Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1)

by Stephanie West

  "Bastard! I'll teach you to steal me!"

  Hope noticed out of the corner of her eye the hull of a ship as it shimmered into view exposing a doorway. This was not good. She couldn't even move, let alone fight to get away.

  3 A Nest of Vipers

  Viper

  The moment Viper touched Lepus and placed his lips upon her hand a curious heat spread through his body. He wanted to linger and explore more of her soft pale pink flesh but he couldn't. They were no longer safe here.

  Viper's venom worked fast. He cringed as he saw the accusation and betrayal in her eyes.

  "It's all for your safety and survival Lepus." Viper mumbled as he ran through the undergrowth.

  He could smell her anger. But more disturbing was how her chemical emotions sunk into his skin, now that he held her close, riling his own emotions. It was ten times more intense than it had before when he just scented her.

  Viper wanted to stop and fight the threat that made her angry and afraid, but he was the perceived threat.

  Viper repressed a growl. He could smell his brethren nearby, and illogically it made him wary. Viper made it to the ship and stepped through the port hesitantly. The others looked at him strangely as he cradled Lepus against his chest.

  "Why didn't you tranq her before bringing her in? Here I have a unit." Canebrake came towards Lepus.

  "Stop!" Viper growled a little more aggressively than intended. "I don't plan on putting her with the others." He stated with a rumble. The male had best back up!

  "But..."

  "She comes with me!" Viper snarled.

  "Dammit I growled again." Viper berated himself.

  Little Lepus' pheromones were overwhelming his usual calm. What was wrong with him? Did these human females have some sort of innate defense mechanism that they used to overwhelm their attackers when threatened? Maybe he should've put her with the others.

  "So you found a friend." Ophidian greeted Viper.

  Viper shifted pulling Lepus closer against his chest. He couldn't seem to help himself despite what logic told him he should do.

  "Yes. I'll let you know if I need assistance." Viper murmured as he stalked towards his quarters.

  Viper didn't have a clue what he was doing, he just needed to get Lepus away from the other males that were staring at her too intently and standing too close for comfort.

  Viper stepped into his private suite and laid Lepus on the bed. Although he was glad his meeting with the ambassadors was postponed till tomorrow, he still needed to bathe after running around a foreign forest. That would give him time to wrap his head around what he was doing and how he'd deal with Lepus.

  "What in Holy Kadru was I thinking!" Viper mumbled as he looked down at the little human.

  Viper noticed Lepus' round wide-eyed stare. She was clearly angry and fearful. Viper felt as if her gaze was trying to burn a hole into his skull. Thankfully this species didn't possess that skill.

  "I really should've tranq'd her so at least we could implant a translator. It would have probably been easier." Viper grumbled as he sat down beside her on the bed.

  He almost ran his hand across her pink cheek but stopped. The compulsion to touch her again was so strong he had to grip his knees to resist.

  "I am sorry for all of this." Viper gestured to their surroundings "But do not fear little one, all will be well I promise." And it was a promise he meant to keep. No harm would come to Lepus, not from the Morbo or any of the males on his ship.

  Viper walked into the bathing chamber but kept the port open that way he could scent if the female became ill or distressed.

  "Do I want a water or sand bath?"

  The warm sand would be calming. He felt on edge and clearly needed to relax. The sand cascaded into the large basin, like a waterfall, beckoning him. Viper stripped off his pants, waded in, and stood beneath the flow.

  Hope

  There were at least a dozen creatures similar to Drogo on the alien spaceship as they boarded. The aliens ranged in color from an earthy yellow brown to black. Their features varied slightly, longer dreads on some, or a larger nose on another, much the way humans differed.

  The way Drogo growled at his kinsmen made Hope fearful that this was an aggressive species.

  "Of course they're aggressive! They've got fangs, built in knives in their forearms and they're built like fucking tanks. What's more they're camouflaged. I doubt that's to hide in fear of predators. Not to mention the knock-out venom." Hope mentally yelled at herself.

  He hadn't seemed hostile earlier.

  "Of course he didn't want you to run screaming into the forest. As if you would've made it far."

  As Drogo moved through the vessel, another horrific thought struck her.

  "Oh GOD I hope they don't dissect me while I'm fully conscious. Breathe deep, be calm, just watch and wait." Hope panicked silently, wondering what creepy alien medical lab would be her final resting place.

  The inside of the ship was an earthy pale brown much like the aliens. She noticed numerous doors and intersecting hallways as Drogo walked down a long corridors. The ship seemed impossibly large for something hidden amongst the trees.

  Hope couldn't help but hold her breath as Drogo came to a door, pressed his hand to the panel and entered. Except what greeted her wasn't what she imagined an alien lab or some chamber of horrors might look like. It wasn't sterile with odd machines. There was a large plush platform bed along one wall, with a table, and chairs along another. Drogo brought her to a bedroom.

  Hope's panic eased but only marginally.

  Drogo laid her on the large bed and she sunk into the surface. It felt almost like an over stuffed bean bag or really soft memory foam.

  It was such a relief this room wasn't some dissection lab, but then again why was she here?

  Hope looked back at Drogo as he sat beside her. His hand rose and almost brushed her cheek but then stopped. Hope flinched and it must have reflected in her eyes.

  He spoke, gesturing to the room. His deep rumbling voice was frightening, but his face and eyes didn't appear to be menacing. If anything he looked confused.

  "Join the club asshole!" Hope thought since she couldn't speak or move.

  At least his freaky bite hadn't caused her to stop breathing. It made her tingle allover which was as unsettling as being paralyzed.

