by Mary Wine
She had to end this insanity! Her body had always been her tool. Training filled her thoughts from morning to night as she funneled her energy into building a studio that produced some of the finest females on the globe.
She refused to see her efforts melt into an inferno of lust. Yet it was more than lust and Zeva knew it. She faced the day with excitement twisting her body. Tonight she would be alone with them again. The day felt both too long and too short. Her passage ached for that deep touch she understood the realities of, but had never felt. Zeva understood the stark difference between male and female but today was the first time she had ever craved to use those differences.
She wanted to be filled. Have her body stretched by Ravid’s and Keenan’s harder ones. Her passage felt empty and the only thing she could think about was just how good Ravid and Keenan tasted.
But Ravid and Keenan? They would not touch, they would take and conquer. The two warriors loomed over her like a shadow. They grew longer and more massive each second she didn’t turn around and force herself to see the object casting those dark shapes.
But looking them in the face showed her everything that her body craved.
* * * * *
“Did I look that unhappy when I was binding with your brother?” Jessica stood in the doorway to Zeva’s office and stared at her.
Zeva glared at her sister-in-law. “You were so angry, your face was red most of the time.”
Jessica laughed and nodded her head. She shrugged her shoulders as she looked at Zeva. “Well, Dylan did kidnap me.”
“And Jett?” Zeva truly wanted to know.
Jessica’s eyes narrowed with remembered anger as she shot Zeva a harsh look. “Your brother never gave me a single morsel of information that I didn’t flat out ask for. He left me completely in the dark and I swear he enjoyed watching me bump into walls.”
“That can be summed up in the word ‘warrior’.” Zeva smiled because Ravid and Keenan both liked her to be the one reacting to them. Before she had gotten stuck on Earth, the two warriors had been carefully surrounding her, edging closer and pushing her into corners. Looking back, she didn’t like what she saw. She had reacted to their pursuit like prey to a hunter. It was never something she thought too much about, instead she just turned to imprisoning herself on female grounds.
It was not the most mature thing to find in her past.
“So, what are you wearing tonight?” Jessica asked the question innocently but knew exactly what she was doing. Left on her own, Zeva would wear a uniform day in and day out. Zeva groaned and looked at Jessica. Her sister-in-law laughed before leaning across Zeva’s desk to grab her hand.
“Come on, Zeva, picking out something pretty won’t kill you, I promise.”
Zeva followed Jessica and grumbled at her mother under her breath. Paneil was rather clever—there was nothing that Zeva detested more than picking out garments!
“It won’t kill me but you might be tempted to.” Jessica turned her head to look at Zeva and Zeva giggled. “Ah, what was that you said about Jett not offering any information until you collided with the hard fact? Well…like mother…like son.”
Jessica groaned but pulled Zeva along to the garment viewing booth. “I should have known.” She rolled her eyes. “Jett thought it was a very good idea.”
* * * * *
“Find your daughter.” Ravid issued his order over Jett’s shoulder as he stepped between the warrior and his mother. Paneil propped her hands onto her hips and stepped around her son to poke the warrior in the chest with her finger.
“My daughter is not frightened of you.” Her mother’s voice was soaked with pride even if the image of her stabbing Ravid with her finger was really quite funny. Zeva felt her lips twitch into a little grin as Ravid towered over her mother’s head.
The hall went silent as she appeared in the doorway. This was the men’s hall of Sinlar and she didn’t enter it often. Curious eyes moved over her as Ravid and Keenan both swung their full attention to her. Zeva held her head high as she moved into the room further.
Her eyes weren’t quite as obedient to her wishes. They moved over the prime images of both warriors. Their maroon coats with the black edges looked enticing tonight instead of repulsive. The maroon fabric stretched over chests that were wide with muscles. Her fingertips tingled with the desire to rest against those torsos as she got close enough to smell their warm skin.
Zeva blinked her eyes and raised them to Keenan’s. His lips rose in a grin as his eyes flashed at her. As she moved the final few steps towards him, his eyebrow rose with disbelief. “You came.”
