The lights were dim when she turned over to face him. He lay on his back, his hands behind his head. He never looked her way. She wanted to bang her head in frustration, but instead she said, “You just lie there and enjoy.”
Zekke
“You just lie there and enjoy,” she said. Zekke arched an eyebrow. What was she up to?
He watched intently as she crawled over to him with a sultry smile. She bent down and nipped his chest, eliciting a passionate growl that rumbled from his chest. She grinned and then threw one leg over his chest, straddling him. He had a great view of her backside as he cupped her ass with his hands. He wondered at the odd position and was about to ask… “Ahh!” he moaned when he felt her lips encase his hard shaft. She worked her head up and down as her tongue swirled around the head. Nothing had ever felt so good. It was pleasure beyond his wildest imagination. When he finally opened his eyes, her glistening core was staring at him. He plunged one finger deep inside her moist entrance and set a pace that mimicked her mouth.
He was almost there. She sucked him hard, and he threw his head back and arched his hips. His release jetted from his shaft into her mouth. When he finished, she turned, licked her lips, and said, “You liked that, didn’t you?” Yes, he had, but he couldn’t speak. She had literally made him speechless.
He watched as she faced him. Aligning her entrance, she slid down his shaft, taking him to the hilt. The sight of them joined together was too much. He felt his second release drawing near as she started riding him like a kul. Her pace was too slow. Grabbing her hips with his hands, he pounded into her from below while his eyes darted from her bouncing breasts to the sight of them joining as he thrust with vigor. His shaft disappeared inside her moist channel.
When his eyes darted to her breasts, he held himself deep inside her as he sat up and sucked one into his mouth. His tongue swirled and nipped the pebbled peak before releasing it with a pop and then moved on to the next one.
Needing to dominate her, he quickly pulled out, flipped her over on her hands and knees, and surged inside, sheathing himself to the hilt. With one hand on her shoulder and one on her hip, he grunted with every thrust. The pace was punishing as he worked himself in and out.
“Oh, God!” she screamed, and she tightened around him. Her voice was loud enough to be heard by anyone near his quarters.
A few grunts later, he held his shaft deep inside and exploded into her.
She fell to her stomach; he fell to her side. Zekke was still enjoying the sensations when she gave him a sad smile and crawled over to the other side of the bed, presenting her back to him. What the sish just happened? It truly puzzled him. After this morning, he knew he had treated her coldly, indifferently. That’s why he was surprised to find her naked and waiting for him. And then she did that with her mouth and tongue. No wonder his brothers gave up their consorts.
As his eyes grew heavy, he made a vow that tomorrow he’d talk to her. He wasn’t ready to take a mate, but things would be different.
Chapter Nine
Ava
Ava lay with her back to Zekke. She knew what she needed to do, but her head was telling her one thing while her heart was screaming another. She had originally planned to wait until he fell asleep, zip-tie his hands to the metal headboard, and then escape. But she couldn’t do it. For one, she was terrified that he’d wake if she followed through with her original plan. And two, she couldn’t bring herself to do that to him. It would hurt his pride if one of the other males had to free him.
When his breathing changed to a slow, rhythmic lullaby, she knew it was time to go. With a heavy heart, she slowly slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the dresser. As quietly as possible, she opened the drawer. When it creaked a little, she froze. Her heart pounded with fear and excitement. What if she failed? What if she succeeded? She glanced over her shoulder, but Zekke hadn’t moved. Her face softened. He looked so peaceful when he slept. Taking a regretful breath, she turned back to the task at hand. The opulent box that held the plain knife beckoned her to it. With slight hesitation, she grabbed the box, took out the knife, and quickly placed everything back the way she’d found it.
Looking back at Zekke again to make sure he hadn’t roused, she openly admired his muscled physique. Ava had no doubt the mating fever was real; she could feel the way her body reacted to his. Her heart protested the need to escape. Tears filled her eyes, but she had to go. She couldn’t stay with any man or alien who didn’t love her. She would never be that girl.
