by M. K. Eidem
“Kim…” Wray’s voice had her eyes searching for his. “It’s alright, my Kim.” He said and she felt the pressure ease as he quickly moved to her side, making sure he didn’t touch her.
“Wray?” She gave him a confused look, then suddenly realized what had happened. How could she have been so stupid! “Oh God! I’m so sorry, Wray!”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Kim.” Wray said. He refused to let her know how disappointed he was that she was not ready to Join with him, how hard it was for him to move away.
“I do.” She said sitting up. “I don’t know why I acted like that. I knew you expected…”
“Nothing. I expected nothing.” He told her, shifting slightly away from her. “I told you I would take nothing you weren’t willing to give and I meant it. You are not yet fully recovered. It was wrong of me to pressure you.”
“You didn’t pressure me, Wray. I’m the one that pressured you. I really thought I was ready, that I could handle it.” Kim couldn’t believe she’d done that to him and put an apologetic hand on the back he’d turned to her.
“Don’t!” he said harshly, jerking away from her. “I am not fully in control of myself.”
“I…” Kim’s voice caught, unable to hide the hurt his flinching away had caused her, but after a moment she looked at him, really looked at him. He faced away from her, his head down, shoulders hunched. His back was slick with sweat and his hands were clenched on his thighs. His entire body trembled… and as shocking as all that was, it wasn’t what had her speechless. What had her speechless was the size of his cock bobbing angrily in time with his ragged breathing.
Unconcerned about her nakedness, Kim moved so she was facing him, her knees just touching his and waited for him to look at her. When he didn’t, she placed a gentle hand over his fisted one. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, little one.” He said through gritted teeth.
“Yes, I do. I…”
“It was too soon, Kim and I knew this. It is my responsibility to see that you are cared for and I did not.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” She ducked her head, trying to catch his eye. “I’d say you ‘cared’ for me just fine. If fact, I loved the way you ‘cared’ for me. Will you let me care for you now?”
“What?” Kim’s words shocked Wray into looking at her. “You became frightened…”
“I did,” she agreed, “but there are other ways, Wray.” Her eyes moved to his still engorged shaft.
“What do you mean, Kim?” He asked, frowning. What other way, besides Joining, was there for a female to help a male receive his release?
“Let me show you.” She said and slowly reached out, barely grazing the engorged dark head as she drew her fingers down his shaft before gliding around the underside to make the return trip. She was shocked to discover how soft he was. She’d expected his skin to be as rough and hard as his shaft appeared, instead it was like touching hot velvet.
“Is this alright, Wray?” She asked, her voice growing husky as her thumb slowly circled the wide head of his shaft, capturing several large drops of pre-cum that had seeped from it. She watched his eyes widen as she lifted her thumb to her mouth, tasting his essence for the first time.
Kim closed her eyes and found herself groaning as his flavor settled on her tongue. He tasted like the dark chocolate honey truffles her mother always made at the holidays, slightly strong, slightly sweet, a little bitter but silky on her tongue. “Will you help me?”
With her initial tentative touch, Wray’s entire being had stilled. Was she really going to touch him the way a male did to relieve himself? Tornian females never touched a male this way. Thank the Goddess, she wasn’t Tornian
Her hands were so soft, they felt so wonderful, they felt so different to his own as they glided over his hard throbbing shaft that they made it weep with pleasure. As she slowly explored him, he found he had to call upon his warrior’s training not to take control of her hand and show her how to pleasure him. But when she took his seed into her mouth, savored it and asked him to help her pleasure him, he knew it would not be possible.
Sucking in a ragged breath, he carefully closed his large callused hand around her much smaller, softer one and squeezed, showing her how to pleasure him as he moved it up and down his shaft. He showed her where he was sensitive, where he liked it rougher. He knew he wasn’t going to last long. Her touch already had the pressure in his balls building to a nearly unbearable level. Increasing the speed of her strokes, his hips thrust desperately into her hand. “Kim!” he cried out as the pressure finally broke his control and he exploded.
Chapter Ten
Kim’s eyes traveled over Wray as he returned from checking on the storm enjoying the way his impressive abs flexed with every confident step he took. Damn, the male was built.
The last few days had been amazing as far as Kim was concerned. Sure, the taste of the nutrient bars was getting old, but they actually filled her up, something she knew they weren't doing for Wray. One bar was meant to sustain a Warrior for a day, not half a bar, yet he still tried to get her to eat the whole bar every day.
During the day they would talk, well Kim talked. Wray would sit there listening intently as if every word she said was precious. She’d never meet a male that had actually listened to her before, not even her own father. Wray wanted to know her thoughts and feelings. He seemed to soak them up as if he was starved for her attention.
When she'd told him how Warrior would soak her father, he’d laughed, a deep belly laugh that made her smile. It was something she didn’t think he did often and decided she would do her best to make sure he did it more often.
During the nights, Wray would hold her close, surrounding her with his warmth and protection. When the nightmares came, he would kiss away her tears, tell her he loved her and vow that she was safe.
