by Marie Harte
“I too can hurt people if I’m not careful. I only share with Zehn because others don’t like me in their heads.”
“But you can go in if you want?”
He hesitated, then nodded.
“Have you done that to me?”
“No.” Swift and sure.
She believed him. “Why not?”
“Because I care for you. I—” He swallowed, his tattoos appearing, his gaze brightening as his golden eye turned a bright green. “I have made mistakes. But I cannot help myself. You could find a male much more worthy than myself. Zehn is a great warrior and a fine mate. I’m lacking. I know this. But I would give my life for you.”
She hated that he thought so little of himself.
“I would never force you into anything you did not want. A warrior lives by his word.” Lore frowned, and she felt his upset. “But Mandy, you cannot know. It’s a battle not to give in to the instinct.”
“Instinct.”
“To claim you for mine and Zehn’s own. My heart beats for you. Phelthar has tied us, Mandy of Earth. Zehn told me not to scare you away with talk of permanence, but I do not want there to be untruth between us.”
She saw him flush, noted the intensity with which he spoke. And she realized that for all their differences, she and Lore were a lot alike. Outcasts, powerfully gifted, and unsure of their worth. Mandy had been nothing but a bargaining chip her entire life. At first she’d been valued because of her supposed beauty. Then, when her pyrokinesis matured after puberty, her worth became tied to her ability to set fire to whatever was asked of her.
She’d never known love from her family. From her friends, yes, and from a few of her caregivers early on, when she’d been identified as a fire power. But her parents had never cared for her as person. Her sister had been as bad, concerned only with her status in life and what she could get from a proper marriage.
“Lore, why don’t you think you’re worthy? You’ve protected me and Zehn from danger. You’re strong, powerful, special. And so handsome,” she added, seeing his cheeks redden even more. God, he’s adorable. A seven foot tall barbarian who blushed at compliments. “Zehn loves you.”
“He does.” Lore sighed. “Sometimes I’m not sure why. He can do better.” He looked into her eyes and stared. “You are so easy to talk to. You make me feel at peace.” Then he blinked, his expression horrified.
“What’s wrong?”
“I am a very worthy mate, despite what I said. I mean, you could not find better. No one will suit you as I can. And Zehn. Yes, Zehn is ideal.”
“Lore, relax. I like your honesty. And I think you very worthy.” She saw the hope light up his eyes and found it impossible to squash it. “But, if I were to mate, and I would have no problem being with you, I’d want it to be my choice.”
“Of course.”
“After I live my own life. I’ve been controlled by others for a long time. I need to be independent for a while, before I consider mating.”
He watched her, his eyes now gold and green, normal. “How long would you need for this independence?”
“I don’t know. A few years?”
He sighed. “We do not have that long.”
“Why?”
Someone called his name, and it seemed to her that he looked relieved. “I must go. Stay. I’ll have Watta and Kahl guide you back.” He gave her a peck on the cheek then left her with Watta, one of the attractive females, and Kahl, her old friend and resort guard, who trailed behind.
She watched Lore go and missed him already. Damn it. Skye had been right. These barbarians had a tendency to grow on a girl, getting under her protective shields when she wasn’t looking. Handsome, intelligent, skilled in bed, and emotionally available. Crap. She was falling in love with the guy.
When she turned to greet Watta, a woman she’d briefly met a few days ago, it was to see Watta staring after Lore with a hungry look on her face.
Whoa. Not cool. “Watta?”
The woman turned to her, smiled, and said something to Kahl that didn’t translate. Kahl nodded and stayed back even farther. Ah. A need for privacy. But then, why not speak the common tongue all on the planet used? Not all of the barbarian language translated, despite the subtrans packs.
“Offworlder, you do not belong here.” Watta glared. “It’s time you go back home.”
Chapter Nine
MANDY HADN’T EXPECTED the attack. Everyone had been more than friendly to her since her arrival. “Huh? Why?”
