“So that’s it? Well, as long as the brat is useful and as long as you do what I want, I’ll let him be.” He started moving toward her. “You’re going to need to prove it to me. Take off that ugly-ass dress.”
Unable to prevent herself from flinching, her fingers went to the top button. Carl moved closer but as he passed in front of the open doorway, he glanced out. His eyes widened and he immediately ducked back behind the door, drawing his gun with one smooth move.
“It’s one of those goddamned aliens.” He glared at her for a second before returning to watching the clearing, grasping the gun in both hands. “That’s who you’re shacked up with? Fucking slut betraying the human race? I don’t even wanna put my cock in that dirty cunt now.”
He whistled under his breath. “Damn, he’s a big’un, too. Wouldn’t that be a helluva trophy for my wall?”
He crouched down, raising his hands to aim, and Rachel started screaming. “T’chok! Watch out! He’s got a gun!”
The roar from outside came at the same time as the sound of the gunshot.
“No!” She launched herself at Carl, taking him by surprise and knocking him back against the door.
“Too late, girlie. I saw him go down.” He backhanded her before grabbing her arm and wrenching it back behind her.
“No, no. You couldn’t.” Tears streamed down her face as she struggled. The pain in her arm and the throbbing across her cheekbone were nothing to the pain in her heart. “I don’t believe it.”
“You’d better believe it.” He yanked her around so that she was facing the doorway. “He may be a big ol’ fucker but a bullet took him down just the—”
His mouth dropped open and Rachel swiped at her eyes. The clearing was empty. The feeling of relief didn't even have a chance to register before a second roar sounded. T’chok filled the doorway, massive figure looming against the sunlight, his sword in his hand. The point went to Carl’s throat.
“Let her go,” he growled, his voice so low and guttural that it was almost unintelligible.
Carl started to raise his gun hand and T’chok’s sword flashed. The gun, and Carl’s hand, dropped to the floor. Blood spurted from his severed wrist and he released Rachel to clutch at his arm. She flung herself to one side, desperate to get to T’chok but afraid to get in his way.
“You crazy fucker. What did you do that for?” The man seemed genuinely shocked.
T’chok’s eyes flicked to her, noting the bruises on her cheek and arm, and the scrape on her knee. She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but her bottom lip trembled. His eyes darkened and he advanced on Carl with an angry snarl.
“You damaged my female.”
Carl backed away. Before, he had seemed so large and threatening, now he looked like a child next to T’chok’s powerful frame. Still clutching his wrist, he backed away but not before T’chok’s blade sliced across his cheek, leaving a trail of blood in the exact place that her cheek was injured.
“I-I didn’t know.” Carl’s voice shook and he stumbled, his legs weakening.
“I do not care.” Another flash of the blade and blood began to stream from his knee, mimicking Rachel’s wound. This time Carl’s legs gave way and he crumpled to the ground, curling into a protective ball. T’chok looked at her again, eyes darting to the open buttons on her dress. “Did he—”
“No, no. You got here in time.”
“No, I didn’t.” A shadow crossed his face but before she could respond, he looked down at the whimpering ball at his feet. “No more.”
Another lightning flash stroke of his blade and the whimpering stopped. She watched in horror as Carl’s head rolled away from his body.
Chapter Thirty-Six
As soon as he severed the head of the intruder, T’chok sheathed his blade and turned to R’chel. She was huddled against the far wall, shaking, her face pale with horror. His anger—and his guilt—flared anew. How could he have left her unprotected? All of his training as a warrior and it had not occurred to him to set up a perimeter guard. He had foolishly assumed that this wilderness area was safe from intruders. He had allowed his little female to be hurt; it was unforgivable.
“R’chel?” He approached cautiously, uncertain of her reaction, but she threw herself into his arms.
“I thought he’d shot you.” She began to sob, her small body shaking with the force of her tears. He picked her up and cradled her close. Looking at the trail of blood leading to the body on the floor, he carried her outside and dropped down on the steps, tucking her under his chin.
“Ssh. Everything is fine. It was just a flesh wound.” He dropped kisses across the top of her head, the only part that he could reach with her head buried in his chest. Murmuring soft reassurances, he rocked her gently in his arms. Her sobs slowed to a few lingering hiccups before she abruptly sat up. He braced himself for her criticism.
“What do you mean a flesh wound?”
Expecting her anger, it took him a minute to understand that she was concerned for him instead. As soon as he did, he shook his head and attempted to gather her close again. “It is nothing.”
She refused to respond to his urging, and he did not want to insist. Her eyes narrowed. “Where is this flesh wound?”
“On my hip.” He gently restrained her when she tried to jump up. “My uniform deflected most of it. Look for yourself.” Angling her to one side, he gave her a quick glimpse of the small tear in his uniform and the gash that creased his lower hip before pulling her firmly back against his chest. She gave a half-hearted protest but subsided against him, her slight warmth comforting him more than any medical aid. He dropped another kiss on her head and sighed. “When I heard you cry out, I did not respond as quickly as I should. Forgive me, my zuzu.”
“Forgive you? You saved me from that horrible man.” She shuddered. “I don’t know if he really meant it, but he even threatened to rape Benji if I didn’t comply.”
