Matched and Mated

by Grace Goodwin

  16

  Brax

  * * *

  This was my dream come to life, not exactly the way I’d imagined, but better. Miranda needed Trist. I had wounded her, left her alone when she needed me those long months on Trion. I had broken a bond of trust—no, not broken, her previous male on Earth had done that—but I had reinforced the idea that she could not depend on a male to be there for her. To put her first. To make her a priority in his life.

  Trist had healed that wound in her. Even now, as she lay sprawled out on the bed before me and I placed the piercings in her body, she looked to him for reassurance. Strength.

  He kissed her, nuzzled her, pleasured her with his hand and mouth as I adorned our mate with the most beautiful emeralds I had been able to acquire. Each piercing healed instantly with the ReGen wand I held over her body. She felt no pain as I placed the green jewels on her luscious curves. That the Treval family’s mating collars were nearly the same color as the stones seemed a confirmation from the gods that everything had worked out exactly as it should.

  Miranda was mine. I didn’t have to give up my need to feel as if I were making a difference. Out here, doctors were in high demand, the stream of wounded warriors who needed life-saving attention nearly constant. The official transfer had been easy, once Commander Zakar saw the green collar around my neck. He’d clapped me on the back and welcomed me to the crew of Battleship Zakar.

  I was part of this war now. Out here, in space. A turn I’d never expected my life to take. But then, I hadn’t expected Miranda, either.

  My mate’s breasts were adorned beautifully and I placed my fingertips along the lips of her wet core to find her clit, teasing it from its hiding place to adorn it as well. Trist slid two fingers into her wet, eager pussy, her nipple in his mouth, his fingers slowly fucking her as I played with her clit, making her squirm before I placed the second ring.

  She gasped, her hands twisted in the bedding even as her body arched beneath me. She was so aroused, so on fire for us both that my hands were shaking as I finished the second piercing.

  That done, and healed by the ReGen wand, I set the wand aside and gave Trist the bracelets I’d ordered for Miranda’s wrists. I knew she would not be wearing traditional Trion gowns here, on a Prillon battleship, and I wanted to be able to see her adornments no matter what she wore. The delicate circular bands were only the beginning. I had also purchased golden and emerald nets for her hair, rings for her toes and fingers, golden chains for her ankles and hanging gems for her ears.

  With an intensity I, too, felt, Trist lifted first her left hand, then her right, sliding a number of bracelets over each hand. We both stepped back, admiring our mate as she displayed herself on the bed, naked, adorned, beautiful beyond measure.

  Aroused. Wet. Her pussy gleamed in the light nearly as brightly as the gold and jewels.

  Now. I wanted her now.

  I had no idea if the thought came from Trist or myself, but I wasted no time, walking straight to the drawer where the amazing lube device was kept. By the time I returned, Trist had moved in closer, his fingers trailing the links between her nipples and her clit as if hypnotized. He held out his hand and she looked like a queen as she placed her hand in his, her rings and bracelets flashing in the light in perfect complement to the chained jewels adorning her body.

  “Gods, you are beautiful, Miranda.” There was wonder in his tone. Awe. I felt the same.

  His words pleased her, her happiness at his honest adoration a sensation like melted sweets coating my ragged heart. These collars were a gift from the gods themselves, and so was our female.

  I added my devotion and desire to his, hitting her full blast as she strolled around our living quarters in her new adornments, the tension building. I was content to allow the moment to ride, build her anticipation, her pleasure. I was inclined to be patient.

  Not so, her primary mate.

  “Enough.” Trist moved like the warrior he was, with speed, and she was gasping and laughing as he pressed her back to a wall and claimed her mouth.

  “Do you accept my claim, Miranda? Or do you wish to choose another primary male.”

  There was no laughter in her voice when she answered him. “I already answered that question, Captain Treval. Do you have a hearing problem? Maybe I should choose a mate who can listen the first—”

  Shock. Lust. Her back to the door. Trist had lifted her mid-sentence and impaled her on his cock, was pounding into her in a rhythm that had her head thrashing side to side as her breathe burst from her with each thrust of his hips.

