by Sadie Carter
“You will not threaten that again,” he warned her.
“Okay, sweetcheeks,” she breathed.
“You are my mate. Mine.” He reached out and picked her up. Then he carried her to the bed in the corner and threw her on top. He climbed on and over her, resting his weight on his hands and knees, caging her beneath him.
“I’m yours.” Her eyes grew warm. Her hands ran over his shoulders. “I should check in with Mila.”
“No.” He started kissing down her neck.
“And with Elise.”
“No.”
“Que!”
He reached for her shirt and stripped it off her. “Your job right now is to take care of your mate.”
“Oh yeah? And how does he want to be taken care of?” She cupped his hard shaft through his pants and squeezed lightly.
“He has need of his mate. Desperately.”
“I want to taste you,” she told him.
His heart raced. “You are sure?”
She nodded and pulled at his shirt. He drew it over his head then reached for his pants, pulling them off. She stripped as well and when he caught sight of her bare ass, he leaned over and nipped it with his teeth, then ran his tongue over the slight indent.
“Are you biting my ass?” she asked indignantly, but he saw the way her eyes laughed.
“It is delicious,” he replied.
“Lie on your back,” she demanded. “My turn to explore.”
She straddled his waist and leaning down, licked at his nipple, sucking it into her mouth. He groaned. Then he reached for her head, wrapping his fingers through her silky hair.
“If I told you to put your hands behind your head, would you?” She drew back, staring down at him, her hunger clear to see.
“No.”
She rolled her eyes then laughed. “You are way too fond of that word.”
He pulled her down, kissing her deeply, until she melted against him. She moved her way slowly down his body, kissing, exploring, and by the time she reached his shaft, he was close to grabbing her, rolling her over and taking her.
“My God, you’re beautiful,” she told him, her mouth so close to his cock that he could feel the whisper of her breath across the sensitive skin.
“Females are beautiful,” he replied.
She grinned up at him, settling herself between his legs. “Believe me, men can be too.”
She slid his cock into her mouth and he very nearly found his release. The soft, wet heat of her mouth was like nothing he had felt before. She sucked strongly, taking as much of him as she could into her, her hand wrapping around the base of his shaft.
She licked, she sucked, she played with him until he was so close that the need for release burned him.
Enough.
Taking hold of her, he drew her up his body and kissed her, ravaged her mouth.
“Babe, I wanted you to come in my mouth,” she told him.
“No. I find my release in you.” He positioned her so she was straddling him as he remained on his back. “Are you ready for me?”
“Oh yeah.”
He thrust up, positioning himself deep inside her. She bucked her hips, her breasts swaying and he took one hand away from her hip to cup her breast. He ran his thumb over the dark tip of her nipple, watching as she rode him. Her dark hair glistened in the light; her skin coated with a soft sheen of sweat that only made her look more enticing.
He reached down with a thumb and rubbed it against that tight bud of nerves at the top of her slit.
She rested her hands on his chest and moved faster. Harder. “Que! Que, I’m close!”
“Find your release, my mate. Find it now.” He could not hold back much longer and he wished her to come when he did. He felt the first flutter of her release around his shaft then she screamed, throwing her head back. He grinned. She looked magnificent.
He thrust deep, hard and followed her over.
Keely lay across her mate’s chest, which was fast becoming her favorite spot. She was completely wiped. Sated.
“I need to get up,” she muttered.
He tightened his arm around her. “Not yet.”
She yawned. Snuggled in. “Why do you think your brother took Georgia with him?”
“I wish I knew this. Why has he done anything he has done? Not contacted me to let me know he is alive? Reached out only to leave again?”
She hugged him. She knew it hurt him, that Zandar hadn’t once contacted him. She just hoped that Georgia was safe.
“I’m worried about Elise,” she admitted. “Are you sure she’ll be welcome on Zerconia?”
“I have been thinking on this. I think it would be best if she were under my protection.”
“What?” She raised her head to look down at him.
He was frowning slightly. “My house has two levels. The downstairs has three bedrooms and a bathroom. My bedroom is upstairs. They could live downstairs and then I could watch over them both. And she would not need to worry that she would have to return to Earth.”
“You would do that? For the woman who accused your brother of attacking her?”
His eyes narrowed. “That was not her fault. She was forced to do that. She was protecting her child. And she has been through enough.”
“She has. You’ve got a kind heart, you know that?”
He growled. “I do not. Warriors do not have hearts.”
She placed her hand over his heart. “My warrior does, even if he won’t admit it. And I love that about him. I love him.”
His scowl deepened. But his gaze grew purple. “Warriors do not feel love.”
“I know.”
“But if we did, I would know what I felt for you was love. However, I know it is far deeper than love. It is everything.”
She smiled at him even as tears dripped down her face. Alarm filled his face and he wiped her tears away with his thumbs. “This was not meant to make you cry.”
