by Lynnea Lee
“Oh,” the guard said and looked at Mia, a little shocked. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even notice you. I was so focused on the fence issue.”
“No problem,” she said. “The fence is important. Thank you for keeping everyone safe.”
Mia smiled at the security guard, and Arus held back the desire to block her from his view. What was this strange possessiveness?
Holden spoke again, “Unfortunately, we have closed access to the new citizen area. The entire area is in lockdown. There are cots set up at the sports facilities to accommodate anyone unable to get home.”
“I guess I’ll head over there instead.”
Holden must have noticed the protective way Arus held Mia to his body because his next words were, “The cots at the sports center aren’t the most comfortable.” Holden glanced briefly at Arus before turning back to Mia. “Maybe Arus could take you home with him after he checks out the breach? It will be more comfortable for you, and safer too.”
“Yes.” Arus jumped on the chance. “You can come with me, Mia.”
He gazed down at her and was relieved when she didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, I’d love that.” Excitement sparkled in her eyes.
They stood staring into each other’s eyes until Holden cleared his throat loudly.
“That’s perfect,” the guard said. “Why don’t you stay in the office inside the bridge while Arus and I go check out the fence. If you don’t have a comm unit yet, you can use my computer terminal to contact anyone you need. There are also some games on it to pass the time.”
“I’ll be back soon, Mia,” Arus promised.
They got her set up in the office and headed out to check the fence.
“I can’t believe you were going to take her to the housing unit instead of to your room at the inn!” Holden exclaimed when out of earshot. “You do know that there is no privacy at the dorms. They are so full that everyone has a roommate. If I had a female like her holding onto me and looking at me that way, I wouldn’t let her out of my bed for days.”
“I was giving her time to get used to our culture,” Arus protested. But Holden was right. He was a Tallean mercenary, for Star’s sake. They took what they wanted. Arus was getting soft.
“Not all humans are as conservative as I first thought. I’ve gotten to know many of them here at Reka 5. They might be shy about showing their bodies and displaying physical affection publicly. But that doesn’t mean they are as reserved behind closed doors,” Holden explained. “Besides, didn’t the two of you just come from the baths? I can smell the cleansers they put in the water.”
“Yeah, we did.”
“Arus, my friend, you might be good with security, but you are shit at reading human females!” He laughed. “That female wants you!”
They got to the fence. It was temporarily patched up until the teams could do a proper fix. Arus took a deep breath. Nothing. He could barely smell Holden, and the male stood right beside him. He leaned in towards the guard and took a sniff. Once close enough, Arus detected his scent. But when he backed away, nothing.
Strange.
“Um, I know what you are doing, but I hope no one saw you sniff me. They would get the wrong idea,” Holden said uncomfortably.
All Talleans had a heightened sense of smell, but Arus was talented at picking out individual scents. Before taking the job on the Defiant, Arus was trained as a chemist. Not wanting to create chemical weapons for the Dominion, he had left that life behind and joined his crew. He was happier as a mercenary. He had a traveler’s soul, and the galaxy called to him.
He inhaled again deeply, unfolding his cheek creases slightly and keeping his mouth open. Arus moved a few feet away from the site—still nothing. He kept checking, backing up step-by-step until he got to the road. At the road, a myriad of odors hit his nostrils. It was a commonly used road. The scents here belonged to too many people to be of use. He stepped back towards the fence. All the scents muted again.
It was as if there was a shield around the breach hiding chemical information from his senses. Chemical information. That triggered a thought. What if the culprit was using a chemical to hide his scent? He followed his nose to the area where his senses were the most muted. He knelt on a patch of dirt next to the breached fence. This area scented the most like nothing.
“Can we take a sample of the dirt right here?”
Holden looked confused. “But that doesn’t smell like anything.”
“Exactly,” Arus agreed. “Have you ever smelled dirt that had no scent?”
The other male nodded in understanding. He knelt, took a scraping of the dirt and sealed it in a small bag.
“I’ll send it off to get it analyzed.”
“Bring the guards you trust to this location and have them memorize this lack of scent,” Arus suggested. “Have them keep a lookout for it. If someone is using this chemical to cover their tracks, they might accidentally leave traces of it.”
Holden nodded, and they turned to leave.
“Thanks, Arus,” he said.
“I just hope I can help figure this out before my ship comes to pick me up. I should have a week at least.”
“Anything you can do will help,” Holden said gratefully. “Now, let’s get you back to your female.”
Mia sat at the terminal and read the huffy messages from her mother. Mia had left a message before leaving work, telling her mom not to expect her for dinner. It was not well-received. Bianca would not be happy with this message either, but this time, Mia had the fence breach as an excuse.
Hey Mom, it’s Mia. I’m writing from the guard’s terminal. They locked down the area because of the fence failure. I can’t get home today. They set up cots at the sports facility for us. So, don’t worry about me, okay? Just stay safe, and I’ll see you tomorrow.
Mia
It was best if her mother thought she was staying at the sports center. Mia felt bad about her little white lie. But she didn’t want her mother to get all worked up over nothing.
