Gryke: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 6)

by Ditter Kellen

  Gryke kept his face buried against her until her tremors slowed and breathing became possible once again.

  He finally lifted his head, mesmerizing Fiona with his hooded gaze. “I have never tasted anything as delectable as you, Fiona. I fear you have taken my control.”

  Unhooking her legs, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her. “I ache to be inside you.”

  “I want you inside me, Gryke. Now.”

  Spinning with her in his arms, Gryke sat on the bench that ran the inside of the pool and pulled Fiona onto his lap, facing him. “I will do everything in my power to keep from hurting you.”

  “I trust you.” And she did.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Gryke stared into Fiona’s trusting eyes as he reached between their bodies and gripped his throbbing erection.

  He wanted to bury himself inside, hard and deep. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to do that very thing. “Hold onto me.”

  Fiona’s arms came around his neck. She adjusted her knees on either side of him as he slowly lifted his hips and pressed against her hot, tight opening. His body shook with the effort of holding back.

  “Do not move,” he rasped, inching back to thrust a little deeper.

  He could feel her stretching to accommodate his greater size. “Are you in pain?”

  “No. I want you, Gryke. Please don’t hold back with me.”

  A growl burst from Gryke as Fiona impaled herself on his shaft. His hands flew to tangle in her hair, and his lips closed over hers as he thrust into her sweet depths again and again.

  Fiona rode him in wild abandon, her nails digging into his back as her tongue dueled with his.

  She suddenly jerked back, buried her face against his neck, and bit down as a scream ripped from her lungs.

  Gryke lost control. The feel of Fiona’s vaginal walls milking his ever-thrusting shaft sent Gryke over the edge. He roared his release, slamming inside her with a force that threw her against his chest, his seed bursting from his body in a rush of mind-numbing ecstasy.

  Gryke continued to shudder long after his orgasm subsided. The feel of Fiona’s sweet, hot sex pulsing around his still-hard shaft was more than he could take.

  He abruptly pulled back, dropping his head against her shoulder. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No,” she murmured between gasping breaths. “I bit you.”

  Gryke’s sex began to pulse once more. “I liked it.”

  Fiona eased back and met his gaze. “That was one of the most erotic feelings I’ve ever felt.”

  Not wanting to dwell on the consequences of their actions, Gryke gently pulled from Fiona’s body, stood, and lifted her into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” Fiona asked in a breathless voice.

  He exited the pool, snagged a towel to cover her nakedness, and strode toward the door. “I am taking you back to my room. I want to return my mouth to your sweet sex.”

  Fiona snuggled against him. “And I want my mouth on yours.”

  Gryke’s shaft twitched in reaction to her words. He’d never had a female take him into her mouth before.

  He stopped at the door to face the Bracadyte warrior he’d left standing guard. “See to it that our clothes are returned to my apartment.”

  The warrior’s eyes flickered, but he continued to stare straight ahead. “As you wish.”

  * * * *

  Gryke stared up at the moonstone’s reflection on his bedroom ceiling while running his fingers through Fiona’s short, soft hair. He’d taken her several times over the past three hours, and he wanted her still. “Fiona?”

  “Hmmmm?”

  “Is it truly necessary for you to leave Aukrabah?”

  Fiona stiffened, the finger drawing lazy circles on his chest, stalling. “Do we really have to talk about me leaving right now? I’d rather lie here and enjoy the moment without having to think about the future.”

  “If that is your wish.”

  Returning to the task of circle drawing on his chest, Fiona brushed her lips against his nipple. “It is.”

  Gryke growled low in his throat. “If you keep that up, I will be forced to take you again. I do not want to cause you pain.”

  “Maybe you’re the one who is afraid of pain,” Fiona teased, sitting up and throwing her leg over him. She straddled his hips and gripped his hands, dragging them over his head.

  Gryke was instantly hard. He liked Fiona’s aggressiveness. “Careful, little human. You might get more than you bargained for.”

  Fiona tilted her hips, aligning her sweet sex with his pulsing erection. “Promises, promises.”