Her pride reared its head. “Of course. My mother has reared me correctly.” There were a few nods from the surrounding warriors as Zeva felt Ravid step up next to her. She ignored the jump and shiver that raced through her spine.
Jessica moved toward Jett and shot Zeva a hard look. Zeva dropped the hand she had settled over her breasts. Ravid’s and Keenan’s eyes immediately dropped to the cleavage her action reveled.
Jessica grinned and shot Zeva an “I told you so” look. The long topaz coat with its low cut collar was Jessica’s choice. The look on Ravid’s and Keenan’s faces declared Jessica the winner in that battle. Their eyes enjoyed the view of the tops of her breasts and it sent heat pouring down her spine.
Zeva shook her head and looked forward but the hall was not set for dinner. The first meal was always shared at the head table so that the female would not feel cornered or frightened by her intended mates. Keenan stepped forward and captured her hand in his. His skin was almost too hot as it closed around her fingers. Gooseflesh spread up her arm as she refused to think about how strong his grip felt.
“We will dine on Judgment grounds.”
Zeva shifted back from his body but halted as Ravid moved behind her. Once more she felt surround by them and her lungs froze as she tried to ignore their hard presence. It was an impossible task but Zeva struggled to hold the surging sensation inside as she pressed her lips into a solid line. She focused on the distance between Keenan’s body and her own. Tonight was another example of why she did not want to bind with Judgment officials. Taking binding vows was a major change for any female but doing so with Keenan and Ravid would be a radical alteration to her life.
Zeva looked at her mother as Paneil frowned. Keenan moved towards the door but Zeva stayed in place. He turned and raised an eyebrow at her.
“Is your mother so lax with her own daughters as to allow them to simply be swept out the door without a word? My mother is not.” Zeva hadn’t considered that tonight would take place someplace other than her own family grounds…but she should have. Jessica’s words floated through her mind as she looked at the two warriors and their firm resolve to remove her to their territory.
Ravid’s face flushed at her words. Anger flickered across his eyes but he controlled it and nodded at her. It was a concession and Zeva felt a surge of contentment hit her. Ravid was not a warrior used to softening his approach. He was a deadly male who performed his duties with swift strokes. Many warriors did not even dare to raise their voices to him.
Her eyes bulged as Ravid turned and gave her mother a half bow. “My apologies, darmasha.” He moved on swift feet and clasped her mother’s hand. He left a small marker behind. It was a data disk that held a communications link to the two-inch-wide wrist communicators both warriors wore.
Ravid aimed his eyes back at her and Zeva swallowed roughly. He was pleased with her. Power radiated from him like a solid wall. Zeva watched his hunger grow from the idea that she was in fact leaving with him and Keenan. The hardest part was feeling her own need rise under that heat.
Keenan captured her hand and swept her through the door in the next second. Zeva clutched at her confidence as they moved on those long strides towards a small transport. Four other warriors waited with it. The force field that covered the door was down and Zeva stepped right into the passenger compartment. She forced her body into the small space with
sheer willpower. Her mind tried to transpose memories of splotch-colored uniforms instead of maroon ones.
The nightmare was unexpected and Zeva bit her lip to try and dispel it.
Trapped inside with Keenan and Ravid, Zeva struggled to breathe. Her senses were ultra-keen as little details appeared larger than life. Like Ravid’s hands. They were large even by warrior standards. He sat across from her with his fingers curled into fists, and all she could think about was the way he used those hands to stroke her. It had been pure rapture. A little voice nagged her to let the warrior lay his hands on her again, this time without any fabric to interfere.
She shifted her eyes to encounter Keenan’s huge frame. Both warriors sat facing her. It was only proper for them to share a seat and leave her alone while the first few days of their courting commenced. The Judgment officials riding in the transport behind them served as escort and witness.
Keenan’s legs were amazing. She’d felt them last night and knew his pants hid pure perfection from her eyes. Sculpted and formed into solid strength, she imagined they would feel perfect twisting with hers.
