He wanted that too, desperately, but he wasn’t about to let her see the scars covering his chest.
“No, S’rah.”
She tilted her head, considering, but to his relief, she didn’t argue.
“What about your pants? Can I take them off?”
“They stay on also.”
“That’s going to make it kind of difficult,” she said, and rubbed her hot damp little cunt over his aching cock.
With a muffled groan, he released the protective fabric that covered his groin, letting his cock spring free and slap against his stomach.
“Oh my.” Her eyes widened and her little pink tongue flicked out, licking her lips. His cock jerked, a drop of precum beading on the tip.
She brushed a curious finger across it, then brought the droplet to her mouth. “Mm, you taste good. I wonder…” A shadow of something crossed her face as she shook her head. “Best not to waste it.”
“Waste what? My seed? I do not understand.”
“You’ve never had a— Never mind.” The shadow deepened. “That’s not why we’re here.”
The reminder of the breeding contract came as an unexpected blow. It was all too easy to forget that she would not always be his, could not be his.
“Are you sure that this is what you want?” He couldn’t resist dragging a hand up his cock, offering it to her.
She licked her lips again. “Oh, yes. I just didn’t realize you were so big.”
Her hand slid underneath his, but the soft fingers couldn’t close around him. “Maybe it’s just as well we did this in the dark the first time. I didn’t have a chance to get scared.”
“My cock scares you?” he asked, horrified.
“Only in the very best way,” she assured him. Both of her hands were on him now. He wanted to close his eyes so that he could enjoy her touch, but he didn’t want to miss the sight of all those pale fingers surrounding him. “Human penises aren’t shaped like this,” she added, tracing one of the bulges that curved up his shaft.
“I have no wish to hear about human cocks,” he growled, but in truth, her touch felt too good to leave much room for anger.
“And the way you feel… These little ridges that make it feel rough and smooth at the same time.” Her eyes widened. “Your tongue is like that, too. That’s why it felt so good when you, um, licked me.”
His mouth watered at the memory of her delicious cunt. “I would be happy to do so again if you enjoyed the sensation.”
Her lids fluttered and her scent deepened, but she shook her head. “I want you inside me.”
Before he could protest, she lifted up on her knees and tried to fit herself over his cock. Despite the slickness caressing his cockhead, her entrance was too tight to take him easily.
“Slowly,” he whispered, and took her hips in his hands, lifting her a little and then letting his cock slide up between her lips to drag across the hard little nub at her apex.
“Oh,” she gasped. She leaned forward, grabbing his horns at the base and making his hips jerk at her tight grip on the sensitive area. He slid her up and down a few more times, deliberately teasing her clit until she was shivering with excitement.
“Now try again,” he urged, notching himself against her entrance. She pushed down and this time her entrance opened enough to take him inside, almost strangling him in the tight clasp. His balls drew tight, ready to explode, but he held on to his control by the barest thread.
A flush had spread from her cheeks down across her chest and her nipples were tight red buds. Her teeth once more fastened on her plump lower lip, she pushed down again, taking another inch inside the hot silken depths. She was panting, her breath coming in rapid little puffs, but she pressed down another inch. He kept his hands on her hips, guiding her, and trying not to hold too tightly to the soft flesh. He adjusted his position until his thumb could reach her clit and stroked across the exposed surface. Her hips jerked and dropped again, her way eased by her liquid response to his touch.
“You’re so big,” she whispered, looking down at her body still suspended less than a third of the way down his cock.
“Yes,” he agreed, and let her drop a little further. Her eyes flew to his and the expression of shocked pleasure was too much. A line of fire shot down his spine and then he was coming in great helpless waves, his cock jerking inside her as he fought for enough control not to slam her down on top of him and force her to take his seed deep inside her body. When the waves finally stopped, she was panting again, her eyes wide.
“I could feel that, all up inside me.” She twisted her hips restlessly and he felt her pushing again, trying to work her way further down.
“And you will feel it again,” he promised. His erection barely diminished, he pulled her slowly and inexorably down, her way eased by his seed, but the fit still so tight that he was rock hard again by the time he was finally buried completely in her body.
Sarah clung helplessly to T’gana’s horns. Her pussy was stretched to the maximum, and once again, it would have been painful if she hadn’t been so wet and so excited. She wanted to move but there was nowhere to go and the pressure building in her clit was almost overwhelming. Her body was shaking with the need to come. Feeling like a wanton stranger, she started to slide her hand down between her legs, desperate to relieve that ache, but T’gana growled.
“My pleasure,” he said, and unerringly found her clit with his thumb. Two quick strokes and she was flying, her pussy fluttering wildly around the huge invader, the resistance only extending her pleasure as she convulsed within his arms. Her body had barely stopped shuddering before he was lifting her almost to the top of his shaft then slamming her back down, each stroke setting up a series of mini shocks that sparked along her nerve endings like jolts of electricity. She met him every step of the way, trying to push her body down as hard as he was pushing up to meet her. A low, continuous growl came from his lips, echoing the thundering beat of her heart as they surged into each other, and she heard him call her name as a second flood of hot seed sent her overwhelmed body into yet another climax.
