“Ask anything.”
“Why are you holding my hand?”
He hesitated before saying, “I like touching you. Do you want me to stop?”
“I’m just going to be blunt…okay?”
“Please do.”
“I can’t tell if you’re just being nice to me because I’m a stray alien that you think needs emotional support, or if you’re interested in me as a woman. Which is it?”
“I’m interested in you as a woman, Jill. Is that a problem?”
Her heart pounded, and she had to swallow. “Nope. I just like to be clear.”
He smiled. “We’re compatible, just so you know. I’ll assume you’re already aware of that, after speaking to Nara. She’s also into being very blunt. When I go into heat, it won’t be a problem. We’re sexually compatible in all ways.”
Jill was glad to be seated. “I’m not past my breeding years.”
“I know.” He leaned in closer, glancing at her lips. “I―”
The doors opened. Nara and Cathian entered, followed by York and Sara.
Frustration rose in Jill. She wanted to know what Cavas was about to say before the interruption. He what? Didn’t care that he could get her pregnant? Had a plan to avoid it? When did he go into heat? Would it be soon? What exactly did that mean?
The couples grabbed drinks and sat down at the same table as them. Nara grinned. “Did you hear the news yet?”
Cavas scowled, staring at Cathian. “Is it about Father?”
“We haven’t heard from Dax since informing him we found Crath and he’s safe. I know they are moving against Father soon. He’ll inform us when that’s been handled. I expect it to take a few days.” Cathian grinned. “It’s about Raff and Lilly.”
“Lilly isn’t sick!” Nara squealed. “We have two pregnant mamas now! She’s carrying a baby. I saw the scan myself. It’s tiny but healthy!”
Cavas couldn’t respond at first. “A baby? Just one?” He locked gazes with Cathian, confused. “Is that because Lilly is human? Can they only carry one?”
His older littermate shook his head. “Humans can carry litters. Raff’s single birth is from his mother’s bloodlines. He may appear all Tryleskian, but his breeding abilities aren’t.”
“How?” Cavas’s confusion grew.
“He doesn’t go into heat the way we do. He’s always fertile. Do not ask him about it,” Cathian warned. “It seemed to make him feel shame.”
That bothered him. “It shouldn’t. There’s nothing wrong with inheriting traits from a mother. Raff’s mother was another race. It’s to be expected.”
“He’s way touchy about it,” York whispered. “Like, punch-you-in-the-face-if-you-say-a-word touchy. Just grin and tell him congratulations.”
“Of course.” Cavas turned his head to see Jill’s reaction.
She seemed lost in thought. He squeezed her hand, and she lifted her head, her gaze meeting his. He smiled. She gave him one back, but it didn’t reach her eyes. He wondered what she was thinking. He’d love to ask, but didn’t feel it was appropriate to do so with witnesses.
Midgel came out carrying plates. The female put them down and rushed back to the kitchen for more. Dovis and Mari entered next.
“Did you send a message to Marrow? I want her back.” Cathian shot him a look.
Cavas knew his older brother was still irritated that he’d asked one of his crew to leave the ship. “I did that last evening. She’s on her way back.”
“Did she find a mate?”
He shook his head at Sara. “Not yet. It disappointed her that she didn’t have more time. I offered her the use of my shuttle for longer, but she refused. All the males she met were disappointing to her.”
“Damn,” Nara muttered. “We were hopeful. She’s been moping around since Raff found Lilly.”
York laughed. “If he can find a mate, anyone should be able to. I’ve heard her say it a thousand times.”
The doors opened again, and the Pods entered. Cavas watched Midgel serve everyone before taking a seat at another table. He had to release Jill’s hand, missing the contact, once they began to eat. She had such soft skin.
Conversation flowed between the crew. The topic mostly revolved around the upcoming babies and if they could help Marrow find a mate.
“Is Raff and Lilly not joining us? Crath is missing, too.” Cavas had thought they were just running late but the meal was almost over.
