With a deep breath, Anna balanced with her hands against his stomach, and pushed herself up, his cock dragging through her. Then she came down hard, making him buck, and groan.
“Sh-shall I help you?” he offered hopefully.
Anna nodded, her eyes still half-closed, and then he was pulling and pushing her up and down, giving her the rhythm, the depth, the angle. As her hips took over, rolling him through her, making sure his scales rubbed right where she wanted them, she opened her eyes and found his face. He was panting, one leg bending to get the leverage he needed to push up into her down-thrusts, but when she looked for his eyes, he was caught. Even as they rocked and jolted together, listening to the wet sounds of his cock opening her again and again, she leaned forward, begging for a kiss. He couldn’t offer her much, needing too much air, his body heaving with the meeting of their hips, but he brushed his lips against hers, sucked, nibbled.
Her breaths started to sound more like moans with every thrust, and she wilted slowly against his chest, her head going to his shoulder even as her hips kept moving. She didn’t need him to guide her anymore, so he slid his hands from her waist to her ass, gripping and tugging.
He managed to laugh at her collapsed state. “Tired?” he panted.
She shook her head, then turned her face to his neck and licked up his throat. As much as he loved fucking her, he wanted her to come soon. He couldn’t use his hands on her clit when she was moving this much, there was too much risk he would scratch her. He could do it when he had her pinned and still, but not like this. Yet he didn’t want to tell her outright to touch herself. It was his job to make her come. He just needed a little deception.
“Show me,” he said again. “Show me your little clit, Anna.”
She groaned, but her hand left his chest to disappear between their bodies.
“Show me,” he prompted her again, reminding her that he couldn’t see.
With a groan she sat up, then leant back, flopping over to prop herself up with a hand beside his thigh. Now his cock was slamming into her front wall, and she cried out, her eyes screwing shut and her head tipping back, her hair falling straight like a waterfall. Between her legs, her delicate fingers framed her sex, pulling it open to show him the bead of her clit, and his green cock thrusting into her. He twitched at the sight, his own climax coming that much closer.
“Where is it?” he said breathlessly, eyes rooted to the spot. “Show me where.”
One finger ventured in to touch it, pushed into it by his fucking, and he felt her tighten around his cock.
“Where, Anna?”
“Here,” she moaned, her voice high, almost a squeak.
“Where?”
“Here, here!” Now with two fingers on her clit, she couldn’t stop herself rubbing, and with a series of short little cries to match his thrusts, she came, seizing on his cock. As she froze up, he clenched his jaw and kept her going over him with his hands, slow and steady. As her climax kept rolling, he went deeper, following her over the edge with a snarl.
Anna collapsed onto his chest, and for a minute he just held her there as they both caught their breath. His cock softened inside her and she moved her hips just enough to let it fall out. She lifted her head, her hair a mess, her face damp with sweat, and kissed him. When she unsaddled from his hips, he pushed his jeans the rest of the way off, kicking them away.
He cupped her face. “You okay?”
“Of course.” She smiled.
He kissed her again. “Tired?”
She shrugged.
“Lie down.” When she did, he pulled the covers over her, tucking her in, and with one hand on his arm she made it clear she wanted him in there with her. Under the covers, he reached out and put a hand on her waist to stroke her with his thumb. “How do you feel? Not still drunk?”
She closed the distance between them, pushing him onto his back so she could lay her head on his chest and cuddle him, so he switched to playing with her hair. “I’m alright.”
“Do you want more water?”
“Khy, I’m not a baby, I can look after myself.”
“Fine, fine…” Were they just going to go to sleep? Sex achieved and that was it? Granted they didn’t always stay up talking or anything like that but… “Happy anniversary,” he said.
“Happy anniversary.” He felt her smile into his chest.
“Better than last year?”
“Hmm…” she teased. “I can’t remember, so I guess we’ll never know.”
He grunted.
“But the hangover will be better at least,” she sighed, and he let her sleep.
