by Shea Malloy
“Five standard days. Or fifteen Earth days, as your planet refuses to modernize itself and adapt standardization.” He shook his head as he muttered, “Such determination to abide by ancient customs will lead to its ruin.”
“No wonder it’s felt like we’ve been here for ages,” Jillian said, ignoring his dig against Earth. “Mikaal and Megan have definitely figured out something’s wrong by now. They’ve probably sent help.”
“Perhaps,” he said. “However, it would be difficult for them to locate us. We were pushed far off course when we encountered the wormhole.”
“The adversities are endless!” Jillian sighed. “I should have been home two weeks ago. I have clients who expected me to contact them after my vacation ended. They’ve all probably fired me by now.”
Jonnar nodded sympathetically. “And by now I should have told Mikaal I am ending my service in the military.” An embarrassed look came over his face. “But I was fearful of his reaction so I decided to wait until I had returned.”
Jillian’s eyebrows rose. “Really? You don’t like bossing people around anymore?”
“I do.” He chuckled. “But it has always been my dream to work closely with spacecraft. Designing and building them. I’ve decided to make the dream a reality.”
Jillian smiled at him, impressed with his goals and his determination. All of a sudden, she had ridiculous fantasies of bragging to their child how their daddy used to be a super awesome army general and now he was a super awesome spaceship engineer. The fantasies progressed even further into the ludicrous when she saw herself standing by Jonnar’s side with their child, being a significant part of his life as he achieved his goals.
Wow. Those weren’t just silly thoughts. They were more than a little dangerous. They invited a new kind of hope she had to avoid at all costs.
“That’s amazing, Jonnar,” she said. “And knowing how stubborn you are, I don’t have any doubts you’ll make it happen.”
He nodded, staring at her with an inscrutable look on his face. Then his gaze slid to her lips. He bent his head to kiss her when the sound of Kess’ footsteps thumping toward them made him retreat. Jillian wished she could murder Kess in that moment.
Kess had returned with a huge lizard which he gutted and sectioned with his knife. She was already disgusted by the sight, more so when he offered her a piece.
“But it’s not even cooked,” Jillian said, horrified. She pressed a hand over her mouth as another wave of nausea roiled through her stomach. Even if the meat was cooked, she wouldn’t have wanted any.
“It tastes better fresh,” Kess said with a smirk before he popped a piece into his mouth and began to chew.
“It is true,” said Jonnar, amused. “The meat is tender, the juices preserved.”
“Yuck!” Jillian curled her upper lip, then she smiled a little when they laughed. She supposed she didn’t mind being the focus of their humour, since it was the first time the two of them had agreed on anything.
—
“I’m not leaving here until I get a proper bath,” Jillian announced, rising to her feet.
She was done eyeing the river longingly. Her sweaty body demanded relief come hell or high water. She didn’t relish the thought of stripping in front of Kess, but she’d do it.
“Waterfall,” Kess said, pointing at some distance away where the river sloughed off. “There is a pool below.”
Jillian pursed her lips. “Is it easy to get down there?”
“Not for you. The climb is steep.” He jerked his chin at Jonnar. “Your mate will help.”
Jillian bit her lips together. Should she correct Kess that Jonnar was not her mate? She glanced at Jonnar as he got to his feet. He didn’t seem upset about Kess’ assumption. She wasn’t either. As a matter of fact, she quite liked the sound, the idea of belonging to Jonnar and Jonnar belonging to her.
There she went again with those stupid thoughts.
Leaving Kess behind, she and Jonnar followed the river to its end. It curved over into a light waterfall that fell into a wide pool of water below. The pool called to her like a siren song and her skin ached for the moment when she’d sink her body into it. But Kess was right. The drop was far and dangerous. There were rocks jutting out on either side of the waterfall, but they were wet and covered in moss.
“How are we going to get down there?”
Jonnar wrapped his arms around her waist.
“We jump.”
“What?” she squawked.
“Hold on tight. Don’t let go.”
