Prime Selection (30 page)

Starship Galanti, Huw’s Quarters

Nadia entered the outer room of Huw’s suite and found Mel, Wulf, and Lia waiting on her. Huw’s emotions buzzed over her skin like hundreds of crawling ants. His chaotic feelings hadn’t been lessened by his unconsciousness; in fact, they’d increased the closer she came.

After docking, she’d attempted to go to Huw first, but Kerr had intercepted her and escorted her to Sick Bay. The taking of medical samples had been a lesson in control …

and torture. Everything Kerr did exacerbated the pain of being away from Huw when he needed her. She’d even snapped at Kerr a couple of times. The prick had laughed and said her irritability was understandable because she and Huw were sharing a high level of sexual frustration.

As if she hadn’t realized that fact on her own. Huw’s thoughts, even while unconscious, were mostly about claiming, marking, and making her scream in ecstasy.

She was so ready for the claiming—had been for weeks. So she was happy he was finally on the same page. Screaming in ecstasy? She was on board with that too. Within the last few days, even her vibrator and the sex sims hadn’t provided relief.

“What’s going on?” Nadia moved further into Huw’s quarters and looked at the two women she called friends. “Why are you here?” She inhaled sharply and glanced at the closed bedroom door. “Is Huw okay?”

“Huw will be fine now that you are here. Sit down, Nadia.” Wulf gestured toward a small sofa across from where he and Mel sat. “Melina and Lia couldn’t tell you any details prior to now, because the knowledge has been restricted. With Huw’s display of rage at your danger and distance, most Prime on board this ship have guessed you are bonding and the bond is as strong as with an all-Prime couple. We can’t hide the fact any longer that true
gemat-gemate
bonding is possible—at least with Terrans and Volusians.”

Nadia ignored Wulf’s offer of a seat and didn’t completely process what he’d told her. Huw continued to call to her. She touched his mind and found him unconscious. He was still dreaming about taking her in every way a man could take a woman. Her knees went weak at one detailed and highly kinky image and she braced herself on a table by the door. She started for the bedroom door, wanting to be near him, but was stopped by Wulf.

“Nadia, wait.” He led her to where Lia sat.

Nadia sank onto the buttery-soft gray leather sofa. Her hand covered the spot on her lower abdomen throbbing with need for Huw. “What about the marks?” She frowned and looked at Wulf. “You said something about a true
gemate-gemat
bonding.” She glared at Lia and Mel. “I knew you were keeping something from me.”

“Yes, we did. Nadia, look.” Lia raised her top and nudged the top of her pants down just enough for Nadia to see a
gemate
marking.

“My God! Lia, you have a mark!” Nadia looked from Lia to Mel and then to Wulf.

“How?”

Wulf chuckled. “Well, that’s what we’re asking. Dr. Martin has some preliminary theories, but would like to do more tests before we make any announcements to the Prime people. With Lia and Joen, you and Huw, and two other couples that seem to be bonding, we should be able to see what the common biological denominator is—and be able to test for it.”

Nadia snorted. “You won’t need to test. The couples will know.”

Lia nodded and smiled her agreement.

“This thing between me and Huw was instantaneous. I just accepted the reality sooner than he did. It isn’t comfortable, dammit, and that needs to be made clear. Staying away from the person connecting with you shouldn’t be encouraged.”

“I agree.” Wulf braced his elbows on his knees and leaned toward her. “Huw wouldn’t have lost control of his emotions and endangered himself and others if he’d accepted the courting phase from the beginning.” Wulf leaned back against the sofa and Mel snuggled into his side. “My brother understands that now. He knows he’s hurt you on many levels.”

Wulf paused and what Nadia could only describe as a naughty grin crossed his lips.

“I think once you calm him down and achieve the marking, you should make him pay.”

Nadia choked, the sound between a laugh and a sob. “That’s what Royce and Aeron suggested … I’d already made the decision to confront him.”

“Ahh. And if he hadn’t come to terms?” Wulf arched one dark brow, his amber-colored eyes glittering.

“I would have asked for a transfer to Blue Squadron.”