Cathian answered. “Lilly is experiencing morning sickness. It’s normal for humans. Raff is keeping her in bed and tending to her.”
“It was horrible for the weeks it lasted,” Sara muttered. “Puking is not fun.”
“I took good care of you.” York leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Cavas envied the way they smiled at each other.
“You so did,” Sara agreed.
“Crath has decided to stay in his cabin for a few days to recover.” Cathian glanced at the Pods before holding Cavas’s gaze. Then he darted a look at Jill, before they studied each other again.
He inwardly cringed. Crath was probably avoiding him and Jill, not wishing to see them together.
“Is he handling it well?”
His older littermate gave a nod. “He’ll be fine. Once he’s recovered, we’re going to make sure he is happy.”
Cavas understood. The crew wanted to find Marrow a mate so she wasn’t lonely. They’d want to do the same for Crath. “I’ll help with that.”
“We all will.” Cathian lifted his glass in a toast. “To good futures for us all.”
After the meal ended, Cavas took Jill’s hand again and led her back to the lift. At his door, he stopped. “Would you like to come in to talk? I think we should.”
She bit her lip. “Yeah. Sure. We should.”
He let her enter first, glad for his time in the military. His bed had been made and everything was in order. No female liked a messy male. He figured that had to be universal, regardless of the alien race.
Chapter Ten
Jill was alone with Cavas. His cabin was almost exactly like hers, only the color scheme was a little more masculine with darker colors. He waved for her to take a seat on his couch, dropped his data pad on a table, and walked to the food replicator.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Another rust would be great. I like coffee. It tastes very similar.”
He ordered himself a claw, carried the mugs to the small table in front of the couch, and sat close to her. He turned, facing her more. “I would like to discuss us. I’m not like your father or other males on Earth. I’m not looking for something only physical with you. I will admit I never considered taking a life-lock—but then I met you.”
Her mouth fell open. “Life-lock? As in marriage? We just met yesterday.”
“I’m more than aware. I take it humans don’t make quick decisions about that?”
“Um, no. It honestly never crossed my mind that I’d ever get married, until I was arrested and told that bullshit about becoming an alien’s bride. Once they handed us over to the aliens, I realized we were lied to. Not brides—slaves.”
“I would like for you to consider that commitment with me now.”
She tried not to gape at him. “You want to marry me? Just like that?” She snapped her fingers. “We don’t even know each other.”
“That’s not true. You’re brave. Smart. Attractive. I like you, Jill. Do you know how the males in high-standing families on my world find life-locks?”
“You know I don’t.”
His expression turned grim. “I was the exception since I was in the military. Every time one of my brothers was about to go into heat, notification would be sent to other families who were considered suitable. The fathers would send information about the breeding history of their unattached daughters to ours. Beauty and the ability to have many litters takes precedence over everything else. The head of our family, my father, would chose anywhere from three to five of them to meet with my
brothers. It’s a short process, during which they only spend a few minutes together. Once a female is selected, the couple shares his heat, and if the breeding is successful, the life-lock ceremony happens immediately after verification that she’s carrying his litter.”
She hoped her disgust didn’t show. Jill analyzed everything he’d said, carefully going over the details. “Are you about to go into heat?”
“No. This has nothing to do with my heat cycle. I’ve never agreed with how life-locks are chosen, or the timing of them. Cathian went into heat early, and his crew found Nara to feed him. Our father also sent Tryleskian breeding candidates he’d personally selected for my brother to meet him before his cycle ended. Cathian didn’t want any of them. Just Nara.
“They didn’t even realize until after his cycle ended that Nara had been implanted with a birth-control device. It’s why she didn’t get pregnant. He life-locked to her despite her not carrying his litter. Because she captured his heart. That device has since been removed. She will carry his litter next time he goes into heat. Our best scientists have determined how to make certain that happens.”