Jillian circled his neck with her hands and clung to him.
“Jonnar, this is crazy—” But the rest of her words transformed into a scream when Jonnar leaped from the edge and they went sailing down to the flat ground below. She held onto Jonnar in a death grip, completely certain they were going to die. Then she felt their rapid fall slowing down, and the sensation of a force below pushed against them. Oh yeah. She’d completely forgotten Jonnar possessed telekinesis.
“So you can fly?” she asked him when they landed gently. She stared up at the top of the waterfall in awe. That was at least a twenty foot drop.
“To an extent,” he said. “I need solid matter beneath me at all times to maintain altitude.”
“Damn, and here I was just about to get excited I was living out a Lois Lane and Superman moment.” She grinned as she dropped her hands from his neck. “I bet you’d look great in spandex and a cape. Also, can you shoot laser beams from your eyes?”
“I cannot.” He released her, one corner of his mouth curved up into a half-smile. “Please never disclose this shameful secret to anyone.” He turned her to face the pool. “Now hurry and take your bath so we can leave this cursed planet.”
Her hand went to the zip at her chest. As she undressed, she felt Jonnar’s gaze searing her skin. She didn’t dare turn around to see his face because then he’d see the blush covering hers.
She kept on her panties and hopped into the pool of water. A sigh of contentment escaped her lips as the cool liquid caressed her skin. The rhythmic beat of the waterfall splashing into the pool nearby soothed her. The pool was not deep, only coming up to her ribcage. The water was so clear it was like looking through glass at the tiny rocks and soil of the bedding under her feet.
She splashed her face and smoothed the water all over her neck, shoulders, and arms. Then she turned around to look at Jonnar. She felt silly banding her arms over her breasts to cover them, especially since he’d gotten a good look and feel of them the night before.
“You should join me,” she said, her voice thicker than usual. “The water’s amazing.”
Her heart beat faster. She had the sense she’d just invited him for more than bathing with her. He sat in the shade of a nearby tree, and though the shadows obscured his face somewhat, the hungry look in his eyes as he watched her was more than evident. She felt like the unwitting prey that had wandered by a lion or a wolf, taunting it to eat her.
He stood without responding and unzipped his suit. He held her gaze as he peeled the suit from his body, unveiling himself to her. Jillian sucked in air then stopped breathing.
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
He had muscles for days. Not obscene, but obvious he was incredibly fit. His wide shoulders tapered down into thick, powerful arms covered liberally in tattoos. His chest was broad and sculpted, his abdomen defined, a light glisten on his olive skin.
Seriously? Men like him actually existed? And this perfect specimen of raw masculinity wanted her? Jillian’s gaze dropped lower still, past his navel. Her face flamed at the sight of his semi-hard cock. If that was his size at half-mast, then she was in for a proper destruction when he decided to use it on her.
He waded into the water and Jillian clamped her thighs together, fearful the heat in her core would bring the water surrounding her to a boil.
He stood in front of her now, his presence as magnetizing as his impressive physique. Now that he
was closer, she saw the various scars marking his flesh. Some looked like minor cuts while others were vicious, the flesh jagged and bumpy where they had healed.
She licked her lips and moved closer. She dropped her hands away from her breasts to touch his warm skin with her wet fingers, tracing each bump and groove in his skin. Then she moved her hands down his muscular arms, marvelling at the beautiful, curlicue tattoo designs and wondering what they meant to him.
“I will not be gentle,” he said, his voice raspy as he captured her hands and brought her fingers up to his lips to kiss them. He pulled her body against his. “I have restrained myself for too long.”
“I don’t want gentle,” she said, gripping his shoulders. She rose up on her toes to press a quick, urgent kiss to his lips, shivering as her firm nipples rubbed his skin. “I want you to fuck me as hard and as fast and as rough as you want to, Jonnar.”
He made a low sound of satisfaction, then claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss. He reached down to cup her ass, squeezing her front to his as his tongue explored her mouth.