Once she rounded the half wall and was out of sight, she donned the standard black jumpsuit and headed for the door. Relief washed through her when the door slid open.
Stepping into the corridor, Ava let out a breath. Just getting out of Zekke’s quarters unnoticed felt like victory. One more hurdle and she’d be home free.
The corridors were empty as she rounded corner after corner looking for someone, anyone who could help her, although unwillingly of course. She didn’t delude herself into believing she could walk up and ask, “Can you please take me to Earth?” Nope, not that easy. That’s why she had the knife. Not a knife—more like a ticket to freedom. When she spotted a male heading away from her, she grinned wickedly. Now was her chance.
Ava quickened her steps until she stood right behind the unsuspecting male. With a voice of icy steel, she said, “Stop!” The tip of the knife poked his side, and the male froze. With a quick move, Ava grabbed his holstered phaser, backed away, and aimed it at him. “I need you to take me to Earth. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Let’s go.” Ava followed him down one corridor after another. Even with the phaser aimed at him, she made sure to stay far enough away. No doubt he’d get the jump on her if she wasn’t smart about it.
They entered the cargo bay, the one she’d seen only upside-down while draped over Zekke’s shoulder. Standing in front of the shuttlecraft, the hatch opened, allowing them entrance. Using the phaser, she waved him in first and then followed, taking a seat behind him.
“Take me to where the commander kidnapped me. Do you know the place?”
“Yes,” he supplied, but he didn’t move. He just sat like a statue, looking straight ahead.
“What are you waiting for?” Panic was starting to set in. She couldn’t kill him, even injure him. That had never been her nature, but she had to get back to the planet. Now! In her heart, she knew this was her only chance.
“The commander will kill me,” he said.
She grimaced, hating to put him in that position, but there was no other choice. “If you won’t take me, then get out. I’ll do my best to figure it out. But one way or another, I’m leaving in this shuttlecraft.” The determination dripped from each word, leaving no doubt she wouldn’t hesitate to try.
To her utter relief, he nodded.
The ride down was quick, but the farther she traveled away from Zekke, the worse she felt. She pushed those unwanted feelings aside and tried to concentrate on her squad. They deserved to know what had happened; she owed them that. If the circumstances were reversed, she’d expect no less from her team. They were family.
When they landed, Ava put the zip ties to good use. She didn’t need him sounding the alarm. Waving him to the back of the shuttlecraft, she zip-tied his wrists to one of the seats. “Sorry about this, but I’m sure another shuttlecraft will be landing soon.”
He never responded, never struggled. She felt bad for just leaving him there, but he’d be fine, she hoped.
Darkness had descended on Earth, just as she’d thought. Looking at the moon, she knew she had several hours before sunrise. Carefully and quickly, Ava took off in search of her team.
There weren’t nearly as many Tureis, but she had to avoid the Azziarins, as well. Zekke had said they were there to help, and Ava could already see the difference, at least in her city.
It took most of the night, but she made it back to familiar territory. Instead of searching any longer for her squad, she
headed toward the bunker. She was almost there when she heard someone say her name sotto voce.
“Ava?”
She slowly turned. There stood Jamison, along with the rest of her squad. Emotion clogged her throat, and she was unable to answer. Jamison shoved his weapon to Andrews, sprinted to her, and instantly wrapped her in a huge bear hug. With her face pressed into his chest, she heaved out, “I… can’t… breathe.”
He let go but kept his hands on her shoulders. “Sorry,” he grinned. Seeing his reaction was worth the risk. Especially since Zekke didn’t want her.
The others gathered around the two of them. “Where you been, Sarge?” Haskell asked.
“It’s a long story.” As happy as she was to see them, she didn’t want to tell them about Zekke. But she didn’t really have a choice. They were already eyeing the black jumpsuit with suspicion.
“Let’s head in. It’s been a long night,” Jamison said as he took his weapon from Andrews.