One thing he’d just said really had her curious. “Nara fed Cathian? You can’t lift your own spoon or fork to eat while in heat? Are you paralyzed or something? Or is it like a traditional thing for a woman to feed a man?”
He chuckled and got more comfortable on the couch. “Neither. We need to ingest female hormones to make our seed fertile. Nara and I discussed this, too. We are not something you call a ‘vampire’ on Earth. We go down on females to perform oral sex many times, gaining those needed hormones by arousing a female and getting her to climax.”
That flat-out shocked her.
“For days,” he added, grinning. “Nara enjoyed Cathian’s heat immensely. You will enjoy mine when it happens.”
Jill felt her cheeks heat, pretty sure she was blushing.
“I choose you, Jill. I hope you will consider becoming my life-lock. I plan to stay on The Vorge. This is my future. I’d like you to move into my cabin, or I could share yours. I believe we’d make an excellent match. It’s a simple, painless medical procedure to become life-locked.”
“What about love?” she blurted out. “What kind of medical procedure? What are you talking about?”
“I’m overwhelming you. I understand. How about if we start with our physical attraction? It’s strong on both our parts. Come to bed with me. Let me show you what we could have together. Nara said your women like to test before marrying someone. That means having sex first to make certain he’s a pleasing lover? Do I have that saying right? Let me show you that I’ll pass that test.”
Her mouth hung open again. Cavas was excellent at shocking her.
He chuckled. “Have I been too forthcoming?”
She sealed her mouth and swallowed hard. “Maybe a little.”
He leaned closer. “I’ll show you what a feeding is…”
Her heart pounded inside her chest. “Now?” Her voice came out a bit squeaky. “Here?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t know what to say.
Cavas inched even closer and reached out, cupping her face. “Don’t panic, Jill. We’ll take things slow.”
“Oh…good.”
In the next instant, he kissed her.
So much for slow, she thought, before his tongue delved into her mouth. She could have shoved him away…but she didn’t. Curiosity had her meeting his tongue with her own.
He was good at kissing. Too good.
She quickly lost the ability to think, instead just feeling. There was nothing but Cavas. His warm, strange-but-sexy textured tongue making love to hers.
His big hands were suddenly on her ribs, and he easily lifted her. Then she was reclining on the couch, leaning her elbows on the plush cushions beneath them, Cavas coming down over her.
He nudged her thighs with his leg, and she parted them. Cavas didn’t hesitate to move his hips closer until she felt the hard, thick press of his trapped cock right against the seam of her pants. He slowly began to rock, causing her to moan. It felt incredible as he rubbed against her clit.
A growl came from him. Where before it was scary, now it was sexy. His kisses became even more passionate, like he couldn’t get enough of her.
Jill totally understood. No one had ever made her as hot as he did. Maybe it was the danger factor that he was an alien. Or because he was so handsome. He also looked part animal, and there was a wildness to the way he touched her.
She clawed at his shirt, hating the feel of the material, wanting to touch his skin instead. Cavas kept kissing her, his mouth fused to hers, and increased the pressure and speed of his hips rocking between her thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist and fell flatter onto her back, but she didn’t even care if they ended up on the floor as long as he kept doing what he was doing.
She ground her pelvis against that hard, thick length, wishing they were naked. The need to come had her aching. He moved against her as if he were just as desperate to make it happen.
Things were happening too fast, they were still dressed, but Jill was lost to how he made her feel. She’d never been so turned on. What he was doing felt too good.
Then she was crying out, her body seizing, as the climax tore through her.
Cavas snarled when she stopped kissing him and tore his mouth from hers. Jill was panting, her body trembling, trying desperately to breathe.
Then her eyes flew open when he lifted off her, quickly scooped her into his arms, and rushed toward the bed. He put her down before tearing at her clothing.
She didn’t protest as material ripped in his rush to get her naked. Part of her expected him to scratch her skin, but nothing hurt. He bared her easily, since she didn’t have underclothing on.
