Sydney
“Wow, that was delicious!” She licked her fingers clean one at a time. For the first time in forever, she was full.
“I am glad you enjoyed the food.”
“You have no idea,” she replied, feeling much better.
Takkeo headed into the bathroom and came out carrying a jumpsuit.
“Where did you get that?”
He pointed, “In there.”
“There was nothing in there before. I couldn’t even figure out how to turn the water on until you showed me.”
He laughed, and it made her happy. “I will show you show to work everything. Now,” he handed her the jumpsuit, “put this on and I will show you around.”
Feeling frisky, she teased with a pout. “You don’t like my sheet?” Still holding up the jumpsuit, he ignored her joke, waiting. “Okay.” She snatched the jumpsuit, slipping into the bathroom.
The material felt like silk, yet different; very soft and stretchy. When she slid it on, it fit like a glove, not too tight, definitely not loose. It fit as though it was made for her, and her alone. A second skin. Looking into a mirror, she gasped at how thin she truly was.
Sydney had always been on the heavy side, at least thirty pounds overweight. But now…she looked good. Not that she hadn’t before, but this was the look she had always wanted. Her breasts were still large, but the extra weight she carried around her middle had disappeared, leaving a trim waist.
A grin crept up Sydney’s face as she twisted back and forth, staring at her hourglass figure—she had retained some of the padding around the hips. And all it took was an alien invasion to make it happen. With a spring in her step, she headed into the main room.
“I’m ready.”
Takkeo held out his arm, which she gladly accepted, and they strode into the corridor. Butterflies swirled in her stomach as she got her first look at this genuine spaceship. Dull gray walls with lighted panels curved around corners, and the hum pulsed low, trying to lull her into a false sense of security. It was a lot to take in.
Takkeo led her to the less populated areas, which she understood was for her own benefit. An empty training room, the engine room, a cargo bay. The couple of Azziarin men they did see stared with interest.
Everything appeared sterile and very foreign. When they entered one particular room, Sydney dropped his arm and sprinted for the floor-to-ceiling wall window. Placing both hands against it, she pressed her face close, staring outside. “Amazing!”
Her first view of outer space. She gulped. It was as much invigorating as it was terrifying. She had never seen anything so breathtaking.
“This is the observation room,” Takkeo said, stepping up behind her.
“I love it! This is my new favorite place.”
Sydney could have stood there for hours. But after about fifteen minutes, Takkeo touched her shoulder. “It is time to go.”
She turned, locking eyes. “Can we come back some other time?”
He chuckled. “Yes, we can.”
Walking back, Takkeo seemed surprised to see Rykker waiting outside the door.
“Rykker?” Takkeo sounded confused.
“Takkeo, I have orders to move the female to one of the guest quarters.”
Rykker’s gaze raked over Sydney’s body, making her uncomfortable. After the once-over, he turned his attention back to Takkeo.
The two men shared a look, one she didn’t understand.
“Of course, lead the way,” Takkeo finally assented.
They passed a few more people on the way, and she always received the same reaction.
When Rykker finally announced, “Here we are,” Sydney breathed a sigh of relief, happy to be away from scrutinizing eyes. It really was hard to go from living a solitary life to having people stare.
The door swished open and they gestured her inside.
This room was much larger and better furnished, with what she considered a living area, a bedroom, and a small bathroom. Definitely a step up from the basement.
Takkeo waited in the main room with Rykker and after Sydney checked everything out, she returned with a smile. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome. If you need anything, please let me know.”
“Thanks, Takkeo.”
Before the door shut behind them, Sydney thought she heard Takkeo ask if this was Jakke’s doing. Whoever that was.
An hour or slow later, the lights dimmed of their own accord. Sydney assumed it was the equivalent to nighttime, or at least, nighttime on Azziar, since they were unlikely to be synchronized with Earth. She might not know a great deal about astronomy and space sciences, but she did know that planets were on different orbits and all that. She climbed into the oversized bed and snuggled into the pillow. In the span of a day, her life had changed dramatically. She didn’t kid herself into thinking that this was normal, or even okay for that matter; nor was this new-found luxury permanent. She was just along for the ride, but as soon as they got back to Earth, she would hop off the crazy train and settle for normal. Unfortunately, normal for her was hiding in a filthy basement, talking to herself and hoping to find a measly can of food to survive on every few days.
She punched the pillow telling herself she needed to fluff it up, knowing she shouldn’t get used to the comfort. This was just temporary.
When Sydney finally drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of a sexy white-haired alien taking her over and over and over.
The door chimed, snapping her eyes open, right before she heard Takkeo barge in.
“I have food,” he called from the living area.
Sighing, drenched with sweat and feeling excessively wet between her legs, Sydney threw off the covers.
“I’ll be right there,” she called back, before heading into the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face, she patted it dry before staring at herself in the mirror again. The dreams last night felt so real, but this morning, it left her in a state of sexual tension. Which didn’t make a lick of sense.
Walking out, she found food sitting on the table and Takkeo reclining in the chair, one ankle crossed his knee
“How did you sleep?” he asked.
