JoAquin_An Alien Abduction Paranormal Romance

by Charmaine Ross

  This time he did laugh, a loud, heartfelt sound he never knew he had in him. “You’re worried about how I feel about this?”

  A silly smile shaped her mouth. “I just want to make sure.” She moved up and down again. His rigid shaft nearly finding its way into her entrance.

  “It’s too soon for that, and I want to explore.” With his hands on either side of her waist, he easily lifted her and positioned her exactly where he wanted her.

  He sucked one full globe into his mouth, teasing the rigid nipple with his tongue while sucking the soft tissue. She laid her hands on his shoulders and arched her back, offering herself to him.

  This was how he wanted her. This was how he needed her. Soft. Plaint. Giving of herself so that he would worship her the way she always should have been worshipped. Even though she’d just told him she’d been married, he had the subtle feeling that this magnitude of desire–the same magnitude he too felt–was completely new to her, as well.

  He let one breast go and traced a line across her chest with the tip of his tongue to her other breast, taking that into his mouth and laving it with the same attention. Her breathing was becoming heavy, her hips rubbing against his abdomen.

  “Enough exploring. I want you. Now.” Her voice was ragged. Needy. She wasn’t going to wait.

  And neither was he.

  He lowered her straight onto his shaft. She sank down and tossed her head back. He laved her open neck with the flat of his tongue, lifted her a little and withdrew, before plummeting her down onto his length.

  She groaned. He worked in and out. Again, and again. Her eyes fell closed and she panted as she rode him, lost in the intimate sensation. Sweet bliss built and as she screamed, he erupted into pure golden sensation.

  She trembled, her body softening and he draped her over his chest and shoulders. Still connected, he walked them from the water and laid her down on a bed of soft leaves. She looked up at him, that look he’d wanted to see in the cave now on her face.

  She smiled lazily up at him. ‘Wow. Just…wow.”

  “And we’ve only just begun,” he said.

  “We have?” He voice was thick as she moved around his still hard shaft.

  “Oh yes. I’ve waited too long and have too many ways I want to explore you to finish now.”

  He smiled at her disappointed sound as he withdrew, then as her voice hitched as he kissed his way down her body. “Oh. OK then.”

  This would be the last and only time he’d make love to her, and he wanted to get a lifetime’s worth in a few hours. Tomorrow, he would do his best to make sure this woman would live. He owed her so much. For making him whole. For allowing him forgiveness. For accepting him as a man, not as a Commander. For being her choice. He was honoured.

  Then she opened her thighs, and he licked her where his shaft had just been, and he purposely shoved all thoughts out of his head. Tonight was hers, and he would provide her all of the distraction she needed and love she deserved.

  20

  H eart pounding, Lauren peeked out between the shelter of leaves lightly moving in a breeze. Any other time, she would have loved to stroll the streets and explore this totally new, totally alien city.

  Any other time.

  Instead, she looked and waited and took it all in from behind a flimsy screen of safety. One gust of breeze and they would be discovered. A hand squeezed her shoulder. Warm breath caressed her neck. “Stay down Lauren.”

  She hunched closer to the ground. Jo’Aquin curved over her, protecting her with his body. He was tense, his gaze zeroed over her head at the city below, but his hands on her were gentle. Those same hands that had driven her to orgasm time after time. He was fit, or Hexonian men had stamina that entirely surpassed Earth men.

  She was delightfully tender, but in a good way. That was what she’d concentrated on when she’d woken to his kiss as the sun rose, and then when they’d travelled the distance to the city, and now as she overlooked the outskirts. That was what she wanted her last thoughts to be of as her life ended.

  Jo’Aquin was an overbearing, type A alpha, but she’d never felt so protected. Safe. He’d shelter her without hesitation and put himself in danger first if she was in trouble. It was just who he was. Right down to the constant fluttering in the pit of her belly. She never thought she’d like the caveman type, but surprisingly she did. Very much.

