Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2

by Victoria Aveline

  He set off, relieved when he found the platforms appear under his feet as he walked to her home. How soon before Metli deactivates the pass? Being stung by bilom would only send him back to the medbay and away from Alice once again.

  When he reached her door, he took a moment to compose himself, then knocked.

  A small voice sounded from behind the door, “Hello? Who is it?”

  “Luka.”

  He scowled when his reply was followed by silence. Just as he was ready to speak to her through the wood rather than in person as he’d hoped, Alice opened the door.

  His breath was temporarily stolen at the sight of her and the exposed skin of her arms and shoulders. She was no longer wearing the sweater from earlier.

  After holding his gaze for a moment, she stepped to the side of the doorway. “Would you like to come in?” she asked, her lips thinned.

  This must be an Earth custom.

  He decided it’d be rude to turn her down, even as he cringed to think of other males she may have innocently invited into her home. An invitation into the house of a Clecanian female was usually a signal that she was interested in sex. The way Alice’s eyes kept straying around the room nervously told him she, unfortunately, didn’t intend the same.

  Now within the bright, cool confines of her home, he set the ball near the door and studied her again. Silently, he thanked the unseasonably warm weather for the glimpse of her exposed shoulders and the low dip of her neckline.

  She cleared her throat, and his eyes snapped back to hers. He clenched his fists in frustration. At his first opportunity to make a better impression, he’d been unable to keep himself from ogling her.

  A pale pink spread over her cheeks, drawing his attention away from his aims yet again. Would her cheeks flush like that after a vigorous bout of fucking, or would her skin pinken everywhere?

  “Can I help you?” she said without meeting his eyes.

  Get ahold of yourself! Luka cleared his throat. “I’d like to apologize for embarrassing you before.”

  Alice raised a delicate brow. “You’re apologizing for embarrassing me?” she said slowly.

  “Yes, I—” The burning look in her eyes gave him pause. “I didn’t mean to speak to you like that in front of everyone.”

  “Oh!” she laughed. “Did you mean to speak to me like a dick in private?”

  “No…” he began but struggled to clarify.

  Alice held up a hand. “Luka, I really don’t know what you want from me. I’m sorry we’re in this mess and that you feel like I’m your mate now, but I don’t think we should be together.”

  His heart leap into his throat, cutting off his rapidly dissolving reasonable argument to the contrary. He tracked her abrupt pacing around the room, her words coming quickly, as though she’d rehearsed her argument.

  “When we first met, I didn’t really know you. You helped me stay sane in that place, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful, but I need to stop putting other people’s happiness before my own.” She glanced at him beseechingly before resuming. “I was willing to give us a try, but that was stupid of me. Again, I don’t know you, and the way you’ve treated me so far has been very similar to other people in my life who’ve proven to be toxic.”

  Indignation roared through him. She’s comparing me to people who have hurt her in the past? She can’t think of me that way!

  “I can explain my actions,” he barked, more harshly than intended.

  She flinched, and he cursed his erratic temper. The only way to win her over would be to go back to being the calm, reserved person he normally was, but his feelings for her and her rejection were making that impossible.

  “I’m sure there’s an explanation,” she said, throwing her hands in the air. “There’s always an explanation, but I need to stop letting people treat me badly and then explain it away.” She spoke in a low voice, miming someone. “‘I didn’t mean to yell, I just had a bad day at work.’ Or ‘I’m sorry, I forgot about your birthday again. It’s just so close to Christmas.’”

  Luka couldn’t follow everything she was talking about, but it seemed like she’d been treated very poorly by someone or possibly many someones, and now she thought he might do the same. “You’re right. I should’ve never treated you that way. There is no excuse for my behavior.”

  She blinked at him, searching his face. “Well, uh, thank you for that.” She ran a hand through her hair.

