Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (11 page)

Venomous towed me back to his side by hooking an arm around my waist, heaving a long-suffering sigh at my ineffectual efforts to break free.

He clasped my chin and turned me to face the raw supplies. “Cook own. Safe.” He pointed to the food stall. “Bad things. Make mine Lumen ill.”

Keeping me close, Venomous plucked three items from the pile.

As he reached for more, the slaver shoved him back with the handle of its whip.

“Have female.” Holding his ground, Venomous squared his shoulders. He towered over the cruel being and glared. “Need.”

The L’Odo eyed us, rubbery lips crinkling. It snorted, dark yellow crest lifting. “Two more.” It jerked its ridged snout to the skinned carcass on its other side. “One flesh cut only.”

Venomous sniffed at the meat.

Unsheathing his claws, he sliced a slab from its flank, selecting the least sickly looking area to carve.

The fat marbled portion dripped viscous black blood through his claws.

He nudged me. “Choosing.”

None of the bruised, overripe fodder looked appetising.

I picked a knotted orange root because it reminded me of a potato, and a blue string of orbs that resembled tomatoes.

“Eat those?” Venomous asked. “Good for insides?”

“We’ll soon find out, won’t we?”

Glowering at that answer, he snatched them from me then examined my hands.

Well, what does he expect?

I had no idea if I could eat the food.

I’d starve if I couldn’t, and there wouldn’t be a thing either of us could do about it.

Sighing, I looked at my hands and figured he checked to see if I’d had a reaction to anything I’d touched.

Hissing at the leering guard, Venomous clasped my arm then guided me to a grouping of flat-topped stonework, a seating area, a short length from the leashed female and her master.

He sat me down, making sure my limbs were arranged before seating himself.

I huffed, but didn’t change position.

Scrutinizing the fare thoroughly, Venomous sniffed each piece, letting his forked tongue flicker over their dimpled, porous rinds.

Unexpectedly, I felt reassured not patronized by the meticulous inspection.

Hungry as I was, I would have stuffed anything in my mouth then died of food poisoning, or choked on its noxious peel.

He’s not being controlling, he’s taking care of me.

My heart softened towards the big lug.

“What now?” I asked wondering when I’d get to eat.

I felt weak limbed, lightheaded.

“Trade.”

“Okay, but with what....” I froze, my eyes round in my face.

The blob called Grol took the payment then yanked on the chain, jerking the female forward.

She didn’t react much other than to choke then hunker down to spread her legs.

The male who’d argued with his purple banana came up behind her then whipped his
thing
out his soiled loincloth.

Penis bloated into a misshapen club covered in hooks, he mounted then thrust hard, holding onto her slim hips to keep her steady.

He came at once scratching at her back and squawking.

Cheek pressed to the dirt, the female vacantly met my horror-struck gaze as I’d made an inarticulate noise shrill enough to draw the attention of half the damn cave.

The male pulled out to climax again, shooting runny semen over her back then rubbing it in.

“No scent mark,” Grol yawped. His oral cavity smacked together in a squishy mess. “Costs more.”

Grunting, the alien shoved off, carelessly knocking the female over with his bushy tail.

He ambled into the tunnel shaking drips of greenish fluid from his now flaccid member.

“Am next, Grol.” Another male with leathery wings thrust forward another piece of food.

A burly slave with no neck stopped him from going further with a sound shove of his fingerless stumps.

Grol tossed the bruised edible back at the punter. “No enough.”

Another male covered in tan fur with a rack of antlers growing from its spine to the ground stepped into the circle.

He grunted at the irate winged creature. “Share?”

Gasping, gold eyes sharpening then dilating with dread, the alien female sobbed and tried to crawl away.

Scared for her, I whimpered.

A hard yank on the leash dragged her back.

Collapsing, she gave up.

She didn’t seem to have the energy to lift her head let alone attempt escape.

My hand fisted on my lap and the knowledge that could be
me
burned unnaturally hot in my breast.

Had the alien been stolen from her home too?

If Venomous hadn’t fought for me, if he hadn’t claimed me for his own needs, how many would have raped me last night?

