by Ashley West
She heard a voice from far away. "Commander."
Kai pulled away. "Yes, Sevit."
"The Earth captain is waiting to speak with you."
Kai bent his head slightly and closed his eyes with a sigh. "Sorry," he whispered. "I couldn't help myself." He turned quickly to Sevit while clasping Jenn's hand. "Let's go talk to him."
Kai held her hand all the way to the bridge, his heart still pounding from the memory of a single stolen kiss. Being with his sindare was just like the stories told to him as a child. He could barely control himself when he was around her. To Kai, Jenn had never looked more beautiful. He was attracted to her defiance. Her eyes held a challenge that was irresistible to his soul.
He carefully inspected her face to see if the kiss had any effect on her, but he couldn't read her inscrutable expression. She seemed focused on moving forward and looking at the path in front of her. By the gods, he loved that aspect of her. At that moment, he realized that he had not found an Anquesh love because the women of his species didn't have what he needed. He had never refused a challenge in his life, but the women on Anquera who found him attractive seemed eager to please and too easy for him to take. There was no challenge, and that did not ignite a fire in his heart.
The woman next to him, the one whose hand he was holding? She was all challenge. He would have to find a way into her wayward human heart and forge a bond with her so she could feel the same sensations. Kai knew he wouldn't have the natural connection with Jenn that Anquesh sindares felt for each other. It was new territory. Learning how to love the human and the adventure of overcoming her resistance excited him.
He should have realized he had fallen for her when they first met. Kai wasn't merely a sindare with a chemical need for his mate, but an alien who found the one woman who captured his heart.
They followed Sevit onto the bridge. The vast expanse of the Ruvien's command deck spread in front of them. In a half-circle, Anquesh soldiers manned gleaming workstations stations. A multi-part viewing screen flashed different images of the area around the ship.
"Officer on the deck." The bridge crew stood.
"At ease. Turn on the translator so we can all hear the news from Earth. Bring the communication on screen." Kai wanted to make sure his crew could understand Jenn's words. Some of his senior staff came from influential noble families in the empire. They would speak with their relatives about the decisions made on the Ruvien.
The screen shimmered and filled with the image of a human. He stood on the deck of his ship, staring into the bridge of the Ruvien. Beside him lurked an Anquesh lieutenant.
"Report," snapped Kai.
"Earth captain Ron Oakland offers his ships in defense of Anquera, Commander. He is concerned about the fate of Commodore Bretland."
And now we have to tell him the Commodore is dead. Kai looked to Jenn helplessly, and she stepped forward.
"Captain, I'm Jennifer Carden. Earth sent me to Anquera with orders to help facilitate a treaty."
"I haven't heard of that project. Are you an ambassador?" said the captain. "Where were you stationed before your engagement on Anquera?"
"Not exactly. It's complicated. Who I am is irrelevant, but I do have some information for you. I'm sorry to be the one to inform you that someone assassinated Commodore Bretland."
"Was it these Anquesh bastards?"
"At this time, we don't know who did it."
"Jenn," hissed Kai quietly. She waved her hand at him.
"But they strongly suspect the Similicue was behind the Commodore's death, the same race that is attacking them now. The Anquesh commander, Kai Imwaden, the alien next to me, is trying to form a unit of mixed forces to fight against the Similicue. Will you help us?"
Oakland looked away a second then turned his eyes back to Jenn. "Of course we will help. Bretland was a good man. He didn't deserve to die in this God-forsaken place."
Kai didn't react to the insult. He couldn't afford to demand his honor at this moment. Perhaps Jenn was right. The Anquesh emphasized honor at convenient times. He needed the assistance of Earth.
"All of Anquera thanks you," said Kai. "We will relay instructions to you through our tactical console." The screen shimmered, and a view of the planet replaced it. Similicue ships surrounded the world. "Sevit, get in touch with all the Anquesh ships you can find and discover if they're ready for battle."
"Yes, sir."
He looked at Jenn in wonder. "Did you know he'd agree even though we didn't have proof it was the Similicue?"
"I had a hunch," said Jenn with a grin. "We're not the most advanced species in the universe, but we know how to put two and two together."
Chapter 23
Kai entered into commander mode as reports bombarded him from all sides. Jenn watched as he nodded his head and gave a few orders, then walked to a pedestal. He waved his hand, making the pedestal shimmer and display a planet with different ships hovering around it. Other soldiers gathered around him. Forgotten, Jenn found a seat and listened.
"The faint green dots represent disabled Similicue vessels. The functional ones have gone into hiding on the dark side of the third moon, Commander," Sevit said.
"What about these ships in red?" Jenn motioned with her hand. "Are they the Earth spaceships? Why are there only seven of them?"
"Three of their ships were severely disabled in the fight. Our mechanics cannibalized them. We used their parts to repair the others, making a total of seven functional ships.
Kai shook his head. "Seventeen against twenty. The odds are not in our favor."
Sevit finished explaining the diagram. "The blue dots are Anquesh ships which have engaged the enemy in battle while the white wait near the fourth planet."
"Are they responding to hails?"
