Cavas (The Vorge Crew Book 5)

by Laurann Dohner

  As she explained, Cavas felt stunned.

  She’d never been with a male.

  She’d only pleasured herself.

  He was her first.

  He grinned. “So that was your best sexual encounter.” Cavas was thrilled to be her only male. “Life-lock to me, Jill.”

  She studied him, biting her lip.

  He leaned in and kissed her. His dick stiffened and throbbed. He wanted her again.

  He began to move slow, taking her. She moaned against his tongue and immediately wrapped around him.

  He’d give her more pleasure, until she couldn’t possibly deny him.

  By the time he let her out of this bed, Jill would agree to become his.

  It was a good plan, if he said so himself. Cathian and his other male crew members were correct in locking themselves to humans. They might be frail and small, but touching them was the best thing he’d ever experienced. He also admired Jill’s courage, her inner strength, and he just…really liked her.

  He was keeping her. It was settled.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jill cried out Cavas’s name, clawing at the bedding. He had her on her hands and knees, taking her from behind, his hands cupping her breasts.

  Sweat soaked her body as she collapsed on the mattress, fighting to catch her breath.

  He gently separated them and adjusted her on his messed-up bedding until she lay curled on her side.

  Death by dick. It’s a real thing. At least, she felt like it might be. Cavas had made love to her countless times.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m getting us food and drinks.”

  “I’m never going to walk again,” she muttered.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing.” She was beyond tender. Cavas was seriously hung. He put her sex toys to shame. It took effort to find the strength to sit up, and she winced, definitely a little tender between her legs.

  She watched him strut naked to the food replicator in his cabin. He had an amazing ass. Everything about him was amazing. She reached for the covers but then hesitated. He’d just tear it away. He liked to see her naked and had made that very clear.

  He returned quickly with bowls piled high with meat and vegetables. Alien forks were stabbed into the mix. She accepted one, inhaling the scent. It smelled good enough to make her stomach respond. Those sounds had him chuckling as he placed his food on the bed and went back for drinks. He placed those onto the table next to them.

  Jill dug into the food with gusto. The seasoned meat tasted like beef, like she’d had before. The veggies were purple and red, but they were good. The closest she could compare them to was cabbage and…maybe onion? Whatever it was, she wasn’t going to complain. She was starving.

  “Slow down, or you might not keep it down.”

  She arched her eyebrows at him but said nothing.

  He grinned. “I got us chilled drinks this time to cool our bodies. It’s an energy supplement that humans seem to like.”

  “Thank you.” She put the bowl down and lifted a mug, gave it a sniff, and decided to try it. It was some kind of sweet juice, but he was right. It was cold. She took a bigger gulp.

  “Are you ready to life-lock to me?”

  She met his gaze and saw a gleam of humor in his eyes. “If I say no?”

  He grinned. “I’ll keep convincing you until you say yes.”

  “I don’t think I could take it.”

  His heated golden gaze swept down her body, resting on her breasts for long seconds, before he took another bite of his food. He chewed, swallowed, and then licked his lips. “I’m prepared to persuade you more after we eat.”

  She decided he was trying to kill her by dick. It was a hell of a way to go. She might be sore, but it had been worth it. “I need to sleep first. And take a shower.”

  “I’ll not allow you to put space between us, Jill.” His golden gaze flashed predatorily. “We’ll shower together before we sleep. When we wake, I’ll continue to convince you to agree.”

  She was starting to know that look well. He meant what he was saying and wouldn’t back down. “It’s crazy to get married just because you’re super-hot and have mad sex skills.”

  “I will take that as a compliment.”

  “I’m almost afraid to find out what you’re like in heat if your sex drive is this strong now.”

  That caused him to laugh. “I will avoid entering you until the end of my heat, but expect my mouth to live between your thighs during most of my cycle.”

  Jill currently hated her body, since his raspy words caused her clit to throb and her nipples to harden. She was thinking about sex, and it didn’t make her want to crawl away from him. Instead, she wanted to climb onto his lap.

  She used to hear her aunt and cousin complain about how sex wasn’t all that great. They’d either lied, or their husbands had been shit in bed. Cavas certainly wasn’t. Even sore and exhausted, she was willing to go another round with him.

  “Is this your big plan? Sex me up until I can’t think?”

  “Is it working?”

  She shoved more food into her mouth, dropping her gaze. He was too handsome when he was being cute and playful. She knew he was teasing, but at the same time, he was deadly serious.

  “What are you thinking about, Jill?”

  She swallowed, took a sip of the drink, and then sighed, looking at him again. “You’re crazy.”

  “Perhaps, when it comes to you. We’re good together.”

  He’d convinced her body. By the fifth or sixth time he’d gotten her off, she felt addicted to him. Owned. Possessed. She hadn’t even felt upset about it. That might have been because he’d fucked her brains out. Or at least close to it. Now that he wasn’t kissing her, touching her, or inside her, it was easier to think.

  “What are your concerns? I’ll alleviate them.”

  A tiny bit of her resented that he seemed to be able to read her so easily. “I don’t know. It’s just so fast. We should date for a while before making a huge decision like that. This life-locking is for life, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “See? Scary stuff right there.”