  “Maybe. You. Did. Listen.”

  He growled in response, his lips dropping to her forehead as he fucked her. Hard.

  “Damn it, Trist. Wait for me.”

  He turned his head and the feral smile I saw there let me know there would be no waiting, I would have to take what was mine, and I wanted to fuck her tight ass. Make her lose control. I wanted her to scream my name, not his. Mine.

  I smiled back at Trist as Miranda’s soft moans pushed me into action, the lube device in my hand.

  Challenge accepted.

  Miranda

  * * *

  The wall was hot against my back. Not cold. Not anymore. Trist’s huge cock filled me and each thrust lifted me higher on the wall, his body hitting the new piercing in my clit, jostling the connecting chain that hung from my nipples. It was erotic. Sinful.

  Fucking hot. God. So damn hot with Brax watching, waiting to pounce.

  Lifting my arms above my head, I knew Trist would respond immediately this time. He knew me now, knew what I needed.

  I wasn’t disappointed, his hand appeared to lock my wrists above my head, his grip tight but not painful, just hard enough to let me know I wasn’t going anywhere until he was through with me. I was at his mercy, and my body lit up like fireworks as he fucked me. Hard. Harder.

  Brax was watching. Waiting. He was like an Adonis, a dark and sensual god admiring his work. And I knew exactly what he was holding, the anal toy these Prillons had invented for their mates. Soon, he would be fucking me, too, his darker skin in contrast to my pale body and Trist’s golden tones. His dark hair like silk in my fingers. His scent mixing with Trist’s until I was drowning in them both.

  Trist pounded into me and I tightened my legs around his waist, dug my heels into his hips. More. I wanted more. I wanted both of them.

  He kissed my forehead, looked at Brax, then leaned down and nipped me on the ear. The shoulder. The smallest bite of pain, but it made me groan his name.

  “Trist.”

  “Come for me, mate. Now. I want Brax to know who is pleasing you.”

  Brax? What would Brax think?

  The blast of heat from both males hit me through our collars, and I lost control as Trist pushed deep, my pussy going into spasms all over his cock.

  I shuddered, my body exploding as Trist held me trapped. I had no choice but to submit, surrender. And that pushed me higher, as aftershocks rolled through me, pushing me toward a second orgasm.

  “Not yet, mate.” That was Brax, his voice a growl next to my ear. I turned to the side to see him standing next to us.

  “Brax.”

  He kept his eyes on me but spoke to Trist. “Turn around, Trist.”

  Trist released my wrists, his hands going to my ass as he did what Brax had asked. And it had been a request, of sorts. When it came to fucking me, it seemed a steady truce and understanding had been reached by my mates.

  My mates. Mine. God. Both of them were mine.

  Trist, his back to the door, lifted me by my ass, presenting me to Brax. Moments later, Brax’s lips pressed to my shoulder as his fingertips found the tight opening of my ass and slipped the Prillon lube inside. Filled me with the warm fluid. Fucked me gently with the small toy before pulling it out.

  My pussy rippled, clamping down on Trist like a fist and his groan seemed to drive Brax to hurry. He placed his cock at my opening and began to slide inside, stretching me, filli
ng me until I was full, impossibly full of my two men, pressed between them, protected and safe and loved.

  I shuddered and leaned my head back against Brax’s chest, the only way I could touch him, let him know how much I loved him. Loved them both.

  Love filled me up from somewhere deep inside, not an explosion, not orgasmic, but like the wind or the sunlight on my skin. Like breathing. It simply was.

  Trist shuddered, his hands turning to vices on my hips. “Miranda.”

  Buried balls deep behind me, Brax held his hips still, his hands wrapping around me to play with the adornments on my nipples, trace the line of gold down my belly as he lowered his head and kissed me on the shoulder again. “Gods, female, you are going to kill us with that.”

  I laughed, I couldn’t help it. “With what?”

  “Love, mate.” Trist’s golden face was so solemn, so painfully beautiful. My mate, the one who made me feel completely safe, utterly perfect. The mate who had finally healed all the cracks and breaks in my heart. “With love.”