“You offworlders. You don’t belong with our males. We are a worthy race filled with openness and connection to all things. Yet you come with your tainted blood and your alien technology and ruin what you do not understand.”
Watta seemed to be a few years younger than Mandy, but not by much. A young woman, mature enough to realize she had no business warning Mandy off Lore.
“If he wanted you, don’t you think he would have gone after you already?”
Watta flushed, stunning despite the ugly anger on her face. Like the other female barbarians, she had a slight frame, muscular yet toned. She stood a few inches taller than Mandy, had long dark hair and golden eyes. Her skin, like the males, was a smooth tan. Truly beautiful—on the outside.
Mandy continued, “And with your talk of offworlder ‘taint,’ you have to realize Lore’s green eye isn’t native to your world.”
Watta snapped, “See? You insult one of our finest warriors. He’s worth ten of your human scum.”
“Insult? I’m just saying—”
“You do not know the value of what you’ve been given.” Watta leaned closer and had the audacity to poke Mandy in the chest. Behind her, Kahl frowned and closed the distance between them. “And Zehn, he is not for you either. You, woman with eyes of auhleh.” Watta sniffed and left as Kahl joined them.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m fine. She’s just jealous.”
He blinked. “Jealous?”
Now it was Mandy’s turn to blush. “Never mind.” She walked back into the village center, Kahl at her side.
“May I ask a question?”
“Sure.” She waited for something else to throw her off her game.
“Why did we not pair before? Did you seek two for pleasure instead of one?”
Yep. There it was. Something else she didn’t want to talk about. “I had no plan to pair with anyone,” she said frankly. “I’m still not sure how I ended up getting with Zehn and Lore. It just…happened.” Because I’ve never seen anything sexier than those two making love.
“Ah. They are a force.” He smiled. “Our finest warriors aside from our alpha and beta. Yet I would have you know I’m also skilled. Our best axe man, as you will see when we join the Cloud Games to show off our skills. In another month or two, we shall all compete.”
She didn’t think she’d still be around by then, but stranger things had been known to happen. Like Mandy having crazy sex with two alien barbarians.
He continued to talk about the celebration that sounded more like an Olympic event. Saved by Lisa, Mandy joined her friend with the weaving women. Intrigued, she watched as they wove fragile strands of the maffet leaves into a patterned basket.
“Isn’t it cool?” Lisa asked. “They use the maffet tree for everything. The finer the threads, the easier it is to make clothing. Then you can weave the leaves into baskets or roofing. And the wood is good for everything from housing and furniture to boats that the northern tribe, the Water Tribe, supposedly uses.”
Mandy tried her hand at thinning threads from the leaves using their process and ended up loving it. She’d tried knitting once at home and had enjoyed the routine. But a woman who could create and manipulate fire from thought had no need of idle pastimes. Here, the women welcomed her to try.
The rest of the day passed in a blur as she helped her new friends make goods for trade in the open market. Yet her thoughts remained on Lore’s declaration of affection…and Zehn’s absence.
Zehn knew the time had come to convince his pretty woman to stay. After the mess Lore had made earlier—a mess Zehn didn’t think a mess at all, but Lore was beside himself thinking he’d put more distance between them—they had agreed on a new way of dealing with her.
He tapped at the outside of her dwelling and waited.
“Zehn? Come in.”
He pushed aside the thin shield of vines hanging down to afford her privacy and entered to find her going through the many gifts he and Lore had given her.
She glanced up at him with a frown. “What am I supposed to do with all this?”
“Anything you like, sweetling.”
She blushed. “Sorry. That sounded ungrateful. You and Lore have been so generous. I really do appreciate all this. It’s just…” She turned and hugged herself.
“Mandy?”
“Why are you guys giving me presents? You leave this stuff for me like you did at the resort. But you keep ignore—” she stopped herself.
“What are you saying?”
The little female growled at him, and he had no idea why. Then she walked right up to him and reached up for his shoulder. She tugged on him to lower himself.
