In His Alien Hands (8 page)

He pulled her against him, creating an astounding amount of bubbles. She knew why; she would need more air. When Arax thrust up between her legs Meadow gasped and sucked in a deep breath. She was weightless in the water, which made Arax seem even stronger. It took her a moment to realize that when Arax said he’d take her in the water he meant
under
the water until finished.

Arax moved so swiftly against her Meadow could hardly breathe. The bubbles he produced to keep her alive swirled around her face and neck, lightly bouncing off her skin. His cock filled her, staying ramrod straight and hard. His pumping, grinding motion slid her ass against the floor. They remained on the bottom of the ocean in the shallow cove deemed safe by Arax. The current flowed through the gills on either side of his face, barely visible. He was powerful and brutal.

His large arms wrapped tightly around her. His actions were wild and uninhibited. The soft sand under her ass and back was a pleasant friction. She lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. He was in his normal form, not his morphed warrior size. They weren’t deep enough to warrant his eyes gray film to appear and cloud his beautiful stare. He was watching her reaction.

Being underwater they were exposed to predators, but Arax seemed oblivious to anything but her. She was in her mate’s other world.
I went from death’s door to having a mate and a daughter.

Underwater was a world within a world with exciting beings. Meadow wanted to explore everything, but right now she concentrated on her next breath, on his hands and lips. On land Arax became part of the land, it was the same for him within the ocean. His penetration was deeper, more demanding, animalistic. If she were to remain with him, she needed to understand all parts of him.

Brutality and beauty were breathtaking. The cove was surrounded by high walls of coral. Light permeated the pool, giving her amazing glimpses. There wasn’t a dangerous fish to be seen, though she sensed none would dare approach. But she looked her fill at the smaller fish, brilliant yellows and blues that darted about with abandon. The coral surrounding them held treasures darting within holes. The strange sound of the water filled her ears. Arax continued his wild ride, his stamina ceased to amaze her when wrapped in power.

The slight current rocked them back and forth as gently as Arax thrust brutally. Meadow’s hair bathed their faces. She lifted her hand to cup the back of his neck. Her nipples hardened with the cooler water flowing into the cove on waves. Arax arched her back with his hand wrapped in her hair. He latched onto a nipple and sucked hard. Meadow reached up and braced herself on a rock, her hand trying to grip the smooth surface of the stone. Her mouth opened wide, trying to suck in air bubbles.

Their surroundings were as beautiful as her release when she came. Arax tossed back his head and bellowed. Oddly enough the sound wasn’t distorted by the water. A small school of teeny fish that had gathered scattered.

As Arax slowed he pressed her cheek against his chest in a loving gesture. Meadow released the rock and wrapped her arms around his back. Remaining buried within her, Arax moved them deeper into the cove to lay under a rock shelf. She sighed, wanting to stay where they were forever with the feel of him surrounding her in the warmer pleasant water, but the idea was impossible.

It became apparent after a few moments Arax had fallen asleep. Meadow began to panic; if he stopped breathing air bubbles, she would drown. She couldn’t sleep in water for hours. She tried to pull from his arms, but Arax moved within her again. With his breath Arax created a multitude of air bubbles in the little cubby. The bubbles popped close to her mouth and nose.

“Sleep, little mate.”

Meadow jumped when she heard him, and he chuckled.

“Can you hear me?” she whispered into his chest.

“Yes. Have you forgotten we spoke before when I first found you?”

“I thought I was dreaming.”

“You are the dream. Now sleep. When I take you home you will be presented before the council and I will claim my family. I’ve caused a lot of trouble in the past. The council will be pleased to learn I’ve grown up. My responsibility is clear. Soon I’ll have to release the shark people back into our realm. The fighting needs to stop. We can’t have war among us.”

Meadow didn’t know what to think.
Shark people?
Were the sharks that killed the people on
High Tide
, the same as those who came after her, his people?

“Those sharks in the water on Earth, they came from here, didn’t they?” Meadow shuddered and couldn’t stop a small tremor.

“The water senses your fear.”

Meadow stilled again. Tattletale water. Great. She heard Arax chuckle again.

“Can the water sense all of my feelings?”

“Yes. And it’s pleased you are no longer afraid to be submerged. Sleep, little mate.”

