious did not mean that she viewed him as anything more.
What had started as a challenge had developed into an obsession. Vore could not get the thought of Lettie out of his mind. Of course, it didn’t help that she had slept and woke in his arms for two nights. Last night had been a special kind of torture, holding her so close all night, drinking in her scent, all the while knowing that she would reject any advance he made. All day today, he had dreaded the coming darkness.
Against his better judgment, he brought the bottle to his lips again and took another drink. He couldn’t help but notice the look of disapproval in Lettie’s eyes. Great, now Lettie would believe he was a drunk too. But it was not like he was messing up his chances any more, she had already made up her mind about him, and he didn’t know how to change it.
Vore wasn’t drunk, not in the slightest. It would take a lot more than two glugs of Rhean spirits to affect him. He was putting on a show for Lettie so that he didn’t need to face spending time alone with her. If she thought he was drunk, maybe she would go to sleep alone, a
nd Vore would be able to bring his mat over to the spare tent.
Realizing that Vore wasn’t going to pay her any attention, Lettie got up and dragged her feet to their tent. She smelled sad, and Vore felt like shit, knowing he had made her feel that way. He was not proud of this moment. What type of useless male had to pretend to get drunk to find an excuse to sleep separately from his temptation?
Vore sat by the dying fire, eyes on the tent. She was probably asleep by now. He got up and moved towards the tent, bottle still in hand. He planned to get in, grab his sleeping mat, and move it over to the now-empty tent without waking her.
It hit him the moment he ducked his head into the enclosed space; the aroma of Lettie’s pleasure filled the tent. Lettie had been pleasuring herself. Fuck! He took a step towards the curled form facing away from the door.
Lettie was not asleep. She turned to face him with sleepy eyes. Smiling up at him, she patted the sleeping mat next to her. She had butted the two mats together.
“Come to bed, Vore.” Her words were like a siren’s song, and he stumbled forward, moved by feet that were no longer his. He fell to his knees on the mat in front of her.
She frowned at the bottle in his hands. “How drunk are you?”
Vore paused, not sure if he should be truthful or continue his deception. He decided that lying to Lettie was not an option.
“I’m not affected at all. I only had two sips, and I have a good tolerance. It was like drinking water. You affect me much more than any drink.”
“Oops.” Her laughter danced in the air between them. “I forgot about the translator. I still can’t hear you.”
She took the bottle and leaned it up against the tent. “I don’t think I need any liquid courage. I can do this.”
Then Lettie climbed into his lap, straddling him. His half-hard cock, which he had been trying hard to calm, roared to life.
“Lettie.” This was not a good idea. It would destroy him to witness her lust turned to disgust again.
But Lettie wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his mouth. And any protest from his brain was lost. A soft purr rumbled from his chest as she rubbed her core against the bulge at the front of his pants. Vore swallowed hard. She was totally naked. Fuck! Could he still believe his eyes? Had she been touching herself, waiting for him to come into the tent?
Released from any sense of self-control, Vore kissed her back. He tasted her and explored the contours of her lips and mouth with his. Releasing her mouth, he growled, “Stars! I need you so much.” He pressed the side of his jaw against hers, rubbing it with affection.
“Please, Vore.” She rolled her hips against him again.
He gripped her hips and moved her off him, and the look of disappointment in her eyes was impossible to miss. But it faded when she realized he was taking his clothes off. The moment his cock was free, she reached for it, and his snarl of lust echoed in the tent.
“Mmm,” she hummed as she explored him with her hands.
Wrapping both hands around him, Lettie stroked him from base to tip and then back down while she caressed his sack with the other. Vore clawed his fingers into the mat, trying to stay in control. He wanted to let her explore him all she wanted. Maybe if she thought that she was calling all the shots, she wouldn’t be reminded of his reputation.
Leaning forward, Lettie wrapped her lips around the head of his cock, exploring it with her mouth and tongue. She hummed again. The sound made Vore twitch. She bobbed her head up and down, moving her mouth on his shaft. Her jaw was small, and she could not take much of him, but her hands, still wrapped around him, moved with her.
It was too much. Unable to hold back his instincts, Vore reached for her with a grunt. Threading the fingers of his hand into her hair, he gripped a firm handful at the back of her head. He held it firm and moved her head up and down, giving a light push at the end of her range. A new flush of lust reached his nostril, even as she made a small gagging sound.
Lettie was perfect for him. Every time he indulged his natural instinct to control and dominate, she reacted so perfectly. She liked a little fear and pain with her sex, and Vore was eager to explore this with her. But not too much today. First, he needed her to trust him. He needed to show her he intended to stay around to find out if a mating bond would develop between them. Vore would be shocked if it didn’t. He was sure it had already started.
