A Minx for Ryek & Holden : A Sci Fi Alien Romance (Tallean Mercenaries Book 5)

by Lynnea Lee

  “Look there.” Ryek pointed to the body of a coilbeast half-hidden behind the shuttle. Slightly further was the corpse of another dead creature. It seemed some of the soldiers survived the attack at the expense of their slain comrades and figured out how to fight the creatures.

  “Holden, I do not believe Angie was consumed. If her blood were here, we would scent it. We would both be in bloodlust and unable to calm.”

  Ryek was right. Angie’s scent was in the area, but not her blood.

  But their females were not here, and neither were the victorious soldiers. The three circled the area until they caught their mates’ scent; the group of females had run through the fields towards the forest on the other side. The two surviving soldiers had followed their trail.

  They climbed back into the vehicle and drove, following the path towards their females.

  Hang on, Trouble. We are coming for you!

  Chapter 20

  Angie dozed while draped over the thick tree branch. This was definitely a skill she’d never thought she would pick up: sleeping in a tree. She wished she was back in Ryek’s huge bed, with both of them snoozing next to her and making her too damn hot. Anything was better than the rough bark digging into her thigh.

  The soft rustle of dried leaves alerted them first of the two Tallean males approaching the group. Both males had their jaws unhinged and prowled towards the females with a singular purpose.

  “Oh shit, two of them survived,” Ulia whispered. “I’m almost impressed, considering how amateur those soldiers looked.”

  “Are you impressed enough to take one for the team? Because I think that’s what they want.”

  “No way.” Ulia leaped and climbed up a branch. “They will have to get me first.”

  The two males were under their trees now, rage and frustration apparent in their eyes. They were controlled by the beasts inside. They had satisfied their need for blood, and now lust glowed ominously in their eyes.

  One of the males vaulted up, grabbing onto the lowest branch, and hauled himself effortlessly up into their tree. Jennifer yelped and scrambled to get higher, and Angie extended a hand to help her up onto her branch. Instead of trying to climb higher, the angry alien changed tactics and lunged for their branch. He held on and jerked the branch hard, putting his whole body weight onto it. A loud crack sounded, and the branch broke. With a shriek, Angie tumbled toward the ground.

  Before she hit the forest floor, one of the males snatched her out of the air, and Angie found herself plastered against a rumbling, blood-covered chest. Ever the agile predator, the Tallean holding her landed on his feet, but quickly brought them to the ground. He straddled her hips and pulled roughly at her top and bra until they tore. Angie kicked and fought, but the heavy weight on her would not budge.

  Her attacker undid the front of his pants and shifted his weight to take his pants off. Angie bucked her hips sharply, throwing him off balance. She rolled out from under him, scrambled to her feet, and ran.

  Her assailant was back on her in a flash, he reached for her, and the training with Ryek came back. She grabbed his arm and ducked, letting the momentum of his movement carry him over her back. Putting all her strength into her shoulder, she shoved him down onto the ground. But unlike during her training, she didn’t stay to goad the downed alien; she fled.

  But she only got a few steps before the Dominion soldier lunged for her again, and this time, she couldn’t get away. He turned her to face him, gripped the top of her shirt and bra, and ripped it down the center front in one violent motion. He tossed the scraps of fabric to the ground before pushing her flat onto the forest floor.

  Caging her body, he prevented her from moving. His pants were off, and his swollen prick bobbed menacingly against her belly. He jerked her pants down with his dirty mitts, and Angie fought a wave of nausea.

  A duo of powerful roars sounded, and the soldier’s weight was pulled off of her. Her males had come to her rescue!

  Ryek slammed her attacker against the trunk of a large tree, again and again. Leaves and small branches rained down on them, but Ryek didn’t seem to notice as he repeatedly pummeled the soldier’s head against the tree bark. The male was limp now, and Ryek held him up. He nodded to Holden and shoved the limp body towards the other male. Holden kicked hard, catching the Dominion soldier in the stomach with his clawed feet. A swipe of his leg and the body was on the ground, its guts spilling out onto the leaf litter.

