Nikol dropped his arms to his side and faced his father’s men. He’d brought ten on what should have been a simple sale. His father cancelled at the last minute and sent Nikol in his stead despite knowing Nikol had other matters to attend to. But one didn’t tell Lothar no without consequences.
“Niko?”
Unable to react the way he truly wanted and cheer for the Jutaks escaping with a million credits worth of sex profits, Nikol punched the guard. “I’ve told you to call me Nikol.”
The guard eyed Nikol in fear as he climbed to his feet. He refused to respond to the name his father insisted on forcing on him. “We leave. Kill anyone who gets in our way.”
And with that order, another bit of his heart shriveled and died. Soon there’d be nothing left except for the small corner space he guarded zealously. A small untouched piece of his heart reserved for a baby who once had gone by the name of Hatar and now lived as a formidable opponent.
“Let’s go,” Nikol snapped and grabbed up a sniper laser to blast their way through the coming army.
Chapter 30
Joni stared at the outline of his body in the dark. She could make out his bare chest. The sheet covered his lower half. He had one hand beneath his head and the other bent at the waist before disappearing beneath the edge of the sheet.
Joni bit her lip as she contemplated the overwhelming thought running loose in her head. Giving into the urge, she tugged at the covers baring him to mid-thigh. She muffled her gasp. His hand wasn’t just under the sheet it was under the band of the sleep pants he wore. The thick arousal twitched beneath the cotton.
She peeked at his face. Dark lashes fanned his upper cheeks, lips pursed as his breath came steadily. She stared back at that wicked hand. He slept holding his shaft. She could make out his fingers curled around the massive length. Desire pooled between her own legs. Her lower region tightened with thoughts of him filling her. Driving into her wet depths and stroking her to an explosive release.
Joni traced her fingers over the splendid manhood stiffening right before her eyes. His shaft twitched again as her knuckles brushed along the length.
“Staring makes it harder.”
Joni cried out but Kyele rolled toward her and pinned her to the mattress. Every inch of him covered her and the delicious weight of his cock pulsed against the spot that readied itself for him. Desire roared to the forefront. It throbbed begging for release. For his deep penetration.
Kyele opened his eyes. “What are you doing?”
She laughed. He’d been gone all day and fell into an exhausted sleep the moment the team returned. “What do you think?”
“I think you want to play, little Earthling.”
Joni reached down and cupped the weight of him. Kyele groaned and Joni used the opportunity to shove his pants down and out of her way as she pushed his chest hard. She wasn’t strong enough to move him but appreciated when he fell backward and kicked off the pants completely.
“You’ve played with me and been in charge each time we’re together. Now it’s my turn.” Joni sat up in the bed, ignoring the sheet as it slivered to her waist. Green eyes followed the motion. “Prepare yourself for all that is the beauty of Joni.”
The side of his mouth quirked up. “Am I to be afraid of you, Earthling?”
Joni didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Kyele reared up, forcing her to fall back against the bed as he resumed the dominant position atop her. “What are you going to do to me, Joni Miller?”
She clenched her internal muscles at the deep growl of his voice. His intimidating façade was just that. She leaned up as much as he would allow until their foreheads bumped. “I’m going to sex you up.”
He laughed, his eyes lightening in a way she’d never seen. “Explain sex you up.”
The demand came with the caress of his fingers along her cheek. Joni relaxed and pumped her hips upward. He gave a full body shiver but didn’t move.
She loved this side to him. He was open to letting her play and do what she wanted because he trusted her not to hurt him. His history with the opposite sex led him to consider women a threat but with Joni he let down his guard and it made her love him all the more.
“I’m going to make mad love to you then fuck you hard and when I’m done, you’re going to fall asleep with my name on your lips.”
Kyele brushed his mouth on hers. Softly. Slowly. “Sex me up then. I’m all yours.”
“Are you?”
He attempted to pull away but Joni locked her legs about his waist. “Don’t move, buddy. I’m about to give you some Earth-style loving.”
