“Listen here, you big lug. I’m not going with you, and I want them home. Would you really keep them from me?”
It was a standoff. The two stood facing each other, and neither one was willing to give in.
Chapter Nineteen
Aydan
When Aydan entered the supposedly abandoned house, he spotted the Tureis standing there. He drew his knife and slammed it against his throat. Even though he looked a little different, he was still a Tureis. Maybe he knew Riley’s location. That would be logical, since he stood in her fauk’n house.
Another female started to scream, but Aydan didn’t take his eyes from the Tureis. Toran and several other males had accompanied him, and he knew they’d protect his back.
Riley’s sharp tone caught him off guard. His instantaneous relief didn’t last long. Why did she protect the enemy? Did she know what they were capable of? If it was up to him, they would all be dead.
Her anger at him caught him off guard. Why was she angry? Did she know how much he missed her? How hard he’s tried to find her? She must know.
“You can understand me.” The Tureis never implanted translators. Human were chattel to them.
“No shit, Sherlock.” Her words only fueled his anger more. After a standard week of looking for Riley and trying to comfort the little females, the sleep deprivation didn’t help his short fuse.
Aydan looked at everyone as they stared at the two of them. He grabbed Riley by the upper arm. “Come on.”
She yanked, but he didn’t let go. “Where are you taking me?” She spat the words at him.
“Outside. You can walk peacefully, or I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you. Your choice.”
She yanked her arm away and glared. “I can walk.”
Outside, near the swing, he faced her look of defiance with one of his own. “Why are you angry with me?” he demanded.
She shook her head. “I can’t believe you would even ask me that.” She glared before she looked over at the trees. They, too, seemed to hold their breath and wait. No noise from swaying branches, no birds chirping in the distance. Complete silence. She faced him once again. “You left me.” His eyes widened at her accusation, giving her the courage to say what had shattered her completely. “You ran away and left me there.”
Aydan’s heart broke at the tone of her voice. Could she really believe he’d do that? Did he do that? His mind sifted through the memories, but he only remembered the pain in his head and in his shoulder. He never forgot the sight of them dragging his mate away as he—he swallowed hard—sat hiding behind a tree. That’s the way she remembered it.
“I did not run away! I…”
“I watched you!”
“Female, would you let me talk?” His voice matched her accusatory one as his anger rose even more.
“Do NOT call me female. My fucking name is Riley!”
He closed his eyes in frustration. Everything he said or did was wrong, at least in her opinion.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze locked with hers. “I lost my memory. I did not know I was not human when you found me. When we encountered the Tureis, my memories rushed back. My head felt like it would explode from the incursion, and I was helpless to do anything. When they shot me, I stumbled behind a tree. The pain hurt so much, I passed out from it. I did NOT run like a coward, but I could not help.” He shook his head. “I have spent all of my time taking care of your sisters and raiding ships trying to find you.”
Riley
Riley listened, and with each word, her wall crumbled just a little. He didn’t run away, he couldn’t help. He’d been searching for her and taking care of her sisters. Everything he said made sense. How could she have been so wrong? That was easy—bastard boyfriends always made her think the worst. She’d been abandoned plenty of times before, and she hadn’t trusted Aydan not to do the same. But he hadn’t abandoned her; he said he’d raided ships trying to find her.
Aydan grabbed her arm, pulled her close, and engulfed her in a hug. With one hand, he clutched her hair and pulled, making her look up at him. “I can’t believe you thought I left you there, ran away like a coward.”
She stared into his blue cat eyes and watched a gamut of emotion swirl inside. She did think that, but she couldn’t apologize. This was the first time they had been able to speak. She settled for, “I don’t know you very well.”
“No. But I know you. I watched and listened to everything you said and did. You are a great provider, a loving sister. That food you cooked tasted delicious. I could see the love your sisters had for you, the devastation when you disappeared. Belle is trying, but she cannot fill your shoes. They need you—I need you.”
She took his hand and led him to the swing. Memories of the time they spent together flashed into her mind. Heat rushed up her neck, staining her cheeks a rosy pink.
Without the anger, her body had free rein as it ached for him. Just as they started to sit, Aydan grabbed her by the waist and set her on his lap. She stiffened, and then relaxed into him.
After a short pause, he asked, “What did they do to you?”
That short, terrible event ran through her mind, and she shivered. Aydan tensed underneath her but held his tongue as he stroked her hair. She swallowed hard. “Nothing I want to remember. Let’s not talk about it.”
“My mother always said it was better to talk about painful memories. It helps.”
She turned her head up and looked at Aydan. “Your mother is alive?”
“Yes. My father died, so it’s just the two of us now.”
“I bet she misses you.”
“I worry that she thinks I’m dead.”
“Why? Why would she think that?”
He gave her a disbelieving look and raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry. I thought you saw the shuttlecraft when you pulled me from the wreckage.”
She playfully swatted his shoulder. “Don’t be an ass.”
He chuckled, the sound of his deep voice sexy. “How did you manage that?”
