Enduring (Valos of Sonhadra Book 8)

by Marina Simcoe

  “Did she teach you . . . everything else?” It was unreasonable to be jealous of a dead woman, yet the heavy feeling wouldn’t let go.

  Thinking back to last night, neither of them acted like a virgin, but I would have preferred that their skills somehow came from their own loving relationship, not from the female Creator, who used them.

  Sensing my emotions, Vlunn stared at me closely.

  “Ilena didn’t actually kiss any of us. She created us with the knowledge of how to please a woman. So that we’d be ready to meet our females.”

  “You sure are ready,” I mumbled, feeling silly for my unfounded jealousy but relieved at the same time.

  “You think so?”

  “Absolutely.” Not that I had much to compare to, but last night was beyond anything I had ever experienced or even dared to dream of.

  His face lit up, and a cocky smile spread wide across his lips.

  Men! I rolled my eyes. Humans or aliens, compliment their prowess and they’re happy.

  “Did you sleep well?” Vlunn nuzzled my ear.

  “Excellently.” I giggled as his warm breath tickled the side of my neck. “I slept like a rock.”

  “What? Me?” Rock rose up on my side, propped on an elbow. “Why?”

  I smiled at his sleepy confusion.

  “It’s a saying from back home. It means I slept well.”

  Still smiling, I sat up. With the ties of my tunic missing, the material slid off my shoulder and down my arm, exposing my breast. Rock’s eyes followed the fabric along my shoulder then my arm and stopped on my nipple, which hardened under his gaze.

  Warmth flushed my neck and face, and I made a move to adjust my tunic, but he caught my wrist.

  “Leave it.”

  My heart sped up at his commanding tone, impossible to disobey, and the heat spread from my face to the rest of my body.

  Carefully, his large hand cupped my breast and massaged it gently as his thumb rubbed my erect nipple sending a charge of arousal straight to my core, waking up every nerve in my body at once. Whatever sleepiness might have still lingered in me was now completely gone.

  “Do you like it when I touch you like this, Zoya?” His voice was gruff and low.

  I knew for Rock, it wasn’t an idle question. He really didn’t know for sure—I was the first woman he’d ever been able to touch in this way.

  “I do,” I exhaled, my breathing heavy. “I like it very much, Rock.”

  Hearing his nickname, his gaze shot to my lips, and he shifted closer to my side.

  “Last night when I . . . Did you like my mouth on your skin?”

  His question along with the hard feel of his erection at my hip flooded me with the memories of our time together. Except that Rock and I weren’t together last night. Were we? He was with me, but he was not in me.

  I lifted my hand to his face.

  “I did. I loved it—”

  His mouth was on my breast before I had a chance to finish. Kissing, sucking, pulling. His cool tongue rolled my nipple, and I slowly sank back into bed.

  “Mmm, it’s so good, Rock.” My head rolled on the fur beneath me. “I really, truly love it . . .”

  I felt a hand slide up my left arm.

  Vlunn!

  I blinked, finding my way back to reality through the fine web of pleasure enveloping me from Rock’s lips rolling my nipple.

  Could Vlunn be feeling left out, jealous because I was giving all my attention to Rock right now?

  I’d never even dated two guys at the same time, not to mention being in bed with two at once. I had no idea what the rules and expectations here were.

  I glanced up to see Vlunn smiling. The warmth of his expression rolled in a wave through me, washing off any anxiety. He lowered himself towards my face.

  “Your lips are still swollen pink from what I did to them earlier,” he whispered against my mouth and nibbled on my lower lip. “Delicious,” he hissed before covering my mouth with his in a deep, searing kiss.

  I felt a shot of slick heat between my legs from his words and reached down to wrap my fingers around Vlunn’s erection. My thumb slid along the ropy muscle running along the front of his cock.

  I’d seen it earlier, before they decided to wear clothes around me. The vertical line was the same color as the thin raised line on their noses and foreheads, a shade darker than the rest of their skin. Vlunn’s arousal made the thick muscle underneath swell and protrude. The part at the base of his shaft bulged into a thick protrusion that I realized had rubbed against my clit last night, driving me insane.

