Capturing Carmen

by K. A Knight

  Yeah. Like that would’ve worked against some jacked as fuck aliens.

  Frustration building, I whisper, “Kronk,” not wanting to spook the sleeping giant. “Kronk,” I say, louder this time, with another nudge from my foot.

  Dammit. Now I have to pee, this fucker needs to wake up.

  “Kronk!” I shout, jabbing my knee into his ribs. He wakes with a start, his eyes feral, like he sees me and doesn’t at the same time. He lunges for me, struggling against the chains that hold him. I freeze at first, sure this is a joke or a knee-jerk reaction, but when he continues to lunge, I shout for help, yanking on the chains. He snarls and snaps his fangs, trying to bite me and not in a good way. I scream when he almost snags my bound arm.

  “Help!” I shriek, as I push myself off the bed, but I can’t go far, I’m still fucking chained to the post. “Someone! Help me!”

  He lurches again and I swiftly kick him in the face, knocking him back slightly. Doesn’t this fucking suck? Finally in bed with my hot ass alien mate and I have to scream something other than, ‘yes, fuck me harder.’

  I tug on my binds as Kronk sets his dark, alien eyes on me. The metal chains groan as he tugs and fights his way to freedom. My heart thrashes in my chest as worry sinks into my bones for the first time since I was taken from Earth.

  “Ryx! Vrid! Xal! Get the fuck in here!” My cries become desperate as the bedpost bends.

  “You are vekking dead!” he growls at me, his face contorted in anger as if he were in the heat of battle. His claws extend from his hands and he slices at me as if I was the fucker responsible for killing his mom, or guilty of stealing his favourite toy or goat… Fuck, now I’m rambling.

  Stomping from the hall forces me to pull my gaze away from the rabid animal that was once Kronk. The door flies open and Xal appears, eyes still puffy from sleep. Vrid is right behind him, shoving Xal out of the way to come to my aid.

  “Release her! Now!” Vrid shouts at Xal, who’s still unmoving.

  “Please!” I yell, holding up my wrists. He shakes his head as if in a trance and rushes to my side. Using his fingerprint in the center of the shackles, it beeps and falls from my wrists.

  Not wanting to see the aftermath of this, I rush from the room and run right into Ryx’s hard chest.

  “Oh, Ryx,” I cry out, throwing my arms around him.

  At first he doesn’t do anything, probably stunned by my change of demeanour, but then the snarls from Kronk reach the hallway, chilling my body. Ryx grips my shoulders and pulls me back to search my eyes.

  “Are you hurt?” he asks me tenderly, not the least bit surprised by the sounds coming from behind us.

  I shake my head, too worried if I talk my voice will buckle.

  “Come here,” he coos, pulling me against him. I melt into his body as he wraps his large arms around me. Ryx bends down and picks me up, using his hands to cup my ass, but for once, nothing about his touch is sexual. I wrap my legs around him and lay my head on his shoulder as he turns and heads downstairs.

  I nuzzle into his neck, breathing in his scent. His dreadlock-like hair is still damp from a shower and he smells amazing. Like fresh air, but rugged.

  Can fresh air be rugged?

  I feel safe in his arms and miss his warmth when he sets me down on the big couch in the living room.

  “Wait here,” he commands, as he heads into the kitchen. My mind wanders as he rummages around. What the hell happened to Kronk? Why did he attack me like that? Maybe that’s the reason he’s chained up when he sleeps.

  Shaken, I wrap my arms around my knees and curl up into the tiniest ball possible, ignoring how sore my wrists are from the shackles. A sweet aroma hits my nose as Ryx walks back over and stands in front of me. He’s a gorgeous specimen. His sleeping pants ride low on his hips, outlining his junk perfectly. From beneath the fabric it looks like a human’s, but I’m sure there are some unique differences.

  My gaze trails to his abdomen and the double row of muscles that appear to be carved out of rock, then up to his chest, which he flexes when he sees me looking. His purple skin almost shimmers as he extends an arm and hands me a steaming cup with a sympathetic smile on his face.

  “Hot, and I don’t mean the drink,” I tease, as I take the cup from him before turning serious. “What is it?” I inquire, holding it under my nose to get a better sniff.

  “Mylenum,” he replies, before tying back his hair. His torso stretches with his movements, showing off every delicious nook and cranny.