“It wasn’t easy. Belle and I put blankets underneath and pulled you to the house.” She looked up at him again. “You are heavy.”
He laughed. “I’m glad you did, but why?”
His eyes turned serious as he held her gaze. Her breathing grew heavy while her heart hammered away in her chest. “I couldn’t leave you there. I don’t know why, I just couldn’t.”
He held her gaze for only a moment. The air changed. Charged. Electrified. She turned in his arms, straddled him, the position invoking déjà vu.
Chapter Twenty
Aydan
He swept the hair from her delicate neck and nibbled her ear. “I want you,” he whispered. “I want to taste you.” His lips skimmed her jaw before he moved his mouth back to her ear. “I want to thrust inside of you.” Her core creamed, and a slight moan escaped her lips. “I warn you, though, I am not a gentle male.” Oh, god! She didn’t want gentle.
Aydan threaded his hand under her shirt and cupped her breast. Flashes of the Tureis and what they did tried to take over, but Riley pushed them away. She needed to replace those memories with good ones. She concentrated on the feel of his hand, the bulge near her entrance as she straddled him.
“Wait,” her voice a breathy sound as she tilted her head back. He kissed down her throat, heading to her breast. “What about the others inside. What if they see?” She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his lips.
“Let them see. I need you. I’ve waited so long for this. If my memories had been intact, I would’ve taken you here last time. I wanted you so badly then, in the bathing room. You have no idea how much I controlled myself around you.”
Riley had never been a voyeur, but right now she didn’t care about anything but Aydan and the way he made her body feel. Every touch sent sparks shooting through her body. She wanted him to move faster, place his hand where she needed it most, but he took his sweet time and drove her mad with want.
“Aydan,” she moaned. She felt his smile again
st her skin. Agh… she drew back and pulled the shirt from her body. His eyes stared at her breasts before his mouth closed over one of her dusky peaks while he cupped them both with his hands. His long tongue swirled around the nipple before he gently bit down. Her core throbbed with want, but he slowly moved to the other one.
Aydan
Aydan knew he drove her crazy. That was part of the plan. His slowness served two purposes. Punishment for thinking he was a coward, and to drive her mad with desire so he could do whatever he wanted with her delicate, sexy body.
He told her he didn’t mind who saw, but he knew his soldiers would give them privacy. The Curazins? He didn’t know anything about them or their mating practices.
His mouth left her beautiful round breast with a pop. As he kissed up her neck once again, he grabbed her ass and stood. He did not want to take his mate on the hard ground.
Riley tilted her head to the side giving him more access as he walked into the house. Just as he thought, his soldiers were missing, but Toran stood watching. He carried Riley to her room and slammed the door shut with his foot. She didn’t seem to notice.
When he laid her out on the bed, he held her eyes as he slowly unbuttoned her pants. His hands glided down her legs as he slid them from her body. Still holding her gaze, he hooked his thumb underneath her lacy white panties. She raised her butt, letting him slowly slip them off.
The curly hair that hid her womanhood caught him off guard, but in a good way. His eyes locked with hers again.
“Can I see you?”
He never answered, he came down on slightly to her right side; his nose skimmed her delicate body. “You are perfect,” his voice low, deep, sexy, when his mouth grazed her ear once again.
He grinned when she arched her hips. Almost there. His hand slowly caressed her side as he gently moved to her hip. He gripped it tight and pulled her firmly into him, letting her feel the hardness of his cock.
Her breath hitched.
“Soon,” Aydan said.
“Now.” Her breathy demand had no effect on him.
“Soon,” he repeated.
He eased down her wanton body, his lips trailing his every caress until he reached the juncture between her thighs. She instinctively spread her legs, giving him access.
Using his fingers, he spread her folds and plunged his tongue deep inside, needing a taste.
“Ohhh!” She raised her back slightly off the bed and then fell back down.
He swirled his tongue inside her opening and then replaced it with one long finger. Her channel felt soft and tight. Aydan curved his finger until he found her sweet spot. “I’m cumming!” She threw her head back and closed her eyes. He watched in fascination as her hips jerked and bucked with every movement of his finger.
He couldn’t wait any longer. This had seriously tested his control. He tore off his black jumpsuit, crawled up the bed until he landed between her legs. His eyes shot flames of desire as she lay naked, legs open, waiting for him.
Her eyes remained closed as he hooked her legs around his arms and spread her wide for him. The glistening channel was in view as he aligned his cock and surged forth with one hard stroke. Her eyes flew open before she moaned again in ecstasy.
He pumped his hips without control, taking what he needed, wanted. Her body fit him perfectly, like a glove to his hand. Needing more leverage, he dropped her legs and grabbed her hips and plowed into her hard and fast. When she threw her head back again, he held himself deep inside and emptied his seed into her tight channel.
Riley
The things he did to her body. She’d had sex before, but not like this. He drove her body mad with lust, making her orgasm more powerful. Never had anything felt like this.
When he emptied into her, he stole her strength, leaving her boneless and well sated. Her eyes flew open when he flipped her over.
