Initiation (Xylon Warriors 1) (25 page)

He let out a heavy breath. “A Dispenser is Xylon’s version of a Pain Master, like those three who came after us on the Marid ship. The other subjects are not open for discussion at this time.” Braden walked toward her, a scowl on his face.

His attitude left something to be desired. She’d leave it alone, for the moment, but only because the intense look on his face as he approached gave her pause. She’d have backed up, but there was nowhere to go. She knew he’d never hurt her. Still, that Alpha male thing was unpredictable.

Maybe he intended to grab her, kiss her, and toss her onto the bed. That would be okay. Instead, he squeezed past her and opened one of the dresser drawers.

He pulled out a silky, black shirt with short sleeves. “Here. Wear this. I’ll have more appropriate clothes sent up.”

Their fingers brushed as she took the garment from him. A little shiver of excitement traveled all the way up her arm. She studied the material. “More than a tad small for you, isn’t it?”

A smile tugged at his lips, and he shrugged.

Probably some female’s. She turned her back, dropped the sheet, and slipped on the shirt. The material felt soft against her skin and molded to her body, but barely covered her butt. When she turned back around, Braden was grinning. “What?”

“Nothing. You’ve just got the sexiest ass I’ve ever seen.”

He reached for her, but she sidestepped him and strolled over to one of the seascapes on the wall. “What are these controls?” A red button and a green button were on the side of the frame. The whole thing was huge for a picture, probably five feet by five feet.

“Push the green one.”

She pressed the green button, and the blue-green waves in the picture moved back and forth. Some sort of bird cried out in the distance. She even smelled the sea’s salty spray. “Nice.” She turned back toward him. “Why aren’t there any windows, Braden?”

“Not practical.”

“Because?”

“We’re underground.”

Alexa’s stomach clenched. Underground. “Why?”

“It’s where The Lair is located. Warrior Headquarters. We have an uprising on the surface. We’re safer down here until we can get it under control. And we
will
get it under control.”

“So, what do we do now?” She couldn’t seem to settle her thoughts. She still didn’t completely understand who these people were. Not really. Who her parents were. Who she was.

“What do we do now?” A grin quirked his lips. “I have a few ideas.”

“I’m serious, Braden.” Torque had said The Council would take her away. She shuddered at the thought. She’d have to trust Braden to protect her from that possibility.

“So am I.”

Falling into his arms now, like this, didn’t feel right. She tugged at the bottom of the shirt. “I’m not here simply for your sexual pleasure, you know.”

“Did I say you were? Though that role would work for me.” He chuckled.

“I’d hoped to explore Xylon.”

“We will once it’s safe. I’ll show you around. It’s beautiful, especially at night.”

“Even with the Egesa?”

“We have protected zones.”

She looked at the five multi-colored moons in one of the landscapes. The sky was an eerie dark red. “These are pictures of the planet and moons.”

“That’s right.”

“What’s the weather like up there?”

“Right now, we’re having a blizzard. Our weather patterns and seasons are similar to Earth’s. Perhaps a bit more extreme, but nothing you won’t be able to handle.”

She nodded, surprised by how warm she felt. They had good temperature control. “Where will I live?”

“With me, of course.”

She turned toward him. “I’m still my own person, Braden. And you’re not my only lifeline here. I have Kam.”

Braden’s eyes darkened. He stalked her, until he had her trapped in a corner. “You belong to me, Alexa. Kam is my friend, but you are my woman.” He immediately stepped back and ran a hand through his hair. “Shit. Sorry. That sounded…”

“Jerk-ish.”

He grinned. “Yeah.” He held out his hand. “Come sit with me. Please.”

She hesitated a moment, then slid her hand into his. His fingers closed protectively around hers, and he tugged her to the couch. They sat side by side, and angled toward each other, hands still clasped.

“I’d like you to stay with me, Alexa. By my side.”

Her pulse jumped. His fingers tightened around hers, and she suspected the calmness in his voice belied what he was actually feeling. Or maybe that was just her own feelings. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I…no. Not exactly.”

