by Gail Koger
I tapped in to it. Whoa! What a rush. It was like being hit by lightning. I fixed my attention on healing Jaylan’s ribs and smiled as they knitted together.
Without warning, an absolutely terrifying entity wrapped around my mind and sifted through my memories.
A jolt of raw fear shook me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break the connection or stop him. What kind of creepy, alien monster did I have stuck in my head?
A savagely dangerous voice asked, “Creepy, alien monster?”
I was so dead. I should have known he would be monitoring his hunter. “Are you Zarek, the all-powerful Overlord of the Coletti Clans?” Please say no. Please say no.
“I am.”
Fuck it. “If you’re going to kill me, do it, but I’m not apologizing for borrowing a smidgen of your power to keep Jaylan alive.”
“Your willingness to fight for your mate is the only reason you weren’t punished.”
“He’s not my mate,” I snapped.
“Yet you risked death to save him.”
He had me there. “Do I have your permission to put Jaylan back together?”
Zarek’s enormous power crackled through me. “You do.”
I reveled in the energy cascading through me and sent it into Jaylan’s jaw and arm. Relief flooded me as he healed perfectly. Jaylan’s life force grew stronger, but he was still unconscious. “He needs blood.”
“A Hus Ping is an acceptable donor.” Borrowing my telekinesis, Zarek dragged a huge teddy bear over to us.
I pulled the knife from my boot and sliced open the moaning bear’s arm, letting the blood run into Jaylan’s mouth. “C’mon, c’mon, that cyborg’s gonna break in.” I rubbed his throat. “C’mon, Skippy, swallow. That’s a good boy. You can do it.”
“Drink,” Zarek commanded drily.
Jaylan immediately sank his fangs into the arm and drank deeply.
Why in the hell hadn’t he done that earlier? “Please tell me the cavalry’s coming.”
“Jaylan’s warriors are dealing with a Rodan attack on the Mars outpost.”
“So we’re on our own?”
“My hunter knew the risk when he hijacked the Hus Pings’ supply shuttle to rescue you.”
“Yeah, Jaylan’s got more balls than sense.”
“Why do you try to hide what you are?”
Talk about being blindsided. How much had bigmouth told him? When in doubt, lie. “I’m not hiding anything. The fact is, I have no desire to be a broodmare or give up my humanity to become an alien freak.”
Zarek countered with a cold fury. “You little fool, did you really think I wouldn’t recognize my own kin?”
What? Every nerve in my body twanged with shock and denial. “There’s no way in hell I’m related to you.”
“Thor was my son.”
All my pent-up anger bubbled out. “Well, Gramps, your precious son turned my mother into his blood whore.”
“An unfortunate necessity.” Zarek’s tone was lethally matter-of-fact.
Pain twisted my heart. “Because he already had a mate?”
“Yes.”
“Any siblings I should know about?”
“Mera bore Thor no children.”
I took a deep breath to ease the constriction in my chest. “My sperm donor’s dirty little secret is safe with me. I want nothing to do with his family or you.”
“Colettis never abandon their children. If I had known of your existence, I would have come for you.”
“Right, because psychic females are such a valuable commodity.”
Zarek’s anger burned through my mind. “I will not apologize for doing what is necessary to save our race.”
“And you just made my point. I’m nothing to you except a broodmare you need to rebuild your empire.”
“You are your father’s daughter.” Was there was a touch of pride in his voice?
Another blow shook the door. Mog and his furry minions were getting impatient
“Place your explosive a meter from the control panel. The resulting feedback will knock out all the power in the ship,” Zarek instructed.
“Yes, sir.” Opening the heel of my boot, I took out a wad of explosives and stuck it on the wall.
The transporter room door began to glow.
The idiots were now trying to burn their way in? I quickly pushed the timer on my watch and grabbed my backpack.
Crack! The power died.
Zarek channeled energy into my mind.
An inky blackness blossomed around me. Poof! Jaylan and I had been teleported inside an old shuttlecraft that looked like it had been made from leftover parts.
“I’ve got to learn how to do that.”
