"It's too risky, Dane. Maybe, I should just stay here for another night."
"No. Father said he's returning tonight," Dane said.
"Oh. Well, then, what about the quarters next door?"
"He locked all of them and we can't get into them without the security code," Dev said.
"I see. I guess we better go, then."
Dev stepped out into the corridor, looked both ways and signaled them to follow him. They hurried after him to the end of the corridor and turned the corner where a large elevator door stood open. They entered it and Dane gave the command for the fourth floor.
Daria knelt down and looked into their eyes. "If we get caught, I want both of you to claim that I forced you to help me. Promise me." She looked at them pleadingly as the elevator rose and they reluctantly agreed. When the elevator stopped Dev stepped out and ran down the corridor. Dane held the doors open until they heard Dev's cry of pain. He peeked out and signaled to Daria to follow him.
As she stepped from the elevator, she glanced to her left. Fifty feet away, Dev lay on the floor loudly complaining about his leg. Two huge warriors knelt over him. Quickly, she followed Dane around the corner and through a doorway. The corridor they entered was dark and empty. She felt Dane take her hand right before he snapped on a small light he'd brought with him.
"This way," he whispered, leading her towards the last door on the right. "You'll be safe here, Daria."
"Thank you, Dane." She hugged him. "You'd better go rescue Dev before they call your father."
"Alright. We'll see you in a five cycles, Daria."
After he left, she closed the door and leaned back against it. The walls and floor were a creamy beige color. A table and four chairs sat to her left with a small food and beverage processor behind them. A large, dark-blue couch took up the space to her right. The wall opposite the door was taken up by a huge bed covered with a light blue blanket. A closet and the bathing chamber were to the left of it.
She unpacked, making sure to put everything out of sight in the bathing chamber then collapsed on the bed. The past few nights her sleep had been restless and filled with strangely erotic nightmares about Dane and Dev's father. In the beginning of the dreams he'd be pursuing her then suddenly when he caught her they'd be naked and on his bed and he'd be inside her, his thrusts pushing her toward an explosive climax. Just before she'd get there she'd wake up, sweating and panting. Most nights she'd had to get up and shower before she could go back to sleep. At least here she didn't have to worry about him showing up and catching her while she slept.
She rolled onto her back and studied the ceiling. She'd been on the Invincible for ten cycles. If she was caught now she didn't think they'd take her back as it was too far to Earth. Instead, they would probably confine her for the rest of the journey and turn her over to the Zarronian Council.
Rolling from the bed she paced her new quarters. On one trip across the room she stopped at the beverage processor, programmed it and waited while it produced a glass of wine. She continued pacing as she sipped it then eventually wandered to the window and gazed at the stars as they soared by them.
When the glass was empty, she disposed of it and curled onto the bed. Hugging the pillow she yawned and closed her eyes. The pillow beneath her head smelled clean, but different. The pillows on Commander Valanson's bed had a distinctive scent and smelled much better, she thought, as she drifted away.
Chapter Three
He needed a female!
The past three nights had been pure hell. The nano-second he entered his quarters the ever present blue mist that traced along his skin glowed brighter. His belly clenched and his cock hardened. His senses lit up, searching for a phantom scent that saturated his pores, clung to his clothes and filled his bed. His dreams were filled with sex. Hot, dirty, wild and primitive sex. The kind of sex that made a warrior keep on thrusting even when the enemy was at the door. The scent was driving him insane because he knew there was no fucking way the female who produced it was real.
His fever blazed as hot as it had when he and Soren had been young before he'd met Naline and become entangled in the web she'd spun around him. Frowning, he placed his empty wine glass in the disposal unit and programmed the processor to prepare him two more.
Dane and Dev were asleep in the room they shared. He glanced at the closed door, grateful they couldn't see him now. He was slightly drunk, and intended to get completely wiped out before the night ended. He'd lost count of the number of glasses he'd had but with a couple more he might manage to get some sleep.
He propped himself up against the counter and finished the first glass, picked up the last one, sipped it and staggered into his bed chamber. Some of the wine spilled when he dropped onto the bed. He propped himself on his side and gulped the rest. He rolled onto his belly, buried his face in the pillow and inhaled deeply. There was a scent there, like flowers, but better and it made his cock hard. He needed a female and that's when he remembered the pleasure-givers on the fourth floor. Staggering from the bed, he dropped the empty glass onto the mattress and left his quarters.
The security guards in the corridor nodded at him when he stepped out of the elevator. He acknowledged them before he turned to his right and disappeared around the corner. The corridor was dark and empty. He scowled. Where were they?
He activated the light panel, then moved to the first door and opened it. The chamber was empty. He left the door open and moved to the next one. Then, the next. There were females here. He could smell them.
He opened the last door and grinned, congratulating himself. He'd found one. The light from the corridor shone into the room, softly illuminating the figure in the bed. He entered and closed the door behind him. As he moved toward the bed, he shed his clothes, carelessly dropping them to the floor. He slid onto the mattress and buried his face in her hair. Tor, she smelled good! Slowly, he slid the cover away from her. She was curvy with breasts that were just the right size with big nipples. Just the way he liked them. Her waist was small and flared into the kind of hips a man could hold onto when he was fucking her and her mound was bare. It glistened with moisture and scented the air, making his cock throb with need. She was the kind of female who could keep up with a warrior's passion.