  “Why?”

  She held his gaze. “What if we decide we don’t like each other in, say, a year? What if you meet someone you want more than me? What if we fight all the time and end up hating each other? What if our cultural differences are too drastic?” She pointed at him. “Tryleskian.” She turned the finger toward her chest. “Human.”

  He got off the bed, put his bowl on the table, and then took hers. That went on the table, too. He sat next to her, then surprised her by lifting her onto his lap. She liked it when he wrapped his arms around her, holding her.

  “Jill,” he rasped. “It will work. We’re very compatible. Haven’t I proven that?”

  “In bed, we’re great. What about out of it?”

  He turned her head, cupping her face with his hand. The intense stare he gave her made her heart race. She loved his beautiful eyes, but they were a reminder that he was an alien.

  “We’ll make it work because we want it to. I can compromise. You can, too. We’ll find a middle ground if we have a disagreement. You want to discuss culture? In mine, your happiness will become my priority. I’m nothing like Earth males. We’ve already established that’s an excellent quality.”

  She laughed. “True.”

  He held out his hand. She hesitated, but then put her hand on his, and he clasped them tight.

  “We’ll be together. One unit. A team. You and I will face everything together.”

  She stared at their combined hands…and longing hit. It had been years since she’d lost her family, since she’d been totally on her own. Once they were gone, she’d had no one to depend on. To love. Friends were nice, but she’d barely had any. The ones she did have weren’t that close to her. They’d been co-workers or neighbors she’d only chatted with in passing.

  Cavas was offering to make a life with her.

  She
looked up at him, the longing deepening.

  “I want to give you my heart, Jill. I want you to birth my future litters. To grow old together. We will be happy. I’ll make certain of it. Agree. You will never regret it.”

  She wanted to say yes. He was just that damn convincing.

  “I’ll let you sleep before you answer. You look tired. But you’re staying with me. I refuse to be parted from you after we’ve bonded.”

  She almost laughed. By bonded, he meant they’d had a lot of sex together. “I hope you don’t snore.”

  He grinned. “I don’t care if you do. I’m keeping you.”

  Then he lifted her off his lap and got out of bed. “Shower. Then sleep.”

  Jill got off the bed, wincing at the tenderness between her legs. She could walk easily enough, though. Cavas led her into the bathroom, where he turned on the water and gently steered her in first.

  “I’ll go change the bedding quickly. I won’t be long.”

  She stood under the pounding water and closed her eyes. It was tempting to give in to the big sexy alien. She forced her eyes open and began to clean her hair and body. A few minutes later, Cavas joined her.

  Jill got out first and dried off. He had remade the bed and pulled back the covers. She crawled in, yawning, and made her way to the center of the huge mattress. That way, whatever side he liked, she wouldn’t be in his way.

  The lights dimmed and the mattress dipped behind her. Cavas pulled her into his arms, spooning her to his front. His cock was stiff again, the guy seemed to live with constant hard-ons, but he adjusted it against the back of her thigh to avoid poking her.

  The kiss he placed on her cheek surprised her in its chasteness.

  “Sleep well, my Jill. I know I will. You’re where you belong.”

  She yawned again and adjusted her arms, hugging the one he had in front of her chest. It was nice to be held, his warm body curled around her back. He didn’t even seem to mind her damp hair.

  “Sleep well, Cavas. I like that you cuddle.”

  He chuckled. “I always want to hold you close. That will never change.”

  “Probably because you’re afraid I might sneak out once you’re asleep.”

  His arm around her tightened. “Try it, and I’ll lick you until you pass out.”

  She laughed. “You probably would.”

  “It’s a vow.”

  “Now I’m almost tempted to try.” Another yawn escaped her, and she closed her eyes. “Maybe after I take a nap.”

  Cavas fell asleep fast, but as tired as she was, Jill remained awake. It gave her time to think. It felt right, being with Cavas. She didn’t know him well but she really liked what she’d learned so far. She could even admit she was falling hardcore for the big alien. He’d saved her life twice. Once from that cell, and again at the arena when she’d fallen behind. He’d come back for her.

  Everything from her old life was gone. There’d be no returning to Earth. But she found that didn’t even upset her. Life had just been a day-to-day struggle there after she’d lost her family. She’d hated her job, thanks to dodging her jerk of a boss’s sexual crap until he’d touched her, trying to force her to blow him. That had been the final straw.

  If she hadn’t been arrested, and remained on her planet, she’d have had to beg for another job. They were scarce where she lived. She might have even been forced to take two or three part-time jobs since those were easier to come by. They also paid less than a full-time job.

  She’d always had to worry about making enough money to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly. The thought of getting sick was a real fear. Meds were expensive. She’d had zero expectations of ever becoming a mother or having a man in her life. Then she’d been sold to aliens. Made into a slave. Had to fight off the nasty bug alien who’d tripped and fallen onto his hideous sculpture.

  She shoved that memory aside, never wanting to relive it again. Cavas had come into her life. He might be crazy to want to marry her right away, but he was an alien. That meant they were different. She reminded herself that was a good thing. At least, he was.