Mel and Lia gasped. Nadia shuddered at the thought now, not sure she would’ve been able to go through with it … but she damn well would have tried.

Wulf nodded and hummed under his breath. “It wouldn’t have worked, but it would have driven the point home. I chased Melina all the way from Tooh 10 to Obam IV. I would have followed her across the universe if I’d had to in order to make her mine. The urge was that strong.”

Mel rubbed her cheek against her mate’s arm. “And you took your damn time, too.

By the time you found me, we were both hurting badly. I never want to feel that kind of torment again.”

“God, Mel, when you first described that time to me, I didn’t believe you.” Nadia shook her head at the folly of it all now. “But this feeling … of being separated from Huw, especially when he lost control and needed me … well, it was like losing a part of me. I have this big hole in my heart. My mind can’t seem to focus on anything else. The only thing that’s keeping me in this seat and not going to Huw is I knew you were hiding something.”

Lia touched her on the arm. “I didn’t have the turmoil you and Mel went through since Joen made it his business to be near me as much as he could without drawing too much attention to ourselves.” The doctor’s lips twisted. “Joen was very inventive at finding ways of getting me alone. It was … arousing … fun. You definitely need to make Huw chase you. No moving in with him until you get to know each other.”

“Okay, since we’re all on the same page as to how Huw needs to chase or court or woo me … would somebody tell me when the mark appears?” Nadia knew she sounded irritated, but they were jawing at her and she wanted to be with Huw.

“After sex, Nadia,” Lia said.

They all laughed as Wulf snarled under his breath, “Be blunt, why don’t you?”

Mel kissed Wulf’s red cheek. “Lia’s mark appeared after she and Joen had intercourse for the first time.” She poked Wulf in the stomach with a finger. “My
gemat
doesn’t like to discuss his crew’s sex lives. Who’d have thought big strong Prime males were such wusses when it came to being frank about intimacy?”

“I’m not a wuss whatever that is,” grumbled Wulf. “We’re talking about my brother and my new sister-kin. Huw, for one, would knock me on my ass again if he knew we were discussing his sex life.”

Nadia laughed. “I won’t tell him.” A thought crossed her mind. “Does Huw know about the mark?”

Wulf grinned evilly. “No. He had already decided to declare his interest in you when you returned from the planet. He told me his honor prevented him before this last stop on the mission. He didn’t want to declare himself if there was a chance he would mark a hither-to-unknown Prime female. He didn’t want to hurt you by beginning a relationship that might later have to be ended.”

“He stayed away from me because of honor?” Nadia scowled. “On the outside chance he might find a woman he could mark?”

“Yes.” Wulf’s expression was solemn. “His reasoning was sound, but it was narrow-minded in light of the intense attraction between the two of you and the mental connection. He was so busy looking at the big picture, he missed all the fine details that demonstrated he had already found his mate.”

Nadia huffed out a breath and touched Huw’s mind, digging deeply and found that everything Wulf had said was true. Her thickheaded Huw had avoided her to keep from hurting her. And, he was right, dammit. If he had dated her, courted her, taken her to bed, and then later found a Prime female who took his mark, she would’ve been very hurt.

“I see his reasoning,” she said, “but it doesn’t make the pain of the last few weeks any less hurtful.” She sighed. “Aeron told me Huw needed me for more than just the biological urges…”

“Aeron is correct.” Wulf’s eyes turned warmer; his expression became more gentle and understanding. “Nadia … sister-kin … Prime males desire and need their mates on all levels. Never doubt, you will be the center of his universe from now until death. No other will ever love you as he does.”

Wulf sighed and frowned. “You need to understand why he reasoned it out as he did.

My idiot brother has always had this skewed outlook about why Iolyn and I had markings and he, none. He felt lesser than us, wanted to be like us … so he searched for the perfect
gemate
and missed her when she was right in front of him. He forgot to listen to his instincts.”

“And Prime males are all about instincts.” Mel laughed. “Wulf is correct. Once that man beds you and completes the bonding, he’ll want to be near you every second to make sure you’re safe, happy, and well loved. You’ll have to stand up to him and fight for your breathing space, or he’ll smother you with his adoration.”

