by Leslie Chase
The darkness was warm and comfortable and he felt he could float in it forever, but something called to Markath. Something far away, but he knew it was important and it wouldn't let him go. With an effort, he tried to focus on it. Was that someone's voice? He couldn't quite make it out but as he listened, it became clearer.
Oh. I'm not dead. The realization didn't seem as important as he'd have expected. Memory flashed back into his mind and he knew that he couldn't stay here in the comfort of the dark forever. With an effort, he opened his eyes to see Amanda and Hannah sitting beside the bed he lay on. He ached all over and even breathing hurt a little, but he was alive and so was his mate. That thought brought a huge smile to his face.
I saved her.
"Where are we?" he asked, and the two women turned to l look at him. Hannah grinned broadly but Amanda frowned at him.
"We're on the Golden Kite, and we'll arrive in Marsport tomorrow," Hannah said as Amanda took his wrist and felt for his pulse. Markath drew strength from the feel of her fingers, and his smile widened.
"What happened?"
"You saved us, is what happened," Hannah continued with an answering grin. "When Mr. Dieter came back out screaming, he was pretty incoherent, but those of us outside figured you must have won. Somehow. When no one else came back, we decided to dig you out."
"The RyaTech spaceship had some proper digging gear," Amanda said, putting down his wrist and frowning deeper. Markath wondered if she knew what his pulse was supposed to be. "So they could clear their way through and get to us. And Captain Harshaw agreed to work with us for a share of the prize money."
Hannah nodded. "We need a new ship if we're going to stay in this business, anyway, so it works out for everyone. Plus, well, there's Dieter and Jim's shares to go around. No one's keen on them being paid, not after the way they were willing to sell us all out. We've got Dieter locked up below, I don't know what we're going to do with him."
Markath wasn't entirely surprised to hear that his mate's sister was willing to stick with this work, despite her experiences here. Like Amanda, she was hard to put off her course. As for Dieter, the emperor would want to make an example of what happened to those who tried to steal from the Dragon Empire.
I wonder what that will mean, in this new age? Once upon a time that would have meant death, but things were different now. There would be time enough to think about that when they'd returned to the palace, anyway. Right now, there were more important things for him to focus on.
Sitting up in bed with an effort, Markath reached out for Amanda.
"You shouldn't be moving, not yet," his mate said, concerned. "I want to check you out in a proper clinic."
He laughed. The pain in his body was no match for the joy in his heart, and he wasn't going to let it conquer him. "I'm fine, beloved. Your medicine has done wonders for me."
"You are not fine," Amanda insisted, getting up to sit beside him on the bed. Putting a hand on his chest, she pushed him back down. "I haven't been able to do a thing about your broken wing, you lost a lot of blood that we can't replace, and you've got injuries all over you. It's a miracle that you can move at all."
"My love for you inspires me," he said, and yelped as she hit his shoulder. Her face turned red immediately and she snatched her hand back, looking mortified that she'd struck her patient, however gently. Markath shook his head and laughed.
"It's true," he told her, taking her by the shoulder. Looking into her eyes, he continued. "I love you, and you inspire me. Without my feelings for you, I wouldn't have been able to do half of what I did back there. I will never let anything happen to you. If someone threatens you, I will be there to protect you. It doesn't matter how badly I'm injured, nothing will stop me."
"You... you asshole, you nearly died," she said, and the tears started for real. Markath pulled her close and held her tight as she sobbed. "I thought I'd lost you."
"No, never," he told her. "Because you are my mate, and I know that you'll be there to save me when I need you."
Amanda's arms went around him, hugging him tightly enough to hurt. But it was worth the pain, it would be worth ten times the pain, to feel her against him. Markath held her carefully, his arms wrapped around her as she let out the pent-up emotion she'd been carrying.
Hannah cleared her throat. "I guess I'll go and check in with the captain, huh? Don't you two do anything I wouldn't."
