Rykhan (Book 1 of Mate Search Series)

by J. A. Hornbuckle

  Leah shifted her eyes to Rykhan without turning her head and the butterflies in her belly took flight at the view. There was no denying the man was something from her dreams. Tall, probably in the 6’5” range which meant he was still taller than she was even in her blasted heels. Broad, too, if the amount of space he took up in the booth was indicative of his size although he seemed to carry most of his muscles in his upper body since she’d noticed he had lean hips and legs.

  She’d pretty much determined he was foreign not only in just the look they’d shared across the over-crowded bar, but his appearance as well. It was the light brown, sun-streaked, shoulder-length wavy hair, Caribbean blue-green eyes and the tanned gold of his skin that gave him away. Rykhan was completely different from the other men attending. Different as in America was not his native country.

  As if she couldn’t tell that particular fact from just his speech alone. His sexy hesitation over certain words and certain consonants was endearing. The careful, deliberate way his lips and tongue caught and tripped spoke volumes about how English wasn’t his first language.

  Hot, by any girl’s standards.

  But for her, scary as hell.

  Leah knew who she was and had Tony telling her often enough in their years together what she wasn’t. Therefore, the exotic foreigner’s words of ‘anywhere and everywhere’ had found the alarm bells within her blaring long and loud. He was just playing with her.

  Even though she had somehow discerned his intentions. She’d felt it like a warm layer of honey drizzling over her insides as he’d spoken.

  Although that level of honesty made her suspicious as to his motives.

  By just his looks alone, he had to be a player, no matter what she felt emanating from him.

  Her gaze wandered over his face, taking note of how his broad smile came and went. His glances directed her way even as he participated in the conversation spoke differently though. It included her as if she was integral to the whole of it.

  To the whole of him.

  Yet somehow and in some way, she could sense his emotions.

  This was just plain, ol’ bat-shit crazy.

  So why did she feel such a connection to the man, this foreigner, who Pam said couldn’t take his eyes off her in the main room? And what about the electrical charge that had happened when he’d taken her hand or the emptiness she’d felt when she had deliberately disengaged from his touch?

  “And for you?” A voice cut through her reverie and she dragged her eyes to the sound only to see the waiter looking directly her way. God! She hadn’t been aware the guy had returned with drinks before asking for their orders.

  “Oh, uhm,” she responded and felt the heat hit her face again. Leah hated how she blushed so easily but she had no control over it, just as she had no way of tempering her attraction for Rykhan. She knew without a shadow of doubt he was totally out of her league. “The Chicken Caesar salad, please.”

  Pam bumped against her arm with a laugh. “So, you’re gonna let the rest of us clog our arteries while you take the healthy route?”

  Rykhan gently covered the hand she had rested on the tabletop. Leah felt a peace steal over her at the comfort and acceptance his simple touch provided. She couldn’t help looking up at him and as their eyes caught and held, she felt herself settle. It was as if all her worries and concerns melted away with nothing more than his warm gaze and calm touch.

  “All is well, yes?” he asked in a soft voice bending his face towards hers. As she raised her chin, Leah had an almost overwhelming urge to press her mouth to his. A mouth that was only inches away. For whatever reason, the idea wasn’t unpleasant or scary in the least. It felt like it would’ve been the most natural movement in the world. At the mental image, she stopped herself and her thoughts abruptly.

  She couldn’t consider kissing a perfect stranger, especially not in full view of the restaurant with their friends looking on!

  “Yes,” she replied, dropping her eyes before sliding them to Pam in helplessness. She needed her friend to remind her of what was real and what absolutely wasn’t in all the craziness bubbling within her.

  A fact her friend luckily picked up on. “You guys aren’t from around here, that much is clear,” Pam said with a smile that took in both men. “So where are you from and how long have you been in the States?”

  There was a half-beat of silence before Wyst spoke. “A place you’ve probably never heard of.”

  “We’ve only recently arrived,” Rykhan’s deep reply came quickly, almost overriding his companion’s voice.