“Once you’re fully Coletti, teleporting will come easily to you.”
“Gee golly, that makes me giddy with excitement.”
“Your sarcasm will not be tolerated.”
I jumped about a foot when a sharp pain zapped me in the butt. “Ouch!”
“Have I made my point?” His question was a rumbling growl.
“Yes, sir.” Colettis were sure into spankings. Rubbing my sore butt, I eyed the patched-together control panel and mismatched seats. “I’m a bit surprised this piece of junk can even fly.”
“It should be capable of getting you to the nearest habitable planet.”
“If you say so.” I patted Jaylan’s face. “Wakey, wakey.”
“You will pilot the shuttle.”
“Me?” Was Gramps nuts? “I don’t know how to fly a spaceship.”
“Take a seat, and I will show you.”
“Yes, sir.” I slid hesitantly into the pilot’s chair. This should be fun.
Zarek merged with me. Thousands of images and memories suddenly spun through my head.
“Whoa! I can’t—”
“You can and will.” Zarek grimly forced the knowledge into my mind.
A kaleidoscope of images and data slammed into my brain. Just when I thought my head would explode into a million pieces, everything abruptly clicked into place. Holy cow! I knew how to fieldstrip a laser cannon, and I could even pilot a warbird. How cool was that?
Zarek’s stern voice broke my glee. “Focus on the task at hand.”
“Yes, sir.” My fingers danced across the control panel, and the engines sputtered to life.
“The skills I have implanted are necessary to ensure your survival.”
“Why do I have the feeling you’re not telling me everything?”
“Launch the ship. Now.” Zarek’s command was edged with impatience.
I quickly touched the targeting screen. A laser bolt flashed out, destroying the landing bay doors on Mog’s ship. Time to see if this rust bucket could fly. I tapped an emblem on the control panel.
With a tremendous roar, the shuttle catapulted out of the landing bay, slamming me back against the seat. “Yee-haw!”
An endless fall of stars filled the dusty view screen. I had always wanted to go into space, just not with a couple of really cranky warlords.
“Keep up this line of thought, and you will see how cranky I can get.”
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end at the menace in Zarek’s voice. “It won’t happen again, sir.”
“Good. Input these coordinates into the navigation computer. Thirteen point twenty-five mark thirty-five.”
I did as instructed.
“Baylon is a frontier planet with only one spaceport. The inhabitants are a warlike race, and they take offense easily.”
Huh, kinda like the Colettis. I winced when he zapped me again.
“When Jaylan wakes, you will complete the mating bond.”
“No. I won’t.”
“If you wish Hank Benson to live, you will do as I command.”
I shot to my feet. “You captured Pops?”
“Wulf took him into custody.”
“If you hurt him, I will kill you.” Agony exploded in my head, dropping me to my knees.
“Do not thi
nk because you are kin, I will tolerate your threats.” Zarek’s warning held a note of chilling malevolence.
My breath coming in jagged jerks, I struggled to control the pain. “Please…don’t hurt…my father.”
“Obey me, and he lives.”
“Yes, sir. Mate. With Jaylan.” The relentless pressure vanished, and I sagged in relief.
“It’s for your own safety,” Zarek added in an almost grandfatherly tone.
“It is?”
“Every unmated warlord would hunt you. Your healing abilities are very rare and highly sought after.”
“Gotcha.”
“Do not disappoint me.”
“No, sir, wouldn’t think of it.” I let out a breath of relief when his terrifying presence vanished from my head. I never, ever wanted to do that again.
Chapter Five
I studied Jaylan’s powerful body. All those lovely muscles were a definite turn-on. His movie-star good looks didn’t hurt either. Was my attraction to him merely psychic voodoo? Maybe. I wouldn’t have any problems sleeping with him if he was human, but—and it was a very big but—my friend Darcie told me Coletti warriors didn’t have balls, and their penises were snakelike.
The crazy girl got drunk and had sex with a warrior on a dare. Darcie claimed she had twenty orgasms. Twenty in one night? I mean, c’mon, let’s get real here. She wouldn’t have been able to walk for like a week.