  I rubbed the bulge firmly with my thumb, making him inhale with a hiss. His reaction to my touch sent a ripple of sweet shivers through my own body.

  Rock’s hand kneaded the inside of my thigh, then pushed my tunic up. His muscular leg landed between mine, and I ground my core against it, in search of delicious friction.

  “I want to taste more of you.” Vlunn’s hot whisper hit my neck on his way down my body, before his mouth latched to my other breast.

  I grabbed the ridges on the back of their heads, one in each hand, to hold them in place as I pushed my breasts up, welcoming the sweet torment of their slick tongues and firm lips. Panting, I rocked my hips harder against Rock’s leg.

  Not enough.

  Frantic with need, I reached down and searched blindly between us until my fingers wrapped around a stone hard cock. Rock’s low growl against my breast in his mouth revealed that it was his length I slid my hand up and down, enjoying the feel of granite covered with fine velvet under my palm.

  “I need you, Zoya,” he rumbled against my skin.

  “Please . . .” I begged in a whimper, moving my legs further apart for him. He let go off my breast, which was immediately cupped by Vlunn’s cool hand, calming the feverish flesh of my nipple set on fire by Rock’s tongue and teeth.

  Rock shifted over me, and I lifted my hips impatiently.

  “Zoya,” he called, prompting me to open my eyes. The ruby-red glow of his irises cut through the heady fog of lust like a beacon as he slowly sank inside me. My body stretched around him and I exhaled in content, grateful for his blissful invasion.

  “Yes . . .” I whispered when he began to move, spreading a sweet ache of pleasure through my whole body, wave after wave.

  Vlunn groaned. “You’re driving me mad . . .” His lips travelled up to my collarbone. His hand left my breast, and I felt the frantic pumping of his hand at my hip as he fisted his shaft. Speechless from the intense pleasure building inside me from Rock’s powerful thrusts, I wrapped my left arm around Vlunn’s neck pulling him closer.

  “Zoya,” Rock rasped out. “Say my name.”

  I rolled my head on the fur.

  “I-I can’t—”

  “Rock, that’s my name. Say it, Zoya.” He ground his teeth, gliding in and out of me with increasing speed.

  Tender affection for him warmed my heart for accepting the nickname I gave him.

  Still holding Vlunn close with my left arm, I lifted my right hand to Rock’s face and cupped his cheek.

  “Rock,” I whispered. “My Rock.”

  He roared, the intensity in his scarlet eyes setting me on fire.

  Vlunn growled into my neck and rolled onto his back, thrusting his hips up into his hand as the release shot out of him in tight, creamy streams.

  The sight of him pushed me over the edge too. Rock’s gaze trapped mine as soon as my breath caught and the scream of my own orgasm left my parted lips. His guttural roar grew louder and then broke into a series of sharp pulsing exhales as his climax ripped through him in powerful spasms, thrusting his hips into me again and again, reaping the last shudders out of me.

  “God . . . Rock . . .” Speechless, I cupped the back of his neck and pulled him down to me. Vlunn snuggled to my side, and I wrapped my other arm around his neck too.

  My chest heaved with heavy breaths, my skin felt flushed and feverish, and I enjoyed the cool sensation of their bodies pres
sed to mine, even as my heart bathed in the warmth of their affection.

  My valos. My men.

  Chapter 16

  The following day, we had to skip our outing. Rock was reluctant to leave Vlunn alone when he didn’t get out of bed, confessing that his joints felt stiff. My own body also felt like it had been hit by a train after the insatiable lovemaking, and I didn’t mind having another relaxing day in our cozy cave. Rock brought some meat from the cold cave, and I made breakfast for all of us, letting Vlunn rest.

  The next morning, Rock woke me up way before sunrise. He made me eat a few strips of meat, which he had cooked on the fire before I got up.

  “We should make it to the forest before the sun heats up the valley.” He packed a bag with more cooked meat and some water in a diamond bottle for me.

