by Shelby Lynn
Slowly over time, they discovered that most of the men were mates, and were just missing their female. Xander always figured it had to have been the rest of the race being destroyed that triggered their mating instincts with the only survivors. Xander and Des had been friends since childhood, and they never felt the pull until one day while they were swimming in the ocean.
It was amazing to have a large area to swim in, their planet was much smaller than Earth, they could have swam their entire planet in two days, but Earth, hell it took more than a week, and that was if they swam steady the whole time.
The group of men knew their limitations; they needed materials from the surface to help them live.
They lived in the ship they escaped on for a long time. It took their brilliant Warrior technology man to slowly create a shield that expanded and formed into a large bubble-like barrier between them and the surrounding water. It was similar to their own planet; however, Earth’s water had a different compound—salt. Meridian had not had salt in their water, so it took a while for Cash’s mate, Rosul, to create a new barrier bubble. Now they had approximately a five-mile city built to accommodate them.
Over the years they went to the surface and discovered they could shift above the water and search for materials. When finished, they could reenter the water and shift for the return to their underwater city. They also discovered the Warriors could only stay above on the land for about seven rises of the sun before they began to get sick. They needed to be in the water to survive now.
A surprise source of help came when the men rose from the ocean one night only to find a ship of Pirates waiting for them. The battle lasted only briefly as the Warriors overcame the men from the ship. Then a bargain was struck, and had been in place ever since.
The humans developed and evolved, although the Meridian had not wanted to interfere, they did feel that since they had come to Earth to survive, they owed the humans something. Xander and the others began letting some of the technology surface with them. A few well-placed ideas—in the right minds—had allowed the humans to develop as well.
Xander also felt the need to protect the humans. They did not want what happened to their home planet to happen to Earth as well. They sent out a tracking beacon, and they could tell when another race moved too close. Some of them were harmless, although some were not. Therefore, they did what they had to do in order to protect the humans.
Around a hundred years ago, the Hopis discovered Earth, and although they could not completely protect the humans from them, they did help deter them. The Warriors set out to kill any of the Hopis that came to Earth to scout; however, it wasn’t until fifty years ago they found out, through interrogation, the leader of the Hopis searched for them. For some reason the man had vowed to find and destroy the last of the Meridian, the Meridian Council all assumed it was because the Hopis didn’t want it to get out to some of the other species what they had done.
So far, they had been lucky, they avoided their detection every time, although Xander knew that someday they would not be so lucky, there were too many of them and the Hopis were sending more scouts. They had probably figured out the Warriors were here since many of their scouts never returned.
Rosul made only one entrance to the city, and only a Meridian would be able to enter. Rosul embedded the entrance doorway to recognize their blood markers. Anything else trying to pass through the doorway would be trapped and if not allowed in, thrown back out into the ocean after a certain amount of time. Fish and other creatures sometimes wandered into their passageway, which saved them from going out to find food.
The entrance was remarkably well hidden, as was their city. Over time, with the development of the planet, rock formations shifted and Cash used them to incorporate the city. On the far side of the city was a lake, Meridian made of course, but they kept it well stocked with fish now. However, to leave the city, they had to dive into the lake and pass through a rock tunnel. Their doorway worked both ways, except anything entering had to be accompanied by a Meridian. If not, it or they were killed.
They developed a Meridian Council just as they had on their home planet. Xander was the leader, but the Council was also in charge. They made the laws of their underwater land and everyone obeyed them.
Chapter One
Xander stood on the balcony and felt his male mate enter the room behind him. He smiled and waited. Des was late; he was probably training the rest of the Warriors with the new toys that Cash developed. They would do well when they had to go to the surface and blend in.
“Xan?” Des yelled as he walked back into their home. The home was traditionally decorated in their home planet’s décor. When they barely escaped the planet’s destruction with the ship, they at least planned ahead of time and put their personal belonging aboard since they knew they would no longer be able to return home.
The bold colors of red and blue adorned the furniture along with the huge pillows on the floor, while the wall held pictures of their lost planet, and the families they would never forget. It was hard, even after all this time, to know they had lost so much all because the Hopis wanted to have what they had.
“Des, here,” Xander said and looked at his mate closely. The training had been rough; his mate had marks on his shoulders and arms where the new weapon had been used on him. Xander hoped the other new toys were useful.
Des smiled at him arrogantly and bowed his head. Even though Des was his mate, he insisted on the formal greeting, after that though, Des walked to him and kissed him passionately. Xander pulled his mate’s long, thick, black hair that was tied behind his back with a traditional wrap from their planet, angling his head so he would be able to get the most out of his mate’s kiss.
They were large, tall men, both leaders, and both dominant. Sometimes both of them wondered how they were ever paired together. The Gods truly had a sense of humor. Xander was the leader of the city they lived in, Des was his Second, and they were a force to be reckoned with when challenged.
