by Sara Page
His lips thin, almost as if he’s grimacing then he penetrates me. He fills me and stretches me open in one hard stroke.
“Beast!” I shriek now. There’s no pain, I’m already soaking wet for him, but I’m totally caught off guard.
“I’m sorry, my princess,” he apologizes and leans down, kissing me tenderly for forgiveness. “I just can’t wait anymore,” he growls and slowly pulls out only to slam back in.
Stars help me, he’s so big it feels like he stretches me to the seams, straining all my stitches. There’s no part of me that isn’t touched by him. No part of me that doesn’t feel connected to him.
This is no gentle joining, no tender meeting of our bodies. Beast isn’t going to take it easy on me. He’s going to use his body to completely overwhelm me. He wants me thinking of him and only him. And that’s all I feel. Him.
I reach out, I need something to grab onto as his body crashes into me. I fear I’m going to fall right through the mattress from the force of it. Holding on, at first I try very hard not to tear at his skin. I’ve already done that to his shoulders and taken out a few chunks of his hair from his head. I feel a little bad about it. There’s just something about him that brings out the primal urges buried inside me. I almost want to stretch up and take a bite right out of him.
But as he moves over me, ramming deeper and deeper, pushing me until I’m screaming, lost inside the torrents of sensations, I don’t even know what I’m doing. My nails are clawing, my teeth are clenching. My thighs tighten. As he pulls out, I try to use my legs to pull him back in.
I just can’t get enough. As rough as it is, as hard as he is, I want more and more. His hip meets my hip. He’s so deep I can feel his balls against my ass. Not to mention he has my clit trapped, smashing it every time he surges forward.
The bed beneath us creaks, I swear the way it’s shuddering beneath us it will be a miracle it doesn’t fall apart.
And that’s what I’m doing right now. I’m falling apart.
Beast’s chest starts purring. It’s so hard, so strong, I can feel the vibrations under his skin, rattling his bones.
“I’m going to!” I cry out, but don’t have the strength to finish as I explode.
For a moment everything goes black. It’s as if all my senses turned off at once. Perhaps it was sensory overload. Then everything comes back on as if someone flipped a switch. It’s such a mess, too much at once. I can’t tell what’s what. I feel the snap. The relief as if my cord has finally been cut and I’m free to drift where I’m gonna drift. There are flashes of darkness. Sparks sizzling across my skin. I swear I can smell atmosphere but I’m so far gone I don’t know what is real and what’s just my imagination.
My body trembles. My thighs twitch around Beast as my inner walls tense, locking around him. I feel him growing inside me and I want to tell him to stop, I can’t take an inch more. Then he’s growling and snarling. Spilling himself inside me. Losing himself. It feels so right and at the same time so very warm.
We come down together. I pull my nails from his skin and hope I haven’t hurt him too bad. He buries his face in my neck, nuzzling me affectionately. I try very hard to enjoy this moment, to hold on to it as long as I can.
Already, at my edges, I can feel all my worries threatening to rush back in. Beast and I just shared something special, something very intimate. I live for these moments. These moments are what make life worth living. Yet this could very well be the last time we get to do this. My throat clenches up as I think this could be the last time I get to touch him, get to hold him. Depending what happens when I return home, I’m too aware I could be separated from him.
This could be our end.
Chapter Three
My time in Beast’s arms is over too soon. Ignoring my protests and my attempts to stall him by claiming I’m too exhausted to walk after the amazing sex, Beast picks me up and carries me to the bathing facilities for a long hot shower.
He insists on washing me. It must be some kind of weird fetish of his or something. He washes my body and then my hair, he even takes the time to condition the ends. Then he pushes me up against the warm shower wall and dirties me up all over again.
Two orgasms later and I’m done. My brain is mush. There’s been too much warmth and too many climaxes. It’s a wonder I can still function. I am so not used to this. Beast washes me, dries me, and even dresses me. I’m helpless, I’m an invalid. All I want to do is go back to bed.