Jill caught her breath…almost…until he yanked his shirt over his head, throwing it to the side.
He had an amazing body. All that golden skin, and so many muscles.
He reached for the front of his pants next. “I’m going to feed from you first before I’m inside you,” he warned as he bent, shoving down his pants.
His voice came out more snarl than not. It should have scared her. Fear didn’t surface. She felt too good after he’d made her come, too lethargic as she recovered.
He dropped to his knees next to the bed before she could get a look at him naked from the waist down.
Cavas gripped her knees and he yanked her closer to the edge of the mattress and his body. Jill gasped at his strength, but before she could say or do anything, he parted her thighs and buried his face against her sex.
His hot mouth latched onto her clit, and she moaned loudly as his tongue lashed at the already oversensitive bud.
“Oh fuck,” she cried out, her hands instantly going to his head. Her fingers speared into his thick mane of hair, the urge to hold on to something strong. She’d never had a guy go down on her before. “Cavas,” she gasped. “I need to…”
He snarled against her clit, creating vibrations. He went at her aggressively, his tongue merciless in its speed and that strange, wonderful texture. Jill was lost to the pleasure. It was near painful, too, but it hurt too good to ask him to stop.
She didn’t even think it was possible to come twice in a row, but it happened.
The world seemed to explode inside her head as pleasure splintered through her body. She barely noticed when he pulled his mouth away, but she felt his weight press down as he moved on top of her. She managed to open her eyes, locking gazes with him.
He was beautiful. His eyes were golden, predatory again, and so sexy. She glanced at his mouth. It looked fuller than normal, a little swollen from what he’d just done, and he licked them with that tongue of his that she now knew could do such amazing things.
“So fucking delicious,” he growled.
One of his hands hooked her leg, pulling it up against his hip. He pinned it there. She felt the thick, broad tip of his cock bump against her slit. He adjusted a tiny
bit, and then he pushed forward slowly.
Her body took him in. She felt super wet, and it helped as he eased inside. It was a tight fit. He felt really big and super hard.
She realized she’d been gripping his shoulders, and she clung to him as he pushed inside her a little, withdrew a hair, before driving his hips forward to make her take more of him. Their gazes remained locked. His eyes narrowed to mere slits and a deep purr rumbled from him. His chest touching her bare breasts vibrated from the sound.
“I’m keeping you, Jill.” He worked himself into her deeper, moving slowly.
Jill had to close her eyes. Her body was on sensory overload.
She’d always wondered what sex with someone else would feel like. Never in her wildest fantasies had she imagined it would be this amazing.
Every thrust had her in ecstasy. It only built as he picked up the pace. She felt taken, owned by him. Cavas filled her, had her pinned under him, and she loved it.
Her world exploded again, and she felt and heard him coming with her.
Cavas panted, trying to catch his breath. Jill had stolen it, along with his sanity. Her taste, touching her, and being inside her, it had all been beyond wonderous. He’d never felt so sated after being with a female. Now she was filled with his seed. He’d emptied into her deep, his dick still sheathed by her hot, wet sex.
Nothing had ever felt righter than what they’d just shared.
He stared at her lovely face as she peered up at him. A grin split his lips. “We’re life-locking.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’re my female, Jill. What we just shared is unique. We are much more than compatible—I’d say we’re explosive. Tell me that you are aware of it, too. Tell me that it was the best sexual encounter you have ever had. If it wasn’t, I will do better next time, until I am certain. I’ll prove that I’m the best for you.”
“I…I don’t have anything to compare it to.”
He cocked his head, certain he’d misunderstood. “What?”
A lovely shade of pink spread through her cheeks. “I own sex toys. There was no pain since I, um, took care of that years ago, with a toy. It’s like a fake penis. Manufactured. But that was my first time with a person. You know? As in…I’ve never had sex with someone before.”
Cavas (The Vorge Crew Book 5) Page 11