  They stared at each other for long moments. Luka didn’t know what to say to help the situation. How could he prove himself to be a suitable male? All of the lessons from husbandry school hadn’t prepared him for this. Something Jade had said stuck out in his mind, but he hadn’t gotten enough information to know if it’d work. She’d said it was very romantic and although he’d never tried it, he figured it couldn’t hurt.

  “Can I make it up to you?” he asked, stepping toward her. He took it as a good sign that although she looked at him wearily, she didn’t back away. When she remained silent, he continued, “I’d like to kiss you.”

  Alice’s eyes widened in surprise. In the next moment, many emotions played across her features. Her gaze flew to his mouth and grew temporarily heated, making Luka growl quietly under his breath.

  She shook her head as though trying to dislodge a thought. “No!” Walking up to him until only a few feet separated them, she prodded him in the chest with an accusatory finger. “Didn’t you hear anything I just said?”

  Before he could stop himself, he snatched her hand, circling her wrist and resting his thumb in her palm. A loud purr erupted from his chest at the contact.

  She stared at their connected hands but didn’t move. Slowly she raised her gaze to his. “What makes you think I’d want to kiss you?” she muttered breathlessly, belying her question.

  Luka didn’t know why she might want to, but Jade had made it seem like it was a very important thing done among courting humans, and Alice’s reaction told him something he hadn’t known before. She may not like him. She may even hate him. But she was attracted to him.

  He ran the pad of his thumb down her palm, squeezing the pulse point at her wrist with his other fingers. A quick inhalation of breath showed him that even this small touch was affecting her as much as it was him. When the scent of her arousal wafted between them, it took all of his willpower not to crush her to him.

  “Well,” he began, his voice scarcely more than a growl, “for starters, your pulse has sped up substantially. Also—” he ran his gaze down her body, not bothering to hide his perusal of her figure “—I can scent your arousal.”

  Alice let out a small whimper and shifted her stance so her legs were more firmly squeezed together. Not a denial, then. He smiled.

  He stepped nearer to her, and her brows drew together in concentration. Because his words seemed to drive her anger away, he continued, “I’ve never kissed in the way Jade described, but if it elicits this reaction from you, then I’d be happy to do it every minute of every day.”

  “You’ve never kissed?” she whispered, eyeing his lips and licking her own.

  He stepped closer to her still, making sure not to touch her for fear of her shying away. “I’m a fast learner. Top marks in all subjects.”

  Crooking a finger under her chin, he angled her head up toward his. He inhaled deeply, his eyelids drifting closed. Her natural, sweet scent mixed with her arousal called to something deep within him. His already rising shaft shot hard in an instant. He’d smelled this before. He recognized it somewhere in the back of his mind.

  The fact that he’d scented her arousal previously, and now recognized the scent, made his spirits soar. It meant she’d responded to him like this before. Had been attracted to him and couldn’t suppress it.

  A devious thought entered his mind. He may not be the best with reading her emotions, but he could make her desire him in other ways. If he spent enough time pleasing her, she might slowly come to want him around. If he was around enough, he could learn how
to win her over.

  This wasn’t how he’d wanted their relationship to be—based on sex, just like every other Clecanian’s was—but he’d take what he could get. He’d vow to work his way under her skin.

  “Top marks?” she questioned absently, her hand rising to fist his shirt. At her touch, his purring intensified.

  She’d let him kiss her. He knew she would. But he didn’t know exactly what he was supposed to do. Did he kiss one lip at a time the same way he’d kiss the column of her neck, or should he lick and suck the way he’d kiss her nipples? Hoping she’d take the lead once he started, he lowered his mouth. Pressed his lips to hers and held them in place motionlessly.

  His eyes still open, he saw hers crinkle in humor. A heartbeat passed, and Luka began to feel like an idiot. This was obviously not right. Before he could pull away, she moved. She pressed her mouth firmly to his, rounding her lips. When he matched her movements, she parted her mouth slightly, letting her breath mingle with his. The sensation was new but not unpleasant. He found this connection to be surprisingly intimate and erotic. He had to focus all of his energy to not push to take charge of the kiss and explore it the way he wanted.

