by Tana Stone
He pressed his lips together. “Cresteks do not care about honor like we do.”
Max stopped and put her hands on her knees, sucking in a breath. “I don’t believe this. I do not fucking believe this. First, I get snatched up by bounty hunters and we crash in a giant desert, then I get kidnapped by aliens who might want to keep me as a sex slave.”
She closed her eyes and felt Kush’s big hand on her back. “I will not let that happen, little one.”
She straightened up. “Stop calling me that. I may be little but that’s only because you’re ginormous.” She waved her hands at him as her voice became a shriek. “I mean, any human looks small next to you. It’s like you’ve taken growth hormones and steroids. And just because I’m petite doesn’t mean I’m not fully capable of taking care of myself. I’m a scientist, for fuck’s sake. My research is about to harness a new energy source that could free the entire galaxy from dependence on fuel.” She stamped one foot. “If only I could get off this fucking planet!”
She put her hands over her face as she gasped for breath, feeling tears of frustration stinging the backs of her eyes. Do not cry, she ordered herself. The last thing she wanted was to fall apart in front of the big alien who probably already thought she was weak and hysterical.
As she pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, she felt Kush pulling her close to him, his thick arms circling her and pressing her body flush with his. Max was too exhausted to push him away, and the warmth of his skin against her bare arms sent small ripples of pleasure through her. A sensation of calm flowed over her, almost as if she’d taken a happy pill. She knew she shouldn’t enjoy being held by him—especially after her big speech about being able to take care of herself—but it felt so good to be tucked into his broad chest. For the first time since she’d been taken from her lab, she felt safe.
That was absurd, of course. Neither of them were safe, if what Kush said about the Cresteks was true. They were locked inside a windowless room at the top of a building, and being guarded by at least two aliens with blasters. All Kush had were the curved blades hanging from his belt, and a serious amount of badass swagger. She dropped her hands from her face and pressed them to the hard planes of his chest. Not to mention, muscles for days.
Max tipped her head back to meet his eyes. “So, did I hear you right when you said both of your species are running low on women?”
“That is correct. That is what I said.”
She took a small step back, even though his arms still circled her back. “So how do I know you don’t want the same thing from me the Cresteks do?”
His expression darkened. “I would never take a female who was not mine. There is no honor or pleasure in that.”
And he didn’t need to say the obvious. That he was way too hot for a geeky scientist.
His eyes flashed. “Why would I say that, little one?”
Chapter Nine
Kush looked down at the female, her light eyes wide and her cheeks stained a pretty shade of pink. He wanted nothing more than to lower his lips to hers and see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled. When she bit the edge of her moist bottom lip, arousal shot through him, making his body heat and his cock throb. He nearly groaned out loud as his pants strained from the pressure. She was so close he could feel her rapid breaths against his chest. So close all he had to do was drop his head to capture her lips. Was it possible she didn’t realize how alluring she was?
He tangled a hand in her choppy hair, cradling her head in his wide palm and tilting it up. So close.
“You sure you don’t want the same thing the Cresteks do?” she asked, her lower lip trembling.
Blood pounded in his head, and his need for her made him dizzy. He fisted his hand in her hair, pulling her into him. Max made a small noise as she bumped up against his rigid cock, then pushed hard against his chest.
“I think I’ve had enough alien sweet talk for one day,” she said.
Stepping back, he dropped his arms, feeling stung by her reaction. She was tired, that was all.
“You should get some rest.” He backed away, as she dropped her gaze to the floor, rubbing her arms where he’d touched them. He didn’t know why he’d grabbed her, only that it had been a powerful instinct to keep her close. It was the same feeling he had when K’alvek wished to wander the sands alone and he worried that he wouldn’t return. A hard knot formed in his gut, even though it was irrational. She couldn’t even leave the room, much less run from him.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I’m still not sure who to trust.”
He took a long steadying breath. “You can trust me. My mission is to rescue you and reunite you with the other females. I will not fail you or my clan.”
“You’re really big on this ‘fulfilling your mission’ thing, huh?”
“I have never failed,” he said. “It is as important to me as your…” he hesitated over the word, “research is to you.”
Something crossed her face—understanding? Acceptance? “I get that. So, I guess we really do have the same goal.”
Kush wasn’t sure what a goal was, but he knew he and Max wanted the same thing—to escape. As long as he could ignore how he wanted to wrap his arms around her and keep her from being hurt ever again.
“So, if you’re so sure the Cresteks aren’t going to help me get off the planet, I guess my best bet is to escape with you.” Her wavering voice became more assured as she spoke. “Do you have any ideas about how to get out?”
He turned abruptly and crossed the room, pulling at the door and finding it securely fastened. No surprise there. He peered up at the skylight, then around the room. It was too far up to be reached by jumping, and there was nothing in the room he could stand on or jump off of. Even if Max stood on his shoulders, she wouldn’t be able to reach it.
