by Gail Koger
“I have.” He brushed a mental caress over my mind. “Your reunion is long overdue.”
Mom’s gaze settled on Wulf. “It took you long enough to find my daughter.”
“Hey, I found him first.”
“Truth?” Mom’s expression was one of surprised fascination.
Wulf nodded. “Truth. I was hunting Gulog the Mad, and to my horror, so was Yakira.”
“And Ziyad and I snatched the bounty away from you.”
“Because you shot me with a tranquilizer dart,” Wulf stated.
“It was an accident. I was aiming for Gulog, and you jumped in the way,” I retorted.
“You left me unconscious on the floor.”
“Voss knew where you were and was sending backup.”
Mom giggled. “You two are perfect for each other.”
“He loves me. A lot, and when I discovered Wulf liked to dance, I decided to keep him. Plus, he’s a great kisser,” I quipped.
“Wait until he tastes the edible underwear.”
Wulf perked up. “What flavor?”
“Chocolate, of course,” Mom replied.
“What’s chocolate?”
Detja smacked Wulf on the arm. “You haven’t been taking proper care of your mate.”
“We were in battlefield conditions.”
“No excuse.”
My mother pointed at the doorway. “Now, in an old Earth tradition, we’re throwing you both a bachelorette party, and chocolate is involved.”
Detja shooed Wulf and Lothel away. “Go. This is for females only.”
They teleported out.
Mom ushered us into a wildly decorated room. A pin-the-hose-on-the-fireman poster hung on one wall. I blinked in disbelief. On each table was a long rubber snake with glued-on tentacles. Huh?
“We have your childhood favorites too. Chips, salsa, and root beer.” Mom picked up an angular chunk of brown and handed it to me. “Chocolate.”
I popped it in my mouth. A rich, creamy sweetness hit my taste buds. “Oh Goddess! This stuff is awesome.”
“Let me try some.” Ziyad took a bite and promptly spit it out. “Ugh. It tastes like poop.”
Laughter rang out around the room.
“No, dried Bovidae tastes like poop.”
My gaze scanned the grinning redheaded females inside the room. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. We were family.
I awkwardly cleared my throat. “I’ve waited so long to meet you all. I was… I was worried my bionics might freak you out.” I suddenly found myself in the middle of a group hug and a chorus of, “We love you.”
An older female said, “You survived. That’s all that matters.”
Mother put an arm on her shoulder. “This is your aunt Tess. Except for the red hair, she’s a dead ringer for Lauren Bacall.”
“Who?”
“She was a famous Earth actress, and I don’t look anything like her.” Tess hugged me. “Welcome home.”
“You would make an excellent vid star,” Ziyad commented.
Tess kissed her cheek. “You are too kind. I’m just a critter wrangler.”
“What exactly does a critter wrangler do?” I grabbed a bottle of Datol off a table and took a swig.
“I can control birds, insects, and animals of all types. Kaylee also has the ability.”
Ziyad was super impressed. “Even bot worms?”
“Haven’t run across those yet. If I can handle swarms of Kotsors, I think I can get bot worms to obey me.”
Mom tugged on my hand. “This is your cousin Sarah.”
Cousin? I eyed Sarah’s black armored-plated skin. She looked like a small Askole, except she had red hair instead of tentacles. Bright pink boas were draped around her body.
Ziyad’s tentacles shot straight up. “You are Askole, yet not.”
“Coletti aren’t the only ones who can change a girl’s DNA.” Sarah raised a champagne glass. “My human genes are being overridden as we speak. Once upon a time I was a kick-ass marine lieutenant who made the mistake of having a one-night stand with an Askole. Now, my career is in the crapper, and I’m under house arrest. Oorah!”
“Your one-night stand was with Tihar, Sariel’s son.” Tess snorted in disgust.
Ziyad goggled at Sarah. “Sariel, the Askole high commander?”
“That’s the one.” Sarah downed her drink and grabbed another.
“Is Tihar a good mate?” The perpetually curious Ziyad wanted to know.
“Don’t know. The day after we had sex, he took off. Tihar said something about being needed on the western front. I haven’t seen him since.”
