The Scientist's Price (Warriors Book 1)

by L P Peace

  ‘Listen to me. Look at me. You didn’t force me, Kadian.’

  ‘You ran away. Why, if not because you were frightened?’

  ‘I was,’ she admitted. ‘I was terrified.’ The last word came out as little more than a whisper. ‘But not because of you.’

  ‘Then why?’ He looked up now, his eyes finally meeting hers, a mixture of curiosity and relief on his face.

  Olivia let out a deep breath before filling her lungs with calming air. ‘Did you never wonder why I was so irritated that day in the lab?’ She knew she didn’t need to explain what day. It was the only day that mattered.

  ‘It was hot. You were always a little irritated when you were hot.’

  Olivia smiled at him. ‘I’m not that irritable!’

  ‘You are fierce when you’re hot. I learned early on to give you space.’ Kadian’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  ‘Dammit, Kadian, stop joking! I wasn’t irritated because of the damn heat. I was irritated because you wouldn’t stop playing with the bump on your head.’

  ‘From Frixx-eon?’

  The whole thing replayed in Olivia’s mind. She was in Kadian’s arms, looking down at him, feeling the delicious heat of arousal coil inside her. She’d planned to kiss him and more. Movement caught her attention. She looked up to see a magnum of champagne being hefted into the air. She closed her eyes, willing the image away.

  ‘Every time you touched that damn bump, all I could see was you lying on the floor covered in blood.’ Olivia sobbed the last word and covered her mouth with her hands.

  His hands pulled hers away, then his long fingers found her cheek. ‘Olivia, I’m a soldier. I’ve had worse wounds than that.’

  She looked up at him. His words were more alien to her than he was at this moment. ‘I’m not a soldier.’ She shook her head. ‘All I could see was the man I loved losing consciousness on the dance floor, covered in blood while that bastard searched for a broken piece of glass so he could hurt you more.’

  The pain in Olivia’s heart overwhelmed her and the tears began to fall.

  Kadian gathered her in his arms, but Olivia pushed him away. She had to finish now, or he’d never hear it all.

  ‘I didn’t run because I was frightened of you, Kadian. I’ve never been frightened of you. Not even when I saw you on the screen for the first time.’ Her eyes searched his face. His features, which she’d memorised a long time ago, were dearer to her than anything else. ‘I didn’t run away, stay away because I didn’t want to be with you,’ she said. ‘I ran because I only wanted to be with you. I had to put lightyears between us or I would have given in, and giving in was going to get you killed.’

  This time when the tears started and Kadian pulled her into his arms, Olivia let him. She revelled in the feel of him there, surrounding her and keeping her safe. ‘I almost gave in that day in the cupboard,’ she said. ‘But all I could see was the blood.’

  ‘My Olivia,’ he whispered. ‘Thank you for telling me.’ He stroked her face.

  Olivia leaned into his hand. She looked into his eyes and knew she needed to tell him everything. ‘There’s more,’ she admitted.

  Kadian frowned. ‘What? More?’

  ‘When I was at the hospital. You were lying in the hospital bed with a head wound—’

  ‘I didn’t know you came to the hospital with me.’

  ‘When I was in the hospital with you, I was visited by two agents. Government agents from Earth Intelligence Services,’ she clarified when she saw the confused look on his face. ‘They told me that a human living on Earth would never be allowed to enter into a relationship with an alien. They said that as I now had the skills required to build engines, they would arrange for something to happen to you unless I backed away.’

  ‘They said what?’ Kadian kept his voice perfectly calm, but Olivia could see fury building behind his eyes.

  Olivia described the visit she’d had. ‘They threatened you and my father and brother.’ Olivia shook her head. ‘I was so afraid, Kadian. I didn’t know what to do. I’m not equipped to deal with threats like that.’

  ‘I am,’ he said simply.

  ‘A fact you never shared. Besides, what are you supposed to do against an entire government agency?’

  ‘Had you told me,’ he moved forward, pulling her closer and holding her head in both hands, ‘I would have told Makios and Dairon the next time I saw them. Together, we could have arranged for the four of us to escape Earth.’