“You’re saying he loved me, instinctively, since he was first attracted? That to Prime males, attraction, biological or whatever it is, is the key to love for them? That the bond would’ve gone no further if love couldn’t be found in the relationship?”

Wulf nodded. “There is an old Prime saying: The One does not make mistakes. The mating bond is considered a gift from the One.”

Nadia stood and stared at the closed door to Huw’s bedroom and then glanced back at Mel. “I’ve watched you and Wulf dance around for a level playing field since you’ve been together. I know what to expect. I can handle him.” She shot them a naughty grin.

“But can the big, bad Prime handle me?”

Wulf threw back his head and roared with laughter as Lia and Mel joined in.

Oh, yeah. Huw would have to dance to her tune for a bit—and it would be fun.

“When do you need us back on duty, Wulf?” Nadia asked. Her pussy tightened with need and flushed with dampness as she anticipated the hours of pleasure promised by Huw’s thoughts.

“Forty-eight standard hours should do it. Aeron can handle the data from Ursa 345

and make the reports.” Wulf stood and ushered Lia and Mel toward the exit door. “I can guarantee my brother won’t want to leave his bed if you’re in it. Plus, you could use a break after your encounter with the worm creature on the planet.”

Nadia shuddered. “Don’t remind me. Bre can assist Aeron with the report from our team and run the lab in my absence.”

“That should work.” Wulf paused in the open doorway. “My brother loves you, Nadia, never doubt it. He was devastated when he realized how blind he’d been, how much he’d hurt you.” Wulf angled his head toward the bedroom. “We had to sedate him to keep him from hurting others in his drive to get to you. So, please, take that into consideration. Don’t lead him on too much of a dance.” He winked. “Prime males will only be led by the nose so far.”

Nadia laughed. “I know. I’ve watched you and Mel, remember?”

“Then you won’t make our mistakes.” Wulf left and closed the door.

For all intents and purposes, she and Huw were secure in their own little world for the next forty-eight standard hours. Two days to come to terms with the physical side of the relationship and how they would proceed afterward.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and entered the bedchamber. The room was similar in layout to hers, but the colors more masculine, all navy blues and silver grays with chrome accents.

Huw lay on his back, his bare chest glistening with sweat from the excess of stress hormones undoubtedly flooding his system. While he was still deeply unconscious, his sleep wasn’t restful. His mind was filled with intense sexual needs aimed at her and living nightmares of losing her. The strong emotions colored the aura she saw through their connection. Deep creases on his forehead confirmed the turmoil she sensed.

Nadia moved to the bed and sat on the edge. She soothed the deep furrows on his forehead with a finger. He inhaled and then sighed, “Nadia.” All the tension left him like a deflating balloon.

Tears welled in her eyes. “God, Huw.” Just a touch and all his rage was gone. For the first time, Nadia realized the power she had over this man. With such great power came great responsibility.

Then she noted all her pain was gone as well—well, not all. Her lower abdomen still throbbed. But this time the feeling was more sexual and akin to pleasure. The light skin-to-skin touch and his scent had her clit aching and her pussy flooding.

Since Nadia didn’t consider herself easily stimulated, the quick and intense arousal scared her. Huw had a lot of power over her as well.

Trust … it all came down to trust. And it would be a learning process between two strong-willed individuals.

Huw turned his face into her hand, nuzzling it and then kissing her palm before settling into a deeper, more natural, and less restless sleep.

“No guts, no glory, Nadia,” she muttered as she stood.

Stripping down to a tank top and panties, she climbed into bed with Huw. As she snuggled next to his arm, she realized he was naked from top to bottom. She gasped and tried to put some distance between them when his arm went around her shoulders and anchored her firmly against his side.

God, the feel of his warm skin against hers was aphrodisiacal.

She peeked at his face as she tested his mind. He was definitely asleep. His action had been instinctive. She rubbed her cheek against the light smattering of black hair on his chest and inhaled deeply. His scent was calming to her soul and heart while at the same time, arousing to her body. She snuggled against him, one arm going under the pillow her head was on, the other over his chest. She covered the place over his heart where his
gemat
mark would appear.