Game On Askole (Coletti Warlords)

by Gail Koger

  “Your Aunt Tess is one of a kind,” Tihar said, a note of amazement in his voice as he watched Musa land on a large pillow and offer KeeKee the eyeball.

  “That she is.” I removed my underwear and stepped into the shower. “Which icon do I push?”

  “The blue one. Be sure to close your eyes.”

  I pushed it and raised my arms. The door closed, and a thousand nozzles appeared. I squeezed my eyes shut. An instant later, hot jets of stinging liquid hit me. Sonovabitch! That smarted. The barrage stopped abruptly. Clang. Hell’s tornado spun around me, making it hard to breathe. I was about to run for my life, when it stopped. “Oh, thank God.”

  “You can come out now.”

  My eyes shot open. “That’s a torture chamber.”

  “Once your scales come in, you will find it stimulating.”

  My scales? I ran a hand over my arm. My skin didn’t feel any different. I glanced up at Tihar. Why was he grinning like a loon? “What?”

  He held up the mirror.

  “Holy shit!” My hair literally stood on end. It looked like I had put my finger in an electrical socket. “Do you have a comb?”

  “Askole have no need for combs.”

  I groaned. “I look like Frankenstein’s bride.”

  Tihar ran his fingers across my scalp as if he was looking for critters.

  “Looking for bugs?”

  “No, I was checking for tentacle buds.”

  My stomach clenched. “Did you find any?”

  “I did not.” He sounded disappointed.

  “You don’t like my hair?”

  Tihar picked me up, and his mouth covered mine, urgent and greedy. “Never forget, you are perfect.”

  I kissed him back. Yum. Tihar still tasted like chocolate-covered pineapple. “Even without tentacles and scales? And your father does think I’m child-sized and weak.”

  He placed a hand on my chest. “I chose you for your warrior’s heart. Your willingness to keep fighting, to never accept defeat. You are intelligent, loyal, and would die to keep your family safe.”

  I gaped at him in astonishment. His assessment was dead on. “And my psychic abilities?”

  “Are a welcome bonus.”

  “You, babe, are honest, fair, and worthy of my respect. You have never let me down, and you would never abandon me. When I needed help, you were there. Your empathy and moral code drove you to save Musa. While other Askole warriors failed to stand up to Chimer, you didn’t.”

  His tongue flicked my nose. “One look at Chimer’s trophy room, and I knew I would win.”

  “A pitiful menagerie of monsters?”

  “He didn’t have a Gourman in his collection.” Tihar’s tentacles nipped at my breasts, sending tiny explosions of pleasure through me. He loosened his grip until I could feel his enormous erection poking my pussy. “Ready to be educated in the art of a thousand delights?”

  A wicked smile curled my mouth. Sam had taught me a way to bring a man to knees without ever physically touching him. I cradled Tihar’s face between my palms. “Using just my mind, I’m going to show you Earth’s version of a thousand delights. I’m going to give you the blowjob of the century.”

  “Blowjob?”

  I quickly scanned for kids. Yay! They were sleeping in a trophy stand. “You’ve never heard of a blowjob?” Color me amazed.

  “No.”

  “You’re in for a treat.” I wrapped a mental hand around his penis and squeezed.

  Tihar’s eyes widened in surprise, and his tentacles stood out from his head.

  Using my psychic talents, I stroked his long, hard length faster and faster while simultaneously licking his testicles like they were my favorite chocolate ice cream. Following Sam’s directions, I worked him into a frenzy by simply swirling the tip of my psychic tongue around his scrotum.

  Tihar threw his head back and howled.

  For the pièce de résistance, I simulated ramming the tip of his dick into the roof of my mouth and gently manhandled his balls.

  Shazam! Tihar’s body bowed and shook violently as I launched him into an orgasmic tsunami. His tentacles turned bright red, wiggled frantically, and shot straight out from his head.

  Were his eyes crossed? Kind of looked like it. God, had I maimed him?

  For the longest time, Tihar stared blankly as tremors continued to shake his body. His tentacles went limp.

  Had I put him into sensory overload? Or a sex coma? I patted his face. “Hello? Anyone home? Gonna add blowjobs to your thousand delights?”

  “Yes.” His voice was a harsh whisper. “Who taught you that?”

