by K. D. Jones
To hold a young made AriELa want one of her own. Her aunt and cousins were great, but she wanted a mate and young to care for. It put things in perspective for her. She had a chance to have this with the Kiljorn Prime Leader KadEN. Her cousins finally told her about the Kiljorn Leader’s offer of a Prime Mating to solidify the alliance. It was not necessary, but it would be a better foundation for both nations.
She had never shirked her duties as a Prima. Sometimes it pressed on her and she felt that she didn’t belong to herself at times. However, the people of Katiera had been good to her. Whatever she needed or wanted they provided willingly and without complaint. How could she not serve them in the same manner?
During the wedding banquet, Prime Leader KadEN danced with AriELa for four or five dances. She had also danced a couple of times with each of her cousins, but it was with KadEN when she felt everyone’s eyes on her. Watching for her reactions to him, trying to see if there was a spark of interest on her part.
She glanced over KadEN’s shoulders and noted that Miss Carreli was watching carefully. She had an expression on her face that belied the calm that she usually projected. She was relieved when her cousin, RendEL, offered to dance with the other female. She began to suspect that maybe something was going on between the Earth female and the Kiljorn Prime Leader.
“Have you met Miss Carreli?” AriELa asked the Kiljorn Leader, pulling back far enough to look up into his very handsome face.
“Yes,” his answer was very short.
“What do you think of her?”
“She is a difficult female to deal with.”
AriELa smiled. “She is very intelligent, and very beautiful. Don’t you think so?”
“Are you thinking about coming to visit Kiljor?” He wanted to change the subject and focus on the reason he was here.
“I am thinking of it. I haven’t decided.” She saw Miss Carreli was sitting down again. This would be the best time to test her theory. “I think I’m going to take a break from dancing. Feel free to dance with another female. There are many here this evening waiting to dance.” With that she walked away toward the darkened corner of the large reception room. She watched as KadEN slowly circled the dance floor before he zeroed in on Miss Carreli. She smiled to herself. She was right, he was interested in the Earth female.
A dark shadow fell to the side next to her. She turned and found TarAK staring at her angrily. “We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” She was still upset with him for getting her excited in the lift and then leaving her. He hadn’t approached her since then either. She resolved herself to the fact that they would not be together. She was trying to move on, but it did not help matters whenever she had to see him.
She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him through the balcony doors. She glanced back and saw Captain Malone giving her a concerned look. Once they were out on the balcony far enough away that anyone looking out would not see them, TarAK pulled her to a stop in front of him so they were face to face.
“What is your problem?” AriELa couldn’t restrain her anger anymore. His treatment of her was outrageous.
“What are you doing with the Kiljorn Leader?” he demanded. He ran a hand through his hair. Something in him snapped when he saw the other male with his hands on AriELa. All the feelings he had been trying to suppress over the years came rushing back.
“I am doing what is expected of a Prima. The Kiljorn Prime Leader KadEN has offered to mate me.” She tried to step around him but he blocked her, moving them further away from the balcony doors.
“The Kiljorn High Council has pushed the Kiljorn Leader into making this offer. It is not a personal choice but a political one.” The moment the words left his mouth he regretted them. AriELa flinched like he had struck her.
She straightened her shoulders. “Are you saying the only reason a male would mate me is because of my being a Prima? That no male would want to mate me—for me?”
“I’m not saying that no male would want to mate you. I’m just saying the Kiljorn Leader is mating you for political reasons.”
AriELa pointed her finger at him, tapping him in the chest with it to emphasize her point. “I may not be as exotic as an Earth female, but I am still considered pretty among our people. Many males have shown interest in sharing sex with me.”
“Who? I demand their names!” TarAK stepped forward, pressing AriELa against the railing.
Both of her hands pressed flat against his muscular chest trying to push him away. “It’s not any of your business. Just because you are not attracted to me doesn’t mean…” She couldn’t finish what she was saying. TarAK’s mouth came down covering hers.
She was caught off guard. His lips were warm and firm. She squirmed but it was a weak effort on her part. AriELa gave up the fight. It only took a moment before she opened up to him. It was like waking up to the suns. Everything was so bright, clear, and warmed her whole body. TarAK enclosed her in his arms and kissed her hungrily. She arched her back, pressing closer and started kissing him back.
He ate at her lips like a starving man. One large hand reached to cup her face and hold her in place. TarAK moaned from the sweetness of her. He wanted to taste all of her. He could take her back to his living quarters. The two males who shared the space with him were still inside the banquet. They would be alone and he could…what in Kitana was he thinking? He released her suddenly and stepped back away from her.
AriELa had to grab hold of the railing behind her to keep herself on her feet. She was so confused. “TarAK?”
He shook his head. “My apologies. That never should have happened.”
Her heart sunk. He was pushing her away—again. She couldn’t keep being rejected over and over. It was too much. She straightened her dress and made sure her hair was in place. “I agree, it was a mistake.”
She moved around him and headed back into the ballroom. She walked toward her cousin, KydEL, who was standing next to the Prime Leader of Kiljor. She stopped in front of both of them, each giving her curious looks. She ignored the way the Kiljorn Leader sniffed at her.