“He what?” Anger roared through his head and he had to force himself to gentle his grip on R’chel. “It is bad enough to threaten a female, but a child as well? I killed him too quickly.”
“Yeah, about that.” She glanced around the clearing and huddled closer, whispering as if she was afraid of being overheard. “Are you going to be in trouble? Do we need to report it to someone?”
“In trouble? For killing a piece of human filth? Of course not,” he scoffed. She raised a brow and he took the time to reconsider his immediate dismissal. He was not concerned about Yehrin justice, let alone the possibility of a human court; however, the human might have friends or relatives who would try and seek revenge. Now that he was alert to the dangers, he could defend his small family. However, without Yehrin technology, it would require restrictions on their activities which he did not think would be appreciated. Perhaps R’chel was right, he conceded. “It might be best to alert T’lan.”
“Do you think he’s had time to make sure they aren’t hunting us? It hasn’t been that long.” Her anxious look had not faded.
“I do not know. But you are correct. This should be reported. I will assemble the components for the transmitter this evening.” He hesitated. “When I make the call, I could take it away from here so that if it was traced, you would not be found.”
“No way. You are not leaving my sight. Whatever happens, we should face it together. You, me, and Benji.” She bit her lip. “Speaking of Benji, can we get the cabin cleaned up before he returns?”
“I could take you to meet him at the lake while I deal with the remains,” he suggested. “Although, I think he should be told.”
She frowned but eventually nodded. “I guess I agree; he needs to know. But he really doesn’t need to see a decapitated head next to where he sleeps.”
T’chok suspected that the boy might not be as concerned as R’chel seemed to think, but he kept his suspicions to himself. “Very well. I will wrap the body in plastic and hang it in a tree where it will be safe from predators.”
His female winced
but nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to stay right here where I can see you.” He lifted her off his lap and placed her gently on the steps. She clung to his hand and he saw that the anxious look had returned. He did not want to leave her, even to travel the short distance inside, but he did not want to expose her to the signs of the earlier violence. He tried to think of a way to lessen her fear.
“Here. Take my sword.”
He removed the hilt from his belt and activated the nano technology to cause the blade to appear before curling her small fingers around the grip. Even though he had no intention of allowing her to use it, he hoped it would make her more comfortable.
She gave it a doubtful look. “A sword isn’t much use against a gun,” she said wryly. “Why didn’t you just use your blast tube… Oh, Benji still has it, doesn’t he?”
“He does. But it would have made no difference. He damaged you. That is a debt of honor which requires the blade.”
“You should have kept it,” she said, biting her lip.
“No. If there is danger, I want B’nji to be able to protect himself.” He hesitated. “I have been blind to the dangers created by our isolation. I will take care of that, but I wish to begin training him.”
“Training him? For what?”
“As a warrior.” He placed a gentle finger over her lips as she started to object. “I know he is young, but he is no younger than many who enter the Warrior House. He should be able to defend himself. Would you not feel better if that were so?”
“I guess so.”
“Good girl. Now stay here where I can see you.”
With swift efficiency, he gathered the stranger’s body parts and wrapped them in plastic. Putting them to one side, he pumped water and washed down the floor and walls where blood had splattered. Every few seconds, he checked on R’chel, but she remained patiently on the steps, although she huddled over the sword. Impatient to go to her, he finished his cleaning and put more water on to heat for a bath. As he turned away from the stove, he saw her straighten suddenly and was at her side immediately.
“What is it?” he asked as he took the took the sword from her but even as he asked, he heard the whistling from the path to the lake.
“Benji’s coming.” Her hand went to her cheek as she looked down at the torn buttons on her dress and her bloody knee. I don’t want him to see me like this.”
“I will meet him and explain the situation. Do you wish to go inside?”
She looked at the open doorway and shuddered. “Not while he’s still in there.”
“Stay here. Your damage will not be noticeable from the end of the path.” He placed the sword back in her hand and gave her a quick kiss. “I will watch you.”
“Hi, T’chok. Look what I got!” B’nji held up his catch before giving him an anxious look. “It’s only three but they’re a pretty good size. I knew Rach would want me to come back for lunch, so I didn’t want to stay any longer.”
“It is a fine catch,” he assured the boy. “But before we return to the cabin, I must talk to you.” He led the way to the bench where they cleaned the fish. From here he could see the entire clearing and had a direct path to the front of the cabin.
“What’s wrong?”
“The man who spoke to you in the grocery store followed us here. He came upon your sister while she was alone.”
“Rach? Is she okay?” B’nji turned to run to her but T’chok gently restrained him.
“He struck her cheek and damaged her knee, but she is otherwise unhurt.”
“I’ll kill that son of a bitch.” B’nji’s fists clenched as he tried to pull away.
“I have already done so.”
The boy stopped struggling. “You did?”
“Of course. I am sorry that I was too late to prevent the damage he caused.”
“It’s not your fault.” He kicked at the dirt. “I shouldn’t have gone fishing.”
T’chok sighed. “It is good that you assume responsibility for your sister, but you are not yet grown. I am at fault.”
“But you saved her. Where’s the body?”
