by Piper Stone
I could tell Draze had such respect for his father.
Draze smiled, chuckling as he remembered. “Times were brutal, thousands of lives lost, yet Ratan refused to back down. After ten long years of battle, the Valtar king finally conceded, but by then, the damage was significant to their people and their planet. You see, one hundred years ago, our weapons were very similar to what were almost used on Earth. They were destroyed, simply wiped out of the galaxy, or so it was believed.”
“That’s why King Lorowerd wanted to save Earth,” I whispered. “So the situation wasn’t repeated.”
“That would be my guess and also why if the Valtar race truly isn’t extinct, he would be cautious prior to taking any action.” Draze closed his eyes.
“King Lorowerd never wanted the throne,” Greson suggested.
“That I’m not certain of, but he made a choice not to continue the Lorowerd legacy,” Draze said, laughing softly. “To end what Aramel called a monarchy of blood, at least according to my father.”
“He has no heirs,” I said quietly.
“And with no heirs, a commander must be chosen to lead when King Lorowerd dies.” Greson laughed after making the suggestion.
“He’s pitting the two of you against each other,” I could barely get the words out.
“Yes.” Draze allowed the information to sink in, locking eyes with Greson. “As you might imagine, any descendants from the Valtar race have what they consider a single enemy, the Malzeons.”
“But with low numbers, they are weak. They would have no ability to challenge our race, even with our planet in such a dire condition,” Greson continued.
“Maybe. Maybe not. According to my father, they have the ability to shift in a similar manner as Malzeons do. Although, from what I understand, their capabilities are more primitive than our own, fraught with weaknesses. Adapting to a human would be a stretch, unless they have evolved significantly. Still, if they kept their distance, I would have difficulty recognizing them.”
I moved to within a few inches of Draze, grappling with the information. “Are you suggesting that this Valtar species is already existing, even thriving on Earth?”
“Perhaps,” Draze muttered, his eyes never blinking. “If that is the case, they have every reason to want the treaty to fail, perhaps enlisting the help of trained humans to destroy our battleships.”
“And would stop at nothing in order to see that happen,” Greson finished.
“Exactly.” Draze finally closed his eyes.
“Why wouldn’t your king confirm this?” I asked, folding my arms.
“He told me enough,” Draze answered. “Perhaps he wanted to test my leadership. However, that’s why he called back every commander, preparing for a true end war.”
“If that’s the case, then what?” Another species to fight. I almost laughed at the concept.
“Then the king is correct in that time could be running out.” Draze tipped his head in order to look into my eyes. “They need a new planet in which to call home as much as the Malzeons do. If they took what they believed our king wanted, they would also find the revenge they seek and justice would be served.”
Greson grimaced, mumbling under his breath. “We could be facing another bloodbath.”
“A distinct possibility. Now, time for rest. We will need our strength for tomorrow.”
“You really believe my father’s work is important in all of this. Don’t you?” I interjected.
“What I believe isn’t of importance. We need to discover the truth and attempt to save two planets, if that’s possible in any manner. I will have appropriate clothes for you to wear for tomorrow. Please go and rest.” He lifted his head, glaring at me as if waiting for my response.
I hugged my arms, walking toward the bedroom. At least I wasn’t being placed in a cage. Why did I have the distinct feeling that King Lorowerd was playing a vicious game of some kind?
I could only hope that the king’s promise would be honored. Seeing at least three women I’d been investigating for weeks at the auction had been difficult; it was almost impossible for me to curtail my anger. Was it possible the king had only recently found out about the situation on Earth, the lies being told by President Silvio and his minions? I was surprised he’d had me investigated, which meant given what Draze had said, he had some knowledge of my father had kept for all these years. How?
My head ached trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I shifted my thoughts, exhaustion settling in. I’d seen yet another side of Draze. Remorse. He felt guilty for what had occurred decades before. He was... a good man.
And sexy.
And gorgeous.
And powerful.
I rubbed my arms, still a bundle of nerves.
I felt strange in the idea of sleeping with the two men. The moments of passion had been amazing, no matter the fury I felt with both of them, but the reality of everything surrounding it remained disconcerting.
Who was I kidding?
I was petrified.
And I wanted to trust.
And I wanted to care.
And you do...
They were both very powerful in their own right, Greson more introspective than I’d originally thought. The pain he harbored from his love of someone special to Draze had been eye-opening. Both men had been through years of guilt and anguish over both loving the same woman. Now I understood why Draze was so cold, refusing to care about anyone. He was terrified of having them ripped out of his life.
I doubted that included me. Although the way he’d looked at me in the bathroom had been incredible, entirely different than before. As if he cared enough, he was terrified. I rolled my eyes, refusing to accept the thought. The woman he’d been in love with had been of his own kind.
God, I wanted his massive arms to hold me, Greson’s almost gentle touch to soothe my aching muscles.