Until Beast says, “Ameia, it is time.”
I close my eyes and take a deep, steadying breath. All the fear, all the anxiety comes flooding back in. It feels like someone just dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. I’m so not ready for this.
I open my eyes and look up at Beast, seeking strength in him. He’s dressed in black. He’s wearing a tight fitting black shirt and black pants. The same type of outfit he wore back on the other planet.
I wonder what Beast would do if I told him I didn’t want to do this? That I just want to leave, go somewhere else, anywhere else as long as it was with him.
But my father…. if it wasn’t for my father, I’m not sure I would mind if I ever laid eyes upon Terrea again.
I stick my chin in the air and Beast grabs my hand. “Okay, let’s do this.”
* * *
Beast leads me from the bathing facilities to the communication room. Each step feels heavy and goes by far too quickly. I blink my eyes and suddenly I’m staring at a huge screen.
We’re here already? I thought I’d have at least another minute to figure out how I’m going to handle this. I can feel the panic rising in my throat, cutting off my oxygen.
“What’s wrong with her?” someone asks.
Beast says something but I don’t understand what he’s saying. It’s too loud, too amplified. It’s like his translator is broken again.
I try to suck in air but only end up coughing and choking. The shadows, they’re everywhere and they’re growing. They’re closing in on me, blackening my edges. I’m about to be swallowed by the darkness.
I’m zapped. A strong zap of electricity snaps me out of what must be a panic attack.
I shriek and jump back.
Beast’s hands drop, they fall as if he was just touching me. Did he just do that?
“Did it work?” someone says behind me.
I turn my head and look over my shoulder. Striker is standing behind me. The last person I want at my back.
“How are you feeling, my princess?” Beast asks, his voice heavy with concern.
“I’m fine,” I say, edging away from Striker and closer to him.
“She looks ill, she should rest. It’s clear she is not ready for this,” Striker says.
Who does he think he is?
“I said I’m fine,” I snap even though I have no freaking clue what the hell just happened. Striker just has a way of getting under my skin and leaving me irritated. He’s like an overbearing mother. Ever since I’ve come on this ship, he’s always saying I’m too weak, I need to rest, or I shouldn’t be doing this or doing that. I guess I’m just a weak human to him.
Beast’s eyes narrow as he looks at me like he can see right through me. I get the feeling he’s about to agree with Striker so I reach out and grab his hand.
I squeeze Beast’s hand as I ask, “Can we please do this? I’m ready to get it over with.” If I thought it would work, I would flutter my eyelashes.
I can literally feel Striker behind me shaking his head. Beast’s eyes slide towards Striker then back to me.
Please, Beast, my eyes plead him. I put this off and didn’t want to do this but after Beast dragged me here I just want to get it over with. If I have to wait, if I have to worry and gnaw over everything that could go wrong, I’ll go mad. Besides, I need something to distract me from thinking about what just happened with the shadows. It was seriously weird. I’m not usually prone to such fits.
“Yes,” Beast finally says. “If you’re ready, we’ll make contac
t.”
“Yes, please. Let’s just do this,” I smile at Beast and he smiles back.
Striker growls. What is his problem? I’m a big girl.
“You need to stand right there,” Beast says and releases my hand. “Striker will be at your right side and I shall be at your left.”
“Why?” I ask. Why does Striker even need to be a part of this equation?
The screen in front of us flickers. Without answering me, Beast gets into position, taking his place at my left.
Striker comes around to stand at my right. I grit my teeth together and resist the urge to inch away from him. At least, though, he’s not wearing his armor which is a first. He’s dressed in the same black shirt and black pants that Beast is dressed in. If both Beast and Striker stood beside me in their full armor I’m sure whoever answers the com would die from fright.
“What’s this?” a voice crackles from the screen.
What, we’re communicating already? There was no countdown, no confirmation of who we’re contacting. Who’s running this ship?
“Is this a recording of Princess Ameia? Why is she wearing pants?”
