by Ruby Dixon
When he touches that, my breath explodes.
“Ahh,” he says, and he sounds so pleased with himself. “I have found your third nipple.”
My — what?
I should correct him. Really should. But his fingers are gliding over it like he did with my breast and it feels so incredible that I cry out and cling to him, unable to do anything but lose myself to the sensation.
His mouth captures mine once more even as my leg hooks around his, and then I’m practically straddling his hand as he begins to play with my clit, his thumb rubbing it back and forth as I whimper and grind against him, full of desperate need. My tongue flicks into his mouth and I’m mindless with lust. I’m so close to coming, and I should tell him to pull his hand away—
But then he changes the kiss, flicking his tongue against my mouth and then presses more of them to my jaw, my cheek, and moves to my ear. He nibbles on my earlobe again and then sucks on it, even as the pads of his fingers drag over my clit.
And I’m lost. With a low moan, I come. I come so damn hard my entire body quakes with the force of my orgasm. The world tilts, and there’s nothing but the rasp of my breath and the feel of the hot, hard body pressed up against me, and the insistent rub of his fingers against my clit. A burst rockets through me and I come, and instead of Aehako pulling away, he continues to stroke my clit, driving me into an even higher fever-pitch. I – I don’t know what to think. Every time I’ve touched myself, the moment I come, I stop. Job done. But he’s still touching me, and I can’t handle it. A loud cry escapes my throat as I come again, harder, sharper, and his mouth covers mine to muffle the sound. And I just keep coming.
By the time the aftershocks finish rolling through my body, I’m twitching and sensitive, and I give a small little mew of protest when his fingers slide away from my clit. I look up at him, dazed, as Aehako kisses me on the nose one last time and then brings his wet fingers to his mouth. It’s so cold outside they’re already icing up, but he licks the frosty dew off of them and his throat rumbles with pleasure.
And I just stare.
What have we just done?
AEHAKO
Kira’s hands are clenching my ass, so close to my tail that it’s making me twitchy. I don’t know if she realizes what she’s holding – judging from the glazed look in her eyes, I don’t know if she’s aware of much.
And I’m smug at the thought. I like that I’ve made her utterly senseless.
She’s mine. Resonance or not, Kira is my female, my mate, and I’ll challenge any male that thinks otherwise. I hold her possessively, watching the expressions moving over her small human face.
The moment she comes to herself, though, the sad look returns to her eyes. I can’t let that happen. So I nudge her with one more kiss and then whisper, “Are your hands warm enough?”
She blinks at me, hazy, and then jumps away as if burned when she realizes she’s holding my ass. Her face is cherry red, her nose from the cold and her cheeks from embarrassment.
“We shouldn’t have done that.”
The possessive male side of me instantly becomes growly at the thought. Why shouldn’t we? I watch as she hitches her pants back around her hips and ties her laces. “Why should we not? Did you not enjoy yourself? Did I not make you shudder with pleasure?”
Her fingers press to my mouth to silence me, and she glances around to see if anyone else is watching. I find this amusing, considering that a moment ago she was keening her pleasure as she came. When she is satisfied that no one else is around, she looks up at me again, reproach in her eyes.
“Why shouldn’t we do that?” I question again. “It felt good.”
“Yes, but we’re not attached! With my luck, you could mate someone tomorrow.”
“Ah,” I say. “But this is tonight.” And I lean in for another kiss and am frustrated when she turns her mouth aside.
“I’m a virgin,” she says.
“I am not familiar with this word.”
“I’ve never had sex with anyone.” Her face is adorably red again. I wonder if it will stay like that if she grows embarrassed enough?
“And?”
“And I should save myself for a mate! Provided I ever get one.” Her expression grows sad again.
I’m confused by this logic. “Why should you save yourself?”
“Won’t he want to be the only one to touch me?”
I snort. “I should think he would rather you know what you are doing. What kind of male would hold your pleasure-seeking against you?”
Her eyebrow goes up, but a hint of a smile curves her mouth. She’s softening toward me. “That’s not a very human way of thinking.”
I open my arms wide and gesture. “Look at this male before you. Does he look very human to you?”
Kira gives me another half-smile and then shakes her head. She looks up at the sky, where a heavier snow starts to fall, coating us in the pale flakes. “Do you think that will let up before tomorrow?”
“I do not.”
She looks disappointed.
“We can delay the trip. A day or two will not matter.”
Again, the panic crosses her face. She shakes her head. “We can’t.”
“Kira,” I say, putting my hand to her cheek. This isn’t about pleasure, or mating. This is about something else that is wrong, and she’s going to tell me what it is. “What is it that you are not sharing?”
She blinks up at me, and I can see the thoughts churning in her head. Something is bothering her and she is terrified to share it. Her big eyes are so sad that it makes my chest ache. I would take this sadness from her if I could.
If she will let me.
She bites her lip. “It’s nothing.”
“It is not nothing, and if you do not tell me, I shall go into that cavern and tell everyone what we just did together.” Not that they would care, but I know shy Kira will be bothered at the thought.
Her lips fall open and for a moment, I think she wants another kiss. But then her mouth snaps shut and she scowls at me. “You’re not being fair, Aehako.”
