Bay’s chin was settled onto his chest as she gazed up into his eyes. “Do you have work to do?”
Zane looked past her out the window. A storm that had been threatening was now teeming with rain so hard he couldn’t see into his own backyard. No doubt his communication would be off until it subsided. Zane helped coordinate his people’s encounters. He did the research to see if any beings they went to war for had the materials they actually needed; it was best never to lie to a Zargonnii warrior mercenary—it could mean death.
“No work for me today if my system won’t cooperate.”
“This is the first storm I’ve seen on your planet, is it usually this bad?”
Zane had a thought. “Are you scared?”
“No.”
Zane chuckled, she was scared, he could tell. At this very moment, the Zargonnii females were trudging along in this weather, they couldn’t have cared less—rain was the least frightening of their world. “Didn’t your Earth get storms?”
“My Earth got so many storms our planet died.”
“Point taken.”
“The storms were so bad and struck with so much force thousands died each day.”
“Your family?”
“I have none left. You and Draven are all I have.”
Zane felt guilty for thinking the idea pleased him. He didn’t want her to be missing someone. “You are so beautiful and you smell wonderful, is it too early to ask if we can join again? I will understand if you say no; I can, uh, go and wash if you’re not ready.”
“How many times can you, uh, go and wash before your need is too great?” she asked with a cheeky grin.
“Perhaps a week, maybe less, days, a day; I’m sorry but having you so close is wreaking havoc within me. I’m beginning to wonder if that’s why our females stay away. With you so close and available, mating is all I can think about. It could be worse because our females are approaching. Touching you has become my world.”
Bay smiled up at him and took his hand, leading him to the bedroom. He had stripped before she made it to his bed. Zane’s people traded for many interesting things and of the many items, he owned a bolt of fabric given to him by a weasely little creature who had begged for his life. The creature had been pitiful. His co-creatures had been destroyed, and Zane had found him cowering in a tunnel.
Zane and the other warriors had been given great wealth by the people of the planet to exterminate the weasels; they were thieves, made nuisances of themselves and caused a great deal of destruction. Zane had been killing the creatures all day and finally felt his need for battle at an end. The weasel creature tore at the cave walls trying to escape him, but there was nowhere it could hide. In a corner, Zane saw the beautiful shiny fabric. He had never seen such material and realized the planets occupants had been holding out on them.
The fine green color was a deeper green than he had ever laid eyes on. Zane had scooped it up, smiled wryly at the little creature and left it alone. The planet could deal with it. Also, Zane had shown the material to Titus who immediately ‘bargained’ for more. The fabric was coveted because of its texture and beauty.
Zane fingered the wrap Bay wore around her waist and breasts made of the same material. Bay was more beautiful than the fabric. She looked stunning in it with her dark-as-night hair falling almost to her waist. It brought out the color of her dark eyes and pink skin. Underneath her wrap she wore nothing, and with a simple twist, the fabric opened, revealing all of her to him. The strange, dark markings Bay called bruises had almost disappeared, and Zane traced the last of them with his finger.
“Do they hurt?” he asked.
“Not anymore.”
“If ever I find the Tonan who did this to you, I will kill him.”
“It’s not easy to kill a Tonan.”
“A Tonan’s claws and talons can’t penetrate my flesh; we can both fight for hours, but I know their weakness. If I fight a Tonan in the dark, his shield will eventually falter; my claws can then penetrate his flesh. It’s why they don’t attack my world. It stays dark here a great deal of the time. Some of our seasons can be very dark; besides, they don’t want our females.”
“They want Earth females.”
“They can’t have you.”
Bay pushed at Zane’s chest and he fell over onto his back chuckling. His need to dominate had been sated the night before; his body knew she was no threat and he could pin her anytime he chose. For now he lay still wondering what she wanted. Zane almost sat upright when her small fingers closed around his shaft. Up and down she stroked him.
“What are you doing?” he asked and couldn’t stop himself from swallowing hard. “It wouldn’t be wise to try and dominate me.”