As they walked into the bunker, Kim squealed, “Oh my God!” as she ran toward Ava and threw her arms around her shoulders. “Girl, I’ve been so worried about you!”
Ava grinned. What happened to the nonchalant attitude they always maintained in front of the guys? Kim had just thrown that to the wind. “I’m fine,” she said as she patted Kim’s back.
“Ava,” Jamison called, getting both girls’ attention. “I need to debrief you.”
She could see the worry etched in his face. This was why she needed to come back. Not only for Jamison, but for all of them. She knew firsthand how hard it was to always worry and wonder what had happened to someone you loved.
When the Tureis first attacked, she knew for certain that her dad had been killed. She’d searched for her mother and eventually found her broken body. She had been killed by falling rubble when the roof of their house collapsed.
She’d never found out what happened to Hayden, her boyfriend of two years, though. At one point in her life, she’d thought they would marry. After the attack, she searched endlessly until she ran out of options. There were still times she lay in bed and wondered what happened. Was he dead, or could he be alive? What if he was out there searching for her? Every night thoughts of him tormented her until she finally convinced herself he was dead.
When she’d tried to form a relationship with Jamison, she knew she was trying to fill a void that couldn’t be filled. A protective wall had formed around her heart, shielding her from the wrenching pain that had brought her to her knees.
“Ava, are you listening?”
She lifted her eyes to Jamison’s concerned ones. “Yes,” she smiled.
“Let’s go,” he said in a soft, comforting voice.
Sitting in the small office, Jamison faced her with concern. Grabbing her hands in his, he said, “God, Ava, I’ve been worried sick. What happened?”
She didn’t want to tell him… she didn’t! But she had to. They had been friends and comrades for too long. She owed him an explanation.
She pulled her hands out of his and blew out a harsh breath. “I was kidnapped by the white-haired aliens.” When his face twisted in anger, Ava said, “Just listen, Jamison.”
“Fine. Go ahead,” he said as he rocked back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“I found out that they are called Azziarins, and the ones we have been fighting are called Tureis. The Azziarins are here to help.”
Some of the anger drained from his face. “So, we were right.” He let out a long breath. “Why did they kidnap you? How did they kidnap you? We were all together, and then you were gone. What happened?”
She could see the suspicion on his face as he studied her closely, so Ava chose her words carefully, wisely. “I was in the rear. They waited for everyone to pass and then snatched me.”
“But why you?” he asked as he leaned forward.
This was the tricky part. After what Jamison had told her earlier—when he said he loved her—she just couldn’t tell him. She didn’t need him going off half-cocked, trying to pick a fight with them.
“I don’t know. Maybe because I’m the smallest of the group. Or maybe because I was convenient, since I was last.” She shrugged and threw up her hands. “Who knows?”
“And that’s all they wanted? To talk?” He cocked his head to the side and studied her.
“I guess. They gave me a translator so I can understand them. And now I’m back.” Did that sound convincing enough?
“Okay, then,” he said slowly. “It’s reassuring that they are here to help.”
“It is great news.” She gave him a big smile.
Zekke
The next morning, Zekke awoke with a grin on his face, something uncommon for him. Scenes from last night replayed in his mind. The things she did… He turned his head, only to find the other side of the bed empty. A frown replaced his smile. He slid out of bed and searched the living area and then the bathing area. His mate was nowhere to be found. Grabbing his comm unit, he called Rhett.
“Yes, Commander?”
“Have you seen my mate?” Zekke hurried to the closet and pulled out a jumpsuit.
“Ah… no, Commander.”
He dressed quickly, grabbed his portable comm unit, and headed toward the bridge. “Have the ship searched. I want her found.”
“Yes, Commander.”
He stalked past everyone until he reached the bridge. “Any luck?”
Rhett met him with a grim face. “None yet, Commander.”
As he sat in the captain’s chair, his outward appearance was cool and collected, but on the inside, his thoughts were a jumbled mess. What happened? He never heard her leave. Was she all right? Where was she?
