Zaureth: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 4) (15 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Zaureth turned to face the small crowd gathered to witness his and Amy’s exchange of vows. “I do not know how to thank you all for standing with us on this special day.”

His gaze moved to Mallory. “I will love and protect her beyond my dying breath. This, I vow.”

Mallory openly cried. “I know you will. She’s lucky to have you. We all are.”

“I am the fortunate one,” Zaureth confessed, holding Amy tightly against him. “I have been given a treasure beyond my imaginings. I will cherish her always.”

Zaureth shifted his gaze to Vaulcron. Something silent passed between them. An understanding, a confirmation of the bond they’d had since childhood. No words were needed in that moment. The look in Vaulcron’s eyes said it all.

Hauke leaned forward and squeezed Zaureth’s shoulder. “We have arranged a place for your enjoyment. If you will follow me.”

With a last look at the small group of family and friends, Zaureth and Amy strode off behind Hauke.

They stopped before a shiny golden door. Hauke threw it open with a flourish. “Enjoy.”

Zaureth waited for Hauke to leave before stepping inside and closing the door.

Amy lifted her head from his shoulder. “What is it?”

Letting Amy slide down his body, Zaureth set her on her feet and glanced around the room.

A large tub filled with a bubble bath sat in the room’s center. Candles placed along the backside of the tub burned with a soft glow, emitting a tantalizing scent. A bottle of wine sat in a bucket of ice on one side of the tub, with two glasses tucked in close.

Instead of responding, Zaureth opened his mind to her, inviting her to see through his eyes.

A soft gasp escaped Amy as she took in the scenery. “Oh, Zaureth, it’s enchanting.”

Zaureth couldn’t agree more. He made a mental note to thank Amy’s sister when he saw her again. “Would you care for a drink?”

“Yes,” Amy breathed, her face alight with joy.

Zaureth plucked the wine from the bucket and poured them both a glass.

He handed one to Amy, who promptly took a sip.

“My heart is overflowing with love for you,” Zaureth professed, bending to kiss her soft, pink lips. “I am finding it hard to contain it.”

Amy kissed him back. “Then don’t contain it. Don’t hold back with me, Zaureth. Do what your heart leads you to do.”

Zaureth plucked her glass from her fingers and set it next to the ice bucket before placing his own next to it.

He reached up and tugged the knot free on her sarong, watching with hooded eyes as it slid from her shoulder to pool around her feet.

She stepped out of it and reached for his vest.

Neither of them spoke as Zaureth removed his sharkskin shorts and lifted Amy over the side before stepping in behind her.

Lowering his body into the warm, swirling water, Zaureth tugged her down onto his lap.

His sex immediately hardened with the feel of her bottom resting against it.

He bit back a moan, adjusting her in front of him to relieve some of the pressure rapidly building his shaft.

“Am I hurting you?” she timidly questioned.

Zaureth laughed, a strangled sound that nearly choked him. “You could never hurt me, little one. I am merely attempting to keep from embarrassing myself in your presence.”

Amy turned to face him, straddling his lap and threatening his tightly held control. Her arms encircled his neck, and her lips softly touched him on the chin. “I love the way you smell.”

Blood filled Zaureth’s erection to the point of pain. “Your scent keeps me awake at night, my mate. I think about being inside you without ceasing.”

Reaching between their bodies, Amy gripped his shaft and lifted herself over him. “I want you inside me all the time.”

“You are not ready for me,” Zaureth protested, clenching his teeth as she pressed her small opening against his swollen tip.

She sank down another inch. “I’ve been ready since before we exchanged our vows.”

It took everything Zaureth had not to thrust. His body shook with the effort of holding back.

“Take me, husband.” Amy closed her mouth over his and rolled her hips.

Zaureth was lost. He spanned her waist with his large hands to hold her still and pressed his throbbing erection deeper inside her depths. She felt warm and wet and incredibly tight.

He pulled back slightly and eased in farther, continuing the process until his shaft was buried as deep as her body would allow.

The sexy sounds coming from her made him want to enter her all over again. “Are you all right?”

“Better than all right,” she gasped, cupping the sides of his face. “Please don’t stop.”

Zaureth crushed his lips against hers and thrust. Her soft cry entered his mouth along with her tongue.

She matched him stroke for stroke, grinding her pelvis against his. Her nails dug into his shoulders, sending white-hot lust straight to his already tormented sex.

Zaureth could feel his release building, controlling him, racing up his spine with a force he was powerless to resist.

Amy suddenly jerked back, her body stiffening on top of him, his name wrenching from her lips.

Zaureth lost control.

Tightening his hold on her waist, he drove into her again and again. The feel of her vaginal walls gripping him sent him over the edge and straight into the abyss, vaguely aware of the roar that ripped from his own throat.

Zaureth repeatedly shuddered, unable to control the orgasm still raging inside him.

“I love you, Zaureth,” Amy whispered against his neck. “My healer. My Bracadyte warrior. My mate.”

Amy words, coupled with the feel of her surrounding his oversensitive sex, sent him straight into another mind-blowing release.

Minutes ticked by with Zaureth still holding Amy tightly against him. He finally calmed enough to pull back and gaze into her eyes. “I cannot begin to explain how you make me feel. It is as if I cannot breathe around you. My mind will not cooperate, and my heart beats a strange rhythm inside my chest. Do not ever leave me, my mate. I fear that I would not survive.”

Tears sparkled in Amy’s eyes. “I’ll never leave you, Zaureth. I would wither and die without you.”

Zaureth lightly ran his fingertips down her face. “Did I hurt you?”

Amy shook her head and rolled her hips. “In a good way.”

Zaureth could feel his erection coming to life once again, throbbing, aching, and demanding.