  Her hot, wet vaginal walls squeezed his shaft in a torturous grip. “You are going to be the death of me, Fiona.”

  Fiona sank down onto him as far as her body would allow. Her breasts bounced near his face with every downward stroke she made.

  Gryke’s body reacted to her domination of him. His fangs began to lengthen, his eyes became hooded, and his vision narrowed to the pulse point of her throat.

  He suddenly broke free of her hold, jerked her against him, and sank his fangs into her neck.

  Fiona cried out, her hips bucking in time with his uncontrollable thrusts.

  Gryke knew he’d lost the ability to think, to control his actions the moment her blood reached his veins.

  Her emotions suddenly slammed into him, wrenching a groan from deep within his chest. He could feel her desperation, her need to be taken.

  She wanted him to master her, to dominate her, to take her to a place she’d only dreamed of.

  Gryke retracted his fangs, flipped her over, yanked her hands above her head, and thrust into her with powerful strokes.

  A sheen of sweat covered her face, and her eyes burned with a feverish passion. “Harder,” she panted.

  Gryke jerked up to his knees, locking his arms around her thighs. His lips peeled back over his teeth as he pistoned into her with the force of a Bracadyte.

  Fiona’s cries grew louder with every pump of his hips.

  Releasing one of her hands, Gryke covered her mouth with his palm to prevent her from being heard throughout Aukrabah.

  She screamed against his hand, her back bowing hard enough she nearly bucked him off.

  Gryke roared his release, his hips slamming into her with short, quick bursts. It seemed to go on forever, like eruptions of energy he had no control over.

  Long moments passed with Gryke attempting to catch his breath, to hold a thought, even.

  With one last shudder, he gently pulled from Fiona’s body and dropped to his back next to her. “I lost control.”

  “I know,” she whispered, staring up at the ceiling. “I felt everything you felt.”

  “It is the blood.”

  Fiona turned onto her side to face him. “What does that mean, exactly?”

  Gryke wasn’t sure what to say to Fiona, much less how she would take the news that he’d just bonded with her.

  “Bracadytes are forbidden to take blood from a human that is not their mate,” he began.

  Fiona studied his eyes, but held her tongue while he explained. “Go on.”

  “When we take blood, it is not ingested into the stomach, it travels up through our fangs and straight into our bloodstream. So the human’s life force becomes a part of us. Sometimes we experience their memories, but most of the time it is their thoughts and emotions we feel.”

  She seemed to take all that in. “Then why do I feel your emotions?”

  “That is something that has always remained a mystery to us. Zaureth feels that it is a spiritual connection, one that your human God intended for mated couples.”

  Fiona quickly sat up. “What are you saying?”

  “We are mated now, Fiona.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Fiona’s heart hammered hard enough she could hear it thumping in her ears. Gryke had just dropped the mother of all bombs on her. “We’re mated?”

  Gryke sat up as well, an
ger replacing the look of satisfaction in his eyes. “You are horrified to be mated with a Bracadyte.” It wasn’t a question.

  He moved to get off the bed.

  “You think it’s because you’re different than me?” Fiona asked in a stunned voice. She grabbed onto his arm to prevent him from leaving.

  “I can feel your anxiety, Fiona. It is not hard to decipher the cause of your feelings.”

  “Gryke…I—”

  “We have an emergency!” Oz shouted from outside the doorway.

  Fiona released her hold on Gryke and jumped from the bed to search for her clothes.

  “I will be right there,” Gryke called back. He got to his feet and rushed into the foyer, returning with her clothes. “The guard left them inside the door.”

  Fiona accepted the items, snatching on her jeans as quickly as she could. “What’s going on?”

  “I do not know,” Gryke snapped, pulling his sharkskin shorts on as well.

  Dressing as fast as possible, Fiona followed Gryke through the foyer and into the hall where Oz paced.

  Vaulcron suddenly rushed up next to them, rage burning in his eyes. “Jefferies and his men have Hauke and Abbie.”

  “What?” Fiona breathed, her heart sinking in fear. “Why does he want Hauke and Abbie?”