She plopped down on the couch and picked at the food. “Good.”
“Are you not hungry?”
“Not really. I’m used to not eating.”
“Try.” He nodded toward the food.
“Who are you, my dad?”
He shot her a cheeky grin and waggled his eyebrows. “Far from it.”
That was weird. It was the first time Takkeo had ever showed that side of himself.
“Can I ask you a question?” he asked in a cryptic tone.
“Sure…” she replied hesitantly.
“The night you found me. Walk me through it. That night and the days to follow.”
Sydney thought back to the night that had scared the crap out of her. She hated to admit how frightened she’d been but lying wasn’t really her forte.
“I left you there, at first.” His eyes widened, but it was the truth and she pressed on. “I left you, but then I heard the gray…I mean Tureis. I knew what they would do if they found you, so I went back, dragged your body behind the dumpster.” Sydney blew out a huge breath, hating to admit she could’ve been completely selfish. “You’re heavy and it kicked my butt.” She grinned, then swiped the hair away from her face. “When the Tureis left, I was still going to leave you there. And then you tried to stand.” She shook her head. “I had to help. You never uttered a single word, not even a grumble.”
Thoughtfully, she nibbled the end of a long purple pear (or the Azziarin equivalent).
“And then one night I had to go get more food,” she continued. “The Tureis had taken one of your guys prisoner. They beat him and tied him to a chair. Knowing you hadn’t killed me, or even tried to, I had to save him too.” Sydney shifted her eyes to monitor his reaction, but Takkeo remained impassive. “I actually told you all of this, you just couldn’t understand me. Right after th
at, they came for you.”
“Sagge smelled me on you.”
“What?”
“We have a powerful sense of smell.” He pointed to his nose. “And Sagge, the male you rescued, scented me on you.”
“They targeted me?”
“Yes.”
Sydney hissed through her teeth.
So all good deeds really do turn to disaster, she thought bitterly. I know better and yet, I just had to let my heart—my stupid moral compass—rule my brain. Ugh.
“I’m such an idiot.” She bit into the pear, chewing hard, then swallowed. “I kept trying to think of a way to get you back to your people. The last thing I wanted was for my basement to be compromised. I guess that’s what I get for helping.”
“You are angry?”
“No, not really. Just aggravated at my own carelessness.”
“Thank you for everything you have done for me and my people.” Sydney’s head shot up and held his sincere gaze. “Would you like to visit the observation room again?”
A smile bloomed on her face. “Yes!”
Chapter 11
Sydney
For the next week, visiting the observation room became the highlight of her day. But she missed the basement, going outside and feeling the breeze on her face.
Sydney still hadn’t run into the sexy Azziarin. In fact, Takkeo hadn’t mentioned him at all. Their conversations consisted of vague, mundane things. He asked a thousand questions about Earth, but when it came to her, he asked how she liked the food, what she missed the most about the way life used to be. Besides her parents of course, that was an easy one: coffee and chocolate. Meeting friends for a night out on the town. She missed the indulgences, though in truth she’d lost all of those things long ago.
But now, even the excitement of hunting down food in the dead husk of a former city was gone, and somehow her life had become routine and very boring.
Who knew flying around on an alien spaceship, being clean and having enough food to eat and another person to talk to could be so…empty? she thought wistfully.
One morning, if it was morning—she could hardly tell anymore and could only measure time based on a good night’s sleep—Sydney had no desire to get out of bed. Repeating the same thing every day sent her spiraling into a borderline depression, an irony considering that she’d never been depressed in her awful circumstances back on Earth. When she heard the familiar chime, she ignored it, burying her face in the pillow.
Another chime, then Takkeo strolled in regardless.
Sydney heard him set the tray down.
“I have food,” he called as usual. She didn’t bother answering. After a couple of minutes, he walked into the bedroom, sitting down on the edge of the bed. His eyebrows dipped. “What is wrong?”
“I don’t know,” she grumbled, hiding under the covers.
Grinning, Takkeo slowly peeled them back. “You are acting like a youngling.”
“Am not!” she huffed.
“Yes, you are.” He stripped the covers all the way back.
With only her underclothes on, Sydney squealed, grabbing the covers and yanking them back over her head.
He sounded thoughtful, perhaps even concerned. “What is different this morning?”
Uncovering her head to her neck, she blew some stray hairs out of her face. “I don’t know.”
And she really didn’t know what had changed from one day to the other, but she had no desire to do anything except lay there all day.
“Get out of bed and I’ll take you someplace different today. Maybe we’ll have first meal in the dining hall.”
“Really?” She scrunched her nose.
“Yes. Get dressed. I’ll be waiting in the main room.”
“Fine.”
After he left, she flung the covers back and headed for the bathroom. She liked the idea of seeing somewhere new, but she still wasn’t in the mood to be gawked at by alien men again.
Peeling off her underclothes, she quickly washed before stepping under the automatic dryer. After donning a clean jumpsuit, she combed her hair and brushed her teeth. Staring at her reflection, she still couldn’t believe how different she looked.
