A Captive for Kean: A Sci Fi Alien Romance

by Lynnea Lee

  “Thank you, Zharor. I don’t know what I’d do without your help.” Kean blew out a breath, whistling through tight lips. “So Jotah is after Vosthea.”

  The retired Dominion merchant was filthy rich and had a splendid estate on Aton Station. But Aton Station belonged to the Dominion. An entire planet would be a step up, even if Vosthea was deemed “useless” by the Dominion due to its untamed wilderness, lack of minable resources, and its assortment of criminal inhabitants. Kean and Zharor, through hard work and quality Euphora, had put it on the star charts.

  Up until Gadrek’s death, Vosthea still technically belonged to the Dominion, though only in name. Gadrek had next to no control over the crooks on the planet. Jotah had waited for Kean to wrestle the planet from the Dominion’s hold before making his move. Kean doubted this would be the last attack. He would need to fortify his stronghold.

  “Let him try,” was Zharor’s response. “He will need to fight through all of us.”

  It was good to know that he was not alone in this fight.

  Then Zharor turned to Sarah. “And we have more information on your sister.”

  Sarah, who had been leaning on Kean, tracing lazy circles on his chest, perked up immediately and leaned towards Zharor. “You asked around for my sister.”

  Kean fought the irrational urge to pull Sarah back and cover his mate from his friend’s view.

  “Kean put up a reward for anyone who could give us information leading to the safe return of your sister,” Zharor explained.

  “I put up the reward after bringing you to your quarters after the party.” He had wanted it to be a surprise and hadn’t expected her to go to Rax on her own. “The traveler Horin sold your sister to had stayed at the inn. He lent her to the innkeeper while he was there. That’s where Rax saw her. I will give Rax part of the reward for leading us to the innkeeper once he’s finished his punishment for endangering you.”

  Sarah’s face darkened. “He shouldn’t even be punished. He was helping me!”

  “He should not have taken you out of the compound. It is dangerous. And Zake should not have let it happen. But don’t worry, little one. Their punishment is suitable; they are both assigned to creche duty.”

  “You are making them watch children?” Sarah looked amused.

  “They failed to guard my little one, so they will guard other little ones instead.”

  “That’s not so bad then.”

  “It depends on who you ask,” Ulkin, who was silent until now, chimed in. “I heard Kean and Kanon were horrible to watch as youngsters. I’d sewn them both up often. You’re good, Kean. I will send the reports to your comm. Now get out of my med bed and try not to hit your head again.” He turned to Sarah. “Make sure he rests today. He is a terrible patient; has been since he was small.”

  Not wanting Sarah to have doubts about having and raising his offspring in the future, Kean quickly changed the topic. “I updated the reward for anyone who can give us information on her after she left the planet.” As he spoke, he found his clothes on a nearby chair and dressed quickly.

  Then with Sarah in one arm and Zharor by his side, he headed towards his personal quarters.

  “Tell us of the new updates on Chrissy’s whereabouts,” he prompted.

  “Someone came forward who spoke with the traveler at the inn. He mentioned his plan to sell her to a breeding facility as he did not need a human female. He did not find them to be appealing.” Zharor made a face. “He clearly has bad taste.”

  “Breeding facility!” Sarah’s face was horrified.

  Kean put a soothing hand on her shoulder. “We know of only one breeding facility in this quadrant. Even before this, I had an interest in it as the research there might help my own. It just became more personal.”

  “So you will send someone to find her?”

  “Of course, little one. We will find your sister.”

  “Isn’t Trenton planning to attack the breeding facility to free the females?” Zharor asked.

  “He is. I promised to send a team to help.”

  “Trenton sounds like an Earth name.”

  Gadrek had kept Sarah hidden away so well that she’d missed the news of the first-ever human mercenary captain. It was a big deal. Trenton had made quite a splash in the surrounding planets.

  “He captains a mercenary vessel. His entire crew is human, all ex-convicts.”