Vore’s growled words sent another shockwave of want down to her core, wetting her with need. She had no idea what he said, but she didn’t care. She needed him now! Lettie was tired of denying herself, tired of denying them. Vore may not be the type to settle down, but Lettie still wanted him, even if it ended up just being sex. She didn’t want to miss out.
“Please, Vore.” She rolled her hips and pressed herself against the bulge at the front of his pants. Lettie wasn’t sure if she was ready to go all the way with Vore, but she was sure she wanted to please him and herself.
He lifted her off him, and for a moment, Lettie thought he was pushing her away. Had he lost interest in her already? Was he thinking about how her body had reacted to him last time when she had thought of all those negative thoughts? Lettie forced herself to focus on the sights and sounds around her. She tried to keep her head in the moment. She refused to let the bitter thoughts ruin her life any longer.
Vore reached for his pants, and Lettie relaxed, realizing that he was simply taking off his clothes. With his pants off, his cock stood tall and proud, and Lettie couldn’t resist the urge to reach for it. It was perfect—the rigid, imposing length of flesh, covered in soft velvety skin. She reached one hand down to his balls, and they too were smooth and velvety. She licked her lip, eager to have a taste.
Lettie had always had a small mouth and an even smaller jaw; it came with being under five feet tall. But she had learned to use her hands to compensate for the inability to engulf a man’s cock in her mouth. She took as much of Vore into her mouth as she could and slid her mouth up and down while mimicking the motion with her hands. He tasted of clean, manly musk, and she wanted more.
Vore’s fingers tightened around a fistful of hair, moving her the way he wanted. Lettie revelled in the erotic feeling of being controlled. It was a turn on to know that she had forced him to react after he had tried to ignore her all evening. He pushed her head down, and she gagged, tears squeezed out of her eyes. But it turned her on even more.
His breath quickened, and his cock twitched. Lettie knew he was about to come. She suckled on him harder, intent on making him lose control. He inhaled sharply, and there was a moment of silence before his roar shook the tent. His hot seed spurted into her mouth. Lettie was intent on catching it all, but Vore growled something sexy sounding at her and pulled her off his cock.
He pushed her down onto the mat and pushed her legs apart. On his hands and knees, Vore buried his face between her legs. Now it was her turn to grab on his hair, but he kept all control as he expertly licked and teased her clit. Lettie tossed her head back with a moan.
One hand reached for her breast, fondling, and exploring. As Vore drove a thick tongue into her pussy, he pinched her nipple just hard enough to blend pleasure with pain. Lettie gasped in a breath. Replacing his tongue with a thick finger, he moved his mouth back on to her clit. Again, he pinched her nipple as he thrust into her. Searing streaks of pleasure-pain blinded her. And she screamed. But Vore did not let up. He added another thick digit and continued thrusting into her as he suckled and licked at her clit. She screamed again, her channel tightening, pulsing around his fingers as she came.
As she floated down from her high, Lettie realized that Vore was holding a soft cleansing cloth. She reached for it, but Vore pushed her back and spoke softly to her. She had no idea what he said, but she let him clean up the trail of his seed he had left on her body when they switched positions. Pulling her to his chest, he turned off the lantern. Then, he settled down for the night with Lettie in his arms. Still satisfied f
rom her orgasm, Lettie fell asleep almost instantly.
CHAPTER NINE
An annoying beeping sounded through the forest. Something had triggered the perimeter alarm again. Remembering the last time that sound had interrupted their berry picking, Lettie was nervous. Was it another coilbeast? She shuddered, remembering how close she had been to becoming lunch to the last one. Though, at her size, she was more like an appetizer.
Or maybe it was a pack of dragus. Lettie had seen a dragus once when the colony fencing went down. It looked like the Frankensteined result if a mad scientist had crossed a wolf with a Komodo dragon. And everyone knew that dragus always hunted in packs. Vore was a formidable fighter. But with Holden gone, Vore would have to battle any beasts that attacked on his own.
Vore managed to usher Lettie up into the nearest tree before the first beast prowled onto the scene.
“Behind you, Vore!” From her vantage point, Lettie saw the dragus closing in. “There’s two more behind the big tree there and another to the left.”
Vore turned to face their attackers. Bellowing a ferocious roar, he released his cheek creases and let his fangs drop. Instead of waiting for the first beast to attack, he charged at his nearest target, tearing a limb off the creature before it had time to react.
The first few were dispatched quickly. But soon, the dragus attacked in pairs and trios, coming in from many sides. Lettie looked through the trees and gasped as she saw even more of the deadly beasts arrive. Blood pounded in her ears as she worried about Vore’s safety.
It was soon apparent that Vore was outnumbered and outgunned, or in his case, out clawed. Lettie was sure that Vore would have no problem taking on half a dozen dragus at once. But there were more than a dozen of the vile creatures lurking in the trees. Vore needed help. She remembered seeing blasters in their packs. Talleans preferred to fight hand to hand rather than use weapons, but that was in a fair fight. This was not a fair fight.
