Venomous: Erotic Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 1) (7 page)

He waited with all the patience and grace he could gather and again motioned her to his side.

He had no desire to drag her around, and carrying her was not good.

He needed his hands free to fight to protect her.

Venomous grew weary of waiting and dropped his gaze to the floor in resignation.

Straightening his shoulders, he readied himself to deal with her pathetic blows and shrill noises as he manhandled her into doing what was necessary.

He did not want to, he hated her fear, but there were things they must do to survive the harsh environment.

Her reticence in approaching him did not make the burden of her protection easier to bear.

Small feet padded across the dirt floor.

She warily advanced, eyeing him as if he were a wild animal known to bite.

Venomous controlled the surge of joy that urged him to sweep her up and press her to his hearts.

His movement was faster than hers and he tended to frighten her when he acted on impulse.

Nostrils flaring, his tongue flicked out and lingered to curl and clasp at the air.

A curious fragrance as alien as her appearance drenched his taste receptors.

The alien’s scent was cold, tingly mentha bloom with salt mineral overtones.

It wasn’t more pleasant than the burnt, spicy smell of the Rä, merely different.

The waterfalls found below the surface of Rök had a similar etherish fragrance, but hidden caves and glorious subterranean caverns that stretched for land leagues, and were filled with ecological systems unable to thrive in the scorching heat aboveground is where the main body of her aroma could be found.

What grew in these havens on delicate, blue creepers was the mentha bloom, a leafy plant energizing to scent and taste.

Those caves had been a source of great joy during his youth, and he’d always brought home a fistful of mentha for his father to season the meat for high meal.

His female smelt like Rök salts, cold water and his favourite fresh cut herb.

To Venomous, she was a piece of home.

She stopped a pace from him, and her gaze steadily moved over his body.

Strange colour suffused the lower layers of her brown membrane when she reached his groin.

His seed stem was exposed, it would always be now that he was male, and would reach full maturity within another half-rotation.

Waking from his sleep to growing pains, he’d looked down and fretted that her tight body would reject him once it grew to full size.

To his relief his growth slowed, and he was sure with preparation she could take him in at least one of her vents.

This calmed his fears she would suffer during his
seeding.

Already he could feel the fires heating his blood, the tightening of his sac.

Am I pleasing to her view?

His chest puffed out and he widened his stance to show his physique to its advantage.

It was his wish that she took pleasure from examining his form with her eyes.

She might grow bolder, and continue her exploratory perusal with her hands.

He felt a dart of disappointment when his preening met with a shuffling of her feet, and an alarming heating of skin.

Excessive touch was not a Rä trait, but he’d hoped his mate’s species took a more tactile approach to affection.

“There is danger outside.” He pointed hoping his message would penetrate her uncertainty. “You must not leave my side.” He clasped her squashy hand between his then ducked his head to level their gazes.

It was peculiar to look down on a female.

Lowering his body to meet hers yielded a more natural result to his mind, which expected his female to be equal with him in all things.

“Stay with me and no harm will come to you,” he promised squeezing her hand to physically convey his pledge of protection.

At her return squeeze, he thought she understood him as her head bobbed in what he assumed was a gesticulation of agreement.

She said something with an attitude that could be obedient, or highly offensive, who knew?

He gave into an urge to run his claws through her cranial filaments.

She shied at his touch, but did not stop him.

Encouraged by her lack of trepidation, he feathered his finger pads though the soft mass, taking care not to sever the delicate strands with his claws.

He kept his secondary hands behind his back, fighting the temptation to grab hold of her and explore to the content of his hearts.

As she remained docile, so far as to lean into him, he broadened the contact to a gentle sweep of his knuckles across her cheek.

It was an intimate gesture of affection most Rä’Vek indulged in after many solars of a happy union.

It pleased him she did not flinch, or think him overzealous.

She caught his hand and said something in her melodious voice.

When he angled his head sideways to indicate amusement, she looked stressed and pointed to her stomach.

Shapely legs crossed, she hopped from foot to foot.

He realised she needed to expel wastewater, a function not inherent in Rä, but he’d witnessed in other species since his enslavement.

Patting the juncture of her thighs to show he understood, he turned and shoved aside the heavy black rock.

Dawn had yet to come.

Moist air and the pungent scent of jungle billowed through the opening.

A knife thrust from the shadows.

He grabbed the shank aiming for his neck then yanked the malefactor close enough to wrap another hand around its throat.

The emaciated Zozon squealed, its many eyes blinking in its sallow face.

Zozon were a nonviolent species from a world with a lower point of gravity.

Their planet’s temperate atmosphere and gentle terrain developed the bipeds physically inferior to the warrior species that originated from the more hostile worlds.

Often the slaves forgot they came from nations of great honour.

They had forgotten there was more to life than digging in the dirt, fighting for dominance, and trading flesh to mount or eat depending which hunger reigned fiercer.

It should not have challenged him.

Venomous snapped the Zozon
’s
spindly neck then spun at his mate’s horrified shriek.

Tensing, he expected her to fly at him in a fearsome rage.

She kicked the unclean blade from the limp, three-fingered hand across the lair then looked to him, concerned for his wellbeing.

The considerate reaction pleased him.

A smile dawned, yet his mouth thinned at the last moment, setting the warmth into cold dark.

It was not care she displayed, but self-preservation.

She realises my worth to her survival at least.

Nonetheless, impressed by her practical response to a threat, he knelt to shove aside the dead, floppy head.

Using a talon, he sliced under pallid flesh and removed its translator.

The one his alien mate wore was a newer model, but it wasn’t programmed with the languages of the slaves, nor programmed to communicate with his own device, so he could at least comprehend some of her words.

He needed her to understand him, and wanted to understand her, so he could better care for her needs.

