My internal assessment done, I turn my attention to the surrounding room. Two pirates are close by with weapons at the ready. They're too far away even if I could move. It takes effort but the numbness is receding and I'm able to move my head side to side. I see no other guards in the area. I'm near entrance Amara and I came through.
Amara. No sign of her, good. They haven't found her. Thinking of her my hearts jump back into hyperactivity. Adrenaline pumps through my body and the numbness recedes faster. I struggle against the ropes binding me, trying to find any slack. One pirate looks over at the commotion then stomps towards me.
I stop moving, waiting for him to get closer. He utters guttural commands that mean nothing, waving his weapon towards me.
"No clue what you're saying. You look like a majmun's backside," I goad.
He growls and grunts then takes another step closer and I act. Swinging my bound legs I sweep his feet out from under him. Rolling towards him as he crashes to the ground I come to a stop on top. My limited movement leaves no options so I bounce my body to use my larger size to crush him or knock his head to the ground in a hope he goes unconscious.
He grunts as I knock the wind out of him and his weapon clatters to one side. The other pirate shouts and approaches while the one beneath me gets an arm around my neck and pulls back, cutting off my air. His partner looms in my fading vision as I struggle against the one who has me by the neck.
"Hey! Ugly bastards!" Amara's voice booms, filling the space.
Both of the pirates look around, confused, and the one holding me by my neck eases his grip. I gasp in relief and the gray at the edges of my vision recedes.
"Yeah, you two. You slime sucking scumbags!" Amara yells.
Her voice is loud, too loud, it's echoing off the walls. The pirate beneath me pushes me off to the side then gets to his feet, retrieving his weapon on his way. Lying on my side forgotten, I watch as the two pirates look around with weapons at their shoulders looking for Amara.
"I'm over here you nutbags," she says.
The pirates move in a search and clear pattern. Well coordinated, they approach the stacks of crates and cover each other as one peers around the corner looking for her, ready for an attack.
"You, yeah, you, I see you walking by that open elevator shaft. You think I'm down there? I'm in the landing bay dumb ass. Why don't you come get me?"
She's here? I wiggle around looking for her but can't see anything around the piles of supplies. Shots fire and my heart leaps to my throat as my stomach clenches into a tight knot. I strain against the ropes binding me. I have to help her. She needs me.
The sound of ammunition tinkles as it hits the floor then they stop firing. Did they hit her? There are no screams. I have to know what is happening. I move across the floor like a baby zmaj working my way towards the sounds of the weapon fire.
"Is that the best you got?" Amara laughs. "Seriously?"
One pirate barks loudly and I can hear the frustration in his voice even if I don't understand the words. Clanging footsteps run into the room we're in. More pirates join the two that were guarding me. Peering around the corner of a stack of crates I see four of them in a huddle. They speak to each other in rough grunts pointing around.
"Four of you? Against little ol' me? Wow, you guys are the worst. Hey, don't worry your other buddies are on their way. Maybe one of them is smart enough to help you morons."
I can't keep myself from smiling. My lyutik is getting them all together. I don't know what it is but I know she has a plan. A swelling in my chest expands until I'm sure my heart will burst. It overwhelms my fear and concern for her safety. She is brilliant and strong and she is mine.
"This way, that's right," she continues goading.
More pirates come into sight, adding to the huddle then one of them shouts and points behind the group. They all turn and as one fire their weapons. I pull back behind the crate and struggle to flip myself over so I can see what they are firing at. Whatever it is, I can't see.
One pirate shouts and continues shouting until the firing stops. They move forward in a tight formation with guns held at their shoulders in lock step. As they pass my position I'm helpless. Anger and frustration boil in my guts. One of them is close enough I could grab his leg if I wasn't bound. He's just far enough away I can't bite him or I would try that. Anything to save my lyutik.
