Kollin (The Azziarin Series Book 3)

by Davenport, Hannah

  She missed Alan terribly, and as she thought of the last time she saw him, a wave of sadness hit her full force. She took a deep breath and thought about the advice he’d always given her.

  “Don’t worry over things that you cannot change or control,” he’d always say. Of course, he was talking about her singing career—well, almost everything in her life. He was always the reasonable one, and she was the dreamer, always chasing the next best thing, knowing that her brother would have her back.

  As the reality of her situation sank in, she thought about the choices she needed to make. Did she want to return to Earth? She and Alan had spent six months or so hiding out and look where that got them. Stuck in a cabin all alone. With Alan gone, it would just be her at the cabin. She grimaced at the idea. Krista was a people person, so being alone didn’t appeal to her in the least.

  Kollin had rescued her, and she felt safe with him. She also thought he was very handsome and sexy for alien. Did he feel the same about her? Would he even want her to stay with him?

  “Enough thinking for now,” she mumbled as the worries washed away with the water. Clearing her mind, she thought of a love song she’d sung years ago. When she opened her mouth, the music flowed out, and a wave of peace encased her, making her feel as if everything would be okay. She always felt at peace when she sang, and this time was no different.

  She finished showering, and after drying off, she donned the red jumpsuit. She found Kollin standing mere feet from the bathroom door, his intense eyes on her as she exited.

  “What?” she asked.

  With a husky growl, he replied, “Your voice calls to me.”

  Desire flooded his eyes, and she could taste the lust on her tongue. Her core creamed, and she wanted to rip his clothes off.

  She watched as his nostrils flared; he inhaled deeply and then closed his eyes. When they opened, they blazed with want.

  As if some unknown force had taken over, he raked everything from the dresser before setting her on top of it. He used his hip to nudge her legs apart before stepping between them. Cupping her face, he lowered his head and let his warm lips touch hers. When her tongue darted out, seeking entrance, he jumped back slightly.

  “What are you doing?” he asked in a harsh tone that quickly cleared the fog from her lust-filled brain.

  “I thought I was kissing you, but apparently not.” Her voice sounded a little more irritated than she’d hoped. But what the hell, he started it!

  She placed her hands on his muscled chest and pushed, making him take a step backwards. She hopped down, and with one last glance in his direction, she walked over to the food and plopped down in a chair.

  She grabbed something green from the plate and tore at it with her teeth, eating it like finger foods. She always wore her emotions on her sleeve and was never good at hiding her feelings.

  Surprised at the sweetness of the green food, she forgot about the kiss and asked, “What is this?”

  He took a seat in the opposite chair. “I don’t know. I’ve never had Siccia food before.”

  “Why not?”

  “They mostly keep to themselves. They are mercenaries. Not really friendly with outsiders.”

  “They seemed friendly to you.”

  “Usla, that’s the other female’s name. She is the Siccia princess. They had no choice but to be nice to me.”

  “That explains her attitude, or maybe I should say her confidence.”

  “You noticed, huh?” he grinned.

  “Yep. She was a take-charge kind of person, just like you.”

  He sat silently and studied her, and she wanted to squirm in her seat. After a few minutes, he finally asked, “What is your name?”

  “Krista. What’s yours?”

  “I’m Kollin, Prince of Azziar.”

  “Really?” she asked in amazement. “I’ve never known a prince before.”

  The edge of his lips tipped upward as his eyes bore into hers; he slowly grasped a bowl of the steaming soup. Her eyes were drawn to his mouth as his lips parted to let the hot liquid slide in. She never noticed that his eyes stayed trained on her as she watched.

  “Something wrong?” he asked with amusement.

  “What?” Her eyes flashed to his with surprise at being caught staring. “No, no, nothing’s wrong.” She cleared her throat and grabbed another piece of food.

  When he smiled, she could see his fangs and couldn’t help but think of all the vampire movies she’d seen. The tips looked razor-sharp and dangerous. Were they getting longer? She gulped.