His hard length pressed against her belly and she reached a hand down between them to wrap her fingers around it. He was huge, her fingers struggling to contain him as she gave him an experimental jerk.
He groaned into her mouth and Jillian giggled when he hoisted her up out of the water.
“So impatient.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist, sighing with pleasure at the feel of his cock pressed between her legs.
“You said I should hurry up, remember?”
“You have never followed my orders.” He licked her neck, carrying her out of the pool and laying her down on the ground, hidden away by surrounding bushes and trees. He leaned over her, his blue-violet eyes dark with amusement and lust. “Perhaps your newfound obedience comes from the promise of my cock inside you.”
She pulled him down on top of her, relishing his warm, solid weight pressing down on her as she gave him another deep kiss.
“I don’t hate the idea of being fucked into submission, no.”
Leaning on one arm beside her head, Jonnar grabbed hold of her panties with the other and yanked it free from her body when she raised her hips. He flung it aside carelessly, then resumed his position on top of her.
His cock lay hard and heavy on her lower belly as he bent his head to drag kisses down her neck. His lips caressed her chest before capturing one of her breasts in his mouth, his big hand squeezing and fondling the other.
“Gods, you are exquisite. I will never tire of touching or tasting you,” he groaned.
Jillian moaned, fisting his hair and pressing his face closer to her flesh. Every wet slide of his tongue over her nipple and scrape of his stubble against her skin sent tingles throughout her body.
Her stomach quivered as his hand moved from her breast down between her legs. She spread them wide, whimpering as his exploring fingers found her swollen nub and wet, heated centre. He pumped his fingers into her slick channel. Jillian squirmed and raised her hips, desperate for more.
“Please, Jonnar, please…” she begged, finishing her plea by reaching for his length pressed between their bodies. He twitched against her fingers, clearly as sensitive to her touch as she was to his.
He rose up and aligned himself against her entrance. Jillian wrapped her hands around his broad frame, her body trembling with excitement and need. She wanted him more than she wanted to breathe in that moment. She cried out and sank her nails into his back when he pushed his rigid, massive length into her.
He said something in his native tongue, nuzzling her neck as he began to move inside her. Jillian gasped from the sensation of being stretched to fullness from his girth. She swept her hands across his back and closed her eyes. She gave herself up to Jonnar and the pleasure as her fantasies were made real, as he made good on his promise.
One hand clamped on her hip and the other supporting his weight, he ravaged her mouth with his as he increased his pace. Each thrust went harder, deeper, pulling his name from her lips over and over again. Their first coupling was just like their first kiss: raw, explosive, desperate passion that consumed them completely.
“Oh… god… oh…” Jillian whimpered as that familiar buildup of pleasure settled in her core. Her legs trembled and she felt herself tightening around him. Jonnar slid his hand from her hip to give that sweet bundle of nerves between her legs a quick, insistent rub. She arched her back and wailed as her climax swept her away.
She continued to shiver even as Jonnar reversed their positions. She moaned and bounced herself on his length, extending the sweet warmth and pleasure coursing through her.
“Yes, sukaya, yes… gods… so beautiful…” Jonnar groaned. His rough hands were everywhere, fondling her breasts, caressing her waist, spanning her stomach, gripping her hips. He held onto her there, holding her still as he slammed up into her mercilessly.
Jillian felt totally out of control. All she could do was endure as her body spiralled to another orgasm. Jonnar’s pace increased, becoming less measured.
He pulled her down on top of him for a hungry, desperate kiss. Then he thrust up into her hard, forcefully, almost painfully. His fingers sank into her skin, his arms like a vice wrapped around her. Jillian cried into his mouth as she came so hard, she nearly blacked out.
She trembled for ages, her inner walls clenching around his girth, milking him as he came. Jonnar released a long, low groan into the side of her neck, his forehead damp with sweat against her skin as his cock twitched and pulsed inside her, prolonging her own orgasm.