  Vaulcron ran a hand down his face. “Oz and I had only just returned from the surface with supplies when Hauke connected with me. He said that Jefferies’s men held their human weapons on Abbie in order to subdue Hauke. Jefferies has made his demands known.”

  Taking a deep breath, Vaulcron continued. “He wants the scrolls, Fiona, and Arcanum in exchange for Hauke’s and Abbie’s lives.”

  The growl that came from Gryke startled Fiona. “I will go—”

  “No,” Gryke snarled, spinning to face her. “You will not give yourself over to Jefferies.”

  Oz held up a hand for silence. “Gryke’s right, Fiona. You can’t go running to Jefferies without a plan. He’ll kill you before you can blink.”

  “Then what am I supposed to do? I can’t sit here twiddling my thumbs while he has Abbie and Hauke.”

  “He has no intention of letting them go,” Oz pointed out. “Abbie and Arcanum are the only two living souls that have the power to save the human race from Incola. Between them and the scrolls, Jefferies could control the entire world, not just the United States.”

  Fiona took all that in. “Jefferies is merely a puppet, Oz. Sure, he had Kerik helping him pull off this elaborate scheme, but they’re not the brains behind this operation.”

  “Then who is?” Oz rumbled, his hands going to his hips.

  “Rueben Howell.”

  Oz’s face showed his shock. “The American president?”

  “Ex-president,” Fiona corrected. “But yes, the very one.”

  Gryke shifted his gaze in her direction. “How do you know this?”

  Fiona ran a hand through her short red hair. “Call it a hunch. But both Jefferies and Kerik were Rueben’s right-hand men. And it’s no secret that Rueben is infuriated about being impeached. I can’t be a hundred percent certain but I’d be willing to bet my life that Rueben Howell is behind all this.”

  “Then we have bigger troubles than we originally thought.” Oz admitted. “If Howell is the lead dog in this fight, he no doubt has an army to back him up.”

  Tony and Melvin came jogging up the wide hall. They stopped between Oz and Vaulcron.

  “How did you get here so fast?” Oz asked Melvin, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

  “I brought the mule.”

  Now it was Gryke’s turn to raise a brow. “You rode a mule down here?”

  “Not the animal,” Melvin corrected. “It’s a vehicle, similar to the ATV you rode earlier, only bigger.”

  Fiona shifted her gaze to Melvin. “What’s the plan, sir?”

  Melvin glanced around at all the anxious faces before returning to Fiona. “Jefferies is holding the hostages at Winchester Industries. The place is surrounded, but with Doctor Sutherland being one of the hostages, we can’t move in at this point. The president won’t risk her safety by attacking Jefferies. She’s far too valuable.”

  “And Hauke holds no value?” Vaulcron growled, his jaw tight with anger. “He is the son of a king.”

  Melvin held up both hands, his gaze softening. “I didn’t say that. I only meant that Doctor Sutherland has the power to save millions of lives. President Pratt won’t risk her being harmed in any way.”

  “I understand,” Vaulcron relented, turning to face Gryke. “I have summoned Zaureth. You, Fiona, and Zaureth will take the scrolls to Jefferies in exchange for Hauke’s and Abbie’s lives.”

  Gryke showed his teeth. “I will not give Fiona to Jefferies!”

  “Jefferies is demanding Doctor Sutherland’s child, too,” Melvin piped in. “We have to consider all our options before we go charging in and force his hand.”

  “Arcanum stays here,” Vaulcron snapped, taking a step in Melvin’s direction.

  Melvin held his ground. “I never said we would take the child. I’m merely pointing out that Jefferies needs to think we have him.”

  Zaureth strode up the hall, a formidable presence with anger flashing in his eyes. “Let us prepare to depart. The longer Hauke and his mate are in the hands of the soulless human, the higher the chances are they will be harmed.”

  Oz nodded. “Everyone make their preparations and meet at the great hall. We leave within the hour.”

  Gryke took hold of Fiona’s hand as soon as the others dispersed. He pulled her back inside his room. “I cannot allow you to accompany us to the surface. It is far too risky.”