  All his self-control shattered, however, when she swiped her tongue across his. Surprise made him rear his head back. Alice peered up at him with a languid smile before her eyes widened in horror. “Oh, you didn’t like that. I’m so sorry. I—”

  With a growl, he covered her mouth with his and deepened the kiss in the way he wanted, hoping it was correct. Before she could decide to move away, he pulled her body to his, one hand fisting in her hair to hold her in place while the other ran down the small of her back. To his shock and relief, she wrapped her arms around his neck, meeting his fevered kiss with a passion of her own.

  A low groan escaped him when he felt her body soften, her curves pressing against his now-aching shaft.

  Need to find a bed. Now! he thought, his mind only half present.

  The scent of her arousal had strengthened, driving his sense away. Both of his hands reached down to squeeze her round ass. He wanted to roar with pleasure when she moaned into his mouth. He lifted her easily, intending to carry her to the nearest horizontal surface. Her legs wrapped around his waist, putting her pussy in line with his cock.

  She rocked against him lightly. How was it possible for anyone to inspire such maddening lust? Luka felt as if he’d die if he weren’t inside her in the next instant, but first, he had to make sure she wanted him. He’d please her for as long as it took for her to be ready.

  Tucked into a private corner of the large open room, he spotted her bed. Walking them to the edge, he sank onto it. She continued to grind underneath him. If she didn’t stop soon, he’d come right there. Forcing himself to pull away from the kiss, he gazed down at his mate.

  His chest tightened at the image before him. Her lips were swollen from their kiss, her cheeks flushed. More beautiful yet, she beamed up at him. In between pants, she whispered, “I tried to kiss you before. You pulled away.”

  He grinned. “I wouldn’t have if I’d known what I was in for.”

  He sat back, running his gaze over her. Pride swelled in him when she laid still, allowing him to look. He scrubbed a palm over his face at the sight of her hardened nipples poking through her thin top. Her thighs were still spread around his hips, giving him the merest glimpse of her underwear just visible under her dress.

  Was he ever going to be able to leave this bed? If she’d allow it, he’d happily stay here forever.

  Licking his lips and eyeing the hem of her skirt, he knew exactly where he wanted to start this veritable feast. “If I go lock your door, will you move?” he questioned, not wanting to break the daze they were in but needing to ensure their privacy.

  A shy smile played at her lips. “I’ll be here.”

  Before she could change her mind, he dashed to the door, engaging the lock with a shaking hand. “I plan to have you in that bed as long as you’ll let me, and I don’t want those girls to interrupt,” he called over his shoulder. After the bolts sounded, he turned and walked back toward her, taking in the sight of her beautiful form reclined on the bed.

  She giggled. “What girls?”

  He reached the edge of the bed and knelt, eyeing the vee of her thighs. Mind too gone with lust, he answered, “The ones who come in without knocking.”

  Rising to her elbows and tilting her head at him, she slowly asked, “How do you know they do that?”

  Shit!

  Luka wracked his brain for a reasonable excuse as to why he’d know that, but none came. He stared at her silently, with dread. Her smile faded, and her eyes strayed to the patio then back to him.

  Jumping off the bed, she screeched, “Have you been watching me, Luka?”

  Jade had said honesty was best. He slowly rose from the floor. “Yes.”

  She mouthed wordlessly at him for a moment. He took the opportunity to quickly explain, “After the drugs wore off, the mating bond pulled me here. I had to see you and make sure you were safe, and I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”

  “This is too much,” she said, covering her hand with her mouth. “You need to leave.”

  He stepped toward her, but she backed away. What else could he say? He’d watched her for many days and nights, and what was worse was after being with her today, kissing her, he didn’t feel badly about it. She was his mate. Being near her felt so right that he only now understood how wrong being away from her felt. His whole life had been lived with a piece of a puzzle missing that he’d never known existed in the first place.