  ‘If I’d known that was a possibility,’ she sighed, her hands grabbing hold of his collar and gripping on as tightly as she could, ‘I never would have left without you.’

  Kadian closed his eyes. He leaned towards her until his forehead was resting on hers. Olivia let out a shaky breath. She felt… unburdened. Her brother and father were still in danger, but for the first time, she felt like she could handle it.

  ‘If either one of us had been honest, we could have spent the last three solars together.’ The laugh that emerged from Kadian was humourless. ‘You understand, don’t you, that I won’t let you go now?’

  Olivia’s eyes had drifted shut, now she opened them to find Kadian staring at her. ‘I know,’ she nodded, ‘I don’t want you to. I never wanted you to.’

  ‘Olivia.’ Kadian let out another sigh. ‘The only reason the human was able to attack me is because of that awful music and the fact that I was distracted by having the female I love in my arms.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, Olivia.’ Kadian pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. ‘You are my world,’ he breathed.

  Moments passed while Olivia and Kadian revelled in the feel of each other. She could feel the subtle ridges of his forehead pressed against her, the tougher texture of his skin which was cool to the touch.

  Kadian’s fingers grazed across her skin. His touch was feather-light and sent a shiver coursing through her body. It responded, coming alive in a way it only ever had around him. Like the day in the cupboard, the day in the lab, or… that night on the dance floor.

  She remembered him lying on the floor covered in blood. A magnum of champagne destroyed on the floor around them as the attacker searched for broken glass. Olivia covered him with her body, holding her hands over him, screaming for help.

  But no one had stepped forward. Only the doormen coming to their rescue had stopped him.

  Olivia’s body shivered again, this time for a different reason.

  ‘Olivia,’ he whispered. ‘Be here with me.’

  Opening her eyes, she looked into the black and gold of his. Casting thoughts of that night aside, she focused on him and anchored herself in the moment, now.

  When Kadian leaned towards her, she crossed the distance.

  His kiss was passionate, as always. But as moments passed, it became softer. His tongue probed her lips, and she parted them to allow him entry. This wasn’t the possessive, demanding Kadian of previous kisses. This was an exploration.

  Still, just like previous times, his kiss felt electric. Pin prickles of awareness rippled across her body, her lips the epicentre. Her head swam as all other sensations drifted away on a cloud. It was irrelevant. Only this kiss, the feel of Kadian against her, mattered.

  Awareness spread farther, coursing over her body in waves until she was shivering with her need for him, heat pooling in Olivia’s abdomen. Her body’s sensitivity ramped up until she was gripping onto his top, her knuckles whitening, her breathing becoming shallow and quick.

  Still, his lips caressed hers, his tongue exploring, licking, massaging against her until she was clinging to him, whimpering for more.

  ‘Olivia?’

  There was a moment of disorientation as she realised he’d broken the kiss. She moved forward, trying to recapture his lips, but he held her off.

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Kadian, I need you!’

  All at once, Kadian’s fingers were entwined in her hair. He growled, pulling her closer to him. Then thei
r lips reconnected. This time, the passion and the possession were both there. This time, Kadian had mounted a full assault on her lips, causing her whole body to throb with need.

  Kadian flipped them until Olivia was flat on her back on the large sofa. He lay over her, reclaiming her lips.

  Kadian was holding himself off her, and the gap felt maddening to Olivia. She needed to feel the weight of him on top of her. More, her core throbbed with desire, and only one part of Kadian could ease it for her. Hooking a leg around his body, Olivia urged him to settle atop her.

  ‘Olivia, there are almost two of your human feet between our heights. We will not align that way.’

  Olivia snarled in frustration. Kadian smirked, then he was laughing. For a moment, Olivia was embarrassed until she saw the gentle, loving look in his eyes.

  Stroking his knuckles down her cheek, Kadian’s lips widened to a grin even as he still chuckled. ‘It seems I need to satisfy my female.’

  Olivia’s core flared, then tightened with anticipation.

  ‘I have a fantasy about you, my Olivia. Will you help me satisfy that while I satisfy you?’

  ‘Depends what it is,’ she said, feeling a little weary.