Would I now be kneeling at Grol’s other side?

Feeling a deeper comprehension of exactly what Venomous spared me by choosing me for his own, I glanced at him hoping to share a moment of connection.

He missed it, busy scanning the alien horde, keeping an eye out for danger, and I’d never felt more indebted to anybody in my life.

Sensitive to the mewling cry of the female being mistreated, my head turned of its own volition.

Grol accepted the revised payment with discernable reluctance, but gestured for his lackey to let the pair go by.

Both males were erect by the time they grabbed the listless female off the floor.

Arranging her between them, they used rough fingers to grope and probe, negotiating in an indifferent exchange what penis went in what hole.

They bent their knees and impaled her.

She whined a protest, but didn’t struggle, hanging limp as they jostled her.

Unable to comprehend the hard-hearted act, my gaze travelled to their faces, expecting to see shame or desperation, maybe, as an explanation for their sordid behaviour.

My eyes connected with the winged male as he was already watching me.

A fleeting look at the other alien showed him staring at me too.

It was sinister how focused their attention was on me while rutting inside someone else.

Pissed, unable to sit there and do nothing, I opened my mouth to spew the sickness roiling inside.

I pushed onto my feet with every intention of going over there and, I don’t know, making a scene.

I had to do
something
, couldn’t just sit back and
watch
.

“No look,” Venomous ordered his eyes passing over me before returning to our surroundings. “Sit.”

My lips pressed into a white line of tension knowing there was nothing I could do to help her without him backing me.

It was a reminder though he’d fucked me and claimed me we weren’t
a couple
.

He didn’t have my back.

Seething, I did as I was told because I wasn’t brave enough to risk the alternative.

Sitting naked and exposed as sanctioned rape happened an arm’s length away made me feel unhinged.

Throat tight, pushing words out was an effort. “You could stop them.”

“Yesss.”

My fists banged my knees as I twisted my face to him. “Then do it.”

Cold eyes met mine. “I fight. Take mine Lumen when I no look. Trade you for her?”

After a brittle pause, I fitfully shook my head.

Quivering with anger, with shame, my palms sweated and my pulse quickened.

If I screamed in this godforsaken place would anybody care?

The otherworldly screech of alien laughter raked across my sensitive eardrums.

I jumped at a loud bang.

Cracking my knuckles, hugging my hands to my belly, I frantically looked for a reason to it all, hell, for an escape route.

If I scream will no one listen?

I couldn’t breathe.

My throat closed and my vision darkened.

If I scream will–

“Like Lumen’s world?” Venomous asked then jerked his chin. “Two males, one female?”

His dispassionate tone of voice filtered past my crazy, and my fracturing psyche snapped shut.

My body unknotted, and I realised with a jolt I’d teetered on the brink of losing my mind.

Shaken, I looked up at my alien.

His expression was curious not goading.

He interpreted my preoccupation wrongly.

“No.” Appalled, I shut my eyes and faced away. “Some women do, but I never did. I don’t condemn the act. People should do as they please, as long as it makes them happy and hurts nobody.” Hollow inside, I opened my eyes. “Does she look happy to you?”

His answer was an unaffected stare I thought might have flickered with compassion, but he turned to conceal whatever emotion he felt.

Other trades, sexual and clandestine happened within our vicinity.

The room grew noisier and busier, the pungent smell of sex and alien stink making my gorge rise.

Piles of discoloured, tarnished scrap and debris acted as room dividers, and lower hillocks of rock and metal rubble created pathways.

Slaves burrowed into and dug around in the towering heaps, salvaging what refuse they found.

Thinking of the odds and ends in his cave, I wondered what my alien had rooted around for.

Venomous mentioned he would trade for cloth.

Contemplating him then myself, I couldn’t figure out what we had to offer.

A terrible thought struck me.

Afraid looking over might bear the consequences of before, I darted a split second peek at the slave female.

Bit by horrified bit, my gaze travelled to my bestial protector.

My mouth opened to threaten him, but then I remembered his claws, his curved fangs dripping with poison.