  Yum.

  “My mother used to make it for me when I was sick or just unhappy. I still get the taste for it now and then. And, well,” he shrugs, “you look like you could use some.”

  “Thanks.” I blow on the surface of the burnt orange liquid then take a tentative sip. Ryx watches me with curious eyes. The mylenum tastes like heaven. It’s strong, like a bold coffee, but sweet like hot chocolate. There’s a hint of mint in the aftertaste as I swallow the first sip with an appreciative, “Ahh.”

  “So you like it?” he questions, sitting down next to me. He wraps his arm around me and rubs my shoulder. I find myself leaning into his touch, tucking my body under the crook of his arm, seeking the safety his body offers.

  “It’s so good, Ryx. Thank you. I love it.” A fanged smile splits his face in half and he tugs me closer. Unfolding my legs, I lay them across his lap. He rubs one large hand up and down my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt.

  “Carmen!” he exclaims. “Yo-Your skin! It… It’s become bumpy!” He looks around, frantic, as I try and fail to stifle a laugh. “We-We need to get Vrid down here to evaluate you!”

  “I’m okay!” I tell him, still laughing. “It’s normal for humans.”

  “It is?” he asks, confused, as I take another delicious sip of mylenum.

  “Mm-hmm. It’s just a reaction to—”

  “To what?” he interrupts impatiently.

  “To you.”

  “Me?” He looks puzzled.

  “Yeah, you,” I tease. “They’re called goosebumps. It’s normal in humans. They come on either when I’m cold or—”

  “Are you cold, Carmen? Because I can grab you a warming sheet...”

  “I’m fine, Ryx, really. The mylenum is warming me up just fine.” I give him a smile and take another delicious sip, having to stifle my moan.

  So. Good.

  “Why else would you get...goosebumps?” he wonders.

  “Well, for instance, just now, it was the way you were touching me. There are certain places on me that are...sensitive. If you touch me lightly in those spots, my body will erupt in those bumps. Like right here.” I reach out a finger and glide it down his side in a featherlight caress. His body shudders but no goosebumps appear. “Aww, you don’t get them,” I lament with a pout.

  “What other reactions does your body have when I touch you, Carmen?” His voice lowers, becoming sultry. I take a breath to respond with, ‘why don’t you touch me and find out,’ when Vrid, Xal, and Kronk barge into the room.

  I’m still under Ryx’s arm and he pulls me onto his lap, rubbing his hand up and down my spine. Kronk narrows his eyes on me. I see anger there, and fear. I worry he’s about to yell at me for something I did wrong when I see his body deflate. I force myself to sit up straighter, not scared now that it’s clear my big alien mate is back to normal.

  “I owe you an explanation, little one,” he murmurs.

  “Proceed,” I order, with a wave of my hand like a queen. I wait for him to begin, sipping on my warm drink. Kronk starts to pace, his fingers raking through his hair. Xal sits on the couch diagonal and to the right of me, while Vrid sits on my right, next to Ryx. I feel Vrid’s fingers curl around my waist, his thumb rubbing me in a soothing manner.

  “I don’t know how to say this in a way you will understand. So I will just be blunt,” he starts, but seems to hesitate. Is he worried about how I’ll react?

  I hold his gaze as he searches my eyes, not shying away. “Tell me,”
I implore. “I’m not just some girl who frightens easily. What happened up there was, well, terrifying.” His shoulders slump, literally fucking slump, and I feel my heart die a little bit. “But if we’re to be together for the rest of our lives, then I need you to be honest with me, Kronk. I need to know what happened up there.”

  He lets out a long sigh then begins. He tells me a complex story of how his Klan, Klan Marix, came to be. He shares tales of epic battles, the Klan’s role in the Great War. Kronk relives the slaughter, fear, pain, and even enjoyment. I learn that Klan Marix is a legend among the Totiv, the group of warriors who turned the tides of the Great War. This makes me prouder than ever to be their mate. Kronk unravels what that means for him, how after the war was over his mind couldn’t turn off battle mode, so at night he remains chained up to protect the others and himself.

  “So, when I woke you up…” I begin.

  “I was not yet myself,” Kronk admits. “I was still in the heat of battle. I did not see Carmen, my mate. I only saw someone other than my Klan. The warrior inside shouted to me that you were an enemy, urged me to attack. I couldn’t stop myself, the need to destroy was much too strong.”