“I am not,” I say agreeably. I will not be fair when it comes to her. She’s mine. I touch her cheek. “But you will tell me what bothers you anyhow.”
She bites her lip again and her fingers touch the strange metal thing that projects from her ear. “If…If I tell you, you cannot tell anyone. Not Bek, not Vektal, not anyone.”
As if I would tell Bek anything. The male has nothing but snowdrifts between his ears. But I nod.
Her hands tense into fists and then she crosses her arms over her chest. Not in anger, I realize, but…hugging herself. Protecting herself. “The others are coming back,” she whispers. “The aliens. And I think they’re going to be able to find me.”
PART THREE
AEHAKO
“Tell me everything.”
She wrings her small human hands and then does just as I command. Her worries spill out – the things she hears from the strange shell in her ear and her concern that they are coming back to get her. As she speaks, I see the stark terror on her face, and I ache that she has been hiding this inside her, that Kira feels it is a burden she must shoulder alone.
She’s not alone, though. She’s mine.
When she’s done speaking, she wipes at the corners of her eyes, pushing away her tears before they can freeze to her cheeks. “Say something?” she asks me.
“Can we remove the shell from your ear?”
She shakes her head and touches it. “I’ve tried. It’s attached to my ear and sometimes I think I should just cut the whole darn ear off, but I worry there’s a part that goes deeper into my head.” She bites her lip. “I don’t want to lobotomize myself.”
I don’t know this word, but I understand what she is saying – she is wise not to fool with things she does not understand. “Then we must get it out of you.” I stroke a hand over her hair. “I will still go with you, Kira, but we must tell the others. It is not right to bring them with us if it wi
ll put their life in danger to be around you.”
Her face crumples a little. “Do you think I’m putting them in danger? That’s the last thing I want. I want to get away from the cave so no one’s in danger but me.”
“If you think they are coming after you,” I say, considering the alien device stuck to her head. “Then it is best we are not near the others. Do you not agree?”
“You’re right. I should have said something earlier.” Kira looks defeated.
“There is no shame in fear,” I tell her, and tip her chin up so she will look at me. “I have not abandoned you. Fear not.”
Worry creases her brow. “But it’s not safe.”
“What in this world is safe?” I tease. “I could die tomorrow from a fall or bad food.”
“Don’t say things like that.” Kira’s eyes shimmer with more tears. “You’d be safe if it wasn’t for me.”
“I’d be lonely and sad if it weren’t for you,” I tell her. “Do you think you are not worth a little risk?” At her silence, I continue. “I do.”
The brave smile she gives me wobbles a little. “I’m scared.”
“Shall I come to your furs tonight and distract you until you are no longer scared?”
She buries her face against my chest. Only her small chuckle tells me that her mood has lightened a little with sharing her burden.
It’s enough that she trusts me with this. Soon, she’ll trust me with all her secrets. Then she will no longer fight the thought of being my mate. But first I must help her rid our skies of those that would seek to take her from me.
I mentally add more weapons to my travel supplies.
KIRA
The Next Morning
It’s not easy to confess to Vektal and the others the truth about why I want to visit the elders’ spaceship. I feel ashamed, as if it’s my fault. I see the worry on Georgie’s face, and the others, and I feel responsible. I’ve burst their happy bubble and brought fear back.
Only Aehako’s strong hand on my back keeps me from running away like a coward. I don’t understand why he supports me through all this, but I’m grateful for it. So, so grateful.
“Have you heard them again?” Georgie asks. Her voice is calm but there’s a furrow of worry on her brow. As I watch, Vektal tangles his hand in her curly hair, as if to anchor her to him.
I shake my head. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, though. I want this thing out of my ear, and all traces of them gone. If the elders’ ship can do that, it’s worth a try.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” Georgie’s voice is gentle, even though her question pierces me to my soul.
I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t remove it. I can’t come back and be a danger to others. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there, I suppose.”
“Bridge?” Vektal asks.
“Figure of speech, love,” Georgie pats his shoulder. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Whatever happens, I won’t bring them back here, I promise,” I tell her. Even upon pain of death – or worse, my own re-captivity, I won’t sell out the others. I just hope the aliens will leave well enough alone.
She bites her lip and looks at her mate, the chief. Then, Georgie looks back to me. “I don’t want to tell the others if we don’t have to. I don’t want to worry them over nothing. Ariana’s no longer crying at the drop of a hat and Claire isn’t cringing when I talk to her. And Megan…”
I nod. Megan just mated with Cashol. She’s radiating happiness. I can’t take that from her. “I’ll tell the others that plans have changed and we no longer need them to go.”
“I’m still going,” Aehako says, stubborn. “I will not let Kira leave my side. I shall keep her safe.” He looks down at me, and I have to fight hard to keep the blush off my face, remembering what happened last night. “I suspect Haeden will accompany me, if I ask. He has no family to endanger.”
“I can go by myself,” I protest. I don’t like the thought of putting others in jeopardy. “Just point me at the ship—“
Aehako frowns fiercely at me, stunning me into silence. “I will not allow it,” he says. “I will keep you safe.”