The water warmed a small amount. The heat was pleasing. “Arax, does your water control the elements?”

“It does with my help.”

“At the risk of sounding ten years old, that’s pretty cool.”

“At the risk of sounding ten years old, I agree.”

Chapter 6

Meadow soon learned shark people were not Arax’s to control. Crash, a flippant being, appeared in council one day after being summoned. By summoned, meaning Arax had him dragged in snarling and fighting. After meeting the council days earlier Meadow had relaxed. The older males and females welcomed her warmly when Arax took responsibility for her and Neola. In fact, she thought they gave a collective sound of relief when he approached them holding the babe and had an arm wrapped possessively around Meadow. When Arax announced his intention of mending ties with the sharks they sat up taller and whispered among themselves. Meadow thought she sensed an undercurrent of approval.

The council hung back in seats behind Arax and remained quiet as Crash stood scowling. This was obviously Arax’s show. Meadow sat on a soft blanket on the floor playing with Neola as she often came to council meetings. Arax liked having his family close and Meadow liked having Arax closer. True to his word he played the doting father, and though he fumbled at times with the right words to say, he was always around when she needed him. Crash gazed at her with surprise. Meadow was equally surprised. He was as large as Arax, handsome, and may as well have been dipped in attitude.

“I see you found your way out of the portal,” Arax said. “Interesting considering I didn’t release you. Do I have a spy in my midst?”

“Bite me.”

Arax wrinkled his nose. “I don’t like junk food.”

“What the hell do you want?” Crash demanded.

“A truce,” Arax said.

“So you just snap your fingers and we have a truce?”

“No. Anger runs deep. I’ll take blame for most, but not all.”

Crash appeared surprised. “Why now?”

Arax waved his hand toward Meadow and the baby. “I have a family. Yes, I know what you’re thinking...
the great Arax has a family so we all have to be lovey-dovey
.”

“Well, I wasn’t thinking the ‘great’ part.”

Meadow snickered, placing a quick hand to her mouth. Crash cast her an amused glance. She was, after all, still learning about Arax. At times he was difficult. Prone to arrogance. But he was the most loving father she had ever seen. Meadow lifted Neola into her arms. She walked over to Arax and handed him the baby. Neola was delighted. Crash gaped openly.

“I’m Meadow,” she said, holding out a hand.

“A human custom I will forgo,” Crash said, and she let her hand fall to her side. She remained still when he traced her cheek to jaw with his fingertip. He did the same with Neola. Arax looked pleased.

“You see?” Arax said. “They are mine. Our people on both sides have family. It’s time to stop fighting among ourselves when we know of the Angano. I’ve heard rumors another threat walks among us.”

Crash grimaced. “Dacquel.”

Arax nodded. “We may need each other to disband his army.”

“There are only a few of them.”

“A few is all he needs.”

“I will agree to a temporary truce until Dacquel is taken care of,” Crash said. “After that we will see.”

“That’s all I ask, and for your word.”

“You have my word.” Crash spun and left.

“That’s it?” Meadow said.

“What did you want, a parade?”

“No. I mean that’s all it takes to stop a war here?”

“The war isn’t over. It’s on hold. Sometimes the enemy is better off banding with the devil they know. We fight, we feud, we battle, but we don’t openly kill each other. Dacquel will kill.”

“Sounds like a nasty bastard.”

“Do not use that language near my child.”

“Fine. Your unicorn enemy blows annoying rainbows.”

Arax’s lips twitched. “I’d like to blow a rainbow somewhere on him.”

A female came forward and took Neola for her nap. Arax nodded to the council then led Meadow to their room. They ate, picking from a platter of an array of food and drinks. Meadow was getting used to being waited on. It had flustered her at first when food appeared without asking, towels when she bathed, nannies for Neola when she slept. Her heightened position came with perks she hadn’t imagined, and she didn’t take advantage. Meadow knew hard work. She knew what it was like to be looked down on. Anything done for her was met with a quick
thank you
. The females of Arax’s planet took note. Many smiled at her instead of showing indifference.

After eating her fill Meadow leaned back and sighed with contentment. She loved gazing at Arax. The patterns on his skin swirled in intricate circles, a fingerprint covering his body. She never tired of tracing the lines. Arax suggested they go for a swim with a wink. He captured her hand to kiss her fingers.