"No, sir."
"What do we know about Similicue invasion tactics?"
"They typically soften up a planet with direct attacks on public areas. They follow up by weakening defenses from orbit, then regroup and attack remaining defensive forces. The Similicue don't strike first. They'll wait for us to position our ships and show our defensive strategy, then choose our weakest point to destroy us. They're probably using the downtime to analyze our possible responses and develop plans to counter them all."
"Thank you for the analysis. If it's correct, we have a big job ahead of us. Gentlemen, I want your recommendations in fifteen minutes. Inform the Earth commander that I wish to speak to him. When he's available, direct the call to my ready room."
Kai turned to Jenn. "Come with me." He held out his hand as if he expected her to take it. She looked nervously around the room and saw no one was paying any attention to the insignificant human. Biting her lip, she stood and walked to the Anquesh warrior, who smiled.
He led her to an office adjacent to the bridge. It was a small room, filled with trophies behind glass cases and a large map of solar systems laid out in star clusters. When Kai closed the door behind them, they were alone.
"Why are we here?" Jenn asked.
"Two things." Kai moved closer to her. "First, I wanted a couple of minutes alone with you."
"Well, that's thoughtful, I suppose."
"Second, I want you to speak to Oakland and ask him for a favor."
"You want an awful lot from me." Jenn pushed Kai away and folded her arms.
"I do," Kai agreed. He moved back and put his arms around her waist. "I realized something today."
"What did you realize?" she asked, licking her lips. For some reason, they suddenly felt dry.
"I know why I want you."
Jenn shook her head. Even though she couldn't believe what she was hearing, she knew something was different when he lowered his head and lightly kissed her neck under her ear.
"Let me explain something to you. Legends say that when we meet our sindare, we cannot help but feel an overwhelming desire for them. Our scientists say it is a chemical compulsion. Apparently it's a way to ensure our species will survive. Our concerns are war, batt
le, and competition. It's unusual for us to pay attention to the future unless we cross paths with our sindare."
She was at a loss for words but gasped when he licked behind her ear.
"Have I mentioned that you are delicious?"
Jenn put her hands to his chest in a half-hearted attempt to push him away. For some reason, she couldn't find the strength to follow through. "I don't recall you saying anything of the sort."
"Do you see? I have been remiss with my attentions. Please forgive me."
"Perhaps I would if I understood more about this conversation."
"I worried I had offended you after our time in the taxi. You remember that, don't you?"
He began fondling her breast with his hand, drawing his thumb over the peak. Her nub hardened and sharpened her sensations. The tingles spread from her breast to between her legs.
"How could I forget?"
"I had questions. Had I inadvertently repulsed you? Perhaps I violated an important human custom. We are aliens to each other, and we do things differently." His hand was under the fabric now. The feeling of his fingers was electric against her flesh. He gently pinched her nipple.
"Some things are the same everywhere in the universe. Aren't you worried about violating me now?"
"I think my problem is that I like to worry." He leaned in hungrily, pressed his lips against her mouth, searching for something. As he leaned against her, she felt his hard cock press into her stomach. "Nothing has come easily to me. I enjoy competition more than most Anquesh."
Jenn looked up and over Kai's shoulder. The wall was full of trophies which extended to the ceiling. "I can see that."
"I believe you are my greatest challenge, Earth woman."
"Are you sure? Your biggest conquest over two planets?"
"Definitely," he breathed into her ear. He trailed his tongue sensuously in and around her earlobes. No one had ever done that to her before, and she felt something shift in her sex.
"Maybe we aren't different after all," she panted.
"I think it's time to find out."
"I thought we were supposed to do things first. The marriage ceremony? A battle..." Words failed Jenn as Kai slipped his fingers through the slits in the cloth on her thighs and up to her core, searching for the source of her heat.
"We had our moment of battle in the closet when we met. You won. My heart is your prisoner."
Fuck, she thought. He even talks a good game.
"It's my turn to win you," he said as his finger found her folds.
Jenn groaned as he touched her entrance and teased it with his fingers. They were big, but he moved them carefully. He pulled at the fastening of her pants, finding a button that magically released the flimsy fabric, leaving it around her ankles.
"So hot and wet," he murmured, his eyes half-open. Kai lifted her body and spread her legs on a chair in front of his desk. He dropped to his knees and threw her feet over her shoulders.
He put his fingers on either side of her entrance. "It's beautiful. You're like a delicate pink flower." He lowered his head and ran his tongue over her pussy, making Jenn shiver.
"The taste is fantastic." He buried his face between her legs again, moving his tongue everywhere. When he found her clit, she gasped, and her moaning encouraged him to do more. He licked and sucked enthusiastically as her moans grew sharper and louder. Jenn clutched at his hair, pulling him deeper between her legs. She exploded with waves of pleasure that drove all thoughts from her mind.
Jenn's hips pushed against his face as he drove his tongue inside her, starting another burst of pleasure. "Oh my God."
Kai raised his head and gave her a wicked smile. "Did I win you, Jenn?"
"We can give you the round, but the fight isn't over yet."