“It is in the cabin. I wish to remove it, but I would prefer not to do it in front of R’chel. She does not want you to see her injuries because she thinks that you will be upset. Can you compose yourself and take her to the swing?”
“Yeah. I can do that.”
T’chok studied him. His face was flushed, and his eyes were bright, but he held his chin at a stubborn angle that reminded him of R’chel.
“Very well.”
R’chel started to get up as they approached, but B’nji rushed ahead. “It’s ok, Rach. T’chok told me. Are you all right?”
His L’chka threw her arms around her brother as she murmured reassurances, but he suspected they were more for her sake than the boy’s. B’nji remained calm, although he returned her hugs with fierce affection, and led her to the swing. T’chok took advantage of the situation and quickly removed the body, placing it in a tree out of direct view of the cabin. When he returned, the brother and sister were rocking gently.
“The water should be heated by now if you wish to bathe.”
She looked at the cabin and bit her lip.
“Why don’t you go with her, T’chok?” B’nji suggested. “I need to clean those fish anyway.”
“I don’t want you out here alone,” she immediately protested.
“I’m fine, sis. No one’s after me.”
She bit her lip again but nodded. “I suppose you’ll be ok. You still have the blast tube?”
“Duh. Of course, I do.” He patted his hip pocket. “I’m fine.”
R’chel opened her mouth again but T’chok had no more patience left. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her off to the cabin. He had remained calm for her sake and for the sake of the boy, but his guilt and anger still roiled through his system. Knowing that she was safe in his arms helped calm his emotions.
“You don’t have to carry me.”
“I wish to carry you.”
He felt her shudder as he carried her through the door and wished that he didn’t have to bring her back. And yet this was their home. There were many happy memories here. He placed her in a chair by the fireplace and saw when she looked around nervously, searching for traces of the previous incident. None remained and she relaxed a little. He pulled the tub out and prepared her bath, adding some of the sweet-smelling bubbles that had been her extravagance.
“T’chok, I was going to save those for a special occasion.”
“You deserve to be pampered.” He frowned. “You deserve it every day. I should take better care of you, my zuzu.”
She rose from the chair and came over to put a hand on his arm. “You take excellent care of me,” she said firmly. “Besides, if I used them every day, they wouldn’t be special.”
When she smiled up at him, her face open, he couldn’t resist. He bent down and kissed her, parting her lips so he could explore the succulent depths of her mouth. She melted against him and he felt the hard peaks of her nipples rub against his chest. Bending down, he slid his arm under her bottom so he could raise her higher in his arms. He felt the warm heat of her against his aching cock and moved her slowly up and down, relishing the sound of her moans of pleasure against his mouth.
Suddenly desperate for her, he reached down to free his cock before pulling her flimsy panties to one side. He groaned as he felt her slick heat against his aching flesh. He slid her up and down a few more times, pressing against the small hard nub at the top of her slit, until he could wait no longer. He used one hand to position his cock against her tight little entrance before pushing up into her.
She gasped as he forced her open. Even wet with desire, her channel was impossibly tight, and he gritted his teeth as he worked himself deeper into her cunt, trying to restrain himself. Her muscles fluttered around him trying to adjust but it was too late. He needed her, he needed this, and he grabbed her hip with one hand
and the back of her neck with the other and began thrusting furiously into her clenching channel. His whole world narrowed to the female in his arms, to the tight, wet heaven of her cunt as he thrust harder and harder, taking her, owning her. His spine went rigid, his balls tightened, and he had just enough self-control not to roar out his pleasure as he exploded, body spasming against hers as jet after jet of seed spilled into the depths of her body.
For a long moment, he clung to her, body shaking, before freezing in horror at the realization of what he had done. Her head was buried beneath his chin, his hand still clenched around her neck and he immediately loosened his grip.
“R’chel, look at me,” he urged.
She leaned back a little so she could see his face. Cursing his traitorous body as his cock responded to the subtle movement, he was horrified to see her eyes were wet.
“Did I hurt you? I am so sorry, my zuzu.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she whispered. “That was amazing.”
To his astonishment, she gave him a lazy, satisfied smile.
“I was too rough with you.”
“No, you weren’t. I could tell how much you needed me.”
“I should have been more considerate. This has been a difficult day for you.”
“But I’m fine,” she said firmly. “And that was perfect, T’chok. It was just what I needed to remember how lucky I am. Because I have you.”
Overcome with emotion, he bent his head and kissed her again, relishing the succulent taste of her mouth until she started to wiggle against him again. His cock stiffened in response, but he carefully lifted her away, smiling at her muffled protest.
“You came in here for a bath. We can not expect B’nji to spend the entire day cleaning fish.”
At her guilty look, he laughed and kissed her nose, feeling suddenly lighter. The enemy had been defeated and his family was safe.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Everyone stayed close to the cabin for what remained of the day. B’nji studied inside with R’chel, while T’chok resumed work on the extension. Despite the temporary peace he had found lost inside R’chel’s body, his guilt still weighed heavily on him. He had failed to protect his woman. She had been so understanding, not even criticizing him for failing to consider her needs but how could she trust him now? He had failed her.
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