  Kronk kneels in front of me then, turning his black eyes up to meet my gaze. He’s almost vibrating with tension, but he doesn’t touch me, as if afraid of how I’ll react. I hate the space between us. “I...I am sorry, Carmen. I should not have put you in my bed, but after I sensed you entering our world—”

  “Wait,” I interrupt. “You...sensed me?”

  “We all did,” Vrid adds next to me. “The moment you entered Oxious’s atmosphere we felt it.”

  “Wha-What did it feel like?” I stammer, unsure how to feel about all this, the swing in conversation almost giving me whiplash.

  “Like a fog had been lifted from our eyes,” Ryx tells me. “A weight removed from our backs. We felt like we could finally breathe again.”

  “I thought that claiming you on Forsaken Mountain would be enough to dissuade my warrior from fighting an enemy that no longer exists,” Kronk explains. “But I don’t think that side of me will rest until after the Vultana.”

  “Vultana?” I parrot, surprised I didn’t learn of this in the Harvest House. But then again, I guess the Totiv wouldn’t want to tell the puny humans all their secrets.

  “Yes, little one.” Kronk rises to his feet and I have to crane my neck just to look into his eyes. “You can think of the Vultana as a claiming ceremony. It’s when you rightfully become ours in the eyes of the Totiv.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” I exclaim, jumping to my feet. “Let’s go get our...Vultana on.”

  “Vrid put in a request, Carmen,” Ryx offers. “The next Vultana is tonight. We should receive word soon, acknowledging if we can take part in this one or if we need to wait for the next.”

  “In the meantime, I’d like to see you get some more rest,” Vrid proclaims. “Your human body is not yet adjusted to our air or our time change. Our, what you refer to as days, are equal to one and a half of yours. Look outside,” he says, pointing to a window. “See? Night is still upon us.”

  A yawn racks through me at that exact moment and I feel my eyelids get heavy. “I think I could sleep.”

  “I’m sure you can,” Vrid murmurs beside me. “Ryx, take our mate up to the sarflyn room. She’ll stay there at night until after the Vultana has been completed.”

  Ryx nods and takes the mug from my hand, gives it to Vrid, and then stands, before picking me up and holding me in his arms. I’m too tired to fight the orders, plus it feels nice to be carried around like some princess or bride on her wedding night. He carries me back through the house with one arm under my legs and the other supporting my shoulders, then upstairs to a room with a massive bed big enough for...all of us.

  “What’s this for?” I inquire, already knowing the answer.

  “I think you’ve already worked that out, little one.” Ryx sets me on the bed and grabs a pair of shackles from a side table.

  “Why must you bind me?” I whine. “Can’t we save those for a kinky fuck fest?”

  Ryx stiffens, his horns darkening. “You wish to be bound while my cock is buried inside you?”

  “Oh, fuck yes,” I purr, biting my lip.

  A groan leaves his lips and it vibrates through me, lighting me on fire.

  “You are going to be the death of me, you know that?” he growls, lust filling his eyes.

  “On the contrary, Ryx, I’m going to make you feel more alive than you’ve ever felt before.” I crawl over to him, rising on my knees. I thread my fingers through his coarse hair and take his mouth. His lips separate and our tongues collide. He tastes just like mylenum, making my mouth water. Ryx reaches up and snags my wrists, bringing them down to our laps as he duels for control.

  I submit, allowing the large Totiv to determine how hard to kiss me, how deep. My tongue catches on his fang, and blood pools in our mouths, making him groan. My heart pumps wildly inside my chest and I go to reach up, wanting to touch him when I realise I’m already bound.

  “What the fuck, Ryx?” I snap, holding up my hands.

  “It’s for your own good, human.” He licks his lips and stands back up. “Get some rest. You’ll need your energy if we are to complete the Vultana later.”

  “What happens during the Vultana?” I ask, as he makes his way to the door.

  “You’ll have to wait and see,” he replies with a wink, before shutting the door.

  Damn, that alien has some serious self-control.

  Knowing any chance of me getting off just walked out the door, I throw myself down on the bed, but just as I’m about to pass the fuck out, my bladder reminds me that I never asked to go pee.

  “Fuck.”