  Not only had she seen the movies, but Krista had also read a lot of vampire books, and now she had a dangerous predator sitting in front of her. It both scared and excited her.

  Her gaze found his desire-filled one, and her breathing grew shallow as her heart sped out of control. She could feel her core cream as her fantasies played out in her mind. She licked her lips, thinking maybe she could do this just once until reality came crashing down. He doesn’t want you, Krista. Remember? Besides, he’s an alien. A hot, sexy alien. Stop! Just look away. Look away. Not wanting to be rejected again, she heeded her own words and looked away.

  Grabbing another piece of food, she asked, “How are your feet?”

  He smiled, “They are healing. Thank you for your ministrations.” She nodded. There was an odd tension in the room which left her feeling a bit off.

  Kollin

  He didn’t understand the female at all, which left him irritated. She pushed him away, and he’d only tried to protect her from cutting herself on his sharp fangs. And now he could smell her overwhelming desire, but she refused to give in. He could sense it, and it made him agitated. His shaft was painfully hard, and if he didn’t have her soon then he’d have to take care of it himself. Squashing those feelings, he decided it would be a good idea to get to know her better.

  “How long were you held captive by the Tureis?”

  “The what?”

  “The Tureis. The ones that captured you?”

  “Oh, I didn’t know what they were called. I don’t know how long I was there. All the days just sort of ran together. What about you?”

  “A couple of standard weeks.” Their conversation was stiff. If he wanted to know about his mate, then he’d have to ask her every detail, for she wasn’t offering much.

  “Standard weeks… hmm, that’s an odd way of saying it.”

  Kollin shrugged, “It’s a universal standard measure of time adopted by most species.”

  “Most species.”

  “Are you going to repeat everything I say?”

  “Well you don’t have to get snippy about it. Do you have any idea how strange this all is to me? A universal measure of time, most species… I didn’t even know others existed in space. Imagine my surprise when they came.”

  Kollin chuckled when he saw the fire blaze in her dark eyes. “What are you laughing about?” she lashed back.

  “I guess the best way to get you talking is to make you mad. Now this,” he gestured to her, “is what I expected when I rescued you. But you were too calm, almost as if your body was in shock.”

  “Fine. So how did the Tureis get their hands on someone as big as you?”

  When he thought of Wallace and the others, he couldn’t keep the hardness from his face. He curled his upper lip as he ground out the words. “Mutiny. I will find and reclaim my ship and rescue my males. The ones who did this will die at my hands.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, sincerity ringing true in her voice.

  He never acknowledged her apology, but he was still thankful for the words. “What about you? How did they catch you?”

  The sadness blanketed her face, and her dark skin turned ashen. He almost regretted asking, but now he really wanted to know. What had they done to her?

  They sat in silence for so long that Kollin thought she would never answer, but she finally said, “We were safe. We had food and shelter. We even had water.” After a long pause, she continued. “I w
as tired of sitting in the cabin. It had been months and I thought the aliens—the Tureis—might be gone.” Silence again as she got a faraway look in her eyes. “Alan, my brother,” she glanced at him with a half-hearted smile, “Alan agreed to take me to town. He didn’t really want to go, but he did it for me.” She gulped as tears leaked from her eyes before she hastily swiped them away. Was this normal for humans? “Alan died in a car wreck trying to escape the Tureis. The last thing he said to me was that he was sorry and he loved me. The Tureis tore me away from him, and I woke up strapped to a table.”

  She broke down and the tears poured from her eyes. Kollin felt something inside him shift. Reaching for her, he held her in his arms as she sobbed on his borrowed uniform.

  He spoke softly, giving her comfort. “You need to stop or you’ll lose all of your water.”

  She looked up at him with watery eyes. “What?”

  “I said, you need to stop before you lose all of your water.”