Heat flared up her neck as Zeva forced a breath into her lungs. Strange how a few days of freedom could make her unable to deal with confinement. She had hidden her feelings for an entire year, yet panic was dragging her into its grip inside the transport.
Ravid growled and Zeva jumped. He reached across the seat and pried her fingers free of her jacket. Her hands had twisted the fabric into deep wrinkles on top of her thighs.
“Your fear is insulting, Zeva.” Confusion fluttered across her face as Ravid held on to his temper. His jaw ached from the strain and he was near his breaking point. He was a warrior. No female was unsafe in his care. It was a matter of honor.
“I’m not afraid of you.” Fighting with Ravid allowed her to breathe. Zeva tossed her head and tried to pull her hands free. Ravid held them in an iron grip as his thumbs slipped across the skin of her inner wrists. Pleasure zipped up her arms as he made little circles on the sensitive skin. A tiny gasp tried to escape her lips and Zeva tightened them to contain it.
Neither warrior believed her. Keenan studied the marks on her jacket before raising an eyebrow at her. “It is far past time you learned to accept us.”
Zeva twisted her hands and broke Ravid’s hold on her. The warrior looked stunned for a moment at the ease she regained her freedom. Pride lifted the corners of her lips as she sat back against her seat. She was a master of defense arts and on Alcandar, females needed to know how to break the much stronger grips of a warrior. There was a good reason that she was the master at her school—she knew her art well.
She crossed her hands over her chest to keep them away from the man but a single corner of his mouth rose in admiration. “Truly, you are a perfect match for us. Your defense skills will be well suited to the mate of Judgment officials.”
“Aye.” Keenan nodded approval, making Zeva gasp.
“Why?”
Ravid reached across the transport and captured one of her arms again. He moved like lightning and stretched her limb out in front of her eyes. This time his hand held hers much differently, she would have to move closer to his body to break the hold and his eyes dared her to try it. Goose bumps covered her skin from his touch and he stared at the telltale sign of response.
“Does it matter? You cannot hide your body’s reaction to mine.” Ravid’s other hand found that same sensitive spot on her inner wrist and lightly rubbed it. Her arm jerked in response, making her gasp. A small smile appeared on his firm lips but it didn’t reach his dark eyes. Zeva caught the flare of excitement in his eyes as he rubbed her inner wrist again. “You body is full of tender spots, Zeva, and I promise you I will touch each one.”
The transport slowed and stopped, distracting her with the promise of freedom from the transport. Zeva dived through the door as the particle screen dissipated and Ravid was forced to release her hand or yank her arm from its socket. A deep grumble was his response as he let her wrist go.
Zeva filled her lungs with a deep breath and felt her shoulders relax. A little hum of delight caught in her throat as she viewed her surroundings. It was delightful. The mirror-smooth surface of a lake that reflected the light from the newly risen moon in front of her. The sound of moving water reached her ears as well as the chirp of night birds as they hunted.
The glow of two lanterns brightened a spot a few hundred feet from the road. There wasn’t a table set for their meal. Keenan and Ravid had chosen a blanket spread on the soft mat of hiutop that covered the ground. Tiny lilac flowers dotted the sage leaves she stood on. With the lantern light and starshine it was a scene set for seduction.
That little voice inside her head nagged her to notice the attention to detail that had been done for her. The soft lighting and sound of moving water were feminine delights. Ravid and Keenan were not required to make such efforts for her. Yet she was grateful for the open surroundings. Now that she was free of the transport her body was releasing the tension being trapped inside it had produced.
Anger buzzed through her brain momentarily. The humans should not have been able to follow her back to Alcandar but it looked like they had planted little hooks into her that she needed to pry away before freedom was truly hers again.
