Gladiator: A Rough Sci-Fi Romance

by Piper Stone

I wanted nothing more than to call out to him.

  The cold steel of the weapon in my hand was suddenly heavier than before. I was exhausted, filthy, and hungry for the first time in days. The lapping sounds of the water drew my attention. At least I could clean the dirt and slime off my body. After another quick look around me, I eased the weapon onto the ground, struggling with still shaking fingers to unfasten my boots. Within seconds, I was jerking my clothing off at a frantic pace, wanting nothing more than to rid myself of the stench of the past few days.

  If a mass group of people was coming for me, there was little the gun would do to protect me.

  I tossed my clothing onto the banks, taking several deep breaths before walking directly into the water. While I expected frigid cold as I would experience back on Earth, the water was amazingly warm, so inviting, and soothing in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I moved to the center as the water lapped at my arms and neck, deeper than I would have imagined.

  My skin was tickled by the gentle sensations, even though ripples flowed by me at a rapid rate. I felt surrounded by warmth, as if the entire river only wanted to place a cocoon around me. I dunked my head under, enjoying the dazzling sensations. Almost instantly, there was an odd sense of peace, as if the underworld of this place was calling to me. I swam for several minutes, the blissful feeling of being free and alive unlike anything I’d felt in so damn long.

  Finding a shallow spot, I rubbed my skin, trying desperately to remove the dirt and grim, finally dipping back under the water. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes, the crystal clear water allowing me to see the vegetation as well as marine life.

  Fish.

  Plankton.

  Shrimp.

  The world underneath was teeming with life; yet another unexpected moment. I was breathless with wonder, merely floating in another realm. None of this made any sense. I’d studied enough about chemicals in relation to biology to realize that what we’d seen on this small patch of land couldn’t exist. The compound of the terrain as well as the extreme weather conditions prevented fragile life from flourishing.

  Unless there was some divine intervention.

  Everything around me was surreal, adding to the ominous feelings that continued to pool in the pit of my stomach. Something was off. Wrong. Everything I was seeing was as if painted from a master artist’s canvas, the world created from what we expected to see.

  No, hoped to find.

  My curiosity was thwarted by the dark shadow looming over the rippling water. Terror swept through me once again. I was vulnerable and stupid for forgetting for one minute that there were vile and murderous creatures scouring this planet looking for food.

  And I was prime, Grade A juicy beef.

  I hadn’t realized just how long I’d been holding my breath until my lungs began to cry out for air as terror gripped me, dragging me further into the abyss. Even with the clear water, I was unable to tell what horrors I was facing.

  An intense growl was followed by a bellow, the beast tipping his head back, issuing a cry of conquest. I remained quiet, trying to keep from moving to any degree, praying to God that the creature would leave.

  When the gargantuan being moved closer, finally diving into the water, I bolted up from the surface, letting off a primal scream. I could think of nothing but scrambling to get to the other side, almost paralyzed with fear. I heard the water rushing behind me, could almost feel the heated breath as the creature moved closer.

  He was coming for me.

  He was hungering for me.

  There was no nightmare, no monster lurking in the shadows. There was only a purple-hued hunk, a beautiful and savage man who did indeed hunger for me.

  Xander.

  We’d spent a lifetime in the last few days, never really getting to know each other than in urgency and need and today was no different.

  He studied me as he removed his clothes, taking his time as if needing to tempt, a moment allowing me to force all my inhibitions aside.

  I wanted him.

  I craved the warmth that only he could provide.

  When he was completely naked, there wasn’t a cell in my body that wasn’t on fire, the longing bursting from deep within, catapulting me into a perfect fantasy. Every inch of his body glistened from sweat, shimmering under the tarnished sky. He was magnificent, honed from days of forced fighting, his muscles carved in a pristine manner.

  He had an aura about him, a determined hunter who’d caught his prey. As he walked into the water, I was breathless, as if I’d never seen him this way before, as if we’d never experienced raw and brutal passion.

