by Susan Hayes
“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” she hated knowing he was suffering, but she didn’t know how to help him. Coping with grief after her mother’s death had led her to the field of psychology, but nothing in her training prepared her for this. His pain was her fault, at least in part, and she wanted to do something, anything, to make it better.
“I will endure this, because when it is over I will have you and Melody.”
Before she could answer, his communicator beeped. “That’s Keth telling us he’s left the airlock. Our turn.”
“This isn’t going to hurt Melody, is it?”
“I would never risk harming her. The process is safe. You won’t feel a thing.”
He got to his feet, then turned and released her from the unfamiliar clasps of the safety harness. It was a short walk to the spot where the door had appeared before. Tarjen waved his hand over a spot, and the wall vanished again.
The room beyond was small, brightly lit, and completely barren save for a panel set into one wall. He went over to it and tapped the screen multiple times, then returned to her side. When he took her hand again, he was warmer than he’d been only a moment ago.
“This won’t take long. You’ll see the lights change colours several times as part of the process. After that, it will be safe for us to leave the ship. I expect we’ll be met and escorted to somewhere you can meet with Maggie, Gwen, and Lisa.”
“Okay.” She tightened her arms around Melody. She was expected to hand her daughter over to strangers. It didn’t feel right. How could it?
“I should warn you, while everyone on board can speak a little of your language, they’re not all fluent. Most of them opted to learn a small amount of several common Earth languages.
“I read about that in the pamphlet. You can learn languages quite quickly. Something about a learning program?”
“Cognitive augmentation. It’s a kind of knowledge upload. It can be done while we sleep.”
“Later, I want to hear more about that.”
“Later,” he agreed, and leaned down to kiss her. Within seconds, the Scorching had roared back to life like gasoline tossed on a campfire. Logic lost out to lust, and when he scooped her into his arms, she wrapped herself around him like a cat, Melody carefully nestled between them.
She didn’t notice anything on the way to meet the others. She caught a few vague impressions of a large, open space, then a busy, brightly lit corridor and more doors that appeared and disappeared, but what little focus she had was devoted to kissing Tarjen and holding tight to her daughter.
Tarjen had endured basic military training without breaking. He’d been injured in combat and even survived growing up the youngest of four brothers, but by the Flames of the First One, if he didn’t complete his mating bond with Aria soon it might just kill him.
His cock throbbed with every heartbeat, it felt as if his blood was boiling in his veins, and every part of him ached with need. The Princess would have to forgive him, because he had no intention of staying a second longer than it took to convince Aria to leave Melody with Maggie, Gwen, and Lisa.
Their escort opened a door and stood aside with a wordless nod. Tarjen stepped through, too distracted by the Scorching to even be aware of what room he was entering. It only took a second for him to figure it out, though. There was only one place on the ship decorated in primary colours and full of toys of every shape and size. They were in the nursery.
All three females were present, and all of them were grinning as he reluctantly set Aria on her feet. Once he straightened, he managed a passable bow, and Aria copied him.
“Your Highness, ladies. I would like to present my mate, Aria Frasier and our daughter, Melody.”
“Congratulations on claiming your mate.” Maggie’s greeting was almost drowned out by a delighted squeal as Gwen rushed toward them.
“Hi there, I’m Gwen. The preggers one is Maggie, and this is Lisa. We’re so glad to meet you and your little girl.” She reached out to stroke a dark finger over Melody’s cheek. “She’s adorable.”
“Thank you. Tarjen told me that you have a little girl, too? I’m sorry, I can’t remember her name. Honestly, I barely remember my name right now, it has been a hell of a day. Uh…why do you have gold eyes?”
Gwen laughed. “My eyes changed when I mated with Kash. The odds are, yours will, too. It’s a Pyrosian thing. I remember what it was like when Kash and I went through the Scorching last year. It was…uh… ” she trailed off, shaking her head.
“Insane? Incredible? Mind-meltingly awesome with a side of what the hell am I doing?” Lisa interjected.
“How about all of the above?” Maggie said, coming over to join them.
“That…sounds about right. But did any of you get bombed the first day you met?”
Lisa laughed. “Bombed, no. I crashed Vadir’s ship though. Right in the middle of the mountains. No one could find us for a few days.”
“We could have crashed?” Aria stiffened, and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her back against his chest.
“No, seska. You were in no danger.”
“Not unless you slugged your pilot for abducting you.” Lisa agreed.
“Abducted?”
Lisa shrugged. “Vadir claims he just wanted to get me alone so he could explain everything without me running off. I still say he abducted me. It gives us something to fight about.” She grinned. “Which leads to great makeup sex.”
The mere mention of the word had him biting back a groan.
Gwen must have sensed his issue, because she gave him an understanding smile, then set a gentle hand on Aria’s shoulder. “I think it’s time you and Tarjen were alone. Will you permit me to watch over your little girl? She’ll be right here, waiting for you whenever you want to see her.”
“This feels wrong.”
“It isn’t. This is the Scorching. There’s nothing on Earth that comes close to what you’re experiencing right now. You’re not giving in to temptation, or lust, or being a bad mother. This is…” Gwen trailed off.
