Silver

by Siren Allen

  “I’m not giving her to them,” Ep growled. “I’ll die before I do that.”

  “I wouldn’t allow them to take your mate,” Silver told him.

  “She’s not my mate, she’s my responsibility.”

  “I won’t allow them to take your responsibility. They can’t have the boy either. We’ll think of something. In the meantime, Striker, set our course for the Kuiper Belt. Gamma and Beta, finish working on whatever repairs you can. Ep, go through the cargo hold, I need a list of all of our weapons and how much ammo we have. I also need a list of anything we can trade for more weapons.”

  “Expecting a battle?” Ep raised his eyebrow.

  “Yeah, I know how the commander thinks. He wants us dead, not alive. But he won’t kill us until he gets what he wants.”

  “So we kill him and his entire crew.”

  “That’s the plan. But their ship has been upgraded. We don’t know what they’re capable of. We need to be as ready as we can. As for as the dark-net and the bounties on our heads, we’ll figure that out later.”

  The crew nodded.

  “I have to go to my mate,” Silver stood up.

  “Have fun,” Gamma grinned.

  “Keep the noise down,” Beta joked.

  Silver ignored them.

  “Captain, the diagnostic you started on me will be complete in four hours.”

  “Good, I need to know what’s causing you to make all of these errors.”

  “If he’s dying can we get an android to help with the ship?” Gamma asked. “A sexy android with a skimpy uniform.”

  “No,” Silver strode from the room, but not before he heard Striker’s reply.

  “Hurtful, Nigel. How would you like it if I asked if we could trade you in for a real crew member? One who actually follows orders without being told twice.”

  “Hey, I follow orders,” Gamma argued with the ship. “And stop calling me Nigel. I’m sticking with Gamma until we get our names cleared.”

  Silver left them to their argument. Before he could fully focus on his crew and their problems he had to take care of his mate. It was time to complete the ritual and see how badly he’d screwed up her life.

  Stars, he hoped she would find it in her heart to forgive him.

  Chapter Nine

  To complete the ritual, he had to use his blood and that of his mate to make a circle around them. Silver used a blade from her diner to prick her finger.

  “You’re going to need more blood than that,” Striker announced.

  “This is a private moment.”

  “I thought you might need me.”

  “I don’t.” Silver sighed. Damn, he didn’t want to cut his mate again. She hadn’t stirred the first time and he was sure she couldn’t feel any pain at the moment. Still, sinking a knife into her delicate flesh hurt him.

  “You will need more blood.”

  “I heard you the first time.” Silver pressed the blade against her hand. Releasing a deep breath, he swiped the blade across her palm. His mate didn’t stir. Wrapping his fist around hers, he drained her blood into a tumbler.

  Once the blood began to flow slower he opened her hand and wrapped it with gauze. That done, he sliced his own hand, too caught up in his concern for his mate to feel the pain of the blade digging deep into his flesh.

  His cut was much deeper than hers. Using his own blood, he filled the tumbler up. Standing up from his position, Silver walked to the middle of the room where he’d cleared a spot for himself and his mate.

  He used the blood from the tumbler to form a perfect circle then he placed the tumbler on the dresser and gathered his mate in his arms. He positioned them both in the middle of the circle, if any part of their body was outside the blood ring that would render the ritual incomplete.

  Seated in the middle of the circle with his mate settled between his legs, her head resting against his chest, Silver lit the three candles he’d gotten from her diner. His movements were awkward as he bent sideways to place the candles in position, forming a triangle around him and his mate.

  The first step in the ritual complete, Silver moved to the second part, the pledge of time. For as long as he lived his mate would live. For as long as there was air in his lungs there would be air in his mate’s lungs.

  Her existence would be dependent on him and his would be dependent on her love. For without each other, neither of them would thrive. But, together they’d be stronger. United forever, until time ceased to exist.

  Silver chanted the words of the time pledge, at the last word the candles flickered but stayed lit. He grabbed the dagger. It was time for the exchange of blood. He slit his palm again, tracing the same slash as before.

  He tilted his mate’s head back with his other hand then parted her lips and allowed his blood to drip inside. Blood coated her lips. Silver used his thumb to wipe the droplets away leaving her lips bloodstained.

  Next he swiped her palm again, and put it to his lips. The moment her blood touched his tongue an eerie wind swirled around them, blowing out the candles and sending a chill down his spine.

  Just as quickly as the wind came it was gone. Silver stared down at his mate, waiting for her eyes to open. Nothing happened. He turned her slightly in his arms, cradling her like a babe, and still, he waited.

  Nothing.

  “Striker, it didn’t work. She’s not waking up.”

  “Give it a moment. The mating pull will drag her out of her comatose state. She needs you and you need her. According to the data, you must aid her return by talking to her. She will follow your voice.”

  “Uh okay.” What was he supposed to say? “Hey, Malia, please wake up. I know I’ve got a lot of explaining to do, but you can’t curse me out if you’re sleeping.” He waited. Still nothing.

