Venturi, Complete Serial Parts 1-4: Alien SciFi Romance (Crashlander)

by Annie Nicholas

  “If this works, we will need more. She told me there were other survivors.”

  The healer hung his head.

  The silence this time was comfortable. I closed my eyes for a moment to savor the fact I had actually reached home with When-di and she was receiving the care I had so desired. The rest was out of my control and somehow I had to believe all would be well.

  “Look.” Ne’flav elbowed me.

  My eyelids sprung open. When-di’s wound closed over the bioprocessor. Not even a scar showed. I rubbed the bump on my upper arm in reflex. I’d never watched a babe receive this gift. It was reserved for parents and healer only. Maybe soon, When-di and I could experience this with our own child.

  “It accepted her. The other bioprocessors should accept her people.” Ne’flav rose and put away his implements.

  I replaced his spot on the edge of her bed and stroked her short hair. “How long before she’s well again?”

  “I don’t know. This is a first for me as well. We’ll find out together. Did she say how many survivors?”

  “No.” I watched When-di’s chest rise and fall. Her breathing seemed stronger and her pale skin cooler. Or was that just my wishful thinking?

  “Venturi.”

  Reluctantly, I pulled my gaze from my mate.

  Ne’flav was unusually pensive, a frown creasing his forehead. “If there are too many, I won’t be able to save them all.”

  Chapter Three

  Venturi

  Ne’flav gathered his medicine bag. “I need to revisit those injured in the storm.”

  “How bad is it?” Guilt gnawed at my bones. I had ignored everyone in my desperation to save When-di.

  “A few cuts. Nothing serious.” He patted my shoulder. “The cot is strong enough to hold both of you. It’s yours for the night. Rest.”

  I cradled my mate against my chest as I joined her in the bed. There was nothing I could do but wait for the bioprocessor to work its magic. Resting my hand over her single heart, I took comfort in the beat. She was too small and vulnerable, my beautiful When-di.

  My body limp and sore, small aches like those in my claw-beds came to my attention at last. I would do it all over again to save her though. Eyelids heavy, I drowsed and took comfort from my mate’s closeness. The spots on my arms had spread to my chest. With the danger past, the call to claim When-di returned, burning in my blood.

  Her pulse thumped steadily and strong. I pressed my lips to the top of her damp hair. We would build a home—our home—on the branch that overlooked the lagoon. It had the best view. The tree canopy was thinner there. I would make a hammock where we could lie outside on clear nights and count the stars.

  Dreams of the future and the tiring journey home lulled me. I didn’t want to sleep in case When-di awoke in a strange place. I couldn’t imagine how she felt, but the thought of living on an alien world did not appeal. She’d been fearful from the moment we met and I wished to offer a reprieve. A safe haven.

  I smoothed the hair from her forehead and stroked her face. Color had returned to her cheeks. She no longer appeared yellowish and was returning to my favorite pink. I didn’t know how much time had passed but Ne’flav hadn’t returned. I appreciated it.

  She turned her sleeping face to my chest and nuzzled.

  “When-di?” I cupped her chin and turned her head toward mine. “Are you well?”

  She blinked her eyes open, pale white surrounded the bright blue in the center.

  The tight band of anxiety loosened around my chest and I could finally take a deep breath. I crushed her to my body. “I was so worried.” I kissed her brow, her cheeks, her nose.

  “I understand you,” she whispered in my language. “How is that possible?”

  With the tip of my finger, I circled the healed bump on her arm. Surprise after surprise. The bioprocessor contained our language. It was how much of our knowledge was transferred and it hadn’t occurred to me that she would learn as our pups did. I wonder if Ne’flav had? “This.” How did one explain a technology I didn’t understand myself?