  This time, I knew there would be no holding back.

  For this moment could be one of our last.

  A memory to hold for as long as we remained alive.

  And this time, I wanted nothing more than to succumb.

  To his power.

  To his prowess.

  To the man I’d grown to love.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Xander

  I’d stood watching her for a few minutes, crouching down in an effort to remain in the shadows. There was nothing surrounding us but beautiful terrain, although I had a difficult time believing this was anything but manmade. Everything was too pristine, a colorful array of some scientist’s imagination. Dense foliage, tropical flowers, cawing birds. Nothing made any sense. Even the river seemed to go on forever, although the majority of the planet was known to be brutally dry, the varying weather patterns sucking up any moisture. Even the odd snows that fell quickly evaporated.

  I was on edge, certain that our good fortune would come to a crashing end.

  Then the sight of her had stopped me in my tracks, her beauty mesmerizing. It was as if I hadn’t paid any attention to her before, merely acting on my hungers in a primal manner. Like some true savage. My cock was thick and throbbing, my balls tight with need from the mere glimpse of her naked body as she slid below the surface.

  My protective side also remained intact, my instinct telling me that we were being watched, even though there was no sign anyone had been here in ages.

  Maybe years.

  I could only imagine the vegetation’s growth cycle, but if the scientists had escaped recently, then the planet’s ability to regenerate and flourish was just another troubling aspect. There’d been no way of knowing how long the Zatan creature had been in the column of fluid but given the fact the system itself hadn’t been damaged by the fire, anything was possible.

  Maybe the scientist had fled the facility months, even years before. I was trained to handle any kind of surroundings but being in this place was fucking unnerving. Yet, Katarina seemed at ease, her guard dropping much like the weapon barely tossed near our belongings. There’d been no way of knowing whether or not the water itself was safe, or merely a way of drawing in predators for the kill.

  I fisted my hand, accepting the fact we needed to find shelter for the night, yet at this moment, my desires were overwhelming. I had to taste her. I had to take her.

  I would fuck her.

  I positioned the weapon next to the bags we’d brought with us, slowly standing, my eyes never leaving her. As I dragged the shirt over my head, tossing it aside, I heard a splash of water. She’d yet to notice my arrival. Her wet hair glistened in the late afternoon sun, shimmering with golden highlights, further fueling the beast deep within.

  After removing the rest of my clothing, I inched closer to the bank, wrapping my hand around my aching shaft. As I pumped up and down, I took shallow breaths, every muscle tense. I’d never experienced such burning need. Jesus, the desire for her was overwhelming. When she bolted up from the water, ringlets of water splashing in all directions, I moved in.

  Her eyes finally caught mine, the drag of her tongue across her lips an indication that she felt exactly the same way. Our connection was far too intense, as if the electricity we shared had been forged years before.

  Hell, I wouldn’t put it past the assholes on Earth.

 
; Katarina shifted backward in the water, her arms sweeping out in front of her. I continued inching closer, cognizant that the river was deeper than I’d imagined. A slight smile crossed her face as I closed the distance, the single purr sliding past her lips a powerful draw.

  I kept my distance for a few seconds, enjoying the magnificent view. Then I could hold back no longer, my almost desperate hunger too great. I yanked her toward me, cupping the back of her head and crushing my mouth over hers. I could swear I tasted strawberries, the flavor so rich and inviting that I devoured her mouth.

  She slipped her arms around me, her fingers caressing my skin, her nails digging in as if clinging on for dear life. Her moans were soft, mews of raging desire, much like my growls that permeated around our lips.

  I was blinded by my desire, the urge crazed, the kiss reeking of passion. Our tongues entwined yet I dominated hers, making certain she knew exactly who she belonged to. I brushed my fingers down her back, enjoying the way the lapping water felt, so cool and invigorating. Every synapse was alive, every cell in my body fueled by the savage longing.