****
Khy woke up the next morning feeling tired, as if he had dreamt badly but couldn’t remember it. He didn’t have as many nightmares as he used to, but this still happened occasionally. He tried not to let it affect him.
He turned his head to look for Anna and found her buried under the covers, only visible from the nose up, her hair streaming onto the pillow behind her. Smiling to himself, he worked further under the covers too, until their faces were at the same level and inches away. From here he could see the rest of her, her still-naked body shadowed in the warm cave of the bed, her breasts pushed together by her arms bent up in front of her chest, her fingers curled in sleep. Her face was as beautiful as any painting to him, her eyelashes against her cheeks, her skin smooth and soft. And she was his. He couldn’t resist tracing her cheek with the back of his claw.
She blinked awake, looking at him blindly for a moment.
When he smiled and offered her “Good morning,” she seemed to remember the night before, groaning and rolling onto her back. She pulled the duvet over her head.
He chuckled. “Do you have a hangover?”
“Not really,” was the muffled answer.
“Then what is it?” he asked, pulling on the duvet but she gripped it tighter. He paused. “Do you regret what we did last night?”
She lifted the pillow away from her mouth. “I don’t regret what we did… I regret some of what I said.”
“Ahh…” He moved his pillow over to lie shoulder-to-shoulder with her. “You’re embarrassed. I don’t see why. Drunk Anna is very nice, very friendly. Much friendlier than Sober Anna.”
She groaned loudly as if trying to drown him out and he laughed. “I’m never drinking again.”
He ducked under the duvet himself, into her private world, and half-rolled on top of her. “Why?” he asked, keeping his voice and expression light.
“Because,” she grumbled.
“Why? You don’t want to be friendly to me? You don’t want me to know how much you love me?”
She looked like she was chewing the inside of her cheek, still obstinate, but considering. Then she sighed, and the resistance drained out of her. “No… You know how I feel about you. I married you after all.”
“Mm,” he acknowledged so she would continue, even if she phrased it like a favour she had done him. He didn’t care about that. The idea that he could force this woman to do anything was frankly flattering. “So? What is it?”
“It’s just embarrassing.”
“Why?” As hard as it was to get honest answers from her, she was perfectly at home in his arms, lying under him first thing in the morning. Her body was relaxed and soft, and he could feel her heart beating against his.
“Because… It’s always embarrassing to be drunk around a sober person. You weren’t drunk. You didn’t say anything stupid.”
“Neither did you.”
Anna huffed, evidently disagreeing.
“You didn’t.” He ran the point of his nose up and down hers. “It’s not stupid to love me. I’m your mate. I’m glad I stayed sober so I could protect you, if both of us were drunk… Well, we know what happens.”
“Yeah, and I was kind of looking forward to it. We were supposed to celebrate together.”
He jerked back. “Oh.” Was that the problem? She felt abandoned?
She grabbed his crest and shoo
k his head. “I want to see you falling down drunk, and laughing at stupid things, and spilling your heart to me.”
He tried to pull away. “I understand.” She let him go and he quickly combed his feathers back into place with a chastising look. “Next time, I will get drunk, and you can stay sober.”
“Really?” She was far too excited by that prospect.
“But what if I overpower you?”
“Do you really think you will?” She sounded surprised.
It was a nightmare thought, but… He was bigger and stronger than she was. He had to be careful every time he touched her. He would never force her to do anything serious, but he could definitely see himself tripping and taking her down with him, or deciding he wanted a hug when she didn’t, or trying to impress her with his dagger-throwing. He was well-aware that Anna brought out the stupidest parts of him.
Yet he hadn’t hurt her when they’d been strangers to each other. He’d been so drunk he couldn’t remember anything, and they had mated, and she hadn’t bled or bruised. Now that he cared about her, loved her, surely he was even less likely to hurt her?
“Did I… Our first night together, were you hurt at all?”
Anna looked up as she searched her memory. “I might have had a few scratches, I’m not sure. I was more pissed off by the green come stains to be honest,” she laughed, and he felt her press her thighs together under him. There would be more stains there now, not that he had even the slightest problem with that.
