Athtar growled again but he immediately went to one of the cabinets and began preparing the puppy’s food. Precious danced around his feet, bleating happily, and for the first time, Faith got a glimpse of the inside of her mouth—a mouth filled with a double row of very sharp looking teeth. Perhaps war beast wasn’t so far off after all.
During the meal—which was in fact delicious—Faith mostly kept quiet and observed the crew. Despite the variety of races, they all seemed to get along very well, with a camaraderie that spoke of a long time together. Athtar didn’t speak much, either, although she noticed that they all paid attention when he did. She was overwhelmingly conscious of his big warm body so close to hers and she knew her body was responding to him. Hormones, she decided firmly. It was only to be expected after eight years surrounded by nothing but creepy red-skinned guys and asshole Elginar.
“What are you thinking, little scientist?” Athtar asked softly. He had Precious in his lap and was stroking the puppy’s head with one big hand. She wondered again what those hands would feel like on her body.
“Faith?” He leaned closer and his eyes were turning ice blue again as they drifted over her. “Is there something you want?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. She saw his eyes flare before she continued. “I want to go back to Hothrest.”
“What the fuck?” he roared. Everyone went silent and looked at him.
“I want to go back to Hothrest.” Before he could say anything, she hurried on. “I’ve been thinking about it. The project has to be destroyed. I can’t let them destroy another planet.”
“It’s not your fucking job to prevent it. That’s why we’re taking that fucking scholar to the emperor. Let him handle it.”
“And what if he doesn’t? I can’t have that on my conscience.”
“And how do you think you’re going to stop it? It’s a fucking military grade weapons lab. You can’t fucking get into it.”
“I fucking got out of it,” she yelled. “I think I can get back in.”
“Well, you aren’t going to get a fucking chance to try.”
Precious growled, echoing Athtar’s anger, and he glanced down at her. “Kanithe, will you take her?”
“Yes, Captain.” As the woman put down her utensils and rose calmly to her feet, Faith realized that the rest of the crew had disappeared. Kanithe took the puppy, gave Faith something that looked suspiciously like a wink, and followed them.
“You see?” she said triumphantly. “You scared off your whole crew.”
“More likely they left to avoid your fucking hysterics.”
“Hysterics? You big ass. I’m not hysterical. I never get hysterical,” she yelled.
“Call it what you will. You’re not going back to fucking Hothrest and that’s final.”
“Just because you make an announcement doesn’t make it so.”
“It does when it’s my fucking ship.” He shoved the chair back, and before she could move, yanked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” she demanded. Beneath her anger, there was something that felt unexpectedly like excitement. Being carried off by an enormous Viking, even a blue alien Viking, made her remember the few times as a teenager when she’d managed to sneak a forbidden romance novel in between her endless prescribed reading lists.
“Taking you to my fucking cabin where we can continue this discussion without the whole fucking ship listening,” he growled. As he stepped out into the corridor, she saw Studoc whisking away around a corner and wondered how many of the crew were in earshot. With a huff, she subsided.
“I can walk, you know,” she muttered.
“I think I like you better like this.” Athtar said. He squeezed her ass and in spite of herself, she wanted to push back against his hand. Hormones, she reminded herself, although, lord, he did smell good. From this position, she couldn’t help but notice just how tight his ass was and how it flexed as he walked. Her anger started to fade. At least until they got to his cabin and he dropped her on the bed and stood over her with his hands on his hips.
“Now, enough of this shit. We’re taking Zartan to the fucking emperor and you’re going to fucking Sherae.”
The damn man had the nerve to actually turn his back on her and start to leave, as if his pronouncement ended the matter. She jumped up off the bed, stumbled, and regained her balance in time to beat him to the door.
“Oh no we’re not.”
“You’re lifting that fucking chin at me again,” he growled.
“Because you’re not the boss of me.” She poked him in the chest, wincing as she ran in to nothing but hard muscle.
“We’ll see about that,” he said, just as his head came down.
Chapter Six
Athtar hauled her up against him and then he was kissing her. The demanding kiss, the feel of all that rock hard muscle against her, most of all the urgency in his actions washed over and she was kissing him back just as hard. Their tongues dueled for supremacy as he lifted her up against the wall, wedging himself between her hips as her legs instinctively wrapped around him. Eight long, lonely years disappeared in a blaze of excitement.
Somehow, the top of her jumpsuit had disappeared and his hand was on her breast, squeezing the needy flesh as he groaned against her mouth. His need added fuel to her own and she ground herself against the incredibly large cock wedged between her legs. Her hands roamed across his chest, then up into the wild tangle of his hair as she tried to pull him even closer.
His hands went to her hips and she heard fabric rip before a rough finger plunged between her legs, immediately setting a demanding pace against her clit. She was vaguely aware that she was thoroughly, embarrassingly, wet, but all she cared about was the excitement rising in her body, washing over her like a tidal wave until her vision sheeted white and she exploded in his arms. She was still shuddering when she felt his hot, hard flesh at her entrance.