  “Human captain? I didn’t know there were any, in space, I mean.”

  “Trenton is the first.” Kean looked to Zharor. “Though I would refrain from singing his praises around Ulrek, it was his ship that Trenton first stole.”

  “I remind him every chance I get. It brings his inflated ego down a notch.” Zharor smirked. “That reminds me, Ulrek is all set up in Gadrek’s old place. I moved all your appointments with representatives from the area to him. They seem more eager to work with him anyway, they are used to working with a Dominion rep, and Ulrek still oozes Dominion authority.” His smirk turned into a look of disgust.

  Kean just shook his head. Ulrek was hated by many and for good reasons. But he was the best candidate to keep his planet running. A good leader wasn’t afraid to delegate and give his team a decent level of autonomy. It would be impossible to manage otherwise.

  Then Zharor spoke again, “I would like to lead the team you send to work with Trenton. If Chrissy is in that facility, I will find her.”

  He would prefer Zharor here helping him run the compound, but the hope that lit Sarah’s face was all Kean needed to make his decision. “Select the males you wish to have on your team, and any weapons or gear you need is yours. Bring my mate’s sister home.”

  They were at his quarters now, and Zharor gave a single solemn nod before turning to leave.

  A few steps later, he turned and said, “Congratulations, my friend. May the Stars look kindly on your mating.”

  Then Kean was alone again with his mate.

  Chapter 23

  “Sit your ass down and relax,” Sarah demanded with her hands on her hips. It was hard work intimidating a nearly seven feet tall, muscle-bound alien. “Doctor’s orders.” She paced from side to side as she waited for Kean to sit.

  “Bossy little mate.” Kean obeyed, plopping his perfectly sculpted ass onto the couch. He pulled her down in his lap. “I like it.”

  Sarah pushed off his lap, too restless to sit, and went over to the food replicator instead. Before Kean woke from his med bed induced sleep, Ulkin had told her to make sure Kean was well hydrated for the next few days. She set the replicator to produce two glasses of iced nuri leaf tea and chewed at her nails as she waited for the replicator to work. She brought them over to the couch, handed one to Kean, and took a long swig out of the other.

  Still high-strung and uneasy from the past day’s action, she found it hard to settle down. Ulkin had insisted she rest while Kean healed in the med bed, but she had paced most of the day. It had bothered the older Tallean male enough that he had offered her a sedative. Not wanting to be asleep when Kean woke, Sarah had rejected it. She’d sat down after to avoid irritating the doctor. But she’d been sure she moved the whole planet with her knee shaking.

  “I almost wish I’d gotten amberberry wine for myself instead.” After the last two days of stress, she was ready to let loose. “I’m wound so tight; I don’t think I could ever relax again. I’ve chewed the inside of my cheek to shreds from nervousness.”

  “Since you’ve been here, you’ve experienced nothing but violence and attacks. I swear to you that I had my compound under control, and I will again.” Kean’s face darkened. “I need to prove to you that you are safe here.”

  “You’ve already proved it.” Sarah meant every word. Kean might think he failed at protecting her, but she was alive. He might believe it was unsportsmanlike to use a blaster, but he did it to save her. “I am alive because of you. You are my hero.”

  She took one more swig of the refreshing pink drink, s
et it on the low table in front of them, and settled down next to her mate. But only a moment later, she stood up again, unable to sit still. Her fingers itched to have something to fuss over, and she cracked her knuckles for something to do.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t seem to relax, even though I know you’re safe now.” It felt awkward standing still, so she paced again.

  A large palm wrapped around her waist and pulled her down into Kean’s lap. This time he held her down. “Have you gotten any rest while I was on the med bed? I must have been out for most of the afternoon.”

  “No, I couldn’t relax then either.” She put her fingers to her mouth and bit at her nails. The inside of her mouth was already raw, and she needed to bite at something.

  Kean looked at her, worried. “Do you need a sedative? You are grinding your teeth.”