  Only Pam wasn’t deterred. Leah knew the woman defined stubborn to a fault and, like a puppy with a new toy, wouldn’t be easily distracted from whatever issue was at hand. “No, fellas. I asked specifically about the where from and for how long.”

  “Galaxia.” Rykhan’s tone, for the first time that evening sounded almost uncertain to Leah’s ears. In addition, she noticed how uncomfortable Pam’s question had made him. It was like a vague itch on her insides.

  However, Wyst’s voice started almost as soon as the object of Leah’s interest stopped. “We have only recently arrived.”

  “Define recent,” Pam demanded. Leah noticed her friend’s eyes had narrowed the tiniest fraction and included a head bob as if giving weight to her words. Panicky apprehension shot through her and Rykhan shifted in his seat as he shot his gaze back to her.

  Wyst’s countenance appeared sheepish as he replied. “Today?”

  Pam rolled her eyes and turned fully to the man sitting next to her. “Again? Geez, dude. Are you asking or telling me?”

  Rykhan’s warm fingers convulsed on the back of Leah’s hand. “We only arrived this afternoon. This is our first time in the United States of America,” he replied formally. Another wave of apprehension flowed off him although she didn’t hear it in his tone as he’d answered. The feeling was strong enough it caused Leah to face him. “All of this is still very new to both of us.”

  Pam opened her mouth to speak but their waiter interrupted placing their plates down in front of each of them. “Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, and Chicken Caesar salad. Your plates of chili-cheese fries are coming right up. Can I get you anything else?”

  Both men stared at the towering edifice of beef, cheese, and bacon placed before them then their eyes shifted to Leah’s overly large salad.

  “Why does she get fresh food and we don’t?” Wyst asked, breaking the silence around the table after the waiter left to fetch the rest of their order.

  “Because we have taste and she’s on a health kick.” Pam again nudged Leah’s arm as if to take away the sting her words caused as she picked up her knife to cut the behemoth before her in half. “I’m sure she’ll share though, if you want to have a taste.”

  “Would you like some?” Leah raised her gaze to the heavily fringed eyes on her left. To the blue-green eyes she couldn’t stay away from for very long. “I won’t be able to eat it all myself.”

  “You wish to feed me, my Leah?”

  Every cell in her being sat up and took notice at his softly spoken words, hardening and then moistening in places better left unmentioned. And at the tenderness she felt coming off him. “I don’t…I’m not sure I…”

  His hand spasmed again in its covering of hers and Leah found herself slipping out of his grasp. It was, all of it—with his gaze, his touch and her ability to know what he was feeling—was simply too much for her to handle. There had been something in his voice that warned her that feeding him was an act carrying more weight, more import for him than she could give at this particular moment. “How about I put some on your plate and if you like it, you can have more?”

  His gaze remained steady as he reached to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear with the fingers not holding hers. His action weakened her knees to the point she knew, if she had been standing, would have found her on the floor. “Yes, my beautiful one. Thank you for sharing your meal with me.”

  Leah cou
ldn’t move a muscle except the ones in her throat as she swallowed hard and deep. A wave of desire hit huge and so deep she somehow knew it wasn’t hers alone.

  There was a low, deep groan that she couldn’t be sure wasn’t hers until Wyst’s voice ground out, “Fracking Posket!”

  “Does that mean good, wonderful and amazing?” Pam asked around a mouthful of her own burger. “Because if you say anything against this brand of heaven, you are gonna be exiled to the farthest reaches of Siberia, big guy!”

  “Perfection,” the large man moaned as his mouth snagged another bite of his huge cheeseburger.

  Pam’s smug smile matched anything a Cheshire cat could produce as she slid the overwhelming plate of fries covered in both chili and cheese towards Wyst. “Then consider yourself completely defiled as you sample these, foreigner!”

  “This tastes amazing!” Rykhan announced taking another full bite of the large burger that actually appeared normal sized in his hands. She stared as he chewed with eyes closed savoring every bit of flavor. Feelings of amazement and deep, deep appreciation rolled off him. “Tsiran! This is wonderful and something we need to share with our brothers!”