Intrigued, he obeyed. And found himself richly rewarded when his mate kissed him with a hunger that triggered his own.
She ended the kiss with a nip to his lip. “That’s for ignoring me.” She continued to breathe hard, her beautiful breasts rising and falling. He would have paused for Lore, but they’d both agreed he needed to tie their female to him using any means necessary. And he didn’t want to give her a chance to change her mind while waiting for Lore to return from a patrol.
Yes. Give our mate what she needs, Lore sent him. Distance didn’t seem to do anything for their connection.
But you must know she hungers for you as well.
Lore didn’t answer, and Zehn hoped the sensitive barbarian wasn’t revisiting the idea of his own value. Every now and then, Lore got it into his head that Zehn could do better. As if Zehn would ever fit with a male the way he and Lore fit each other.
But if he had any chance at all of securing Mandy for himself and Lore, he knew he had to make this good for their female. Except he found it difficult to concentrate on anything but the feel of her in his arms.
Mandy ran her hot little hands over his body, and the instinct took over. He felt his skin heat, felt himself absorbing her energy the way she often shared with Lore. Desire centered in his cock, and he knew if he didn’t soon get inside her, he’d lose all hope of staying in control.
Then his wild mate took the choice from him. Zehn, a powerful, commanding barbarian, putty in the hands of his female.
She had her hand inside his loincloth, fingering his slick shaft as he moaned, his hands on her shoulders.
She knelt in front of him, and he wanted to make her more comfortable. But she wouldn’t let him. Mandy burned the cloth from his body, the fire burning up more than the material. He felt the flames lick at him, not hurting but for the building pressure in his balls.
Zehn couldn’t think.
Mandy didn’t let him. She took him into her mouth and slid over him until he hit the back of her throat.
He swore. She licked the underside of his shaft. Unable to stop himself. He started thrusting.
The powerful movement was too much for Mandy, and he knew it. But she wouldn’t let him stop. The suction of her mouth increased, and then her hands were on his ass, her fingers grazing his crack, rimming him. She put a finger inside him, and he lost all sense.
Fire surrounded his cock, and he felt his seed burst from in a hazy cloud of ecstasy.
His sexy mate continued to suck him down, and he knew if he wasn’t careful he’d give her his second seed as well. But not here. Zehn pulled her away and lowered her to the ground. He ripped her clothing off and sucked her nipple into his mouth. He tormented the other, needing her cries of passion.
When he finally made his way to her sex, he latched on and licked, sucked, and nipped until she cried out his name, her sweet cream making it all but impossible to hold back.
Zehn quickly mounted her and thrust deep. Hard and fast, he took her, until she screamed and he came, his second seed a powerful force that filled her womb with life-making energy.
The climax lasted what felt like forever, his female sated and happy, smiling up at him as she stroked his shaky arms.
He held himself off her, having subconsciously realized she couldn’t bear so much weight. But he wasn’t finished yet. Having filled her of his second seed, he waited until he’d finished before withdrawing until just the tip of him remained inside her.
“May I finish?” he asked.
Her eyes grew even wider. “More?” she squeaked even as her ankles locked behind his back.
Zehn watched her as he plunged deep once more and gave her the rest of his seed in a rush. The pleasure drew forth moans and sighs, made even better as his mate caressed him with touch and taste. Her kisses burned along his chest, his body one mass of chaotic desire and calming love.
She gaped at him. “Zehn. Your eyes. They’re green.”
“Oh?” He didn’t care what color they were, so long as he could stay in her forever. He never wanted to leave.
But Mandy squirmed beneath him, so he withdrew.
“Oh boy. That’s a mess.”
He laughed, feeling so good he felt as if he could fly. Blessed phelthar linked him to Mandy, to Lore, and to everything around him. The roots of the maffet trees all around tightened in welcome. Kryllax blossoms opened all around her dwelling, the scent of life a burgeoning hope in Zehn that he’d finally found his center in the arms of Mandy and Lore.