Her lips were full and well-shaped. The lower lip slightly larger than the upper one. Her nose was long and slender. Thick lashes outlined her eyes with dark brows above them. Her hair was dark against the whiteness of the pillow. He reached out and pulled on a curl, then let it go. It sprang back into place. Her scent surrounded him and his fever rose, burning hotter and higher. He grasped her shoulders, then slid his hands down to her breasts. For a moment, he played with her nipples, feeling them harden beneath his fingers before he explored her gently rounded belly and slender waist, dipping his fingertip into her navel. Tempted, he kissed it and tongued it. Her skin was sweet and as smooth as a warm flower petal.
He eased his hands down her legs and curled his fingers around her ankles, measuring them. His fingertips easily touched. Gently, he eased her legs apart and lowered himself between them before he lowered his mouth to her neck and nibbled on her smooth skin. She shivered and threw one of her arms over his back. He found her ear and his tongue darted into it. She curled her arms around his neck and moaned. Everywhere they touched the blue mist moved from his body to hers. He nibbled a path to her mouth, licked her lips, and slid his tongue between them. She opened for him and entwined her tongue with his as his fever grew hotter.
# # #
Daria was having another one of those delicious dreams. The phantom lover was back and this time he brought some seriously delicious moves with him. His hand slid between her legs, pushing them apart before callused fingers stroked her. His lips left a string of kisses from her neck to her breast then closed around her nipple. She moaned again when he closed his teeth around it and his tongue stroked over and around it. She shivered and moved closer to him, burying her fingers in his hair and holding him again
st her. Everywhere he touched he left a trail of fire. The heat from his body made her want to move away from him. Instead she raised her hips and felt his erection press against her belly. Instinctively, she rocked against him, then wrapped her legs around him as his lips took possession of hers.
His tongue stroked into her mouth, exploring it. She ran her hands over his back, urging him closer. He answered her summons and shifted until his cock pressed against her. Alarms began ringing in her mind and she wiggled away from him. The dream had never gone this far before!
He pulled her back into his arms. His mouth devoured hers, and his fingers slid over her nipple, strumming, then pinching it. Her breath increased catching up with her heartbeat as he urged her closer. She hooked her leg higher on his hip and pushed against the fingers stroking her clit, shuddering with pleasure when one of them slid into her.
Thorn knew he couldn't wait much longer. He couldn't ever remember being this aroused by a female. A blue mist rose from his body, surrounding him and the female in his arms. Hot flames rushed through him, heating his body and urging him to take her. He stroked his tongue into her mouth as he pushed a second finger into her, stretching her, readying her. When she tightened around his fingers he grasped her thigh and pulled her against him then thrust into her. She gasped and tried to jerk away but he held onto her, rocking against her. He slid his fingers over her clit, stroking her until she moaned and rocked against him, silently urging him to continue.
Daria tightened her arms around his neck and kissed him, stroking his tongue with hers, again and again. His mouth ravished her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. He drove into her, hard and deep as he lifted her buttocks higher against him. She met his deep thrusts.
Thorn groaned with pleasure. She was hot and perfect for him. The fever in his blood built urging him to increase his thrusts. To go deeper, harder, faster. She pulled him closer and tightened around him.
Daria became aware of that she was no longer dreaming and that the man in her bed was real. For a fleeting moment she thought she should push him away. The thought was replaced with a need she knew only he could fulfill. She dug her nails into his buttocks and returned his thrusts. "Please, please."
"Not yet. Soon," he promised her. He rose to his knees, pulling her hips up toward him. She stroked her hands over his hard belly. Their eyes met and held as he thrust into her.
She tightened around him as he drove into her, rocking against her. A deep moan of pleasure escaped her lips. She arched her back, pushing against him as she closed her eyes.
"No. Open your eyes. Look at me. Look at us," Thorn demanded.
Daria forced herself to obey him, looking down to where they were joined. He rocked harder against her, urging her higher. Suddenly, he pulled back until only the head of his cock remained in her then thrust in again, hard, deep. Unbearable heat burned through her belly and into her breasts, tightening her nipples until they ached. Her eyes met his and she fell into his fire, a soft wail of pleasure leaving her lips as ecstasy pulsed through her.
Thorn growled with passion then dropped down and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as he continued to pump into her. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her, devouring her mouth as if he'd never get enough of her. Out of control, belly to belly he licked and nibbled a path over her neck to her ear where he nipped the lobe then whispered, "Come with me."
She did and the blue mist flowed from his body and ran along hers, surrounding them. Ignoring the warning in his head, he jerked her hips against his, holding her tightly as he thrust into her as close to her womb as possible. A savage shout of pleasure echoed in the room as he flooded her with his seed.
The bonding took him by surprise.
When the tremors of pleasure slowed, and he was able to think again he cursed, jerked away from her and threw himself from the bed. His hand slammed onto the switch, activating the bedside lights.
"Who the hell are you," he demanded angrily.