The Cresteks were clever, he’d give them that. Any furniture was built into the walls or bolted to the floor, like the divan along the wall and the low platform bed. Aside from that, the room held only rugs and cushions, reminding him a bit of his tent on the sands. Did the Cresteks know their design was a holdover from a culture they’d rejected generations ago? Knowing how much they prided their superiority and advancements over the Dothveks, he doubted it.
“I’m afraid we aren’t getting out of here without going through that door,” he finally said.
Max eyed the massive wooden structure. “You mean the one that’s locked and has guards posted outside it?”
He twitched one shoulder up in response.
“Do we have a plan B?”
“I do not know this plan B,” he said.
She took long steps to reach the door, pressing her hands flat against the surface. “Another option, if getting through this doesn’t pan out.”
“Not yet,” he admitted. “But we should not count out the Dothveks.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You mean the ones outside the huge city walls?”
“My people will not give up so easily.”
Max studied him for a moment. “I don’t think the bounty hunters will, either, come to think of it. They strike me as pretty relentless.”
“You speak as if you do not know them well. Are you not part of their crew?”
She spun on her heel and walked back to the center of the room, flopping down onto the rug. “Not exactly. They’re bounty hunters, and I, unfortunately, became their bounty. But since we were marooned here, I’m not sure what I am anymore. Or what they are, especially if the ship is gone.”
Kush followed her, sitting down cross-legged and leaning his elbows on his knees. He was fascinated by these offworlder females. He’d never heard of bounty hunters, but he got the idea they were warriors of some kind and they’d captured Max. Why they would consider the small creature worthy of capture baffled him. If they were males, he would understand.
“They were insistent we rescue you, even after the ship was destroyed.”
She selected a purple-skinned fruit from the nearby t
ray and began to pick at its bumpy surface. “I guess being stranded on a desert planet is a bonding experience. Holly and I became pretty good friends, especially after being taken by the Cresteks together.”
“Holly,” he repeated, watching her struggle with the fruit’s peel.
She motioned to her head with one hand, then went back to poking at the peel. “The one with red hair who curses a lot.”
He took the fruit from her and peeled it with one smooth motion, by pressing his thumbs and dragging them down. He handed it back to her.
“Thanks,” she said, biting into the lilac-colored flesh and flinching.
He grinned. “You have never tasted a tam-tam before.”
She puckered her lips as she chewed, her face finally relaxing into a smile. “It gets sweeter the more you chew.” She took another nibble. “Not bad.”
He liked watching her take tentative bites of the fruit, and he picked up another tam-tam to peel for her. “So you do not do your research with the females then? There are other friends?”
Her eyes stayed fixed on the glossy flesh of the fruit. “Not really. I’ve always worked alone, more or less. Scientific research isn’t always a team sport, especially if you’re a woman. Most of my colleagues are more interested in taking the credit than in doing the work.” She shrugged. “So, I work alone. I do have a droid with a strong personality, though. He’s like a friend.”
“Droid?” He had never heard this word before.
“A robot,” she said. “A machine.”
He shook his head, certain he’d misunderstood. “A machine like your ship?”
“Sort of, but a lot smaller.”
How could a small machine be a friend? “Do you not get lonely?”
“Now you sound like my mother,” Max said. “She was convinced that I’d be alone for my entire life if I went into science. I guess it’s a good thing she’s not around to see how right she was.”
Kush paused his peeling. “She is gone?”
Max cleared her throat. “Yeah, both my parents are. For a while now, though, so it’s not a big deal. I mean, I’m used to being alone. I prefer it actually. Less disapproval to deal with.”
He held out the tam-tam. “I also have no parents.”
She took the fruit and met his gaze. “Really?”
He shifted his legs. “When I was very young. My mother from the disease that took out most of our females, and my father in battle. I was taken in by my cousin K’alvek’s parents, and we were raised as brothers.”
“And K’alvek’s the one who saved Danica?”
A quick nod. “And tasked me with bringing you back.”
“So that’s why you’re so hell-bent on succeeding. You owe it to him?” Max turned the fruit over in her hand, staring hard at it before looking back up at him. “I guess we both have something to prove.”
He didn’t know what to say to that. She was right. He had always felt a need to prove himself. To show he was worthy. It was why he’d trained so hard to be the clan’s best tracker, and why he could never fail in his mission. His stomach tightened with sorrow, like it always did when he thought about his parents.
Max nudged his leg. “You look more worn out than I do.” She held out the tam-tam. “Why don’t you eat this one? You probably need the energy.”
Kush released the breath he’d been holding and took the offering, inclining his head in acknowledgment. At least he did not need to concern himself with mind mating like K’alvek did with Danica. Although he could sense her emotions and intentions like he could with all beings, she hadn’t shown any ability to sense his.
It was better that way, he told himself as he took a bite of the juicy fruit, pushing aside the flutter of regret that the pretty human who fired his blood could not sense his thoughts. Better she couldn’t sense his growing need to claim her.
Chapter Ten
Max felt a wave of sadness she hadn’t experienced in a long time. It was the exhaustion and stress, she told herself as she blinked away sudden tears.