Kyele rolled them over. The crest of his manhood teasing her entrance. “How about I give you an Enotian-style fuck.”
It wasn’t a question. Joni gasped as he pumped deep, penetrating her in one thrust. When she met his gaze, possession simmered in Kyele eyes. “No turning back, Joni.”
She smirked. “No turning back for you either, Kyele. You’re mine.”
Something in what she said lit his fuse and she wasn’t capable of coherent thought for the rest of the night.
***
The buzz of the communicator woke him. When he registered the time, Kyele jumped up to answer. He sat on the side of the bed and rubbed his hand over his head. “Kyele.”
“Torkel is expecting you. Is there a problem?” Jaron said.
Shock left him immobile. He’d overslept. Torkel wanted everyone present to discuss the situation with Lothar and the events of the mission from the night before. They’d agreed the night before to hold off until morning. Not once had Kyele missed an appointment with the ruthless schedule he maintained.
“On my way in five.” Kyele disconnected and hurried through his shower.
He dressed by habit, noting Joni’s absence. While it disappointed him not to wake with her by his side, he wasn’t concerned. Since asking him to be her Chosen, Joni stayed with him and stated she’d give up her place in the city. His relief at having her with him forever knew no bounds.
Locking down his room, he took to his mist form and raced through the stairway. He opened the door to join the meeting and everyone turned at his entrance. He was the last to arrive. Jaron’s snicker started it and soon all of the men he worked with smiled or muffled chuckles.
Torkel bit his inner cheek. “Thank you for joining us, Kyele.”
His face burned and it took a second to realize he was embarrassed. Arak laughed the loudest resulting in Kyele’s knife skimming his cheek by inches. Only the shifters reflexes kept him from sustaining an injury.
Once they settled, Torkel highlighted the raid on the auction and the slaves they’d rescued. The government would help in returning them to their homes. “While our intel can never be guaranteed, I’m concerned about Lothar’s failure to show.”
“I believe he spreads the details about his appearances in multiple places. The thought behind it is smart because one can never guess he’ll actually show. It keeps the people working for him under rigid control and a constant state of preparedness yet allows him to evade law enforcement.”
They looked to Vee. His supposition had merit.
“That is sound reasoning. Last night was not a total loss due to the lives we saved. If we have to, we will continue to take apart his business, small pieces at a time. Other Jutaks Units are working toward the same goal. Let’s move to the next piece of business. Joni was drugged with a hallucinogenic in an effort to have her attack and kill one of us. She wasn’t necessarily the target and from the information gathered the side benefit of taking a Chosen was also in the plan.”
Kyele obsessed about making the last man pay for what happened to Joni. He realized he didn’t have to do it alone. His fellow Jutaks would help and accepting that Kyele could relinquish the last detail he hadn’t had a chance to disclose. “Arlo was involved in the attack here.”
“Are you certain?” Jaron began tapping on his portable data pad with the new information.
“Very cert
ain.” Torg wouldn’t have lied while Kyele carved sections of skin from his body. He’d needed a medic and specialized care when Kyele was done.
Torkel placed his forearms on the table. “I’m sure Kyele’s information is good.”
Rydak shifted in his seat. “I suggest we focus our attention on apprehending Arlo if possible.”
And with those words, Kyele released a soft exhale. Confidence soared. Perhaps not today. Or tomorrow. But catching Arlo would lead to catching The Collector and Kyele could avenge Joni by ending the man who’d tortured her the worst. His Unit would see to it.
Torkel stood. “We will stay on alert at all times. Are there any questions?”
No one answered.
“Then we are done.”
Everyone filed out and Kyele waited until Torkel reached the door. “I won’t be late again.”
Torkel grinned. “I have a Chosen. It is hard to leave her. I’m glad you and Joni are together.”
Kyele would have to become comfortable with the idea. At times it seemed too good. “Thank you, Torkel. For your guidance and support.”