  She somehow didn’t like his interest in his food since it took the focus off her although she’d never been a jealous person. But it seemed, with him anyway, she was. Using her spoon and fork, Leah shoveled a heaping portion of her salad onto his plate, making sure he had a sufficient chicken-to-lettuce-with-parmesan-cheese ratio in order to enjoy her offering.

  After a quick look her way, Rykhan speared both meat and romaine, using his knife to capture a portion of the cheese before bringing the utensil to his mouth. As his lips encompassed the whole of it, Leah felt a tightening begin deep inside her. “Ah, Tsiran,” he moaned, dragging the tines of the fork out of his mouth in a way that had her clenching her inner thighs together. “This is what you choose to eat, my Leah? This is what you enjoy?” He glanced down at the lessened mound of salad sitting lonely on the side of his huge plate. “I can see why.”

  His fork made a clink as he rested it on the side of the dish. Rykhan lifted his hand to her face as his eyes zeroed in on hers again. His thumb stroked across her cheekbone, just as a wave of devotion wash over her. “Just like you. It is perfect in its naturalness.”

  All she could do was stare into his amazing eyes as she nodded, stunned at his words, his movement and the emotions she so freely sensed coming from him.

  Who was this guy?

  Leah didn’t contribute much to the conversation swirling around her during the remaining portion of their meal. She couldn’t. Because of how caught up she was in Rykhan’s reactions as he sampled, tasted, and chewed through each dish his fork ventured towards.

  Much like Wyst, he seemed totally enthralled by everything he ate. After each bite, his eyes made his ways to hers and Leah knew there was more, so very much more on his mind than just satisfying his need, his taste for, food. His gaze spoke of wanting, almost needing her and completely aligned with what she felt. Their mutual desire superseded any appetite she had and it wasn’t long, before she realized simply she was rearranging the salad on her plate instead of consuming it.

  “You are not hungry, mica tisha?” he asked, his mouth so close to her ear that her hair moved with his breath, at his softly spoken foreign words. Ones that sounded like an endearment. The heat of his body almost burned as his arm pressed against her side and another sharp searing pain encircled her bicep, quickly gone by the time she reached to rub her skin.

  “N-no,” she stammered, almost breathless at his nearness and the pain that had scored her flesh. “I’m finished.”

  Rykhan’s arm slid over the top of the booth as his other hand moved to cover hers holding the fork. “Then perhaps you should not play with your food.”

  Dropping her utensil, Leah raised her eyes only to realize he was closer, much closer than she’d originally thought. ‘Close enough to kiss,’ her mind supplied again. She looked at his full mouth still shiny with the residual grease from his cheeseburger. Without thinking or hesitation, she took the napkin off of her lap and ran it over his lips lightly. His low groan, the way he closed his eyes made her thighs clench hard together as her heart began to race. His reaction brought her yearning into sharp relief and she felt a shudder run through her, culminating in her core as her own sigh escaped.

  She knew beyond a shadow of doubt what pulsated within her was due to their combined desire.

  What was wrong with her?

  That wasn’t her, wasn’t how she normally acted around a man. Not making moves without thinking them through or becoming aroused by simple looks and low growls. No, usually it took a lot of foreplay to get her in the mood, a fact that Tony had thrown at her repeatedly in order to point out her deficiency when it came to sex. “I gotta start patting ass at the crack of dawn just to get a little at bedtime,” he’d complained on more than one occasion.

  So what was it about Rykhan that caused her body to moisten and swell with sexual heat?

  Was she delusional in thinking she could experience what he felt too? Was his arousal somehow feeding hers?

  The waiter made an appearance and began to clear the plates. Leah idly noticed hers was the only one with any remaining food on it. How could she eat anything when her body seemed to be hungering for something else entirely?

  “Can I get you folks some dessert?” The young man asked, handing the dishware off to a waiting busboy. Leah ordered a coffee while the others chose to indulge their sweet tooth.