  She laughed while sniffing her runny nose, which made Kollin smile tenderly at her. “Okay,” she said.

  “I understand your pain. The Tureis killed my mother.”

  “I guess you do,” she said in a soft tone, still staring into his eyes. Something between them had shifted, and not just with him.

  He held her for a while longer before deciding to get everything out in the open. “I have to tell you something, and you’re not going to like it.”

  That got her attention, sending her back to the other chair. He enjoyed holding her in his arms and immediately missed her presence.

  “Okay, go ahead,” she said, her sad, dark eyes steady on his.

  “When we Azziarins mate, we mate for life and can never have another. Only our mate can bear us young.”

  “I guess that’s good and bad. We marry, but if the guy cheats, then we can divorce and marry someone else.” She frowned. “I can’t imagine not having sex if something happened to my husband.”

  He chuckled, “I didn’t say we couldn’t join, I said we couldn’t mate. That’s different.”

  Shaking her head in confusion, Krista said, “I don’t understand.”

  “We have a mate who bears us young, but we also have consorts.” Amusement shone on her face as she burst out laughing. He enjoyed the sound of her laughter but failed to understand the humor. “What’s so funny?” he asked, truly confused.

  “Consorts? Really?” He nodded his head. “If you tried that on Earth, you wouldn’t have a mate. If a husband of mine even thought about having sex with another woman, then he’d be out on his ass. I can’t believe the women…”

  “What is ‘women’? It isn’t translating.”

  “Females. I can’t believe the females on your planet will have your baby—” she noticed his confused look once again—“have your young and still let you get it on with others. I bet everyone lives in the same house. Do you have a big ol’ orgy?”

  He could feel the anger building with every comment she spewed. Maybe he did have a harpy. “It’s not like that!” he growled.

  “Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise a baby, I mean young? My friend had a toddler, and she stayed tired all the time. Why would a mate have your baby when it is hard and exhausting work but be okay with you having sex with a bunch of others? Are they crazy?”

  “It is our way! Our culture!” It came out a little harsher than he’d wanted. How could this little female make him feel so many emotions in such a short amount of time?

  “Your way? Really?” she laughed. “You convinced the females to buy that load of crap?” In a manly voice, she said, “Let’s have sex with lots of females and tell them it’s tradition. Hahaha!”

  “Female, that’s enough!” Kollin shouted as he jumped to his feet.

  “Settle down, Otis. We’re just having a good conversation.”

  “I am not Otis.”

  She calmed down, and smiled, “It’s just an expression. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Continue with your story.”

  He noted her odd behavior. She looked uncomfortable, and he wondered about the cause. Kollin inhaled deeply, trying to calm his temper and decipher her feelings. When had anyone ever talked to him that way?

  He took a few calming breaths before continuing. “As I was saying, we mate only once, and it’s for life.” She nodded. At least she kept her mouth shut. “When we mate, our fangs lengthen, and we mark or bite our mate, releasing a chemical into her body. This chemical changes her scent and readies her body for our seed.”

  “Wow, your people can smell if someone is mated?” He nodded. “That’s a lot better than wedding rings. You can take them off.”

  “The Tureis were trying to start a breeding program.” She sobered with that admission, but Kollin continued. “While I was drugged, they did something to me. I’m not sure what, but you smell like my mate.”

  “Excuse me?” Her head cocked to the side, turning an ear his way.

  “I said, you smell like my mate.”

  She laughed again. “Okay, listen up. Here’s something you don’t know about me. When I’m nervous, I ramble on all the time, either that or pass out.” She took a deep breath and gave him the truth. “I like you, Kollin. You’ve been nothing but nice to me, plus, you’re sexy as hell. However, no alien is going to automatically make me someone’s mate. That’s my choice, and I will never choose someone who will sleep with others.”

