Reckoning

by KD Jones

  “Okay.” She felt helpless, standing there holding the glowing phase ray. She should be helping him secure the cave. As she glanced around the large cavern, she was amazed at its beauty. Shiny icicle-like stalactites hung from the ceiling. The glow from the phase ray hit the stalactites and made them sparkle with color. Very pretty.

  The sound of water caught her attention in the corner of the cave. She made her way over, careful not to step on some of the loose rocks, most of which were very pointy. She saw a pool of water that looked like it might be about four or five feet deep. She knelt down stiffly to examine it. It didn’t smell bad or anything. She carefully put a finger in the water. It felt normal.

  MarIK returned about fifteen minutes later and he was carrying a bag with him. “My team left some supplies for us. There are glow rocks. All I have to do is heat them up with my phase ray and they will provide light for eight hours or so. They also left some food packets and a few bottles of Katieran Juice.”

  “I found a pool of water but I don’t know if it’s safe to drink.”

  “It comes from below ground — probably one of the last natural wells of water before the luna lost its ability to support life. I wouldn’t drink it because it’s heavy in minerals, but it should be great to bathe in. The minerals will help heal cuts and bruises.”

  “I thought all Katierans hated the idea of bathing in water. It’s even one of your laws.”

  “On Katiera that is true because our natural resources were almost destroyed when the Morins attacked with their virus. That’s why the laws were put in place. Off world, we have used pools of water but over the years many have forgotten how to swim.”

  “I remember there was an incident with the return of Prime Commander ConEL — the warriors didn’t know how to swim so my friend had to swim out into the waters of Katiera to save him. She had to accept punishment for that even though she saved his life.”

  “They injured a female?”

  “No, they sent her off to some place for harsh training. Lucy didn’t mind because she felt what she did was the right thing. They’re actually mated now.” She glanced down at the water with longing. “I would love to clean up. Did they leave any spare clothes?”

  “Yes, they did leave two uniforms, but they might be too big for you.”

  “As long as they’re clean — that’s all that matters.”

  “Go ahead and get in the water. I’ll heat up these glow rocks around the cavern.”

  She waited for him to turn his back to her before she started to remove the body suit, then her clothes underneath that. She kicked off her boots and she slid her pants down her legs. She tossed her shirt aside; she had had no time to put on a bra, so she only had on her underwear. She dispensed with that, too, before she tentatively stepped down into the water. She felt pleasantly surprised.

  “Oh.”

  “What’s wrong?” MarIK asked, turning back around.

  Thankfully, she was waist deep with her back to him so he couldn’t see her. “The water is really warm. It feels wonderful.” She lowered herself down into the water until her head was completely submerged. What she wouldn’t give for some shampoo or bubble bath.

  She came up for air, smoothing her hair and slicking it back. “It feels wonderful,” she repeated. “You should join me.” She glanced back over her shoulder and froze at the sight that met her.

  MarIK was removing his shirt and — damn — he had a mighty fine chest. She didn’t even realize that she had turned around slowly to watch him. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him as he revealed more.

  He unhooked his pants and kicked his boots off before letting the material drop to his feet. Then he was completely and gloriously bare. Katierans didn’t believe in wearing undergarments so there was nothing covering his package — and what a package. His cock was already stiff and pointing upward. It was freaking huge. MarIK made his way into the pool and it wasn’t until his cock disappeared under the water that she was able to break her stare at him. She felt heat rise to her cheeks when she realized she had been so obvious.

  “Sorry for staring. It’s been a while and you are...perfect.”

  “I’m not, but thank you for thinking so. It’s been a while for me, too, and I think you’re the most beautiful female I have ever seen.”

  “It’s the hair. Short hair really looks exotic to Katierans.”

  He gently ran his fingers over her hair, then caressed her ear, chin, and face. “It’s all of you. You have the most delicate bone structure but it’s your most entrancing eyes that just draw me.”

  “My eyes are too big.”

  “No, they’re incredible.” He leaned down and kissed her eyelids, then her cheeks and the corner of her mouth. He finally took her lips with his and kissed her deeply.

  Sharon wrapped her arms around his neck and moved closer until her breasts rubbed erotically against his chest. Her nipples hardened immediately at the contact. He felt so good. She ran her hands over his wide shoulders and opened her mouth so that his tongue could do whatever he wanted. His kisses were better than some of her whole sexual experiences, which was just sad. Maybe what made it so much more exciting was MarIK himself. He was amazing and he took his time kissing her without even touching her with his hands to ease her into it. He treated the kiss not as a prelude but as the main event.

  MarIK released her lips and she took in the breath she didn’t realize she needed. She tilted her head back, allowing him to kiss his way down her neck. His hands were on her hips, lifting her up his body, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  Fire grew inside her, a burning need she was desperate to have him quench. The higher position exposed her breasts to the air — and his mouth. He took a nipple inside his lips. When he sucked her, hard sparks pulsed throughout her body straight to her pussy. “Oh God, that feels good.”

  He did it again and again, using one hand to hold her up and the other to explore her entire body, while his mouth drove her crazy out of her mind. She wanted him inside her so badly she was rubbing herself against him, trying to make it happen.