“I want to arouse you.”
“You can feel I already am.”
“There’s aroused and then there’s holy shit aroused.”
Laying there with her hand working him, he wondered at her words. He could flip her over and take her, but the waiting and feeling was pleasurable, too. Bay moved her way down his body, closer to her goal. Zane watched her and when her mouth was poised over his cock, he almost tossed her off. His flesh was hard, but his shaft could be somewhat vulnerable. Bay sucked him into her mouth, and Zane thought he would battle cry.
“Holy shit,” he bellowed.
Bay stopped what she was doing, looked at him and smiled. “Told you.”
She went back to what she had been doing. Zane had no idea a female would do this. Even if he had dominated one of his own kind, he couldn’t imagine allowing a Zargonnii female’s sharp, pointed teeth near there. Bay’s fingers were rubbing at his round sacks, and Zane gripped the sheets into his fists and squeezed. He couldn’t take much more. For a second, he felt her teeth and remembered hers were dull on the bottom. Even if she bit hard, she would never hurt him. Though she tried to keep her teeth from him, he realized he was just too large; and the feeling was amazing, nerve boggling. Her idea of holy shit would be his undoing.
“Bay,” he couldn’t help it, her name came out as a warning. Too much of her foreplay too fast could be dangerous for her, even her teeth on him was unintimidating and arousing. He was beyond aroused, damn he was beyond holy shit aroused; he had wanted her under him again certain he could be gentle and keep his weight from crushing her, now he wasn’t so sure. Battle mating was so different from what Bay did, it seemed as though she were designed for pleasure, every beautiful inch of her. When he touched her he didn’t have any urge to fight. His hands were so strong, and she was so vulnerable, a new instinct seemed to kick in.
“You have the most magnificent cock I’ve ever seen, and your balls are amazing.”
Zane had no idea words could be arousing; when she used powerful and massive to describe him, it was all he could do not to puff with pride. These words were no less satisfying, and Zane was over the moon that this female thought of him in such a way.
Bay climbed onto him sideways and pushed her leg under one of his own, leaving his head facing the top of the bed, hers facing the bottom. He thrust up into her wet heat when her other leg settled over top of the same leg. She groaned from the force of his penetration. Zane turned them both further sideways and grabbed her ankle to pull her higher; she wrapped her arms around his leg and clung tight as he pumped into her. With his other leg pressed tight to her and his one hand holding her rounded behind, Zane moved faster. Bay was crying out, captured between his legs, her mouth was open to gasp in air and all Zane could think of was what she had done to him and how good it felt. Zane determined those perfect teeth of hers would pleasure him again—and again, soon.
Thinking about her mouth on him made him come hard, he roared his release and still he kept thumping into her. Bay was moaning; her grip on him loosened. Zane pulled his body up and shifted her onto her back, slipping from her, her legs splayed in invitation and Zane dragged his body over her. Bay arched up to meet him when he thrust back into her heat. She was wet with his seed but tight. Zane clasped her wr
ists over her head in one hand and lifted her hips with his other, moving for the both of them.
It was hard not to change with his passion; he could feel the beast in him fighting to get out, but he wouldn’t hurt Bay to satisfy a primitive need. If he could only think of a way to not crush her. The position she had placed them in earlier was good, but his legs would be too heavy. If he pulled her to the bottom of the bed, he would be on both legs and would thrust too hard. It was killing Zane. With the females of his kind coming closer, the smell of their heat high in the air, and Bay so willing and available, he was in overdrive with his need.
“Zane, my wrists,” Bay cried out.
Zane released her; he had been thinking too hard and squeezing too tight.
“Bay, we need a better position—we need it now,” his tone was urgent.
“You’re changing?” she whispered. “Your eyes are glowing.”
“It’s still me, Bay. It’s just a bigger me—the warrior me. I don’t feel the need to battle; even if you were a Zargonnii female I dominated and won against, I wouldn’t need to battle her anymore. It’s the way I’m made. I won’t hurt you. I’m so aroused with the thought that even your teeth are vulnerable and pleasurable.”
