My brother and his epiphanies. “Leave it to you to sum up things so eloquently."
Solvun's face shifted into straight-lipped mirth. “I'm the eldest and wisest.” He shrugged and turned back to the door, sauntering, plotting.
"What are your plans with her? She's innocent of anything the !Dakos suspect, Solvun. Be gentle with her. Remember E'na.” And take care of Theone.
Solvun paused.
Not something he'd normally do.
He turned until he could see me with one golden eye in profile. “I've mated with her. She's ours to breed. Don't play around, little brother. Or you won't get a chance to leave Prall a son."
Solvun disappeared through the doorway with his subtle warning about survival. And I intended to survive. To worm my way into the heart of my brother's D'ena. Because she proved on the trip here that hers was a heart that had to be won. And, by law, she was the only mate I could have now.
I must have reached some plateau with my relationship with Solvun. He took me for a walk later that night. Unchained except for my stupid outfit of chains. Right down to what I'll refer to as a mess hall filled with a menagerie of aliens who obviously hadn't seen a female in person in ages.
Maybe he thought it safe enough to parade me around.
"Keep your eyes on the floor,” Solvun muttered over his shoulder at me.
Scratch that last thought. Fine, however. I could play the docile possession of the possessed. But he'd been aloof since he returned from his outing. Something happened. And he wasn't talking about sharing.
"We'll eat,” he muttered at me. “The more you act like you like me, the less they'll watch us."
I guess he should have defined like. I interpreted the concept to mean fond of.
We'd eaten something dense and chewy, akin to meatloaf, avoiding censoring alien gazes. Then Solvun rose, maybe expecting me to follow in his departure. I managed to keep up with the squeak of each heel of his knee-high black boots. But when he sat on a stool to play what had to be cards by the flatness of the small sheets of material he held with his five extraterrestrial friends, I had nowhere to go. But on him.
Scrutinizing alien gazes were everywhere.
He didn't balk when I draped his back with my body.
You know, by his chuckles, I'd have to throw everything he owned on the table that he liked my attention and would have whipped out a cigar if he had one. Just to get me to play with it like some souped-up egotistical politician. And that's exactly what a king was. So, I went with the moment to play our audience.
Who wouldn't have run her palms all over his glorious broad chest anyway?
Everyone in the room must have agreed by the silence descending upon the menagerie of odd humanoid bodies. Slowly, the throng squeezed in, giving me a wide berth, probably fantasizing about sticking something up one of my extremely short pant legs. But, Hell, if things boiled down to the only way we could escape this prison was in setting off a who-gets-the-girl riot like I resorted to back in Turkey, well, I had better get started on working up the friction to necessitate said emotional fog and wiggle my ass in the wee shorts.
Because smoke screens always saved my ass.
"Your little tick seems to have changed her mind about you by the way she's sucking your neck,” some purplish-black guy with bug eyes, literally wide bottomless dark eyes the size of saucers, tossed a metal card onto the metal table and went on about his business waiting for Solvun's reply.
Solvun didn't skip a beat in the game. He tossed a card with some foreign symbol onto the table with the seriousness of a man out for blood. “She's mine, Hatch. If you don't like the show, throw in your ticket."
Oh, the King's good. I ran a palm slowly down his ripped supple midline. Down. Down over firm muscles, to the soft skin around his navel.
He grabbed my wrist and chuckled. “Enough D'ena. I'm trying to concentrate."
"She acts like you drugged her with !Dakos pheromones."
Drugged? Flonn drugged me? Hmm. I slid my arms around Solvun's slim waist beneath his arms and settled against the meat of his shoulder where just my eyes could peek at the prisoners seated around the table. Bugs and small reptiles with wide jaws came to mind.
Ugh. I'll keep the golden god King.
"Is your little pet helping you cheat, Solvun?” A gray hairless man set an accusing gaze on me from next to Bug Eyes.
Great. Solvun would know my sight wasn't on the ground. I tucked my eyes behind Solvun's back and just waited for the reply.