  She squirmed free and examined her upper arm, rubbing the area. “What do you mean?” She jerked straight and clutched her head. “My words…they sound different as I say them than what’s in my head. That’s so weird.” Scrunching her cute, adorable nose, she stared at my face as if considering something. “What is this bump? Where am I? Why do I feel better? The beacon! We didn’t reach—”

  I pulled her into a kiss, pressing our bodies together. Desperately trying not to break her. She’d survived. The soul crushing weight of watching my mate sicken lifted, leaving me lightheaded. I rested our foreheads together. “You were so sick,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion. “I had to bring you to the healer. I came so close to losing you.”

  She pulled away and flexed her arms and legs. “About that. How did your healer cure me? I mean, I should be dead.”

  I tilted my head, eyes narrowing. “You knew this?”

  “One of the suns is giving off a radiation that is deadly to my kind.”

  “Raid-ee-a-shun?” Her strange word didn’t translate when she spoke.

  “It’s something you can’t see like the wind, but it’s poisonous. It slowly kills us.”

  “The poison. Yes, I know this thing. It is deadly to all not native to this world.” I caressed her shoulder, unable to restrain my need to assure myself she was really well. “Our healer placed a bioprocessor in your arm to clear your body. You’ve been unconscious most of the day and evening.” For the moment, I was content. Full of questions and relief, but happy.

  She ran her hand over the bump in her arm again. “I don’t know what you mean. He put a computer in my arm?” She rubbed her temples. “The words are all jumbled in my head, like I’m hearing an echo. The words have meaning but no context.”

  “The bioprocessor contains our language. It must have taught you while you slept.”

  She curled against my chest. “My head hurts.”

  I held her tight. “It will pass. You need time to heal still.”

  Wendy

  Having Venturi close did make me feel better. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen.

  I was in a strange place on a bed. There were containers stacked on tables, a tray filled with clean cloths that could be used for bandages, and the room smelled like an Indian restaurant.

  Venturi said he’d brought me to a healer. I cringed at the possible archaic treatments that came to mind. Yet, somehow, I lived. This healer cured my radiation poisoning.

  My stomach no longer ached and I actually felt hungry. The fever seemed gone as well. In general, I felt much better. Even my shoulder didn’t hurt.

  Yet how had I learned his language in my sleep? The bioprocessor had taught me? Sounded almost like magic.

  “Tell me more about the thing in my arm.”

  He sighed. “I’m not a healer, my When-di. I only know we need it to live.”

  I sat up, the sudden movement making my head pound. “We.” I rubbed my temples again. “You said only those not native to this world needed the bio-thing.” Ugh, what I’d give for a couple of pain pills.

  “Yes.” He slid his fingers beneath mine and assumed the rubbing.

  “Oh, that’s nice.” I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate. I was missing something important, I could sense it. “You have one?”

  “Yes. My people are not from this world.”

  I jerked my eyes open. “You’re not from here?” Were they colonists?

  “I was born on this world. My people have lived here for many generations. We adapted.” He gave me a sweet smile. “You will too, my beautiful mate.”

  It was so nice to hold a real conversation without stick men and charades, but part of me wished he’d stop throwing so much shocking news in my direction while I was trying to recover from a bio-thing hangover. “Did you say mate?”

  He ran his nose along my throat, threading his hand through my hair. “Mate,” he whispered, hi
s voice thick with dark promise.

  Like a popped balloon, my headache went away. Breathing suddenly grew more difficult while he kissed his way down my neck. The word mate translated to something more than lover or wife. My mind made it seem more like soul partner.

  Wow.

  “I can’t be your mate. We’re not even the same species.”

  He rolled me gently onto my back, treating me as if I was made of fine glass. “That doesn’t matter. All that matters is you have triggered my mating tell sign.” He showed me the spots on his arms that now spread all the way across his chest. “How does your kind discover their mates?”

  My heart stopped. He wanted forever. With me. I’d never planned on forever with anyone. I hadn’t believed it possible to meet someone I’d want to spend forever with. “Humans choose their mates.”

  How convenient it would be to have spots tell me who to marry.

  He paused, mouth open. “That seems perilous. What if you choose wrong?”