Mia had been disappointed when Arus offered to walk her home again after dinner. Especially since Sala was taking Vore home, and she knew their room at the inn was free. She had wanted to go back with him. Maybe he wasn’t interested in her after all.
But when Holden suggested Arus take her with him, he had jumped on the idea. She didn’t know what to think. Did he want her or not?
I’m shit at reading men, she thought. She didn’t even need to be good at reading all men. She just wanted to be decent at reading this one.
What would Lulu do? Auntie Lulu would have suggested they go over to his place when they left the cantina. She would have seduced him instead of waiting for him to make the next move. And she would have blown his mind. That’s what Lulu would have done!
She might not read Arus well, but Mia knew what she wanted. He was leaving soon, and if they continued at the pace they were going, they would miss the boat. She needed to be a big girl, take the reins, and take what she wanted. What she wanted was to be all over Arus.
The office door opened and Arus walked in, lines of worry etching his face. They smoothed out when he saw her. She walked over to him and took his arm, leaning against him. It was time to be proactive and make things happen.
“Back already? I guess you can’t wait to get back to the inn.” She looked at him coyly and bit her lower lip.
“Let me call you two a transport,” Holden offered quickly, and said to Arus, “Thank you for your help.”
The wait for the transport passed quickly. Once in the privacy of the self-driving vehicle, Mia leaned against him. She put her hands on his leg and drew lazy circles with her fingers. Arus had one arm around her and his clean, masculine scent surrounded her. She tilted her head to bury her face in his chest, and he felt him tense.
“Mmm, why do you smell so good?” she whispered.
“You think I smell good?” he asked.
Testing the waters, sh
e nipped at him.
“Mmm, yummy,” she purred. “I think you’re tastier than any dumpling.”
A deep growl rumbled from his chest.
“Mia,” he warned. “Stop, unless you want me to fuck you in the transport.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” Mia knew she was playing with fire. It was fun! “What was it that Vore said? You’re all sizzle and no steak?”
Arus reached around her and pulled a lever she hadn’t noticed before, and suddenly the seat reclined to a horizontal position. He leaned over her, pushed her onto her back, and positioned himself over her body.
“I know humans are shy about onlookers. No one can see into the transport, but there is a camera. They don’t review the footage unless they need to look into a crime. But it’s there,” Arus warned her.
“I don’t care, Arus,” she said, urging him to continue.
He leaned over her and buried his face against her neck. Arus licked and nibbled down her neck, punctuating his kisses with long drags of his fangs on her skin. A low growl rumbled from his throat. His fingers explored her body, leaving a fiery trail in their wake.
“So perfect,” he groaned.
Mia wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him closer. She wanted to feel more of him, and she got what she wanted. His hard length pressed against the v of her legs, the heat searing through their clothing.
He ground against her body, and Mia gasped as his erection pressed against her core. He continued to grind against her with a purposeful rhythm. Each thrust of his hips rubbing up against her clit. A soft moan escaped her lips.
Mia was disappointed when he pulled away and slid off her body. But then his deft fingers reached for the opening of her pants. She helped him push it down just far enough to expose her.
Arus’s fingers invaded the edge of her panties. They traced up and down her slit, occasionally brushing against her clit, teasing her. He spread her wet, swollen lips and plunged into her with two fingers, pumping slowly. His hot mouth came to caress her ear, and his tongue darted out to trace the lobe. His thumb found her clit and joined the assault, rubbing slow, deliberate circles over her bundle of nerves.
Mia whimpered with every breath. The noise was barely audible at first but grew more needy with each stroke, until her climax hit her hard, and she screamed her release. She never had good vocal control. Her lust was always enthusiastic and noisy, much to the chagrin of her neighbors. She was glad the transport was soundproof.
Arus carried Mia into his room at the inn. He stripped her of her top and pants and laid her down on the bed. He wished they had chosen a better room, something more befitting of her beauty. There were only two inns at this port, and they had chosen the more affordable option. Vore and Arus came here to impress females with their sexual prowess, not with their wealth. Despite being a relatively new colony, the rooms at this inn already looked tired and faded.
At least the sheets were clean. In just her human-styled undergarments, Mia’s pale skin almost glowed against the dark bedding. She was perfect. She was everything he didn’t know he was looking for. Everything he didn’t know he needed.
He watched her eyes as he stripped. It was obvious from her round eyes and the way she bit her lip that she appreciated his body. The scent of her arousal grew until it overwhelmed his senses. When she licked her lips at the sight of his cock, he was undone.
She reached for him, but Arus pushed her back on the bed. If she thought she was going to get the first taste, she was mistaken. He closed his eyes and inhaled her wonderful scent, trying to commit it to memory. He wanted to be able to pull up her scent when he was alone in his quarters in space and recall the excitement and arousal.
Mia pushed up to sitting again.
“I want you,” Arus growled. “Don’t fear me.”
“I don’t, Arus.” His name sounded so right coming from her lips. “I want you too. So much. This waiting is killing me.” She removed her breast coverings and laid back down, gesturing for him to come to her.
He knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her belly. Focusing his gaze on her center, he passed a tongue over his fangs in anticipation. He reached for her breasts, traced a callused thumb over one nipple, and watched it pebble.
Arus pulled down the scrap of fabric that covered her pussy.
“Spread your thighs for me, beautiful.”
She did without hesitation, and Arus wedged his wide shoulders in between her knees. With gentle fingers, he spread her to expose her to his view and swiped his tongue over her clit. Mia rewarded him with a gasp.
Arus was glad that their species were sexually similar. Humans were small-boned, and had no innate weapons, but they were sexually compatible. He didn’t need to relearn how to please her. He had an entire arsenal of tricks to bring her to ecstasy.
He swiped his tongue over her sensitive nub again and again. Arus felt the rising tension in her body. Her little nails clawed into the bedding, and her breathing accelerated. Just a little more. Arus pressed two thick fingers into her and stroked upwards in rhythm with his mouth.
A climax tore through Mia. Her voice rang out in the room.
“I need you,” he rasped as he positioned himself over her limp, satisfied body.
“I’m all yours.”
Arus felt her hands clutch his biceps, and he positioned himself at her entrance. He pushed into her depths. She was so small, Arus was afraid to hurt her. He needed to go slow. But the plan was forgotten when Mia wrapped her legs around his hips and rocked her hips. The motion seated him deeper inside her.
“Oh my god,” she moaned.
Her channel gripped so tightly he didn’t think he could last long. He stilled.
“More,” she demanded. “Please, Arus.”
Arus obliged, thrusting into her body. He set a frantic rhythm. Braced on one arm, he reached down with the other and rubbed her sensitive bundle of nerves. Her body tensed and shook under his. She cried out when she climaxed hard again.
He felt the clench of her pussy milking his cock and saw the look of passion in her half-closed eyes. Lost in this moment, she became his world. There was nothing but her. Nothing but them. The pulsing of her channel pulled him overboard, and Arus reached his own climax moments later.
Arus recovered from their ardor first. Panting from their recent exertion, he rolled off her to let the chill of the air cool his over-heated body. Mia tried to contain her disappointment at their bodies parting, but he sensed it all the same. It was obvious she yearned to be held. Especially after the mind-blowing sex they just shared.
Wrapping her in her arms, Arus pulled her close to his body. He arranged her on her side against him and nuzzled the top of her head. He inhaled the heady perfume of sex that rolled in waves off their bodies. There was nothing in the world but them.
After an eternal moment where nothing existed but their heavy satisfied breathing, he spoke, “I’ve decided what you are, Mia.”
“Hmmm?” She sounded content.
“You’re a dumpling. Small and cute and tasty. Mindblowingly tasty.”
“Is mindblowingly even a word?” She yawned.
“It is now,” Arus replied, amused.
“I like dumplings,” she giggled. “I’ll take it.”
Arus thought about his plan to get Mia out of his system before heading back up to his ship and realized it would not be as easy as he had first thought. It would be hard to leave without her.
“My ship will be here to pick me up in about a week,” he started.
“I know,” she said. “I understand. Sala told me that mercenaries are good for temporary fun only. You don’t need to worry about me getting all clingy.”
Arus didn’t know why her words felt like a stab in his heart. He rubbed his chest absentmindedly. What if he was only a one-time fling for her? What if another male offered to bring her home, and she agreed? It was normal for unmated females to spend time with different males
. His chest tightened.
“Can I see you again after work tomorrow? There’s a great restaurant I want to take you to.” He figured if she saw him tomorrow, she wouldn’t be with anyone else.
She beamed at him, a big grin that lit up her face. “I would love to!”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Mia cursed.
“Mia! Watch your language!” Bianca lectured. “How are you going to find a husband with a mouth like that?”
Her mom had ambushed her at the end of her shift and was now dragging her to some silly meeting. Apparently, some of the new human arrivals were unhappy staying at Reka 5 and had formed a committee. It was a huge waste of her time.
She should be spending time with Arus right now! Mia had tried to hold her ground, but her mother started making a scene, and Crox had stomped out of the back room wondering what the kerfuffle was. Mia went with her mom just to shut her up.
As Mia was dragged out the door, she saw Arus approaching the shop and gave him the most apologetic look. Luckily, Sala was there to explain what was happening. So here she was, not with Arus but stuck in a meeting she didn’t want to be in.
Mia surveyed the room. About a dozen humans sat in the audience. At the front were Dr. Ives and an older gentleman.
A tall, middle-aged lady came to sit beside them. Mia remembered her from the Second Chance. The woman was the eccentric type, with thick cat-eyed glasses. White tape reinforced the bridge of her frames, but she still rocked them as if it was all the rage. A single streak of white highlighted her Clairol red hair. Her roots were starting to show.
“Hi,” she greeted them. “I’m Isabella. What’s your name, honey?”
“Hi, I’m Mia.” Mia smiled at the woman and gestured to her mother. “And this is my mom, Bianca. Any idea what this is about?”
“Beats me.” Isabella shrugged. “Someone approached me and told me to come. It’s not like I was doing anything else. Besides, I’m bored off my rocker. So here I am.”