Shuddering, I moved onto the bed, not bothering to remove the ridiculous outfit or the plug that was driving me crazy. At least Draze had kept me from being pawed during the celebration. I bit back a moan at the thought, sliding under the covers and gazing up at the mottled look of the stars peeking through the skylights. There was no moon, no sign of other planets, just an odd haze floating in the sky.
I couldn’t take my mind off the two brawny men, the rather dirty thoughts surprising the heck out of me. We were returning to Earth in what could turn into an epic and final battle and I was envisioning their two thick cocks. I bit back a laugh, sinking further under the covers. When my hand brushed across my nipple, I let off a moan. Both were so aroused they were sore. I longed for both Malzeons to be sucking on them, biting down with their teeth as they thrust their fingers into my pussy.
“Ecstasy and agony. You can’t have one without the other.”
Draze’s words had seemed superficial at the time, as if said to rile me somehow, but he’d been right. Although neither Draze nor Greson had been truly harsh in any manner, given only a mere taste of discipline, I realized that I craved both. I’d never been a girl to desire any level of kink. That hadn’t been in my makeup ever. I’d been taught to be strong, both in mind and body, and I’d succeeded.
But being around them; their power and influence, their passion and lust for all things had driven me into a dark place. While Draze had peeled away the mask I expertly wore, exposing the woman inside, he hadn’t managed to grasp her true needs.
Maybe no one ever could.
Or maybe the fact I was holding back, unable to completely trust him, hadn’t allowed the full breath of freedom. I pinched my nipple between my thumb and forefinger brutally, much like Draze had done. I wanted to feel the pain. I needed to feel alive.
And I craved so much more.
I shifted my other hand between my legs, wanting nothing more than to open myself wide for them. The moment I touched my clit, I rolled over, burying my face into the softness of the pillow. I would simply wait and see what they were going to do.
I wouldn�
��t beg.
That wasn’t me.
Or was it?
I closed my eyes, hoping that I could fall asleep, wishing that everything could be different. That simply wasn’t in the cards.
* * *
“Remember, daughter, things aren’t always as they seem. One day, you will know who you can trust, but remember that the truth will always prevail.”
The second I opened my eyes, I realized I was still alone and even though my father’s words continued to float in my mind, there was no comfort in them. I couldn’t remember if he’d ever actually said something of that nature to me or if he’d come to me as an apparition in my dreams. I held my breath and tried to remember. The phrasing was very much him, as eclectic as his method of dress, unsettling in every way.
I’d blocked out much of the last two weeks leading up to my father’s death, what I believed to be a murder. He’d been tenser than normal, his actions almost erratic. While he’d always protected his work, he’d gone to great lengths to keep much of it entirely secret.
Even from me.
While his death had been ruled an accident, I knew he’d been poisoned. I’d seen his jaundiced eyes before he’d been cremated.
Had he been trying to tell me something, to trust the Malzeons over my own species? I was cold, freezing to death and even as I grabbed the comforter, I knew no amount of covers was going to help create any level of warmth.
I had no way of knowing how long I’d been asleep or what time it was. The same shadows remained in the room, the same flow of shifting gas sliding across the sky in an ominous fashion. However, it was obvious neither of the men were in the room.
Shifting, I stretched out my arms, certain I would feel a huge body mass lying close. There was nothing but the cold sensations of the sheets. I turned my head, exhaling when I noticed they hadn’t been in bed at any point. Maybe I’d only been asleep for a short period of time.
I listened for sounds of voices. Everything was quiet, far too quiet.
I was unnerved, jerking up into a sitting position. I hadn’t heard any talk about finding the Malzeons who were betraying their own species. What little I had managed to hear gave me nothing useful, at least in my mind. Every male in the room had been grandstanding, showing off their precious little pets while enjoying a cold beverage. While some had partaken in showing just how obedient their pets could be, disciplining them harshly, others merely held onto their pet’s leash, barely giving the female the time of day.
Everything was muddled in my mind and I knew would be for some time. I eased out of bed, padding across the cold floor. The door leading into the room was closed and as I waved my hand across the panel, the immediate realization that I was locked in hit me hard, bringing tears to my eyes. I was a prisoner once again.
I tried the panel once more time before moving toward the door, pressing my ear against it. There were still no discernable sounds. It was almost as if the world didn’t exist any longer, except the window looking out onto the dozens of buildings, some with lights in almost every window, others completely dark. I backed away, easing toward the bathroom. Suddenly, all I wanted was a long, hot shower. I wondered if the act would go against some rule Draze had established.
The automatic light wasn’t as garish as I’d remembered, or maybe the warm glow was meant for the middle of the night. As soon as I opened the shower door, water shot out from the two massive showerheads positioned on opposite sides. Everything about the space screamed opulent, even though their species seemed to live a simple life. There were no extravagances, no luxury items that I’d been able to detect.
At least I could attempt to get warm. I ripped at the stupid little dress, even though I’d felt sexy as hell in it, tossing the sheer slip of material toward the corner. On Earth, very few women wore dresses any longer. Our life was about functionality.
Much like that of a Malzeon.