Disturbed by the stink of the dead, he picked the Zozon up by its foot then tossed it out of the lair into the jungle.

Other gladiators would appreciate the meat.

Feet pounded and sent vibrations into the soil as opportunists who waited to see the outcome scattered.

A blur darted past the liar entrance.

The Zozon carcass was gone.

Venomous sealed the exit then gestured his Rä’Na closer.

She hesitated only long enough for his dual hearts to thump thrice, and stopped closer to his body than before.

The signs of acceptance were satisfying.

He clasped her chin and turned her head.

Seeming to understand his intentions, she pushed her filaments back to bare her rounded ear.

Treating her flesh as the most precious fleck of gold, Venomous used a claw to slice open her skin then plucked out the disc shaped translator.

She whimpered, so he rumbled soothingly.

After licking it clean, he replaced the old with the one he’d pulled from the Zozon.

It concerned him her skin did not seal itself.

He laved her bleeding flesh with his tongue, holding her chin tighter when she gasped and jerked.

“If you were Rä my saliva would cleanse and heal you,” he lamented. “I can only hope this provides comfort.”

Her gaze locked with his as she smiled. “Understood you!”

Venomous grinned back, and tried not to feel discouraged when she paled and flinched.

Why do my smiles distress her?

He replied, “As I now understand you.”

She touched under her ear. “Happy we talk.”

“I am He, Venomous One.” His voice was gruffer than intended. Emotion swelled in his chest at the importance of the moment. He was to learn his mate’s name. “What do your people call you?”

“Am Lumen Young.” She stuck out her hand. “Call Lumen.”

He clasped the breakable appendage between his own, sensing she wanted to ritualise this greeting.

It felt odd, they had already mated and bonded, but he would do whatever made her happy and feel secure.

“Lumen,” he murmured.

A strong sounding name, but he didn’t know what it meant and it was short.

It did not describe her hatching nor the traits her kindred hoped to nurture within her.

No matter, she was
his
.

She, Lumen of the Stars he would call her.

While he felt uncertain if she deserved the honour of the name, a deeper drive from within compelled him to bestow it.

“What species are you?” he asked. “I have never seen your kind.”

“Am human.” She looked him over. Lost colour as her gaze lowered. “You?”

“I hatched in the Northern province of Rök. I am of the Warriors Guild.” He boasted, but only in wanting her to know she was well protected. “I was a’Rä. As your mate, I am now Rä’Vek.”

Her expressive eyes widened and jerked to meet his. “Mate?”

What happened between them had been definitive and needed no explaining.

He tilted his head, amused at her shock. “I always felt an affinity for the masculine, but no female called forth my stem. Then you. Now I grow stronger until my
seeding.”
He was so curious about her. He wanted to touch but she seemed afraid. “What is your planet called?”

“Earth.”

Unoriginal.

Younger civilisations tended to be so.

Venomous tasted the air.

Emotions too jumbled and numerous to isolate into a sole state of being.

He scowled, unsure of what to do or say to appease her as he could not determine her mood.

“How long here?” She motioned to the lair. “On planet.”

“More solars than I care to remember.”

“Oh.” Her feet shuffled. “Trader take. Snatch from home.” She rubbed her protruding nose, and her eyes became wet. “Am frightened.”

His hearts sank. “You fear me?”

“No.” Her lips curved at the corners.

To Venomous it was not a nice smile, but filled with loathing.

“Last night scary. Now?” She lifted her shoulder then let it fall. She turned her face from him. “What worse?”

Venomous’ brille threatened to unveil his eyes.

This was
not
a normal reaction.

Usually Rä’Na avoided clutch and expressed fear of the act until acclimatised to the pain that went hand in hand with joining.

He gazed down at his mate and felt heat stirring his blood.

Startled, he straightened to loom over her as his seed stem swelled and his sac grew laden.

Great Serpent, I must take her again?

Provisions would have to wait.

Distraction was a death sentence.

He could not afford to be preoccupied with carnal urges while his most precious possession depended on his protection.

“Good. You do not fear our nest.”

Truth, it was a relief to know he did not cause his female agony each time they came together in the hope of creating life.

“I will take you now.” He pointed to the furs. “Down. I will cover you then we will wash and I will feed you.”

Her mouth opened then closed.

“My blood is heating,” he reminded in a gentle tone to assure her he was willing to guide her until she recognised the signs of his urges.

Perhaps my size frightens her
.

“The
seeding
will be hard,” he said, “but I will not kill you.”

Making a noise, she lifted a palm and pushed it towards him.

He mirrored the action until their palms touched.

Liking her affection, he smiled.

Eyes rolling into the back of her head, she dropped the hand. “Not,” she leaned forward, hands fisting, “hearing my words
? Say no.
”

Aggression Venomous expected and knew how to manage.

She’d end up working herself into another fit should she continue.

He lunged across the distance separating them to gather her in his arms.

She didn’t fight when he lay her down, but did protest when he tried to roll her onto all fours.

She failed several times to hold his questioning gaze. “Must?” Her voice was quiet with defeat.

Compassion for his human softened him. “I will not kill you.” He said this as a vow. “Never fear my strength for I shall not use it against you with the intention to hurt you.” He sighed at her trembling. “I will release upon entering to spare you pain.” She would not reach harmony, but he didn’t have the stomach to overlook her fear scent again. “Soon your body will adjust to my difference and your womb will open to receive me. Until then be still, my Rä’Na.” His voice gentled. “Be still.”

The translators stripped the complexities and nuances of their languages down to their most basic so translation was as fast and accurate as possible, and much was being lost, yet a simplified, stilted conversation was better than no conversation.

Chin lifting, she shook her head and refused him making him wonder if she did not just resist his sexual advances, as he expected, but
him
all in all.