She felt Kush’s intense gaze and wondered if it was an alien thing to stare at people like that. She swiped at her eyes. “I think I’m going to take a nap while you come up with some way to get us out of here that doesn’t involve us battering down the door.”
She jumped to her feet and he stood with her. Max backed away from him, not used to men getting so close or being so intense. She’d definitely never had a guy want to follow her around or one whose eyes seemed to reach into her soul.
Before she could explain that she’d planned on taking her nap alone, a noise at the door made him move away quickly.
“Doesn’t anyone knock around here?” Max muttered to herself.
Kush snatched his cloak up from the floor before the door swung open, his face disappearing beneath the hood.
This time it was not a pair of guards and an old Crestek coming inside. Not at first. A pair of women entered the room, silent until they spotted her, then their voices rose in a stream of breathy chatter.
So much for taking a nap, thought Max. What she really wanted to do now was run and hide. She cut her eyes to Kush, jealous that he’d hidden under the long cloak and virtually melted into the wall. Coward.
She thought she heard a low snort of laughter from his direction, but the twittering of the women made it impossible to know for sure. As it was, they didn’t even spare a glance in his direction. All eyes were on her as they advanced, seeming to bounce as they walked.
Fuck me. Giggling girls—which was what these aliens sounded like to her—had never been her thing. And until now, they’d never taken any interest in a science geek like her. What she wouldn’t give to be ignored again.
The Crestek women weren’t as tall as the men, and they didn’t wear cloaks—at least not inside. These creatures wore filmy dresses that hung from their shoulders—layers of sheer fabric that were crisscrossed around their breasts and then hung loose from their waists and swirled around their calves as they moved. Although they were more slight than their male counterparts, Max could see that they had the same ridges along their backs, and the same pointed ears. They wore their dark hair long and tied up with glittering ornaments, and dark lines swept along their eyelids.
Even though their voices were high and chirpy, she could make out the gist of what they were saying. They’d come to get her ready for an audience.
“An audience?” she said, shaking her head. “And audience with whom?”
One of the women giggled while the other cocked her head to the side. “With the chancellor.”
The both circled Max, looking her up and down without reservation. “A special audience.”
Max didn’t like the sound of that or the way they were appraising her. She wore her hair short and dressed practically so she wouldn’t attract attention. Now these women were sizing her up like a slab of meat. She crossed her arms over her chest.
“We can’t present you like this,” one said, touching a finger to the dirty, black vest Max had been wearing since she’d been taken onto the bounty-hunter ship.
The other made a face as she put a finger under Max’s chin and lifted it. “She can be fixed.”
“Hey,” Max said, jerking her head away. “I don’t need to be fixed just to go talk to someone.”
“You need to be bathed.”
“And we brought you appropriate clothes.”
For the first time, Max noticed a pile of flimsy fabric hanging over one of the women’s arm. Oh, hell no.
“I’m not wearing that. It’s ridiculous.”
Again, they ignored her, as four hands began tugging off her clothes. Max swatted at them, but they were bigger and stronger than her. She glanced desperately at Kush where he stood ramrod straight against the wall, but he didn’t budge.
One of the Cresteks caught the movement of her eyes. “Don’t worry about the agasi. They see unclothed females all the time.”
The other giggled, dropping her voice to a whisper an
d glancing over at Kush. “It’s not like they can do anything about it.”
“Well, they can do some things.” The other woman nudged her. “If you need them to. They didn’t have their tongues removed, after all.”
Her friend shot her a severe look, then looked back at Max. “Nothing a mate would ever know about. The agasi are good at keeping secrets.”
Max gaped at the women. What was going on in this place? These Crestek women used their eunuch guards for what exactly? Never mind. Max shook her head. I do not want to know.
“Come on,” one of the women pushed her arms aside. “We were given strict instructions to prepare you for the meeting. You aren’t going to make us drag you into there, are you?”
She motioned her head to the steaming sunken pool of water in the corner.
Max did not relish the idea of being dragged anywhere, but she also did not want to be stripped naked in front of Kush, who was very definitely not lacking a cock. She really wished he’d come up with an escape plan before these pushy bitches had arrived.
Glancing around them as they removed her clothes, she saw that Kush had pointedly turned his head, the hood facing away from her. She guessed the guy was pretty serious about the whole honor thing.
“Fine,” she said, shaking off the prying hands. “Just let me undress myself.”
The women shrugged, but did not avert their eyes as she slipped out of her clothes, crossing her arms over her breasts.
“Why do you hide them?”
“Many males would like to touch something so soft.”
From touching Kush, she knew their gold skin was firm, although it felt velvety. One look at their wide chests told her that their breasts might be equally firm. A far cry from human breasts, and from the B-cups that she’d always prided on being perky.
Max hurried to the sunken pool, not looking to see if Kush’s gaze was still averted. If he was watching her, she didn’t want to know. Her cheeks already burned from being naked in front of two complete strangers. Alien strangers who seemed fascinated by her breasts, at that. If she knew the Dothvek hottie was getting a look at her, she might pass out cold.