  After experiencing what it was like to have her in his arms, to see her face smiling up at him, he knew he’d watch her every day for the rest of his life. So, what should he tell her? Lie and say he was sorry and wouldn’t do it again, or tell her the truth?

  Before he had a chance to decide, she crossed to her door. Forgetting the lock he’d just engaged, she pulled on the handle fruitlessly.

  He hovered behind her, reaching over her shoulder to unlock it. She stood frozen with him at her back, the door still shut.

  “Why couldn’t you just have been a normal guy?” she murmured. Swinging the door open, she stood aside. With her eyes trained downward, she said, “Get out.”

  “I’ll leave,” he said, waiting for her to meet his hard stare. “But you should know something. You are my mate. And even though your human body has learned to forget how to recognize me, I am yours. Deep down, you don’t want a normal guy, and I’ll prove it. I’ll give you your space, but I won’t give up. That’s a promise, Alice.”

  Chapter 14

  Alice paced, fuming. She’d been so stupid. Again. Why couldn’t she ever just listen to her brain? Why did she always have to trust her consistently inaccurate feelings?

  When he’d first arrived, she’d tried to stay strong and stick to her guns, even as she’d felt herself softening toward him. Then he’d asked to kiss her. It had come out of nowhere, was completely inappropriate, and should’ve resulted in a hard slap across the face, but Alice couldn’t help her body’s reaction. She’d wanted to kiss him since she’d first met him. Had fantasized about it.

  Her steps slowed, and she ran a hand over her lips absently. But damn it all if he wasn’t the best kisser she’d ever had. Fast learner, indeed. She groaned, glancing toward the bed. Part of her wished he hadn’t told her about the stalking until after she’d gotten a little more action. Her body burned with unrelieved lust.

  She moved to the bed, intending to take care of her wet, throbbing need herself, but then stopped. Glaring at the windows to the patio, fury washed over her anew. He might be watching her even now.

  Alice tried to hold on to her anger, but the strangest urge to drop her hand into the waistline of her underwear and torture him a little came over her.

  She slumped to the bed, trying to work out how she actually felt. Was she upset because she thought she should be upset? Or was she truly offended? She needed to
get insight.

  Stomping outside, she headed toward Vanessa, Daisy, and Rita’s shared home. When she arrived, she found them sunbathing on the patio, reclined in a wide but shallow kiddie pool, florescent drinks in their hands. Squeals erupted from all three upon her arrival, giving any Woo Girl a run for their money.

  Alice couldn’t help but smile, her anger fading away at the sight of her three very tipsy friends.

  “Hey, girl!” Vanessa laughed as she tried and failed to roll onto her stomach without spilling her drink.

  “That’s a party foul. You have to drink the pool water now.” Daisy giggled while grappling to find her own drink’s straw with her tongue.

  Alice chuckled and took a seat near the three women sitting waist-deep in the small pool. “I see you guys are having a fun day.”

  “Well,” Rita slurred, shielding her words from the other two, “Vanessa was feeling a little down, so we decided to cheer her up.”

  Alice focused on Vanessa, who was attempting to drink the dregs of her glass while lying on her stomach. She’d been so wrapped up in her own drama with Luka that she hadn’t taken the time to be there for her friend.

  Since their arrival, Vanessa had put on a brave face, but she knew how much the woman wanted to return home. She often talked about her sister, whom she’d gotten in a fight with shortly before she’d been taken. Earlier, Vanessa had said Lucy had a lead for her. Alice nibbled her nails.

  It must’ve not panned out. Alice tried to stifle the selfish wave of relief that came over her. Of course she didn’t want her friend to be in pain, but if Vanessa somehow found a way to leave, it’d be a difficult loss for her to cope with.

  Alice readied to ask what had happened, but from the corner of her eye, she saw both Daisy and Rita clumsily shake their heads. Daisy put a finger to her lips, almost poking herself in the eye. Alice would make sure to come by and see what was going on later, but for now, she’d try and lift Vanessa’s spirits as well.