  15

  Carmen

  Waking up alone sucks ass. I vow that this will be the last time that ever happens. My bladder is screaming and my wrists ache from the bindings. I just know they’re going to be rubbed raw without even having the satisfaction of sex as the reason. Slitting one eyelid open, I notice the bedroom is bright and excitement fills me.

  Today is my first day on Oxious!

  I’m almost bouncing with anticipation.

  Unable to do anything but lie here until someone frees me, I strain my ears and listen for any signs of movement when a scent hits me.

  Mylenum.

  My stomach gurgles and my mouth begins to water. A moment later, Vrid waltzes through the door with a steaming cup in his hands.

  “You’re awake,” he acknowledges with a grin.

  “And you’re observant,” I joke with a smile.

  He frowns. “Behave, little one, we have a big day today.”

  “Oh, you have a lot to learn if you think this is me misbehaving. Mind unlocking my hands and telling me all about it, or would you prefer I pee all over this freshly made bed?” Vrid sets the cup down and uses a finger pad to unlock the cuffs. They click open and I sit up abruptly. “Where is the bathroom?” I query.

  He gestures to a door on the far wall. “Through there.”

  “Thanks,” I call, jogging to the bathroom. Throwing open the door, I rush inside and discover another bloody door to open before finding the toilet, which has to be two feet higher off the ground than the ones back on Earth.

  Lifting the hem of my nightgown, I jump up onto the toilet, feet dangling, and let it out. “Ahhhh,” I sigh. Who knew peeing could feel so fucking glorious? My poor bladder is almost sore from holding it for so long.

  I look around for toilet paper but don’t see any. Having no intentions of doing the old ‘drip dry’ routine I’d done many times at the frat houses, I open the secondary door and peek out into the bathroom. I’m not below using a hand towel if needed. Anything would be better than the itchy feeling I’m already starting to get.

  But there are no fucking towels either.

  What the actual fuck? How do people far more advanced than humans not understand the importance of good hygiene?
/>   “Uhh, Vrid?” I call, seeing I don’t have any other choice. “Little help, please?”

  Vrid comes stalking in with a worried look on his face, until he sees me sitting here. “Yes?” he asks, with a raised eyebrow.

  “I—umm...There’s no toilet paper.”

  “What is toy-lett paper?” he questions, confused.

  Aliens. “It’s how we clean ourselves after using the toilet.”

  A lightbulb clicks on in his head and he grabs my hand, moving it to the side of the bowl below my leg until my finger brushes against a button. “Push this,” he tells me, letting go of my fingers.

  “Okay…” I do as he says, and I shriek as a warm spray cleans my crack, followed by a heated breeze. “This is kinda nice,” I comment, more to myself than him. Vrid backs out of the room as I scoot off the toilet and let my nightgown fall back into place. My Klan must have decided I didn’t need panties.

  Kinky.

  I walk over to the sink, appreciating the beauty of the bathroom that’s set up much like the other one I had bathed in—except without the hole in the wall. I smirk at the memory and place my hands under the faucet. Instead of rushing water, a green light flashes on my hands, making me jump back.

  “What the fuck was that?” I exclaim, looking to Vrid for the answer.

  “A sanitising beam.” He laughs and grabs my freshly sanitised hand. “Come, we have something to discuss.”

  Vrid leads me from the bathroom and over to the bedroom door.

  “Wait!” I say, slipping my hand from his to grab the cup of mylenum. I take a sip and let the hot liquid warm my insides. Something tells me I’ll be drinking a lot of this. “Okay, I’m ready now.” Vrid snakes his fingers through mine once more and leads me through the hall, down the stairs, and across the house to the living room.

  My breath hitches as I enter. The Klan is all there, standing with their backs to the main wall. Each of them is wearing attire I would compare to that of a soldier’s dress uniform. Their outfits are crisp and clean, made up of black leather that hugs their muscled forms. Black sashes cross their chests, signifying their designation as Klan Marix. Ryx has his hair tied up in a ponytail, showing off how handsome he is. Kronk’s hair is slicked back between his horns. Even with one of them broken, he’s still as fearsome as they come. Xal remains looking a bit unkempt, his hair messy and untamable. Vrid leaves my side and joins them. Only now, I see he has on the same attire. I was so focused on my need to pee I hadn’t noticed.