He smiled with her, thinking back. His memory of those first two weeks was of a furious, wily woman who would sooner kick him off a cliff than submit quietly to his presence. He had been angry with her, but even then he’d been impressed. It was the same woman he knew now, and yet everything had changed.
“Good,” he murmured, and Anna’s expression changed, maybe catching his soft tone. He rolled off her with a groan, not wanting to get mired in sentimental reflection. They had a day to be getting on with, and it was not their style. “Well, if you think it’s safe, maybe I’ll take you to a Volon party, so I can get drunk on liquor I actually like.” And there would be others his size and durability to peel him away from Anna if need be. He turned his face back to her, poking her with a clawpoint in the forehead, making her scowl even as he watched her skin flash white then pink from the small touch. “And you will not be allowed to drink.”
“Fine,” she grinned, sitting up to get out of bed with one last parting shot. “I’ll just take lots of pictures.”
He watched her saunter away to the bathroom, his eyes narrowed and his heart fit to burst. The woman was perfect. She drove him utterly mad.
3
For Christmas that year, Anna’s family joined them in California. Khy had not been eager to return to New Hampshire, and Anna had jumped on the excuse that the cold was hazardous to his health to get them out of a trans-continental flight. So her brother Lucky, his wife Amy, and their two daughters Jess and Izzy were making their second trip that year to San Diego. It was a long journey for anyone, and the girls struggled, so a better solution would have to be thought of for next year.
Anna’s parents were also joining them. Khy had only met them in the lead up to the wedding, but he hoped it would go well. It was too late for them to disapprove of their mating anyway. Nevertheless, Anna was nervous. Her family was going to be staying in a hotel, as there was no way to fit them in the apartment, but Khy could tell she was dreading it anyway. Anna liked her independence too much, and didn’t speak with her family very often. Khy suspected if it wasn’t for him, she would be spending the holidays working.
He had no family left, though, and he didn’t know how to calm her down. Having six virtual strangers descend on them stressed him out too.
At least Anna’s family had co-ordinated their flights to land on the same day, so there would only be one trip to the airport. Neither of them owned a car, so Anna rented one with enough space for everyone, barely. She looked tiny in it despite her height, and as she adjusted the seat, steering wheel, and mirrors, she cursed over-sized American cars.
It did not fill Khy with confidence, but he hadn’t learned to drive. Still, he watched her find the indicators and pedals with trepidation. “Are you going to be alright?”
“Fine… We just drive on the other side in England, and I’ve never driven an automatic before.”
Khy swallowed. “Is this a good idea?”
“Too late for anything else now. I’ll just take it around the carpark a few times to get the feel of it.”
If Khy thought his gods could hear him, he would have prayed. Instead he just watched her as she leaned forward to see out and slowly set the car rolling. As she did slow circles around the perimeter of the rental lot, she laughed.
“Good thing traffic is going to be bad.”
“Maybe let Lucky drive on the way back.”
She looked affronted. “I can do it.” Her hand grabbed for something beside her that wasn’t there, and she sighed. “If he’s not too tired, I’ll ask him.”
Once she’d got as comfortable with the car as she was going to, she headed for the exit, merged with traffic, and let the GPS lead them to the airport.
Lucky and his family arrived first, trudging into the Arrivals lounge with heavy coats unzipped, wheeling suitcases beside them.
Anna hugged her brother and sister-in-law. “Hi, guys. How was the flight?”
“Long,” complained Jess.
“Can we go home now?” Izzy said, taking Khy’s hand and then leaning her full weight against his leg in protest.
“We’re staying in a hotel, guys,” Amy reminded them.
“And we still have to wait for your Grandma and Grandad,” said Anna. The girls weren’t happy with that, but they didn’t groan or complain, so she added “Let’s go put your bags in the car, and you can get rid of your coats, and we’ll find somewhere nice to eat and sit down.”
