Choosing Riley: Sarafin Warriors Book 1 (4 page)

“Oh Bob honey, can you be a sweetheart and
help me for a moment again?” The husky voice called out from where
she stood balanced precariously on a large rock. “Fred baby, just
hold the line for a few more minutes. I think I’ve got it this
time.”

“She is called Riley St. Claire from Denver,
Colorado wherever that is,” Tor said in amusement as he watched her
almost fall off the rock again. “She is…. a most unusual
species.”

“Do you know what she is besides being a hair
up my cat’s ass?” Vox snorted before he looked at Lodar who was
anxiously watching as the female teetered for a moment before
regaining her balance.

“No, I’ve never seen a female like that
before,” Lodar grounded out through clenched teeth as she wobbled
again. “Most species I know have some sort of self-preservation.
This one seems to be lacking that particular trait. She has fallen
off that rock three times now and it is a miracle she hasn’t broken
her neck!”

Vox gritted his teeth. He was well aware of
how many times she had fallen. Tor caught her once…. barely. Lodar
the second time and she landed on the Tiliqua she kept calling
‘Fred’ the last time. He had not been able to catch her because he
still couldn’t even stand without falling on his own face thanks to
her. Now, even his jaw was sore from grinding his teeth every time
she almost fell, bent over, or just thrust her…. he groaned again
as his cock jerked in response to her bending over and
affectionately patting Fred on one of his heads.

“You are just such a sweetheart,” she cooed.
“Bob, you cute bowl of key lime Jell-O, can you hook the other end
of the rope on the wall like you did on this side?”

The huge body of the Gelatian started to move
toward Riley to take the rope she was holding out but stopped when
Vox emitted a low, dangerous snarl. The huge species trembled in
terror. Its head turned back and forth between Riley and Vox. Vox
rose stiffly and glared at the creature in warning.

“My lord,” Bob choked out. “The female….
She….” The creature stuttered out before his voice faded.

“Oh, just ignore him, you scrumptious
dessert. He’s all growl and no howl,” Riley said before she
giggled. “Oh, that was so good! Do you get it? All growl, no howl?
Damn, sometimes I’m just good.”

“Sarafin Warriors do not howl,” Vox said
through clenched teeth as he took a step toward the female.
“Female, if you ever shock me again I’ll turn you over my knee and
spank your big ass until it is as red as the Brighton dwarf star,”
he threatened.

Riley turned and wobbled dangerously on the
rock she was standing on for a second. She glared at the huge
figure threatening her. She was as tall as he was now. She reached
her hand down along her side, easing the small cylinder she had
taken out of her luggage and slipped into the pocket of her skirt
into her hand. Her eyes glittered dangerously and her lips pulled
back but it was not into a smile.

Oh, like hell he did not just say I have a
‘big’ ass,
Riley thought viciously.

Her lips pinched together into a pucker
before relaxing. “As you said earlier, Saraprick,” she replied in a
quiet, sarcastic voice. “I’d like to see you try.”

Vox smiled at the challenge. He was going to
enjoy getting his hands on her luscious body finally! He was going
to finish the curtain wall, bend her over and take her hard and
fast.

“And as you said, you really shouldn’t have
said that!” He purred out as he walked slowly toward her.

“Vox,” Tor murmured from behind his friend
and leader. “I don’t think that is a good idea,” he said getting a
bad feeling from the look in the female’s eyes.

She did not look like she was worried. In
fact, she looked like she was out for blood – Vox’s blood if he had
to guess.

“She doesn’t have her weapon on her,” Vox
responded, nodding to where the small Taser laid on the bed.
“She’ll be purring like a kitten once I’ve claimed her.” Vox smiled
as his eyes glittered possessively. “That’s what you need, isn’t it
little cat? A good fucking.”

Riley’s face flushed at the dark promise in
the huge male’s voice. “I am so going to enjoy putting your ass on
the ground again!” She hissed out, trying not to give in to the
desire to turn tail and run.

The problem with running is there was nowhere
to go in the small room. The second problem was that she had
learned a long, long time ago if you didn’t stand up to a bully
when you had a chance, you might never be given another one. She
gripped the cylinder, waiting until he took another step closer to
her.

“Last chance, big boy,” Riley warned softly.
“Step back over the white line and leave me alone or I’ll have to
put you down again.”