"She's never seen the game before now. How would she know what I need to help me win?” He patted the back of one of my hands. “Hold tight, D'ena. I'm almost finished. Then I'll take care of you."
The crowd squirmed.
Promises. I tried not to laugh.
At least he could make my body hum. Like the buzz running down my arms. Toward my belly. Jolting me with awareness that he needed to take me back to our room and put on another little sex show for the prisoners.
Sweet anticipation. I gulped down a laugh.
He was just manipulating the audience though. Still, he was really good at this kind of manipulation. Just what was his goal? Since my gut didn't squawk, I'd just go with his plan. I held onto that warm solid chest.
Time to just have a good time. For what it's worth. I am stuck in Hell, teetering on a plank.
By the time Solvun plied through the throng of nosy prisoners and guided me back to his chamber without so much as a glance, I was ready to shower. To talk. To learn his game. And I didn't have to wait long.
He immediately began unlocking my chains at the foot of his monstrous bed. “I'm ready for a shower,” he said emotionlessly, staring down my back.
But his bulging erection spoke fathoms. I guess I couldn't massage his amazing body the way I had during the card game without expecting sexual repercussions. But who's talking about ramifications? Time to get onto the aftermath if he intended on making me feel as incredible as he had last time.
Solvun's face lit with a knowing smile and he eyed me, flicking his gaze to the lavatory door.
Yes. Back to the game. Nice game. I'll be his pawn. Although, I was officially his mate. He hadn't said a thing about blood mates. Even if he knew what one was, he had no idea I was a were-assassin Marshal ready for the eternal bond. Probably didn't know about The Order of the Marshals either.
My gut knotted with awareness.
He simply didn't know.
And I wasn't up for a confession. Wrank got me if he still wanted me. If he could forgive the things I had to do to endure for survival. To return to him. If he didn't...
Duty had to stand for something.
Had to send reverberations throughout the universe.
Had to leave me holding something as valuable.
The prize just didn't seem buried deep inside the guts of this compound. Albeit, the golden god King was looking mighty fine. Or was that just his enormous jutting cock?
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Cybernetics... “the science of effective organization.” ~Stafford Beer
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Chapter Eight
The way Solvun's hands brushed up my nude ribs dissolved my insides to the point my legs ceased to function. Free of my leather and chains, I fell into the massive muscular chest I'd been fondling this evening when toying with the crowd throughout the card game and raked my peaked nipples across his succulent breasts. And he didn't seem to mind the way he groaned and firmly ran his palms down my back to cup my ass, holding me against his thick rod so precariously smashed between our bodies.
Something told me that engrossed golden gaze he mesmerized me with was genuine. Since my gut didn't note otherwise, I'd just give myself to the delightful need in his caress. Because he had to be thrilled to hold me the way my body seemed to be helping him breathe.
Or all of these thoughts were fantasy inside my head. Ah, the notion rooted equally in his mind. I slid my arms arou
nd his sturdy shoulders and combed fingers through his wet blond hair.
Roots were the perfect subject to dwell upon at the moment.
The heat of the shower spray caressed our entangled limbs.
"Why did you fight me earlier?” he asked softly, then planted a gentle kiss on my cheek liked he'd loved me for years.
Oh, my heart melted beneath his delicate touch.
Well, I'd just avoid mentioning the chains were annoying. He was evil enough to use that against me in the future. And he was just so bloody attentive now. Growing on me. The truth might sour the moment. “You said they were watching.” Didn't he want the inmates to have a good show?
"They're always watching. Like now. But they can't hear what we hide in the shower.” He pressed his soft warm lips against my ear. “Did M'yote have a plan?” he whispered for my ears only.
"No.” The answer could mean many things. So, I didn't try to hide it.
His hands began wandering again.
Between my legs. Dear. Gods. And thrust inside my sex. I shuddered on his three fingers.
He pulled his head back a little and watched my face with brutal intent. “You like that?"
Couldn't he tell? “I like it better when you use the real thing."
His eyes flinched.
A sign of understanding. Good. No miscommunication there. I stretched up onto my tiptoes and nibbled his stubbled chin. A leader's strong chin. And Solvun kept proving he had what it took to save his people. Unfortunately, he was stuck in this hellhole.