  As her legs wrapped around mine, I shifted, moving in circle after circle, the feel of her even more incredible than before. I fisted her hair, yanking back her head until she was forced into a slight arc, her neck exposed.

  “Oh, yes. Yes...” she whimpered, closing her eyes as I lowered my head, nipping at her lower lip then sliding my mouth down to her jaw, drinking in her incredible essence. As I licked down the side of her neck, she purred once again, only this time the sound filtered into the air above us.

  I could swear a flock of birds cawed in return, the sound of their flapping wings a wonderful reminder of days gone by, a life that would never be experienced again. My growls intensified as I pulled her further back, exposing her breasts and swollen nipples. My hunger knew no bounds, my cock aching to the point of sheer pain. I pulled one of her tender buds into my mouth, sucking in an abandoned manner, biting down until she cried out.

  She clung to me, her breathing raspy, goosebumps appearing along her arms and a warm flush creeping up along her face. “Oh, God. You’re just...” She laughed softly, as if unable to finish the sentence.

  I took that moment to lift her hips, allowing my cock to slide past her swollen folds. The warmth of her pussy, the extreme wetness took my breath away. I shuddered, my guttural sounds more like a wild beast’s then moved my head to her other nipple, pinching and twisting, enjoying the way her mouth twisted in pain and pleasure.

  As the water shifted, splashing across our heated bodies, I rocked her up and down. My thrusts hard and fast, every action barbaric even as the water tempered the savage fucking.

  Katarina lolled her head, her eyes opening once again, twinkling as the sun began to set. She gave me a sinful look, another smile that was even more tempting than before. We were together as one, our bodies melding in a perfect rhythm.

  She rocked with me, her hips undulating. While every moment was sheer pleasure, I had to have more control. I needed her full attention as I ravaged every inch of her body. I held her tightly as I walked toward the shore, fighting the sharp rocks in an effort to move onto the grassy knoll.

  She peppered kisses against my cheek and neck, squeezing her pussy muscles in a way that drove me wild. I was barely on solid ground when I eased her down, our connection never breaking. I remained hovered over her, my palms pressed into the soft grass, staring into her lovely eyes.

  “What?” she whispered, her fingers rubbing the back of my neck, her legs still firmly wrapped around my hips.

  “Nothing, except you’re beautiful.”

  “Then just fuck me. Please, just fuck me.”

  Her words added fuel to the already raging fire. I drove into her brutally, the force pushing her against the ground.

  Every intense thrust was nothing more than barbaric, a man simply taking what he wanted.

  The woman who belonged to him.

  The woman who was giving all of herself.

  To a man they called gladiator.

  The way her pussy muscles clamped around my cock was so powerful, forcing me to control my increasing need. I wanted this to last. I was almost desperate in my need to keep her close, filling her with my seed.

  As I lowered my head, our lips almost touching, she laughed softly and somehow managed to garner a measure of control. When she rolled me over, her long hair slapping against my heated body, she gave me a wry smile. Her knees were shoved hard against my sides as she rode me, moving up and down in a continuous pattern, her fingers digging into the grass for leverage.

  Every sensation was increased, the adrenaline high. I was drunk with need, intoxicated by the moment. She was my weakness. She’d become the only thing that mattered. There was no past, no war that needed to be fought.

  Only her.

  Only the moment.

  I allowed her the few minutes of control, savoring the way her hips undulated, her voluptuous breasts and beautiful pink nipples a magnificent reminder of her undeniable sensuality. But my need for dominance, my longing to take what I owned became too great.

  With one hard push from me, she tumbled onto the ground, her laughter sparkling into the air. She scrambled as if attempting to get away, able to rise onto her hands and knees before I yanked her by the hair, dragging her backward.

  My actions becoming even more savage in nature, I held her in place as knelt behind her, smacking her bottom with the palm of my hand.

  Over and over again.