He found some clothing and used it to clean his mate. Then he kissed her tenderly and hugged her to him, lying on his back with Mandy on top. So precious, his female. Our female, he sent Lore, feeling his bond-mate’s excitement that finally, they’d truly bonded. She’d opened to them fully.
“Why did you stay away from me?” She stared down at him with fire in her eyes.
He sighed and pulled her back down for a kiss, not surprised to find his body readying to take her yet again but knowing she needed a rest. “Lore and I want you to have a choice, Mandy. We do not want to pressure you.” Must tell her about the child. But how? “We want only your happiness, mate.”
He let the word mate sink in.
She stared at him, and he had no idea how she felt about his claim.
“Lore and I would have your forever, Mandy. Our third. We wanted to wait, for you to accept our truth that we are one. Phelthar.”
“Yes, yes, phelthar. I can feel you two inside me. Okay?”
He paused. She sounded a bit…panicked.
“I also feel something else. I’m not sure what, but I’m different now.”
“Mate. Mandy. I must tell you something.” He feared seeing her rejection. Or worse, her hurt. “The Maker, our creator, blesses those of us who find our mates. If a mating is true, sometimes the Maker gives—” life was on the tip of his tongue when someone sounded the alarm.
“Stay here.” He gently moved her off him and darted outside. He’d get clothing once the threat was taken care of. Besides, Zhen he didn’t mind others seeing him naked, scenting his mate on him. He wanted everyone to know. Now I just have to find out how to tell her she’s with our young.
***
Mandy wanted to hit something. She’d been feeling a bit strange ever since they’d had sex in that pool outside the village. The sex had tied them even closer together, and she’d been feeling a pulse from the planet since. As if tapped into the same life-force—phelthar—the guys spoke of. Zehn had been about to explain it. She knew it. Because the sex with him this time was so much more intense. They must have mated, bonded. Joined. Whatever. Now she could feel Lore and Zehn deep inside her. A hum in her belly that made her feel not so alone. It was strange, satisfying, and alarming, because she felt more open than she’d ever been,
with no one to catch her should she fall.
Then again, Lore would be there if Zehn wasn’t.
She smiled, wondering if just maybe she’d found a place to call home. Mates who would care for her as she cared for them. She loved Lore’s shyness, his strength coupled with that sense of aloneness. And Zehn’s confidence, his need to take care of her and Lore, to keep them together. She felt that she could belong, bringing with her a softness her barbarian warriors didn’t have.
Mandy dressed, not unduly worried about the alarm outside. The barbarians occasionally ran drills to get the villagers prepared for a raid. She liked that they took the protection of their people seriously. Even though only crazies would attack a village this well fortified, she was glad to be in a place where men like Zehn and Lore could look small. Goodness, but their leader, Talzec, was a monster.
She didn’t know how Skye handled him. Large and mean and scary looking, until he smiled. Then she saw the caring these barbarians tucked away.
Watta and another male approached her.
Mandy waited for more vitriol from the bitchy woman.
“I’m sorry,” Watta apologized, surprising her again. “I should not have been so cruel. But I have had feelings for Lore and Zehn.”
The aggressive male with her glared and prodded her, a hand on her shoulder.
“It was unbecoming of a Vyctore maiden. I offer my sincere apologies and restitution.”
Mandy didn’t want to know what that might encompass. “It’s okay. I understand.” She’d come to love the men in so little time. She could imagine how difficult it might be to live with them for years and not have them.
Yet, for all she’d come to care for her warriors, she didn’t know what to do about planet Ussed. Did they have to live here, together? Or could they travel this solar system and others? Explore new worlds she’d never seen?
The idea had been a part of her for so long, to escape Earth and be on her own. Yet now she was on planet Ussed. Had been for months. And for the first time ever, she felt at home.
“I will take you to the women.” Watta sounded sad.