  “I’m sorry.” Silver traced his finger over her smooth cheek. “I thought when we met again, a part of you would recognize me. I thought you would feel our connection just as deeply as I do. I was wrong. I wish I’d had time to court you the right way. I would’ve brought you flowers. Not sure where I would’ve gotten them from. I’m pretty sure flowers don’t grow here. But I would’ve found you some. I would’ve travelled across the galaxy if I’d had to.”

  He skimmed his finger over her neck and shoulders. “You deserve everything, so much more than I can give you. But, I promise to find a way to get it for you. I’ll take us far away from everything, everyone, it’ll be just you and me. And we’ll be happy. I’ll stop raiding. I’ll stop killing. I’ll become a better male for you. I promise.”

  His mate stirred. Hope and joy bloomed within him.

  “Malia?”

  Her eyes fluttered then slowly opened. Joy surged through him. She was awake.

  “Hey,” he whispered, a huge smile spreading across his face. “Stars, I’m glad you’re oka…”

  SMACK.

  His cheek stung and before he could realize what had happened his mate was out of his arms and across the room on top of the dresser, squatting like an animal.

  “What the fuck.” His hand went to his face. “You slapped me.”

  She cocked her head to the side. When she spoke her voice was huskier than the other times he’d heard her speak.

  “Bastard, you took me from my home.”

  She remembered. He knew he should be pissed at her for slapping him and for calling him a bastard. He couldn’t, not when his eyes were glued to the space between her legs. Squatting like that, on top of the dresser, he could see her pink flesh.

  “Stop staring at my pussy you perv.”

  His eyes jerked to hers. Her eyes… they were different. Still brown, but with a slight glow, just like his.

  Silver stood up slowly, not wanting to make her more skittish. “Come down from there and we’ll talk.”

  “Talk?” She laughed. “Now you want to talk? You took me from my home and brought me here. Wait.” She stared around the room. “Where is here? Where have you taken me? Take me back?”

  “Cal
m down. I’ll explain everything to you when you get down from there.” Silver took a step closer to her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep his eyes from sliding to the spot between her legs.

  Stars, she had a beautiful pussy.

  Malia snapped her legs shut. “I told you to quit staring down there.” Her chest was rising and falling faster.

  “I cannot help it,” he told her.

  “W-why?”

  “I like the way it looks.”

  She shivered. “Well, stop liking it.”

  “Never.”

  “You’ve got to,” she pleaded.

  “Why?” He took another step in her direction.

  “Because,” she stared down at the floor.

  “Why?” he asked again, inching closer to her.

  “Because, I like it when you stare at it.”

  Fuck. His cock throbbed despite the warning from his brain that he needed to go slow. It was the mating pull in effect. But he refused to fuck her until she wanted him for real, not just because the pull demanded it.

  Her gaze swung to his. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Why do I feel like this? Why do I feel like I can’t breathe without being near you?”

  “It’s the…”

  “Please don’t lie to me.”

  “I’m not. I feel the same way you feel. But I’ve felt this way about you for a long time. You’re feeling this way because of the mating pull.”

  She cocked her head to the other side. “The what pull?”

  “Mating.”

  “As in, we’re mates?”

  “If you come down I’ll explain it all to you.”

  “Promise.”

  Silver nodded. His body was tense, tightly coiled, needing her near him. The damn mating pull was demanding it’s due and refusing it was painful. Silver stretched his hand out, beckoning her.

  Moving hesitantly, she slowly reached forward and pressed her palm against his. Wind blew, lifting strands of her hair. It was as if the cosmos was sighing, glad for even a tiny morsel of contact between the two mates.

  Silver tugged gently and she did the rest, jumping from the tall dresser and landing on her feet gracefully, her hand still wrapped in his. He attempted to pull her forward. She held her ground, not budging.

  “Tell me.”

  “We should sit down first.” He nodded toward his bed.

  “I’d rather sit on a chair than your bed.”

  “Okay, we can sit in chairs.” Silver walked over to the small desk, lifted the chair, and carried it over to her. He had to step over and dodge her items to get to her.

  “Is this all my stuff? Is that my coffee pot, and my toaster?”

  “Yeah, I can explain that also.”

  Malia folded her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing. The anger on her face didn’t keep his eyes from straying to her breasts.

  “Eyes up here buddy.”

  “Yes ma’am.” Silver sat her chair down, then walked to the corner of the room and grabbed a chair he’d brought from her diner.

  She bent forward to sit down then stopped and stood back up. “Perhaps I should put some clothes on first.”

  “Why?” He liked her just the way she was. In her t-shirt with no panties on.

  Her shirt was damn near see through and if she would lower her arms a fraction he would be able to see her nipples. He wanted to see her nipples, wanted to see all of her, touch all of her. He knew she would taste sweet. He ached for a chance to caress her clit with his tongue.

  “You’re bending the chair.”

  Silver blinked then stared down at the chair he was clutching. His fingers were pressed into the steel, their indentions marring the furniture. Releasing the chair, he took a step back.

  “What were you just thinking about?”

  Silver swiped his hand across his face. “Nothing,” he shook his head. “Yeah you’re right. You should put some clothes on.”