Solvun groaned, twisted his skin out of my teeth, and sucked at my jugular like a hot vacuum.
The heat. Good.
The vacuum sent magma billowing through me to bottom out low in my sex.
Very good. I almost climbed up his enormous form to mount his bulging arousal. But patience had its moments. Sex was always best when the man could no longer contain himself. That's how I liked it. Hard and fast. Like a hero saving my ass while I had a death grip on his. And if the only thing I'd get out of this mess I floundered in was great sex, my king was going to have to perform.
"Well.” I leaned into his ear. “Just what do we have to do to escape this prison?” I whispered and wound both of arms around his head and locked his mouth into place so we looked deliriously lost in the moment for the !Dakos.
"M'yote really didn't have a plan?” he chuckled. “My brother, the pacifist. Leave it to him to save his integrity instead of the ability of a people to reproduce."
Geesh. What these guys needed was a plan. “His plan was for me to stay close while he thought of something."
"You're kidding?” he groaned, stepped backward, heaving me off the floor, and shoved my spine into the cold damp wall.
I hung so high at his arms’ length that I feared he'd changed his mind. Not good when I was ready and willing. I spread my legs invitingly.
"This is what I've been waiting for.” He grinned and went to work gnawing and sucking my breasts.
Oh. My. Him sending so many messages to my aching sex... I couldn't help but squirm. And it wasn't like our audience hadn't seen our earlier foray into Prall marriage on his four-poster monstrosity of a bed. No. They'd seen even more when I mauled his chest after dinner. Why should I care if they watched now?
Now, I get paid for my service. For everything I sacrificed to try to save Solvun's ass. And he had better make good on compensation.
Solvun groaned and backed away, lowering my feet carefully to the wet floor. “Turn around and put your hands against the wall,” he commanded.
Oh, yes. Hard and fast. I did as instructed and thrust my rump at him.
Groaning, his hands grabbed my hips and rocked me briskly into the position of his choice, right against his engorged hard-on. “Gods damn, you've got a pretty little ass."
"Just for you.” And that ain't a lie.
He moaned, threw his head back, dragged the tickling head of his cock to the notch of my sex, and heaved. In one swift thrust of invigorating pressure, he shoved my cheek against the cold wet stone and seated his full length to the hilt.
All the enthralling thickness of him. And the way he hoisted my sensitive flesh into the air with the motion founded in his insistent groin, it was all I could do not to gyrate my hips and take what I craved. But I wanted him to do all the work. That's what men were for. Hard labor, with an emphasis on hard. But, God, wouldn't he hurry? I clenched my inner muscles and watched him loll his head from side to side while the shower spray spilled over his forehead.
Poor baby. I was ready. He'd better be more than willing.
With eagerness, my mate withdrew and thrust more exhilarating friction into my core. All the way to my soul.
"I'm cursed by the Gods, Theone. You're so Gods-damned wet for me. I don't know how I'll ever be able to live without you.” He began pounding into me.
Masterfully. Tilting me with every heaving stroke of his rigid member and tipping hips. All I could do was clamp my teeth and hug the supportive wall as the man played that splendid little bundle of nerves inside me like a fiddle. Yes, like a maestro. I shoved my ass up higher to help him tweak the octave of the tension welling inside me to stellar. Into a cacophony of our groans.
Maybe Solvun had something there. His expertise pushed me over the edge where I floated freely in space, oblivious to anything but the howling rush of water and the steady rocking of his stimulating body, eyes squeezed tightly as if I'd miss something if I dared glance around the small shower stall.
He rammed and stilled, his cock bursting inside me. Throbbing.
And we screamed in sync.
As one.
Melding with the spasms of his pulsing rod.
Gods, I'd die if he didn't move.
He jerked out of me, then, wrenched his slick pulsing shaft back into my womb, paused, and shuddered.
Now. Move now. I jogged his memory with a wiggle of my ass.
He jolted back into action, sliding his arm to loop around my belly, and lunged in short jerks, wringing himself seedless.
