“Keep jewelry for now. Do not worry. I not lose fights. I provide for us. All be well.”
“Right. Sure. Okay.”
Her mate was going to start fighting for cash. She was going to end up homeless, alone, with a monkey for company.
But everything would be fine.
Uh-huh.
* * *
She was lying on the bed, studying the ceiling, when Noodle jumped onto the bed and dropped something onto her tummy.
“Noodle, I don’t have time to play. I’ve got to figure out a way to stop my idiot mate from killing himself.”
Did people die in these fights? Shit. Maybe. Fuck.
She couldn’t lose Zandar. The big guy had grown on her. Like a fungus. A really sexy, gorgeous, bossy fungus. She didn’t want to be without him. Plus, they were mated now. What happened to her if something happened to him? He really should be thinking more about her and less about himself.
“Damn straight he should. Selfish, really.” She groaned. “Oh, Georgie. He’s not being selfish. He’s being incredibly unselfish, risking himself so you can eat.”
It wasn’t like she needed to eat that much. There had to be a better way. Unfortunately, he didn’t want her to sell her jewelry and she only knew one way to earn credits, but she’d been forbidden from doing that.
“The word ‘forbidden’ shouldn’t apply to me, Noodle.”
He picked the heavy thing off her tummy and threw it back down. With more force this time.
“Ow. What are you doing? I said I didn’t have time to play. . .” She trailed off as she picked up the object on her tummy. She sat up and stared at it.
“Oh, Noodle, you naughty monkey. Where did you get this from? Did you steal it back from the man who Zandar sold it to?”
Noodle blew a raspberry at her. She was going to take that as a yes. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Noodle, I knew there was a reason why you and I were friends, but you can’t steal shit. Zandar is going to be pissed. And you stole it from someone that we had taken credits from. That’s not cool. Unless he was a jerk. Was he a jerk?”
Noodle stuck his thumb in his mouth. Huh, she didn’t know what that meant.
She studied the medallion. “Not to mention that Pinky can now track us. This isn’t good. Not good at all. Zandar will have an absolute shit fit if he sees this.”
Noodle pulled his thumb out of his mouth, stuck his tongue out, then mooned her.
“You have got to stop doing that to Zandar. He’s not a bad guy.”
Noodle sent her a skeptical look. Yeah, apparently monkeys could make skeptical faces. Who knew?
Hopefully, Pinky was still fixing his ship. But she had a feeling he would be coming for the medallion eventually and it needed to be out of her possession by then.
* * *
“I really think I should go to watch your back,” she implored as Zandar got ready to leave for his first fight.
Nerves fluttered in her stomach. She wasn’t sure if she was worried he’d get hurt or if she just didn’t want to be apart from him. They’d traveled several days to get to this planet and she’d been on tenterhooks the entire time wondering if Pinky was going to appear out of nowhere and attack them. But she guessed his ship had been damaged enough to need repairs, giving them some breathing room.
Still, ever since they’d arrived on this planet last night, she’d been dying to get off the ship and get rid of this thing.
“Why would you watch my back?”
Over these past few days, they’d spent a lot of time in bed together, in between him trying to constantly feed her and talking about her past. Which wasn’t her favorite subject.
“To make sure you’re safe. So that no one can sneak up behind you to hurt you.”
He gave her an appalled look. “You do not stand between me and danger.”
“But I’m just trying to protect you! I have my knives. I’m not defenseless.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “I male. I protect. You female. You obey.”
“Someone’s just asking to be kicked in the balls today,” she grumbled, wrenching out of his hold. “Fine. Go. See if I care if someone stabs you in the back.”
“You care.”
She sniffed. Damn it. She totally did. And it wasn’t because of some mating bond, which apparently was growing stronger each day, although she couldn’t sense his emotions or thoughts yet. Thank God, because they probably weren’t very flattering towards her.
“I’m gonna go to the market with Noodle. Anything you want? I mean, a dead man doesn’t have much need for anything, so I’m guessing not.”
He sighed. “I no die. And you no go market.”
“What? Why not?”
“Too dangerous.”
“Going to the market is too dangerous and yet you’re going off to fight for money? Don’t you see the hypocrisy?”
He frowned and two lines formed between his eyebrows. But she didn’t care. She placed her hands on her hips, tapping her foot. “I’m going insane stuck on this ship, Goliath. I need to get out. Besides, it’s Christmas soon. I need to buy gifts.”
“Christmas?”
“It’s a human holiday. We get together with our family, exchange gifts, eat too much, children get visits from the fat man in a red suit. It’s a thing. A thing we can’t do if I can’t get gifts.”
Truth was, she wasn’t so much worried about buying Christmas gifts as she was about getting rid of the medallion burning a hole in her pocket.
Okay, it wasn’t actually in her pocket; it was hidden under the mattress in the bedroom. But she still needed to get rid of it.
You should tell Zandar.
But that would just cause an argument. He already disliked Noodle. Thank goodness the mating bond wasn’t stronger or he might be able to read her thoughts. That was a little creepy, but she refused to worry about stuff until it happened. She had enough stuff to worry about right now.