  After Vlunn’s demonstration of turning stones into gems, I realized that their dishes and utensils were not made of glass or crystal. They had been carved from regular rocks, polished and then converted into diamonds.

  Valos did it for practical reasons—diamond was easy to clean and didn’t break, but it blew my mind. Every time I used a knife or washed a bowl, I wondered how many huge engagement rings could be made from each utilitarian piece.

  Vlunn woke up a few minutes after me, but stayed in bed until it was time for us to leave. When he did get up to see us off, I noticed that he was exceptionally slow in his movements.

  “How are you feeling, honey? Still stiff?”

  “I’m fine.” The hug he gave me was as strong as ever, and his goodbye kiss was warm and passionate. “Have fun.” He rubbed my nose with his, holding me in his arms. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Rock’s expression was rather gloomy when he said his own goodbye to Vlunn. In their customary way, they clasped each other’s forearms and pressed their foreheads together. I saw Rock’s body tense when he shut his eyes and held on to Vlunn a little longer than normal.

  “We’ll be back soon.” Rock’s voice was rough.

  “I’ll be waiting,” Vlunn replied softly.

  THE SMALL BAG WITH my lunch over Rock’s shoulder and a sharp diamond knife at my hip was all we brought along on our trip. Still, this was more than Rock usually had with him when going hunting alone.

  Normally, he didn’t bother bringing a lunch or even weapons. He wore no clothes and killed with his bare hands. If he got hungry, he ate what he killed. His hunting was as simple and primitive as it could get. It would have been unbelievable, if I hadn’t seen him fell the brualdak with one blow to its head. Rock’s body was his most effective weapon—he had no need for any other.

  The sun was still deep below the horizon when we left the cave, and the air was fresh but comfortably warm. I wore a pair of pants, a short-sleeved tunic, and the soft boots that Rock had resized for me.

  Rock had only a white loincloth on. Wrapped around his trim hips, it was designed to fall off without ripping if he took his fighting form.

  He offered to carry me right away, but I refused. It felt good to be able to use my own legs again. We had a long day ahead of us and had to cross the vast rocky valley twice on our way to and from the forest. I wasn’t sure how far I would make it, but I was determined to walk on my own for as long as I could.

  He matched his steps to mine, which I realized slowed us down. I felt safe with Rock, but a little uneasy. Being alone with him lacked the familiarity I enjoyed with Vlunn. Even after we had sex, Rock still remained a bit of a mystery to me, leaving me unsure of how to behave around him, especially, without Vlunn’s easy smile to melt any tension away.

  From the corner of my eye, I watched Rock’s stern profile, as we marched in complete silence, hoping it wasn’t me with my slow legs that made him upset.

  After we had walked for a while, the ridge of the mountains behind us had gotten smaller and the dark line of the forest in font of us had grown wider. I couldn’t stand the silence anymore.

  “Rock, I’m sorry you’re stuck with me today—”

  He stopped suddenly and turned to face me.

  “What?” His eyes glimmered fire-red in the rising sun, and he looked like he had just noticed me walking beside him.

  “I—I didn’t mean to force you to take me along. If you’d rather I stayed—”

  “Zoya.” He interrupted me and unexpectedly drew me into a firm embrace. His chest heaved with a deep sigh, and he buried his face in my hair.

  Confused, I didn’t know what to say. He definitely was troubled by something, but it didn’t look like I was the reason for his gloomy mood. It appeared he could use some comforting, though.

  Tentatively, I raised my hands and ran them along his back, stroking him lightly. He growled at my touch, and his arms squeezed me tighter.

  One hand grabbed the back of my head, holding it in place as he left a line of hot hungry kisses up the side of my neck. His other hand fumbled with the fabric of my tunic at my back.

  “These clothes,” he groaned in frustration. His hand finally found the hem of my tunic and slid past the waistband, inside my pants. I gasped as his stone-cold hand touched my warm skin.

  “The clothes only make me want you more,” he gritted through clenched teeth, shoving me against the closest boulder. “I can’t stop thinking about everything you hide under them.”