Maggie picked up where her friend left off. “This is what the Gods intended for you both. Embrace it. I hope you are as happy as the three of us are with our mates.”
“Her formula and diapers and things are in the bag Tarjen’s holding. It should be enough.”
“I’ll have the ship’s computer scan some and replicate it, don’t worry,” Gwen told her.
Aria was trembling as she bowed her head to kiss Melody’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon, little one. Mommy loves you.”
Gwen took the cooing baby into her arms and smiled at Aria. “She’s going to be fine. I’ll introduce her to Hope and I expect the next time you see her, they will have become the best of friends.”
Lisa looked at Melody and then swore under her breath. “So that’s why I drew that picture! I thought it was Hope and Maggie’s baby together, but it’s not. It was Melody I saw.” The blonde beamed. “I saw them cuddled up together, sleeping. It’s going to be fine, Aria. You and your daughter are right where you’re supposed to be.”
“Lisa is a gifted psychic with no filters,” Maggie explained. “But if she says it’s going to be fine, you can trust that it will be.”
“I…uh, thank you.” Aria turned her head to look up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. “There’s a lot you didn’t mention, Tarjen. Later, you need to fill in the gaps.”
He gripped her hips and spun her around to kiss her, raising her into the air until they were eye to eye. “Later, I will tell you anything and everything you want to know. Much, much, later.”
She looked over to the females. “I think this means he’s done waiting.”
He managed an awkward bow as the females grinned and giggled. “I think you’re right. You’re dismissed, Guardsman Rix,” the princess released him with a wave of her hand.
“Have fun,” Gwen called out.
“Don’t forget to tell her about the fire thing!” Lisa added.
“Fir
e?” Aria asked, her question less than a whisper against his lips.
“Later.” He wanted to tell her more. To explain what was about to happen, but he was out of words and out of time. He’d make it up to her, though. After all, they had the rest of their lives for him to make things right.
Chapter Six
Despite what Gwen and Maggie said, Aria was wracked with guilt. She was leaving her daughter with strangers to have sex with a man she barely knew. I am never going to win mother of the year after this.
Not even her guilt was enough to overcome the effects of the Scorching, though. She let Tarjen carry her out of the nursery without protest, her entire body burning with need. They crossed a bright, gleaming stretch of hallway, and within seconds he had activated one of the panels that lined the walls and a door slid open.
He entered a dimly lit room, then spun around to press her up against the nearest wall. His mouth branded hers, his big body holding her in place as he tore away her clothes. Dress, bra, and panties were destroyed and cast aside. His uniform was more of a challenge for her, and eventually he lifted his head and took a step back, though his gaze never left her face. “You have broken me, seska. I need you too much to take this slow.”
“I don’t need slow. I just need you.” When he’d stepped away, she had wrapped her arms across her body, hiding as much of herself as she could. It took all the courage she had to reach for him, letting him see exactly what his Gods had chosen for him. Big hips, thick thighs, extra rolls and all. She waited for his reaction. Every man she’d ever been with had one. Would he crack a joke about there being more of her to love? Look away in silent judgement, or sigh and turn the lights off so that he wouldn’t have to look at her?
The last thing she expected was for him to strip off his uniform and drop to his knees at her feet. She thought he looked huge and imposing in the dark, form-fitting garment, but naked, he looked even bigger. He took her hands in his and looked up at her with desire blazing in his eyes. For a moment, they changed from dark brown to a shimmering gold, and this time she knew what it meant - he wanted her. “You are so beautiful. I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you, Aria Frasier, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of you and your daughter.”
She couldn’t believe it. This sexy, courageous man thought he wasn’t worthy of her?
“I think you already are.”
“Then I am the luckiest male in the galaxy.” He placed one of her hands on his shoulder and gave her a slow, sexy grin. “You will want to hang on tight for this next part.”
“To what?”
“Me.” He took hold of her calf, coaxing her to lift it off the floor and then draped her leg over his other shoulder. Before she even had her balance, he leaned in and buried his face between her thighs. He parted her labia with his fingers, exposing her clit and lashing it with bold strokes of his tongue. His fingers found her entrance and pushed inside, adding new levels of pleasure. Feeling brazen, she cupped the back of his hand with one hand and pulled him closer, grinding her pussy against his mouth.
He devoured her with the fervor of a starving man, licking and sucking. His fingers curled the perfect amount as he pumped them in and out of her body. Within minutes her limbs were shaking and she was babbling a torrent of pleas. “Tarjen, yes. Like that. Please. Gods, don’t stop. Yes!”
He growled her name, the sound vibrating against her clit. He drove her to the edge of her control, then pushed her off, sending her soaring on the waves of the most intense orgasm of her life. At the height of it, his teeth closed gently on her clitoris, sending her even higher and making her see stars.
Her legs turned to jelly and she started to slide down the wall. He caught her easily, lifting her with him as he rose from the floor. It took a moment to untangle themselves, but then her legs were around his hips and he had her back to the wall again. This time, the hard, pulsing length of his cock was nestled against her pussy. She was so hot, the surface of the wall felt like solid ice. She arched away from it with a gasp, rubbing her pussy over his cock.
