Craving: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 8) (12 page)

A
nquesh warriors escorted
Jenn into the larger ship. Kai turned and held out his hand toward her. The soldiers immediately pulled away, giving her space to reach the commander. She took his hand reluctantly. It was so large that her hand disappeared in his palm. He walked forward confidently while different officers gave him status updates.

He spoke curtly to the men surrounding him, and they all moved off, leaving Jenn and Kai alone in the corridor.

"I need to talk to you about something," he said, staring into her eyes. "The commander of the Earth ships has contacted us. He wants to know two things. First, he is asking about their leader, Commodore Bretland. Second, they wonder if we are going to let them leave Anquesh space. I know this might be difficult for you, but right now I need every bit of leverage I can get. Will you help me on the bridge and explain to them about the treaty between Earth and Anquera?"

"Isn't the deal contingent on us getting married?" said Jenn bitterly.

"My government is in chaos right now. Half the fleet has rallied under me, which is something I didn't expect. The lack of confidence in my stepbrother's ability to rule has created a division. I have no idea if the treaty will remain valid in the coming days. The best choice is to assume it's enforceable. I need every ship I can get. If that means relying on Earth ships, so be it."

Jenn felt uneasy. She was being asked to take responsibility for her race again.

"What happens if I don't?"

"The Similcue will win, and make us their prisoners. They'll shoot me on sight. I don't know what will happen to you precisely, but they aren't known for being kind to their captives."

"I guess I don't have much choice. Anything else I should know?"

"Someone has to tell them that Commodore Bretland is dead."

She sagged against Kai for a moment, then pulled herself together. "I can't believe it. I only found out he was alive a little while ago. Did the Anquesh finally kill him?"

"I was in the room when it happened. An assassin murdered him. It wasn't us. I suspect the Similcue are responsible."

"Do you have any proof?"

Kai sighed. "I don't have any evidence, only a hunch. The timing of the death is suspicious. It certainly helped the Similcue's plans."

"I think I'm going to need something more definite than that. I'm not going to tell the United Earth Alliance something questionable to manipulate them into assisting their enemies. Is this the Anquesh concept of honor? Lying to get what you want?"

"We're facing a life-and-death situation, Jenn."

"There's a saying on Earth. The ends don't justify the means. Do you only pay attention to your honor when it is convenient to you?"

"Of course not. There's no need to be offensive."

"It seems like it to me. From my perspective, honor was a convenient excuse to judge and wage war on an entire species for the actions of a few that offended you."

The expression on his face changed, twisting into a look of pain, as if she had hit him with a brick.

"Neither of our species will be around to have this argument if we don't figure out what to do."

Jenn stared thoughtfully at the hulking Anquesh warrior and realized he was right. If she didn't follow through with Kai's plan, both of their species were doomed.

"This discussion isn't over," she snapped. "But to get some time to continue talking, I'll do what you want."

Kai opened his mouth in preparation to argue, then stopped when he realized she had acquiesced. His eyes crinkled with amusement as he gazed at her. In a swift motion, he swept her into his arms as if she was weightless, and crushed his lips against hers. As his warm mouth tenderly touched her, Jenn realized that the sexy alien haunting her dreams was in front of her. She melted into him, drawn to the strength of his body. Heat and tingles of energy ignited in her core. She sought more of those feelings as she clung to Kai and pressed her body against him.

She heard a voice from far away. "Commander."

Kai pulled away. "Yes, Sevit."

"The Earth captain is waiting to speak with you."

Kai bent his head slightly and closed his eyes with a sigh. "Sorry," he whispered. "I couldn't help myself." He turned quickly to Sevit while clasping Jenn's hand. "Let's go talk to him."

Kai held her hand all the way to the bridge, his heart still pounding from the memory of a single stolen kiss. Being with his sindare was just like the stories told to him as a child. He could barely control himself when he was around her. To Kai, Jenn had never looked more beautiful. He was attracted to her defiance. Her eyes held a challenge that was irresistible to his soul.

He carefully inspected her face to see if the kiss had any effect on her, but he couldn't read her inscrutable expression. She seemed focused on moving forward and looking at the path in front of her. By the gods, he loved that aspect of her. At that moment, he realized that he had not found an Anquesh love because the women of his species didn't have what he needed. He had never refused a challenge in his life, but the women on Anquera who found him attractive seemed eager to please and too easy for him to take. There was no challenge, and that did not ignite a fire in his heart.