“A moment, Sir.” The screen flickers again. “I’m searching for the correct codec.”
The face of Admiral Yarkof, one of the most decorated and respected admirals of my time, comes into focus. He frowns and the amount of wrinkles marking his already well-wizened face instantly doubles. Leaning forward, his still sharp brown eyes narrow in on me.
“When was this recorded?” he asks, his question no doubt meant for someone off screen.
I hope the old guy doesn’t have a heart attack when he realizes I’m not dead.
I take a deep breath and stretch my lips into my royal smile. “I can assure you Admiral Yarkof this is not a recording.”
The Admiral jerks back as if I just hit him. “Princess Ameia?”
“Greetings, Admiral Yarkof,” I smile, somehow stretching my lips even wider. I know from experience that my cheeks are going to be quite sore when this is all over and done with. “I’m contacting you from onboard the Harpy’s Talon.”
The Admiral’s overgrown eyebrows knit together in confusion. “The Harpy’s Talon?”
“Yes, Admiral,” I continue to smile. “If he’s available, I would very much like to speak to my father, King Trivent.”
“A moment, Princess.” The Admiral nods at me then the screen goes black. I guess he put me on hold.
I take the moment to let my cheeks relax. I suck in a deep breath, hold it in my lungs then slowly release it through my teeth. The Admiral is the easy part. I don’t have to explain too much to him because I outrank him. It’s explaining everything that happened to my father that I’m truly worried about.
Yet it is more than a little odd that the Admiral didn’t ask me any questions about where I’ve been or what I’m doing. Perhaps he should reconsider retirement. I know he was offered quite a generous package a couple of years ago but refused it.
The screen flickers and Admiral Yarkof reappears. “Princess Ameia?”
“Yes, Admiral?” I smile.
The Admiral’s eyes harden as they slide first to Beast then to Striker. “Are you in danger?”
I can only imagine what it looks like with little me standing between the two dark Ravagers. Am I in danger? Of course I am but not the kind of danger the Admiral meant.
“No, Admiral,” I try to reassure him, but from the dubious look on his face I can clearly tell he’s not buying it. “These are my rescuers.”
“Your rescuers?” The Admiral scoffs and I think he ruffled Striker’s feathers.
Striker starts to growl. Hoping the Admiral can’t see my feet, I do the only thing I can think of on such short notice and kick Striker in the shin.
“Yes, my rescuers,” I push out between my teeth. Am I still smiling? It feels like it.
Striker stops growling but now my toes hurt. Even without his obsidian armor he’s as hard as stone.
“We require your rescuers current UPS coordinates.”
I glance over to Beast and Beast shakes his head.
“I’m sorry, Admiral. My rescuers seem unwilling to share that information.”
The Admiral snorts and he opens his mouth to say something else but I interrupt him.
“Were you able to get in touch with my father? It is urgent that I speak with him.”
The Admiral frowns and seems to hesitate before he says, “A moment, Princess,” and the screen goes black again.
“Something is wrong,” I say. Something is very, very wrong.
“What’s wrong?” Beast asks.
I really hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
I shake my head. “I don’t know but it’s very unusual that he’s put me on hold.”
There’s no protocol for a princess coming back from the dead so some confusion is to be expected. But to be put on hold twice, to not instantly connect me with my father doesn’t bode well.
The seconds tick by. I stare at the four red dots reflecting back at me from the blank screen. After a couple of minutes I ask Beast, “Are we still connected?”
Beast steps up to the screen and somehow determines, “Yes. It’s blocked on their end.”
Shit. What’s going on?
“Did you intercept any other newsfeeds after my funeral? Did something else happen?”
Beast and Striker share a look. They’re about as subtle as a couple of bricks to the head.
“You did, didn’t you?” I gasp. “What happened?”
A familiar voice bursts suddenly from the screen. “Ameia?” Coming into focus behind Beast, a face appears.
“Vrillum?” I choke out.