A shudder shook me. The idea of doing it with a snake kind of weirded me out. What if it was slimy or covered in scales? Darcie didn’t have any complaints, but she had been drunk, and the warrior could have used mind control on her.
I blew out a long breath. Who was I kidding? It didn’t matter if it was slimy or not. I had no choice. If I didn’t complete the mating bond with Jaylan, Pops died.
Maybe if I got a look at it beforehand, I wouldn’t totally freak. Yeah, right. Who was I kidding? I hated snakes.
I knelt beside Jaylan and gave him a good shake. “You awake?” When he didn’t respond, I peeled back an eyelid. “Honey bunny? You in there?” Nope. Dead to the world.
My hands were shaking so badly I had a hard time releasing his weapons belt and the seal on his battle suit.
Jaylan twitched.
“Shit!” I froze.
He began to snore. Loudly. A little too loudly.
He’d better not be playing possum. I scanned Jaylan’s mind and rolled my eyes in disgust. His dreams were full of all the naked women he had fucked. Quite energetically and often.
The urge to smack the living hell out of the man-whore was almost overwhelming. But if I did, he’d wake up. That I didn’t want. Time to get down to business. I eased his suit open and snorted. What a surprise. He went commando.
A big hand cupped my crotch, and my inner muscles quivered in anticipation.
Pushing Jaylan’s hand away, I carefully scanned him again and shook my head in disbelief. He was asleep, for God’s sake. How could he wreak havoc on my senses with a single touch? Was I that far gone?
If I was going to do the nasty with him, I needed to suck it up and look at his man parts. I opened his battle suit wider and gawked.
No pubic hair.
No sign of a penis.
I felt between his legs. I’ll be damned, Darcie was right. No balls. Weird. Where the hell was it?
Colettis peed like the rest of us. It had to be here. I stroked his flat, nicely muscled abdomen and felt a ridge. Gotcha! I pressed on it, and a slit opened.
The warlord shifted restlessly.
“Shhhh.” I quickly petted his chest. “It’s okay.”
“Need,” Jaylan grumbled.
“More blood?” I put my wrist to his mouth. “Here ya go.” When he didn’t bite, I asked, “Are you thirsty?”
His reply was a faint whisper. “Yes.”
I hopped up, grabbed my backpack, and pulled out a bottle of water. Twisting the cap off, I squatted down and poured a trickle into his mouth.
Jaylan swallowed obediently. His hand flopped between my legs. A long finger pressed against my clit.
I moved it away. “Give me a fucking break.”
Mumbling something unintelligible, Jaylan went back to sleep. His snoring increased in volume.
If I were a suspicious woman, I’d think I was being played. Couldn’t hurt to wait a few minutes to be sure, and if he didn’t come around, I could safely continue my exploration.
I finished off the bottle of water and surveyed Jaylan’s bloody face. Man, was he a mess. Since numb nuts had risked his life for me, the least I could do was clean him up.
Where had I put those disinfectant wipes? Oh yeah, right side pocket. I fished them out and carefully washed the blood off his face.
Much better and, to my relief, no scarring. I ran my thumb over his jaw. How would his lips feel on mine? With all the women he had boinked, he should be an expert at kissing.
I opened Jaylan’s mouth and examined his fangs. Those puppies were sharp. Kissing him might turn into a blood sport. I definitely wasn’t sticking my tongue in there.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of movement. I turned and fell on my ass in surprise.
Holy Mary, Mother of God! There it was, sliding out of the slit. His penis was snakelike, all right, but Darcie had left out the part about the frill of tentacles that waved merrily at the top of his dick.
Tentacles, for Christ’s sake.
Jaylan rolled on his side, trapping my left leg under his body.
“Crap.” I tugged and tugged, but I couldn’t move three hundred pounds of pure muscle. “Get off me, you big ox.”
His snake shot up my left leg like a homing pigeon.
If it thought home was my pussy, it could think again. I pointed my finger at it. “No! Sit! Stay.”
To my utter surprise, the snake stopped. The inch-long, copper-colored tentacles undulated against my jeans. Horny little dudes.
