Ka'Cit's Haven: A Sci-fi Alien Romance (Riv's Sanctuary Book 3)

by A. G. Wilde

  But he didn’t move to explain and she left it at that, opting to just look up at him as his finger moved across her cheek.

  He was thinking about something, caught up in his thoughts far in the back of his mind, and as she looked at him, it was hard to merge the person he was now with the same man she’d seen shoot three aliens in the lounge.

  Right now, all wrapped up in bed with her, he looked like the farmer she’d thought he was.

  Calm, innocent, laid back.

  He was like a puzzle she wanted desperately to solve.

  His gaze suddenly focused as if he was rising from under water and he blinked.

  “Are you hungry?”

  Not for food.

  “No. I’m still full of the Zeregga meal. I don’t think I’ll be hungry again for a while. It was quite a lot.”

  Ka’Cit nodded, his gaze moving to her hair.

  One of her braids moved as he took it between his fingers.

  “Your hair has changed.”

  “I had to braid it.”

  He seemed entranced as he played with the braid for a few moments.

  “I’ve never done anything to my hair before.” He said it almost absentmindedly as he played with the braid and Nia’s smile grew.

  “I could braid yours, if you like…”

  Ka’Cit’s eyes widened a little and between them, something twitched against her thigh.

  Now it was her turn to show surprise.

  He’d been hard the entire time?

  “I’d like that.” His voice was so thick with need that she considered skipping the hairdo to play with something else other than his hair. But there was also anticipation in his eyes.

  So that’s how she ended up sitting on the edge of the sleeping slab with Ka’Cit sitting between her legs on the floor.

  He didn’t bother putting clothes on and before she even started on his hair, she was already having trouble concentrating because she had full view of his Pisa.

  He had one leg outstretched and the other bent at the knee, his foot planted on the floor. He was leaning back against her, his arms draped over her thighs, and his fingers found that soft area underneath her knees and were slowly massaging the spot.

  Nia ran her hands through his hair.

  It was mostly straight with a slight wave, and thick. There were no kinks or knots and she could run her hand straight through it without her fingers snagging.

  It was going to take some skill doing anything to his hair without a comb, but he didn’t seem in a rush and neither was she.

  So she took her time, taking a few strands between her fingers as she made the first part.

  His cock twitched as she ran a finger across his scalp and Nia had to force her gaze away.

  Looking at it now, she had no idea how he’d managed to fit it inside her. Not that she was complaining.

  She’d do it again.

  She wanted to do it again.

  “Tell me more…”

  Nia paused, a slight shock going down her spine. Had she spoken out loud?

  “More? More about what exactly?”

  “Your life, on your planet.”

  Her cheeks warmed a little as she chuckled. “Um, I kinda told you the main details already. My life was pretty standard otherwise. I wouldn’t want to bore you.”

  “That’s never going to happen. Tell me. I want to know everything about you.”

  Her fingers paused in his hair and after a few moments, Ka’Cit tilted his head back so he was looking at her upside down.

  His green gaze bore into hers and she couldn’t pull her eyes from his face.

  He was unbelievably handsome.

  “Nee-ya? Did I say something wrong?”

  Nia shook her head. “No.”

  So far, he’d been doing everything right, and at that moment, it dawned on her that she really, really liked this big blue alien.

  Like…a lot.

  “Your face has changed.” He was easing up off her and she had to hold him still. “You do not have to tell me about your past. I, more than anyone you know, understand that the past may hold pains you’d rather not relive.”

  “I…it’s not that. I can talk to you about it.”

  As she told him about what life was like on Earth, Nia found herself skipping the more painful memories, especially the ones involving those she’d held dear.

  It wasn’t sadness she felt, but regret. Regret that she hadn’t had the chance to tell them goodbye.

  “My mother died of cancer when I was twelve. That’s one of the reasons why I became a nurse.”

  “You wanted to heal others like the people who were trying to heal your momor?”

  Nia shook her head, her fingers pausing on the braid she was working on. “No.”

  “I do not understand.”

  A sigh made her body shudder as she steeled herself against the memory. “My mother…we didn’t have the money. Insurance didn’t cover some of her treatments and there was nowhere to go. I became a nurse because I wanted to help those who didn’t always have the money to get the treatment they needed. I don’t know if I was any good at it,” she breathed a laugh through her nose, “but I tried.”

  “I’m sure you were perfect.”

  A soft smile spread across her face at his words.

  “Tell me about you. Your family or…life on Hudo III back in the day.”

  His shoulders stiffened and the small circles he’d been drawing underneath her knee with his fingers stopped.

  “I…” he began. “I don’t have a family.”

  Nia stopped moving and a part of her wished she hadn’t asked the question. “I’m sorry. Did they…are they no longer alive?”

  “They are alive and well.”

  Nia blinked at him. “So…you don’t talk to them anymore. You had a falling out?”

  “I didn’t fall out. I was kicked out.”

  Her eyes widened at that and her mouth opened to give him a reply then closed.

  She didn’t know what to say.

