Warrior Forever

by Amber Bardan

  I pressed a knuckle to the center of my chest.

  Misleading .

  I wasn’t his first priority. Of course I wouldn’t be.

  “Thank you, I’ll remember that.” I strode out of the water room.

  And he couldn’t be mine.

  A scent hit me the moment I stepped into the other room.

  My stomach twisted in a knot of hunger that almost cut me to my knees.

  Food .

  Hot food. Cooked food.

  Real fucking food.

  I stalked to the rear of the cave behind the table to the bench cluttered with bottles and jars and other things I hadn’t wanted to mess with given how easily crap on this planet could do things like “take off” my skin.

  Thor stood in front of a rock-filled cavity in the wall above a small bench.

  Savory aromas wafted to me. Saliva flooded my mouth. My gums ached.

  “Oh god, what is that?” I grabbed onto his bicep and peered around him.

  The rocks glowed red. What I’d walked past and thought was a fancy space rock collection, appeared to actually be an oven.

  He sliced something on a wooden board. “La La said like fish.”

  Yes, yes, Leila does.

  I pressed my face against his arm to keep myself from lunging at the hot stones. He’d remembered I’d mentioned fishing too.

  Sweet, freaking warrior.

  The contents of a pan crackled in the oven. I groaned. However, if this turned out inedible, he was dead for tormenting me this way. I scrapped my teeth on the outside of his arm. If this was inedible I’d fry him up for dinner.

  He glanced down at me over his shoulder, looking at my teeth on his skin, and whatever guarded expression wariness had put on him before, fell away.

  A soft rumble kicked off in his chest.

  Good, fine—whatever.

  He could get as turned on as he liked knowing I enjoyed the smell of his cooking. So long as he fed me. Like now. This instant. If this meal tasted anything like it smelled he could go ahead and blow all over my tits again later.

  I’d even instigate it.

  He put the pale flat stuff he’d chopped in a wooden bowl, then reached into the oven and grabbed the pan.

  I leaped back and let out a yell.

  He took the sizzling, hissing pan from the glowing rocks with his freaking hands .

  My heart wrenched, and I gripped my chest like I’d just aged decades instantly. “Holy shit, you don’t burn, do you?”

  He looked at me, frowning as though I’d been the one in grave danger. “Not worry, La La. Husband hard hurt.”

  “So I see.” I followed him to the table where he set down the pan and bowl.

  He sat on the huge chair, and this time I didn’t wait to be instructed, I climbed right up on his lap, and reached for the pan.

  Oh, god, actual food.

  He grabbed my wrist. “Careful.”

  I choked on my breath. No . Please don’t let this be one of those I couldn’t really eat, but tried to convince me how appetizing it would be, sneaky alien foods.

  He scooped up a hunk of peachy melting meat from the pan, and brought it to his mouth.

  Not my mouth—his own mouth.

  Fuck him. I took back every kind thing I’d ever thought about him. My stomach gurgled with insistence which sounded a lot like— die, alien die.

  I rocked toward his mouth watching the food go in. Was this some kind of alien black ops warrior wife breaking tactic?

  He chewed carefully, then swallowed.

  My teeth sank into my bottom lip.

  He scooped up another chunk with his fingers, and again the evil spawn-of-Satan brought it to his mouth again.

  A little helpless sound escaped me, and I bounced on his lap, jostling on the brink of tears.

  He blew on the meat, then moved to me.

  I grabbed his wrist in both hands, and sucked the fish off his fingers before he could change his mind. My teeth clanged against his skin. Flavor burst across my tongue.

  My nails scraped on his wrist.

  Oh, sweet mother of Jesus.

  Piping hot, mild, fatty and absolutely fucking-fabulous. I groaned. This was space’s answer to salmon. So soft it didn’t require chewing, it just melted in savory bliss.

  My eyes watered. “More.”

  He scooped, but I couldn’t let go of his wrist, holding on the whole time.