With that and a wave, she vanished out through the door of the small room, leaving Amanda and Markath alone in each other's arms. Markath leaned back, relaxing and stroking his mate's hair, feeling the worries of the last few days fall away from him. All of the pain and fear and anger were nothing — he had Amanda, and she had him, and the rest was details.
Eventually, Amanda sat up, wiping her eyes and smiling at him. There was a nervous edge to her smile, and she drew a breath as though to speak but let it out again, silent. Markath frowned, just a little. Something was still bothering his mate, and that wouldn't do.
"Amanda," he said, stroking her cheek gently and guessing at the source of her discomfort, "I know that you want to go home. That will not keep me from your side: if you return to your planet, I will come with you. I will be by your side and keep you safe there, as much as I would here."
The emperor would find him a role to play, he thought. Ambassador, perhaps. It didn't matter what, though, as long as he was with Amanda. His mate took his hand in hers, holding it tight and kissing it.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said. "After this mess, I'm not going back to Earth. If I ever had a real home there, it's gone now, and my family is here. What do I have on Earth to go back to? I'll just have to find a way to cope, being here with you."
Smiling, Amanda squeezed his hand and kissed his fingers, making him rumble a happy noise. Her face flushed at the sound, and he chuckled.
"What is it then? Something is bothering you?"
"Yes," she admitted, flush deepening. "But it's nothing like that. I'm just wondering..."
She trailed off, bit her lip, looked away. Markath thought that she looked delightfully embarrassed, but he couldn't work out why. Reaching up, he gently turned her face back towards him, raising an eyebrow quizzically.
Amanda took another breath and ran her fingers down his arm, making him groan. Her touch awakened his body and he could feel himself respond as she licked her lips.
"Wondering whether you're feeling up to some exercise," she finished her sentence quietly, almost shyly, blush spreading. Markath felt a grin spread across his face, and pulled her close.
24
Amanda
What am I doing? Amanda asked herself as Markath drew her closer. He should be resting, and she should be making sure he was. But both of them felt the pull of the other, and there was no resisting it now. They'd been through so much danger and so much pain and she couldn't stand the thought of delaying their pleasure another second.
Neither could Markath. His kiss was powerful, eager, joyful, and she gave herself to it without hesitation, her lips parting to his probing tongue. Amanda groaned into the kiss, and the fire it woke in her washed away all her doubts. They both needed this release.
Markath's arms wrapped around her, pulling her to him where he lay on the bed, and her heart raced at the feel of his strength. Their kiss seemed to go on forever before she managed to pull back and look at him.
His face, strong and noble and kind looked back at her, and Amanda recognized the fire of need and want in his eyes. It mirrored her own feelings perfectly, and the two of them gazed deep into each other, breathing quickly. Amanda felt her pulse race, her body heat, her soul call out for his touch. Leaning in to kiss him again, she planted one kiss on his firm, full lips before moving down to his neck, biting down gently. The answering groan of desire made her tremble, her own body responding as she felt his arousal.
Markath let her explore him, kissing her way down his body and enjoying the alien texture of his skin. The scales on his shoulders and chest wer
e softer than they looked, yielding under her lips as she kissed them and licked. Amanda avoided Markath's injuries, kissing around them carefully. He got these fighting for me, she thought with a little smile and a wash of guilt.
Time to thank him properly. Taking hold of his blanket, she drew it down his wonderful body, kissing as she went. His skin was hot to the touch, almost burning under her lips, and the sensation was wonderful as the followed the lines of his muscles downward. Slowly, she kissed along the contours of his torso, across his abs, following the delicious vee downward until she folded back the blanket and uncovered his cock.
It stood hard and proud, and the sight of that rod of red-skinned iron made her gasp. This time she took a good look at it, taking it all in and marveling at it. It was magnificent, and a little frightening for all that she knew that she could take it. It was hard to imagine how.