  “My cousin Sam. You met her, remember?”

  “Yes, Rho took her.” Tihar’s tentacles moved restlessly.

  Whew! His eyes were back to normal. “Sam said she learned the technique from a holy woman in India.”

  “I cannot believe a holy woman would know of such things.”

  I shrugged. “You could be right. Personally, I think Sam picked up that little trick from Jed, her low-down snake of an ex-boyfriend, along with a bad case of genital herpes. He was a big-time man-whore.”

  “A man-whore?”

  “Yep, not only did she catch Jed in bed with another woman, he betrayed her to the Coletti. Sam blew up his prized ’68 canary-yellow Mustang. Sam’s got a nasty, vengeful streak, and so do I. If I catch you in bed with another woman, I’ll cut your pecker off.”

  Tihar winced. “You are my chosen. No female can replace you.”

  “Good answer.” My hair abruptly fell around my shoulders. Oh, thank God. I was afraid it might be stuck that way forever.

  “Are all Jones females this fierce?”

  “Babe, we’re all crazier than a pack of June bugs.”

  “I will notify my father.”

  My stomach lurched. “Why would you want to do that?”

  “Warriors like yourself will breed strong sons.”

  Oh. Crap. What had I done? “You want me for a breeder?”

  “I hope to have children with you, but you are and always will be my soul mate. Together we will journey through life and build our dynasty.”

  It was at that moment I fell in love with Tihar. He was my partner and soul mate. Did I want to have his children and build a dynasty with him? You betcha. I brushed my mouth over his. “All my life, I have been waiting for you. I would have found you even if it took a hundred lifetimes, if I had to search a hundred worlds. I would find you and love you to the end of time.”

  “You are my heart’s destiny.” He took my lips with a devastating blend of hunger and tenderness.

  Lucky me. My big, scary Askole warrior was a romantic.

  Tihar ran the tips of his claws up my sides, making my entire body shiver. “I am going to make you burn hotter than a supernova.”

  “The master of a thousand delights is all talk and no action.”

  “You challenge me?”

  With my mind, I licked his penis. “Are you up to the task?”

  “I accept your challenge. I am the master of seduction,” Tihar rumbled, every inch a hunter intent on taking absolute possession.

  “Bring it.”

  Tihar caught my chin in his hand, and the hot friction of his mouth had me vibrating with pure, undiluted need. He was a fever in my blood. I burned for him. He was everywhere, touching my mind, my body. Hooboy! The Coletti weren’t the only experts in psychic sex.

  Whoosh! My back abruptly hit the thick pile of furs. Tihar’s callused palms chafed my nipples. Sheer, utter ecstasy blazed straight to my clit. “Oh my God.”

  Tihar covered my stomach with kisses. “You taste like sweet Dufour ale.”

  “And you, my love, taste like dark chocolate.”

  My Askole rubbed his rough cheek against my cleft while his tentacles petted my damp curls. “So soft.”

  My internal muscles quivered, and my skin was hypersensitive to every stroke, every caress of his tentacles. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.

  “
I want to sample your juices.” Tihar spread my thighs, and his forked tongue tasted me. He licked, flicked, and sucked my nubbin, hitting sensitive nerves and creating an exquisite torment almost too much to bear. “Holy Mother of God, I can’t. You’re gonna kill me.”

  “My lady warrior, our journey has not even begun.” Tihar pressed his tongue deep into my pussy and dragged it upward over my swollen clit again and again and again.

  I writhed, squirmed, and moaned. Raw want flooded me. “Please, Tihar. I need you inside me. Now.”

  “Soon. I must prepare you first.” He thrust two long fingers inside me, stretching me, filling me. I arched against him, rubbing my breasts against his chest. I met him kiss for kiss. Caress for caress. Tihar’s thoughts became my thoughts. His love for me would never die. I had found the other half of my heart.

  Tihar’s tentacles suddenly slithered up my channel, nipping me. My pussy clenched, and waves of orgasm rolled over me, leaving me trembling helplessly.

  With one lightning-fast movement, Tihar buried himself deep inside me. My channel clamped around his thick cock. “You’re too fucking big.”

  “You will take every inch of me.” He flexed his hips, and I gasped as the delicious slide of his flesh sent pleasure sizzling through me. He withdrew and drove forward with a steady rhythm.