The woman next to him, the one whose hand he was holding? She was all challenge. He would have to find a way into her wayward human heart and forge a bond with her so she could feel the same sensations. Kai knew he wouldn't have the natural connection with Jenn that Anquesh sindares felt for each other. It was new territory. Learning how to love the human and the adventure of overcoming her resistance excited him.

He should have realized he had fallen for her when they first met. Kai wasn't merely a sindare with a chemical need for his mate, but an alien who found the one woman who captured his heart.

They followed Sevit onto the bridge. The vast expanse of the Ruvien's command deck spread in front of them. In a half-circle, Anquesh soldiers manned gleaming workstations stations. A multi-part viewing screen flashed different images of the area around the ship.

"Officer on the deck." The bridge crew stood.

"At ease. Turn on the translator so we can all hear the news from Earth. Bring the communication on screen." Kai wanted to make sure his crew could understand Jenn's words. Some of his senior staff came from influential noble families in the empire. They would speak with their relatives about the decisions made on the Ruvien.

The screen shimmered and filled with the image of a human. He stood on the deck of his ship, staring into the bridge of the Ruvien. Beside him lurked an Anquesh lieutenant.

"Report," snapped Kai.

"Earth captain Ron Oakland offers his ships in defense of Anquera, Commander. He is concerned about the fate of Commodore Bretland."

And now we have to tell him the Commodore is dead
. Kai looked to Jenn helplessly, and she stepped forward.

"Captain, I'm Jennifer Carden. Earth sent me to Anquera with orders to help facilitate a treaty."

"I hadn't heard of that project. Are you an ambassador?" said the captain. "Where were you stationed before your engagement on Anquera?"

"Not exactly. It's complicated. Who I am is irrelevant, but I do have some information for you. I'm sorry to be the one to inform you that someone assassinated Commodore Bretland."

"Was it these Anquesh bastards?"

"At this time, we don't know who did it."

"Jenn," hissed Kai quietly. She waved her hand at him.

"But they strongly suspect the Similcue was behind the Commodore's death, the same race that is attacking them now. The Anquesh commander, Kai Imwaden, the alien next to me, is trying to form a unit of mixed forces to fight against the Similcue. Will you help us?"

Oakland looked away a second then turned his eyes back to Jenn. "Of course we will help. Bretland was a good man. He didn't deserve to die in this God-forsaken place."

Kai didn't react to the insult. He couldn't afford to demand his honor at this moment. Perhaps Jenn was right. The Anquesh emphasized honor at convenient times. He needed the assistance of Earth.

"All of Anquera thanks you," said Kai. "We will relay instructions to you through our tactical console." The screen shimmered, and a view of the planet replaced it. Similcue ships surrounded the world. "Sevit, get in touch with all the Anquesh ships you can find and discover if they're ready for battle."

"Yes, sir."

He looked at Jenn in wonder. "Did you know he'd agree even though we didn't have proof it was the Similcue?"

"I had a hunch," said Jenn with a grin. "We're not the most advanced species in the universe, but we know how to put two and two together."

K
ai entered
into commander mode as reports bombarded him from all sides. Jenn watched as he nodded his head and gave a few orders, then walked to a pedestal. He waved his hand, making the pedestal shimmer and display a planet with different ships hovering around it. Other soldiers gathered around him. Forgotten, Jenn found a seat and listened.

"The faint green dots represent disabled Similcue vessels. The functional ones have gone into hiding on the dark side of the third moon, Commander," Sevit said.

"What about these ships in red?" Jenn motioned with her hand. "Are they the Earth spaceships? Why are there only seven of them?"

"Three of their ships were severely disabled in the fight. Our mechanics cannibalized them. We used their parts to repair the others, making a total of seven functional ships.

Kai shook his head. "Seventeen against twenty. The odds are not in our favor."

Sevit finished explaining the diagram. "The blue dots are Anquesh ships which have engaged the enemy in battle while the white wait near the fourth planet."

"Are they responding to hails?"

"No, sir."

"What do we know about Similcue invasion tactics?"

"They typically soften up a planet with direct attacks on public areas. They follow up by weakening defenses from orbit, then regroup and attack remaining defensive forces. The Similcue don't strike first. They'll wait for us to position our ships and show our defensive strategy, then choose our weakest point to destroy us. They're probably using the downtime to analyze our possible responses and develop plans to counter them all."

"Thank you for the analysis. If it's correct, we have a big job ahead of us. Gentlemen, I want your recommendations in fifteen minutes. Inform the Earth commander that I wish to speak to him. When he's available, direct the call to my ready room."