She couldn’t help the disappointment that flowed through her. She’d thought for a minute…”What did Torque mean by enjoy me while you can? And please don’t say that it’s nothing.” She had a bad feeling about all this.

He rubbed his chin. “It’s…complicated.”

“Everything I’ve experienced with you so far has been complicated. I need to know.”

“The old Council originally selected Laszlo to initiate you.”

“The former leader who’s disappeared?” When he arched an eyebrow in query, she replied, “Torque told me that much.”

“Yes. To initiate and to mate. To produce Warrior children. Normally, a woman has a choice in these matters.”

“Normally?”

“Super breeders don’t.”

She stiffened. “You lied to me! You said I wouldn’t be forced.”

“I said you wouldn’t be forced to go through the Initiation. And you weren’t. I, personally, would never force you to do anything you didn’t want.”

Alexa withdrew her hand. She rose to her feet. “You people are crazy.” She waved her arms in the air. “Everything is so out there. So over the top.”

“Our numbers have been weakening. We need a strong Breeder Program to strengthen our power with the best matches. Kam and Laszlo found out about your super breeder status from genetic material provided by your father. They decided you and I would make a better match. I also think Laszlo has someone else picked out for himself, though he never said that specifically. The Council disagreed, because there’s some instability in my family line. They didn’t want to take a chance. Especially after Torque went rogue. Even now, my lead position in The Council is shaky.”

“What do you mean?”

“My mother was a super breeder. Because of our planet’s needs, they wanted her to multi-mate breed. She refused, and they tried to take her away. To force her compliance.”

“What happened?”

“She killed herself.”

Alexa choked back the sob that leapt to her throat. “I’m so sorry, Braden.”

He barely nodded, but a grim look filled his eyes. “I don’t really remember that much about her.”

“You must have other siblings, besides Torque. Since he’s obviously older, and super breeders have more than one child each time.”

“Two sisters. One twin to me, and one twin to Torque. They’re on Xylon ships right now, patrolling in another star system. They’ve been called back home because of the uprising. They’ll be here in a couple of weeks.”

“Torque said I’d be taken away. Will I be forced to multi-mate?” Alexa shook her head. “Geez! I don’t know who to direct my anger at first. This is all so ridiculous! I’m not a piece of property for Xylon to breed at will. I want to talk to this Council. I want to talk to Kam.” She stalked across the room and punched a button, hoping it would open the door. Closet. She punched another button, and the other door slid open. Corridor. Good.

“Where are you going? You’re not dressed.”

She stormed out.

He quickly followed. “Come back into the room with me, Alexa.”

“I said I want to talk to Kam.”

Two men rounded the corner. One sent a wolf whistle her way. “Nice ass, baby.”

The other laughed. “Need a hand, Braden?”

Alexa tugged at the bottom of the shirt.

“Shut up, Pitch, or I’ll fry
your
ass.”

“As long as you stay away from my balls.” He laughed and clapped his friend on the back.

Alexa rounded the corner.

“Alexa, stop!” Braden rushed to catch up with her. He moved in front of her, blocking her path. “You need to calm down before you speak to anyone.”

She stepped around him. Rounding another corner, she stopped. Elevators. A woman exited, eyeing her strangely. Alexa quickly moved inside.

Braden squeezed in right before the doors closed. “You’re upset.”

“What gave you the first clue?” She studied the control panel and arbitrarily picked a button and punched it.

They began to move upwards.

Braden punched another button, and they came to a halt. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall.

Alexa glared at him. “Start us up, Braden.”

“Not until you calm down. You don’t even know where to go.”

She punched several buttons, but nothing happened. Frustration built until she felt ready to blow. “What else haven’t you told me?”

“You want to know everything? Fine. As lead initiator, I have the right to take you as mistress. As decreed by the old Council, Laszlo is still supposed to take you as mate. I don’t know yet whom else they selected, if anyone, given your super breeder genes. But I won’t allow it to happen. I intend to Brand you as mine. Mine alone.”

It took a moment before she could respond. “Brand? That’s the second time you’ve mentioned that to me, and I don’t think I like the sound of it. What does that mean? You should have told me about all this before. Mistress? What happened to my rights? Maybe I
will
leave with Torque.” Alexa regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. A deep hurt filled Braden’s gaze, and he didn’t attempt to hide it from her. Her heart ached at his obvious pain. She hadn’t meant to hurt him. She hung her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just—”

“You’re scared.”