“Tell me now if you don’t want this,” he said between gritted teeth.
“I want it.”
The words had barely left her mouth before he thrust forward, his massive cock splitting her open with a painful pleasure that had her crying out a second time as her body tried to cope with the invasion. The overwhelming fullness was almost too much but she relished every demanding inch.
He froze, and she could see the fine sheen of sweat on his skin, see the strain in his corded muscles as he waited for her to adjust. But she didn’t want to wait, she wanted him to take her with the frantic urgency that made her remember that she was a woman, that made her feel alive and free.
She closed the fraction of space that existed between their bodies and whispered in his ear. “What’s the matter, Captain? Afraid you can’t handle me?” And she very deliberately bit his ear.
With a roar, he pounced, holding her helpless against the wall as he plunged into her with hard demanding strokes, a vibration traveling from inside her pussy to her clit with every thrust. His mouth came down over hers, taking her mouth as thoroughly as he was taking her pussy, and she met him every step of the way, tongue dueling, hips thrusting, until her body tightened and her nails dug into his back, and she came with an exultant cry which he echoed as he shuddered and pulsed hot liquid into her depths.
He collapsed against the wall, his weight holding her in place, and she tightened her arms and legs, clinging to him as she fought to get her pulse rate under control. He recovered first and raised his head to give her that devastatingly attractive smile.
“Woman, you’re going to be the death of me.”
The word reminded her of their argument and she pushed at him, although she didn’t put much heat into it.
“That’s why we have to go back, Athtar. I can’t be responsible for any more death.”
“Fuck, woman. You’re arguing with me when I still have my dick inside you?” He shifted his position and she felt the unmistakable sensation of his cock hardening, stretching her poor strained pussy.
“
Yes?” she gasped.
“I like it when you argue with me,” he said unnecessarily. “Makes me fucking hard.” He rolled his hips forward and she moaned, her arms automatically sliding up to circle his neck.
“What… what are you doing?” Deep inside, she felt his cock start to thrum, the exquisite sensation sending waves of pleasure through her entire pussy. The first time she had been so overwhelmed by the entire experience that she hadn’t realized that his cock actually vibrated. Her already overstimulated clit responded, throbbing in unison with the feeling, and she arched her back, trying to get closer.
“Getting you ready again.” He looked down at her, his eyes hot. “This time I want those big fat nipples in my mouth when I make you come.” He stepped away from the wall, holding her easily, one big hand under her butt, the other spanning most of her back. She had a moment to feel small and helpless and feminine—and then he took another step and she gasped as his massive cock slid impossibly deeper. The vibrations intensified, sending wave after wave of little shocks through her pussy. By the time they reached the bed, she was on the verge of climaxing
He knelt, keeping her hips raised across his knees, and lowered his head to her breasts. The hot sucking pull added to the constant vibration was too much and she convulsed around him, her breath emerging in a strangled gasp.
He raised his head long enough to look at her, satisfaction and something else she couldn’t read crossing his face. “Are you going to come every time I suck on these fucking perfect tits, baby? Because I’m nowhere near finished with you.”
Her whole body was tingling and alive and she wasn’t about to stop now. She tilted her hips as much as she could, relishing his corresponding groan, and grinned at him. “I hope not. I’d hate to think you were giving up.”
“Challenge accepted.” He bent back down, sucking and tugging until she was a trembling heap of satisfied flesh. And that was when he adjusted his position and got serious, pounding into her with demanding strokes that left her helpless to do anything but cling to him as the sensations washed over her and she abandoned herself to pleasure.
“We’re still going back,” Faith said sleepily as they curled together in his bed. Her lids fluttered up for a minute, big eyes staring at him. They weren’t black like he’d thought but a deep dark green, vulnerable somehow without the lenses covering them.
“Woman, you never give up, do you?”
“Never,” she said firmly, spoiling the effect with an enormous yawn. The sight of her pretty little mouth stretched into a circle distracted him for a moment, imagining his cock sliding deep between those luscious pink lips, but her eyes were closing again and she’d winced when he’d finally pulled free. She needed rest.
“Go to sleep, baby.”
“But—”
He pressed a finger to her lips and tucked her against his chest. She huffed but didn’t try and push free. A few minutes later, she was asleep in his arms. Fuck, she felt good there… right. His fists clenched. No, it was impossible. She was a fucking scholar and he knew only too well what that meant. His eyes went to the reassuring sight of stars outside the viewport. He wasn’t about to give up his ship, his freedom, for a woman.
Despite his resolution, when she whimpered in her sleep, he stopped gazing at the stars and wrapped himself protectively around her. A feeling of satisfaction washed over him when she relaxed and snuggled closer. He buried his nose in her short, silky hair and went to sleep.
Athtar awoke the next morning with an unexpected feeling of contentment. Faith was sprawled across his chest, her head tucked under his chin, her luscious thighs cradling his morning erection. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d woken up with a woman. Even back in his early fighting days when he could go through two or three women a night, he’d never stayed with them. Although he’d kept his birth control implant up to date, since he’d acquired The Dancing Lady his escapades were few and far between—just an occasional encounter when they were in port with a woman who knew the score. A few drinks, a quick fuck, and he was on his way. But this—Faith all warm and soft in his arms, her delicious fragrance surrounding him—he could get used to this.