  “Ulkin offered me one, but I didn’t want to miss you waking up.”

  “I am awake now.”

  “But now, I don’t want to miss any time with you.” She knew it was irrational, but she dreaded to be sedated if she could be with Kean instead.

  “What about Euphora? I can give you a small dose. I volunteer to be all the tactile stimulation you need while high.” The corner of Kean’s lips quirked up.

  Sarah was tempted. She thought of the last time she was on Euphora and how pleasurable it had been to explore his body. But then again, she could just skip straight to the good stuff.

  “I have a better idea. Why don’t we skip the Euphora altogether, and I can work off my nervous energy on you?” She straddled his hips as she had at the party. “You can help me relax.”

  And just as at the party, she reached up and pulled him down into a kiss. Unlike at the party, Kean devoured her mouth hungrily. She scratched at the back of his scalp with her nails, and Kean rewarded her with a growl. Something hard and insistent sprung up between them, and she ground her crotch against it.

  “Mmm.” It felt good to forget about what happened and just focus on Kean and the places they touched. “I don’t need Euphora. You are just as good.”

  She undid the fastening holding his silky shirt together and smoothed her hands over his chest. Then she tore her top over her head. She wanted to feel him skin to skin. She pressed their chests together, rubbing her sensitive nipples against him.

  One moment she was straddling his hips, and the next, she was on her back on the Tallean sized couch. Deft hands pulled off the rest of her clothes before Kean peeled off his leather pants. His large cock bobbed in front of her, and she licked her lips.

  “Ooh, yummy!” She reached for it, but Kean stopped her.

  “Not this time. You said when I was healed, I could enjoy you every way I want.” Kean licked his lips slowly, deliberately.

  Sarah giggled, leaned back, and threw her hands up in surrender. “Sounds good to me. I’m all yours, Kean.”

  Kean turned serious. “Are you?”

  “Of course, I am. I have no doubts. You are my mate.”

  “But are you happy here? With me?”

  What was this about? “Am I happy? I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I know being your mate comes with some inherent risks. You didn’t come to own a planet without stepping on some toes. You are loyal and protective of the people around you, to the point that you would kill to keep them safe. I respect and appreciate that. As for dealing with the stress, it is something I’ll need to work on.”

  Keeping Kean’s gaze, she smoothed a palm over her body, squeezed her breasts together, and pinched her own nipple. “I thought you were going to help? Don’t keep me waiting.”

  Kean grinned. “I would never dare, my demanding little mate. I love you, little one. I would trade my entire world for you.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered. “But can you love me more with your mouth?”

  That got her a snarl as Kean fell on her like a hungry predator. Her predator.

  Sarah never imagined she would fall in love with someone like Kean. The galaxy saw him as a villain, but those who knew him saw him as their hero. He was a nightmare, fierce and deadly to his enemies, but to Sarah, he was everything that was good in the universe. He was dangerous, powerful, ruthless, and he was all hers to command.

  Kean smoothed the short strands of hair back from Sarah’s face. His mate was sleeping. She’d fallen asleep almost immediately after he’d made her scream his name as she came apart in his arms again and again. He’d carried her over to their bed. Soft, snoring noises came from her, and it was adorable.

  A surreal sense of awe filled him, and he kept a hand on Sarah to convince himself that she was real.

  For the longest time, he’d believed the Stars would deny him a mate for the crimes he’d committed. He’d believed he didn’t deserve a mate. Or worse, that the Stars would send him a mate, only to take her away when she found out his darkest secrets and left.

  But Sarah hadn’t left. Instead, she’d defended his actions, stressing that she respected his decisions to choose the people he loved. She didn’t see him as the villain. She’d told him the people living in his compound thought of him as their hero. And those were the people who mattered the most.

  Sarah saw him as a hero, too. Her hero. And his mate’s opinion trumped all the rest. If she could forgive him for his decisions, then it was time he did the same.