She couldn’t believe how protective he was of her, especially here where there were no threats. Unless she had to relieve herself, he was always near her, either holding her in his lap or touching her in some way, especially her hair. He liked to play with her curls while they talked. It was something that in the past would have irritated her. Now it made her feel cherished.
“It’s finally starting to end.” Wray said, moving to her. “Have you eaten?”
“I was waiting for you.” She said and opened their last bar handing him half.
Wray waved her off. “You eat it.” he ordered.
Kim gave him an exasperated look and dropped both halves back into the bag.
“What are you doing?” Wray demanded angrily, reaching into the bag to pull the bars back out. “You need to eat!”
“And so do you!” Kim fired back.
“It won’t be much longer.” He told her, holding both halves out to her.
“Then there’s no reason you can’t eat too!”
“Goddess, Kim!” Wray closed his eyes growling his frustration. “Don’t you understand? I need you to eat. I need to at least try to care for you.” It was killing him that she was doing without, that he wasn’t providing enough for her. Not that she’d complained, but he knew she had to be hungry. No matter how many times he tried, no matter how many valid arguments he made, she refused to eat unless he did. Yesterday she’d even refused to take a bite until he did. His Kim was stubborn.
“You are taking care of me.” Kim told him gently squeezing a tense bicep. "I’m smaller than you Wray. I don't need as much food. Half a bar is more than enough for me." She knew he was struggling with what he saw as his failure to provide for her but he was wrong. “And I need to care for you too. You're just as important as I am, Wray.”
“Have I ever told you that you are a most stubborn female, my Kim?” He asked as he covered her hand with his and felt the warmth of her words spread through his chest.
“Ummm… let me think…” she tapped a finger to her chin. “About a dozen times a day.”
“I will need to increase that number.”
He told her only half teasing keeping his share of the bar before handing the remainder to her.
“I’m sorry I’ve made this harder for you, Wray.” Kim told him softly, lowering the bar without taking a bite. She found she had to fight back the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. Was she just being stubborn? Like she used to be, for no good reason? All she knew was it hurt to think of him going without when she could prevent it.
Wray frowned at Kim’s words and it grew when she lowered the bar without taking a bite. “You have not done that, little one.” He told her sliding closer. Running a gentle hand down her cheek, he raised her eyes to his. “If anything, you have made it too easy on me, little one.” At her surprised look he continued. “You haven’t complained, Kim. Not once. You haven’t demanded things I couldn’t give you.”
“What good would that have done?” She asked.
“It is what a Tornian female would have done.” He gestured to the bar just lying in her hand. “Eat, Kim. Please.” He begged. “It will make me feel better to see you eat.”
Kim sighed, she knew he was using her feelings to get her to do what he wanted, but still she took a bite.
Wray watched Kim as she ate, making sure she finished the bar. He was struggling with more than not being able to provide for her properly. He was struggling with the fact that she seemed to care so much for him that she would put herself at risk, for him. She’d done the same for her sister and it still enraged him. It should never have been allowed.
She didn’t seem to understand that she mattered more than he did and not because she was a female but because she was his female. He wanted her to be safe, protected and provided for at all times. He wanted her to see her smile, wanted to hear her laugh and see her eyes filled with happiness, not with the fear her nightmares brought. He wanted all these things for his Kim. Could he provide it for her?
Their time together here was quickly coming to an end and there were still so many things he needed to tell her. Kim had been completely open and honest with him, answering every question he asked. He hadn’t. He would distract her or not tell the full truth when she asked a question. She still didn’t even know he was the Emperor.
How would she react once she learned he’d kept it from her? She had been angry when he hadn’t told her he’d cleansed her. Would this upset her too?
Then there was the matter of how his people would react if she were unable to present offspring. A male that Joined with a female who was either unable to present offspring or presented unfit offspring was forced to forfeit his position since there would be no male to replace him. Wray had never understood why a male would willingly do this, for it ended his line, but since finding Kim, he understood because even if he didn’t have Tora, Wray would still have chosen Kim.
There was also the matter of where she came from. Why had the Ganglians deleted all the navigational history of her planet? It was a question the Assembly of Lords would want answered.
He needed to start preparing Kim for all of this and he needed to start with admitting to her who he really was.
“Kim…” he began only to be cut off when the locator started to beep, moving to it, he pressed several buttons and was rewarded with static.
"Why is it doing that?" Kim asked, moving to look at the locator.
“It is Veron trying to communicate with me.”
"You can talk on that thing? I thought it just sent out a signal."
"It does both." Wray told her frowning at the device. "The storm made it impossible for us to communicate with the Searcher, but now that it is clearing we should be able to hear them." Moving towards the cave's entrance Wray realized the storm had completely dissipated and pressed several buttons.
“Veron. Where in the name of the Goddess are you!” He demanded.
“Maj…ar…” Hearing Veron’s voice Wray realized that the storm wasn't the only thing interfering with the locator's reception. The jagged cliffs surrounding the cave and the remaining energy crystals were also. He needed to move away from them, turning around, he found that Kim had followed him outside and was now staring wide eyed at the barren landscape before her.