No, he fucking couldn’t. She was going her way, he was going his, and it would be better for both of them if he kept his distance. He had just decided, regretfully, to slide out from under her when she yawned and stretched, rubbing all that soft warm flesh over his body and all thought of leaving abruptly left his head. Her body stiffened as she realized what she was doing and she tried to fling herself off of him, digging a sharp little elbow in his ribs and almost falling off the bed. With a sigh, he caught her and stilled her frantic movement by the simple expedient of rolling on top of her. She gulped and looked up at him, eyes wide and defenseless without her glasses.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how I ended up on top of you. I’m sure you were uncomfortable but all you had to do was wake me up and tell me to move.”
“I wasn’t uncomfortable,” he growled.
“You weren’t? I’m kind of heavy.”
“A little bit of a thing like you?” Before she could argue, which he could already tell she was about to do, he rocked his hips against her and let her feel his erection. “Does that feel like I was fucking uncomfortable?”
“Um, no.” The tide of color rose in her cheeks and he watched it travel down over her chest to where her big pink nipples were already pouting at him. To hell with keeping his distance. He bent his head and kissed her. She responded every bit as fervently as she had the night before, her legs coming up to wrap around his hips, her tongue dueling with his, but unfortunately, she came to her senses first. She pushed his head away, although since she still had her legs wrapped around him, she didn’t seem to want him to go far.
“We need to talk,” she said breathlessly.
“Why do women always need to fucking talk?” he demanded.
Ignoring his question, she took a deep breath, pressing her breasts even closer to his chest, and peered at him earnestly. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
That was not what he expected. Before he could think of a response, she rushed on. “I enjoyed last night. A lot.” Her color deepened, but she kept going. “And I wouldn’t mind doing it again. That is if you wanted to.”
Not sure where she was going with this, he pumped his hips in silent response.
“Um, good. That’s good.” Her eyes fluttered closed for a second as she lifted her pelvis to meet him. “But you need to understand that it isn’t serious. As soon as we finish our mission, I’m heading back to Earth.”
“We don’t have a fucking mission,” he growled
“Yes, we do. We’re going to shut down that lab.”
“The hell we are. We’re delivering fucking Zartan to the fucking Emperor and then you’re going to fucking Sherae where you’ll be fucking safe.” His voice rose steadily as he spoke, but she didn’t back down, just glared up at him.
“You swear too much,” she yelled back.
“My fucking language? That’s what you want to fucking argue about now?” Dumbfounded, he could only stare at her, then he burst into laughter. Her chin lifted defiantly, and he did what he’d wanted to do since the first time she’d made the gesture and nibbled on the determined little chin.
“What are you…Oh.” She melted against him as he worked his way along her jawline to one of her delicate ears. His rock hard cock was already vibrating, and he rubbed it against her clit. Her legs parted as she arched up against him and he was angling for her opening when a long eerie moan filled the cabin.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he sighed. “Precious wants to be let in.”
“You left her outside by herself all night?”
“Of course, I fucking didn’t. She was supposed to be with Kanithe, remember?” The noise level increased again, loud enough to shatter their eardrums. He winced,
rolled off of Faith, and went to open the door. Precious bounded inside and circled his legs, whining and shaking her stubby little tail so hard she almost fell over. He reached down to pick her up but before he could, she bounded away, took a flying leap, and ended up in the middle of the bed where she proceeded to give Faith the same treatment.
“You poor little thing. Did that mean old man leave you alone all night?”
Precious whined and licked Faith’s face before turning around twice and settling down against her. Both of them glared at him.
“She was not fucking alone,” he growled, but neither female seemed inclined to listen to him. He strode back across the room and at least had the satisfaction of seeing Faith’s eyes drop to his cock. She licked her lips but he ignored the temptation and pulled on his pants instead. “I have duties to attend to.”
“We didn’t finish our discussion.”
“There’s nothing to fucking discuss. I told you what I’m going to fucking do and that’s the end of it.” He hesitated, taking in the appealing picture she made in his bed—her pale skin rosy, her lips swollen, his marks covering her breasts. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly fucked, but more than that, she looked like a woman who belonged there. She bit her lip at his survey but didn’t look away. “As for your other concern, you can take advantage of me as much as you fucking want. I won’t get the wrong idea.” I fucking know better. “I won’t lock the door this time, but try and stay out of trouble.”
Her chin lifted again and it took every ounce of determination he had to resist the urge to finish what he’d started. Instead, he whistled for Precious, who completely ignored him, and he left the room feeling unexpectedly desolate.
Chapter Seven
Faith stared after Athtar and wished she had something to throw.
“Infuriating man.”
Precious gave a miniature growl of her own. “You think so, too, don’t you girl?”
Faith and the Fighter Page 4