Daria stared at him and tried to slow her breathing. She should be terrified but her brain felt drugged. Her body burned, her breath harsh as her heart still beat out of control. She drew in several deep breaths and even then all she could think was 'wow'. He was gorgeous. His face was a sculptor's dream with a square jaw and high, chiseled cheekbones. Black brows made angry slashes over narrowed eyes and even angry and frowning she wanted to grab him and suck on his beautifully sculpted lips. His hair was cut in the fashion of a warrior's with the sides shaved and tattoos indicating his warrior status.
Naked, except for the two golden armbands, he could have made a fortune as a model. Hysterically, she wondered if he was photogenic. If she had her camera with her, she'd find out. She swept her eyes down his body until she reached his cock. It was as amazing as the rest of him. Long and thick and very hard. She swallowed and felt herself becoming aroused again as her nipples hardened.
"Answer me. Now!" He leaned over her, grabbed her shoulders and squeezed them. His eyes stabbed into hers.
She licked her lips and tried to scoot away. A huge hand pulled her closer to the light.
Thorn stared at her. "Aulunson was right. Your eyes are the color of a wolfen's." He pushed her down onto the bed, and began gathering his clothes. He stepped into his pants and laced them.
He moved and she glanced up at his face. Silvery gray eyes stared back at her. She shivered, noted his dark hair and swept her eyes to the armband on his left arm. Gold and platinum with red stones. Her first instinct was to scream for help. Was he the Zarronian warrior who'd been at the meeting with Senator Martin?
He stared back at her while activating his communicator. "Tell Dag Cameronson that I want him, Aulunson and a security detail on the fourth floor." He glanced at the door and added, "In Section five, room seven."
"Yes, Commander Valanson."
The name startled her. So, this was Dane and Dev's father. They looked just like him. Same face, same eyes, same hair but in a masculine body that made everything feminine in her tremble. Feeling the need to put a barrier between them she pulled the sheet over her and watched as he pulled on his boots, then turned to face her.
"Get dressed. Now."
Terrified, and realizing she was about to be arrested, she scrambled from the bed and ran into the bathing chamber. Before she could close the door, he was there blocking it.
"My clothes are in here." Embarrassed, she grabbed one of his shirts and put it on. "I can explain everyth—
"Yes. I'm sure you can. You can begin by telling me your name and why you're on my starship."
"My name is Daria." She smoothed the shirt over her hips stalling for time while she tried to decide what she could tell him other than the truth. If he was the traitor then she was screwed. If he found out she was a reporter he might execute her. Either way it wouldn't end well for her.
"I asked what you're doing on the Invincible." His voice demanded an answer.
Scared she said the first thing that popped into her head. "I'm looking for my sister—I mean a friend's sister. She said she was going to sign up to go to Zarronia. I snuck on board to find her but before I could you left Earth and I was stuck here."
"What's her name and birth cycle? I'll find her for you."
"What?"
"Her name? What is it?"
"Penelope," Daria said, giving him her middle name.
"Her birth cycle?" he asked, his voice frightening.
"I don’t know, uh, but she's seventeen." Against her will she reached out to touch his arm, feeling the need to have contact with him and not knowing why.
He intercepted her hand, pushing it away. "She won't be on this starship or any other. We wouldn't accept a female that young."
His answer sparked her curiosity. "What if she lied about her age?"
He ignored her question as the door behind him opened and two warriors entered. He acknowledged them. "Aulunson, I've caught our spy. Take her to the brig. I'll question her in the morning."
Daria recognized Aulunson as the warrior she'd flirted with in the transfer room. He walked toward her with two metal bands in his hand. She backed away from him. "Commander? I'm not a spy."
"You are as far as the Zarronian Council is concerned." Thorn nodded at Aulunson. "Continue."
Aulunson reached for her arm and she pulled away from him.
"Commander, please?"
Aulunson grabbed her. She shifted her weight and flung him away from her. The bands flew from his hand and rolled across the floor as he landed at her feet. Immediately, he jumped up, his face red with embarrassment as he came at her again.
"Stay back. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you touch me," she warned him, as she moved into a more open part of the room.
He rushed her and she tried to knee him in his groin. He blocked her move and closed his hand around her throat and squeezed. She brought her arm up, broke his hold then whirled and punched her elbow into him where she hoped his kidney was located.
While her back was turned, Thorn grabbed her, enclosing her in his arms and lifting her from the floor. "Give me the bands Aulunson." After taking them, he lowered her to the floor then slid his hands down her body, holding her in place "Be still."
The tone of his voice froze her in place as he knelt in front of her. When he tried to lift her right foot she shifted away from him. He squeezed her ankle, sending her a silent warning.
She placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her. For a moment their eyes met and held then he broke the contact. She balanced herself with her hand on his shoulder while he placed the metal band over her foot and around her ankle. He repeated the process with the second band.
A moment later he slid his finger across the top of her right foot to the small tattoo on her big toe. Two red roses, one in full bloom and one a small bud covered the top. They were attached to a green stem with three spikey thorns, one much larger than the other two. He lifted her foot and saw that the stem went all the way around. . He stroked his finger over it. "What does this mean?"
Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) Page 5