Kai turned to Jenn. "Come with me." He held out his hand as if he expected her to take it. She looked nervously around the room and saw no one was paying any attention to the insignificant human. Biting her lip, she stood and walked to the Anquesh warrior, who smiled.

He led her to an office adjacent to the bridge. It was a small room, filled with trophies behind glass cases and a large map of solar systems laid out in star clusters. When Kai closed the door behind them, they were alone.

"Why are we here?" Jenn asked.

"Two things." Kai moved closer to her. "First, I wanted a couple of minutes alone with you."

"Well, that's thoughtful, I suppose."

"Second, I want you to speak to Oakland and ask him for a favor."

"You want an awful lot from me." Jenn pushed Kai away and folded her arms.

"I do," Kai agreed. He moved back and put his arms around her waist. "I realized something today."

"What did you realize?" she asked, licking her lips. For some reason, they suddenly felt dry.

"I know why I want you."

Jenn shook her head. Even though she couldn't believe what she was hearing, she knew something was different when he lowered his head and lightly kissed her neck under her ear.

"Let me explain something to you. Legends say that when we meet our sindare, we cannot help but feel an overwhelming desire for them. Our scientists say it is a chemical compulsion. Apparently it's a way to ensure our species will survive. Our concerns are war, battle, and competition. It's unusual for us to pay attention to the future unless we cross paths with our sindare."

She was at a loss for words but gasped when he licked behind her ear.

"Have I mentioned that you are delicious?"

Jenn put her hands to his chest in a half-hearted attempt to push him away. For some reason, she couldn't find the strength to follow through. "I don't recall you saying anything of the sort."

"Do you see? I have been remiss with my attentions. Please forgive me."

"Perhaps I would if I understood more about this conversation."

"I worried I had offended you after our time in the taxi. You remember that, don't you?"

He began fondling her breast with his hand, drawing his thumb over the peak. Her nub hardened and sharpened her sensations. The tingles spread from her breast to between her legs.

"How could I forget?"

"I had questions. Had I had inadvertently repulsed you? Perhaps I violated an important human custom. We are aliens to each other, and we do things differently." His hand was under the fabric now. The feeling of his fingers was electric against her flesh. He gently pinched her nipple.

"Some things are the same everywhere in the universe. Aren't you worried about violating me now?"

"I think my problem is that I like to worry." He leaned in hungrily, pressed his lips against her mouth, searching for something. As he leaned against her, she felt his hard cock press into her stomach. "Nothing has come easily to me. I enjoy competition more than most Anquesh."

Jenn looked up and over Kai's shoulder. The wall was full of trophies which extended to the ceiling. "I can see that."

"I believe you are my greatest challenge, Earth woman."

"Are you sure? Your biggest conquest over two planets?"

"Definitely," he breathed into her ear. He trailed his tongue sensuously in and around her earlobes. No one had ever done that to her before, and she felt something shift in her sex.

"Maybe we aren't different after all," she panted.

"I think it's time to find out."

"I thought we were supposed to do things first. The marriage ceremony? A battle..." Words failed Jenn as Kai slipped his fingers through the slits in the cloth on her thighs and up to her core, searching for the source of her heat.

"We had our moment of battle in the closet when we met. You won. My heart is your prisoner."

Fuck
, she thought.
He even talks a good game.

"It's my turn to win you," he said as his finger found her folds.

Jenn groaned as he touched her entrance and teased it with his fingers. They were big, but he moved them carefully. He pulled at the fastening of her pants, finding a button that magically released the flimsy fabric, leaving it around her ankles.

"So hot and wet," he murmured, his eyes half-open. Kai lifted her body and spread her legs on a chair in front of his desk. He dropped to his knees and threw her feet over her shoulders.

He put his fingers on either side of her entrance. "It's beautiful. You're like a delicate pink flower." He lowered his head and ran his tongue over her pussy, making Jenn shiver.

"The taste is fantastic." He buried his face between her legs again, moving his tongue everywhere. When he found her clit, she gasped, and her moaning encouraged him to do more. He licked and sucked enthusiastically as her moans grew sharper and louder. Jenn clutched at his hair, pulling him deeper between her legs. She exploded with waves of pleasure that drove all thoughts from her mind.

Jenn's hips pushed against his face as he drove his tongue inside her, starting another burst of pleasure. "Oh my God."

Kai raised his head and gave her a wicked smile. "Did I win you, Jenn?"

"We can give you the round, but the fight isn't over yet."

"Good," he said with a broad grin. "I like a challenge."