  He needed to get his mind and body on track and he couldn’t do that with her standing in front of him damn near naked. There was so much to explain to her. She wasn’t going to be happy with him when she learned what he’d done. Best to get that part of the ordeal over with, so they could get to the other parts, the nicer parts.

  “Your clothes are in your dresser.”

  Malia turned behind her and eyed the dresser. She turned back to him and pointed.

  “That’s my dresser.” It wasn’t a question but he still nodded. “Why is my dresser here?”

  “As soon as you have underwear on I’ll tell you.”

  “I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to like your answer.”

  I know for a fact you’re not going to like it.

  He watched her retrieve some undies and a pair of loose fitting pants. With her back to him, she slipped the panties up her legs. Her movements were stiff as she tried to keep him from seeing what was awaiting him under that shirt.

  He wondered if she knew the shirt was practically see-through. No matter how she moved he could still see her round ass cheeks until she slipped her panties on then her pants. When she turned around he stared at her nipples pressing against her shirt.

  “And a bra. You, uh, you should put on a bra also.”

  Her eyebrow rose slightly before she turned her back to him and searched through her drawer for a bra. He stared on, fascinated by how she slipped the bra on without taking her shirt off. She slipped the bra through the sleeve of her shirt and put it on without lifting her shirt.

  Done, she faced him once more. “Can we talk now?”

  There were a hundred other things he’d rather do with his mouth than talk, but those things would have to wait. Stars, he prayed it wasn’t a long wait.

  “Yeah,” Silver cleared his throat. “We can talk.” He sat down in his chair and waited for her to do the same.

  Seated across from him, she sat with her back ramrod straight and her hands on her knees. “Let’s start with why you showed up at my diner a few wanings ago.”

  Oh, she wanted to start from the beginning. Okay.

  “I was there for you.”

  “Why?”

  Here goes everything. “Because you’re my mate.”

  She blinked. Her mouth opened then closed. Silver waited on her to say something, anything. Her eyes travelled up and down his form and when they returned to his gaze she didn’t seem impressed.

  “You’re my mate?”

  “Please, try not to sound too happy about it.” His sarcastic remark brought the anger out of her. It also brought her out of her seat.

  “What the hell, Silver? You can’t just mate someone just because.”

  “It wasn’t a just because kind of thing. Fate doesn’t work like that.”

  “I don’t care. You have to reverse it.”

  “It can’t be reversed.”

  “But, but,” She placed her hand on her forehead. “I think I feel faint.”

  “You should sit down.”

  “No, I don’t want to sit down. I want to stand up. No, I want to throw shit.” She grabbed the first item she saw and turned to him.

  “That’s yours.”

  She stared at the item then put it back down and grabbed another item.

  “That’s yours too.”

  A frown took shape on her face. “What’s yours in here?”

  “You.”

  “So you married me so you can have my stuff?”

  “We’re not married.”

  “Married, mated, same thing.”

  “No, married people can get divorced.”

  “Oh.” She let the item fall to the floor before flopping back down in her seat. He hated the defeated expression on her face. “Unlike married people, I simply have to accept this, accept you, even if I don’t want you.”

  Her words struck a nerve. She was his mate. She may not be used to his customs but all worlds had mates. She should know how this shit worked, know that he didn’t have a choice.

  “Is that it, Silver? I have to acc
ept you even if I don’t want you.”

  Don’t want him. Like hell she didn’t want him. “When I showed up at your home you were dreaming about me.” Silver leaned forward in his seat. “I was on your mind even as you slept.”

  She shook her head. “I would never dream about you.”

  “You can’t deny it. I was there. I witnessed it for myself. Do you want me to tell you what I saw?” She looked away from him. That didn’t shut him up. “You had your hand on your pussy and was grinding against the air.”

  “No, I wasn…”

  “You even called out my name while you fingered yourself.”

  “It was just a dream. Our minds…”

  “Your body wants me, your mind wants me and soon your heart will want me.”

  “Never. I will never give my heart to a male who took me away from everything I love.”

  “You will.”

  “I won’t. You may as well space me now. Because I’d rather die than allow you to claim me as a mate.”

  “Too late. I’ve already claimed you.” Silver stood up.

  “How?” Her eyes widened, mouth hung open in shock. “I didn’t give you permission.”

  “It’s done. And don’t go trying to kill yourself. I’ll just bring you back and continue being your mate, the male you had on your mind while you were finger fucking yourself in your sleep.” Silver turned to leave the room.

  “Wait, you can do that? You can bring back the dead?”

  He placed his fingers against the door panel and waited for it to open. He was too angry to answer her question. The answer was no. But she didn’t need to know that.

  “Silver don’t ignore me.”

  The door slid closed behind him. He pressed the red button on the control panel so he could hear what she was saying on the other side of the door. The scanner beeped recognizing his finger print and allowed him to listen in.

  “Did the door just lock?” She beat against the door. “Silver, did you just lock me in here?”

  It wasn’t like he could allow her to run wild on the ship, trying to space herself.

  Silver leaned closer to the speaker. “I’ll return when you’ve calmed down and are ready to talk like a civilized adult.”