  “He specifically asked for me, Gryke. If I don’t show, he’ll kill Hauke.”

  “You do not know this.”

  “Yes, I do,” Fiona barked, tugging her hand free of his hold. “I know Jefferies, and I know what he’s capable of. Abbie is his bargaining chip, but he won’t think twice about killing Hauke. Jefferies doesn’t need him.”

  Gryke’s eyes slid shut in surrender. “Are you certain of this?”

  “I am.”

  “Then go say your farewells to Andrew. I will meet you at the great hall.”

  “I’ll be okay, Gryke. This is what I was trained for.”

  Gryke reached up and gently touched her face. “I will not allow anything to happen to you. I could not bear it…”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Gryke left the room before he changed his mind and locked Fiona in the dungeon for her protection.

  She was right, and he knew it. Jefferies would destroy Hauke if Fiona didn’t show. Little did the man know that she wouldn’t be alone. Gryke would be with her every step of the way. He had no intention of allowing her anywhere near Doug Jefferies.

  After a quick trip to the bathhouse, Gryke changed into fresh clothes and hurried to the great hall.

  “Where is Fiona?” Klause demanded, pacing near the foot of the giant table.

  It took all Gryke had not to snap at his king. “She is saying farewell to her son.”

  Fiona entered the room, smelling of strawberries, her hair wet from a recent bath. She met Gryke’s gaze. “Maria is going to take care of Andrew in my absence. She has agreed to look in on Brant as well.”

  “You have nothing to worry about,” Oz assured Fiona, drawing her attention to him. “Maria will take good care of your son.”

  Fiona nodded. “I know she will.”

  Gryke watched as Fiona’s shoulders straightened and her chin slightly rose. She went from concerned mother to full-on warrior mode in a matter of seconds. “Let’s do this.”

  Pride filled Gryke’s chest. She would give him strong sons. Where had that thought come from? he wondered, following her toward one of the ATVs parked outside the great hall. Since when had he began thinking of her in future terms? Since he’d mated with her only hours before.

  Throwing his leg over the ATV, Gryke slid forward, giving Fiona plenty of room to sit behind him
. He cranked the machine and waited on the others to follow suit.

  Melvin climbed into his mule as Tony took the passenger seat. Vaulcron and Zaureth settled onto their ATV while Oz commandeered the last one.

  They took off as one. Four angry-sounding machines moving side by side through the halls of Aukrabah.

  The feel of Fiona’s arms around his waist caused Gryke’s stomach to tighten. No matter how much of a warrior she was, or how tough she may be, she was still a female. His female, he mentally corrected. And he was taking her to the surface to face the enemy.

  She tightened her arms around him. “I can feel your emotions,” her mind mentally whispered to his. “Stop worrying about me. I can’t take care of myself.”

  Gryke’s eyes almost rolled back in ecstasy. To feel her presence inside his head had to be the most amazing feeling he’d ever experienced. Aside from being inside her body. “You no longer have to do everything alone, Fiona. I am here with you. And I will destroy anyone who means you harm.”

  He could sense the awe she felt at mentally communicating with him. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this, but damn it feels incredible.”

  “You feel incredible,” Gryke corrected, covering her hands with his palm. “I do not know when or how this happened. I only know that I cannot stand to be away from you.”

  Fiona laid her forehead against his back. “I know. It kind of came out of left field for me too. I don’t know what’s going to happen after Jefferies is no longer a threat, but I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

  Though Gryke didn’t understand all of what she’d just said, he understood its meaning. Fiona was mentally letting him know of her uncertainty of the future. Her future.

  Gryke bit down on his tongue to keep his thoughts to himself. No matter what kind of doubts Fiona experienced, Gryke had no intention of letting her go. “We will revisit this after you are safe.”

  Melvin flagged the group to a stop and switched off his engine. Everyone else did the same. “Change of plan. We can’t all go riding through the exit without raising suspicion. We have no idea how many pairs of eyes Jefferies or Howell has on this place.”