When her body finally stopped shaking and her head cleared, she was snuggled against his chest, still impaled on his cock, with his arms wrapped tightly around her, his woodsy scent surrounding her with a feeling of safety. She burrowed closer, her eyes already closing. She felt his massive chest raise and lower on a silent sigh.
“What is it?” she asked, yawning.
“Nothing for you to worry about, my L— my S’rah.”
It was the second time he had started to call her his L’chka, his mate, but once again he had stopped. A pang of sadness tugged at her, but her body was too satiated and her eyes too heavy to pursue the matter. Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow we have to talk.
Chapter Nine
The next morning, Sarah woke up alone again. This time she threw both pillows. Aside from the fact that it was extremely frustrating that T’gana kept disappearing on her, she was more than a little worried about his leg. When they had brought him back to the cabin the previous day, A’rathia had made the Yehrin equivalent of a “tut, tut” noise about the damage he had caused to the already injured limb.
“If he is not careful, he will lose the leg,” she told Sarah. “And if he feels he is less worthy now, you can imagine how he will feel if that happens. Warriors do not handle permanent injuries well.”
After lingering during her shower in the hopes that he would return and catch her naked, she grabbed a quick breakfast from the replicator and decided to go see A’rathia. It was remotely possible that T’gana was there receiving treatment, but if nothing else, she could get scanned to see if she was pregnant. Could today be the day? After all, he had come inside her not once but twice, she remembered with a little shiver of pleasure. Lingering traces of arousal still hummed through her system.
When she walked out into the corridor, she found T’hadar standing at one end.
“Hi, T’hadar. What are you doing here?”
“I am on guard duty.”
An unusual wave of bitterness swept over her. For the most part, she had resigned herself to her captivity, but now that the end was in sight, those chains chafed just a little bit more.
“Of course. You wouldn’t want us escaping and taking over the ship.”
“I think you misunderstand. Breeders are highly desirable. A Yehrin warrior should always behave with honor, but…” He gave a very human shrug.
“Does that mean I’m not allowed to leave? I wanted to go see A’rathia.”
“You do not look unwell.” His eyes traveled over her with obvious appreciation and she blushed. He seemed so nice and… uncomplicated. If T’gana hadn’t returned, she would have accepted him instead and she thought they would have managed to have an amicable arrangement. Amicable. She snorted silently. Her relationship with T’gana was many things, but nothing so mild as amicable. Yet she wouldn’t trade a single moment with her extremely complicated warrior—when she could find him that was.
“Have you seen T’gana?”
“I believe he went to train,” he said hesitantly.
“Train? On that leg?” She wished she had something a lot harder than a pillow to throw.
T’hadar shrugged again, looking uncomfortable, and she suddenly wondered if it was because of her questions or the reminder that T’gana was wounded. Were Yehrin warriors averse to the sight of injury? She thought about asking him, but she didn’t want to put him on the spot, and she suspected that the medic would be a better source of information.
“I really need to see A’rathia. Is that allowed?” Her hopeful smile might have been a little too much on the friendly side because he blushed and immediately started tapping his claws on his wrist device.
“I will call for another guard and escort you personally.”
“You really don’t have to do that.”
“It would be my honor.” He put his hands over his heart—hearts, she realized now—and bowed. Oh, lord. Now she’d done it.
Unable to think of a reason to protest, she waited patiently until another guard arrived and T’hadar led her away. To her relief, he merely made friendly conversation as they walked, and she relaxed.
“I will wait for you,” he said once they arrived.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be. Can A’rathia just call someone? Or maybe T’gana will be free by then,” she added deliberately.
He opened his mouth, then closed it and nodded. “Perhaps that would be best. You are a worthy female, S’rah.”
“Thank you,” she said, and gave him a quick, neutral smile before slipping into A’rathia’s office.
The medic was seated behind her desk, examining a set of screens, but she looked up and smiled when Sarah entered.
“S’rah. I am surprised to see you. I thought you would be looking after your wounded warrior.”
“My wounded warrior left the cabin before I woke up. What’s more, T’hadar said he was going to train. Surely that can’t be a good idea?”
A’rathia sighed, then moved out from behind her desk, gesturing Sarah to the small seating area.
“Of course, it is not a good idea. But I told you that warriors do not handle injury well.”
“I’m not exactly an expert, but I would think that fighting tends to lend itself to getting hurt. Aren’t they used to it?”
“To an extent.” A’rathia brought over two cups of tea and handed one to Sarah as she sat down. “But the Yehrin heal quickly and if the injury is not life-threatening, they tend to recover completely. However, due to the extent of T’gana’s injuries and the length of time before he was recovered, he will never be the same. I am not sure that he has accepted that.”
“I know he does not feel worthy. I think that’s why he says he will not claim me.”
“Males,” A’rathia sniffed. “I am most unhappy with my own.”
“Who is your male?”
“T’rarchar.” Despite the sniff, her mouth curved when she said his name.
“The Supreme Commander?”