They're getting close to the far wall and a door slides open as they approach. They split into two and line up to either side. One of them holds up a hand with two fingers out. He motions then lays the fingers down one at a time. As the last one drops the lead two move through the door, opening fire as they do. The rest of the group follows those two in until the entire group of pirates is in the room. The doors slides shut and the sounds of their muffled screams reaches my ears.
Silence. No sounds, nothing happens. I struggle against the bonds holding me tight. Tensing and relaxing muscles, straining with every ounce of my strength to break my way free. Fear fills my stomach with acid. Is she okay? Where is she? What has happened? My thoughts circle a dark drain that pulls me down. I have to get free, I have to make sure she's okay.
"Having fun?" Amara asks from behind me.
She's here. She's perfect. Light outlines her like a halo. Relief floods me and emotions swell up almost too strong for me to contain. I open my mouth to speak but can't, no sound comes. I smile instead. She kneels beside me and a knife flashes in her hands. As she comes closer, I see she's still not well. She's moving but slowly, her cheeks are sunken and her eyes are hollow. There's a slackness to her skin with a grayish tint.
"Amara," I say, my voice cracking.
She looks up from cutting my bonds and smiles. "Miss me?"
Her voice is music to my ears. I can't speak so I nod. She cuts my bonds and I'm free at last. Sitting up I work blood back into my numb limbs.
"What did you do?" I ask.
"I lured them into a room designed to knock out livestock," she says. "It works on pirates too."
"You are amazing," I laugh.
She shrugs. "It's nothing."
"No, it is so much more than nothing!" I exclaim. "You see? I need you as much as you need me. Our need is mutual, equal, we are partners, mates, lovers, it is our destiny. I knew it the moment I saw you outside that dome. I couldn't even speak to you but I knew. My heart swelled at the sight of you. I knew you were the one that would complete me. I am not whole without you."
Amara smiles and shrugs inhaling a long shaky breath.
"Sure," she says half-heartedly. "We should search the pirates for supplies then get back to the city. I don't feel great."
"Of course," I answer, concern filling me and overwhelming my need for her agreement.
I stumble as I climb to my feet. Pins and needles stab at my feet and legs as blood flow returns to normal. Amara stands close while I steady myself on a stack of crates. I roll my shoulders, stretch my arms, and step up and down until my body feels like its back to normal.
"You okay?" she asks.
"Yeah, now." I smile and put an arm around her shoulders.
She stiffens, its subtle but I can't help noticing. She doesn't move away though and we walk to the room the pirates went in. They lie around having dropped in their formation. At first I think they must be dead but when I search the first one I notice he's still breathing.
"They're alive," I say, surprised.
"Yeah, I'm not a killer."
Primal instinct pushes me to finish them. They're a threat and I should take them out. I don't because of her. She didn't kill them, I can't come behind her and do it after she let them live. I take all the weapons I can find and their food supplies.
It doesn't take long for us to search and pile what we find outside the room. I'm searching the last one when there's a crash behind me. Whirling around I see Amara lying on the ground.
"Amara!" I scream, rushing to her side.
Her eyes flutter but she doesn't respond otherwise. Her breat
hing is shallow, her face flushed. When I check for her heartbeat, it's thready and weak. She needs epis. I only hope that there is some in the pirate's belongings.
The pile of supplies we took off of them isn't that large but there are lots of small cases. I tear through each of them ripping them open and dumping out the contents. I'm almost out of options when one reveals what I seek. Epis. It's fresh too, fresh enough anyway, it still has its luminescent glow. I run back to her side and kneel. Tearing off a piece of the plant I push it past her parched lips. She mutters something unintelligible but instinct takes over and she chews.
I hold her head in my lap and wait for her to swallow. I tear small pieces of it off and feed them to her. It takes time but her fever drops, her eyelids quit fluttering, and color returns to her skin. As I feed her the last piece of epis she jerks and her eyes open. She sits up quickly and gasps in air.
"Damn it," she curses.
"What my lyutik?"
She looks over her shoulder and glares at me. Her expression softens then a half smile plays around her lips. "Come here," she says.