  Cavas was courageous. He’d become her hero for saving her life. He might be a bit pushy, but he was hot enough to get away with it. That thought made her smile.

  The sex had been mind-blowing. Every single time. He made sure to get her off before he came. She added that to the growing list of reasons to say yes.

  Suddenly, it hit her—she wanted to stay with him. Even if they’d just met.

  The world she lived in now—well, ship—couldn’t be more drastically different from her old life. Maybe it was time to ditch the old way of thinking and live in the now.

  That was Cavas. He might be crazy, but it was the best kind.

  She bit her lip, opening her eyes and caressing his arm. It felt right, being in his bed, being held by him…and why shouldn’t she keep him? He was offering. Hell, he was willing to sex her to death to get her onboard with his plan.

  “Decision made,” she sighed aloud. Then she wiggled against him and turned. “Cavas?”

  He woke easily, his golden eyes snapping open. “What’s wrong?” He lifted his head, glancing around the room for any possible threat.

  She reached up and caressed his cheek.

  He met her gaze, a confused look on his handsome face.

  “Yes.”

  He still appeared bewildered.

  “Yes. I’ll become your life-lock.”

  A slow, sleepy grin spread across his lips. “We’ll have the procedure done first thing in the morning and Cathian can perform the ceremony.”

  “Procedure? You still haven’t explained that.”

  “It’s painless and quick. There’s nothing to worry about. I would never allow anything to hurt you. Trust me.”

  She gave a nod. “I do.” And she meant it.

  He leaned in and kissed her. He had the best lips. Gentle but aggressive at the same time. Jill opened to him—then she just as quickly broke the kiss. “I so want you right now, but I need sleep. You’ve worn me out.”

  He chuckled. “I plan to do that often.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  “Thank you, Jill. You won’t regret accepting me.”

  “I believe you about that, too.” She turned and allowed him to spoon her tightly in front of his body again.

  She closed her eyes and smiled. Cavas could make her happy. She had faith they were both committed to making a relationship work. Another yawn hit her, and she finally drifted off.

  Behind her, Cavas grinned. Jill was his.

  He mentally focused on the Pods, informing them of what he’d need in the morning. He’d probably woken them, but he felt no regret. There was no way he was going to get out of bed and release his female to send those messages to his brothers or the crew. He’d make it up to the Pods later.

  He needed to take Jill to medical first thing once they woke. His second heart would be implanted into her body. It wasn’t an actual one, but it would always make her carry his scent, telling others they belonged together. Cathian and Nara had done it. His brother’s human had been fine and healthy since they’d life-locked. Jill would be, too.

  He’d also need a nice dress made for Jill. Humans had marriage ceremonies. He’d watched the one Raff had with Lilly, since they’d recorded it to send to her family on Earth. Cavas had been curious enough to want to see it.

  A soft noise came from Jill as she slept, and he chuckled. Her little snores were cute. He kissed the top of her head and snuggled closer.

  For a male who never wanted to life-lock, he couldn’t wait to do it. That was all Jill’s doing. She’d changed him inside and made him feel love. He was grateful to be able to give her all of himself.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jill kept touching her chest where she’d been cut open. There wasn’t even a scar to show the small incision. It was the miracle that was alien technology. The robot medic had painlessly transferred a small gland-like organ from Cava
s’s chest and put it inside hers. It had been the size of a grape, with small veins that attached to her own. She hadn’t asked too many questions except to make certain it wasn’t going to make her sick or suddenly grow a beard.

  It had kind of freaked her out. Not knowing all the details was better. For her.

  Cavas had found it funny when she’d asked about growing hair on her chin. Then he’d patiently explained about scents, how his “second heart” would add something to her bloodstream, and at that point she’d tuned him out. She’d never liked anything to do with blood or what was going on inside the body. It all made her squeamish.

  The bottom line: It wouldn’t hurt her and it made him happy.

  “Are you nervous?”

  She jolted from her thoughts and glanced at Nara. “A little.”

  The other woman gave her a sympathetic smile. “I knew Cathian for a matter of days before I fell madly in love with him. I couldn’t imagine life without him. I was ready to sign on for life.” She paused. “I’ve never regretted it once. Did you know that I was married before?”

  Jill shook her head.

  “I came from a wealthy family. I was so flattered when a man swore he loved me. I believed him, and the idea of someone wanting to spend their life with me and have a family seemed like the ultimate dream. No stupid contracts to have kids. I didn’t want to pay some guy to act like he cared about me. I wanted the real thing.

  “Instead, he drained my accounts after the marriage and made an absolute fool out of me. He wanted what I had. Not me.”

  “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

  “Me too, but it’s not shocking, is it? That’s how a lot of Earth guys are these days. So many women, so little time, and lots of money to be taken if you’re a good liar or a woman is desperately lonely. Like I was.” Nara shrugged. “Cathian is completely different from any man I ever knew on Earth. I can’t even compare them. Whatever your expectations of marriage are, up that by about a million, and expect to be loved like you’ve never dreamed. I know it’s happening fast, that might be worrisome, but it’s a whole other lifestyle out here in space. Jump in with both feet and enjoy it. Cavas is a damn good guy.”