With growl of surrender, he covered her lips with his and slowly rocked his hips. This was where he belonged. This was home…

Chapter Thirty

Amy stood next to the bed, basking in the feel of Zaureth brushing her hair. He’d helped her dress after several hours of lovemaking in the giant bathtub.

“Melvin’s men are loading the boat with our belongings. They will be ready to depart soon,” Zaureth informed her, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

“There’s something about that female soldier that I don’t trust,” Amy remarked. “I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Zaureth made a sound in his throat. “That is how I feel about Glenn Anderson.”

Amy laughed over Zaureth’s show of jealousy. “You really don’t have to go through all this trouble, Zaureth. Though it feels incredible, I can fix my own hair.”

Zaureth kissed the top of her head. “I enjoy doing things for you. It is no trouble at all.”

With Zaureth’s mind and sight open to her, Amy watched as he placed the brush in a bag along with her toiletries.

Taking hold of her arm, he led her to the door and into the hall where Mallory stood waiting.

“I don’t know if I’m more nervous or excited,” Mallory announced, falling in line with them.

Amy sent her a smile. “I’m nervous about the whole cloak-and-dagger ride to the entrance, but I’m overwhelmed with excitement of seeing Aukrabah.”

“So am I,” Mallory admitted. “I’ve yet to see it myself. I only hate that I have to be pushed in a wheelchair like an invalid. But I understand why I must.” Her hand moved to her slightly swollen abdomen.

Amy touched her on the arm. “You’re going to be a great mother.”

“As are you,” Mallory returned.

Amy thought about how amazing it would feel to give Zaureth a son. To be the one who gave him that kind of happiness. “I look forward to it.”

Zaureth gently squeezed her arm, letting her know without words that he felt the same.

The three of them emerged onto the deck to find Oz tossing a bag to a guy dressed in black.

Tony stood nearby, speaking to a giant of a man wearing colors that Amy had only seen in trees. His hat rode low on his head, hiding the upper part of his face.

“It is called camouflage,” Zaureth stated, reading her thoughts. “Your human military wears it to blend in to the trees.”

That made sense to Amy.

The man suddenly turned, and Amy’s mouth opened on a silent gasp. His eyes were the color of the sky that Zaureth had recently shown her.

The stranger looked up just then as if sensing her. The corner of his mouth lifted.

A growl rumbled in Zaureth’s chest. He pulled Amy in close to his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Amy recognized it for what it was. A show of possessiveness.

With a jerk of his head, Tony broke away from his conversation with blue-eyed man and strode toward them.

“This is Melvin,” Tony pointed out with a wave of his hand. “He’ll be taking us the rest of the way in. The coast guard will be patrolling the waters, making our trip to shore a little hairy. I’m not going to lie to you. What we’re doing is dangerous. Listen to Melvin and do exactly as he tells you. We’ll stand a better chance that way.”

Amy’s heart lurched. What if they’d made it through everything they’d been through only to die as they neared the end?

“I will not let you die,” Zaureth swore, tightening his hold. “I will get you safely to Aukrabah, no matter how many lives have to be lost.”

“I like him,” Melvin stated, nodding toward Zaureth before spinning on his heel. “Get everyone ready. We leave in five minutes.”

Amy, Zaureth, and Mallory followed, coming to a stop at the back of the yacht.

Zaureth scooped Amy up into his arms. “I will carry you down to the vessel.”

“What about Mallory?” Amy blurted, concerned for her sister.

Zaureth didn’t slow. “Vaulcron has her.”

Amy relaxed in the comfort of Zaureth’s arms, resting her head on his massive shoulder and trusting him to get her safely down the ladder.

He continued to hold her long after they arrived on the deck of Melvin’s boat.

Oz appeared, dumping an irate Maria on the floor at his feet. She glared up at him in obvious rage, making muffled sounds behind her gag.

“One more outburst, and it’s lights out for you,” Oz bit out, taking a threatening step toward her.

Maria quieted down, but continued to stare up at him in angry rebellion.

“Where are we?” Amy inquired, lifting her head.

Oz stopped on his way back to the ladder. “We’re docked near a small island off the coast of Destin. It’s better this way, and will make escaping a lot easier if it becomes necessary.”

Escaping, Amy thought with a shudder. Fear of running for the rest of their lives suddenly consumed her.

Zaureth hugged her close. “All will be fine once we reach Aukrabah.”

Amy nodded, some of her anxiety easing. “I’m ready.”

Once everyone boarded, Zaureth took Amy into the cabin and set her on her feet. The engine revved up, telling him they were underway.

The lights of the vessel remained off as they slipped unseen through the choppy gulf waters.

Very little conversation could be heard from the boat’s occupants, each lost in their own thoughts.

They arrived on shore half an hour later. “Climb onto my back,” Zaureth rumbled, helping Amy to stand. “I do not want you in front of me in case we run into danger.”

Lowering to his knees, Zaureth assisted Amy in situating herself on his back. He stood in one fluid motion and exited the boat by way of the ladder.

The rest of the crew followed suit.

Hauke slipped up next to Zaureth in the waist-deep water with Abbie clinging to him in the same fashion as Amy.

Vaulcron flanked his other side, and Tony brought up the rear. Amy could see through Zaureth’s eyes that they both carried their mates as well.

“Where is Glenn?” Zaureth inquired, adjusting Amy higher up on his back.

“Lugging this wheelchair,” Glenn sarcastically responded from somewhere in the rear.

Zaureth glanced around. “And the female soldier?”

“Right here,” Fiona barked from somewhere in back.

Oz suddenly appeared in Amy’s vision, carrying his bound and gagged prisoner over his shoulder. And by the looks of it, she was putting up one hell of a fight. Amy sighed.