  Kean knew he would never change. He’d lost many night’s sleep over the wrongs he’d done, but he also knew that given the choice to make those decisions again, he would do nothing different. No matter how many times he ran his life over in his head—and he had, many times—he always chose his brother and his parents. He always chose the people in his compound. And from now on, until the day he returned to the Stars, he would choose Sarah.

  His little mate rolled over in her sleep, and Kean slipped into the blankets behind her. He’d never asked for a drug empire. He never asked for a planet. But he’d begged the Stars for years for a mate. And here she was. This tiny little female from Earth, this demanding slip of a thing who owned his heart, was it. And he would not trade her for the universe.

  Epilogue

  Sarah helped Chrissy up from their riverside bench. Her sister was almost due, and her belly was huge.

  “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. This baby is a never-ending black hole for food.” Her sister rubbed her bulging belly. “I honestly don’t know where it all goes.”

  “You do look like you’re about to pop.”

  “Yup! Any day now. Which means I only have a few more days to pig out before I lose my excuse.”

  They walked toward the dining hall. Well, Sarah walked; Chrissy waddled.

  “Nah, you’ll still be able to pig out as you nurse. Nouma said she was able to eat anything she wanted when she was nursing and still be slim. Tallean babies eat a lot.”

  There was always something available at the self-serve buffet. Chrissy grabbed the largest plate and proceeded to load it up with a little bit of everything. Sarah smiled to herself; that was going to be her in a few short months. She picked up a smaller plate and put a few sweets on it.

  She waited for Chrissy to sit down and start eating before she broke the news.

  “Do you know how you’ve been hounding me to get Zara a playmate? Well, Zara’s getting a playmate. I’m pregnant!”

  Chrissy paused with the tong of food halfway into her mouth and squealed. “No way! Congratulations! I’m so excited for you. Does Kean know yet? Well, duh! Of course he knows. He probably was the one dosing you with fertility drugs.”

  Sarah laughed at her sister’s enthusiasm.

  Chrissy was right. Kean had been the one putting her through the fertility treatment, and he’d been the one to know first, even before Sarah. According to the scans, it was a boy. And they’d kept it a secret until Kean had declared her past the critical point for Tallean-human fetuses.

  Only a few close friends would know for now. They planned on keeping quiet for as long as po
ssible. Kean had already increased security around the compound. Even now, Rax and Zake sat at the table by the entrance, pretending to be engrossed in conversation.

  Sarah had not one but two tails now; both Zake and Rax were assigned to her. And they didn’t dare let her out of their sight for fear of having to watch children again. But she didn’t mind. Even with her ever-present entourage, she felt free. She was free.

  “Oh look, there’s your baby’s daddy!” Chrissy tilted her head to the door.

  Kean beamed at her, and just like every time that she saw him, her heart did a little flutter, and she couldn’t help but smile.

  “If Kean is here, then that means Zharor is out of the meetings too.” Chrissy looked nervously around. “I should make myself scarce.”

  “Are you still avoiding him? The baby’s almost due; he should be allowed to get to know his kid.”

  Poor Zharor had been following Chrissy around like a lovesick fool the whole pregnancy. And her sister had been avoiding him like the plague.

  “I’m not going to let him pretend to care about me just because he got me preggers. I refuse to be an obligation.”

  “I don’t think that’s how he sees it.”

  Chrissy waved her comment off with a flick of her wrists. They’d been through this before. “You’ve babysat me enough today. I’ll call Nouma and spend some time with her. Go spend time with your man.”

  Sarah gave her sister a hug before skipping over to her mate.

  Kean was looking sexy as hell as always. For some reason, being pregnant had skyrocketed her sex drive, and all she wanted to do was get her yummy mate naked and alone. Picking her up as if she weighed nothing at all, he swung her around.

  “Ready to go out for dinner?”

  “Out for dinner?” Sarah tried to hide her disappointment and failed. “I was kind of hoping we could just stay in and do it like bunnies.”