  I sucked the fish out of his hand before he could cool it down. My eyes streamed. Half from the heat—half from a wave of heartache I didn’t know I’d had. I’d thought maybe I’d never eat real food again.

  That nothing would ever be real or good or normal again.

  That I’d never feel satisfied.

  Never experience a simple pleasure I’d always taken for granted.

  That I’d always feel half hungry.

  Half empty.

  He removed his hand from me and frowned. “Not ouch, La La.”

  I went after his wrist, trying to swallow so I could talk. “This is more happy ouch.”

  His expression rippled, as though he didn’t understand, but he took my word for it, and fed me more.

  I feasted like a pet from his hand. And made noises like one too.

  When my fingers unclenched from his wrist, he handed me the white flat stuff he’d chopped. I sniffed and took a small nibble. No way . The crumbly stuff was floury and fibrous, but very much like flat bread.

  I stuck it into the the pan soaking up fatty juices, and ate it. Then another and another. My eyes rolled up and I flopped back on his chest, chewing slowly as possible. “Goddamn.”

  “Not good?”

  “So good…” I glanced up at him, and his confusion sent a laugh rolling in my middle. His eyes widened, and his gaze scanned me. Laughter overtook me, shaking my shoulders. He blinked features morphing as though he couldn’t keep up with my complex humanity.

  I held my now full stomach, laughs turning to snorts.

  Then something happened—a chuckle rumbled in his chest, and turned into a boom.

  Ohh… My eyes flared amid my unstoppable laughter.

  The boom escalated to roaring laughter, bolder and more liberated than any sound I’d ever heard. I held onto his arm to keep myself seated, as he rocked and shook, and dumped fuel on my own hysteria.

  We laughed until more tears streamed down my face, and I wheezed and gasped.

  I leaned against him, and he hugged me continuing to chuckle into my hair.

  A sigh melted through me.

  I wiped my face with my palms.

  His breaths puffed hot on my scalp. “Did enjoy fish?”

  “Yeah, a lot.” I reached for more of the flat bread, dunked it, then popped it in my mouth.

  “Thor catch.” His chest rumbled against my back. “Provided for La La.”

  “Yeah, you did.” I turned to him. His expression one-part inflated-ego, two-parts horny-adorable, sent my smile cracking wider. I stroked up the outside of his arm. “You totally brought home the bacon today, big guy.”

  His chest expanded even though I was mostly certain he didn’t understand the reference I’d made. He growled, soft and so reverberating all I wanted was to lay against him and let that feeling seep into me.

  Sweet, fucking ridiculous, alien lover-boy. How was I supposed to resist?

  My fingers curled against him.

  But I had to…

  My chest wheezed again, this time not from laughter. There was too much at stake to let myself get all swept up and confused by his crush on me. “Do you remember when I told you that honesty isn’t freely given where I’m from?”

  His growling ceased instantaneously.

  I cleared my throat but didn’t move from touching him. “I want to share something with you, but I’m afraid of what you’ll do if I tell you.”

  “Not be scare.” He covered my fist on his shoulder with his hand. “Not have anger for wife’s honesty.”

  “I’m not afraid you’ll hurt
me, Thor.” I gave him a tight smile. “I trust you in that regard.”

  His brows relaxed.

  “I’m worried about how you may act on information I give you.” I swallowed. “So, I’ve been keeping something secret from you.”

  His fingers tightened ever so slightly on mine. “Can trust with all things, La La.”

  A pang of guilt seized me. But this was the only way to achieve what we needed.

  “I need you to promise that you won’t act on what I tell you.”

  He studied me. “Does secret make risk to you?”

  “No.”

  “Does secret make risk to colony?”

  My breath shuddered. Not risk—but the hundred or so woman on board would certainly help the Baraticans. At the expense of the humans. “No, it’s nothing that would harm anyone here.”

  “Then not act on secret.”

  My entire chest deflated, in both relief and pain. Why’d he have to be so damn dependable? “I wasn’t alone on the escape pod.”

  His entire torso turned stiff as brick. “Who with you?”