Once they stepped out of the airport on the way to the parking lot, Lucky and Amy jerked back, stunned, and immediately started pulling off their coats. “Jesus, it’s December! How do you live like this?” complained Lucky.
Anna just smiled, and Khy remembered the bitter cold they would have left behind. He could easily ask them how they could live in that, while he happily spent Christmas barefoot in a tank top.
They dumped their stuff in the car, cases in the trunk, then coats, sweaters, hats and gloves thrown onto the seats. Once everyone was down to T-shirts, and Amy had switched to flip-flops, they headed back inside to find a base until Anna’s parents landed.
They found somewhere styled after an Irish pub to have burgers and steak in a comforting gloom, rehydrating with orange juice and soda. When the kids got bored at the table, Lucky and Khy gave them change to go and play the arcade machines.
Being around Lucky was always strange because of his resemblance to Anna, despite being male. Volon families resembled each other too, of course, but he was used to that. He was not used to seeing his wife’s dark hair cut short, or her dark eyes in a man’s face, or her laugh pitched to a man’s voice. Khy’s sister-in-law – which was an odd thought – was small with almost-blonde hair, and her accent was hard for him to parse sometimes. He could tell the two of them were very much in love, and he observed them carefully for human relationship rituals he might need to know about. So far he didn’t think Anna was missing out on anything by being with him. Lucky took Amy under his arm the same way Khy did with Anna.
Lucky did not spar with Amy the same way Anna did with Khy however, and the two siblings were worse with each other than they were with their spouses. Khy watched silently as they argued over some irrelevant thing and called each other names and pulled faces. On one hand it was encouraging, clearly it was just Anna’s nature, and nothing personal. On the other hand, it was a little lonely for her attention to be on someone else for so long.
“Honestly, you two,” Amy scolded them gently, then she looked at Khy. “Is Anna like this at home too?
I thought I’d softened Lucky up.”
“Anna never stops fighting,” Khy said with pride, but that was interesting. Amy did not want Lucky to argue with her the way Anna argued with him. Did Anna want to soften him up?
The idea made his crest twitch and he had to comb it down quickly. Anna would be as bored as he would if she simply submitted to him about everything.
He watched Lucky pull Amy to him to kiss her cheek and say “Sorry, honey.”
So, Lucky and Anna were similar, but Amy was not like Khy. The two siblings had chosen very different mates. But, in a way, Amy and Khy were family. Once Anna’s parents arrived, Anna might be more their daughter, and Lucky’s sister, and the girls’ aunt, than his mate, and maybe Amy would see the same thing happen to Lucky. Khy had only married into this family. Perhaps Amy would feel the same.
He glanced at Anna, to see how she felt about his comment, but she was just curling her nose at the sight of her brother kissing. Khy smiled and squeezed her thigh under the table. Nothing had changed.
Eventually it was time to meet Anna’s parents. Lucky and Amy lifted themselves out of their seats with grimaces, still tired from their flight, and collected the girls. The siblings fell quiet as they waited for their parents to arrive, something shifting in the air, so it fell to Amy to make polite conversation.
“So Khy, how have you been since we saw you last? Lucky says you’re working on finding the Volon a home in Arizona?”
Khy filled her in on the project while she made all the right noises, answering that this or that sounded interesting. He knew she was just being polite, but it unsettled him, how positive she was being about something she knew nothing about. He had no idea what she really thought, and when the girls interrupted to ask if they could go surfing this time, and what he’d got them for Christmas, he gladly swapped his attention to them. They were still guileless children, and didn’t care about being polite.
When their grandparents came through from the baggage claim, they didn’t rush to meet them, hiding by their mother instead. Perhaps they didn’t see them very often. Instead it was Lucky and Anna who went to give hugs and take bags. They both took after their mother, who was only a few inches shorter than their father. Both parents had grey hair, and Khy watched in interest, trying to see if that was Anna’s future.
An Office Alien Christmas Collection (Office Aliens Book 5) Page 21