“That sucks.” The western battlefront was a dangerous place.
“Nah, it’s okay. It’s given me time to do some research. I’ve discovered Tihar can reverse the changes.”
“But will he?” an attractive six-foot-tall female with copper-colored skin asked.
I gaped up at her. She was a Jones?
She laughed at my expression. “I’m Bree. My father, Thor, was a Coletti who crashed landed on Earth and hooked up with my mother, a Jones. Detja and Zarek are my grandparents.”
“Oh wow, that’s… Ah… Just wow.”
“Tell me about it.” Bree handed me a boa. “Did you really shoot Wulf with a tranquilizer dart?”
“I did.”
“I’ve got that beat. Not only did I use a cattle prod on Jaylan, I dumped a ton of manure on his head.” Bree sighed. “He thought it was foreplay.”
A petite female with long black hair and silver eyes snorted. “That’s nothing. I used skunk perfume, a Taser, ugly makeup, and a Hunchback of Notre Dame disguise to drive off Voss.”
Bree chortled. “None of which worked.”
“No, he’s a persistent bastard.” My cousin held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Zoey, your second cousin.”
I shook it. “Voss, huh? Being mated to him would be… ah…challenging.”
“Very.”
“Try being mated to Talree. He puts the A in alpha male,” a tiny female said.
I smiled at her. “You’ve got to be Kaylee.”
“I am. I hear you’ve been butting heads with Quinn.”
“The prick didn’t know about my bionics and attacked me. Big mistake. I gave him two black eyes and a busted nose.”
Kaylee laughed so hard tears streamed down her cheeks. “God, I wish I could have been there.”
Detja held up a giant red pecker. “Anyone up for pin the hose on the fireman?”
Ziyad raised her hand. “I am.”
Three hours later, I was wearing a sexy black negligée, the edible chocolate underwear, and a bunch of pink boas. Ziyad and I were sloshed and doing a wacky version of a tabletop bump-bump dance.
Webbing full of drunken Tabors hung from the ceiling. Tae was belly-up on the floor.
Wulf and Lothel appeared and seemed a bit taken aback by all the inebriated females in various stages of undress. The room was suddenly full of irritated warlords.
“Hiya, honeybun. You’re so pretty.”
“How much have you had to drink?”
“Hmmm. Let me think. A whole lot. So very pretty. Can I keep ya?”
“Yes. You get to keep me.” Wulf picked me up and teleported.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Detja was a tyrant. She burst into our bedchamber, pulled me off Wulf’s warm, masculine chest, and shoved me into an icy shower. All before I could kiss him or touch his naughty bits. It wasn’t fair. I was going to die a virgin.
Did Wulf protest her treatment of me? Hell no. The big coward simply jumped out of bed and fled. And without giving me any blood. I had a killer headache, and I was sure I was going to hurl. Goddess. It had to be the margaritas. They were so tasty, and I had overindulged just a bit. Most of the night was a blur. I remember Wulf tucking me into bed, then nothing.
A cup was thrust into my hand. “Drink.”
I took one look at Detja’s steely gaze and drained it. She could give intimidation lessons to the O
verlord.
“Feeling better?”
Well, color me surprised. I was. My headache was a dim memory, and my stomach had settled nicely. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“You drank all of us under the table last night, yet here you are. No signs of a hangover.” I gestured at her silver tunic and leggings. “And looking as regal as a queen.”
“Practice.”
“Huh? How many bonding ceremonies have you attended?”
“Five thousand.”
“You ever get tired of arranging them?”
“No. Each ceremony makes our clan stronger.” Detja pointed to a chair. “Sit.”
I sat.
Mom hurried into the room, wearing a dark blue tunic and leggings. “Sorry, I overslept.” She pulled a bunch of makeup out of a bag. “When I’m done with you, you’re going to look like a vid star.”
An hour later, I stared at myself in a full-length mirror. Mom had kept her word. I was actually beautiful. Detja had woven bronze chains into three braids on the left side of my head in celebration of my warrior status. Ziyad and I had been granted that privilege for taking out Pash Amarok’s ship, finding the Gorum’s children, exposing Malik’s fellow traitors, and finding his hidden bases. Last, but not least, draining his bank accounts.