"Good," he said with a broad grin. "I like a challenge."
Chapter 24
A sharp buzz rang through the little room. It sounded like a doorbell.
"Duty calls," Kai said. He pulled away and Jenn felt a pang of disappointment. She wanted to do a lot more with this passionate alien even though time and circumstances were conspiring against them. He rose, gently pulling Jenn up with him.
"I'm still shaking. It might take me a while to put my clothes back on." She looked down at her nude lower body. She felt her face growing hot with embarrassment.
"Sit behind my desk. Only you and I will know what you're wearing."
He tossed her pants at her as she scrambled to sit on his big chair. She quickly covered her lap.
Kai wiped his face with his arm, giving her a broad grin. "Maybe you should leave them off. I can't wait for round two."
Secretly, Jenn admitted to herself that she liked the idea.
"Enter," said Kai, sinking into the chair Jenn had occupied only minutes before. He looked casual and confident. Jenn wished she could fake half of his bravado.
A soldier walked into the room. "Commander, Oakland has docked with our ship and wants to speak with you himself. He's waiting outside your quarters.
Oh no! thought Jenn. Please don't let him in here right now. Let me put on these pants, at least.
"Tell him to enter. I have no secrets."
Fuck! Jenn started to panic. She didn't have time to put on her clothes, but she tried unsuccessfully to move her chair closer to the desk.
Oakland entered, wearing blue coveralls decorated with the patches of the United Earth Alliance. He glared at Kai. "Is it true?" he asked, with an element of challenge in his voice.
Kai looked up the captain. "Is what true?" he said evenly.
"Has Earth sold this woman to you?"
"What do you mean? No trading took place." Kai looked confused.
"No way!" said Jenn. "What gave you that idea?"
"When we moved out of the Anquesh communication blackout, we started receiving intelligence from Earth again. Some of the men found reports of an Earth woman given to the Anquesh. It was the price of a treaty between our races."
"It is not a sale," said Kai darkly. "Don't make the mistake of denigrating an Anquera custom solely because you don't have the words in your language to describe it accurately. It is how we make treaties with races we conquer."
"That's the first problem. You haven't conquered anyone!" snapped Oakland. "You need our help!"
"Kai," Jenn whispered. "Please."
"I can't believe you agreed to this!" Oakland wasn't backing down. "You have no problems with being as a chip on the bargaining table?"
Jenn stared at him, not knowing what to say. Of course she wasn't okay with her predicament, and she hadn't been from the beginning. But the situation was bigger than herself.
"I don't like it. But things are happening on Earth that you haven't seen on the battlefield. The war has ruined us. Most people can't find jobs. The war with Anquera was destroying both our worlds. And the ships you see firing on the Anquesh? They want to kill us all."
"It's not right, Ms. Carden and you know it. I don't care who the Earth wants to sell out so they can get what they want. We shouldn't be putting women in slavery. I think you should come with me."
Jenn glanced at Kai. His eyes were growing large, and she saw him starting to flex his muscles. For everyone's sake, she needed to take control of the situation before Kai entered a battle rage.
"Captain Oakland, the Anquesh operate on a strict code of honor. It's part of their culture and one of the reasons why the Earth government was comfortable with the treaty. I promised I would fulfill the agreement between our two peoples as written. You're a soldier; you should do the same thing. As Kai and I are bound together, so are our two peoples bound with each other. They are our allies in a treaty. I suggest you start acting like it."
Jenn wanted to stand as she delivered these words, but she wasn't wearing any pants. Instead, she leaned forward and looked at Oakland with what she hoped was a confident stare.
Oakland looked away from Jenn. Kai still looked like he wanted to rip the Captain's face off. He looked back at Jenn.
<
br /> "Well, then. I guess I better get back to the ship."
"Wait," Kai interjected. "There is something I want to talk to you about."
Great, thought Jenn. He's going to talk business while I sit naked behind his desk. I hope he doesn't beat the crap out of this guy.
"I need more ships," said Kai haughtily. He was still irritated with Oakland.
"There are no more to offer."
"You can still provide something useful, but you haven't realized its value yet. Do you remember the holograms you put in front of us when we first met? We might be able to do interesting things with them. How many can you generate?"
"One per ship at the most."
"Then seven will have to do."
"The holograms consume a good deal of power when they're running. They take away some energy from the weapons system. That's why we used them during our last encounter. You had disabled our lasers, and the only defense we had was to lead you in a different direction with a decoy."
Kai thought about Oakland's revelation. "Even so, it's something the Similicue won't expect. Prepare your ships."
"You've got to be kidding me." Oakland looked incredulous that Kai had the audacity to issue him an order.
"Please," said Jenn. "We need every advantage to fight against the Similicue."
Oakland sighed. "Okay. I'll tell our ships about your plan, and we'll see what we can do."
"Thank you," said Jenn.
"Follow me." Sevit extended his hand and ushered Oakland out the room. As he departed, Sevit looked over his shoulder, letting his gaze linger on Jenn before it drifted to Kai, finally giving him a naughty smile.