  He dominated but didn’t stifle. She was taken into consideration with his every action. She was his top priority. On the one hand, she was terrified, on the other, she felt…cherished. He took her to a place of uncharted territory. In all of her mature life, she’d never experienced anything like him.

  Of course, she wouldn’t though, would she? He wasn’t human. It had taken her abduction to find a love she thought was only accessible in romance novels.

  Love! God. She was in love with him!

  She stilled, barely feeling the breeze ruffling her hair. Was that the description for that light feeling that was fluttering around inside her? The one that made her like herself. That made her feel as though she was walking on air. That made her look forward to the future.

  Her gut plummeted, and stark reality doused all of those special emotions away. There was no future. There were only the next few hours. She drew in a deep, long breath, fighting to keep the tears back.

  Jo’Aquin ducked his head, pressing his lips to her ear. “Lauren. What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing. Just something in my eye.” It gave her the chance to flick the tear that managed to leak. But he noticed everything.

  “Lauren.” He growled and her skin puckered in response. Just that sexy growl was enough to make her want to shed her clothes and slide her body over his bare skin.

  Instead, she pressed her pointer finger to her mouth and then gestured to the city and forced her attention back to the scene before her. She gritted her teeth. She had to keep her mind on what she was here to do, and that was ultimately to save people, not think about all the things she was going to miss now she’d given her heart.

  It had happened. It was painful, but painful she could do. She’d done it most of her life.

  She blinked, focusing on the streets before her. The city was breathtaking but didn’t look like a city at all. Lauren shouldn’t be surprised that the trees had been used and remodelled as natural ‘buildings.’ It resembled the leaf-igloo village, but on a much larger scale. Bursts of colour splashed from the ground and up the lengths of massive trees, similar in size of the main tree that was used for the village. However, each tree in the city was that size or larger, and spread for as far and as high as she could see.

  The ground between the trees had been beaten into a hard, compact dirt road system that wound organically around the bases of the massive trees. It would have been astounding to explore how these people lived so harmoniously with nature. They’d built a complete city without cutting down a single tree. It might have seemed primitive, waking up to living this way, but form what she saw now, it was so technologically advanced that everything had a chance to flourish on Florn. Everyone and everything lived in harmony.

  However, the city now was utterly silent. Although people wandered the streets here and there, they didn’t speak. Didn’t interact. Didn’t even look at each other. Living zombies. Husks.

  Lauren smothered a cry when a child, no more than four or five years old, walked down the road, a load of food in her arms. She walked mechanically, one little foot in front of the other. Dirt caked her face, her arms, and legs. Her feet were black with grime. Her hair was greasy and limp. Her clothing did little to hide her thin limbs.

  A group of Reptiles sauntered around a trunk and stopped right in the path of the girl. She stopped, robot-like, not looking up, just waiting. The Reptiles spoke to each other in their strange clicks and slithering sounds. Lauren shivered, the ugly sounds sending her to a dark mental place.

  One of the Reptiles poked the girl with the end of a short stick he tugged from a hol
ster around his waist. The little girl stumbled back a couple of steps. Lauren stiffened. Jo’Aquin’s hand wrapped around her wrist. She moved to stand, the instinct to protect the child overwhelming. His arm tightened, stopping her.

  His look was dark, and he shook his head. Not helping the little girl went against her natural instincts, his instincts also, but they had to remain hidden. No matter what happened. Her hands curled into fists, and her nails left marks in her palms.

  The Reptile that poked the girl made a noise that sounded like a wet, slurping sound which was joined by others making the same sound. That must be their laughter. It was as disgusting as they were. The child remained motionless, and the Reptile flicked her dank strands off her neck.

  Another Reptile strode down the street. The group stood to attention, the one holding the stick tried to replace it in his holster, but it clattered to the ground. The lone Reptile must be some sort of leader. It aimed a barrage of clacks and slithers at the group, indicating the child and the stick, leaving no doubt in Lauren’s mind they were doing something illegal.