Markath groaned as she touched it, her fingers lightly running up its length, teasing. She remembered how he'd made her squirm their first time together, and wanted to repay the favor now. With a light touch, she teased the head of his crimson cock, feeling it swell even more under her hand.
She couldn't pretend she hadn't been imagining this since the first time they'd been together. Since before then, if she was honest with herself. Ducking her head down, she ran her tongue over the ridged surface of his cock. The alien texture of it felt wonderful, making her moan aloud. Markath shivered under her, arching his back and offering himself to her.
Wrapping her lips around him, she moaned too, her tongue lapping at the head of his cock. His hands tightened in her hair, urging her on, and Amanda looked up along the length of Markath's body, meeting his eyes. The burning lust and love she saw in them made her own body pulse with need, and she slid her mouth down on his cock, watching him respond.
With a growl of need, he guided her down his shaft, filling her mouth. Amanda felt him grow and harden as she swirled her tongue around him. Moving faster, she bobbed up and down his length and felt his breathing grow ragged.
But he wasn't done with her yet. Before she could push him to the point of orgasm, he lifted her head from him, leaving his cock even harder than before. Amanda moaned with disappointment, but his strength was irresistible. Not that she really wanted to resist him, anyway. Surrendering herself to his control was a sensation as sweet as honey.
The light in his eyes burned bright as he pulled at her suit, his powerful hands tugging the zipper down. Amanda gasped as he opened the suit wide, baring her breasts, his fingers running over her bare skin. She was acutely aware that she wasn't wearing any underwear beneath it, but that seemed like a good thing now. Less time to waste, and he'd only have torn it off her body anyway.
"Undress," he said, a command that she didn't need to have repeated. His hands, strong and gentle, stroked over her breasts, teasing her nipples as she struggled out of the spacesuit as quickly as she could without moving out of his reach.
The hungry smile on his face, the feel of his touch, the nearness of his body, all combined to drive her body wild for him. By the time she was naked, her breathing was fast and ragged and she could feel her body's intense need for him inside her. And she could see how badly he needed her — his cock throbbed as he stood up from the bed. Amanda felt as though she was melting as she came back to him, her bare body pressing against him.
His hands slid across her body, caressing and squeezing as they kissed. With a small groan of effort, he lifted her and pulled her against him. Amanda wrapped her legs around him as he turned to lower her to the bed.
"Don't strain yourself, you're injured," she said, a moment of worry flaring up inside her. Markath just laughed at that, eyes sparkling.
"You are all the medicine I need," he said, pressing her down on the mattress and bending over her to bite gently at her neck. Her professional concern vanished in a wave of delightful sensation as his teeth scraped her skin and she shuddered, pulling him to her. One hand gripped his hair, holding him against her, and her other stroked down his back, brushing across the sensitive skin where his good wing emerged.
That touch made him growl into her, biting harder, and Markath pushed himself to her. She could feel his beautiful alien cock against her body and gasped. She'd never needed anything more in her life. Grabbing her hips, Markath lifted them, positioning her so that his cock was poised at her entrance. Markath looked down at her, and Amanda gasped again as their eyes met.
The love, lust, and desperate need she felt for him were all there in his gaze, too. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, and seeing their desire reflected in each other just made it stronger.
With a single strong thrust, he buried himself to the hilt in her. Amanda arched her back, crying out as she felt him fill her perfectly, stretching her almost to the point of pain. A tremor of need ran through her body, her fingers tightened on his skin, and her pussy clenched around him, squeezing.
"Oh God," she whimpered as he pulled back, and then words were lost to her as he thrust powerfully again. His body met hers and she gasped wordlessly at the force of it, and then he did it again. And again. Markath's savage pounding rocked her, making her cry out with every brutally delicious thrust. It didn't take long before her breathing was ragged and her body shook.