“You can’t be on top of me.”
“I know, I promise I can control that, but you must help me find a way. Bay you’re so everything to me.”
“Sit up.”
Zane pulled from her and thought he would die; he thought she was going to run and hide. He would end up tearing his house apart; he would need to find and battle a cyron. Bay struggled to her knees and Zane helped her; he wouldn’t stop her. But Bay didn’t run, she slipped her leg over his waist and guided him back in. Zane almost bellowed in relief; she wasn’t afraid—he wasn’t lying, he was the same person in battle mode just bigger and stronger. He determined to be gentler than he had ever been in his life because she trusted him.
In this position, with her sitting on his lap, Zane had control. His hands gripped her hips, and he plunged her up and down repeatedly. He kept his claws from her tender flesh. He made certain her cries were of pleasure and want, not fright; and from the back of his throat came a crooning sound to ease any fears. The tone came naturally; he would have used it on a Zargonnii female if he had dominated her to let her know she was in no danger. Zane didn’t know how he knew—he just did. It was as natural as breathing. The tone was harder than the crooning he used on a baby; the pitch made Zane feel powerful as well as protective. If he battled and won against a Zargonnii female, she would be under his protection for the duration—he being the stronger of the two. Bay relaxed against him as he slowed his movements. Her hands trailed up and down his back; her cheek pressed against his hard, taut flesh.
Zane’s skin was so hard almost nothing could penetrate it, but he could feel her fingers, feel the warmth in her palms. It was as though his skin allowed this touch. Bay couldn’t hurt him physically and his body was well aware of it—completely aware of it; his instincts demanded he pull her closer and trail his hands over her soft skin. He couldn’t get enough.
Bay moaned and gasped and cried out; her warmth washed over his shaft. The first orgasm she experienced during their first mating had startled Zane. He didn’t know a female climaxed. A Zargonnii female didn’t need to in order to conceive, and for the life of him, Zane couldn’t remember if the female he mated with had climaxed—he didn’t think so. The little human female he now bounced upon his large shaft not only climaxed once but again, then again. Bay’s arms drooped to her sides. Feeling chagrinned, Zane realized it wasn’t him being the dominant that exhausted her into submission—she was sexed into it.
Sated, Zane lay back with her on top of him. There was a strange feeling in his chest as his hand stroked her hair. It was close to the feeling he had for Draven, pure, sweet, protective. Zane would die to protect his son—he realized he would die for Bay as well. He lay there wondering if this was what Bay meant when they ‘made love.’ Did they make love, or was it created from feelings? It was something to ponder while Bay now slept curled in his arms.
* * * *
Bay sat and watched the rain teeming down; it still made her feel a bit wary because of what she had went through on Earth, but Zane was wonderful, he had gone into detail about what she could expect season-wise on his planet. His patience and understanding made her want him close even more; he was the most wonderful person in the world—any world. She and Draven were playing a game on the floor in the main room. The game was a lot like playing Jacks but with bigger pieces to accommodate the Zargonnii’s large hands. Draven won every time. Bay reached over to hug him after his fourth win. Draven almost toppled her over in his enthusiasm to hug her back. The child was used to his father’s affection, but Bay was more open, and Draven couldn’t get enough.
Draven set the game up to play again. He was home for the Holidays that Zane explained in great detail. With the females’ approach came certain danger and all male children were to stay inside for the two weeks of mating while the males in their cycle went looking to mate. Draven had been worried his father would leave him, but Bay saw the child’s relief when Zane had told him no—he didn’t think he would ever feel the need to be with a Zargonnii female ever again. He had winked at Bay.
When the front door crashed open, Bay screamed and both Zane and Draven grew while jumping to their feet. To all of their surprises, Blu came flying into their home. He looked rattled.
“Where is she?” Blu yelled.
“Blu?” Bay asked; she hadn’t seen him in weeks.