  The Reptile bent to pick up the stick and shoved it back into his holster. At an angry bark, the group trotted past the child and down the road. The Reptile in charge didn’t give the child another look and continued on his way. The child continued walking as though nothing had happened. How many times had a child on this planet been abused and not seen, not known about? A silent victim. How many mothers and fathers had lost their children? Forgotten them to the Reptiles. The thought was sickening.

  Lauren sunk to her hands and knees. Jo’Aquin wrapped his arm about her shoulders and pressed her into the warmth of his body. His masculine scent wrapped around her, comforting her. His shirt was wet. She wiped her cheeks, not realising she was crying.

  She looked up at him. Saw the tight look on his face. The muscle worked at his temple, something he did when he was tense. She knew what it was now. Knew he wanted to run down there and kill every Reptile he saw on the spot. Wanted to go and take that little girl and make her safe. Wanted to save every person on this planet, and every other planet where the Reptiles had invaded. Wanted to do the impossible and rescue his little sister through saving anyone and everyone.

  She clenched her teeth as a hot sob burst up her throat, ruthlessly shoving it back down the deep emotional well it came from, and she knew with undeniable certainty that this invasion needed to stop. Considering this child and all of the other children on this planet, her death wasn’t such a big issue.

  There was a tap on her shoulder, and she turned to see the line of men disappearing through the trees towards the city. After a last look at Jo’Aquin, she followed, crouching through the foliage. Because the city was so silent, she made sure not to make any sound that could alert the Reptiles to them.

  They moved in a line, stopping, hiding, waiting for the go-ahead from scouts sent ahead. She stopped, her back hugging the enormous trunk behind her, Jo’Aquin next to her. He positioned his large body so close she felt his body heat through her clothing. He was close, always attentive, protecting her. They all were. Her blood was invaluable, after all.

  People drifted past as though they weren’t even there. Their dead eyes creeped her out. All of them were ill kept, their clothing scraps of material, stinking and probably starving. Looking at how emaciated they were, now she was up close and personal, she didn’t know how they still stood with so little muscle on their bones. Obviously, mind-slaves didn’t get to bathe or eat.

  She stumbled and glanced at what made her trip. Something soft and twisted peeped from beneath a bush. Frowning, she looked closer. Couldn’t make sense of what she saw. A misshapen thing, the look, and feel of mottled cheese.

  Then, in a horrifying rush, it came to her. She jerked to a stop, her breath unintentionally drawing in. Rushing out. A high pitched sound came out of her mouth, echoing down the silent street.

  A foot! It was a little foot. The leaves of the shrub didn’t completely hide the still huddle of mottled skin and torn clothing. Another child. Dead. Discarded like rubbish.

  Jo’Aquin clasped his hand over her mouth, but it was too late. She’d already cried out. Beside her, the men tensed.

  She wanted to tell them she was sorry, that she hadn’t meant to make a sound, but it was too late. There was a gurgled chuff, and several Reptiles rounded a close by tree. A shout from one of them brought others. They were surrounded and being closed in on from all sides fast.

  “Jo’Aquin. You and I will take Lauren into the Centre. Everyone else clear our path and fight. We only have one chance at this, so do your worst,” MalCom yelled.

  A steel-like grip wrapped around her wrist and she stumbled behind Jo’Aquin. A Reptile uttered a disgusting slurping clattering sound and charged straight at them. Jo’Aquin raised a thick branch he’d fashioned into a club and slammed it into the side of the Reptile’s head without breaking stride.

  The creature stumbled back, shaking its head, dazed. Jo’Aquin swivelled on the ball of his foot and slapped the heel of his boot into the other side of its head. It crumpled to the ground, a green fluid leaking from its nostrils. If she could have done something like that, she’d gladly wear steel-capped boots for the rest of her life.

  A jerk of her arm and she bolted after Jo’Aquin. His grip was like a vice, but it was the only thing that enabled her to keep a swift pace. MalCom led them through a warren of streets, setting the brutal pace.

  As fast as they ran, the Reptiles kept coming at them from all angles. They dodged past dirty zombies, around bushes and trunks, winding through the maze of trees until Lauren was thoroughly lost.