  ‘In my fantasy, I lie on my back, you are above me and I am tasting your cunt.’ Kadian pressed his groin to hers and moved, sharpening the edge of her arousal until Olivia was writhing underneath him, chasing her pleasure. His fingers gripped her chin, and she opened her eyes to look at him. At the same time, he severed their connection.

  ‘I want to see you,’ he whispered. ‘I want to see your body. I want to pleasure you.’

  A sudden shyness overcame her. She bit her lip but nodded. She wanted this, wanted him.

  Kadian’s weight disappeared and he pulled her, helping her sit up.

  Olivia swung her legs off the sofa and stood, still feeling shy, aware of his eyes on her.

  Her back to him, Olivia steeled herself and pulled her top off, straightening it out and folding it.

  She knew she’d lost weight. Knew her edges were harder than they used to be. She was conscious of it. Conscious of the way her body had changed since the day in the cupboard.

  With the top folded and on the side table, she pulled off her pants next.

  There was no underwear, so she was bared to him now, bared to the prickling air.

  She straightened and folded her pants before turning to face him.

  Somehow, without her hearing him, Kadian had gotten naked. He lay on the sofa, his cock in hand, stroking it, a look of wonder on his face as he stared at her body. A look of unadulterated pleasure bloomed across his features before his eyes drifted closed. He sucked air in between his teeth and the slow, steady stroking of his cock ceased. Instead, he gripped it tighter as his hips bucked into his grip.

  ‘Vrok!’

  The word seemed to have been pulled from his soul in a rough, raspy voice filled with longing. His eyes opened and raked over her body. ‘You are even more beautiful than I knew,’ he whispered.

  His words instilled some confidence in her, but still, her self-awareness pricked. ‘I’ve lost weight.’ She tried to force a smile on her face. ‘But I guess I could afford to lose a few pounds.’

  Kadian was off the sofa and across the space a moment later. He gathered her in his arms, his eyes locked on hers. ‘I intend to see that weight returned. But Olivia. Whether you are smaller or bigger, you are perfect.’ His thumb moved over her lips. ‘Just… perfect.’

  Again, he was kissing her. When he broke the kiss, they’d moved across the room. Olivia was hardly aware at all, never mind of movement having taken place.

  ‘Come,’ he said, sitting down. He moved around, lying on his back, his eyes on her face. ‘Come.’

  Once again, she was exposed to him, once again feeling a little self-conscious. Still, this time, she was more aroused than ever, and if Kadian believed she was perfect, who was she to argue?

  Olivia knelt on the sofa, her body shaking from a combination of nerves and need. She leaned forward and touched her lips to his before moving over him. When she was in position, she looked down at Kadian’s partially obscured face. His gaze was locked on her pussy, and it clenched in response.

  ‘I’ve never envied the softness of human males until this moment.’ Kadian looked at her. ‘You are so soft. I don’t want to hurt you with my rougher skin.’

  Olivia bit her lip but smiled. ‘I like the feel of your skin against mine,’ she admitted. ‘When I feel like this. When you kiss me and touch me, it’s like I can feel your touch on every part of my body at once.’

  ‘Really?’ Kadian ran his hands up her thighs. It sent a shiver across her body that felt like an echo of his touch. She felt it across her abdomen and stomach. Over her breasts, as though his hands were cupping them. Her nipples puckered in response as the sensation moved over her hips and back. It shot up her spine and tingled over her scalp, neck, and face.

  Olivia gasped, her hips jerking in response.

  ‘Interesting.’ Kadian’s voice permeated the sensation that had, for too brief a time, overcome her entire body.

  He repeated the action, but this time he ran his hands over her from her thighs to her side. He cupped her breasts, thumbs moving over her sensitised skin as he plucked her nipples, grazing his fingers over them and evoking shivers that shook her to her core.

  She bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. The breath fled her lungs and she whimpered as she dragged it back in. ‘Kadian…’

  When his hands left her body, she felt their absence to her core. Opening her eyes, she looked down to see he had a smirk on his face.

  ‘I like that I have this effect on you,’ he said. ‘But now I want to see what you look like when you cum.’ Wrapping his hands around her hips, he pulled her closer. He seemed to take a few moments to examine her. Then he wrapped his arms over her thighs and used his thumbs to pry her lips apart.