My eyes widened in horror when the snake started growing in size. I shot Jaylan a wary look. Was this his morning woody?
The tentacles vibrated wildly.
Whoa! It kinda reminded me of one of those supersize sex toys. Bet it could get the job done and then some. I fanned my face. Was it getting hot in here?
The snake penis thingy shot out and grabbed the crotch of my jeans.
“Hey! Let go.”
It flexed, and the tentacles pulsated against my pussy. My inner muscles clenched and throbbed. “Wowzers. That’s…incredible.” The sensation grew stronger and stronger until I could feel myself getting wet. A gasp broke from me as the pressure built.
Who needed sex toys? Another pulse, and a vortex of pleasure exploded inside me. “God almighty. Whooee! You little guys can rock my world anytime.” A shiver shook me as they pulsed again. It was almost like they knew what I was saying. Nah.
Very cautiously, I reached down and wrapped a hand around Jaylan’s penis. It was velvety to touch, but I could feel a steellike hardness beneath the skin. I stroked it soothingly. “You’re definitely a keeper. Too bad you’re attached to fang boy.”
Jaylan’s body trembled, and with a moan, he rolled on his back.
Great. I was getting him off.
A tentacle slid sinuously against my hand. Up. Down. Up. Down.
Heat coiled in my belly. It was like the tentacle was stroking my clit. I sucked in a shuddering breath. The sensation was unbelievably hot. An aching need roared to life. I wanted it inside me. Now. Right now.
I pulled off my shirt and unzipped my jeans. Wait a minute. What the hell was I thinking? I knew I had to mate with him, but I wasn’t about to let the warlord and his magic wand turn me into a nymphomaniac. Getting on my knees, I adjusted my grip and gave his penis a firm yank. “Let go.”
It yanked back, sending me sprawling on top of Jaylan. That was when I realized it was trying to get into my pants. I had heard the mating drive for Colettis was strong, but seriously?
“Jaylan! Wake up, dammit.”
H
e nuzzled my neck. “Mine.”
“You’re gonna need a penis transplant if you don’t make your little buddy stop.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
One look at his wicked grin, and my hand curled into a fist. “You bastard. You’ve been playing me.”
“Just a bit.”
I swung at him.
Jaylan caught my hand easily and twisted it behind my back. “My turn.” His mouth closed over mine.
Every nerve in my body did the tango. Lordy, could he kiss. I stiffened when he pulled my jeans and panties down around my knees. “Hey! I didn’t—”
The snake shot home. The shock of that powerful invasion made me cry out. The tentacles vibrated wildly, and my eyes rolled back in my head. It felt so damned good.
“Like that, do you?” Jaylan purred in satisfaction.
“It’s…okay.” Really. Really okay.
“Just okay?” Jaylan flipped me on my back. “Let me see if I can do better.” He removed my bra and brushed his thumb over my nipples.
My body trembled with hunger.
“I love the way you respond to me.” Jaylan quickly pulled off my boots and jeans.
Dozens of phantom hands caressed every inch of my body, sending quivers of heat streaking through me. A phantom mouth closed over each breast and sucked them until I thought my senses would implode. Psychic sex was utterly mind-blowing, and my warlord played me like the expert he was. “Stop!”
“Every inch of you will know my possession.” Jaylan’s incredibly long dick seesawed against my clit as he thrust into me.
My body caught fire. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. He was without mercy as the pulsating tentacles drove me over the edge again and again and again. Limp, boneless, and sated, I sagged against the cold metal floor.
Jaylan’s big body convulsed violently, and his hot semen spilled into me.
My coital bliss turned to horror. “Are you messing with my DNA?”
“The sooner you are converted, the better.”
“Get off me.”
“Once you are converted, you will be stronger and harder to kill.”
“Whoop-de-fucking-do. Get off me!”
The warlord bared his teeth in a predator’s smile. “Not until you surrender.”
“Never gonna happen.”
“Are you so sure? I can be very persuasive.” His tentacles flexed rapidly, electrifying my womb. They vibrated faster and faster.