“Happy tears.”
“Human females are very strange. If you are happy you smile or laugh. If you are sad then you cry.”
“Just like to keep you on your toes.”
“I am on my back,” he pointed out.
She burst into laughter right as his communicator went off. Grumbling, he reached over and grabbed it. He frowned as he read it. “I must go to the cargo bay.” He climbed off the bed and started to get dressed.
“Everything all right?” she asked, worried.
“I am not sure. You will stay here.”
Even though it wasn’t a request, she decided to treat it like one and nodded. “I’ve got to update Mila.”
“Good. I will be back soon. No leaving these rooms.”
She rolled her eyes as he left. “Bossy bastard.”
Twenty minutes later, she was dressed and had already updated Mila when he arrived back. He was frowning.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked him worriedly. The last thing they needed on their plates was another problem.
“I had a technician go over our ship. He found a tracking chip. Somehow the ship’s scanners missed it.”
“The Szquich ship? That’s how they found us?” she asked, alarmed.
He nodded.
“What are we going to do? We can’t lead them to this transporter.”
“We have half a dozen Zerconian fighters ships now escorting the transporter,” he informed her.
They did? She hadn’t even seen them when they were landing.
“It would be tempting to lead them here, but you are right. We cannot risk it with so many females onboard. Instead, we decided to release our ship.”
“What?”
“We set auto-pilot for a distant planet with no population. We will let the Szquiches destroy the ship, they will think we are gone. They have had their revenge, there will be no reason for them to search us out.”
She grinned at him. Then she rose and walked over to him. “My man has a heart and he’s smart. I like it. It’s sexy.”
“Well. . .yes, I suppose it does.”
She let out a squeal then laughed as picked her up and he threw her over his shoulder and strode to the bed. He set her down on her back. “You may say I have a heart when we are in private, my mate. But not in front of others. They would not understand.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“Just as you are safe with me,” he told her. “Always.”
Epilogue
She awoke on a rush of pleasure. His tongue was stroking her clit, driving her need higher and higher. He held down her thighs as she tried to thrust up.
“Stay still,” he commanded.
He definitely liked to be in charge in the bedroom. Not that she minded. She figured she might try to wrestle back control occasionally.
Just to keep him on his toes. So to speak.
“Que! Que! I’m gonna come.”
“Find your release. I wish to hear you scream.” He thrust his tongue deep into her passage as his thumb moved to her clit.
And she gave him his wish, screaming her release into the room. Their bedroom.
It had taken another five days of travel to get back to Zerconia. During that time, she’d spent a lot of time with Elise and Hunter. So had Que. And Alek. In fact, Alek was never keen on being out of their presence, which made her think there was something going on there.
They still didn’t know where Zandar was. Nobody had heard from him. She caught Que sometimes staring off into the distance and knew he was thinking about his brother. Worrying over him. But he did not let himself think about it for long before he was back to his usual arrogant self.
He crawled up her body now, resting his weight on his hands and knees as he kissed her.
“Now that’s one hell of a way to wake up.” She grinned at him.
“Merry Christmas, precious.”
To her surprise, it hadn’t taken much convincing to get Elise to move in with them. She guessed Elise hadn’t been keen on the idea of staying with the other women. And since they had a little boy living with them, and also because Keely happened to love Christmas, she’d decided to go all out.
The three of them, Elise, Keely, and Hunter had been preparing for Christmas all week. Lights were easy to find, but things like decorations and stockings were harder. Luckily, some of the merchants at the market had cottoned onto this human tradition and were now supplying some things. They each had a stocking, including Que. And a tree. It wasn’t exactly like the trees back home, but it worked.
She and Elise had spent last night wrapping gifts for Hunter.
But the biggest surprise was Que. She’d expected he wouldn’t be much interested in Christmas, that he’d kind of ignore it. But he had gone along with everything they’d wanted.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for Elise and Hunter, sweetcheeks,” she told him as he spread her legs wide and slid his cock deep.
Yes. Fuck that felt so good.
“And thank you for everything you have done for me.”
Moving in with him had actually been surprisingly easy. Sure, they had their arguments. Mostly over his fondness to tell her no, but he was trying not to be too overprotective. Didn’t always mean he had a handle on it. But he tried.
That counted for a lot.
When they weren’t with Elise and Hunter or working, they spent most of their time in the bedroom.
“You are my mate, Keely. I would do anything for you.”
“Jesus, and you guys think you aren’t romantic.” Her breath hitched as his rolled his hips. Fuck. Felt so good.
“Now be quiet and let me enjoy sexy time.”
“Far be it for me to argue with you.”
He just snorted.
An hour later, they all sat next to the big tree in the living area, Keely and Elise dressed in robes, Hunter in his navy-blue pajamas with pictures of little green space aliens on them; Que had laughed when he had first seen them. Que was the only one actually dressed since he didn’t own a robe or pajamas.