Vox almost paused at the soft warning he
heard in her voice. There was a trace of steel that told him she
wasn’t going to run. She would stand and fight him tooth for tooth,
claw for claw. His eyes stared deeply into hers and he saw a
resolution in them. She would not back down. His pride in her grew
at her fierce determination to face him even though he could see
the slight tremble in her hand as she pushed a long strand of white
blond curls behind her ear. She was a worthy mate for a king.

“You are mine, little kitten,” Vox responded
gently. “You will accept what the Gods have given you. Come to me
willingly or come to me fighting but come to me you will.”

Riley shook her head and tightly pinched her
lips together in determination. “Sorry dude, I’ve seen enough alien
movies to know that it never turns out good for the supporting
actors. Since I’ve never been a heroine, this is a no-win situation
for me. I’d just as soon go down fighting.”

Vox’s grin widened. “I always did like a good
fight before I fucked,” he said, reaching to grab her off the
rock.

“Your choice,” Riley muttered holding her
breath as she held the small cylinder up and depressed the
button.

Vox’s roar filled the small room as the
pepper spray hit him in the face. Riley stood frozen on the rock,
pressing her hands over her ears as his loud curses and pain filled
roar continued to echo. He fell back several steps, grabbing at his
face before he fell to his knees in agony.

“What did you do?” Lodar asked in horror as
he tried to help Vox who was rocking back and forth on his knees
emitting low mewing sounds of pain.

“It will stop hurting if he washes his eyes
out…. I think,” Riley whispered. “I’ve never actually had to use it
before but that is what the directions say to do.”

“You’ve never used this weapon before?” Tor
said as he gripped Vox’s shoulder and tried to see what was causing
his friend so much pain.

“Well, I warned him!” Riley said defensively.
“It’s his fault for not listening.”

“Female,” Vox hissed out painfully. “I’m
going to strangle you when I can see again.”

“If you even think of it, I’ll…. I’ll….,”
Riley threatened back. “I don’t know what I’ll do but it is going
to hurt you more than me!”

“Not if I can help it,” Vox groaned as Lodar
laid a cool, damp cloth over his burning eyes.

Hell, he needed one for his nose, throat, and
mouth as well. When she had raised her hand he had thought she was
just trying to warn him to stay back. He had not expected her to
have anything in it. Both of her hands had been empty except for
the rope she was trying to hand the Gelatian just minutes before.
He had made sure she didn’t have anything in them after the first
time. Where in the Guall’s balls she got her hands on the device
she used on him he didn’t know but he was going to be damn careful
the next time he got near her! Gods, his eyes, nose, mouth, and
throat burned!

“Just.... just keep away from me and I won’t
have to hurt you again,” she muttered before turning to the
Gelatian and the Tiliqua. “Come on guys, help me get this wall
built before Saraprick gets on his high horse again.”

Riley glanced at the green, gelatinous
species and smiled when he shook and moved backwards instead. “It’s
okay, darling. It won’t take but a moment. I won’t hurt you, you
tub of gorgeous green.”

“He is not gorgeous,” Vox growled out
hoarsely, trying to glare at the female through blurry, burning
eyes. “You will not speak to him like that. I am your mate!”

Riley glared back at the huge, seething male
who was glaring at her with watery, red eyes. She felt her pulse
rocket at his deep growl and that just made her madder. She would
not let her body react to some overzealous, pompous alien, no
matter how cute he was! She brought up the last five alien movies
she saw and reminded herself that not a one of them ended well for
the humans. Just look at what happened to Sigourney Weaver. She not
only had that alien bursting out of her, she became one! There was
no way that Riley was going to take a chance of that happening to
her.

“I don’t believe I was talking to you,” Riley
growled back. “Now, go bother someone else for a little while. Bob
honey, get your green body over here this instant. I think I feel a
headache coming on and I want to rest in peace for a little
while.”

“Female,” Vox bit out in warning, wiping at
his eyes. “If you need help, I will give it.”

“My name is Riley. Riley St. Claire from
Denver, Colorado, not female. Don’t forget it,” Riley sniffed
indignantly and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she tried
to balance on the rock without falling off of it again. “Now, let
Lodar help you. He seems to know what to do. And quit making that
god-awful growling noise. It is beginning to get on my nerves.”

*.*.*

Vox lay on his back and wiped at his eyes
again. They were still tearing from earlier but thankfully the
worst part of the burning had faded. He turned his head and glanced
at the wall of blankets separating the two sides of the narrow
cavern they had been given. Fred was curled up in a ball in the
corner as far from Vox and his men as possible on one blanket.
‘Bob’ was asleep standing up in the other corner. He, Lodar and Tor
were stretched out on the hard floor. He listened as the female
rolled over on the bed behind the curtain again and released a soft
sigh that tugged at his cock as if she had her hand wrapped around
him. She was driving him and his cat crazy!