He’s the last face I expected to appear there. He doesn’t have the clearance. He looks good, though. Someone familiar, truly the only other person besides my father I’ve ever been close to. We’re like night and day next to each other, obviously not blood-related. He’s handsome with his fair skin, dark hair, and baby blue eyes. His eyes are bright and his cheeks are flushed as if he was running.
“Thank the stars, it is you! I can’t believe you’re alive!” Vrillum exclaims excitedly.
Surprise, I’m not dead.
I try to smile but it falters. I feel the corners of my lips twitching as I ask, “Where’s father? I asked to speak with him.”
Vrillum frowns and I feel my stomach twist. “I’m sorry, Ameia.”
“Sorry for what?” I ask softly to keep from screaming it. Why is everyone beating around the bush? Why the games? Just spit it out.
“I can’t say. It’s classified.”
Are you fucking kidding me? He’s got to be fucking kidding me. I’d expect something like that from the Admiral but not from him.
“Seriously?” I ask, about to lose my cool.
Vrillum nods his head and he frowns. His face looks entirely too grave for my liking. “How quickly can you get here?”
Oh no, it must be really bad. Holy shit, what happened to my father? Is he still alive? Is he hurt? Is he sick? I’m afraid to even ask.
“Beast?” I ask desperately, looking to him.
“Beast?” Vrillum repeats, confused.
“We can be planetside within the hour,” Beast informs me, knowing exactly what I was asking.
I nod my head and look back to Vrillum. “Inform the checkpoints. I’ll need you to give us clearance. I’m coming home.”
Chapter Four
“What do you know?” I ask Beast desperately as we rush down the Harpy Talon’s halls. I can’t believe something happened and he’s keeping it from me. Maybe I shouldn’t trust him. Maybe I’ll regret it. Perhaps I already do. What else doesn’t he want me to know?
“There was an accident,” Beast says reluctantly as he pulls me by the hand down the hall.
Those who happen to be in our way quickly jump back, less they get mowed down.
“What kind of accident?” I press. Please let my father still be alive. “Please, just tell me what
you know.”
“The reports we intercepted claimed your father was involved in an accident.”
“My father was in an accident?” I repeat in disbelief. It doesn’t make any sense. My father, he’s always so careful. Overly careful. “Is he hurt?”
“I’m sorry, my princess. I don’t know.”
The hallway starts to waver. Is my father hurt? Is my father dead? Will I never get to see him again? If all these other Ravagers weren’t around, I would so be freaking out right now.
“Why didn’t you tell me? How could you keep this from me?” Did he know the entire time he was trying to help me relax in his room?
This was the last thing I expected, rushing home in fear. I just assumed that everything at home would be just as I left it. Everyone would be waiting for me. I was so worried about having to face my father, of having to explain what happened, who Beast is… I never considered I wouldn’t even get the chance to.
Beast frowns. “I didn’t want to worry you.”
Here and now is not the time nor the place to have it out. I’m angry Beast kept the information from me, but we’ll have to talk about it later. Right now I just need to focus on getting home.
For whatever reason Striker is following us. He’s practically stomping on my heels. I try to ignore him but when we have to take an elevator down to the docking bay, he crowds me into the back wall. I have to ask him to “Please move,” to get a little breathing room.
Grumbling, Striker obliges. He’s just another reason I can’t wait to get back home. I can’t figure out why but Beast has backed off when it comes to Striker. They had a talk without me last night and ever since it feels like Striker has been getting closer and closer. It’s beyond annoying.
The elevator ride takes forever and by the time we reach the docking bay I’m ready to hop in whatever ship we’re going to take and fly it myself.
Beast leads me over to a bullet-shaped ship, a ship that looks exactly like the one I made a run for when we were marooned on that fuzzball planet. The door to the ship is already lifted and its landing ramp is down. Beast hangs back, motioning for me to enter first. I walk up the landing strip and enter the ship. Striker follows me as if he’s coming along too.
