Stevr (The Mating Games Book 5) (7 page)

Entering the bridge he hoped none of his team would scent anything unexpected on him. No one seemed to notice anything so he got brought up to speed, nothing had occurred while he was gone, and he left to call Razar. There was no reason to expect Razar to help him but he was more approachable since he’d become mated. First he tried for a video conference but no one was available. Next he put in a request, the kind that would follow him and show up on his com when it came in. Next he checked for messages finding a few. One from Razar that showed more connections to the same person on Drugs R Us’ board of directors who happened to be a major shareholder.

They were getting closer to making connections that they could use in court or use to justify their own personal attack if they decided to go that way. His com lit up, it was Razar. “Hello brother.”

“Hi back at ya! I need you to keep something private for me.”

“I remember when we were kids and those words meant I’d be drawn into whatever punishment you received for aiding you. Please tell me that won’t be the case?” Razar said with a chuckle.

“I’m not sure. Will you promise me to keep this to yourself?”

“Can I tell Lista?”

“If she too promises to keep silent.”

Her head popped up on the screen making him wonder exactly where she had been. “I’ll keep your secret, Brother.”

Stevr now looked at Razar who sighed heavily. “Me too.”

“I met one of the females on the ship.”

Lista squealed. “That’s not so bad. It was bound to happen eventually. Once you’re mated, it will not be a concern anymore.”

“There’s more. She’s involved in our situation. There is a group she represents trying to prevent the sabotage on the ship.”

“That’s a good thing. Maybe they have information that will help us.”

“My thinking too so I spent some time with her to ask questions.”

“Tell me this is headed where I think it is. Maxar was a big enough problem. Now you wish to mate an unmatched female too?”

“Not exactly.”

“What have you done?”

“My demon took control. He said she was ours so he took her and mated her.”

“Was he right?”

“We both developed the marks just as we should have.”

“You must realize that dad needs to be told. He’ll have to get ahead of this or others will questions your choices.”

“Will you speak to him?”

“I realize you aren’t in a good position to. It’s breakfast time here. As soon as we eat, Lista and I will go to our parent’s house. I’ll talk to Mom first if possible. Be available because he will want to talk to you once he knows.”

“I’ll have it sent to my com.”

“Good. I’ll do all I can.” With that Razar signed off. Mating and impending fatherhood had truly mellowed his oldest brother.

Now he had a million other things to do but he wanted to be with his female more. He checked in with his crew only to be told everything was going well. No need to go on deck, right? His feet led him to the guest suite where he had left his mate. Knocking first, he entered.

“Hi.” Stevr said awkwardly.

“Hi, yourself.”

He cleared his throat. Never had he felt less sure. “I missed you.”

Geena smiled. “I missed you too. Did you come here to tell me what the plan is?”

What was she talking about? It was best to ask. “What plan?”

“You are getting attacked by an unknown group. At the same time, I might be able to help you but I’m being held in this cabin. I assumed you have some sort of plan?”

“Right now we are trying to get more information. Our mating wasn’t planned. It is not our way to just mate like that. We are supposed to receive the approval of our leader and go through a process at the temple that ensures we are matched correctly.”

“You want a way out?”

Stevr growled. “I do not. It is a way to get approval I am seeking. The problem is it will be approval after the fact.”

“I often ask for forgiveness rather than permission. That’s one of my favorite sayings. What will happen if they say we are not matched properly?”

Stevr smiled brilliantly. “That is something they can’t say.”

“Why not?” She asked looking confused. He stepped closer to her tracing the lines of her new tattoo.

“This only appears on true mates and we each have one.” His face held a superior smirk.

“Yours appeared before you ask me to mate you.”

His smirk was gone, a worried look in its place.

Chapter 8

Liar Liar

She gave him one of the searching looks she gave someone she was questioning. No, not an enemy but someone holding back something important to protect themselves or another. Stevr flushed under her regard, there was no doubt he was hiding something. “What aren’t you telling me?” She asked as she smiled sweetly.