  They took me slowly, Trist with his gaze locked on mine as they fucked me, as if afraid I would disappear. Brax caressed every inch of my skin, played with the adornments the way I’d always imagined, making me feel beautiful. Claimed. Cherished.

  We came together, my orgasm triggering both of them over the edge with me, and when it was done, both of my mates took great joy in inspecting my neck and the green collar that now made us a family.

  Epilogue

  Miranda, Natalie and Roark’s quarters, Xalia City, Trion

  * * *

  Three months later

  * * *

  “Holy shit, Miranda. He’s big.” Natalie leaned in and whispered. “Is he big… everywhere?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her question and all three males, Roark, Brax and Trist, turned to look over their shoulders at us. We’d just transported to the planet and arrived at Natalie and Roark’s home. Roark was leading my mates into the family room where I could hear Noah chattering away, probably telling his little sister they had guests.

  Wow, all three of them together was a sight. Brawny and all alpha male goodness. I’d been envious of what Natalie had with Roark, but not any longer. I had two males who were all mine.

  Natalie knew Brax well, but had not met Trist. And I hadn’t been able to talk to my best friend much since I’d been tested and transported to Battleship Zakar, and she’d been in the dark about everything I’d been through except the fact that I was matched to a Prillon.

  I grinned. “Yes, he is big. Everywhere.”

  She hugged me again then sighed, fanning herself. I started to follow the guys, but her hand on my arm stopped me. “You’re happy?” Her gaze searched mine. “I know Brax was kind of jerk there for a while, but I don’t think he meant to be one. In fact, I’d say it was just being your typical, clueless member of the male species.”

  I thought of Brax, of how far he’d come in such a short time. From being the “jerk” I’d left behind to the mate he was now. Committed. Ever present. Dominant.

  I felt the weight of the chain that dangled between my breasts, the barely there tug it had on the nipple rings. I felt the medallions, warm and heavier against the skin of my upper belly. I wore loose tops now, for while some Trion mates liked to show off the fact they’d been claimed, Trist preferred to keep my…adornments…to himself. My fingers went to the collar about my neck, the outward sign of being his mate. Of being theirs. Trist was very possessive and didn’t like to share with anyone but Brax. And while he wouldn’t admit to Brax aloud that he loved the rings and chain, I could feel how it made him hot to gaze upon them. As for Brax, he’d gone from wanting to show me off to keeping me all to himself and Trist. Apparently, Trist had brought him around to the Prillon way of thinking.

  Well, either that or the interested looks I was getting from the other warriors on the battleship. Trist assured me that not one would ever disrespect me, Lady Treval, and they hadn’t. But that didn’t mean the warriors did not admire Trist’s mate.

  A fact which drove Brax to distraction. The fact that I’d once thought him uninterested seemed like an alien concept now. Alien. I would have laughed at that, except I was now mated to two of them.

  “He was being a dumb guy,” I confirmed. “But he’s proven himself to me, and to Trist, many times over.”

  In the family room, Roark was sprawled on the floor, propped up on one elbow, beside little Talia, who was lying on a pale green blanket. Noah was waving a toy so she could watch it. Her little legs kicked the air, clearly happy.

  Trist sat in a chair, back straight, watching.

  No, guarding me, more like. And I adored him for it.

  Brax came over to me, wrapped an arm about my waist and kissed my forehead.

  When Noah saw me, his little face lit up and he handed the toy to his father and ran over to me.

  I dropped to my knees and wrapped his soft little body in a tight squeeze. “Hey, buddy! I think you grew a whole foot since I’ve seen you last.”

  He patted my cheek with his hand. “I did! Mommy said eating my vegbles makes me big.”

  “Don’t tell your daddy, but if you keep it up, you’ll be bigger than he is one day.”

  He leaned in, whispered in my ear, although it wasn’t all that quiet. “Sooo much bigger.”

  Roark’s head fell back and he laughed. Natalie scooped Noah up and gave him snuggle kisses, which made him giggle.