Torkel knew what it was like to feel unwanted. They were about to part ways, Kyele eager to search for Joni, when Shaya Alonson exited the elevator. Her eyes brightened but she didn’t head for her son. She closed in on Kyele and his Unit Leader abandoned him by getting on the elevator she’d exited before the door closed.
“Kyele, I came to see you.”
Swallowing, he remained still as she hugged him. Torkel’s maman treated the Jutaks as if they were her children as well.
“I wanted to let you know Marlin and I will be at the presentation to support you. Lissi and the kids as well.”
Kyele’s eyes widened. Torkel’s sister was a menace. The only reason no one denied her anything she asked was because they were scared of Rydak and of course her brother would rip apart anyone who upset the blond beauty.
“That’s not necessary, Shaya.”
Warmth entered her smile. Torkel’s maman ignored him. “Torkel said you’d refuse. I brought you something I thought you’d appreciate.”
He accepted the brown package she pulled from a bag over her shoulder. Not having a maman made her attentions uncomfortable.
“Open it.” She clasped her hands together and waited.
Kyele fingered the brown wrapping then tore into it and gaped. Black leather filled his hands. He smoothed his fingers over it hesitantly, bumping the side clasps. When his vision cleared he staggered back. “I can’t accept this.”
The large square cut green stones were worth a fortune and she’d used them as the basis for the clasp on the loitte. A loitte she’d clearly made for his presentation. Kyele swallowed past the thickness in his throat. No one had ever done anything like this for him.
“Of course you can accept. Every male should receive a loitte from a loving female in his family. I consider you family. All of you Jutaks are family. To refuse is to insult me.”
Which would send her Chosen and Torkel after him for the offense.
“Thank you,” he managed.
Her blue eyes crinkled. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter 31
The sun’s rays heated Kyele’s oil-slicked body, creating a sheen over his glistening muscles. His bare torso drew Joni’s gaze and the knee- length leather kilt he wore dropped her stomach to her feet. He spread his legs in a wide stance, arms folded arrogantly over his chest. Corded thighs led to his calves and bare feet. The women around her cheered as they raced past the curtain, kicking up the sand covering the ground of the giant arena.
Awe held her frozen at the entrance to the arena while she absorbed the sounds of the roaring crowd and the sight of dozens of men waiting to be chosen. Faye and Lissi tried to warn her but nothing compared to the reality of the moment.
“You should hurry before someone takes a male you have your eye on,” The man who’d given instructions on the process said.
Joni held up the Chosen medallion that she needed to present to Kyele. “I’m not worried about that.”
Proving her words true, the women dressed in the heavy brown hooded cloaks similar to hers took a wide path around Kyele. It would have been funny if she didn’t know how much it hurt him to stand and be judged by the people of his adopted home world. When she’d asked him to be her Chosen, she didn’t realize how hard it would be for him to accept. Not because he doubted her love but because he knew none of the females attending the presentation would choose him.
Yet he stood proudly among his peers, trusting Joni. His courage astounded her. She walked forward, her bare feet scuffling sand in her wake. Attendees were not allowed to wear shoes on the grounds and she winced as grains squeezed between her toes.
As she got closer, the subtle tension in his shoulders loosened. His green eyes began to glow and a fine mist swirled in his pupils. Joni tugged the hood down about her shoulders and held up the chain and medallion. “I choose you, Kyele Bastien.”
He didn’t return her smile. He bent forward and lowered his neck within reach. It was important for participants not to speak until the selections were made. Joni found it ridiculous to be honest but she didn’t hesitate to place the medallion over his neck, her fingers fussing with it the chain to disguise her caressing his chest.
Kyele lifted his head. Joni almost stepped back from the love blazing at her.
“Kyele Bastien, present.”
Joni jolted at the loud voice. Kyele steadied her with a hand at her lower back. She wanted to feel him skin to skin. She couldn’t wait to get rid of the scratchy robe and show him what she wore underneath.