“We might have mated the first time we made love accidently.” He admitted.

“How do you mate exactly?”

“Well this was my first and only time. It uh does involve a bite.” His nervousness might have been cute under other circumstances.

“Have you been honest with me?” She felt like he was playing a game like liar liar to see what she would believe. It was an old Earth game where you told a lie along with several truths to see if your opponent could pick out the lie. Geena had just caught the lie.

“Yes, but maybe not completely. We mated the first time we made love.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I thought you would get mad and reject our bond.”

“Well finally some honesty. How are we going to have a life together if I can’t trust you?” It was more of a rhetorical question since there wasn’t really an acceptable answer. It was kind of cute the way the big guy squirmed under her searching gaze. A small well of sympathy tried to grow but she squashed it.

“I want honesty between us too. We can agree to do that going forward.” He had a hopeful look on his face. Clearly he wasn’t good at charming females and she liked that.

The fact that he wasn’t some smooth talking Romeo gave him a few points in her mind. It was important to her to start this relationship properly with everything laid out and agreed upon. But she had to admit emotions had ruled the day. Geena had gone into this expecting a relationship based on what the male and she could do for each other without any feelings on either side. Love wasn’t part of the plan but maybe it could be.

“Hmm, sounds like you’re trying to get a free pass.”

Stevr pulled her into his arms. Damn him, she just melted like snow in July. His warmth filled her as his delicious scent filled her nose. “You’ll think this is odd, but I swear my sense of smell just got stronger.”

“It’s entirely possible that you’ll go through some changes. This is amazingly fast though. Usually some of your senses will improve over a period of weeks not hours. Some of my brother’s mates are just starting to see signs of it. Lista of course got traits faster because she got pregnant right away. It still wasn’t the first day.”

“That’s just like me to pick things up faster than anyone else.”

“Would you let me snap a quick picture of your tattoo? They’ll want to see it before they consider approving our mating.”

“Okay. What happens if they deny it?”

“The more I think about it, the more I think they’ll approve it. We have the sign that the gods have blessed our bond. That’s what the tattoos indicate.”

“Okay, Take your picture and I’m going to let you deal with your people about the mating.”

“Our people.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“Fair enough, but I will deal with it, Geena. I promise.”

“Okay. Now has anything been going on with the group that has been causing trouble?”

“Things have been quiet. We’ve locked everything down and if anyone causes damage to the ship, they’ll be stuck on it with the rest of us.”

“That would discourage most. Have you searched the ship?”

“Yes, Mate. We have searched for everything that our tech can locate. If they are any other bombs or dangerous items on board, they are undetectable.”

“I’m surprised they haven’t sent pirates after you.”

“That may be next. They will have a surprise if they do.” His smile was wicked. “Now if there’s nothing else you want to know?” His mouth dropped to hers and he devoured her.

Geena sank into the kiss letting everything else go for now. Maybe she was being easy but her life on Earth had been rough. Men there used women like her then threw them away. Stevr might have some rough edges but he was a good male, she could sense it. He began to remove her shirt then her bra. His lips found her nipple tugging on it hard. Her back arched as pleasure rolled over her. It was so easy to lose herself in this male.

She heard a noise, Stevr’s head moved up indicating he had heard it too. A string of cuss words rolled from his mouth. “I’m sorry, Geena. It’s my com and I have to take it.”

It was a lot like having ice water dumped on you. One minute you are burning up the next you’re shivering. She was a professional and she knew since he was in charge this would happen often. “It’s okay. Get it taken care of.” The implied part was then get your ass back here and she expected him to. Stevr moved off the bed heading out of the room. There was no way to know when he’d make it back. She rolled over and pulled out her pillow. A nap was in order and maybe he’d be back when she woke.

Chapter 9

My Mate

Stevr felt frustrated as hell but he had to take the call. Razar had sent him a message to be in his office in fifteen minutes. He wasn’t sure if his dad would be on this time or not but he tried to be prepared for anything. It was funny that he’d thought the trip would be boring when he’d been busy the whole time. There hadn’t even been time to meet Lista’s mom and her two little brothers which made him seem rude. Maybe she wouldn’t hold it against him.