“I’m not finished.” His low, sexy voice brought her body screaming back to life. She just didn’t have the energy to move. One finger entered her channel before moving up to her nether region. A trickle of fear skirted down her arms. He must have sensed it. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.” But she did worry.
She felt him moisten the nether region with his cum before inserting a finger back there. He worked it in and out before adding another. “Don’t worry, I’m just stretching you a little. I promise, you’ll love it.” For some reason, Riley doubted it.
When his fingers left her, she felt the tip of his cock as he slowly pushed in, giving her time to adjust. “Just relax, Riley.” He had her on all fours as he entered her, one slow inch at a time.
When he was fully seated inside her nether region, his lust-filled voice growled, “You are so tight.”
She felt full, stretched to the max. He started to slowly rock his hips back and forth, increasing his speed a little at a time. Just as she adjusted to his size, he reached around, plunged one finger in her middle channel while his thumb bumped her clit. Just the thought of him filling up both entrances sent her over the edge. She screamed his name as wave after hard wave rocked her body.
“Ohh… you are so tight!” He pumped faster, harder. When she felt him jerk inside her, he leaned down and pierced her skin with his teeth. She came again.
She fell forward onto her stomach. When she finally caught her breath, she said with exhausted breath, “Best. Makeup. Sex. Ever.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Aydan
“Did you bite me again?”
Aydan smiled and kissed her forehead as he pulled her into his body, his front to her back. “I did.”
“Why?” She clutched his hand and entwined their fingers.
“We mate for life, and I made you my mate.” He waited for her reaction.
“No. Sorry, but I’m not your mate.”
He tensed. “You are.”
“I never saw you get down on one knee, and if you asked me, I didn’t hear it.” He heard the smile in her voice and knew she teased him.
“Why would I get down on one knee?”
He enjoyed talking to her while coupled together, his arms wrapped around her.
“I don’t know, that’s just how they do it.”
“How who do it? I’ve never seen anyone get down on one knee to ask a question. That’s silly. Why can’t we just lie in bed, and I ask you to be my mate?”
She stilled. “Are you asking?”
“Would you like me to?”
After a moment of silence, she said, “Yes.”
“Riley… do you have a last name? Is that common on Earth?”
She giggled. “Yes, it is, and yes, I do. It’s Walker. What about you? Do you have a last name?”
“I do, but surnames are rarely used on Azziar.”
“Why is that?”
“When I bit you, your smell changed. Anyone on Azziar will know that you are my mate.”
She stretched her neck around to look at him. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” He kissed her head. “You’re trying to distract me. Riley Walker, will you be my mate?”
“I’ll think about it.”
He rolled her over and bit the top of her earlobe while she giggled.
Using his fingertip, he brushed some hair away from her forehead. His face turned serious as he stared into her eyes. “Tell me about the Turei boy.”
The smile fell from her lovely face. “There’s not much to tell. He saved me and Karen. Got us away from those monsters.”
“But he’s one of them.”
Before he finished, she shook her head no. “He’s half Turei. I don’t know what species his mother is, but Karen said they were a peaceful, loving people. His father is a monster. He thought Zi’an should toughen up so brought him along. Zi’an couldn’t stand what the Tureis did to women, so he rescued us, knowing he could never go back.”
“I owe him a debt.”
Riley tilted her head. “It’s not a death sentence. Lighten up.”
“The thought of owing anything to a
Turei…”
“Half,” she corrected. He just shook his head in disagreement. “Aydan, talk to him. Even look at him, and you’ll see he’s different. He’s kind of pink instead of gray.”
“I will try not to kill him. But that’s all I can promise.” This time, she shook her head, but Aydan continued. “Now, tell me what happened when they kidnapped you.”
When she turned her head away, he gently gripped her chin and brought her gaze back to his. She swallowed hard and licked her lips. He could see the pulse in her neck quicken. “They examined me. It was more humiliating than anything.”
“How?” That one word said low and deadly. “Answer me.”
She tried to pull away, but he held her in place, trapped against his body. “They stripped me down and strapped me to a table. They examined every inch of my body.”
His eyes darkened as his teeth elongated. A low growl slipped from his throat.
“Aydan.” She shook his shoulder as she tried to get his attention. “Aydan, listen to me. I’m fine. I escaped.”
He crushed her to his chest. “If anything ever happens to you…” He never finished as he held her tight.
Riley
Every doubt Riley had drained again with his loving tone, his worry for her wellbeing. She should have been upset when he told her she was his mate, but instead, she felt elated… loved. So many times she’d wanted someone to love her. The past couple of years she spent raising her sisters left her more alone than ever. To share that with someone—not someone, Aydan—it was a dream come true.
“How are my sisters?” She’d spent time with him, talked things over, but now she really needed to know how they were. Did they miss her?
“They are safe.” She heard the hesitation in his voice and turned concerned eyes on him. “They are having a difficult time without you. Belle tries, but she is young.”
Aydan (The Azziarin Series Book 6) Page 10