  His touch, the slight sensation, tugging on her clit shot heat through her core, and she couldn’t stop the moan that slipped from her lips.

  Moments, long and torturous, passed.

  His tongue flicked over her clit, and she hissed. He licked her up her slit, then teased over her entrance.

  One hand pried her open. The other moved over her thigh once more before he was gripping her ass in his hand, kneading it as his tongue moved quicker and quicker over her.

  Every now and then, he’d pull her clit into his mouth with the slightest suction, his tongue licking around and flicking it before letting go and returning to her throbbing core.

  Small groans were coming from him, and his lips and tongue seemed to be gaining in eagerness and speed as he continued. His hand was caressing reflexively over one cheek of her rear.

  Her whole pussy was wet now. At some point, Olivia had closed her eyes and leaned forward. Her hand was on the arm behind him, her cheek laid on her hand as she flexed her hips in the slightest rhythm over his mouth and tongue.

  There was no thought or reason, just the rhythm of him dictating her movements. Her muscles spasmed and intensified the sensations he was flooding her body with.

  His hand moved from her ass and was smoothing over the skin of her thigh once again.

  ‘Olivia, let me see your face.’

  It took a moment for his words to penetrate her mind and a moment more for her to make sense of them, but when she did, she sat up and looked down into the black enclosed gold of his eyes.

  The hand that had been moving over her thigh caressed her hip, moving to her waist and back.

  ‘You are so beautiful, my mate,’ he said. Then his attention was back to her pussy. A quiet, strangled cry forced its way up her throat.

  ‘Oh, fuck! Kadian.’

  Slowly, so slowly, Kadian was teasing her body. It was like a musician, starting slow and teasing the audience, eliciting emotion from them. Kadian was eliciting emotion and sensation and more. He was pulling back the layers Olivia had built around herself. The layers sh
e’d put between them to protect him, to protect herself, because the thought of Kadian dying was worse than anything she’d ever experienced. Even now, she feared more for Kadian’s life than her safety. But Kadian wasn’t allowing her to do that anymore. Her defences were gone. She sat above him, naked and vulnerable but no longer afraid of this thing between them.

  Whatever the future held, Olivia needed Kadian. She hadn’t been able to breathe properly since that day in the lab, except for the fleeting moments they were together in the cupboard. Her chest had felt restricted, and it was only now, as she breathed the same air as him, in this place, that she was even aware of it.

  The future terrified her. The reaction her people had to him, to her, to them together terrified her. But Olivia knew she loved him. She needed him, and she would never be able to leave him again.

  Opening her eyes, Olivia saw Kadian’s were locked on her face. Her whole body was shaking, and the coiling tension inside demanded her attention. But his eyes held hers.

  As her body detonated, Olivia’s hand dropped to his face. She was moving in the slightest wave over him, and he was still teasing her, drawing out the orgasm that seemed to sizzle across every awakened nerve of her body. Still, she cupped his cheek and held his gaze as she breathed, gasped, and whimpered through it.

  Kadian’s arms tightened around her in response to her caress; a look of solemn love relaxed the determined features of his face.

  By the time her body had resumed some sense of normality, Olivia was twitching and shivering as Kadian lapped at her pussy.

  When he was done, and she was lying on the sofa next to him, Kadian pulled her into his arms.

  ‘What about you?’

  Kadian grinned. ‘We’ll get to me.’ He took her hand and placed it over his cock, stroking up and down his length a few times.

  The skin of Kadian’s cock was slightly softer than elsewhere, yet still not as soft as human skin. Olivia imagined what it would feel like against the tender skin and sensitive nerves of her pussy and felt herself clench in anticipation.

  ‘Hmm. Do you like the feel of my cock, Olivia?’

  Biting her lip, Olivia looked up at Kadian’s smirking face. This was her sweet, gentle, thoughtful scientist? He was a revelation, as a warrior, as a lover. She knew she’d never known the real Kadian at all. Or rather, the Kadian she’d known was a fragment. Now? Now she knew him, and she loved him more than ever.