The light on the console flashed so he turned it on. The screen flashed to life with Razar in the middle of it. “Brother.” He greeted him.

“Razar. Any news for me?”

“I need to see both tattoos. The priests want them before they make a judgment.”

“Okay.” He uploaded and sent them. “You should get them soon.”

“I’m no expert, but from the look of these you two are a match.” Razar smiled for the first time. “Perhaps this won’t be so bad.”

“Let me see those.” A voice growled in the background. He’d recognize his father anywhere. “Thank the gods.” Relief was evident in his words and in his tone.

Razar was moved out of the way and his father was now in the screen. “You have always been closer to your beast, Stevr. Thank the gods he’s a smart beast. I’m going to give you tentative approval only conditional on her not being a hidden enemy. You don’t have to hide your mating any longer. Tylar will be pleased that he can go sooner.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m just glad she was your one. That was something I didn’t want to have to deal with.”

Stevr was glad too. His dad was in a bad spot as their leader when it came to dealing with family. Their people had been supportive but his dad was fair. Any sign of favoritism to anyone could cause unrest and trouble among their kind.

They talked a few more minutes but he suspected they didn’t want to keep him from his mate. As soon as they hung up he was out the door and moving to hers. Knocking three times, he opened the door letting himself in. His mate lay in bed asleep but dressed. Stevr sat down on the edge of the bed leaning over and kissing her sweetly.

“Stevr? What time is it?”

“I wasn’t gone long, Sweetheart. Everything is good now. Why don’t you get naked for me?” He stood stripping while she started to undress. Once he was done he helped her. “You are gorgeous, Geena.”

Reaching out he pinched her nipple causing her to moan. His mouth dropped to the other one and he tugged hard on it. Sliding his hand down her stomach, he continued to her folds. Wet heat surrounded his digit as he finger fucked her. Stevr added another finger but continued to pound her until he sensed she was close. As he pulled his fingers free, she moaned in protest. He rolled on top of her sliding his cock to her entrance. She arched up and wrapped her legs around his hips.

Impaling her on his staff he groaned at the delightful feel of his mate squeezing him. “So tight and hot, Baby!” He groaned as he pulled back and slammed in. Stevr began pounding into his mate hard and fast.

“Oh, God, I’m close!” Geena screamed.

“Yes, Baby. Just cum all over me.” He growled into her ear. A tingle ran down his back alerting him to the explosion about to take place.

Geena yelled his name as her body clenched around him. Waves of bliss came off her pushing him along with her. He froze for a second before his body blew like a volcano sending white ropes of hot cum inside her. Pumping her full until there was nothing left, Stevr finally rolled off pulling her with him. Laying there with his mate on his chest, everything was right with his world. “You’re amazing, my mate.” He whispered.

“You too, Stevr.” Moments later she was asleep. He watched her for a few minutes more before he drifted off as well. His dreams would be nothing but good as long as he had her close.

Epilogue

Finally the ship had pulled into the space station that orbited above Oison. Shuttles began running the passengers down a few hundred at a time while barges dealt with the cargo at the same time. When they were finally down to the last shuttle, Stevr escorted Geena to the loading area where Careena, Lista’s mom stood waiting for them with Darion and Jarion, the twins. Careena could have passed as Lista’s sister, the resemblance was so strong and she looked just a few years older.

“I’m honored to meet you, Careena. I am Stevr and this is my mate, Geena.”

“Thank you for bringing me to my daughters. I didn’t realize you were mated.”

“We are newly mated.” Geena explained.

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations and may you have nothing but happiness.” Careena smiled, it was sweet and genuine.

“Ladies, why don’t I escort you onto the shuttle now that everyone else has boarded?” Stevr offered. To make things easier they would be last on and first off. He moved to the loading ram and held the door as Careena herded the two small boys ahead of her. Geena followed and he brought up the rear.