“I would like to visit Kiljor. When can we leave?”
Chapter Seven
A few days went by and AriELa thought that things would go back to the way they were with TarAK ignoring her. But she was wrong. Things were even more strained between them. He attempted to keep his distance but whenever she spoke to another male, especially the Kiljorn Leader, he would frown and at times, growl. All the other males saw his aggressiveness and backed off. All except for the Kiljorn Leader. He didn’t seem intimidated in the least and enjoyed spurring on TarAK’s behavior.
She was so frustrated with everyone. Her cousins, her aunt, and TarAK. The Katieran High Council was thrilled she was going to visit Kiljor and was considering mating the Kiljorn Leader. Her family was having second thoughts. Especially her cousins. They were becoming unbearable. Were they actually trying to talk her out of it?
“I hear the Kiljorn people do not bathe frequently,” KydEL commented one evening when they were having a private family dinner in SandELa’s suite.
She looked at Cassie who spoke up in AriELa’s defense, “I am sure they bathe. KadEN always smells very nice when I’m around him.”
RendEL growled, “Why are you smelling another male?”
Cassie giggled. “I wasn’t smelling him. I just noticed…” She was interrupted when RendEL kissed her soundly.
It was kind of uncomfortable watching two people completely in love expressing that love. They were expressing really hard. Everyone tried to look away.
“Break it up or go to your own suite!” KydEL spoke gruffly, causing the couple to separate.
The twins were sleeping soundly in their little carriers that RendEL had made special for them. AriELa looked at the sweet, sleeping faces, longing for her own children. But even if she mated, chances of her breeding and carrying to term were slim. It pained her to think th
at she may never hold a young of her own. She needed to leave before she broke down in front of her family.
“I’m really tired. I think I’ll retire early. Goodnight, everyone.”
Her aunt looked at her with concern. “Goodnight, dear.”
*****
The next day she had another run-in with TarAK. Was he stalking her now?
“What do you want?”
TarAK looked at her intently. Like he wanted to say something but was fighting to hold it back. “I don’t think you should go to Kiljor. You are too young to mate and Kiljor is not your home. Katiera is.”
She was at her breaking point with everyone. “I am no longer a young!” She didn’t say anything else but stormed away. She couldn’t take it anymore. She needed to be more independent. How was she to do that when she still lived with her aunt?
*****
Later that evening, AriELa had packed her bags and made her way to the suite that Captain Malone and Doctor Morris shared. She hoped that she would not be turned down. She needed this to work out.
She wiped a tear from her face. When she had told her aunt that she wanted to move out, they had a fight. It was the first real fight they ever had. Then they both started crying and hugged before she left. Telling her had been difficult enough, but telling her cousins was going to be even worse. She was saving that fight for another day. Maybe they would be so preoccupied that they wouldn’t notice she had moved out for at least a few months.
She stopped in front of the suite door and sat her bags down. She rang the buzzer and waited. “Please say yes, please say yes,” she whispered over and over. The door opened slowly and she put on her best pretend smile.
“What’s up?” Jaxon asked.
AriELa walked inside the suite setting her bags in the hallway. She was nervous. “I hate to impose, but would you and Dr. Morris mind if I move in with you two?”
“I don’t mind and I’m sure Doc will be fine with it, but why do you need a place to stay?”
“I’m getting tired of people treating me like a young. I am NOT a young!” AriELa exclaimed.
“Who treats you that way?” Jaxon asked.
“Aunt SandELa, my cousins, TarAK…just everyone!”
AriELa was grateful the female warrior was being so nice. She had AriELa come inside and sit on the sofa. Jaxon insisted that she be called by her first name since they would be living together.
It wasn’t too long after AriELa’s arrival that the female medic came home. Doctor Katrina Morris was a female medic from Earth. She said she was okay with AriELa moving in and insisted that she call her Kat.
Kat was in a really bad mood. She had gone on a date with one of the Lieutenants, but it didn’t turn out too well. Turned out the Lieutenant was more interested in Jaxon than Kat. Ouch, AriELa could understand how much that must have hurt. It still bothered her whenever she saw TarAK with Cassie. Though Cassie was completely in love with RendEL, it still hurt to be rejected for another female.
Jaxon wasn’t much for females sitting around complaining. She said she had a cure for what ailed all of them. It was a foul drink called Tequila. They all three drank and drank. They complained about men, about being treated differently just for being female. Kat was on the couch and Jaxon and AriELa were laying on the floor with a glass of tequila in their hands. That was where Cassie found them when she came to check on them.
“What the hell!” Cassie yelled at the three women. “Jaxon, what did you do?”
“Noth…not…ing,” Jaxon’s words came out slurred and only one eye opened to stare at Cassie.
“Why do I see two of Cassie?” AriELa asked.
“Oh God. Did you have to get AriELa drunk, too? Her aunt and cousins are going to be pissed at me over this.”
“I’m not a young!” AriELa yelled. She winced because it made her head hurt.
“What?” Cassie was confused.
AriELa couldn’t find her words. Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth. Jaxon answered for her, “Ever…one tinks her a kid, specly Tar…AK.”
