Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (18 page)

The shame he’d felt during his internal debate to hand her over no longer mattered.

They had much the same thinking about whom her body belonged to, but the practicality of having a lesser mate remained.

Never would he encourage a deprivation of her basic rights.

“When we return to Rök, one must be chosen for you, my Lumen.”

“No!”

Aggravated, his brow scales bunched.

A battle for another time then.

“Yofk has agreed to watch you without payment, though I believe he will try to coax you still.”

She snorted.

He fought a grin, his human found his sharp teeth disturbing.

“I will not insist you accept him,” he decided, “but upon return to home world you must take a lesser mate.”

“And I say– Wait.” She gripped his arm, gaze sharpening. “Return Rök?” Excitement coloured her tone. “Us escape?”

“Thsst! I told you that is impossible.”

Her elation died, hold relaxing. “How get there?”

Venomous rose then went to the stone slab seeking the thing he’d traded his hardsuit for.

The item he’d traded treasured gold for.

He picked up the communication unit he’d worked on for twelve solars then handed it to her.

Up until she’d come into his life, he’d felt a vague need to return home, but now it was the most pressing thing on his mind.

He could not keep her safe until an opportune time as he had hoped.

Eventually, the other gladiators would find a way to stow their differences, and attack as one to take her.

They had to leave.

As she cradled it with wide eyes, Venomous ran his thumb over the activation pane registering his print for access.

The device lit up and pulsed.

Dark red light splashed across their engrossed expressions.

Venomous watched it with a deep sense of satisfaction.

Building it had been trying.

He was not a Scholar practised in mechanics, but he’d remembered enough to hobble something together from the cluttered heaps.

“We cannot escape, my Lumen, but we can be rescued.”

She gazed at him as if he’d forged the three moons. “How quick come?”

Turning his attention from the communicator unit to her eager face, he realised she didn’t comprehend how the technology functioned.

He had to manage her expectations, perhaps disappointing her.

Sighing a hiss, he pulled her from the nest onto his lap. “It could be cycles. I calibrated the transmitter to a frequency often used by our communications axis, so we have a good chance of being discovered.” He paused. “Rök is a closed world. We do not promote our existence, nor do we welcome offworlder settlers. There are only Rä on home world, and Sylphs, a species contented to serve. We shun visitors. Our galaxy is a busy place, but we live outside the normal political manoeuvrings.”

“No see how matter? Send message, they hear.”

“No. The only communicator shell I could salvage was not compatible with the Rä signalling system. It is a wave formed in a specific pattern that repeats our location.”

At her confused look, he simplified, so the translators would work.

He could see some of what he said was not getting through, and she guessed as best she were able.

“A beacon that will guide one who searches,” he made clear.

“Have machine to tell friend calls home?”

“Only if they look, and we do not scan for deep space transmissions often. As I said, we do not concern ourselves with offworlders.”

She frowned then rubbed his shoulders. “How L’Odo catch?”

“Dei San pirates captured me on Zoi Quay. As a warrior for the Northern province, it was my turn to visit a trade planet for supplies with warriors chosen from the other territories.” He slumped. “They caught me unawares. The tourist quadrangle is chaotic. So many scents and vibrations surrounded me, I could not differentiate a threat from a mere passerby. I was unaccustomed to the big crowds and loud noises. It is the seat of the Intergalactic Alliance. A Council is always in session to hear petitions, so many alien species visit there for that. Or to trade flesh.” He sounded pissed. “My kindred warned me not to think myself invincible. I was a gifted a’Rä, and grew arrogant. I travelled from my group to explore the marketplace, its strange architecture. Zoi Quay is overwhelming, and I was an easy target.”

“People looking for you?”

“No. In the event of an emergency, such as one of us going missing, it is protocol to return to home world. This is what they would have done. The Senate would have convened, and a vote cast as to whether a search for me would be successful.” He brooded over it, but the indignation passed quickly. He no longer felt bitter or forgotten. “Many slaves are bought and sold on Zoi Quay. It was my own fault I was lost.”