  Then they turned to the remaining Dominion, who was fighting a Tallean male Angie did not recognize. By the look on Hunny’s face, that must be her mate. But before either of her men could help, the Tallean opened his jaws wide and bit down on the Dominion soldier's neck and tore out his throat. Hunny’s mate roared, victorious, blood running down his face.

  Angie was glad Holden chose to disembowel the enemy instead. She wouldn’t want to kiss his face if it was dripping with the enemy’s blood.

  Satisfied that both foes were dead, her two males turned to her, their jaws still unhinged and looking fearsome. Fearsome and totally hers!

  The enemy was dead, and it was time for them to take their prize.

  Ryek turned his focus to their mate. Angie was topless, having lost her shirt and bra in the attack. A bruise bloomed across one of her cheekbones, the swelling making it hard for her to open her eye on that side. Handprints reddened her throat. Her blonde ponytail was crooked and a mess, with strands of hair falling over her face and random leaves in her hair.

  Ryek’s breath hitched in his chest. Their mate was injured, again. They needed to work harder to protect her. This was not the time to claim their prize. There would be time enough later. After all, they had the rest of their lives. For now, Ryek needed to make sure their mate was safe. It was his priority. Nothing else mattered but her.

  Angie ran and flung herself at him, wrapping her arms and legs around his body. Holden stomped in, and she released her arms and reached for him as well. They stood there in an awkward a three-way embrace until Angie finally released her stranglehold on Holden’s neck. They sandwich her between their large bodies, engulfing her. She should stay there, safe.

  “You came for me, both of you. Thank you.”

  Unlike Holden, who found it hard to come out of bloodlust without appeasing the lust part, Ryek was able to calm more easily. He forced his fangs to retract, and his cheek creases to refold so that he could talk.

  “I told you to stay put, little minx.”

  “I wanted to help.” She pouted, but then she looked regretful. “I’m sorry. I thought it would be safe. They set an ambush for us. And I had no idea Jadig was here looking for me.”

  Jadig; that name sounded familiar, but Ryek couldn’t recall who he was.

  On the other side of Angie, Holden was slowly rehinging his jaws. Good. He was regaining control of the beast within.

  “Her old master.” The words were still distorted, but he got them out.

  Ryek growled. “He’s here? Where is he?”

  “I think the coilbeasts got him. He was a horrible fighter. There were five of them, the four soldiers who ambushed us and Jadig, who was waiting in the shuttle.”

  “We should go check the shuttle to make sure there is no one still hiding inside.”

  “Can we stay in this position for just a few more minutes? I like this.” Then with a wry little smile, Angie continued, “Also, I don’t think Holden could walk very well with the weapon he is pressing against my back. Holden, how do you have blood for other parts of your body? It must explain the lack of thinking sometimes.” She smirked at them.

  Holden growled at her teasing. “I’ll get you later for that, Trouble.”

  Ryek exchanged a conspiratorial glance with Holden. “We both will. I told our little minx to stay put, and she didn’t listen. I think she deserves a punishment.”

  “I agree.” Holden leaned forward to run his fangs over the side of their female’s neck.

  S
he inhaled sharply, and lust blossomed around them. And suddenly, Ryek wanted to throw aside his responsibility and take her right now. But they needed to check the shuttle and get everyone back to the safety of the colony. This was going to be a difficult wait.

  Ryek let Holden hold her as he went with Kobic to search the inside of the shuttle. It was empty. He marked the shuttle’s location on his comm. They would send a team to retrieve it later. They planned on selling any functioning shuttles they found and parting out the ones that crash-landed. It would help recoup the costs of preparing for this attack.

  “Come on, let’s head back home.”

  Chapter 21

  Angie let them usher her into Ryek’s home. They stripped off the rest of her clothes the moment the door was closed. But instead of sexual excitement, they both looked at her body critically, as if searching for more injuries.

  “He just got my face,” Angie assured them. “My head is starting to hurt again from getting knocked around. But other than that, I’m fine. I promise.”