  Crackling sounded in my ear.

  Macca warning without warning.

  She didn’t need to worry though, I remembered her advice too well. Both when it came to protecting those woman, and not raising suspicions of a rival. “There is a child on board.”

  He turned to flesh again. “Male or female child?”

  I coughed. Who knew what age a child was mateable to a Baratican? I couldn’t risk it. “An orphaned boy, who I swore I’d help get home to his own planet.”

  His mouth made a flat line. “La La not can leave.”

  “No.” I flattened my palm against his chest under his hand. “I don’t need to leave. I need you to help me keep my word and make it possible for him to return home.”

  “How can help?”

  “The escape ship needs a new power cell.” My voice hitched, stuck on a hunk of guilt. “Then it’s all programmed to leave without me. He can go home and I wont have to break my word.”

  “This not easy trade.” He leaned back a little, his features taking on a hardness that made me suddenly see for the first time there was a fierce negotiator under there when he wasn’t busy being all besotted.

  “You’ll get the next base, Thor.” I leaned deeper against him. “You’ll get tasting .”

  The skin under my palm gave way to the slightest tremor, but this time, for the first time, he kept himself in check.

  “Would need travel to central trade station.” His voice at least, remained level. “Very far, La La. Three suns travel. Not will leave you so long.”

  My mouth twisted to the side. “This is very important to me. There’s no quicker way to get there?”

  He stared at me without blinking. “Is, but must permission from council to use travel craft.”

  “Could you do it?” I leaned closer. “Please, would you do it for me?”

  He lifted his hand from mine. “Craft for sanctioned travel, not convenience.”

  “What if…” I blinked, lashes sinking down. My voice lowered. “What if I give you the next base in advance?”

  “Advance?” His tone sent a shiver trickling over my skin.

  “Yes.” My breath caught but I forced my gaze to meet his. “Agree, and I’ll give you tasting right now …”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Now his tremor would not be contained—his skin pulsed under my hand.

  His gaze set me on fire.

  My flesh heated from the inside outward.

  I slid one arm around his neck. “Don’t you want to taste me, Husband?”

  He let out the slightest hiss. Hair raised up over my body and tingled my scalp.

  Evil . I’d turned one-hundred-percent pure evil calling him that.

  He was desperate to taste me. We both knew it. The only question was what he’d pay for it.

  My tongue snaked between my lips. The only surprise here was how much I wanted it too. How I was soaked now at just the thought.

  The irresistible memory of his hot wet tongue pressed to my pussy.

  And his special bonus features.

  And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

  God help me, I couldn’t stop fantasizing about huge vibrating alien dick.

  “What is next quest?”

  I blinked, coming back to myself. Next ? I’d never gotten that far because there was never supposed to be a final quest.

  I cleared my throat. “I’ll tell you after this task.”

  He shook his head. “Tell now.”

  Damn him. What would I have to do to make him all distractible and agreeable again?

  “That’s not how this works.”

  “Think this quest is big quest.” He grabbed my thigh and suddenly I straddled him. Tits squished against his chest. His arm locked around my waist. Ridiculous cock grazing my crotch.

  “Think worth two favors.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell you.” I gasped, nerves shivering my skin. “The next quest will be easy.”

  He pulled me tighter, growling.

  I fisted his hair at the back of his head—as if that could keep him at bay. My hips moved in spite of me, rocking into the hardness that sent pleasure winding up my spine. “I just want…”

  He moved his hips up against mine.

  I lost my breath, but stared at him. What would I ask, if there was going to be one last quest?

  A real quest?

  He was so very handsome. As though he’d gotten more so. Unreal . Airbrushed.

  This wasn’t real.

  I squeezed his hair tighter. He just had genetic needs… It made no difference who I was or what I was like.

  “When you get back from this quest.” I released his hair. “Tell me who I am to you—” My voice took on a crackle. “Other than someone you’d like to mate with.”

  That familiar line formed between his brows. “Answer this and will have mating?”