Standing well over six foot, Des had black hair and Xander had white. They were opposites in looks and demeanor. Xander was Alpha all the way. He dominated every room he was in, where Des was a bit lighter and had a lot more humor according to him. Xander would shake his head and laugh every time his mate made the statement.
Xander had been the leader of the Warriors when they left their planet. However, when all the other ships were destroyed in the blast from the planet blowing up, he became their overall leader. Unfortunately, the ship they were on was only filled with male Warriors. None of their women had survived. They knew they were supposed to have a second mate, it was the way of their planet, but since the females were all dead, they were forced to accept and be happy with only one mate.
Xander never complained, he loved Des like a mate, like a man, and like a friend. There was no one he would rather be with—in time of trouble or happiness—than Des, though both of them felt the emptiness of their missing mate.
The leader pushed his tongue past his mate’s mouth and demanded a response. Des did not let him down, and they explored each other’s mouth as if it was the first time they’d kissed. Thankfully, Xander had just gotten out of the shower, and hadn’t bothered to dress so the cloth around his waist was quickly dispatched. Des only had on sparse clothes from his workout, which were quickly removed while they continued to kiss each other.
Des ran his hands over Xander’s shoulders and chest. Their muscles were sculpted showing how they kept in shape in case they needed to defend themselves. Xander’s face was angular, and what some may not consider handsome, until they looked into his eyes. They were the most amazing color. Some would say they were purple, but whatever, Des loved looking into them. While Des was boyishly handsome, no matter their three hundred human year age, he had a perfect nose, cheekbones, and mouth. His face would be one many of the human women swooned over when they surfaced.
Xander ran his hands down his mate’s back and grabbed his ass. It was tight
and firm and he loved to pull his mate close and rub their cocks together while they petted and kissed each other.
When Des finally pulled back, he looked at Xander and smiled, “Well, welcome home to me.”
“Yeah, well we need to talk, but I have something that needs taken care of first,” Xander said and looked down at his engorged erection.
“Really, well we can’t have a leader unsatisfied, can we,” Des drawled with his sexy deep voice. Xander laughed and pulled him into another deep kiss.
Xander thought back to that fateful day when the leader of their planet came to him and told him what was happening. It had been on his mind all day long for some reason—like he could feel some kind of change coming their way. The thoughts he had made him very unsettled. Xander hated that feeling and so he did what was natural to him in this situation, he fought for something to control.
“To the bedroom,” Xander growled and pushed his mate in front of him. He shook off his thoughts and followed his mate.
Des laughed and turned, “Wait, before we get all involved there are things we have to discuss.”
Xander frowned and nodded, turned off his thoughts as he looked at Des with expectation, then led the way into the living room where he sprawled out on the comfortable couch. He mused at the way his people had developed after they had landed on this planet.
The expansion of their underwater world had been slow, but once their techs figured it out, they moved quickly. The bottom of the ocean was not smooth, and they had to clear little by little so the bubble would be sealed. They used the ship as a place to live until they were able to get materials to build their own homes. It had taken a long time.
“So what do we have to talk about?” Xander asked when Des sat down across from him and sprawled in a similar manner.
“Rosul developed a better security monitoring. There is a storm coming in, it looks like it will be strong. We have several men above water, and we are calling them back, but we are not sure if they will be able to make it back in time. In addition, a ship was using their radar, scanning the bottom of the ocean floor. The technology too advanced for humans,” Des said somberly and watched as Xander’s face hardened and his lips thinned.
“Have they found us?” Xander asked briskly.
“No, we have our own cloaking. We still have to be careful though,” Des said.
“For now, when everyone gets back, we stay inside the city until we can figure out what is going on. We will come up with a plan,” Xander said and smiled at his mate closely.
“I will call the command center; we will have to lock the doorway after the last Warrior returns.” Des picked up the small communication device they used. It worked in their underwater city. When they left the safety of their city, it was equipped with a locator, and the ability to communicate with whomever was on the surface. The device resembled the human’s cell phones, but more advanced.
“I am pretty sure that can wait,” Xander said, standing and taking the communication device from his mate and grinned, “I think we should get cleaned first and then we can see about work.”
Des laughed and pulled the man in for a kiss, “I agree.”
When they reached the shower, both were naked and hard, Xander felt his erection practically pulsing. He had been in this state since he saw the man who was his mate walk through the doors; it was like this all the time. Gorgeous, sexy, smart, Des was everything he wanted in a mate. If only they had found their third, she would have been on the ship with them. Most the men who survived the last attack were mated but none had met their third yet. Warriors had a hard time finding their mates.
It was because of their makeup. They were hard, and rough, and their women needed to be strong with potential as a leader. That was the way of their people. The King was once the most powerful Warrior, Xander was next in line for the throne. His mates would be the King’s Consorts and considered leaders, too.
Standing under the needles of hot spray, he reached down and grasped his mate’s cock. Shit, his lips were thick and sexy, and Xander could only imagine them being wrapped around his cock. Xander drew his hand over his cock, closing his eyes and dreaming it was his mate’s mouth.