“Yes. And one would assume that having achieved such a high rank, he would have had better sense than to subject a warrior in T’gana’s condition to his questions.”
“It seemed… unfeeling,” Sarah said cautiously.
A’rathia took a sip of tea, regarding her over the rim of her cup.
“Warriors are not known for their sensitivity,” she said drily. “But there is more at stake than perhaps you realize.”
Sarah gave her an encouraging look.
“This is completely confidential, you understand?” At Sarah’s nod, she continued. “The Saviji, the bugs, are the first species in many generations to provide any meaningful resistance to the Yehrin. Of course, we have encountered such races in the past. For instance, we fought the Icluthians for many, many years before we entered into an agreement with them.” She stood up and paced across her office. “But that was a long time ago and now it looks as if those times are recurring. And it is not just the prospect of many years of battle that I dread. Despite their strange ways, the Icluthians are not that different from us. But from what T’rarchar has said, we have no common ground with the Saviji. I am not sure that we will ever be able to reach an agreement with them. While he would never admit such a thing, I suspect he is worried as well and that is why he did not consider your warrior’s situation.”
Sarah’s first response was an entirely selfish one. “Do you think the bug things will come here?”
“To Earth? I doubt it. They are currently swarming through a far distant sector.”
Sarah gave her a shaky smile. “I know it may seem silly, but the thought of those horrible things invading…”
“Does it make us look better in comparison?”
“I suppose so. There are a lot of things about the Yehrin that I have come to… admire.”
A’rathia shook back her hair, almost visibly pushing her tension away and smiled. “Such as a certain stubborn warrior?”
“Yes. Which reminds me, can you scan me again?”
“I see you found the best way to distract your warrior,” A’rathia said drily. She picked up her scanner and did a quick pass, then shook her head. “I am afraid not.”
Sarah found her eyes watering, but she forced the tears away. “I know it’s still early.”
“Yes.” The medic frowned down at the scanner. “I am sorry, S’rah, and perhaps you would rather not know, but four more humans are with child.”
“I’m happy for them.” The words did not sound as sincere as she would have liked. She couldn’t help remembering that a number of the women had applied for the contract as a way of shortening their sentences. Did they even want the babies? How ironic that she wanted one so desperately, but she wasn’t pregnant. Yet, she reminded herself, it had only been two days.
“I don’t suppose you’ve told them yet?” she asked.
“No.” A’rathia sighed. “I know you are right that they will need to be told but I am going to wait until at least halfway through the contract period.” Before Sarah could object, she changed the subject. “What do you intend to do about your warrior?”
“I was thinking. Could you forbid him to train? Can’t a medic do that?”
“It would be unusual. We are rather encouraged to have warriors back on their feet as soon as possible.” She shrugged. “But since in his case, I believe he is only going to cause further damage, I can issue a medical ban.”
“Thank you. Maybe that will force him to spend enough time with me for us to actually talk.”
“That does not seem to have been a priority so far,” A’rathia agreed with a straight face.
“Are you sure there wasn’t anything in that drug you gave me? I’ve never felt like this before.” Her cheeks heated as she remembered the previous night.
“It is usually that way when one meets one’s mate.”
“He has made it quite clear that this is just for the period of the contract.��
A’rathia shook her head. “And I say again. Males.” She stood up and brushed her hands down her uniform. “I will arrange for an escort for you back to the breeding cabins.”
“Not T’hadar, please.”
“He has acted inappropriately?”
“No, not at all, but I think he might if he believes I am encouraging him.”
A’rathia gave her a speculative glance but didn’t say anything before she started tapping on her wrist com.
A dour old warrior, who barely even looked at her, escorted her back to the cabins, and Sarah had to hide her smile.
The thought of sitting in the cabin alone didn’t appeal to her and she wandered down to the small area that A’rathia had designated for the crafts and books. Heather, one of the girls who had been in her group of prisoners, was sitting there, flicking through a book.
“Heather, I’m glad to see you,” Sarah said enthusiastically before she noticed her friend’s pallor. “What’s wrong?”
Heather turned her head away. “Nothing.”
“You don’t need to pretend to me, sweetie.” A horrible thought crossed her mind as she remembered some of the guards they had encountered when they were first taken. “Are you being mistreated?”
“No. I just— This is harder than I thought it would be.”
Sarah remembered that Heather was one of the women who had chosen to accept a contract in order to waive the rest of her sentence. She sat down beside her friend and took her hand. “Do you still want to go through with it?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“I don’t know. I can try and find out.”
Heather hesitated, then shook her head. “Don’t bother. It’s only twenty-eight more days. I can make it.”
It seemed they were both counting the days, although for very different reasons. She studied her friend’s face, seeing the circles under her eyes.
“Heather, who are you with? Are you sure he’s not hurting you? They are very big, and I know it’s been a long time for them.”
A faint hint of color crossed Heather’s face. “T’drago? No, I promise he isn’t. Even that first night when he was so enthusiastic, he made sure I was ready. He did the same thing last night, but it was just so business like. I don’t even think he was that interested.” Her face crumpled. “I’ve never had sex like that. I don’t like it.”
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