  As the waiter moved away, Pam started giggling. “Swear to god, I’d get as big as a house with you two tempters around!” Both men smiled at her announcement. “Okay, so let’s get this thing restarted then. Not that geography was my best subject, but where exactly are you guys from again? And this time, no talking over each other!”

  “Didn’t you say earlier you were from some place called Galaxia?” Leah turned her face back towards Rykhan’s only to discover he’d moved even closer. She’d never noticed when his thigh had pressed up against hers or when his arm moved to the top of the booth to drape across her shoulders. Even though her body burned for him, her head and heart were telling her his moves were too much, too soon and she wiggled closer to Pam as she lifted his hand off her shoulder.

  However, as soon as she did so, the honeyed-layer of calm left.

  “Yes, I am from Galaxia and Wyst is from Nutrol,” he answered quietly, allowing Leah her bit of personal space by shifting back. “I’m sorry. Was I too close?”

  “Are those new countries in Russia or somewhere? Because I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them.” Pam turned to Wyst who nodded and smiled, while Leah’s mind raced to come up with a noncommittal answer to Rykhan’s question that had been sincerely asked.

  “Something along those lines,” the other large man agreed. “What else would you like to know, small one? Your eyes are full of questions which we will answer to the best of our ability.”

  “Hey! Who you calling small? I’ll have you know I’m pixie-perfection!” Pam’s giggle took some of the sting out of her words. “How old are you guys anyway?”

  “I claim twenty-six yons and Rykhan, twenty-seven.” Wyst leaned forward to accept his dessert plate piled high with a piece of triple-chocolate cake dotted with raspberries.

  “Yawns? Is your life so boring you slept through most of it?” Pam laughed, as she took in the strawberry sundae the waiter had placed in front of her. It looked as if there was more than a pint of ice cream mounded and then covered in strawberries and syrup so pungent Leah could smell it from where she sat.

  “Year. My brother meant to say year.” Rykhan frowned slightly and a wave of impatience rolled off him. He stared hard at Wyst for a moment before picking up his fork to dig into what appeared to be a full quarter of chocolate cream pie, covered in whipped cream and festooned with dark chocolate shavings. “How old are you?”

  “Dude! Typically, guys don’t ask women their ages,” Pam sna
pped as she picked up her spoon but another giggle belied the irritation her tone indicated. “American women think it’s bad taste to be questioned about it.”

  “Is that what you think, little one?” Wyst spoke around his mouthful of cake as Leah tried to hide her smile behind her coffee cup. Responding to Pam’s sharp frown at the word ‘little’, Wyst immediately corrected himself. “I mean, pixie.”

  “Naw, I don’t give a rip. Both of us are twenty-three and in our prime, aren’t we honey?” Leah nodded and took another sip to prevent herself from laughing at the dual expressions on the men’s faces. Ones that spoke of bewilderment and embarrassment if she was interpreting their frowns and red cheeks correctly.

  Feeling the need to join in and get her own questions answered, Leah set her cup down and turned to Rykhan. “How long will you be in the States?”

  “Only six merts...I mean, months.” His eyes bored into hers as he scooped another large bite of the decadent pie into his mouth and her eyes again dropped to his lips as they caressed the fork. Her heartbeat began a heavy, deep rhythm and took up residence in all the secret places of her body at the view, even as her stomach dropped at the thought of him leaving.

  Six months was not a lot of time.

  “You said you weren’t really brothers but brothers-in-arms, right?” Pam looked between the two men. “Is that the military or something?”

  “Or something,” Wyst murmured, his fork scraping to capture the last few crumbs on his dessert plate. “We are part of the Picari Protectorate.”

  Rykhan stiffened beside her, his own fork pausing midway between his plate and mouth. Leah wondered at the sharp blast of annoyance that rolled over her as he glared at the other man.

  “And this protector thingy doesn’t care about you guys having long hair? I mean our armed forces have to keep their hair short, as in seriously short.” Leah’s couldn’t deny Pam had a point.