  She yelped from the pain, still struggling in an effort to take the lead, but she soon learned there was nothing she could do. I brought my hand down in rapid succession, smacking from one side to the other, my mouth watering from the side of her skin blossoming into a rosy pink color as heat built.

  She whimpered, wiggling her hips as she clawed at the surface, the guttural sound making me crazy with desire. I refused to stop, spanking her long and hard, my hand peppering her with smack after smack.

  Her ragged breathing was mixed with whimpers of anguish until a moment of ecstasy took over. As she rocked her body with the brutal actions, arching her back in a blatant invitation, I had difficulty focusing. My mind reeled with dark thoughts, proclivities that would shock the majority of men.

  Yet I wasn’t most men.

  My lip curled in an intense snarl and only when her ass cheeks were bright red did I stop, finally thrusting my cock into her pussy once again.

  “Fuck!” My roar was loud, echoing even in the dense forest and as I began to plunge in brutal actions, the sound of skin against skin was even more powerful.

  She took ragged breaths, meeting every hard thrust with one of her own.

  I could tell she was close to coming, her back heaving.

  “Do you want to come for me, little girl?” I hissed, the sound husky from extreme lust.

  “Yes. Yes!”

  I smacked her again, the force jutting her forward. “Then come. Come, sweet baby. Come on my cock.”

  “Oh. Oh. Oh!” As she tensed, her body shaking, I continued to drive into the very core of her. Harder. Faster. Her muscles clamped then released in a beautiful pattern, one climax erupting into two as she slapped her hand on the ground.

  “That’s it. Yes.” I could barely recognize my voice, the man inside me ravaged with growing need. I couldn’t hold back for long.

  I released my hold, allowing her head to drop yet she threw it back once again. Another invitation.

  Another temptation.

  I eased my cock from her warmth, sliding it to her dark hole. As I slipped the tip just inside, I closed my eyes. So tight. So hot. She held her breath as I pushed past the tight ring of muscle until every inch was fully seated inside. As I began to move, taking my time as I ravaged her dark hole, her body moved with mine, jutting back her hips.

  I was no longer aware of anything but the woman in front of me, the sinful act we were committing. And nothing had ever felt so right. Every muscle tensed, blood rac
ing through my veins and I knew there was no holding back.

  As I exploded deep inside, I tipped my head back once again, roaring to the heavens.

  We were now as one.

  * * *

  Anger.

  Frustration.

  Extreme protection.

  I felt all of these raging emotions and more. Finding out that she’d disobeyed me once again, going off on her own and even tasting a forbidden fruit infuriated me. I stood in the middle of the near pasture-like area, staring at the dozens of varieties of fruits and vegetables with shock and awe.

  As well as a foreboding that refused to leave.

  While I realized the area outside the Zatans’ compound was called the Wild, this was something else entirely.

  “Isn’t this amazing?” Katarina asked, her question certainly not coming from her scientific training.

  “This is dangerous. Every piece of vegetation could be poisonous. What the hell were you thinking?”

  She eyed me warily before stomping toward a patch of ripe red tomatoes. “What I’m thinking is that it’s obvious either seeds or plants were brought from Earth, likely from the very scientists that we are hunting. My educated guess is that this area has been cultivated for some time, measures taken to ensure that the food was not only nurtured but edible. I also believe that these same individuals knew what kind of weather conditions they were facing, sourcing out the best possible location to allow for maximum output. As we’ve seen, there is very little in the way of acceptable food sources on this ugly rock. Oh, and I might add, do you really think that this beautiful and well-tended slice of heaven was stuck in the middle of a dense forest on the chance that certain enemies or creatures of the night would simply happen on this place? Or was it that the scientists hoped to lure them here, perhaps getting them drunk on the nectar of the gods?”

  She stood with her hands on her hips, cocking her head.

  Such a rebellious little vixen.

  Her words were well thought out as well as based on her skills and education. I couldn’t deny them. “They weren’t entirely certain they had a passage back home.”