AriELa cringed. She didn’t realize she had talked about TarAK that much. Her cheeks blushed. What must they think of her?
Cassie gave her an inquisitive look. Then she hit the Comm Link and called for assistance. Unfortunately, she called for TarAK. Kitasa!
Forty-five minutes later her two cousins, KydEL and SydEL, showed up. KydEL picked up Jaxon to take her to her room, SydEL did the same with Kat. KydEL offered to come back for AriELa.
At that moment TarAK came walking into the living room. “No need,” he said as he picked up AriELa from the floor.
“Why are you here?” KydEL questioned him.
“I called him to help me,” Cassie explained.
TarAK glared down at the inebriated AriELa. What was the female thinking? “Your aunt is going to be angry seeing you like this when I take you back to her suite.”
AriELa shook her head. “I’m not going back. I live here now.”
“What?” all three men asked at the same time.
“The inquisition can take place tomorrow, when they are sober. Right now they need to go to bed and sleep this off. You can put AriELa in my old room,” Cassie told them.
All AriELa’s foggy mind could think about was how good it felt to be in TarAK’s arms. She leaned her head against his chest and took in his scent. Even as out of it as she was, she still wanted him, ached for him.
He laid her gently on her bed and then stood back up. He wasn’t sure what to do. Undress her? Leave her in her clothes? He worried that if he tried to undress her and saw her bare skin, he might be tempted to touch her. That would not be appropriate while she was not lucid. He turned to leave.
“Don’t go,” AriELa called out softly.
TarAK stopped and turned back around. Her eyes were closed. Maybe he just heard her voice as wishful thinking. “Did you say something?”
AriELa nodded her head. “Stay…please.”
TarAK knew it was a bad idea. What was he thinking? That foul Earth drink should be banned from Katiera. This was a mistake. He should have left, but how could he refuse her?
TarAK sat in the chair he pulled up next to AriELa’s bed. He watched over her while she slept. Even though he was tired from not getting any sleep himself, it had been one of the most peaceful nights he had had in a long time. He didn’t understand it. Being around her calmed him somehow.
He reached over to gently caress her beautiful face. She was simply the loveliest female he had ever seen. She was like a goddess, too good for the likes of mere mortals. Even as a child she was gifted with adorable features and a sweet temperament. How could any male resist her? How could he resist her?
His thumb brushed over her soft lips. Those sweet lips haunted him. One kiss was not enough. He wanted more. But she wasn’t meant for him. He knew he needed to leave before she woke. She wouldn’t appreciate him being there when she was in a vulnerable state. She was prideful. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly.
AriELa must be dreaming again. A male’s lips were on hers and there was only one male that she dreamed of, TarAK. She reached up a hand to curve around the back of his head to hold him in place. She opened her mouth to him. His tongue slowly but firmly invaded her. It felt so real. She moaned around his tongue. More, she wanted more.
She pulled him down closer to her. The feel of his weight on her was wonderful, comforting. She busied her other hand by unhooking his shirt and opening it up. His chest was warm and smooth. She had seen him many times without his shirt and it always made her feel arousal. “TarAK,” she whispered his name between kisses. He growled his response.
The kiss became more aggressive and so did the dream version of TarAK. Suddenly she found herself completely naked beneath him. His large warm hands were cupping her breasts, murmuring something she didn’t understand completely. It almost sounded like he was praying to the Gods. Her world almost caught on fire when he sucked one of her nipples inside his hot mouth. The suct
ioning pressure on her sensitive flesh made her see stars. “TarAK!” she shouted out her release.
Her breathing was erratic and her heartbeat was so fast she thought it might break free from her body. Nothing had ever felt that good before. No dream had felt so real. She was confused, she could feel TarAK’s lips moving down her body hovering above her wet pussy. She finally opened her eyes and realized it had not been a dream. Oh Kitana.
“TarAK?” She looked down her body at him. His eyes seemed glazed over with some kind of intense emotion she had never seen before.
“Mine,” he growled as he began to lower his mouth to her feminine folds.
The pounding on the door saved her from what TarAK was about to do. So why didn’t she feel grateful for the interruption?
“TarAK! We need to leave now!” Prime Commander KydEL yelled through the door.
TarAK practically leapt from the bed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked at her body with longing and then locked eyes with her. “I’m sorry.” Then he turned around and left her there.
“I’m sorry.” What in Kitana was he sorry for? Leaving her without finishing what he started? Or for having started anything with her at all? Damn the male for confusing her.
She stayed on the bed trying to recover fully from the world shattering release she had experienced. She should have known better. None of her dreams had been that real, or that good. How could her body respond so willingly? She was supposed to be considering a mating with the Kiljorn Prime Leader.
She lifted herself up off the bed onto shaky legs. She made her way slowly to the bathroom and turned on the water to the shower. She walked into the spray, letting it soak her head completely. Then she let the tears fall. Why did he have to make her feel things for him that she had never felt before? She didn’t know how to turn off her emotions. She sank down to the floor of the shower and sat there until she had no more tears to shed. She picked herself back up and began to wash his scent off her. At least he had not scent marked her.