She nodded. “What if you can’t get The Council’s decision overturned? Will they take me away from you, like Torque said? I couldn’t live imprisoned somewhere, letting whoever they decreed fuck me until I ended up pregnant.”

“Don’t worry about it, Alexa. It’s not going to happen.”

After a moment of silence, she felt his arms slip around her. She didn’t pull back. Despite their confrontation, she didn’t want to be apart from him. She needed his strength, his touch. He was her anchor in all this craziness. His lips brushed her cheek, her ear, the side of her neck.

“You don’t have to be afraid.” He cupped her cheeks in his palms and raised her head until their gazes met. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Completely.”

She sank her teeth into her bottom lip. Complete trust was a lot to ask. After her father had left, she’d never completely trusted anyone again. She looked into his eyes and drowned in his violet gaze.

He lowered his head, and his mouth covered hers in a tender kiss. Their tongues touched, and he slipped his arms around her back. One hand glided down her side and hip, then pushed up the shirt to cup her bare bottom.

She gasped into his mouth. Her fingers burrowed under his shirt, seeking his hard, warm flesh. When her nails grazed his skin, he groaned. She loved the sounds he made when excited.

He broke the kiss, yanked the shirt over her head, and tossed it to the floor. He pulled his own off and let it fall next to hers.

She wanted his pants off, too. She needed him naked and vulnerable like she was. She reached for his belt and tugged.

He brushed her hands aside and lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around me.”

She automatically did so, but she really wanted him naked. She was about to say so when his lips latched onto her breast, and he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth. Okay. This was good, too. “Oh.” Really good. Her head fell back. “Yes.”

Shifting to her other breast, he stroked his tongue over and around the nipple, until she thought she’d explode from need. “I need a quickie, Braden, not this drawn out seduction.”

“Mmm,” was all he answered. His tongue continued to softly lick her nipples—first one, then the other.

She burrowed her fingers in his hair. Her hips pressed against him as the pressure built inside her. She had to have him inside her. Soon.

His fingers caressed her butt, driving her need even higher. He pressed her back against the wall and licked at the skin between her breasts. His tongue was everywhere, driving her crazy. She tugged on his hair, and he moved to cover her mouth in a searing kiss. Their lips locked. Their tongues tangled. She couldn’t get enough of him. Trembling with desire, her legs eased from around his waist, until her feet touched the floor.

Braden stepped back and simply looked at her—a slow perusal from head to toe and back again.

The passion and need in his eyes intrigued her. She didn’t even feel an urge to cover her nakedness. She liked the way he looked at her. Suddenly, she glanced up into the corners.

“No cameras. Don’t worry.” He pulled off his boots and socks. Then reached for his belt.

Alexa’s heart pounded triple time. She chewed at her bottom lip and clasped her hands. He was moving too slow. She wanted to tackle him, strip him naked, and impale herself on his hard cock, until she screamed out her pleasure and satisfaction.

He unlatched the leather and pulled it from the loops. “Turn around.”

“What?”

He doubled the belt in his hands.

Her breath caught. He wanted…spanking her with his hand to stimulate her sexually was one thing, but this was entirely different. “Oh, no. You are
not
going to—”

“Turn around and put your palms flat against the wall, your arms all the way up. Now.”

Chapter Seventeen

Alexa hesitated, then turned, as he instructed. She kept her eyes locked on his, wondering what wicked thoughts were filling his mind, until the last moment when her head wouldn’t turn any further. Then she closed her eyes and swiveled her face toward the wall.

She wasn’t sure why she followed his near-order to expose herself like this, but she did. She didn’t want to examine her motives too closely. She just knew that giving him total control over her body was something she needed to do. She needed to know if she could trust him. And needed
him
to know that she was willing to trust him, in all things, as long as he didn’t abuse that trust. She only hoped that she hadn’t misjudged him and really could trust Braden. If she couldn’t, more than her physical well-being was at stake.