“You stay here,” he grumbled. “I take you later.”
She glared. He glared back. Shoot.
“Fine,” she gave in reluctantly.
He gave her a nod and turned away. That was it? He was just leaving now?
“Wait!” she said urgently.
He turned and she threw herself at him, jumping into his arms, certain that he would catch her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he placed one hand under her butt, the other around her back.
“What is this?”
“It’s called a hug, big guy. You give it to people to say goodbye or hello.”
“You give this to many people?” he rumbled, sounding mad.
“No. Just people you care about a lot.” She was not going to say love. She did not love him.
“Humans need this?”
“Yes,” she replied simply.
“Very well.”
She hugged him for a bit longer then knew she had to let him go. She wiggled down until she was on her feet and took a step back. “Good luck, Goliath. Knock ’em dead.”
He gave her a nod then turned and walked out. She immediately moved to the bedroom to retrieve the medallion. Pulling it out, she put it in her pocket.
“Come on, Noodle, let’s go.”
Noodle followed her to the door, chattering to her
“I know he’s going to be pissed. But I figure it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission, Noodle.”
“Right, the plan is to sell the medallion, buy some new clothes, then get something to soften Zandar’s temper. That shouldn’t be too hard, right?”
Noodle just blew a raspberry at her.
* * *
Zandar was furious.
Angry. Tired. Sore. Not that anyone at the fight had matched him for skill and strength. But seven rounds of fights took a toll after a while. All he wanted was to get back to the ship, have a shower, and drag Georgie into bed.
So he had been less than pleased to spot his mate as he was walking through the marketplace. She was crouched dow
n behind a stall with that ridiculous pet of hers. Was she planning on taking something? He had thought he had made it clear she was not to steal. That he would provide all that she needed. Did she not trust him to take care of her?
He stomped towards her, then quieted his footsteps as he grew closer. The monkey made a screeching noise or warning right as he reached out and picked up Georgie by the back of her shirt.
“What the fuck! Let me go!”
People stopped and stared, but he gave them all a menacing look and they quickly scattered away. He turned his mate, who was attempting to kick back at him. Where were her knife skills now? Suddenly, a blade slashed close to his face. He had to lean back to avoid having a matching scar to the one already gracing his face.
“Mate!” he roared.
“Zandar! Oh God, you scared me! Why the hell did you sneak up on me like that?” She slipped her knife away, placing her hand over her chest.
He drew her back into the shadows of an alleyway.
“What do you do here? I left you on ship!”
He gave her a small shake then put her down, not trusting himself right now. He would never harm her, but he was riding the knife’s edge of his temper.
“Zandar! You’re hurt!” She reached up towards his face, but he stepped back.
“Fine. Just from fight.”
“Did you win?”
Of course he did. “Yes.”
“That’s great. Shall we go home and get you cleaned up?” she asked hesitantly, reaching to pick up a bag at her feet.
“What you do here?”
“Oh, yeah, about that. . .well, we came to the market to get some stuff.”
“Did you steal it?” He glanced down at the bag.
“No, I did not!”
“Where get credits?”
“I, ah, sold something.”
“What?” he demanded. Her gaze roamed around, not meeting his. “Georgie? What?”
She licked her lips. “You’re gonna get mad.”
“Too late,” he rumbled. “You disobey me. Leave ship. Come to market. Trouble.” He could barely get words out let alone form sentences.
“Oh shit, there’s the eye tic.” She licked her lips. “Here’s the thing, Noodle took back the medallion.”
That was not what he expected her to say. What did she mean, Noodle took back the medallion?
“Stole? He stole it back?”
“Yes. He showed me when we had already taken off, so I couldn’t get you to give it back. So I thought I’d get rid of it first chance I could. I got two thousand credits for it.”
A deep, rumbling noise of discontent made its way out of his chest.
“I’m really sorry, Zandar. But I wanted to get rid of the medallion quickly.”
“No tell me?”
“I know you’re not fond of Noodle, so I didn’t think you’d be that happy.”
“Not happy now,” he told her.
She bit her lip, her shoulders slumping. “You’re right. I messed up. I just. . .” She let out a breath. “I don’t know how to do any of this, okay? How to be in a relationship. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I haven’t trusted anyone since Annie died. I don’t know how to do this mating thing with you. And you just keep barking out orders like I’m some helpless damsel in distress. I’m used to making my own decisions.”
“I keep you safe.”
“I get it. I do. It’s just. . .I can’t stay locked up like some delicate doll. I have to breathe.”
He thought over her words. He wasn’t happy. A Zerconian female would never give him this trouble.
But she is not Zerconian. She is human. Allowances must be made.
“I give less orders,” he started. She smiled. “But you obey when I do give them.”
She frowned slightly. “Okay, as long as you promise you’re only going to give orders when absolutely necessary.” He gave a nod. “Fine. What else? Hit me with it.”
His eyes widened in horror. “I never hit you.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Not literally. I meant, just tell me what else you need to say.”
“No lying. Impossible once bond strong. Never keep things from me.”