“So protective,” Vektal comments. “Are you sure there is no resonance between the two of you?”
“If hope was enough to waken my khui, my chest would be thundering, my friend,” Aehako says easily.
I say nothing. I just sit there and blush. “I’ll, um, let Claire and Harlow know that plans have changed.” At Georgie’s worried look, I amend, “Don’t worry. I won’t say the truth. I’ll sugar-coat it.”
I wouldn’t wish the knot of fear in my stomach on anyone else.
We separate a few minutes later and I head off to the human ‘bachelorette’ cave to talk with Claire and Harlow. Claire is fine with not going, especially once I tell her Bek’s no longer heading off with us.
Harlow, however, is stubborn. She shakes her head and shoulders her bag, her manner unchanged. “I’m going with you.”
I take her by the elbow and steer her to a corner of the room, where I’m sure Claire won’t overhear us. “Harlow, it’s not that I don’t want you to come along, it’s that…things might be a bit more dangerous than we originally anticipated. It’s best to keep the party small.”
She stares at me with her bright-blue glowing gaze, evidence of the khui strong inside her. It looks odd against her red hair and pale, freckled skin. “The elders’ cave. You said it’s a space ship, right?”
“Well, y-yes, but it’s several hundred years old and it doesn’t fly anymore,” I stammer. “The computer inside it is still working but I don’t know that much else is—“
“Then I’m going,” Harlow says. “You can’t really stop me.”
I frown at her, frustrated by her pig-headedness. “It might not be safe,” I stress again.
“Because of the weather?”
“Because of other things,” I hedge.
She considers for a moment and then shakes her head. “I’m still going. I’ll take my chances. I need to see that ship.”
For a moment, I stare blankly at Harlow. Does she have a listening device somewhere too? Or is something else going on? “Anything you want to talk about?”
“Nope.” She hoists her pack and adjusts the strap against her shoulder. “When do we leave?”
I sigh, defeated. “Very soon. Come on.”
I get my pack and Harlow and I meet Aehako and Haeden at the front of the cave.
Aehako immediately takes a bedroll from my pack and ties it to his. “You are carrying too much. Let me help.”
“I’m fine,” I say, feeling a little embarrassed. Haeden’s not hovering over Harlow like Aehako is with me. Then again, Harlow and Haeden probably didn’t do what Aehako and I did last night. I blush hard just thinking about it.
I know twenty-two is old to be a virgin, but I’ve never given it much thought until now. There’s just never been much opportunity to have sex with someone. Now, it seems like opportunity is knocking with a sexy alien…and the timing couldn’t be worse. How can I even think about getting involved with someone?
Of course, to him it might just be playful, fun sex. Meaningless except for a night between the covers. But that’s not how I’m built. I can’t just tumble into bed with a guy for fun and not think about it again. I need to make Aehako aware of this. Oh no. A terrible thought occurs to me. What if he’s focusing so much attention on me simply because I’m available for ‘fun’? Maybe it’s a cultural thing and women that aren’t tied down by a resonance-mating should be wild and free with their bodies? There’s nothing wrong with that…but that’s not who I am.
I feel guilty that I’ve led him on for this long. I need to talk to him. I touch his arm. “Can we talk?”
“We should hurry. We need to make good time before the weather gets worse. It’s going to slow us as it is.”
I look at the others, waiting on me, and tap on Aehako’s big shoulder. When he arches an eyebrow at me, I sigh
in frustration and indicate he should bend down so I can whisper in his ear. It’s not an easy task considering he’s seven feet tall. When he finally does bend down, I lick my lips, suddenly nervous. “I think I should go alone.”
“Why? I thought we settled this—“
“I don’t want you to think, well, that things are different between us.”
He rears back and gives me a guarded look. Then, he leans in again and pulls me close to him. “How should I think things are between us, then?”
I wring my hands in a maidenly gesture, but dammit, I’m feeling a bit maidenly at the moment. “It’s just…I just…” I blow out a nervous breath. “So last night? What happened between us? I realize you’re all fun and games and party time and not thinking about tomorrow, but that’s not how I’m built. I can’t form a casual relationship. I’m not set up that way. So I don’t want you to think that I’m into just having sex for sex’s sake and nothing else out of it. I don’t think I can do the things we, you know, did—“
“We did not do very much,” he interrupts, a dry note of amusement in his voice.
I ignore him and continue.
“—without thinking there’s going to be something between us in the long run. And I don’t want you to think that you have to sign up for a relationship with me.” Gosh, I’m getting all flustered now because he’s just staring at me. “I’m just telling you that I’m the wrong kind of girl for fooling around with. And I don’t want to lead you astray.”
The big alien gazes down at me in silence.
“Well?” I ask.
“Are you finished vomiting excuses at me?”
My arms cross over my chest. “Those aren’t excuses.”
“Then you are not done?”
“No, I’m done—“
He puts a big hand behind my head and tugs me in, bending down to my height. We’re eye to eye and nose to nose, and he’s so close I can smell his faint scent and breathe in his same warm breath, which feels oddly intimate. “Listen to me, Kira. My interest in you is not just for sex. Though, I would gladly take it if you were to offer it.”