  “I understand. I felt the same way about having a mate chosen by someone else. I like you, Krista.” He grimaced. “Well, sometimes. You’re rambling on, as you call it, drives me a little insane.” When the laughter died down, he caught her eyes with his and said, “There are no others. I don’t have consorts waiting for me back home.”

  When she glanced at his face, she didn’t understand the emotion that he quickly hid. “Why not?” she asked with sincerity.

  “I am much… larger than the others, and they fear my size.”

  “Like, down there?” Her eyes dropped to his crotch, which made his shaft harden.

  “Everywhere,” he said as his eyes locked with hers, cocking an eyebrow.

  “Ohh,” she said as her eyes widened to saucers.

  Chapter Ten

  Krista

  Ohh! she not only said but thought, as well, as her eyes dropped to his crotch, and curiosity made her almost audacious enough to find out how big.

  When he’d said they had consorts, something pierced her heart deep inside. She tried to use humor to cover the hurt, but no matter how much she cared for him, she would never put herself through the pain of watching him with others. That wasn’t love. When he said they were mates and that he didn’t have consorts, her heart leaped for joy, but she wasn’t buying into this mating thing just yet.

  Yes, she cared for him and found him extremely attractive. The air crackled with lust and desire—so much so she could still taste it on her tongue.

  With their eyes locked, neither one spoke; they didn’t have to. It was an unspoken question they both contemplated right now. Could she? With her eyes still locked with his, she slowly rose to her feet, ready to make a move. Her body was screaming with anticipation and want. One slow cautious step, then another. She wanted him, there was no doubt left in her mind. One more step toward him and then suddenly, the door to their quarters swooshed open.

  Two sets of eyes shot to Usla as she barged into the room. Letting out a disappointed breath, Krista glanced back at Kollin before she stepped back and dropped down into the chair.

  “Don’t you knock?” Kollin grated out between clenched teeth as he spoke to Usla.

  “Never have before and nobody’s complained.” She shrugged as she sat down on the short couch.

  “Well, I’m complaining.”

  “Fine, I’ll knock next time.” She rolled her eyes as she said the words. A true spoiled princess, Krista thought.

  “Can the female understand us now?” Usla asked Kollin.

  “Yes, I can,” Krista answered as
she crossed her arms. She liked Usla better when she couldn’t understand what she said.

  Usla’s head whipped toward Kollin. “Why can’t I understand her?”

  “I have an updated translator program that includes her language.”

  She blew out an aggravated breath. “I’ll speak with the healer.” Glancing at Krista and then back to Kollin, she asked, “I need to know of her fighting skills and if she can help when we find the Conqueror.”

  “No, she will not be fighting!” Kollin said with a glare.

  Usla looked to him as Krista watched the two of them. “Why not?” Usla asked.

  “Because she’s…”

  “I can’t fight.” Krista interrupted before they started arguing. When they both turned to her, she shrugged. “I mean, I don’t know how. I’ve never fought anyone before.”

  Kollin relayed her words to Usla. “What kind of planet does she come from?”

  Krista waved off the insult that it was intended to be. Usla looked to Kollin and then started talking strategy and taking back a ship.

  Krista still felt the desire that hadn’t quite dissipated and tried to think of something other than stripping off his clothes and finding out just how large he was. She tried to think of other things, but her mind kept turning back to Kollin. Her breasts felt heavy, and she squirmed just a little in the chair. They didn’t seem to notice, though.

  Kollin

  Would she please stop talking and just leave! Kollin thought for the hundredth time. His shaft was still painfully hard, and his mate smelled strongly of desire. She had given in, he felt it all the way to his bones, and then the princess showed up. If it had been anyone else, he would have tossed them out on their head. But the title of princess demanded respect, just as his title of prince did.

  He gave her his full attention, trying to get the conversation over with as quickly as possible. His eyes kept glancing to his mate, and he caught her squirming in the chair. I feel the same way. His body crackled with desire, leaving every nerve-ending electrified. He took slow, deep breaths as he tried to calm and soothe his raging body.