And with the way he spooned my body in a trembling embrace, I think I preferred my Solvun seedless.
"You are bewitching, D'ena. Don't ever think you're getting away from me."
Who'd want to miss out on this kind of moment? I turned, chuckling, fancying a sob as his flaccid member slipped from my sex, and wound my arms around his pattering heart.
He pressed those attentive velveteen lips to my cheek.
Although, I would have rather had a kiss on the lips, I took the opportunity to let him in on my plan. I nibbled on his soft earlobe and turned to whisper. “I've begun working the prisoners. Soon, they'll be ready to riot. Just let them get jealous of you having a sex pet. And we can set off a commotion to cover our escape."
He didn't let it end. “You're more than my sex slave, Theone. You're my mate. Queen of Prall. Never forget.” He squeezed my ass and emotionlessly slapped the shower stream off.
The possessive glint he turned to me in his golden eyes was evidence enough to show he meant his declaration. Okay, so I truly had a mate. And that meant M'yote too. Did the Handler even care?
After drying then stretching my nude body against the coolest crispest woven sheets, I stretched like a cat.
Solvun saw me and climbed onto the bed to pull my body against his warm length. “This,” he brushed a palm down my lower back, “is the way a warrior should live. Comfortably wrapped around his goddess. Stroking her curves.” He gazed toward his hand, then pulled a length of my hair before our noses.
Damn, the damp clump was getting long.
"It's grown quite a bit today,” he said and studied my eyes.
No. Had it? Impossible. “Hair on my species doesn't grow fast enough to see a change in a few hours."
"But you accepted a !Dakos warrior's nanites."
My heart stopped cold.
Robots. “What?"
"You're frightened.” He drew me closer into the heat of his muscular form and pressed his
lips to my cheek. “Long hair is beautiful on females, little tick."
First of all, I'm not a blood sucker. Yet. And even when I become a were-assassin, I'll crave my blood mate's blood. Not a King's. Mate or not. Secondly, I didn't sign on for rapid hair growth or any sort of augmentation. “You're joking, right?” I shoved back enough to stare into his golden eyes.
His forehead furrowed, and he touched his fingertips to my lower lip. Gently. “You are so beautiful, D'ena. Do not fear a few changes."
"Changes?” I bolted upright. “Wait a God-damned minute. Or Gods-damned. Whichever you prefer.” Depending on if my brain makes a slip or not. I'm still getting used to the fact there are more Gods to factor into a probability the longer I'm out in space. “What changes?"
"!Dakos nanites are not only geared for correcting damage in their humanoid environments. But they have a beauty facet. You'll adjust to Flonn's perception of beauty. Don't tell me you were unaware of this."
Flonn's idea of beauty? But I loved my pale skin and blue eyes. The color of my hair might be white as snow, but many people could only attain this shade of blonde after frying their hair. “No!” I shot off the bed and set to pacing a trench into the stone floor.
Solvun settled on his belly at the bed's edge, head propped on a bent arm, watching me. “D'ena, I love it when the fire flares in your soul. But this,” he waved at me, “worries me. Why does enhancing your beauty bother you? Most females would pay a fortune for the slight adjustments you unknowingly receive."
How could he draw that conclusion for me as if I had no say in the matter? And, excuse me, I was beautiful back home. I faced him, feet squared fully beneath my shoulders. “This is my body, and I didn't ask for any enhancements."
A smile jigged on his face. He managed to turn it downward into a serious frown. “None of us did. Most of us augmented our bodies simply to protect our endangered species. What's done is done, Theone. You will be beautiful to me regardless of whatever Flonn's ideas make of your body. Just don't let the !Dakos snuff the fire in your heart. I prefer my goddess hot and fierce. Especially in bed.” He shot me a wink.
Okay, maybe things weren't as bad as I thought. Maybe. Maybe. I'm just being a pessimist. Or fearing something totally off the wall. “Well, what type of women do these !Dakos find attractive? Give me something to go with here. Or I'll be up all night waiting for painful changes and horrific results."
Feral Series IV: Feral Fallout Page 9