He groaned and lifted her a few inches higher so they were perfectly positioned. She twined her arms around his neck, looked into his eyes, and nodded.
He lowered her onto his cock with care, though she could feel the toll it took on him to move so slowly. His muscles strained, and his lips were pressed into a thin line that didn’t soften until he was buried hilt-deep inside her. Then he cupped her cheek in one hand and spoke. “I vow by the Flames of the First One, to protect my mate—you, Aria Frasier and your beautiful daughter, from all who would do you harm. You will be my center, my beloved, and my most cherished companion from now until we return to the Flame that birthed us.”
The words were clearly a ritual, but she didn’t know her part. So, instead of speaking, she simply leaned in and kissed him, hoping he understood how much his words meant. His tongue tangled with hers as he took over their kiss, initiating a dance that mimicked the slow give and take of his thrusts. Need coursed through her, and she rode his hips with a wanton eagerness she had never dared to show before.
He drove into her with relentless power, mouths mated, bodies blending together into one perfect whole. She took everything he offered, every stroke and bruising thrust, and then returned it in kind. The Scorching consumed them both, burning away everything until they existed in a perfect bubble of pleasure.
She flexed her inner walls around his cock and clung to him as he fucked her, his need for her evident in every touch and kiss. She moaned his name into the heat of his mouth, every sound she uttered driving him to greater efforts.
He came first, throwing back his head and crying out in his own language. As he thrust into her one last time, she felt his cock swell and throb inside her, stretching her inner walls and pressing against nerves she didn’t know she had. It was enough to make her come again, every clench of her pussy milking his cock.
Breathless and giddy, she lowered her head to the crook of his neck, letting the subtle spice flavour of his scent surround her. It wasn’t until she tasted salt that she realized there were tears on her cheeks.
Tarjen must have felt them too, because he nuzzled her hair, still breathing hard. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry, seska. I didn’t intend…I lost all control.”
She lifted her head and smiled at him. “I know you lost control. I think that’s why I’m crying. No one has ever wanted me the way you did just now. It was a little overwhelming, but in a good way.”
He kissed away her tears. “I will always want you. We are one now. Bound together for the rest of our lives.”
When he moved away again, she noticed something had changed. “Your eyes. They’re gold. I mean, you said that would happen, but… they’re really gold.”
“And yours shine like gems. You are even more lovely, now, my mate, and all who look upon you will know you are claimed.”
She started to squirm as she looked around the room for a mirror so she could see for herself, then froze when she realized they were still firmly locked together. “Uh, Tarjen? We’re still stuck.”
“That would be one of the many things I still need to explain to you. When the males of my species reach orgasm, there is a temporary swelling. It will end soon…unless you start moving again. If you do, we’re going to be at it again before I even get you to the bed.”
“Again? Already?” she blinked at him in shock.
He burst out laughing. “Yes, again. For the next two of your days you and I will crave each other almost constantly. There are short lulls when we can sleep, and eat, and visit Melody, but most of the time, you and I will be in the thrall of the Scorching.”
“What else don’t I know? Lisa mentioned flames. That sounds kind of important.”
“Now we are mated, I have unlocked my ability to summon and control fire. I won’t attempt it until I am calmer, and you have nothing to fear. My flames cannot hurt you.”
“You can control fire? You guys sure lef
t a few key details out of the brochures, didn’t you?” She remembered something from the information packet she’d been sent. The reason you and I were able to mate was because I have traces of Pyrosian DNA, right? Is that why my eyes changed? Does this mean I can control fire, too? Oh god, can Melody? Is she going to get upset one day and set her crib on fire?”
“Bed first, and then I will answer your questions.” He walked over to the bed, giving her a chance to look around his quarters. It wasn’t what she expected.
The furnishings were done in red and gold fabrics, and the walls were a warm, buttery yellow. Everywhere she looked she saw rich fabrics and elegant furnishing. There was a small sitting area with two chairs facing each other over a table that appeared to be hand carved from some sort of black stone, and another table about the right size for two people to eat at. Both tables were covered with flowers, candles, and several boxes of her favourite chocolates. She could tell the brand by the distinct purple and gold lid. “You got me Purdy’s? How do you even know about those?”
“You listed it as one of your favourite foods.” He carefully withdrew from her before setting her down in the middle of the large bed that took up the center of the room.
She sank down into the sumptuous coverlet, too relaxed and contented to move. “I’m surprised you remember. No one seems to read that kind of stuff on dating sites. They just look at your picture and decide if they think you’re hot.”
“Courtship rituals on your planet are complicated and strange. Our way is simpler.”
“Until you run out of women.” She pointed out.
He stretched out beside her, his massive body curved around hers. “Some believe that the Gods did it to us on purpose to force us to explore the galaxy again, like we used to do before we grew complacent.”
“Is that how I ended up with Pyrosian DNA?” It had to be, but she wanted to be sure.
“We believe so, yes. And to answer your earlier question, our ability to control fire only comes after we have found our true mates. Melody may be able to do it one day, but not until she is mated. We have many years before that happens.”