Soon after Que had come and Keely had a second, just as spectacular, orgasm, Hunter had pounded on their door telling them that Santa had been. They’d gotten up and ready then rushed out to the lounge to find him standing impatiently by the tree. Elise had apologized for waking them, and Keely had to reassure her they were already awake. The other woman had blushed. For a woman with a four-year old son, she was surprisingly innocent.
Hunter had ripped apart his presents, exclaiming over each one with excitement. She knew from what Elise had told them that they had never had much money. And she’d caught the other woman watching her son with tears in her eyes over his excitement.
To her surprise, as the gifts got down to the last ones, Que reached under the tree and pulled out a small gift for her, one for Elise, and one for Hunter.
“Cool!” Hunter yelled as he drew out the console video game. “Thanks, Que!” He threw himself at the big warrior and her heart melted as she watched Que hold him carefully against his chest. She knew one day, when they had their own kids, he would make a wonderful father.
As long as he didn’t try to be too protective.
“Oh Que, thank you so much.” Elise drew out a small bracelet made of interlinking metal. She had to look away for a minute and Keely knew she was trying to get her emotions under control.
“Mama? What’s wrong?” Hunter immediately moved over to her, climbing into her lap. “Don’t you like Que’s gift?”
“No, baby, I love it. I’m just so grateful, I don’t know what to say.”
“You got to say thank you,” Hunter told her seriously.
“You’re quite right, baby.” She looked at them both. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Que said gently.
God, was it possible for her to love him anymore?
“Hunter, let’s go get dressed,” Elise said.
“But I want to play my game.”
“You can bring it with you.”
“Yay!” The little boy happily walked alongside Elise as they made their way downstairs to their rooms. Que had even installed an autocooker down there to give them more privacy.
“Thank you, Que,” she told him.
“You have not opened your gift yet,” he pointed out.
“Not for this. For the way you look after Hunter and Elise.”
“If you tell me I have a soft heart again, I shall be most displeased,” he told her with a mock scowl.
“I wouldn’t dare.” She grinned at him.
“Open your gift.”
She tore off the paper, much as Hunter did. She’d never received gifts as a child at Christmas. She looked down at the gorgeous necklace in her lap. It was several layers, made of pressed metal with embedded stones and jewels all linked together. She’d seen it at one of the stalls when she was shopping with Elise for Hunter and had decided it was too expensive to get.
“Elise told you.”
“She did. Do you still like it?” There was a hint of worry in his voice.
“Oh, Que, I love it. Thank you.” She leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him.
“You may show me your appreciation later, mate,” he said gruffly.
She grinned at him then turned around and handed the necklace to him. “Put it on me.”
As she sat there, she noticed a small envelope left under the tree. She hadn’t put that there. It was red with a silver bow and it glowed.
“Que, is that from you too?”
“What?” he asked, leaning around her, having secured the necklace around her neck.
“That envelope.”
“No. You did not put it there?”
“Nope.”
She reached for the envelope, but he moved faster, brushing aside her hand. He picked it up and looked it over.
“Think it could be from Elise?” she asked. But why wouldn’t the other woman have given it to them be
fore she left?
He opened it up and pulled out a piece of card with dark, swirling writing on it.
Your brother is well. He will be home soon. With his mate.
Have a wonderful Christmas,
The Elves
As she watched, the words on the card disappeared and then the piece of card and envelope just disintegrated, right before her eyes.
“Um, Que? Did that just happen?”
He shook his head; she wasn’t sure if that was in answer to her question or if he couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.
“Baby, you okay?” She reached up and cupped the side of his face.
“How? Who? What?” He seemed stumped for what to say. She knew how he felt.
“I’m thinking that maybe Emerald’s people were magical. And that you were just given a Christmas wish.”
“What?” he asked, staring at her.
“A Christmas wish. You know, you wish for the thing you want most. I’m guessing that’s for your brother to be safe. For him to come home.”
He was silent for a long moment. “It is.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Then Merry Christmas, sweetcheeks.”
Excerpt from Alien Healer
“Where am I?” She twitched her nose, hoping to relieve it that way.
“At the medical center. I brought you here after I found you. Is there something wrong with your nose?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong.”
“Then why does it twitch like that? Perhaps it’s an effect of your illness. We will need to run tests. See if it is something permanent and—”
“Oh, for goodness sake, it’s not permanent,” she snapped. “I just have an itchy nose.”
“What?” He stared down at her.
She sighed. All she really wanted was to go back to sleep. “My nose is itchy and my arms don’t seem to have the energy to move so I can’t reach up and itch it.”
“Your nose is itchy.”
“My nose is itchy.”
Suddenly he burst into laughter. She stared at him in shock. She had never heard him laugh. In fact, she didn’t think she’d seen or heard any Zerconians laugh. She gaped at him. He shook his head as his laughter died down.