  Ryek moved her to the couch and demanded that she sit as he ran the portable medical device over her. His voice was strained and gruff, as if seeing her injured was too much to bear. Holden had resumed cradling her in his arms. He hadn’t let her go for more than a few seconds at a time since they rescued her in the forest. Her males were really shaken up by what happened.

  “You will not put yourself into danger like that again, Trouble.”

  They expected her to protest, she knew, but she surprised them instead. “I won’t do it again. When I was taken, I had already decided that I kind of like the two of you bossing me around. I know I’m a brat sometimes, but I’ll try to keep out of trouble from now on.”

  Holden narrowed his eyes at her, suspecting foul play. But Ryek looked mollified. Angie decided now, while she had both their attention, was the best time to make her offer. She’d quietly rehearsed this in her head while waiting for rescue up in the tree. For years, she had resisted joining Holden in a partnership of convenience. She wanted a real mate. But now, she was sure that she didn’t want anyone else but Ryek and Holden. She loved them.

  “This experience got me thinking. I know we have been pretending to be mates during this whole fiasco. And I know I’ve rejected the idea of a partnership of convenience in the past. But I think I would like to have one now, with both of you.” The words had sounded so much smoother in her head. “What I’m trying to say—to ask—is, will you both join in a partnership of convenience with me?” There, it was out.

  She held her breath, waiting for their reply. But instead of the ecstatic “yes” she had expected from Holden, silence hung in the air as the two males exchanged glances. This was not how she had imagined it.

  Suddenly unsure and feeling the need to fill in the silence, she continued, “Both of you are so good to me, and I don’t think I could find anyone better. No, that sounds wrong.” She didn’t want them to think she wanted them because she couldn’t do better. “What I mean is, even if my mate showed up at the door right now, I would reject him and choose the two of you. I love you. Both of you.” Her chest tightened, and tears welled in her eyes. “You both came to my rescue, and I know you care about me a lot. And I care for you too. I love what we have now, and I don’t want it to end.” She sobbed as the realization that she really did love them crashed in. “I never want this to end.”

  She wiped at her eyes. Geez, when did she become such a sap!

  Holden spoke first; his tone was serious and lacked his usual playfulness. “No, Angie. We will never be partners of convenience.”

  “He’s right. I’m sorry, little Minx, but I can not accept your request.” Ryek did not meet her eyes.

  Oh. Angie heart sank. The color faded from her vision as her chest wound so tight it felt as if she would die. More tears welled in her eyes. This was definitely not how she had imagined it.

  “Do you know why, little Minx?”

  She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.

  “Because you are already our mate. I would never settle for anything less with you. I love you, Angie.”

  “Yes, Trouble. You are our mate. We know it now for sure.” Holden wrapped his brawny arms around her. “And I, too, would never settle for anything else. I love you.”

  The enormity of what they had just confessed slowly permeated Angie’s exhausted and stress addled brain. But instead of kissing them, Angie hit them both hard on their bellies with the backs of her hands.

  “You assholes! You let me believe for a second that you didn’t want me!” Her voice cracked with the weight of the emotions in her body.

  Holden laughed, rocking her in his arms with the force of his laughter. “I told you I’d get you back.”

  Then she was crying in earnest, latching onto her mates, giving them kisses anywhere she could reach. Even if she kissed them constantly from now until the end of time, it wouldn’t be enough.

  “We love you, Angie.” They both shone with sincerity.

  “I love you too.” She dashed the last remnants of tears from her eyes. She hated being too emotional, but it had been a tough day.

  “Now sit still, my little mate, and let the medical device work on the bruise on your face.”

  “I’ll help,” Holden said as he arranged her in his lap and held her still as Ryek held the unit to the side of her face.

  Angie didn’t even feel the bruise. She was too happy, too elated. They were her mates!

  The medical unit beeped, and Holden relaxed his arms around Angie’s middle. The bruise on Angie’s face was barely noticeable now, but the stench of fear and the stink of other males still clung onto her. They needed to get it off before he lost it and punched something. His body still told him that Angie needed protection, even though she was safe in his arms.