She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me into a kiss. Heaven couldn't taste any sweeter.
Chapter Twenty-One
Amara
We have time, just enough, I think as I kiss Shidan and pull him closer. The pirates will be out for hours and we're safe and together. I care about him, more than I've ever cared about anyone in my life. I need to show him and I don't know how else to do it.
His hands run along my legs. I shift around until I'm sitting on his lap. His hard cock strains against his pants. I like the way it feels as it presses against my clit. His tongue pierces my lips like an invader come to claim.
I care about him. Is it love? Butterflies dance in my stomach, my heart is racing and I know it's more than desire. Running my fingers along the gorgeous lines of his face I love the cool, slight roughness of his scales. It's almost like a five o'clock shadow on a man, a stubble, rough on the fingers, but so damn sexy. Grinding my hips against him elicits a soft moan into our kiss.
I love the sounds he makes. The way he moves. The way he looks. I love the way he cares for me, no matter what I say or do. Is that love?
His hands work their way under my shirt to my breasts and my nipples harden. I wrap my arms around his neck and grind against his bulge. Now I'm moaning. It's hard to think past the sensations of the moment.
I know I have to decide but not now. Wetness is soaking the thin cloth separating us and I need him. He pulls my shirt over my head then his hot mouth is on my nipple. Shidan slips a hand down my pants and presses against my pussy, moving his hand in a circle causing a shiver up my spine. He lifts me up with one hand without letting our lips part.
As he moves his hand back and forth I lean my head back and cry out my pleasure. "Shidan!"
When he lowers me down his cock is against my opening, sliding into my wetness to the first ridge. He's so big it pushes my body to the limit. No matter how many times we have sex this moment always drives me over the edge. He pushes in and I groan. The sense of fullness, of pushing the limits of my body, brings me a euphoria of joy.
He wants me to be his, to commit to him forever, yet I hold back. He penetrates my body but part of me I keep separate. Why? Why can't I let him in?
He's deep and I rotate my hips as he thrusts. I ball my fists into the hair at the back of his neck and press my forehead to his, grinding on top of him as he pistons. I ride the base ridge of his cock until I can't breathe, I hold it, every muscle of my body tensing. I cling to him as his hips pound and another scream rips from my throat. I press my clit as hard as I can, inhaling at the same time I move my head back, thrusting my breasts into Shidan's face.
Knowing what I need he suckles and I groan. I rotate my hips on his cock as hard and as fast as I can. I pant with the need for release.
"Shidan, Shidan, yes, oh god yes!"
My orgasm stalks me, coming ever closer.
Somehow I thrust faster, and he grips my ass, pulling me in even tighter against his cock. The pressure is beautiful and I arch my head back, grinding and rotating.
"I'm going to come, my lyutik!" Shidan groans.
Just then shudders run along my body and my pussy convulses, orgasm coming in waves. I lean forward, holding on to his bottom lip with my teeth as together we find release.
It passes at last and I inhale a deep breath. Opening my eyes, I look into his. They're beautiful.
His cock softens inside me and then he grabs me by my waist, lifts me up, and then lowers me back down. His second cock is ready. I'm wet and willing. His cock glides in and I'm swept away. He pistons, I don't know how long we move. He thrusts in and I lift. His huge cock is insatiable. He takes me, claiming me as his and in the throes of passion I give myself over. I could love him. It might be okay.
He pushes deep and holds. "Amara!" he cries out, almost driving me over the edge.
The deep rumble of his voice is sexy. He saved me but I also saved him. He's right in that we need each other. Can I be strong while needing him? Is it possible to have both?
He slides his legs out from under himself then he's over me, penetrating and driving in. He lowers until our lips meet while his hips thrust. We kiss, I'm finding my way. Maybe I can love him. Maybe it won't cost me everything.
My fingers touch his soft, membranous wings. They shift at my touch and it strikes me how alien he is. How strange it is that in all my years on the ship no man, no human, ever got this close. None of them could penetrate my shields. He drives through them like his cock driving into my pussy. Straight to my core.