“How are we going to get out of here?” Lodar
asked quietly. “As long as we have these collars on there is no way
we can get by the guards.”

“If I had some tools, I could get them off,”
Tor responded quietly. “Problem is, I don’t think the Antrox are
going to leave any tools that would work.”

“I’m going to kill that Valdier royal when I
get my hands on him,” Vox growled out softly. “The Antrox receive
shipments every couple of days. We need to track when those
shipments arrive. We’ll figure out a way to get these damn collars
off and steal a ship. Kill as many of those emotionless insects as
you can on the way out. I want them to know they better not mess
with a Sarafin Warrior again.”

“Tomorrow begins our first shift,” Lodar
said. “We can look for tools when they take us to the mines.”

“What of the female?” Tor asked looking over
to the blankets where Riley’s soft sighs could be heard. “We will
need to watch her. I’ve heard of what can happen to females in the
Antrox mines. If the Pactors don’t attack them and kill them, other
prisoners often try to steal them or a trader will offer credits
for them. They kill the males if another female doesn’t take them
or another is not available.”

Vox looked at the shadow of his mate as she
turned over again. He watched one of her arms rise up briefly
before she turned over onto her stomach. A small grin pulled at his
mouth. There wasn’t a part of his body that wasn’t sore thanks to
her. He had never been brought to his knees before, not even in
battle except for the time he was poisoned. His mate had done it
not once but twice in the same day.

“She is to be protected at all cost. Kill any
who try to take or harm her,” he ordered. “She is your new
queen.”

Tor chuckled softly. “I don’t think she is
going to be too happy with her new title,” he said, fighting back
another laugh.

“I don’t care if she likes her new title or
not, she is my mate and the queen of our people,” Vox said with a
grin of his own. “I have to admit I’m looking forward to seeing how
she handles it. Just remind me to make sure I check her hands
before I get near her again,” he said turning so he could stare at
the curtain and imagine what she looked like lying on the narrow
bed.

“You don’t think she would have any tools
with her, do you?” Lodar asked curiously. “She has been
surprisingly resourceful so far.”

Vox snorted. “She is a female! Why would a
female need tools?” He said dismissively. “No, our best hope is if
we can find some that the Antrox haven’t accounted for.”

“Like that will ever happen,” Tor grunted
out. “They inventory every item as the prisoners go into the mines
and again coming out.”

Vox bit back the curse on his lips. “I want
off this asteroid. If we can’t find the tools we need then we will
have to find another way to get them. Get some sleep, it will be a
long day tomorrow.”

Both men grunted their agreement as they
rolled over trying to get comfortable on the hard surface. Vox
stared at the shadow of his mate again. He would get off the
asteroid and he would kill the Valdier royal who drugged him and
his men. But first, he needed to make sure that he marked his mate
in case she was taken from him. He would find her, no matter where
she went but he wanted everyone to know she belonged to him.

Riley turned around to stare at the strange
creatures passing their small group in the long corridor. They had
been woken up way too early for her. She was not much of a morning
person. In fact, until she had a decent breakfast, several cups of
coffee, and it was past ten in the morning no one even bothered to
talk to her. To top it off, she had to make do with just a quick
cloth bath to refresh her. The ‘bathroom’ was a large open area
shared with other prisoners, male and female. Vox, Tor, and Lodar
had stood guard in front of the door when Riley had refused to go
in as long as there was anyone else in the room. Even Bob and Fred
had lent a body to help cover the opening to give her privacy. She
had quickly done her business and cleaned up as best she could. She
decided she better dress appropriately if she was going to be
working in a mine. She wore a pair of her favorite faded jeans that
had a hole in one of the knees, a soft, long sleeve Denver Bronco’s
jersey, and a pair of tennis shoes. She wasn’t about to ruin her
designer boots working in the dusty mine. She quickly piled her
hair up into a messy but chic ponytail. She touched her lips with a
bit of lip gloss before quickly tossing the items she had worn to
sleep in into the carry on she had. She slid her designer handbag
over her shoulder and straightened her shoulders in determination.
She was NOT going to be a big baby and cry because she wanted to go
home. She was going to find a way to get back to Earth, even if she
had to kill someone to do it.