  “I…I’m sorry.”

  Ka’Cit turned to look at her and his gaze was unreadable once more, that wall that she was noticing he erected behind his eyes was in place.

  “Don’t worry about me, ta’ii. They had good reason to. My momor spared me.”

  Nia’s brows furrowed a little as she fought to understand. How could sparing him involve kicking him out?

  “After I left, I got a ride on a cargo ship here, to Hudo III. I’d heard of a lot of Merssi living here so I thought it would be an easy place to start over.”

  She didn’t know what to say.

  “How old were you?”

  He tilted his head a little and it seemed as if he was calculating it in his head. “Around eight revolutions?”

  Nia’s jaw slackened.

  They’d kicked him out when he was eight years old?

  What kind of family would do that to a child?

  He stood then and moved toward where he’d discarded his clothes.

  “I should get you something to eat.”

  Nia watched him move, her mind swirling with questions she didn’t feel comfortable asking.

  It was clear that whatever happened between him and his family had created a scar that was still raw.

  The past may hold pains you’d rather not relive…

  He’d said that just a few moments before and it was evident now that he was speaking from experience.

  Maybe he’d open up to her about it.

  Maybe he wouldn’t.

  She’d give him time.

  For at least they had that.

  Time.

  31

  Ka’Cit was gone for a few minutes and Nia found herself sitting cross-legged on the bed, not sure what to do with herself.

  There wasn’t much to do in the room and she wasn’t about to venture out of it—at least, not on her own. Not after what had happened in the lounge.

  So she found herself…idle.

  It was
an odd feeling.

  She’d never had much time to be idle, not even on Earth. She’d never allowed herself to.

  There was always something to do.

  Her gaze moved over the room.

  Apart from the little square in the wall where the food had appeared, there was nothing else that was interesting enough for her to investigate.

  She was about to go take a closer look at the food chute when a sound at the door startled her.

  It was a low thump that had her stiffening.

  She didn’t remember Ka’Cit making any sounds when he’d entered, or even left the room before.

  He was usually so silent.

  The low thump sounded again, directly on the door this time and the hairs on the back of her arms stood on end.

  She was moving by the time the door opened inward, rolling to grab the blaster she’d left by the side of the bed and pointing it directly at the entrance.

  Her shoulders sagged immediately when she saw who it was.

  Ka’Cit blinked at her over a large tray filled with food, his gaze landing on the weapon before the corners of his mouth twitched a little.

  “Are you going to shoot me?”

  “Depends on whether you come bearing gifts.”

  His eyes twinkled a little. “I didn’t.” He glanced down at the food in his arms. “This is all for me. You said you weren’t hungry.”

  When Nia’s mouth fell open.

  She wasn’t sure if he was serious or not till she heard him stifle a chuckle. Narrowing her eyes at him, she set the blaster back on the floor and settled on the bed once more.

  He was walking into the room now, his foot kicking the door shut, and he headed straight to the bed to set the tray down.

  Nia gulped.

  There was so much food.

  Not meat this time but a vast selection of fruits, it seemed, and even though she hadn’t felt hungry before, her belly was already beginning to growl again.

  She was staring at the tray for so long that she didn’t realize he’d stripped off all his clothes and removed his mask till he was climbing on the bed.

  Perfect blue skin greeted her and then she had something else to stare at.

  Nia cleared her throat and tried not to ogle him, but it was hard when he was now sitting directly across from her, cross-legged and naked.

  “Eat,” he said. “I wasn’t serious about not sharing with you. I could never do that.”

  Nia smiled at him. “I don’t know where to start.”

  Ka’Cit reached forward and took what looked like a grape between his fingers before stretching it toward her lips.

  As it slipped into her mouth, so did the tip of his finger and her tongue flicked over his skin.

  She watched in awe as his pupil dilated a little and his tail rose up behind him.

  The fruit popped in her mouth on its own, making her pull back in surprise, her gaze falling to the fruit tray as she chewed.

  “It tastes like…like…peppery papaya.”

  She had to squeeze her eyes shut a little to swallow it down. It had a harsh taste but she could see herself getting used to it, maybe even like to it. A bit like those super-sour candies they used to sell at her school that tasted so sour, she had to squeeze her eyes shut while eating them, yet she’d go ahead and buy more the next day.

  “Try this one.”

  When she opened her eyes, there was already something being placed at her mouth.

  This time, it was a green stalk that looked like celery, only a bit darker in color.

  “Celery?” She took a bite and coughed. “Definitely not celery. That one tastes like peanut butter.”

  “Is it bad?” He was staring at the stalk as if it personally offended him and Nia fought back a giggle, albeit unsuccessfully.

  “No. The taste was just surprising…I like peanut butter. I miss it.”

  “So good?”

  A smile reached her lips as she nodded. “Good.”

  His tail began waving in the air slowly.

  “Try this.”

  This next fruit was the size and color of a cranberry seed and his finger slipped all the way into her mouth to place it on her tongue.