Des wrapped his hand in his mate’s long hair and brought him in for a passionate kiss. He was demanding and knew it. After training all day, his aggression was peaking. Xander knew that, and although he was also dominant and took control of their sex life, many years ago they came to terms with each other’s differences. Des explored his mate’s mouth with his tongue, making sure he tasted his mate’s flavor. He loved when they were close like this, it was intimate, and made their bond strengthen. Slowly Des pulled his mouth from his mate’s mouth and then kissed down Xander’s chest slowly.
Xander leaned back a little, let the water flow over his head, and down his body as Des explored him. When Des got to his stomach, Xander leaned back and smiled before wrapping his hand around Des’s hair to make sure he had a good grasp before Des took his cock into his mouth. Xander smiled when Des teased him and then proceeded to guide his mate to where he wanted him. Des teased him by licking the tip of Xander’s cock first, running his tongue over the smooth tip, then he licked the other side and swirled his tongue around the tip where a bead of pre-cum had formed.
Xander sucked in a deep breath as Des trailed a finger over his tip, and then moaned when he fisted him completely, stroking his cock. The hot water streaming over him, making it feel like a smooth, warm mouth was engulfing his cock as his mate pumped him.
Xander leaned against the cool shower wall, while his mate stroked him. The shower was large enough for both of them. They had made sure of it when it was built. There was nothing more intimate to their kind than showering with a mate. The light caresses, the feeling of sharing and taking care of someone was a powerful emotion. Because the water was filtered and more like their home planet, they used showering as a time for bonding. They were able to hold off their shift when they showered because of the filtering system, it took out the elements in the water that triggered their shift.
Des reached down and cupped Xander’s balls. Moving in a slow, easy motion, Xander pumped thinking about pounding into his mate’s ass. His mate was the full package, and one he loved to top. Both men were dominant; however, Xander usually liked topping his mate.
Shit, his mouth felt so good, Xander thought, and leaned back against the wall of the shower while Des renewed his attention. Using one hand to grasp the end of Xander’s shaft, Des took him into his mouth fully and then swallowed before sucking and pulling him out of his mouth.
“Des, damn it, you are killing me,” Xander said and sighed.
“I know, you can think about pounding into my ass while I suck you off. I am thinking about taking this thick cock and making me feel like I am alive. Only with you in me, connected, sharing our bond,” Des whispered and then sucked him into his mouth again.
The thought of his mate surrendering to him made him groan as he pumped faster with Des allowing him to set the pace.
Xander could be in control when he needed to and then other times Des would take over. Xander felt his cock harden even more to the thought of letting someone take care of him. Only with his mate would he be able to show that side of himself. To the Meridian, he was the King, the man who would lead them. Not wanting to think about work, he went back to thinking about his strong and charismatic mate.
Xander pulled his mate up quickly, wanting them to come together. He grabbed his mate and kissed him passionately before wrapping his hand around Des’s cock. Des smiled at him and did the same.
They pumped their hands faster as the thoughts turned more carnal. Xander thought about what his mate looked like naked, his muscular body sweaty with exertion from their lovemaking. His hair messed from Xander’s hands wrapping in the strands. His lips full from kissing them passionately. Finally, his head on the pillow next to his, sleeping after they made love. A shiver ran through him as he pictured them kissing and touch
ing each other. He opened his eyes and stared at Des using his other hand to trace down his mates back and pull him in closer.
With their cocks next to one another, they grasped them both together, and together they began to feel their passion rise as their skin moved against one another. Xander called out to his mate as his balls drew up and he could feel the passion ready to burst.
They came together in a flurry of passion, love, and the knowledge they were mates and together.
Excerpt from Enough Time
Stratum Series – Book Two
by Zach Collins
Prologue
“Uh….Ian could you come into the office for a minute,” Trent asked his best friend, as he stared at the large muscular man who was staring at him intensely.
“Sure, give us a minute guys,” Ian replied and nodded to the man he now called his husband.
Trent frowned when Ian’s mate had to pull the large man from the room they were standing in. When his best friend showed up, and called him after being gone weeks with only one prior phone call, he had been pissed. Not that he needed to check in with him, but he was his boss, and also his friend. It was bullshit that he was doing this right now.
Trent paced around his friend’s apartment, looking at the boxes and the things that were being packed. His best friend was leaving. It sucked, but he could live with it. What he couldn’t live with was the fact he and his friend had been fired from their jobs at the University, for stupid shit. Then his friend announcing it didn’t really matter because he was moving to another Stratum, whatever the hell that was, and Trent was on his own. Ian had started this shit, and he was going to be left alone to finish it. Being fired was the least of his worries. His reputation and his fucking life were turned upside down, just because he refused to admit his friend was a thief. Now it didn’t really matter, according to his friend. He didn’t need the job, he was moving.