  I snorted. “You suffer then you leave.” Like my parents.

  Venturi covered my body with his. “Choose me. I would never let you suffer.”

  Oh, if it were that easy. “I don’t know you. We’ve barely met.” I stroked his muscled arm, trying to sooth him. Didn’t I know him, though? He really wouldn’t let me suffer. Look at what he’d already done, saving my life three times in as many days? “It’s not that I don’t like you, but…” This was so difficult to explain. “I want you to decide. Not your spots.”

  Cocking his head to the side, he gave me a what-the-fuck look. “It’s not a decision. My body knows. Look.” He set my hand on his chest and the spots grew darker. “You are mine.”

  My eyes widened. Not at what his skin did—though that was pretty cool—but from what he said. He claimed me. Somewhere deep inside my heart, I knew this was right. He was more than I ever deserved. I’d never believed in love at first sight but Venturi had proved me wrong. I’d fallen for him the moment he’d saved me from the dragons.

  I traced a pattern on his chest, connecting the dots. “I guess that makes you mine as well.”

  “Yes.” He said it with such determination I had to laugh.

  “So what happens now?”

  “My spots reached my chest and my hearts.” He rose to his elbows, untying the laces of his pants. “Let me check on my spur.” He pulled out his hard cock.

  “Spur?” My voice cracked. “Oh…my…” I shoved him off me and fingered the flexible protrusion at the head of his penis where there had been a bump before. The spur would flatten as it entered me but seemed like it would latch us together on the backstroke.

  He hissed and covered his cock, glancing skyward with a muttered swear.

  I was confused. I thought he wanted me to touch him. “Sorry.”

  With his unnatural reflexes, he grasped my wrist before I could withdraw. “You surprised me. You’ve been shy until now.”

  My cheeks flamed. I hated how he made me blush. It just proved how much I cared what he thought of me when normally I didn’t give a shit about other’s opinions.

  “I love this thing your face does.” He leaned closer, examining my cheeks. “Are you sure this isn’t your mating tell sign?”

  I covered my face with my hands. “Maybe it is. You seem to be the only one capable of making me blush so much. Did I hurt you?” It was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d been curious, and hell, I liked touching him. A lot.

  “You did not hurt me, but if you continue to stroke my spur, I can’t promise to control myself.” He tucked his cock back inside the soft leather of his pants.

  Disappointed, I sighed. But he was right. I didn’t have time to seduce my mate. I rubbed my eyes. “How far are we from where we were headed?”

  He stopped lacing his pants, his head jerking up. “Two days if we don’t stop but to sleep.”

  “Can I borrow some better clothes?” I made to scoot off the bed but he stopped me with a solid arm barring the way.

  “We cannot leave. The storm will kill us.”

  I paused, finally hearing the distant winds howling outside. Thunder punctuated the occasional silence. “Is this the same storm?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you said I slept all evening.”

  “And it took me most of the day to carry you here. It is fading and will be done by morning. It’s a small storm.”

  “Small?” I squeaked. From what I could faintly recall, this storm poured buckets of rain from the sky and shot lightning from its clouds.

  “For the rainy season, yes. We will leave once the healer clears your health.” He made it clear there would be no arguing with him.

  “Then we have some time.” I traced his pectorals, fascinated by their detail.

  “All night.”

  I liked flirting with my big alien, because watching him react to my touch was addictive. He was so rock hard under that incredible skin. The way he watched me, as if I made the suns rise, was amazing. His features were sharp and well-defined with high cheekbones and full lips. I’d gotten past the shark teeth and the tail, which was slowly creeping up my bare leg.

  He had the best abs. I traced the sculpted eight pack with my fingernails, unable to resist the contact. Truth, he was pure joy to touch. I ran my hands over his broad chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about our time in the leaf pond. Him removing my hands from covering my breasts so he could look on my naked form, letting me know he thought I was desirable.