  “After you get the cell, and do what I’ve asked, yes.” My lungs constricted. I didn’t plan on still being here for that. But if I was then… “That’s all I want to know.”

  “What if answer wrong?” His hands flattened on my lower back.

  I couldn’t quite smile, but I stroked his cheek. “That’s why it’s called a quest.”

  “Will get power cell.” His hands stilled on me. “But not give to you. Give to ship.”

  My ears seemed to ring. Holy shit I was about to put a lot of faith in a very sneaky computer. “Okay.”

  His features flashed in triumph, then he stood.

  I squealed and grabbed hold of him. “What are you doing?”

  He carried me across the room. “Tasting.”

  I gripped him harder.

  He lay me on the bed and sunk over me, reaching for the collar of my dress.

  “Wait.” I grabbed his hand. “You can’t keep breaking my clothes. I’ll take it off.”

  He made a gruff sound, and eased off me.

  I leaned up and tugged at the laces at the small of my back. The dress sagged. I slipped the fabric off my shoulders.

  He watched me, fierce gaze hungrily taking me in.

  I slowed, tugging the dress off one side. The material brushed over my breast. My nipples tightened. He fell back against the cave wall, leaned into it as though he couldn’t keep himself up—the invincible warrior.

  As though he were helpless just looking at me.

  My breaths sped up. My skin tingled.

  I eased the dress off my other side.

  He made a sound. The smallest most desperate groan.

  I looked down at myself. My average body. My average tits. I’d never felt gorgeous before now. I slid my palms over my chest.

  My nipples went harder.

  I shoved the dress over my hips, tugged it off my legs, then threw it aside.

  He reached for my waist.

  “Wait, you missed a secret.” I took his hand.

  He frowned. “Missed?”


  “Yeah, you missed a secret to mating me.” I inched closer on my knees, and placed his hand on my breast. “You missed here.”

  “This not for young?” His eyes flared. “This for me!”

  I laughed under my breath. “No, honey. Right now, they’re for me.”

  He brushed my nipple. Somehow it went tighter. He grabbed my waist with his other arm, and hauled me to him.

  I straddled his thigh.

  He released me to grab my other boob. I pushed my chest forward, letting him have them. He rumbled, and squeezed my breasts in his giant hands. Pushed them together. Tested their weight and feel. Then rubbed my nipples with his fingertips.

  I squirmed, and wiggled closer.

  “Thor…” I moved my hand to the back of his neck, and leaned up.

  My straining breast brushed his lips, and that’s all it took.

  He wrapped his arms around me and locked his mouth over my tit.

  I gasped, sensation streaking to my core. He sucked my nipple as though it could sustain his life. I grabbed his hair and leaned into his hold.

  Arousal flooded me. His thick leg spread my thighs so wide. My naked wet pussy rubbed against his hard muscle.

  I couldn’t help it…couldn’t help grinding on him just a little bit.

  His teeth scraped me. I squeaked. He lunged for my other tit and sucked that next.

  “Oh, god.” I pulled his hair, and my hips jerked.

  He licked me, dragging his rough, vibrating tongue over my nipple.

  His thigh pressed just right against me—but not enough.

  My legs squeezed around him.

  He growled and tipped us forward, landing on top of me, nuzzling my tits and then moved down. I kept my hands fisted in his hair, biceps straining tight with anticipation.

  His hot breath skimmed my middle. My abs twitched. My hips arched.

  He froze right there, and looked at that little pooch on my tummy that always made me want to put my hands over it. I swallowed.

  He shuddered and fell against me. I leaned up on an elbow and looked at him.

  His whole face scrunched tight and agonized.

  I brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Thor?”

  He kept his eyes closed, but turned his face into my skin.

  “Are you okay?” I stroked his hair, which was way too soft for a warrior like him. “Had too much juice again?”

  He shook his head and shoved his arms underneath me, squeezing me so tight my ribs groaned and I lost my breath. He gasped into my belly, breathed me in, as though the closeness of this were too much to take.