She accepted this with a sympathetic look. She studied his face. “Tired?”

“It will be good to rest. Are you hungry?”

“Yofk feed.” Her lips quirked at some memory. “Am worry for you. Two rotation no rest.” She rolled out of his arms, dragged her tunic off then burrowed under the furs. “Come.”

He greedily took in her nudity.

Two palms rubbed his thighs as the other two reached for her. “You invite me?”

Eyes laughing, she shook her head then went to grab hold of his hand. She hesitated. “No claws?” He retracted them, and she tugged on his hand to draw him down. She pillowed his head on her chest lumps then massaged his throat scales. “Relax.” Her voice infused with dry amusement. “Protect you.”

Laughter vibrated his chest as he settled his weight between her legs.

He liked her funniness.

Unsure of how far his welcome extended, he wrapped his arms around her then waited for rejection.

He allowed his mind to quieten when she did not protest the intimacy. “You are appeased then?”

Frowning, she made a noise indicating she didn’t understand.

“Yofk,” he clarified.

She tensed. Her touch moved to his face. “No have choice?”

“No.”

“Well then.” She stroked his quills. Gold beads tinkled. “Put trust in you. You do things I no understand, well, I must manage.”

“It is not my intention to displease you.”

She hummed. “You seem care. Hard stay mad when you want make happy and keep safe.”

“You are priceless to me.”

“Gratitude.” She quieted, thoughtful. “Am excited by rescue.”

“I understand this.”

“Maybe.... Um, maybe Rä come, go Earth?”

Venomous’ hearts stopped.

A savage sound vibrated in his chest before he controlled himself. “Do you want to go back?”

She seemed startled then uncomfortable. “Why no want go home?”

“Answer my question. Then I shall answer yours.”

“Am obligation,” she announced. “Venom no want human.”

“Untrue.”

“Think me pretty?”

“You attract me,” he confirmed grimacing at where her thoughts headed.

“How clear,” she muttered.

A short, uneasy silence.

Her caress fell away. “You no pick me if had choice. Biology force you.”

“What you speak of is
the way
. Grandfather chooses his warriors’ Rä’Na.” He paused. “This choice pleases me.”

“Here
we
alien. On Rök
,
I alien.”

Venomous found it gratifying she believed their return to home world was definite, and not an uncertain hope.

“You are my Rä’Na,” he said wishing to soothe her. “That is all that will matter to them, and all that matters to me.”

“Rä no care me human?”

Venomous would not lie, nor would he invite problems to their nest with premature fretting. “I mated a
who
not a
what
.”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Rä experiment?”

“If our positions were reversed, would your people do such bad to me?”

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation. “For knowledge.”

“Then do not judge my species by the standard of yours. This Rä’Vek will never let such evil touch his Rä’Na.”

When she spoke her voice was small. “Take me from you. Do horrible things like L’Odo
.
”

“It will not happen.”

“You say mate offworlder no happen much.”

“It is not done,” he corrected as she wouldn’t be one of a few offworlder mates.

She would be the
only
one.

“Am try be wise,” she said chin lifting. “Am try–”

“And succeeding in convincing yourself of fears you needn’t have. I am with you. You will be safe on our home world. You know I will protect you.”

Head bobbing, her hands returned to his body, stroked the flesh between his shoulder blades. “Okay, babe.”

The trust implied by her tone and sudden acceptance had him frozen.

He’d come to expect far more resistance from her when she grew upset about a thing she believed she could change, or influence by being stubborn.

She’d conceded only after he assured her that he was hers, and would keep her safe.

The lure of strong kindred did not pacify her, only his promise.

It was strangely compelling, endearing.

Holding him tighter, his mate snuggled deeper into their nest, and caressed his head, breathing in his scent, and taking comfort in his warmth.

The last thing he saw before succumbing to sleep was the communicator blinking.

***

V
enomous’ Rä’Na woke to dry lips nuzzling under her chin.

His tongue flickered over her skin tasting the delicious, heady scents she secreted, the finest he’d known.

She giggled, scrunching her snub nose then snuffling like a hatchling.