  They followed MalCom. He paused at a random tree. There was an opening in the smooth trunk. He ducked inside. Lauren and Jo’Aquin quickly followed. MalCom swiped a curtain closed over the entrance. Jo’Aquin shoved her against the wall, pressed between his large body on one side and MalCom on the other. She gladly sank against the smooth bark inside the hollow of the tree, dragging in breaths, heart pounding.

  All of them remained silent. She tensed as clacks, and pounding footfalls passed their hiding spot.

  “They have passed,” MalCom said.

  “Thank God,” Lauren whispered, closing her eyes and tipping her head back onto the wood behind her. She swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make that sound. I just saw…I saw…”

  “I saw it also, Lauren,” Jo’Aquin said, his voice low and sad. “We all did.”

  “They work our bodies until we can’t work any longer. The children suffer. They can’t keep up the brutal pace. They die and they are just discarded like refuse,” MalCom said.

  If ever Lauren needed another reason to end this, she now had it. She squeezed MalCom’s arm in sympathy. No-one on any planet should be treated like that. Especially not innocent children.

  “Come, there is a tunnel that leads into the Centre from this house. We will take that,” MalCom said.

  They were in a house? Lauren peered around, surprised to see she was in a living room. There were chairs, a low table, cabinets and a tall bookcase filled with neat rows of books.

  Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust and looked long neglected. Another layer of sadness washed through her. She didn’t think housekeeping was up there in importance with being a mind-slave.

  MalCom hooked his fingers on the back of the bookcase and tugged. The case swung open, revealing the dark opening of a tunnel.

  “How did you know that was here?” she asked.

  MalCom didn’t answer, just took one long look around him as though soaking everything in. Profound sadness was etched onto his face. His eyes darted around every inch of the space like he knew it intimately. Then she realised. He did know this space intimately.

  She placed her hand on his shoulder. “This was your home, wasn’t it?”

  MalCom clenched his lips into a tight line. “It has been a long time since I’ve been here. I didn’t think coming back here would be so…painful.”<
br />
  She hugged him in, hopefully, a fashion he found comforting. She knew it was on Earth. But they weren’t on Earth, and he wasn’t human, but it was the only thing she could do. “I’m so sorry, MalCom.”

  He nodded and drew a deep breath in before turning back to the tunnel. “Today we give everyone back their lives. And their homes.”

  “And their children,” Lauren said.

  “And their children. Especially their children.” MalCom turned a pain-filled expression to her before disappearing back into the tunnel.

  She held Jo’Aquin’s hand when MalCom had disappeared into the tunnel. His long fingers wrapped and threaded through hers, squeezing gently. How long had it been since she’d been comforted by such a simple action? She drew in a long breath and looked up at his clearly alien, yet familiar face, “And brothers and sisters. We get them back, too.”

  21

  L auren only let go of his hand when the tunnel became too narrow for him to comfortably keep hold. Her small hand wrapped almost painfully around his, but he would never say anything to her. Small tremors periodically ran through her body. She was scared. Terrified. A white-hot anger pierced his soul, knowing she would ever feel this way. If not for his actions, she would not know this fear. Self-disgust churned his gut. If it was the last thing he did, he would make up for his mistake.

  Knowing that he’d just found his one true life’s companion tore him apart inside. To know she was the only one that could see past his offensive mistakes and still accept him was more than his sanity could take. It was only knowing that he would sacrifice himself in her place that kept the tenuous hold there. How, he didn’t quite know, but self-determination had always led his path, and right now he was determined she would survive.

  Although his eyes worked well in the dark, Lauren stumbled often. If not for some sort of lighting source MalCom held, they would be in pitch dark. The last time she’d fallen into the side of the tunnel, bits of dirt scattering to the ground. She appeared to recover slowly, taking some time to right her balance. In the soft glow of MalCom’s light, her slight form trembled as though she was freezing from the inside out. The implant was taking her over.