Unable to sit and do nothing, Zekke pushed up from the chair to search for her himself. She could be hiding in a closet, maybe even the one she’d found the standard day before. He quickly left the bridge without saying a word.
He searched everywhere with no luck. With every passing minute, his mood turned more volatile.
His comm unit beeped, and Rhett’s voice came across. “Commander, the night squad has just returned, and I have information about your mate.”
“I’m on my way.”
Zekke changed directions, and when he entered the meeting room, Rhett stood at the end of the table while Laaul sat with his hands folded together.
“Tell him what you told me,” Rhett ordered.
“Commander, I was making my nightly rounds when an unknown human female slipped up behind me. She pressed the tip of a knife into my side, and took the phaser from my holster. She ordered me to take her back to Earth.”
“And you complied?” Zekke asked, a deadly chill in his tone.
“Yes.”
Zekke took a couple of deep breaths and tried to control his rage lest he tear this male apart. “The female you took to that enemy-infested planet is my mate.”
Laaul’s widened eyes met Zekke’s. “Forgive me, Commander. She said that if I didn’t take her, she’d try to make it on her own. I was afraid she’d kill herself in the process.”
Zekke made a fist and slammed it on the table and then spun around and stormed out of the room.
As the day passed, his mood darkened from volatile to deadly. The look on his face dared anyone to speak to him, unless it was about… he tightened his lips and clenched his jaw. The fact that he hadn’t even bothered to ask her name had not escaped his attention. Yesterday he’d thought nothing of it. He also realized that he treated his consorts better than he had treated her.
After third meal, Rhett caught up to him as he headed out of the dining area. Treading carefully, he said, “Commander?”
Zekke stopped mid-step and turned sharply to face a tentative Rhett.
Rhett swallowed hard and then said, “You need to see Cannin. Have him give you something to calm the mating fever.”
Zekke stared at his second in command while mentally evaluating the situation. With one quick nod, he turned swiftly and headed to medical.
> “Commander, what can I do for you?” Cannin said, smiling as he came forward, but one look at Zekke’s face changed that.
“Have a seat,” the healer said as he grabbed the handheld medi scanner. He thoroughly examined Zekke and then said with concern, “Commander, you are in full mating fever rage. I’ve never seen it, but it is not good. I’m going to give you a double dose of medication to help suppress it.” He grabbed the injector and placed it against Zekke’s neck.
“How long until it works?” Zekke growled.
“You should feel some relief soon. I have to warn you, Commander, this is not a cure—it’s a temporary fix.”
“I understand.” Zekke rubbed the injection site with his hand. He knew he was out of control; he could feel the rage burning inside him. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.”
Cannin placed the equipment back in the drawer while Zekke headed out of the medical bay. He needed a mug of Fire’s Breath while he thought of a plan. From the little he knew about his mate, she was cunning. Next time, she would not be so easy to catch.
Sitting on the couch and drinking his third mug, he felt a little more relaxed, even though information rapidly sifted through his mind. Just as he lifted the mug to his lips, he remembered something Laaul had said. Where did she get the knife? He placed the mug on the table and headed over to the drawer. He swallowed hard as dread pooled in his gut. Slowly, he reached for the handle and pulled the drawer open. The ornate box stared back at him. When he removed the lid, he saw that his most treasured possession was missing. She had stolen his prized knife! Zekke slammed his fist against the wall, leaving a dent in the metal.
Ava
Almost two weeks had passed, and Ava was a mess. Her disappearance and kidnapping had shaken things up, so the two squad leaders decided it was time for a break. A two-week vacation, they called it. Jamison had tried to talk to her about the kidnapping, but she’d given him a lame excuse. It started with, “I don’t want to talk about it,” and later became, “I don’t feel well.” Okay, that last one was the truth; she didn’t feel well. Lying to him didn’t sit well, but telling the truth would hurt him more. It was best to keep her distance.
Zekke: A Scifi Alien Romance (The Azziarin Series Book 5) Page 8