"Wow." she said carefully moving forward as her eyes traveled over the alien landscape that wasn't really so alien looking. The cave Wray had carried her to was situated inside a narrow canyon with steep sides and a sharp V at its opening. Beyond it lay a brown valley. Not the rich brown you see after a farmer had tilled a fertile field, but the brown of a land that's gone dormant in the late fall as all life it contains hopes to survive until spring.
"As I said, there is no longer life on Pontus."
Kim stepped carefully over the rocky ground, worried she might cut her bare feet, but instead found the storm had smoothed their edges. At the mouth of the canyon, she was shocked to see the steep descent to the valley floor.
"How did you manage to carry me up that?" She asked, turning back to Wray.
"It was not that difficult, Kim. You are not heavy."
"Not heavy?" Kim couldn't believe he'd said that. Sure, she wasn't overly large, but at 5' 5" and 140 pounds, she wasn't exactly light either, especially not on that steep of an incline.
"No, you are not." Wray's eyes scanned the valley below them. Veron should have landed by now, but he saw no evidence of it. "I need to get to higher ground, Kim. These walls and the crystals are interfering with me being able to communicate with Veron." He moved to a wall and gripped a rock testing that it would hold his weight.
Kim looked from the wall to him in disbelief. "You're going to climb the wall?!!"
"It is the quickest way." He said still looking up.
"If you want to break your neck."
Walking over he wrapped his arms around her. "I will be fine, Kim." He told her. "I want you to go back into the cave and wait for me."
"Like that's going to happen." She told him.
"Kim..."
"I am not going back into that cave while you climb that cliff. I'll go crazy wondering if you fell."
"I will not fall." He told her insulted she would think such a thing. "Now I order..."
"Order... who do you think you are? The damn Emperor? I might love you, but that doesn't mean you get to order me around Wray."
"I..." static stopped him again from telling her that, yes, he was the Emperor. "I need to get to where I can communicate with Veron, Kim." he told her frustrated. "I vow to you that nothing will happen to me, now please go back into the cave."
"No," she told him and held up a finger to stop him from speaking, "but I will once you reach the top."
"Kim..."
"I need to know you made it, Wray. It will seriously drive me nuts to not know."
Sighing heavily Wray walked over to frame her face in his hands. “You will wait in the cave for me to return?” He asked, his eyes searching hers.
“If you want me to.”
“I do. I need to know you are safe also, my Kim.”
“Alright, as soon as you reach the top I’ll go inside and wait.”
“I will not be long.” He told her and with a hard kiss moved to the wall.
Kim waited with bated breath as Wray scaled the walls of the cliff making it look easy. Once he was over the edge, he stood and looked back down with a cocky smile.
“Show off.” Kim muttered to herself, but she gave him a smile and a wave, then turned back to the cave.
Wray found himself smiling as he watched Kim entering the cave. The cliff hadn’t been a difficult climb, less than forty feet, and yet Kim had worried about him. The thought filled him with warmth, to have someone worry about him… he’d have to take measures to see he didn’t, worry her that is. He didn’t want his Kim to worry about anything ever again.
His smile faded as he looked over the valley and could see where the shuttle had crashed. He could have lost her in that crash, a crash, he truly hadn’t thought they would survive. The Goddess must have been watching over them.
“Majesty!”
&n
bsp; Turning Wray found Veron fast approaching behind him. “What in the name of the Goddess are you doing back there, Captain!” Wray demanded angrily. “The shuttle is that way!” he pointed in the opposite direction.
“Yes, Majesty.” Veron immediately replied. “But the locator beacon indicated you were somewhere in this area so we deployed the rescue team here.”
“Send a recovery team to the shuttle.”
“Recovery, Majesty?”
“Yes, Warrior Damir is now in the hands of the Goddess.”
“I understand, sire. I will have a team sent immediately. And the female?” Veron felt he had to ask. When Wray’s shuttle had gone down, Veron had thought he’d lost him. Thought his Emperor and friend was gone. When the locator had gone with the Emperor's code stating they'd survived the crash, he’d thanked the Goddess for her mercy, but then the storm had refused to end and his concern had grown again.
Two males confined with a female abused by the Ganglians.... he'd shuddered to think what they were going through, but to find out now that it was just the Emperor... Goddess, he couldn't think of a worse punishment, so he was surprised at the Emperor's next words.
“Kim is fine, she is in the cave. We need to retrieve her so I can get her on the Searcher and into the deep repair unit.”
“Kim?” Veron frowned at the strange name.
“It is her name. Kim Teel and she is mine!” Wray growled at him.
“Yours?” Veron couldn’t hide his shock. Wray had claimed he would never take another female after the death of his Empress, yet now he was claiming this female, a female from an unknown species and one that had been abused. Why? “You’ve Joined with her?” he asked quietly.
“No!” Wray saw his friend's shock and disbelief and while he understood it, didn't like it. “She is still recovering from the Ganglians but have no doubt, Veron, she is mine! Now lets us get to her, she's alone.”
“By now the other advance team should be at the cave.”
“What?” Wray had started to walk away, but whipped around causing Veron to stumble in surprise.