  An insane pressure built between my legs, driving me wild. Tihar bit my neck. I screamed as a brain-jelling climax hit. I couldn’t move as spasm after spasm shook me.

  “Me save Momma Sarah. Me bite. They die.” KeeKee hopped on the bed and scampered across the fur. “Where bad men?”

  Musa flew around the room, bellowing a challenge.

  “No bad men. Momma Sarah screams when she is petted.” Tihar held out an arm. “Musa, come.” She obediently landed on his forearm and sniffed him as if searching for any injuries.

  “No hurt?”

  “Momma Sarah is not hurt,” Tihar reassured her.

  “Nope. I’m good. Really good.” My body was limp, boneless, and sated.

  KeeKee crawled up to sit on my nose. “Tihar pet you wrong?”

  I rubbed her head. “No, not at all.” He could rock my boat any day.

  Tihar stiffened in alarm and bolted from the bed.

  Musa took flight and squawked loudly.

  With one touch, Tihar’s battle armor covered him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “My father needs me at the western front. The rebels have attacked Jinjira, and ten thousand civilians have already been killed.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Nothing. We are assembling our war council.” Tihar pointed to a small black suitcase sitting in the corner. “Detja left appropriate clothing and grooming items for you.”

  “How unexpected of her.” I scrambled out of bed and grabbed the bag. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll go with you.”

  “Females are not permitted at the war council. Wait here. I will return for you, my love.” Tihar dropped a hard kiss on my mouth and zoomed out the doors.

  “Well, that’s just stupid.” I opened the bag and found a comb, clean underwear, a purple tunic, leggings, and boots.

  Musa landed on the bed and jabbered at me.

  “She wants go with Daddy Tihar,” KeeKee translated.

  “Me too.” I pulled on the tunic and leggings. Crappy rules were made to be broken.

  “Your fur look funny.”

  A quick glance in the mirror, and I groaned. The trapped-in-a-cyclone look was back. I quickly combed and braided my hair. “Let’s go.”

  KeeKee scrambled up my body and settled on my head. Musa landed on my right shoulder.

  Without any warning, a glittering blue light engulfed us.

  The transporter beam dumped us on the Warlord’s empty patio. “What the hell?”

  “No like glitter light,” KeeKee whined.

  “Tihar! What the hell is going on?”

  “War.”

  “Don’t you dare leave me behind.”

  I felt the brush of Tihar’s mind like fingertips stroking my skin. “It is necessary.” Our link broke.

  “Wait! Necessary, my ass. For God’s sake, talk to me.”

  Detja stepped out of a doorway. She looked as surprised as I was. “What are you doing here?”

  “Damn good question.” Panic whirled through me. No matter how hard I tried to connect with Tihar, I couldn’t find his familiar aura. It was almost as if he no longer existed. “My psychic link with Tihar is gone.”

  Detja tapped her communications bracelet and frowned. “The entire Askole battle fleet has left Tanith’s airspace. They aren’t answering our hails.”

  Musa let out a high-pitched cry and flew off.

  “Why Daddy Tihar leave?” KeeKee clutched my neck.

  “To stop the rebel attack on Jinjira.” Anger vied with the devastating sensation of loss. I ached for Tihar. Our mental connection was as necessary as breathing. Did he realize what he had done to me? A harsh laugh broke from me. “One minute everything was perfect, and then I get booted off Tihar’s ship. I’m a warrior, not a helpless female. Why doesn’t he understand that?”

  “Eat.” Detja held out a piece of chocolate. “Battle-crazed males are driven to find and kill the enemy. Eventually, reason returns. Then you will have your answer.”

  PART TWO

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ten days had passed, and I still didn’t have an answer. Tihar’s silence was frightening. Zarek said Jinjira had been destroyed and a fierce battle raged at the western front. I kept telling myself once the war was over, Tihar would return for me.

  Poor Musa missed her daddy as much as I did. With KeeKee along for the ride, she emitted high-pitched cries as she flew around the cavern looking for Tihar.

  Detja came up with a great suggestion. Tanith had a pest problem. She wanted Aunt Tess to train Musa to catch and kill the Tanezumi, ratlike creatures that infested the underground cities. My aunt loved the idea, and Musa seemed to enjoy hunting down the varmints. KeeKee had a good time zapping them with web balls.