When had life become nothing but work and sleep? I’d seen old images and even a few ancient Movietron reels of the before Earth, a place where there were amusement parks and restaurants crowding city streets. I could only imagine massive building meant for shopping trips. Now, everything on Earth was costly, making luxuries impossible to achieve.
Grimacing, I yanked out the plug, ready to smash it into the mirror. Instead, I dropped the damn thing into the sink, turning on the water full blast.
I huddled away from the door, grateful to be alone even for a little while. I continued to hold my arms even as the hot water cascaded down my face, the beads peppering my skin in tiny prickles. I turned in a full circle not once but twice, finally planting my palms against whatever foreign substance made up the smooth, oversized tile. The rich ebony color, speckled with what appeared to diamond dust, was powerful in its subtlety, even provocative.
The color meant for a king.
I allowed a single laugh to slip past my lips. King Haern. I could very well see the man as a leader of all men, capable of drawing respect from several species. And Greson? That remained to be seen. His talents seemed to be hidden, or maybe squashed down by the years of guilt. I closed my eyes, languishing in the way the water made my body feel. It was as if I was being cleansed.
Shifting closer, I dunked my head completely under the hot stream, closing my eyes and allowing the warmth to work on the tension.
There was no overt sign that my privacy had been invaded, no tell-tale cold waft from the shower door being opened, but suddenly he was there.
Hovering.
Waiting.
Hungering.
Greson’s scent was entirely different than Draze’s, masculine yet more refined. Within the quiet compound of the shower, the fragrance seemed to roll into my nostrils, filling every cell within my body. I was immediately turned on, my legs quivering as if from anticipation. I wanted to yell at him to get the hell out, but I couldn’t and in truth, I didn’t want to.
He moved closer, still keeping silent. While he hadn’t touched me in any manner, the sensations skipping through me were intense, my nipples hard as little pebbles.
I straightened up, tossing back my head, dousing him with water. I finally heard a slight growl, the sound echoing in the dense space. When he finally eased his arms around my waist, I realized I’d never felt so small or hopeless. Tears threatened to give me away, the sadness tearing into me with razor-sharp precision.
“Shhh... Little one. Everything is going to be all right.”
“How can it be? I asked Draze the same question and he had no answer.”
Greson slid his hands up to cup my breasts, squeezing until I moaned, trickles of electricity shooting through me. “Because we will work together.”
“But you are enemies.”
Sighing, he leaned his head against my neck. “We’ve never been enemies. I would die for him as he would for me. What occurred was... difficult.”
“She loved you both.”
He seemed surprised at my suggestion, hesitating for a few seconds before licking up and down the length of my neck. “In some ways, yes, she did, but she was always meant for Draze.”
“How did she die?” The way he twirled his index fingers around my hardened buds was erotic, forcing my breath to skip.
“An explosion on our ship. I couldn’t save her in time.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He turned me around to face him, guiding my arms over his shoulders. “There is no need to look to the past. We have much to be happy about.”
I had to fight to keep from laughing. They were a dying race, looking at ending another and he believed there was much to be joyous about. I had no idea how to react. “You’re very unusual, Greson. You could be facing your mortal enemy again and you’re happy.”
“I can’t change the past, Casey. I can only look to the future. Perhaps I am what you would call a dreamer. However, I want the same things you do; family and good friends, the ability to enjoy my life as I see fit. I will have them. Maybe not tomorrow or within a few years, but
they will happen. If the Valtar race is alive, then perhaps we can initiate peace, but whatever happens, I’ll die trying to achieve everything I desire.”
“Are we going to die on this mission?”
He grinned as he lowered his head. “Not on my watch.” As he captured my mouth, the taste of him was bittersweet, a telling statement that we might not be able to share additional moments of intimacy again.
I leaned into him, arching my back as he slipped his tongue past my lips, sliding back and forth across mine. The cascading water was a pure aphrodisiac, adding to the passion as the kiss became a frantic roar.
The growl escaping his throat was savage in nature, creating prickles skittering down the backs of my legs. Even the way he kissed me tonight was entirely different, absolutely in control. He was taking what he believed belonged to him.
I was thrown into the beautiful sublime of bliss as he brushed his hands up and down my back, finally sliding them under my bottom. When he squeezed, the discomfort of the earlier spanking drew me closer to the edge of madness. My pussy clenched and released several times and I rose onto my tiptoes, intertwining my fingers in his hair.
Greson dragged me closer until I was completely against his chest, yanking one leg around his thigh.
The feel of his thick muscles gave me a burst of excitement, igniting the fire into a raging firestorm. I ground my hips, moaning from the vibrations of his throbbing cock pumping against my belly. I was taken to a fantastical place as his cock slipped between my legs. Between the rush of water pouring over us and the way he felt in my arms, I was unable to focus, my ears ringing.
He turned me around until my back was against the tile, pulling away from the kiss, his upper lip curling in an almost evil manner. “Draze may think he owns you, but never forget that you belong to me as well. For now. Forever.” His actions aggressive, he yanked one of my legs into the air, planting my foot on the shower door then the other.