Heading back to the main room, Takkeo eyed her up and down. “I hope you are ready for this.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, a little worried now.
“The dining hall will be crowded, and everyone will be staring at you. As I explained before, most of us have never seen a Human, even while we were on your planet.”
She nodded. Sydney knew that most surviving Humans hid from all the aliens; after all, she was one of them.
I can do this, she thought as they walked out side by side.
Jakke
This past week had been trying as Jakke fought the urge to seek the female out. He had to relieve himself physically several times a day. Every time he walked through the corridor, he scanned the area, hoping to catch even a glimpse of her. He needed another injection.
It’s not healthy, he thought irritably.
Nor was it natural. Azziarins did NOT mate with other species.
Sitting in the dining hall, Jakke tried to act normal, hoping Kavvan, Rykker, and Oberron wouldn’t notice his inner turmoil, yet knowing that at least Kavvan and Rykker must be aware of it.
Disgraceful.
“After we arrive at Azziar, how long until we head back to Earth?” Oberron asked in between bites.
“I’m not sure…” Jakke froze as her scent smell assaulted him, punching him in the gut. Trees, rain, vanilla—and she smelled fertile. Impossible! Female Azziarins had their fertility time only once every two years. He sniffed again… she was definitely in heat.
Deathly quiet descended as every male in the dining room turned to stare at her.
Jakke’s eyes locked with hers, his teeth dropping; his shaft grew to a painful state, begging to be let out so it could take what was his. Slowly he rose to his feet, eyes trained on the female.
“Mine!” he uttered in a guttural growl.
Someone grabbed his arm and tried to restrain him, but he easily shook them off. Nothing would keep him from his mate!
Like a predator after prey, Jakke stalked her with determination. Intense eyes on those parted lips. The closer he got, the wider her eyes grew. She backpedaled, yet it didn’t slow him down.
Just as she turned to run, Jakke grabbed her around the waist and tossed her over his shoulder, heedless of her squeak of protest, storming out of the dining hall with only one destination in mind.
Jakke only vaguely heard the shouts and ignored the sound of his men scrambling to stop him, merely picking up the pace and sprinting toward his quarters.
When the door slid closed, he had enough sense left about him to order, “Computer, seal the door, disable override, authorization code 2158470.”
Just in time—he heard them beating on the door and yelling his name.
Slowly, Jakke set the Human female on her feet. She stumbled back while he paced, trying to think. It was a battle and the mating fever was riding him hard.
His primal instincts won out over logical thinking.
Jakke turned and faced his mate. Slowly, he peeled the jumpsuit away, standing naked for her inspection. He heard her breath quicken as hungry eyes roamed his body. When her tongue darted between parted lips to moisten them, it was all the confirmation he needed.
Quickly closing the gap between them, he wrapped her in his arms and took those luscious lips in a hungry, desperate kiss. She tasted sweet and soft as she moved with him. He deepened the kiss, demanding her to submit. Her lips, hesitant at first, finally moved with a need that matched his own.
His hand trailed down her neck, over her shoulder to full breasts. He palmed one, kneading the softness before tweaking the hard point.
She gasped into his mouth, her breath washing over his face.
Jakke growled, then grabbed the front of her jumpsuit and ripped it down the middle. When it fell at their feet, he
kicked it to the side. Kissing her again, he hoisted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to bed.
Soft, delicate hands roamed his body, making him shiver in response.
Her body was so silky, her skin creamy white as he tasted every inch. His tongue swirled around her taunt nipple, sucking and licking as his hand ventured between her thighs. She was so wet! Jakke moved to the other nipple, letting his finger dip inside, fucking her slowly.
She moaned, then arched her hips in rhythm with his finger.
Jakke couldn’t take it any longer, he had to taste her. Inching down her body, he spread her legs. The smell of her arousal sent him spiraling over the edge.
He licked her juices, swirling his tongue around then plunging it inside—tasting—devouring.
“Mine!” he growled.
Her hands fisted in his hair; she pushed and pulled while arching her hips.
“Oh shit!” she screamed, her hips bucking wildly as he fed on her juices.
Crawling up her body, her legs spread wide. Jakke aligned himself up then thrust inside her tight, moist channel and moaned in ecstasy.
“You feel so good,” he growled.
So very good and so tight. He couldn’t control himself as he thrust fast and hard, over and over.
Jakke heard her grunts, her moans, but it only spurred him on. Her walls gripped him tight, squeezing to the point of pain and he lost the tiny remaining thread of self-control. He threw his head back, every muscle straining when his seed released from his body, and then with deadly precision, sunk his teeth into the juncture between her neck and shoulder, tasting blood.
After she milked the last of his seed, Jakke licked the wound on her neck and rolled to the side, taking her with him.
It was finished.
He had mated a Human.
“What was that?” she asked as she lay spent, her head on his shoulder.
“What do you mean?” Jakke held her close as the mating fever started to rise again.
“I don’t know you, and yet I have this undeniable pull toward you. I don’t just sleep with someone I don’t know. And did you just…bite me?”
Jakke (The Azziarin Series Book 1) Page 7