My ceremonial tunic and leggings were an emerald green with a bronze design intertwined throughout the silky material. Finishing off my awesome outfit were knee-high boots with jeweled daggers.
“Do not pull the daggers,” Detja warned.
Colburn had a big mouth. I accidently stabbed him a couple of times, and he acted like I’m an ax murderer. I even healed the jerk. “Yes, my lady.”
Mom took my hand in hers. “You ready?”
“I am. I do love him.”
“I wish you could have known your father. Tom had a terrific sense of humor. His family was his life, and he loved you so very much. After you were taken, Tom made it his mission to kill as many Tai-Kok as he could. He would be proud of the woman you have become.”
I hugged her tightly. “I wish I could remember him. It’s like a piece of my heart is missing.”
Mom swiped at the tear streaming down her face. “I’m going to ruin my makeup. Here, before I forget.” She held up a gold wedding ring. “This was your father’s. Wulf has agreed to wear it.”
I took the ring. “He did?”
Poof! As if magically summoned, Wulf materialized and held out his hand. I slid the ring on his finger. “It’s like a part of my father will always be with us.”
“I honor your father and his love for you.” Wulf pulled me to him. “It is time.”
There was a fleeting instant of blackness, and we were standing at the back of the ceremonial chamber. It was packed with Coletti, humans, Alliance warriors, and Askoles. My brothers and Earth family, including Quinn, were seated in front. Bebo stood next to them, covered in Tabors. He didn’t seem to mind the babies playing with his tentacles.
The ceiling resembled a night sky blazing with stars. Thousands of candles dotted the walls, illuminating dozens of hanging tapestries. According to Bree, the warlords considered them romantic. To me or any sane female, the bloody battle scenes and the graphic pictures of women being fucked by warriors belonged in a brothel.
Bree had explained the Overlord thought the graphic sex scenes would show the nervous “brides” what masterful lovers the Coletti warlords were. But the captured alien women usually took one look at the tentacles on the Warlord’s enormous dicks and started screaming.
She’d laughed crazily, downed another shot of tequila, and waggled one of the rubber snakes at me. “Earth girls, not so much. We’re more likely to cut off the squiggly bits.” Bree had pulled a knife and proceeded to whack off the glued-on tentacles. Was Jaylan missing some of his man parts?
I had come to the conclusion the females in my Earth family were all nuts, but in a good way.
Wulf kissed the palm of my hand. “Today, we become as one.”
Lothel and Ziyad appeared next to us. Ziyad’s tunic and leggings were bright red. She gave me a toothy smile. “Let’s get hitched.”
“You heard my sister.”
Wulf escorted me to the platform. I admired the bloodred Tar flowers bordering the walkway.
Zarek suddenly stood on the raised dais at the front of the chamber. He wore an etched gold headband that denoted his rank of Overlord. Golden strands were woven into his gray warrior’s braids. His black dress tunic displayed the physique of a much younger male.
We stopped in front of the platform. On a small ornate table were two onyx ownership bands. Nerves knotted my stomach. Once those were placed around our necks, there was no going back.
“Females are a precious gift. They are our lifeline, our soul mates. Without them, we are nothing.” Zarek spoke with authority, his gaze focused on Detja.
She stepped up on the dais. “We share all that we are with our mates. This bond unites us for all time.”
“Today we are gathered here to join these warriors with their chosen mates.” Zarek picked up an ownership band and held it out to Wulf.
He took it and turned to me. “Your love is my anchor. Your trust my strength. You make my life complete. I will give you all my love until eternity ends.” Wulf fastened it around my neck. The warm metal band adjusted to fit my neck perfectly. “We are now one.”
“I accept this band as a symbol of our love. It has no beginning and no ending. I am yours for all eternity.”
The chamber erupted in cheers. Most warlords clamped the ownership bands on as soon as they caught their chosen mate. My wonderful mate had taken the time to court me.