Venomous’ mouth twitched into a closed smile then he stood, and stretched. “Good rising, my Lumen.”

Warm in their nest, she watched him with slumberous eyes.

She pushed onto her elbows. Yawned. “Why up? Rest rotation?”

“We shall wash then gather food.” He helped her stand then shimmied her ratty tunic over her head. “Remember to–”

“Me know, me know.” The material pulled free, and the black-blue spirals of her hair swirled around her face and rounded shoulders. “Stay near all times.”

“Always, always.” He touched his knuckle to her jaw. “You feel refreshed?”

“Much.” She leaned into his body and rubbed his sides. “Sleep healer.”

Her caress lengthened and turned rougher.

“Venom,” she breathed clutching his hips.

He dithered, but finally placed his lower hands on the small of her back. “My Lumen?”

“Touch.”

“I am.”

Gnawing the inside of her cheek, she lowered her gaze. “Like me?”

He narrowed his brille, wondering if she asked a trick question.

There were times he read her so well.

Others....

He thought he understood her signals, but while his instincts insisted one thing years of training advised another.

“Yesss.”

She brushed her lips over his jaw.

Taking his hand, she guided him lower on her supple body.

Lower still when he hesitated on the gentle curve of her stomach, so unlike the ridges of muscle on a Rä female.

“Touch,” she repeated then leaned up on her toes to touch mouths.

He remained unmoving as she used her teeth to tug on his bottom lip.

Smiling eyes met his. “Kiss back?”

Kiss
, a wonderful thing she did he treasured.

Making a funny sound in his throat, he slanted his mouth over hers.

It was good, so he applied pressure, as she had, and he found this, too, was good.

Exploratory, his tongue flickered over the seams of her parted mouth then withdrew as he opened all his senses to make certain she enjoyed his play.

She licked at the threshold of his mouth then hummed in pleasure at his taste.

Pushing her tongue deeper, she licked at his fangs.

The play was no longer playful.

Play took on a blatant, erotic slant when flickers of the rocking, thrusting movement his Rä’Na preferred flashed in his mind’s eye.

His body heated, and his thoughts veered to clutch.

Why the kiss made him think of it, he did not know, and the desire to grope, squeeze, and cover her became urgent.

The intensity unsettled him.

Venomous broke away, panting.

His upper hands wrapped around her arms to keep her steady, lower at her waist. “You invite me.”

“Soul search after talk. Fears aside, me wonder if be silly about this.” She waved a hand between their embrace then splayed her dainty fingers on his abdomen. “No know how many times wishing for someone for sharing life. Never finding on Earth. Now, I no fear. Am looking at, well,
us
, with new eyes. You strong, kind, and,” bloody colour sent waves of heat from her face into the air, “handsome. Looking after me. Treating with respect. You
listen
.” Her teeth sank into her lip leaving white indents. Her eyes turned pained. “What me do for
you
? Why I no try be mate you deserve? Yes, make mistakes, but explain after when no have to. I say talk and be fine. Talk and avoid misunderstandings. What happened mine fault. Stupid to sleep. You make best decision, and me get angry, blaming you for keeping safe.” She sucked in a breath. “Yofk say bad things about mine treating you. He right. I do better. Put old life behind to build new.” She pressed closer, and her voice lowered. “Love you no hard. Soon, I thinking.”

Most of what she spoke, he understood.

She offered an avowal of lasting affection, but wanted to be convinced. “Love?”

“Heart full.” She slid her hand higher onto his chest then pressed. She moved it to her own. “Love.”

Venomous’ lower hands slipped to clench her hips. “You feel this for me?”

She hesitated then shook her head. “Soon, maybe. I bad before, still good to me. Gratitude.”

“You were frightened,” he reminded trying not to feel sad she did not feel the love. “I know this.”

“Rä sense feeling, yes? Taste them. Must know me hate when meeting.”

“I was not hurt.” He rubbed her back. “Confused by my body, and our difference, I admit it, but your response was expected. Clutch is not welcomed by our females. I told you this.”