Above her, Markath snarled, an expression of savage joy on his face. Impossibly, he thrust even harder, his body urging her on as she panted and pulled him close. Amanda could feel her climax approaching, waves of pleasure washing through her as Markath's thrusts slammed her down onto the mattress repeatedly. Her breath caught as he pinned her beneath him, his cock swelling inside her body as he pushed himself.
"Cum for me, my love," he growled. It was all the urging that Amanda needed, and his next thrust pushed her over the edge, her world dissolving into all-encompassing pleasure. Her hands tightened on him, pulling her up against him as she cried out her joy.
All that existed for her, in that moment, was Markath. Markath, whose wonderful, beautiful, powerful body held her, whose cock filled her perfectly, whose eyes filled her vision. Amanda's pussy squeezed hard around his cock as he forced a scream of pure pleasure from her, his last thrust driving her down hard. He roared, a sound that echoed through her and shook the room as he came inside her.
Amanda collapsed back onto the bed, breathless and spent, her limbs weak and trembling. For the first time in she didn't know how long, she felt complete, whole, sated. Her body and soul both had what they needed, what she'd never been able to admit she needed. Markath smiled down at her and she smiled back, feeling happier than she could have imagined.
With a gentle strength, he lifted her and held her against him as he lowered herself back down onto the bed. Amanda wrapped her arms around him and snuggled close as he lay back. The rest of the world could wait; now that they had each other, that was all that mattered.
There would be plenty of time for other questions later. For now, all she wanted was to relax in the arms of her mate.
When the Golden Kite arrived at Marsport again, Amanda was almost sorry to see the tower of the Imperial Palace. It loomed over the port itself as they approached, and signaled an end to the simple time together she and Markath had shared. Now they'd have to face the future, and that was a frightening thought.
"Don't worry, beloved," he said, standing beside her on the skyship's bridge and holding her tight. "Everything will be fine. Whatever the future holds for us, we can face together."
Trying to keep him in bed had proved an impossible task — the only trick that worked was to stay there herself. And while that was a sacrifice she'd make happily, it didn't exactly get him the rest he needed.
Amanda snuggled into him with a fond, exasperated sigh. Soon I'll be able to fix him up good as new. She smiled at the thought. Her cheeks heated a little as she wondered what he'd be like when they were both uninjured and rested. It was hard enough keeping up with him now!
"You're meant to be taking it easy," she reminded Markath, who chuckled an
d put his arm around her.
"I will," he said, kissing her gently and looking at the chaotic mess of the port ahead of them. It teemed with life, and seemed to have grown even in the short time they were away. The Palace grew over all of it, a rock of alien steadiness and stability hanging over the sprawl of human construction. This world was going to need both, she realized now, if it was going to live up to its potential.
And she could be part of that. Running away back to Earth would be just that, running away, and with Markath by her side she no longer felt the need to flee her problems. He gave her a feeling of safety that she'd needed so badly. Mars still frightened her, threatened her, but her mate's presence helped her face her fears.
Captain Harshaw coughed pointedly, muttering something under his breath as he adjusted the course to bring the Golden Kite into the port itself. And there, waiting at the dockside, was a party of dragon warriors. Amanda swallowed nervously, clinging to Markath. Her decision to stay had been less intimidating when she hadn't had to face it directly.
Now, she was no less determined to carry it through. But that didn't settle her nerves.
The skyship settled at the dock and Harshaw lowered a ramp. He didn't look any happier than she did to see the waiting group of dragon warriors. The old man was a smuggler at heart, so she could hardly blame him even when he was — for once — on the right side of the law. But the first person to meet them wasn't one of the aliens. Josie rushed up the gangplank, throwing her arms around a surprised Amanda and hugging her tight.
"I was so worried when I heard there'd been trouble, I had to come and meet you," the empress said, pulling back to look at Amanda critically and then smiling. "But it sounds like you've come out of your adventure in one piece."
Markath towered protectively over Amanda, and Josie looked up at him. Her smile broadened a little, making Amanda blush as Josie raised an eyebrow questioningly.