  His mouth found mine, swallowing my noise of surprise. His wide chest pushed me into the hard surface at my back, and his knee parted my legs.

  Here? Now?

  Distorted fragments of thoughts flew through my mind like a flock of birds spooked by a predator. Then all I could think of were his hungry lips on mine, his tongue dancing with mine, the tough skin of his hands on my thighs as he shoved my pants down, out of the way.

  Knocked off my feet by the sudden desperate passion in him, all I could do was to cling to his shoulders, as his forceful hands and ravenous kisses quickly made me lose any grip on reality.

  This time there were no slow tingles of buildup. The lust hit me all at once with a powerful flash of liquid heat. My heart thundered, ready to jump out of my chest. I hooked my leg around his hips and ground my core against his rock-hard erection.

  “More . . .” I moaned, and he growled in my neck in response.

  His hand dipped between us, and I gasped at the sensation of his chilly fingers parting my folds. His cool touch against my heat was invigorating, waking every single nerve inside me. One thick finger circled my opening, and I rocked my hips against his hand, pushing his finger in. I exhaled with the immediate relief at the sensation of being filled, but it was not enough.

  “In.” I panted. “Rock . . . I want you inside me. Now.”

  He grunted low, and instead of his finger, I felt his massive cock slide into me with one powerful thrust. My breath caught from the invasion. I was blinded by the rapture of having him inside me.

  “Did I hurt you?” He tensed.

  “A little.”

  His size, combined with my insane eagerness made my inner muscles ache as they stretched around his unyielding girth. The pain quickly turned into tingles of pleasure, however, and an intense desire for more.

  “Don’t,” I stopped him when he made a move to withdraw. I firmly wrapped both of my legs around his hips to hold him in place. “I need you.”

  More of him. More of his frenzied hunger for me.

  He growled at my ear, “By Creator, Zoya. I need you too.” And drove forward again, all the way in. I squeezed my thighs on both sides of his strong hips and rolled my head on the hard stone behind me.

  His hands gripped the cliff edge above my head as he rutted into me with abandon. He muffled his snarls by biting down on my shoulder, as his hips pistoned in and out of me, fast and furious. Pinned in place, I rode the force of his powerful thrusts.

  Coaxed by the firm pressure of the corded bulge at the base of his cock, the orgasm hit me fiercely, hot and sharp. Rock threw his head back with a deafening roar as soon as my hips rolled in pleasure, and his own climax ripped though him
.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck as soon as he dropped his head to my shoulder, spent. The punishing force of the way he took me astonished and worried me. Whatever had bothered him was in me now. His hurt coursed through me. Even as I didn’t understand it, it pained me.

  I slid my hands along the rough skin on the back of his head.

  “What is it, Rock?”

  Unexpectedly, I felt much closer to him. Whatever distance had remained between us, whatever awkwardness had still lingered there, had been erased completely.

  “What’s bothering you?”

  He rolled his forehead on my shoulder, refusing to look at me.

  “We need to keep going,” he said finally.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “We’re running out of time, and I have so much to show you.”

  Running out of time? The sun was rising higher from behind the treetops, but it was still early. Even at my slow pace, we should still have enough time to make it to the woods before it got too hot in the valley.

  “It’s still early enough. What’s going on, darling? Please tell me.” I stroked the side of his face soothingly. He turned into my touch and kissed the palm of my hand.

  “Not now,” he insisted softly and set me down. “We should go.”

  “When then?” I pulled my pants up and smoothed my tunic.

  “Let’s go.” Rock laced his fingers with mine and moved towards the forest, leaving me no choice but to follow.

  Chapter 17

  The trees around us got thicker and taller the deeper we advanced into the forest. I stayed as close to Rock as possible, remembering the last time I was here, alone, sick and scared.

  I could barely recognize it as the same forest, though. Without the haze of the killer headache, the thirst, and the hunger of that day, I could see everything much more clearly. Now I could fully appreciate the alien landscape of Sonhadra.

  The air surrounding us was filled with animal sounds, some clear enough for me to understand: run, hide, kill, food. Some were too low or too distant for me to catch their meaning.