The three members of the Commissioning body stared at them. For the first time, Joni felt a spurt of fear. What if she’d done something wrong? Faye warned they could deny her if she and Kyele messed up then they’d have to wait until the next presentation to claim one another. Joni never wanted to subject him to this again.
“Kyele, you have been Chosen. Present her.”
***
Kyele wanted to grab Joni and run. She was almost his. He reached for her hand and lifted his arm in the air. Conra, the head of the Commission nodded.
“Joni Miller has Chosen.” His throat locked. His gaze jerked unerringly to the line of men waiting outside the waist high barrier. His Unit, every member, dressed in the formal white of their Jutak uniforms. Kyele took a deep breath and let it out. When he faced Conra once more, his voice rang clear, “Kyele Bastien has accepted.”
Conra smiled and walked past them to the next couple.
Kyele shuddered and tightened his grip on Joni’s fingers.
“Congratulations, Kyele.” Merlyn nodded as she and Naine, the last member of the Commissioning body, strode by.
Kyele hurried Joni to the sidelines. Faye, Lissi and Sylvie surrounded Joni as they hugged her but she never let go of Kyele’s hand. For that he was grateful.
Torkel wrapped an arm around his shoulder and whispered in his ear, “We deserve love, too.”
As Joni talked animatedly with her friends, her gaze checking on him every few seconds, Kyele believed him.
Epilogue
Months later
Kyele should never have listened to Joni and stopped taking the birth control shots Dr. Maku dispensed to all of them. It was hard denying his Chosen anything she wanted much to the amusement of his fellow Jutaks. She wanted children and wanted them born close to her friends who were already pregnant. With reluctance, Kyele gave in.
Watching the three women from Earth interact during each stage of the pregnancy had caused panic, laughter and fear among them. Torkel suffered the most as Faye didn’t agree with him following her everywhere including the bathroom. Their child had been born last month. Sylvie complained about the ease of Faye’s birth until her child entered the world. With Arak there to influence the baby to shift and maintain its human form, she too, came through with little difficulty.
Kyele envied them. Nothing about Joni’s delivery went right and
now he wished he could turn back time and refuse her this one request.
“Don’t die little one. She needs you.” He swallowed. “I need you.”
Kyele had done many things in his adult life with little remorse. He’d killed and served Jutak justice without hesitation but nothing was as hard as staring at his own son in this clear box, struggling to hold on to his physical form. Dr. Maku insisted on the medical unit designed for a young child.
One moment his pink arms waved in the air and the next, he was a ball of coiled smoke. Back and forth, back and forth, each shift ending in weak cries and clearly leaving him tired. His pink skin now took on a pale cast.
Maku came into the medic center and checked the readings with his scanner. Kyele cleared his throat. “How are they?”
Maku gaze softened. “I’m sorry.
Kyele froze. “Sorry?”
“A day maybe two. For both of them. Their conditions have steadily declined and nothing I’ve tried has worked.”
It was as if someone had sucked all the air from the room. Heart racing, Kyele clumsily rose to his feet. “What do you mean?”
“Kyele,” Maku said slowly and clearly. “They are dying.”
“No!”
Rage lashed out. Fear and pain collided. Kyele lost his physical form and filled the medical center with a swirling mass of fury that knocked over containers and tore objects from the shelves. Chairs overturned and a table slammed into the wall splintering into pieces.
Dr. Maku hunched down into a corner as the Jutak warrior expended his anger. He glanced at his patients both mother and child, strangely undisturbed or unharmed by the turbulence that filled the room. The storm lasted minutes. Minutes in which the man who never lost his calm vented his anger and pain. When Kyele at last resumed his physical shell, his eyes were red rimmed, his chest heaved in short exhales.
“I won’t lose them, Maku. I’ve lost everyone who has ever loved me. I won’t lose my son and the only woman who made my heart beat again.”
Kyele's Passion: A World Beyond Book 4 Page 22