  While I was stuck in limbo, my body began to change. Dark gray scales formed on my skin, but no buds or tentacles had appeared, yet. In the speed department, I wasn’t superhero fast, but a four-minute mile was a piece of cake.

  Life moved on without me. Zandar, the gaunt Coletti that turned the Legionnaires into chop suey, claimed Sam. She soon found out that once a warlord had chosen and marked you, there was no escape. Not that my cousin didn’t try. Poor Zandar had his hands full keeping her in line and rebuilding his home planet of Sobek.

  Voss finally found his mate, and yep, she was a Jones. Zoey ran circles around the Battle Commander and unleashed her own brand of whoop-ass to discourage his pursuit. My favorite was the skunk perfume. Warlords were persistent buggers, and he finally corralled her. Zoey loved the bad-tempered jerk. Go figure.

  My cousins and Uncle Derek decided the best way to fight the Tai-Kok was to become Coletti. Uncle Derek returned to Earth to help Uncle Saul find the traitors taking down our defense systems. Quinn, Jake, Caleb, and Ethan were in the Coletti version of boot camp.

  Uncle Saul rescued Casey from an island in the South Pacific and put her to work in his office. To everyone’s surprise, Hothar, Voss’s nephew, and Casey became best friends. In the Jones tradition, Casey managed to stir things up. General Tasker was not pleased. Like we cared.

  The biggest shocker was Hank Benson of Earth First was our long-lost cousin Bree’s adopted father. Even more amazing, Bree’s dead sperm donor had been a Coletti warlord who’d crashed-landed on our planet. And the ultimate stunner? Bree was the Overlord’s granddaughter. Small universe.

  Jaylan, Zarek’s best hunter, had been sent to Earth to eliminate Earth First. Luckily, after Bree zapped him with a cattle prod, Jaylan decided she would make the perfect mate, and the chase was on.

  Bree and Jaylan’s bonding ceremony was a complete disaster. Before the ritual could be completed, a very pregnant Kaylee
was kidnapped by the Shani Queen Mother, a psychotic alien bent on conquering the universe. I wasn’t permitted to leave Tanith and missed all the excitement.

  Kaylee described in minute detail how she was forced to give birth, alone, in the middle of a battle with only a baby Tabor for help. Her son, Thor, was adorable and very unique. He had abilities only a much older child would have. Considering how powerful his parents were, I wasn’t surprised. The Queen Mother? She died like she lived. Grotesquely.

  Just when I thought Tihar had forgotten he had a mate, I would feel him in my head, and for a moment, the aching emptiness would vanish. He needed me as badly as I needed him, but something was stopping him from contacting me for more than a minute. Before I could yell at him for leaving me, the link would vanish. It made me madder than a rattlesnake at a Thai wedding.

  Going nuts with boredom, frustration, and anger, I gave my guards the slip and borrowed a shuttlecraft for a joyride around Tanith. I figured if I flew low enough, the Coletti version of radar wouldn’t pick me up.

  Let’s just say the Overlord was not amused. He invaded my mind, tore me a new one, and gave me the knowledge on how to fly a Talon fighter, one awesome piece of spacecraft. To say I was grateful was an understatement. I wanted to hug the Overlord, but damn, he was one scary dude. I settled for a salute.

  Zarek assigned me to the War Hawks combat wing. It was our job to escort freighters from the market world of Illowra to Tanith and back. Fighting off pirate attacks was a full-time job. By the time I finished my run, all I wanted to do was sleep.

  That was when I started getting brief midnight visits from Tihar. A kiss. A big hand caressing my body. The sensation of being stroked with a feather sent goose bumps skittering over my skin. A nibble on that special spot behind my ear. A hot tongue licking my clit. It was driving me nuts. I wanted all of him.

  One night a loud boom jerked me out of a deep sleep, and something slammed into me. Agony roiled through my body as jagged pieces of metal and plasticrete pelted me. Sonovabitch. That hurt. A lot. I frantically surveyed my room. What in the hell was going on? Was Tanith under attack?

  Then it hit me. Tihar! It was his pain. He was injured and had instinctively connected with me. In his scrambled brain, I could pick up random thoughts. Bomb. Base under attack. Shields down.