Energy expended, Jillian lay slumped on top of Jonnar as he kept her in his embrace. In time, their breathing and heart rate slowed to normal. Jillian knew she should get up and put on her clothes so they could leave, but she was reluctant to move. She wanted to stay in Jonnar’s arms forever, make love to him as often as she possibly could, listen to the rhythmic beats of his heart until she fell asleep with him by her side.
The waterfall continued its steady splash into the pool.
The leaves of the nearby trees rustled as a cool breeze blew by.
Jillian squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the realization that what she’d feared would happen had actually already came true.
Somewhere along the way, she’d fallen in love with Jonnar Dorayan.
11
Jonnar
—
Kess’ knowing smirk irritated Jonnar when they returned from the pool.
He knew there was no hiding what he and Jillian had done. Her moans were quite loud, much to Jonnar’s pride and satisfaction. The beautiful flush on her skin advertised it too, urged him to take her all over again.
They got into the buggy and carried on to their destination. Try as Jonnar might, he couldn’t resist touching her. He settled his hand on her thigh, a sense of possessiveness and a deeper feeling he refused to examine or put a name to filling him.
She sucked on her plump bottom lip, clearly deep in thought. The action never failed to entice him to kiss her. Bits of leaves and twigs clung to her long hair. More evidence of their… activities.
Gods be damned, he’d been wrong. He had thought all it would take was one taste to be rid of his need for her. Instead, he wanted nothing more than a hasty return to his ship to explore her supple flesh at length, to hear her sweet little gasps of pleasure, to sheath himself in her slick warmth over and over again.
If he held her in his arms for the rest of his lifetime, he would live a life of absolute contentment.
This honest thought discomforted him. Dread crawled along his skin. He decided it benefited his peace of mind best if he focused on the present.
The trees grew sparser until the buggy cleared the forest. The cool cloak lifted. The heat attacked them, fierce and unforgiving.
Kess drove them through a gorge. On either side, craggy cliffs grooved by time and weather stretched for the sky, casting a shadow along the path. Soon the gorge widened, opening into a flat, circula
r area ringed by more cliffs. Clusters of large rocks populated the area, and near the centre sat a giant heap of burnt, twisted metal, cratering the ground. Its original shape was entirely indistinguishable.
“How did you survive that?” Jillian sat up straighter, her lips parted.
“We ejected before the crash,” said Kess.
“Let’s hope our journey was not in vain,” said Jonnar, reaching under his seat for his toolbox.
With Kess’ help, Jonnar dismantled what he could from the destroyed ship and stored it in the cart attached to the buggy. Determined to help, Jillian shifted the pieces of metal as they were added to create room in the cart.
They worked fast, fleeing to the buggy for a brief period when an earthquake shook the ground. Evening gradually darkened the sky, and the buggy’s front lights rescued them from the gloom. Arms folded across his chest, Jonnar eyed the full cart of metal and decided if whatever they’d retrieved proved insufficient, he’d dismantle the buggy for parts too.
“Jonnar,” Jillian stared past him, her features covered in anxiety. She pointed at one of the rock clusters some distance from them where the buggy’s lights couldn’t reach. “I… I think I just saw something move over there. I could be wrong since I’m not wearing my glasses and it’s a bit dark.”
Jonnar turned, senses on high alert. Tensed, he waited, not hearing or seeing anything. Then a soft shuffle of footsteps abruptly exploded into loud thumps of running feet. Four, large, black shapes gunned for them, ugly snarling sounds a sign they did not intend to greet them peacefully.
“Jillian, get in the buggy and stay down!” Jonnar ordered. He withdrew his gun and fired off a shot at one of the shapes. The creature dodged, but the light of the laser blast showed its true nature.
Muridians.
“Friends of yours?” Jonnar snarled at Kess in Omar language. With a sweep of his hand, he sent the Muridians flying back. Then he grabbed Kess by the throat and shoved him against the side of the buggy. “Did you betray us?”