Two large hands landed on her shoulders and firmly rubbed. Keenan’s rich male scent drifted past her nose as she tilted her head to see his fingers moving on her right shoulder. Her nipples tingled as they rose into tight little buttons under her coat. The soft fabric cupped each mound, making her far too aware of how much she would like Keenan to handle her breasts. His warm breath hit her ears as he sighed and rubbed her shoulders again. “Truly, Zeva, I do not understand why you harbor such fear of warriors. Judgment officials are not so different from your own brother.”
“I am not afraid of you.” Zeva tried to step forward but the hands on her shoulders closed on her and held her in place. The heat from Keenan’s body bled across the slight space he left between them as his scent teased her nose with the promise of how good he would smell when they were pressed together.
“Then why are your shoulders tightened into knots?” He snorted softly. He wasn’t asking her a question. His words were a flat statement of judgment and her pride refused to accept it. Her mouth opened before common sense had the chance to protest.
“I don’t like being locked up. The transport was too small. I felt like I was back on Earth. I shouldn’t feel like that but I did.” Zeva snapped her mouth closed because she hated the way her own words sounded. She wasn’t weak and she did not want either warrior thinking she was fragile. The need to gain approval from both males grew until it overshadowed her need to keep the information hidden.
Zeva moved forward as Keenan’s hands grew lax as he considered her words. All six warriors had heard her and deep frowns marked their faces. Zeva held her face in a smooth mask as she faced them. “It’s no big deal. I’ll get over it.”
Zeva turned and walked away from the group. Her body lamented the distance, reminding her of how delightful Keenan’s hands were.
Keenan growled and Ravid was the one to slap a hand on his companion’s shoulder in warning. Keenan’s eyes blazed with fury as Zeva’s hips caught his attention. The sultry way her bottom swayed as she walked was ultrafeminine and it made him even more angry. What kind of a creature bred fear in a woman? Only a human would do something so deplorable!
Earth had too many females—it was the only reason their males treated them so poorly. Keenan had been raised to understand that he might someday need to search an alien world for his mate and possibly even abduct her, but he would never abuse her. Captive mates were handled with extreme care, Judgment officials always observed their treatment. If they could not adjust, their memories were shifted and they were returned to their homeworlds.
That was rare but it did happen.
But Zeva had resisted them for years. It had turned into a game that he and Ravid enjoyed too much.
“It is time to decide this.”
Ravid laughed softly, and two of the other warriors joined him. Zeva would not simply obey because they had decided it was time. There was part of him that enjoyed her need to challenge him. Maybe she needed to be run to ground, just to ensure that he was strong enough to do it. She might strike him for that idea but attraction wasn’t governed by logic. It was born in the corners of the brain that were primitive and so the idea wasn’t so unimaginable. Zeva was strong and her body would demand a superior mate.
The warriors split into two teams and walked off in different directions. Keenan didn’t mind Zeva’s current charade of calmness. Ravid did though. The current chase would be worth the wait. Zeva was here and Keenan didn’t really care why she had joined them of her own free will, only that she had.
Zeva stopped as she looked at the smooth surface of the lake. Two pairs of maroon coats caught her vision as the warriors moved off into the distance. They would stay within sight and hearing. Heat burned her cheeks as she considered that. The warriors would not watch them but they were there for her comfort. An Alcandian woman was never left alone with intended mates on their first meal sharing. That was the reason most binding members ate in the men’s hall—there were plenty of eyes and ears around to ensure that rape did not result from the raging binding fever.
Even the sleeping quarters of bound females were open to the inner eating hall. The rooms were built around the edges of the building on the second floor. The inner wall of each chamber was, in fact, a balcony, just a half wall that was open to the hall below. Sound flowed freely giving a mate further confidence that she was not cornered in a room with two large males who could overpower her.
Heat rushed over her skin as she thought about being in a chamber with Ravid and Keenan. More flames flickered across her body as she considered that the men standing slightly off in the distance fully expected to hear her cry out in pleasure tonight. It all combined in her belly and flowed down her… Zeva gasped as she recognized that her passage was full of heat. She had never been so aware of that tender female part of her body. Tonight she felt it pulse with sensation as fluid slipped down to the opening of her body.