Wulf scooped me up. “Now we can have sex.” He teleported.
Chapter Twenty-Three
We popped into a room that belonged in a brothel. A huge four-poster bed with red silk sheets dominated the chamber. The walls were covered by more of those naughty tapestries. I gawked at them. There was no way in the nine hells any female could be that flexible. I tilted my head. Was there? I’d be willing to give some of them a try. Pent-up sexual frustration was making me twitchy.
Wulf placed me on the bed. “I ache for you. Long for you. Need you. Every day without you in my life has been pure hell.”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
His lips met mine as we tasted and savored each other.
My teeth nipped the strong column of Wulf’s neck. “I’m wearing that edible underwear.”
He grinned, pure devilry in his eyes. “What flavor?”
“Chocolate. They say eating it off is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” I tugged at his dress tunic. “You’re wearing way too many clothes. Take them off.”
“Yes, my lady.” Wulf stripped down in record time.
I eyed his bulging muscles and flat abdomen. Mine. All mine. Where did I start? At the top of course. “Bree shared some of her favorites things to do with chocolate.” I popped a piece in my mouth. “Wanna share?”
Wulf pounced. His tongue swept into my mouth, lapping greedily at the chocolate, sending shivers of delight straight to my clit.
Along with the chocolate Bree had given me a cattle prod. She said it enhanced foreplay. Wulf didn’t need any help in that area.
Wulf gave my lips a final lick. “I can’t wait to sample your sweet pussy.” With practiced moves he stripped off my clothing.
I gave him a suspicious look. “How many females have you had sex with again?”
“There is only you. The others have been wiped from my memory.”
“Good answer.” I beckoned to him, smiling when he slid on top of me. I held him close, loving the weight of him crushing me into the mattress.
His mouth covered mine, urgent and greedy. Every nerve inside me did the tango. Goddess, could he kiss. Wulf drove every thought out of my head. There was only him. He was a fever in my blood. I burned for him.
“You smell like roses.”
“Mom sprayed me with her perfume. It�
��s an Earth tradition. Something old, something new, and something borrowed.”
“You want roses. I will bring you roses. Whatever you want, it is yours.”
“I want only you.”
“Sometimes I think all of this is a dream.” Wulf gently stroked my shoulder.
I bit his nipple. “Does that feel like a dream?”
“No, it does not.” He rubbed his callused thumbs over my erect nipples, and an unbearable ache built low in my belly.
“Goddess, that feels so, so good.”
“I want to learn your body. What gives you pleasure. I want to make you come over and over again until you are screaming my name and begging me for more.” He sucked my right breast. A starburst of delight shot through me.
“That’s a…really…really good start.”
The sinuous flicks of his tongue drove me wild, and a throaty mewl escaped from me.
“More?”
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
Wulf nibbled a sensuous path down to my thong-style panties. He took a bite. The expression on Wulf’s face went from turned on to appalled. “Not chocolate. Licorice! All Coletti are severely allergic to lickric.”
“What?” To my utter horror, his lips ballooned up, his eyes swelled shut, and hives covered his face and body. I quickly clamped my hands around his face and sent healing energy into him.
“Our special night was supposed to be sexy and romantic and perfect.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. “And I almost kill you.”
“Oot nek feck.” Wulf switched to mind talk. “It’s not your fault. I have many enemies.”
My temper flared to life. “We are going to hunt them down and leave them on Gansu for the snakes to eat.”
Wulf hugged me to him. “Goddess, I do love you. You are perfect in every way.”
“I am?”
He wiped away my tears. “You have a warrior’s heart. I know you will stand at my side no matter what comes.”
“You bet I will. We’re a team.” A sigh of relief broke from me. His face was still a little puffy, but the hives were entirely gone. I gave him another burst of energy. “You itch anywhere?”
Wulf put a finger to his mouth. “Here.”
The puffiness had vanished, but the playful gleam in his eyes told me he was ready for some bed sport. Drawing on his vast experience, I traced the seam of his lips with my tongue, then delved into his mouth, learning its shape and texture. “Anywhere else?”