“Why don’t we stay on land?” she suggested.

“There’s a place I know you will love.”

He took her hand, pulling her to her feet. Her head reached his shoulders when not in his warrior form, and she lifted her hands to trace the width of his impressive chest.

“When you touch me I know how jellyfish feel,” Arax said.

“That’s funny because when I touch you I feel the same way.”

“What about when I touch you?” Arax cupped the sides of her face and ran his thumbs over her cheeks.

“I feel…wanted and safe.”

“That’s it?”

She chuckled at his vanity. She leaned closer and whispered. “Since Neola isn’t around I think it’s safe to say I want you to fuck me until we can’t breathe. My insides bubble to a boil with your heated glance.”

He whispered back, “That wasn’t at all safe to say.”

With a sinister grin he dropped her pants, dragged her high into his arms and plunged into her. Eyes wide, Meadow clung to him for dear life, her legs wrapping around his waist. He hammered harder until the room spun. With her legs spread, she had little leverage as she leaned back. Her back arched, with his hands under the bow of her back she was trapped. Muscles rippled under her hands as she gripped him.

“Are you boiling now?” he asked.

“Oh my God, yes.”

He lowered a hand to squeeze her ass and yanked her into him. Gasps broke from her lips at the thunder claps made as their thighs collided. Her moan when she climaxed made him howl his release. She lay limp in his arms.

“Arax I can hardly move.”

“And that, my little starfish, is exactly how you make me feel. A water warrior, leader of my lands—mushy.”

Meadow grinned as he tried to sound affronted. “I can deal with mushy as long as your cock stays hard.”

“Why don’t we find another place to see how hard it can get?”

“Definitely.”

* * * *

Arax loved seeing the pure joy on Meadow’s face when they approached his favorite place on land. He was pleased he’d brought her. While with her everything looked different, better, the air was sweeter, food more delicious. His mate intoxicated him. Right now she made his heart hammer. Meadow gasped as she turned in a slow circle. Flowers grew in abundance. The powerful scent filled his senses pleasantly. Her small fingers trailed over vines and rosebuds. There were plants not indigenous to his planet in this place. Another faux-pas on his part once portals were deemed illegal. In his younger, wilder days, Arax developed a love of beauty from his mother and opened portals to bring her different plants. His mother indulged her son bringing her flowers, she thought him sweet and endearing. She helped him plant this special garden.

As Meadow continued her gentle trail of touch to each individual plant Arax became awash with jealousy. Her fingers should be on him. The idea was both amusing and annoying.

The couple flopped onto a hill surrounded in color. Meadow settled onto an elbow and traced his gills. His jealousy evaporated. He loved her fascination of touching him, the way she trailed her digits down his cheeks, but his gills were an area she couldn’t get enough of.

“Do you think I’m odd to look at?” he asked.

“No, not odd, different in a pleasant way. You’re cute.”

“Cute?”

“Thunderously handsome.”

Arax laughed. “Better.”

“I’m happy here. The ship was so sad.”

“How are your ribs?”

“Your healer checked on me again today. He’s nice enough, but he watches me. I’m doing better, so he thinks the pain should be gone soon.”

“He’s a healer and you are his patient, he’s supposed to watch you. Are you still in pain?”

“Sometimes when I move too fast or twist a certain way. Otherwise I’m fine. I guess I need to let my guard down. The doctor and nurse on the ship were horrible. They should have been ashamed of the way they behaved. They took advantage and twisted a sacred profession into a pretzel of distrust. It will take a while to remember what doctors used to mean.”

Sadness radiated from her eyes. Arax wanted to take the pain away. She never complained about any aches when they loved. Her attention was always on him. The idea filled him with pride and arrogance.

With tenderness, Arax slipped her beneath him. The material she wore covering her breasts made him smile. Their females went topless, but she refused and wrapped a single, stretchy bandage around her chest and back. Normally, the covering was used on someone injured until they reached the healing chamber. Everyone thought she was perpetually injured until he’d explained her shyness. Her charming ways already made the people of his planet forget her mild idiosyncrasies. Meadow was adored with good reason.