  “Easy, beautiful, we’ll get there.”

  “Now, I need you right now!”

  “Wait, let me make sure you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready.”

  “Are you sure?” He used his fingers to caress her pussy lips. Then he inserted one finger, pumping it inside. He inserted another finger and another, stretching her. She was so fucking close.

  She growled as she rubbed her pussy near his cock. “Now, please.”

  MarIK removed his fingers and took his shaft into his hand, bringing the tip to her entrance. In one smooth upward motion, he thrust into her, all the way to the hilt. He waited until she squirmed against him and then began a steady rhythm — in and out, up and down. She placed her feet on the back of his thighs and used her legs to him ride him.

  “Goddess, you feel so good,” he growled against her neck.

  “You feel good inside me,” she whispered back, gripping his shoulders.

  He cupped her ass, holding her up and thrusting deeper. She was so close, so…suddenly, his teeth on her neck had her screaming her release. Moments later, he pulled out of her just as his seed hit her stomach. He held her against him, pulling her deeper into the water to rinse them both off.

  A part of her was a little disappointed that he hadn’t claim her, but she also understood. They barely knew each other and the situation wasn’t the best. She lowered her legs but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he held her close to him.

  “I wanted you so badly, Sharon, I almost lost my seed in you.”

  “I would have been okay with that.”

  “Do you understand what that means?”

  “You would be claiming me.”

  “Have other males asked to claim you?”

  “I will not answer questions on previous men.”

  “So they did. Why did you refuse them?”

  She pulled away from him, dipping down i
nto the water, then back up again. “I didn’t feel love for them. I liked them, but past the one night or two, I couldn’t see myself being with them longer. They were great, just not for me.”

  “We’ve known each other for such a short time. How would you have handled it if I mated you right now?”

  “Better than you, obviously. How many females have you been with since your mate died?” Oh God, why did I just ask that? She felt like a horrible person for bringing that up.

  “A few, but none I ever wanted to mate until you.” He began walking out of the water and pulled out some things from the bag, including a blanket and different rocks to start a fire with.

  She came out after him and watched him drying himself off with the blanket. “MarIK…”

  “When I found out that the Katierans accepted OrIN’s offer for negotiations, I knew I had to do the honorable thing and keep the Katierans safe as much as was possible. I had no doubt I would die and actually was relieved, thinking I was ready to go to the great beyond and possibly see RowANa again. Then I looked into your eyes and knew.”

  Sharon came up behind him and put her hand on his back. “Knew what?”

  He turned to look down at her. “I knew the reason why I survived. It was for you. The Goddess granted me a person to live for.”

  “In many ways, I felt the same. I had traveled to Katiera and been there a few years but I wasn’t happy. There was no one that I wanted to live my life with. I was ready to go back to Earth when I was offered the mission. I thought I would do this, and if I made it out alive, I would go back to Earth. Then I saw you and it was like I got struck by lightning. You were the reason I was supposed to come here; you were the one I was…waiting for.”

  He cupped her cheek, “Do you really mean that?”

  “Yes.”

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “I want to claim you, but not here not like this.”

  “This may be all we have.”

  “I have to believe the Goddess brought us together for a reason, not to end it all so quickly.”

  He kissed her to stop her from arguing with him. When he touched her, she couldn’t think of anything but him. He pulled away and used the blanket to dry her with slow sure strokes, which heated her body up again.

  “I won’t claim you yet, but that doesn’t mean I won’t show you just how much I want you.” He knelt down and kissed her stomach.

  “I want to show you how much I want you, too.”

  “We have all night.”

  She moaned when he stroked his fingers inside her. All night with MarIK? She hoped she survived it.

  Chapter 14

  The Next Morning

  MarIK growled with frustration. “My comm link still has static interfering.”

  “If not for me, you would have been on that shuttle and headed to safety with the others.”

  He looked at her, frowning. “I would never leave you.”

  “What are our options?”

  “We have a little time before these caves are discovered. I could backtrack to where the rebel ships are hidden and steal another ship.”

  “Then let’s do that.”

  Hesitating, he knew she was going to argue with him over this next part. “I think you should remain here.”

  “What?”

  “I can move faster without having to slow my steps for you, and, if my warriors return here, at least you will be here to tell them where I went.”

  Just the thought of him not being here when his men come back had her feeling angry and frustrated, but mostly scared. He was being smart about this and it was something she couldn’t argue with. “Damn it! I don’t like it but it makes sense. Fine, I’ll stay here.”

  MarIK thought she was adorable when she was irritated. Moving to take her in his arms, he kissed her soft lips, loving how she felt in his arms. “Thank you for not arguing with me about this.”

  “If you had said it was simply to keep me safe, I would have. But, you used logical reasons and I can’t argue with that. Promise me, you’ll return to me.”

  “There isn’t anything in this universe that would keep me from you. I have deep feelings for you. I know this isn’t the right time to say it, but I’m beginning to feel love for you.”

  Sharon smiled up at him, “There’s never a bad time or a perfect time to tell someone that you love them. I am falling for you, too.”