Blu strode over to her, but Zane intercepted him. “What are you doing?”
“She’s not a pet. I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
“I already know she isn’t a pet.”
“But how?”
“It’s nice to see you again, Blu.” Bay smiled as she said this. Blu looked amazed.
“You can speak; he said you could, but I didn’t really believe him.”
“Who said I could?” Bay was getting a sinking feeling in her belly.
“Zane, the Tonan I bought her from was captured; in exchange for leniency, he gave the Castians information about Bay. He told them he sold her as a pet to me. The Castians want her; they were furious I bought her as a pet. Their kind can mate with these Earth females; they can have babes with these Earth females, and the warriors want them. The Castians won’t wage war on us—it was an honest mistake, and I swore she was never mistreated. She hasn’t been, right?”
“No, she hasn’t been mistreated, and no, the Castians can’t have her. Bay is mine; she mates with me.” Zane looked furious. Bay had to peek around him to see Blu’s reaction.
“She mated with you?” Blu’s look was beyond incredulous.
“Mates with me,” Zane corrected.
“More than once? But how is that possible? Females don’t mate more than once and then not again for two years.”
“This Earth female is different. She’s like nothing a Zargonnii warrior has ever encountered.”
“Zane, our females are coming. The Castians know this. They want Bay far away—they fear for her safety. Our females are bigger, most are stronger and aggressive; what if they sense her here? How will you protect her?”
“You only just thought of this now?” Zane demanded.
“I thought she was a harmless pet. Our females have no interest in pets, but if this is a female who will mate, and apparently keep mating with a Zargonnii male, they may feel threatened.”
“The Zargonnii females can spend their entire cycle time trying to break the walls of my home down—which they can’t and I doubt they will. I won’t give up Bay.”
“How is that fair to Bay? The Castians look like their human males when not armored. The planet Bagron caters to human females. There isn’t a single thing on their planet that can hurt them.”
“And yet they didn’t protect her from the Tonan did they? They didn’t keep her from being a captive and turned into a
pet,” Zane shouted.
“Bay can’t leave,” Draven wailed. “She is going to be my mother. A real mother.”
“It’s all right, honey,” Bay soothed as she tried to take Draven in her arms, but the child fled down the hall to his room.
“Damn it, Zane. We don’t want a war with the Castians.”
“What if Bay wants to stay? Are you saying the Castian warriors would rip her from her home? A place where we make love?”
Bay would have chuckled at Zane’s analogy but was too concerned. She didn’t want to go with the Castian warriors; she wanted to stay with Zane and Draven. Zane had told her nothing could penetrate his home, and the Zargonnii females would only stay for two weeks. Once their cycle was done they would leave, there was nothing to keep them here—not even Bay.
“Zane, be reasonable,” Blu demanded.
“I am.” Zane turned to Bay; he took her hands in his. “Do you want to leave me? I will go by any decision you make, but please know, I don’t want you to leave. Please, don’t leave. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Bay was moved by his words; he wanted her. He was strong enough to bare his feelings—so was she. “My planet was dying, the despair was never ending. We were told Ulsy was a safe wonderful place, it wasn’t. The Tonans were cruel and evil. I spent the entire time on that planet running and hiding—starving, feeling afraid and alone. I was kidnapped and beaten because of the Tonans’ need to torment the Castians; so because of them, I was held hostage. Only nobody wanted me. Blu gave me away; Finn didn’t fight to keep me. Now, I have you and Draven; I have a family. I don’t want to be taken away again; if you’ll have me, I want to stay.” Bay’s eyes dripped tears as she said this. The Zargonnii were different, but Zane knew how to love and she loved him.
“The Castian who captured this Tonan will want to hear that for himself.” Blu ran a hand quickly over his face. “I know those creatures scare you, Bay, but they are not cruel to females.”
“Neither are Zargonnii males,” Bay said, and after wiping her eyes, she smiled up at Zane.
Bay's Mercenary [Unearthly World Book 1] Page 7