  She had no choice but to close her lips around his finger and what should have been an innocent move turned into a languorous suck on his digit.

  The little seed burst in her mouth, spreading sweetness over her tongue, and another burst of sweetness spread through her body, culminating in her groin.

  Ka’Cit held her gaze, his eyes dilating by the second, as his tail began moving a little faster behind him.

  His finger was still in her mouth and the way he was looking at her was downright predatory.

  “Ka’Cit?”

  He didn’t answer, but as his finger slipped from her mouth, his cock jerked against his leg.

  His nose twitched and apart from his tail, that was the only movement. He was suddenly so still that even the air around him seemed afraid to move.

  She didn’t know why, but she felt like a mouse in front of something incredibly dangerous and she had one sudden urge: run.

  He must have seen the look in her eyes because his shoulder muscles moved underneath his skin like they were tickled.

  “Don’t,” he said. One word.

  Behind him, his tail stopped the sort of wagging it was doing and was now waving in the air slowly.

  Like a cat looking at a mouse.

  Hunting.

  And she was the mouse.

  “Don’t.” This time, it sounded more like a warning and, despite that his words were something she should probably heed, her instincts were telling her to do the opposite.

  Nia darted off the bed, sliding off the edge so fast, she barely saw his head snap in her direction.

  She was on her feet by the time she heard the growl behind her and a squeal left her lips as she felt the tips of his fingers brush against her cloak, just missing her by mere centimeters.

  She was too fast. He wasn’t going to catch her, and adrenaline pumped in her veins, fueled by pure delight, as she darted across the room.

  When she turned around, he was on all fours on the bed in a weird sort of way.

  He was on the balls of his feet and his fingers were pressing into the bedding—almost like how a sprinter positions themselves at the starting line.

  Fuck.

  The way he was looking at her should terrify her, but instead, all she could feel was excitement flooding through her veins.

  As she inched along the wall, keeping her back to it and her eyes on him, Ka’Cit tracked her with unblinking dark eyes.

  They’d bled completely black and his tail was stretched out straight behind him.

  He looked like some kind of large cat, like a black leopard or something, and the playful danger surrounding him only made a thrill go through her.

  Something was slamming hard against her chest and it took her a few moments to realize it was her heart. Her eyes were wide as she watched him, ready to leg it if she even saw the slight movement of a muscle.

  Her back was still plastered against the wall for some kind of grounding as she took her eyes off him for a second, just to glance around the room.

  It wasn’t the best place for a game of hide and seek.

  There wasn’t anywhere to run but inside the shower.

  Her gaze focused there before finding him again and she could see that he knew exactly what her plan was.

  If she could only get there before he moved…

  But if she ran…

  She knew he was going to catch her.

  She could feel it in her bones.

  “Don’t” she said as a laugh bubbled in her throat. She was frickin’ terrified and excited at the same time. “Ka’Cit…don’t.”

  Ka’Cit tilted his head almost imperceptibly. “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t chase me.”

  His tongue flicked out as he licked his lips and his fangs showed momentarily.

  W
hy wasn’t she scared?

  Why did she want this?

  Why was there a tingle between her thighs?

  Fuck if she knew.

  “Why?”

  Right, Nia. Why?

  “Because it makes me want to run. I can’t stop it. I’ll run.”

  Ka’Cit’s eyes narrowed for a split second and his tail waved from side to side. “Are you scared?”

  Nia huffed out a laugh. “No…”

  She was a little. Scared of the thrill.

  “Then run.”

  Her breath hitched in her throat and for a split second, time stood still between them before Nia darted off, pushing from off the wall and toward the bathroom.

  Her bare feet slapped against the floor as she tried to move quickly and her heart thumped in her ears as she heard movement on the bed.

  She was just at the transparent barrier to the room when another squeal left her lips just as she was lifted off her feet.

  The momentum had them tumbling into the bathroom and Ka’Cit gripped her against him so they wouldn’t collide into the wall.

  The wind was knocked out of her for a few moments and her chuckles came with a bit of heaving for air.

  Ka’Cit growled as he pushed her up against the wall. Even with her cloak between them, she could feel the pressure of his cock pressing against her ass.

  He dipped his head to her neck and inhaled deeply.

  “Ta’iiiii.”

  His cock jerked again as he pinned her there and she realized belatedly that her hands were pinned up above her head.

  Ka’Cit growled against her neck. “You shouldn’t have ran.”

  Nia giggled. “You’re the one chasing me.”

  He growled again. “I couldn’t help it. And now…”

  Nia’s breath hitched in her throat as he spun her to face him.

  The front of the cloak had no buttons. It simply had folds of fabric that came together to keep her hidden.

  He found the center without trouble and pulled the robe open, lifting it over her head so she shimmied her arms out of it.

  Ka’Cit cupped a breast, kneading it as his finger flicked over her nipple and Nia inhaled sharply.

  He dipped then, his nose moving over the other nipple before he took it into his mouth.

  “Ka’Cit,” she whispered and he moaned against her nipple before releasing it from his lips.