  I had gripped his big, wonderful cock and given it a stroke to let him know I liked him just as much. Wow, how I had loved the way his eyes had rolled back as he came. Like I was the best thing that had ever touched him.

  “When-di.” He moaned after saying my name, rubbing his hand down his face as if frustrated.

  I gave him an innocent smile. A total lie. “Yes?” I leaned close enough to trail the tips of my breasts against his muscled arm, my nipples hard and protruding through my thin bra.

  “You need to rest.” He wouldn’t look at me.

  “Yeah.” I brushed the thin braids over his shoulder. His hair coarse to the touch and impossibly long.

  He pushed my hand away, but his spots were so dark now they almost glowed. I knew he was enjoying my attention. His cock twitched under his loosened pants as he grew even harder.

  “Venturi? I don’t understand. Don’t you want me?”

  Chapter Four

  Wendy

  His cat slit eyes flared with such passion. He guided my hand to the erection straining his pants. “Does this seem like I don’t want you?”

  A small smile curved my mouth. “No.”

  “You were dying this morning.” He gripped the back of my neck, pulling me so close we shared air. “I almost lost you.” He choked on his words.

  My heart twisted at his emotional declaration. Really, for a big, scary alien, he was perfect. I found him attractive and loyal and funny. I’d never met anyone who made me feel more complete and safe.

  Lips pursed with determination, I gripped his cock and met his burning glare. “You’re mine. I choose you.”

  His glare softened with wonder. Then a smug smile tugged at his lips. “Of course, you do.” He loosened his hold on my neck, stroking his thumb along my jaw. “Are you truly feeling well?”

  I leaned into his hand, rubbing my cheek against his rough palm. “My headache fades with each kiss.”

  He watched me, a concerned expression on his handsome features, as if waiting for me to break.

  “Allow me to start things.” I reached behind me and undid the bra that had seen better days. It slid off my shoulders and I let it fall to the floor.

  “I imagined our first time in better surroundings.” His gaze wandered to the healer’s equipment.

  “We can go somewhere else,” I whispered, not really wanting to move and wreck the moment.

  “This is the only privacy we will be allowed. Even then, if someone is injured we will be sent out to wait with the others.”r />
  I turned his face, returning his gaze to mine. “We’ll have other nights to make it up.”

  He grinned. “Many, many nights.”

  “Then we’ll make do with what we have.” I tugged at the loose laces of his pants. The leather soft with some stretch. I brushed aside the long knife in a thigh sheath, exposing his arched cock with the flexible spur.

  I kissed the tip.

  And he covered himself, looking at me with surprise.

  “No kissing there?”

  He grinned, showing me his sharp teeth.

  I stifled a giggle and showed him my dull, human teeth. “No biting.” Not like I could do the same amount of damage that he could.

  He gave me a wary look, before removing his hand.

  “You don’t want me to kiss you here?” I stroked his cock.

  He hissed his pleasure. “I’ll admit to being curious.”

  I paused. “You mean no one’s ever given you a blowjob?” Well, the night was starting to show some serious potential. Venturi had rocked my world when he had gone down on me. I wanted desperately to return the favor. “Like this?” I pressed my lips firmly on his spur all the while keeping eye contact.

  His lips parted. “No spur before tonight.” He struggled to speak as if he didn’t want to interrupt the sensation.

  I fingered the delicate protrusion. “This is new?” He’d just grown it. I wasn’t sure how to react. That was like me growing a third tit.

  “For my mate.” He gripped my chin. “You do this to me.”

  That was so fucking hot. That I could affect him like this. I brushed my lips over his tip.

  If anything, Venturi was unresponsive and sitting stiff backed.

  I opened my mouth and traced his spur with my tongue.

  He jerked in surprise, shifting his hips but not cock-blocking me with his hand again.

  “No bite,” I whispered. “I think you’ll like this if you’ll give me a chance.”

  He took an uneasy breath.

  I tongued him again, licking his spur, tracing a vein.

  “Yes.” He let out a breath with a shudder. “I like this.”