“Yeah. I didn’t like doing that either. But you have to promise not to get rid of Noodle.” She pointed at the beast.
That annoying creature. He scowled but nodded. “You keep pet.”
She gave him a big smile.
“But no stealing. Includes from me.”
“Yeah. All right. I promise.”
“Good.” He reached out, picking her up and placing her over his shoulder.
“Hey! What are you doing? Let me down.” She thumped her fists down on his back.
“No. Calm down.”
“Calm down! Calm down! You’re acting like a Neanderthal. Zandar. Put me down right now.”
He smacked his hand down on her bottom. “Punishment.”
She gasped. “Punishment. You’re punishing me?”
“Disobeyed me.”
“Did we not just have a conversation about you not issuing orders?” she asked.
“Unless necessary. This necessary. Breaking rules includes punishment. Now hush.”
Jerk. Ass. Pig. Butt-breath.
She held the words back because she figured that speaking them would just make things worse. She knew he was on the edge of his temper. She’d seen the tic and red eyes. She guessed she should just take the high road and be the better person and all that other crap.
Still, she was not happy about being carted around like a sack of potatoes through the market. Thankfully, she had hold of her bag. Noodle bounced away, disappearing. Where the hell was he going?
Probably too embarrassed to be seen with her. She couldn’t blame him. She didn’t want to be seen with her. They moved through the market with people turning to stare and whisper.
“This is not cool, Zandar. Not cool.”
Another whack to her ass. She bit her lower lip. She guessed that was a sign for her to shut up. Which she was going to do because she wanted to avoid another smack, but when they were back on the ship, she would let rip.
Suddenly, something jumped onto her ass and she gasped, trying to turn to see what it was. She then heard Noodle’s familiar chatter. Great. She had a monkey sitting on her ass.
Now her humiliation was complete.
He set her down carefully once they were back in the ship. She stomped inside, wresting her bag off him, aware she could only do so because he let her. Once they were all inside, she turned to blast him, only to gasp as she fully took him in. He’d been half hidden in the shadows before and then she’d been over his shoulder.
He was sweaty, bruised, and bloody.
“Holy shit, Zandar. You shouldn’t have been carrying me around! Are you okay? Has anyone checked you over? Are you sure you won?”
“Of course I won.”
She sighed at his arrogance. “You need ice for your face. Where else does it hurt? You need a shower. Is there a medic kit on board?” She turned to go hunt one down when he grabbed her wrist.
“I fine.”
“You don’t look fine. I don’t like this fighting thing if you’re going to get injured.” She whirled around to poke her finger in his chest. “No more getting injured.”
She knew she was acting ridiculous, but she hated seeing him hurt. And she wanted to do whatever she had to in order to protect him.
“Mate. I fine. Use regen chamber.”
“Oh. Right. I guess I forgot about that. Still. . .I think this fighting for credits thing is a bad idea. I’ll go get a job instead.”
His face darkened and she knew she’d hurt him.
Why did men have such delicate egos? Navigating their fragile feelings was a difficult and sometimes nearly impossible task.
“Okay, no job for me. But think about it?”
“Trouble, I am okay.” He cupped her face between his hands then made his way to the room that held the regen chamber.
&nbs
p; “How much did you make?”
“Five thousand credits.”
She paused in the doorway as he set up the regen chamber then climbed in.
“Really?”
“Yes. I be out soon.”
“Okay, I’ll just go put the stuff I bought away.” It felt awkward, just leaving him, and she moved forward, leaning in to kiss him. He tasted slightly salty due to the dried sweat on his skin, but she liked it.
Mine.
Her body stirred. “I’ll wait for you in the bedroom.”
His gaze lit up. “Naked.”
She bit her lip to hold back her smile. “What happened to making orders only when necessary?”
“Necessary. Bedroom. Naked. Now.”
Okay, so it was one order she could really get behind.
17
He spread her legs wide and licked her ferociously. Her breath caught, her heart skipping a beat. Sweat coated her skin, she felt like she was floating, boneless. As soon as he had come out of the regen chamber, he had come to her, tearing her clothes off her and throwing her onto the bed.
Thankfully, she’d purchased some more clothes today since hers were now in shreds. Not that she cared about that right now. His thumb played with her sensitive clit and she rushed up that peak then dived over, her passage clenching around his tongue as she shook with each tremor of her release.
How many orgasms was that now? Six? Seven? She’d lost track. She didn’t think she was capable of any more. She didn’t think she was capable of anything right now. Not thinking. Not moving. He flipped her over onto her stomach. Then he grabbed her hips and drew her up over his lap, thrusting inside her. She let out a loud cry and he paused, leaning over her.
“Sore?”
“No. Good,” she grunted out. “More.”
He pulled her up onto her knees, her back pressed against him, and he drove her up and down his shaft. A new burst of energy filled her as he reached around to play with her nipple. His touch was just shy of pain, but it sent even more pleasure bursting through her.
Her orgasm grew. She closed her eyes, stars sparking behind her lids as she fell over the edge. Zandar drove himself deep, his hands digging into her sides, keeping her from floating away as he let out a roar as he came.
Alien Conquest Page 13