  “I sense your need, mate,” Brax whispered as I eyed my BFF with her son. I didn’t envy her a mate any longer, but I did envy her children. Beautiful, sweet, precious children.

  Even though I’d only been mated a short time, my ovaries had kicked into overdrive. Every time Trist’s deep voice commanded me to strip or every time Brax added the extra chain that connected my nipple rings to a clamp on my clit—bejeweled with a green gemstone, of course—I’d craved not only their cocks, but the baby that could be made.

  That had been made.

  I’d only just discovered I was pregnant before we transported off the battleship. It had been Brax himself who’d given me my last birth control shot, but that had been weeks and weeks ago, the last time we’d been together on Trion. It had been over a month since the shot and when I’d been tested. I hadn’t even thought of it. Trist had never asked. To be honest, I hadn’t thought about children when Trist claimed me. Then Brax appeared and threw my life into chaos. Oh, I wanted children, always had, but never with a ruthless intensity that meant right now, for before I was mated, I hadn’t considered it to be a real possibility.

  But now it was much more than a possibility. With the amount of sex we’d had, the amount of times they’d come inside me, I was surely pregnant with triplets.

  “I sense…” he began, then stilled. Growled. “Gara.”

  Oh shit, the collars. I wasn’t sure how Brax and Trist would handle the announcement that we’d made a baby, for we hadn’t talked about it. We hadn’t expected it. I had no idea if they even really wanted one. I should have asked. Maybe they didn’t want children. Or maybe they did, but not yet. Trist might freak. They had the Hive technology they’d taken from the dead soldiers that attacked us, but the Coalition was still trying to figure out how the stealth armor was made. Reverse engineer the stuff. Figure out how to detect it.

  The battleship might not be safe for a baby. Was Trist going to be upset? Angry that I hadn’t asked them first? That he would have a child to protect as well as a mate? Would Brax be dismayed that I hadn’t remembered the birth control shot?

  Oh, god. Did they even want a baby?

  Trist popped up from his chair. “What is wrong, mate?”

  He glanced around the room, instantly alert. His behavior was a signal to Roark that something was wrong and he scooped baby Talia up into his arms, jumping to his feet with a lithe grace I didn’t expect. He made it across the room and had his arm about Natalie before I could blink.

  “Holy crap, guys. Nothing’s wrong
,” I said, reassuring them.

  Roark didn’t move from huddling his family close, but he’d handed the baby to Natalie and pulled out his weapon.

  Trist crossed the room in three strides. “Something’s wrong. I sense it. Fear. Panic.”

  I sighed all the way to my toes. This was not how I’d imagined breaking the news to them. I’d thought maybe candlelight and champagne and a sexy little green gown with slits everywhere…

  “She’s afraid to tell us she’s pregnant,” Brax said. I glanced up at him, saw the way the corner of his mouth was tipped up. Through the collar, I felt a swift jolt of relief that had my knees give out, but Brax wrapped an arm about me and held me close. I also felt satisfaction, happiness and even quite a bit of male pride.

  I exhaled loudly, not realizing I’d held my breath.

  “Mate,” Trist growled, pulling me out of Brax’s arms and into his. My face was smooshed into his chest and held so tightly I could barely move.

  “Trist,” I said. “I can’t breathe.”

  Instantly, he pushed me away, looked me over as if he were the doctor. “Are you well? Sick? Feeling faint?”

  I laughed then, finding a normally well-controlled Prillon completely flustered very funny.

  “Ah, you laugh, mate,” he said. “Just wait until your belly is round with child and you are waddling like… what is it on Earth?”

  “A duck,” I grumbled at the same time Natalie said, “She’ll be a beached whale.”

  “You were, gara,” Roark said to Natalie. “I think we should have another.”

  They began to bicker about who would carry their third child while Trist and Brax moved in so close I couldn’t see Natalie or her family very well. “Guys, I’m fine.”

  “You are with child,” Trist stated.

  “She’s not sick,” Brax reminded. “Come sit down. You shouldn’t be standing so much.”

  They led me to the couch and I rolled my eyes. “I can stand while pregnant.”