  Holden lifted Angie off his lap and passed her to Ryek. “Let me go wash off the gore from my feet. Then we can all put that big bath to good use.”

  Content in the knowledge that Angie was safe in Ryek’s care, Holden went to the cleansing unit to wash the blood and dirt off of his claws. He didn’t want to bring that into the bath with him.

  Despite being the colony leader, Ryek didn’t live in luxury, preferring to spend his time and money on the colony itself. He had even opted to stay in the guard’s building. Holden liked having his friend so close. Now, he was going to be even closer, as Ryek had asked him to move in. This wasn’t just Ryek’s home anymore; it was theirs.

  This suite did have a few extra perks, a larger tub being one of them. It wasn’t as big as the tubs at the public baths, but it could hold the three of them with room to spare.

  Impatient to spend time with Angie again, he didn’t bother with the cleansing unit's dry cycle, choosing just to step out dripping wet. Angie met him just outside the door, her small form still naked and still stinking of the coilbeasts and other males.

  “We need to get you rinsed off now,” Holden grumbled. “My protective hackles are up because you still smell like you are in danger.”

  “Ryek started the bath already.” She smiled coyly at him. “He told me to come and get you.”

  She dipped under the shower and rinsed the worst of the dirt and blood off, then threaded her little fingers into his and tugged him towards the tub. Ryek stood ready to help her in.

  “In you go, Trouble.”

  Holden slipped in after her and pulled her up against his chest. Ryek stepped in last, settling into the swirling water next to Holden. They sat Angie across their laps. She sunk completely down into the water to rinse her hair and scrub off the rest of the dirt from her face. Then she closed her eyes, leaning her head back on the ledge, and moaned. The sound went straight to his cock.

  “This is the life,” she murmured with her eyes closed. “I love baths.”

  Holden picked up her foot and massaged it, slowly moving up her leg. He focused his attention on her calf, knowing that they must be sore fro
m all the running. Then his inched higher, and Angie held her breath in anticipation. But instead of continuing up, he let go and reached for her other foot.

  Angie pouted at him. She was always so eager. But this time, he planned on making her wait.

  He repeated the massage. First, focusing on the ball of her feet, then the arch, and then the heel. He moved up to the calf, rubbing at the tight muscles there. Slowly, he made his way up to her thigh, rubbing and kneading.

  Beside him, Ryek inhaled sharply. “You little minx!”

  Angie giggled. “You are both teasing me! I thought I should tease back.”

  “We are cleaning you. This is a bath.”

  “I’m cleaning you too!” She smirked. Playful Angie was back.

  “Just my cock?”

  “It’s dirty!”

  “Dirty? Well, I think these are dirty. Really dirty. I should clean them well.” Ryek reached both hands to her breasts and played with her nipples. Her eyes hooded over as he rolled them between his fingers. Then, Ryek shot Holden an wicked look before he pinched both perky peaks, hard. She squealed and kicked her feet. One foot caught Holden on the side of the face.

  “I’m sorry!” She sat up, suddenly serious. “I didn’t mean to kick you in the face. Are you okay?”

  Holden was more worried about his fangs catching her foot. He’d barely felt the kick as he was too busy watching her reactions.

  “Barely felt it. But let me see your foot, in case I nicked it with my fangs.”

  “You didn’t. See!” She lifted her foot out of the water and wiggled her toes. Then she put her foot back into the water and pressed it to his crotch. She smiled at him as she rubbed her foot in small circles on his hardening manhood.

  “You are trouble.”

  “I am,” she agreed. “And now I plan on thanking my mates for saving me today.”

  Angie rubbed Holden’s rising erection with her feet as she stroked Ryek’s already rock-hard cock. She loved the velvety smoothness against her skin. Unlike humans, Talleans didn’t have hair at the base of their cocks or on their sacs, just velvety soft skin taut over hard lengths and shapely balls. The feel always mesmerized her.