The coiled spring tightens and I'm about to come again. It hits me out of nowhere, grabbing my body and taking over. Waves of pleasure wash through me like the surf pounding the beach. Relentless, unending, coming again and again. I'm overwhelmed by the sensations. Driven to places I've never been. My legs lock around his waist holding him deep.
This moment is perfect. Nothing else matters but the two of us. We are one, at least for this brief time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shidan
The epis worked. Amara moves easily and she appears to be in full health again. My heart swells with joy and love watching her dress. She is mine. I am hers. Life is as it should be. Now we must return to the city with the technology we found.
"Grab that bag over there," she orders.
I do so. I don't know which pieces are important and which are not.
"What are we going to do about the pirates?" I ask.
Amara frowns, a small wrinkle forming between her eyebrows. I think it's sexy when she does that. I don't point it out to her as I know she does not agree. She thinks it's a flaw. If only she could see herself as I see her. Perfect.
"I don't know," she says.
I nod. Killing in cold blood is not the Zmaj way but they are too dangerous to leave as they are. A threat to us, our friends, and our families.
"I will take care of it," I say.
She protests but then her shoulders slump and she nods. I leave her to gather the supplies.
When I walk in the room, none of the pirates are stirring. Staring at them, my first impulse is to eliminate the threat, but that is just too wrong. It goes against everything I am. A warrior does not strike down an unconscious foe. However, I cannot leave this threat without handling it.
I smile as an idea occurs. They are a threat because of their equipment, not their skills. I will deprive them of that.
Stripping each of the pirates is a lot of work. Their armor is intricate and well made. Once I figure out the first one, though, the rest go faster.
"What are you doing?" Amara asks from the doorway.
"Handling the problem."
She stares at what I've done then a smile breaks out on her face. "Need help?" she asks.
"This is the last one. Do you know how to operate their vehicle? If not we must make sure it's disabled."
"I'm sure I can figure it out."
"Good, that will speed our journey home."
"I'll go look it over," she says, turning and walking away. She stops a few steps beyond the door and turns back, "Shidan?"
"Yes?"
"Good job," she says, then turns and walks away.
My hearts swell in my chest. It's more than a compliment, it's a door opening. A door she always keeps closed but I see the crack. I couldn't be happier as I finish up. I strip the last of the pirates and move him to the pile of naked aliens I've created in the corner.
When Amara returns, I'll have her seal this door. They will have every opportunity to survive but using only their wits. Their weapons and armor will come with us. I gather an armload of the stripped equipment and head out to their transport. As I approach the transport it rumbles, then lifts into the air a foot off the ground expelling a cloud of sand and dust. My extra lids close, protecting my eyes but I get a mouthful of sand. Coughing, I drop one armload of equipment to wave the sand out of my face. When I can see again Amara is standing in the open doorway of the transport, grinning.
"Sorry about that," she says. "I figured it out."
"Good my lyutik," I say as I retrieve the dropped gear.
The transport is almost full of scavenged crates. Once I've added all the gear I took from them, there is no room for more.
"We have the medical equipment?" I ask.
"Yes, it's over there. Thanks to this I was able to get some extra stuff that might be helpful."
"Ah, good."
"Let's get out of here," she says as she leads the way into the transport machine.
She walks through a door and I follow. There's a small space with two chairs that look out a large window. Dials, buttons, switches, and sticks cover the panel in front of the chairs. Amara slides into the seat on the left and motions I should take the one on the right.
Her fingers move over the dashboard, flipping, pushing, and otherwise working the equipment in some arcane magic. Sounds respond to her actions. I hear the door we loaded the equipment in close then with a sudden jerk the machine jumps forward and we're moving. I grab the arm of my seat and reach out for her which makes Amara laugh.
Dragon's Love: A SciFi Alien Baby Romance (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book 3) Page 14