Nothing but a puff of air eked out.

Venomous eyed me askance. “No trade mine Lumen’s flesh.”

My panicked foreboding was replaced by a welling of shame.

What was I supposed to think?

Apologetic, I touched the back of his hand. Umber scales felt like warm satin. “I shouldn’t have assumed....” My eyes darted to then from the atrocity happening not a stone’s throw away. “Maybe I don’t need clothes. We should go.”

His giant hand twitched under mine.

Head canting to the side, he considered me. “Need.”

My composure splintered, the thought of him trading anything with these savage people disturbing.

I dug my fingernails into the back of his hand, anger making my voice harsh. “I’m tired, I’m hungry and I’m cold. You have no idea how hard I’m struggling not to get up and run, and run, and run.”

Eyes closing, I just breathed for a while.

My voice could go no higher than a pained whisper as I heard yet another male humping on top of that poor slave. “Please.”

Venomous turned his hand and gripped my wrist, thick fingers engulfing most of my forearm.

He pulled me over the stone bench.

When my softer thigh pressed against his hard one, he gentled his touch.

He ran his thumb over the pulse at my wrist. “No be sad.”

“I’m tired of not knowing what’s going on. I’m tired of not understanding you or you not understanding me.” My eyes opened and lifted to his. “I’m scared.”

Tongue flickering, he hissed as he lowered his head, black gaze locked with mine.

A wild thought skittered across my mind.

He’s going to kiss me
.

My lips parted and my lashes lowered.

Venomous jerked straight.

His attention switched to our surroundings then roamed as if he sensed something.

A male had pushed away from the far wall and headed our direction.

Venomous released me and stood, shifting to place himself directly in front of me. “Halt, Kilboh.”

The alien’s green unibrow fluttered at the protective stance.

A gammy eyeball rolled to me as it blinked, eyelid closing left to right instead of up then down.

After that lingering look, he dismissed me then inclined his spherical head at Venomous. “Trade?”

“Need cloth.”

Kilboh smiled. All his teeth were black. “Offer this.” He tugged on his tunic.

Relaxing into a more approachable stance, Venomous gestured him to spin.

Wiry, ankle length arms held out from his swollen sides, Kilboh waddled a circle.

Venomous appeared satisfied. “Fee?”

“That seed sac Yofk spat rotten chaw on my rations. Poisoned me.” Kilboh stomped his hoof. “Kill him.”

Clicking his teeth, Venomous shook his head. “Truce with Yofk.”

The eyeball rolled. “Cut him then. That Krael cover-beast must bleed.”

“Agreed.” Venomous thrust out an upright palm. “Payment now.”

Kilboh stripped revealing a circular chest covered in bristly green hair then tossed the balled up material.

Making a satisfied noise, he marched back to his spot holding up the wall.

Gathering everything together, Venomous tied our produce inside the tunic then handed me the smelly bundle. “We go lair.”

“Yuk.” I held my arms out. “This stinks.”

“Wash later.”

“No. Now please.”

Eyes flickering in what I strongly suspected was the Rä version of an eye roll, he gripped my chin then touched his cheek to mine. “Very well.”

V
enomous watched his mate out the corner of his brille.

She wandered the lair touching the fragments on the walls making a sweet humming noise under her breath then singing the words to a strange song.

Earlier, she’d tried to help him cook.

He’d been so flustered when she touched his things and moved them about, he’d hissed and flashed fangs.

Aghast, he withdrew at once, realising how selfish he’d become of possessions that were of no real consequence.

It was a shameful way to behave.

I’ve been here too long, far too long.

Instead of punishing him with silence and derision, she’d held up her soft skinned hands and backed away looking sympathetic.

Her compassion made him feel worse.

His human had nothing of her own, only what he gave, and as his mate everything he owned
was
hers.

I am worse than a misbehaved hatchling.

Venomous peeled layers from the glowing stones until satisfied they were hot enough to roast the meat.

Similar in composition to the hot rocks of his home world, they were precious in this place yet numerous enough he didn’t fear theft.