  “When I return with the shuttle and get us off this luna, we can discuss where we want to take this — that’s if the Katierans don’t lock me up and prosecute me first.”

  “Never. That’s never going to happen. I won’t let it and neither will StrykER and Melody.”

  “You met them?”

  “Yes, and they will defend you because they owe you their lives.”

  He didn’t want to let her go. “I don’t like leaving you.”

  “Honestly, I wish I had a weapon.”

  “I could leave you my phase ray. Do you know how to use it?”

  “I do, but no, don’t leave it. You’ll need it in case you run into OrIN or the Morins.”

  “What if I leave the comm link here and you can keep trying to get through the static?”

  “Yeah, that will give me something to concentrate on while you’re gone.”

  MarIK removed his comm link and placed it in Sharon’s small ear. Even her ears were cute. “The comm link will adjust to the size of your ear. I have already set it on the secure channel I was using with my team.”

  They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment more before MarIK turned to leave the cave. As he got closer to the opening, the available oxygen in the air thinned, so he pulled on his helmet and secured it. Everything male in him demanded he stay with Sharon and protect her, but if they were ever going to make it off the luna, he had to leave now.

  *****

  Sharon paced the cavern once more. She had put on her body suit and went to the opening of the cave something like fifty times since MarIK had left, until she started to worry about how much oxygen her suit had left. She had tried the comm link just as many times.

  It felt like it had been days since he had been gone when it had probably been only an hour and a half. If he was going back to the tunnel they came out of, he would have made it there by now, but she wasn’t sure that was the direction he had gone. She should have asked or at least watched him as he traveled so that she knew.

  Well, it wouldn’t do her any good now to worry about what she couldn’t change. Damn it! I need to see what’s going on.

  Pulling on her body suit once more, she went over to the cave entrance. MarIK had placed the big boulder in front but there was just enough space near the top to allow her to see out. She spotted several dark shadows moving in the distance toward the cave. At first, she wondered if there were wild creatures on the lunar surface. Then she spotted yellow glowing eyes — the Morins. Oh shit!

  She ran back inside the cave and looked for a weapon and a place she could hide. If they had a really good sense of smell like the Katierans, they would find her. Was it like a dog losing a scent if she hid in the water?

  Quickly she hid all evidence of her and MarIK. She hid the bag with their extra clothes and the blanket behind a rock and covered the glow rocks with dirt. Then she moved to the pool of water and stepped inside. Remembering the loose sharp rocks around the edges, she reached for one to use as a weapon. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to use it, because she would have to be close to an attacker to do any good.

  She listened for the sound of the boulder being moved. Her heart raced when she finally heard it. Then she listened, trying to picture the Morins as they moved through the cavern. When she thought she heard one of them enter the inner chamber she was in, she took a deep breath and ducked under the water.

  Looking up, she could see the blurry image of a shoulder of one of them as he walked around the pool of water, but thankfully he wasn’t looking into the water. Thank God for all the times she practiced holding her breath with
her cousins in the pool at her grandparents, but even she couldn’t hold out forever. Her lungs felt compressed and she knew she would need to take a breath soon.

  She wasn’t sure how long she stayed under, but when she couldn’t hear or see any signs of them from her vantage point, she slowly rose up to let her nose and mouth get the air that it needed. Her lungs felt like they were burning but she made every effort to not make any sound. Then she moved forward and stepped on the rocks that jutted out from the side to form a step.

  She peaked over the edge of the pool and caught sight of one of the Morins, who had just found the bag she had tried to hide. Where was the other one?

  “Found you!”

  She heard the male’s voice and tried to move away, but he grabbed her hair and pulled her out of the water like she weighed nothing. Because her hair was short, he lost his hold and had to grab her by the back of her suit. She dangled painfully in the air as he showed her to the other Morin.

  “Where’s the male that was with you?”

  “It’s just me. Let me go!”

  The Morin didn’t listen to her but carried her further away from the pool of water. She remembered that she had the sharp rock in her hand. She twisted suddenly and aimed the sharp end for his heart. She struck as hard and deeply as she could.

  “What in Kitana?” He threw her to the ground as he reached for the rock that had become embedded in him.

  She glanced up and noticed a lot of yellowish-looking blood pouring out of the Morin, but she didn’t have time to waste. She got up and made a run toward the entrance of the cave. She still had her body suit on and hoped that it would still work even though it was now wet — but she didn’t make it that far.

  The other Morin chased her and easily caught her. He knocked her to the ground and then slapped her face a couple of times — but that wasn’t the worst part. She had landed on one of those sharp rocks, which punctured her side, cutting through the body suit and her skin.

  Sharon tried to fight the Morin to get him off of her but the pain was too much and she was dizzy from being slapped. A heavy weight was pressing on her and the air was leaving her lungs. She knew she would either bleed out or the Morin would suffocate her. Either way, she didn’t see how she could make it out of there alive. Her last thought was of MarIK and how she wished could have convinced him to claim her last night. She wanted nothing more than to have been his, even if it would have been for just one night.