  From his gesture Hope assumed he planned to keep her in this room, but for what purpose? She stared after Drogo as he got up, watching his every move, trying to ascertain just what he intended to do with her. The alien man stepped over to one of the paneled walls and opened what appeared to be a closet. He pulled off a few tools that had been strapped to his back and placed them in a drawer, then walked into a room that had an odd pool which looked more like a sandbox.

  With Drogo occupied in the other room now would be a good time to run for it.

  "When is this damn venom going to wear off?" Hope strained trying to wiggle her fingers and toes. They twitched but nothing more. "I just needed to wait till Drogo is distracted and I'll make my move. Of course I have to physically be able to move first." Hope grumbled in her head.

  Despite her fear, Hope kept her wits about her enough to memorize how they got to this room. Second right, fourth left. She stared blindly off as she replayed the mental image of the ship. It was good to keep her mind occupied otherwise she'd freak out.

  A shocking realization filtered into Hope's brain and she blinked as she stared into the other room.

  "Holy Shit Drogo's naked!"

  The man's muscular ass flexed as he stepped into the sand pool. All along his spine were nodules the size of coins. She wondered if they were extensions of his vertebrae. The impressive muscles of his broad shoulders and back likely needed more surface area to attach to.

  Hope found herself riveted to the sight of his nudity as he stood beneath the shower of sand. She couldn't help but compare him to the men she'd seen. When Drogo turned to face her, his head was tipped back so he could bathe his
strange hair. The rugged planes of his broad chest put most body builders to shame but didn't look out of proportion on his massive frame. She'd felt that rock-hard chest as he carried her. Drogo's arms were corded with muscles that rippled as he rubbed the sand over his bronzed flesh. He'd gripped her in those impressive arms as he ran to the ship. He hadn't even gotten out of breath.

  Her eyes drifted lower.

  Below his washboard stomach there was a vee shaped ridge that coincided with his hip muscles, it pointed directly at his cock.

  "Holy Shit."

  Drogo was packing a very impressive tool. It hung heavy between his large thighs. She couldn't really tell but it looked like there were ridges beneath the skin running along his shaft.

  "Crap he's ribbed for her pleasure! Lucky alien ladies."

  She shouldn't be ogling him. Dirty alien sex should be the last thing on her mind. She was incapable of moving, Drogo could easily have his wicked way with her. Why else did he bring her to his bedroom?

  "Alright Hope get your mind out of the gutter!"

  Too late, she felt warm and tingly all over and it had nothing to do with the drug in her system, though it didn't help. It had been way too long since she'd had sex.

  "I could practically join the born again virgins."

  It was no wonder her sex starved body got excited at the first naked man it witnessed in ages. Apparently he didn't even have to be human to get her motor revved.

  "Is it just me or does he look larger and stiffer than he was a moment ago?"

  This is so not good. Hope started to get a bad feeling about why Drogo had brought her to his bedroom.

  Viper

  Viper let the heat seep into him as the sand poured over his back. It had been a long day. The sand was lightly fragranced with the essence from the native Anguis pinion tree, but that's not what he smelled now.

  Lepus' musky scent almost knocked Viper over. He took a deep breath in and his head reeled. There was something intoxicating and deeply erotic about her smell. Viper wanted to burrow his nose into her flesh till he found the source of that seductive perfume.

  Viper wasn't new to sex, he'd mounted his fair share of females. But beyond the distinctive feminine hormone common to most species, Lepus smelled nothing like Anguis women. She smelled exotic, the scent burrowing into him, calling forth the beast within.

  Viper's eyes instantly drifted to the sight of her laid out on his bed, like an offering. Those lush round hips and breasts were made for sex. He imagined what it would be like to bend her over, grip her waist, and then sink into her. Viper didn't even know if their anatomy was compatible but he desperately wanted to find out.

  "This is a bad idea. That small female is rapidly leading to my undoing." Viper groaned to himself.

  He could barely keep his shaft from turning rock hard.

  Lepus watched him with those liquid blue eyes as he emerged from the sand pool. Viper couldn't help but flaunt a little more than necessary as he stepped into the dryer to blow off any lingering grit. He moved slowly letting her take in the sight of his body, since she was under the effects of his venom and couldn't shyly turn away, like females tended to do at the sight of a naked male.

  Her sweet musky perfume doubled and Viper couldn't help the rakish grin that spread across his face as he leaned back in the dryer, flexing his posterior as he ran his hands through his hair.

  "That's right female. This is what a male should look like. Not the puny males your species produces." Viper couldn't help but boast.

  "What is wrong with me." Viper groaned.

  Viper pulled on the short pants, that were presently too tight, and attempted to calm his wayward thoughts. If he didn't get it together, he was going to do something stupid.

  "Why does she affect me this way?"

  Viper finally walked back into the bedroom and sat on the bed beside her. He hesitated then lifted her hand and examined the scratch left by his fang. He was relieved it looked okay.

  Just barely touching her again had him riled. He held her delicate hand soaking up the sensation as he looked her over. Satisfied there were no scratches or abrasions from their run through the forest, Viper looked down at her dainty feet. Lepus' foot coverings looked uncomfortable and constricting. His people preferred to go without.

  "I'm going to take these off while you lay here. They can't be comfortable." At least that was the excuse Viper used to remove them.

  Viper lifted her foot and untied the shoe pulling it free then leaned over her to do the other. Her breathing increased and so did her scent. Lepus' sweet perfume was strongest at the apex of her thighs. Viper really wanted to strip off her pants to see what hid beneath. His tongue itched, and he tasted a distinctive spicy flavor. The realization was like a bucket of cold water.

  "SHIT! This is not fucking possible!" Viper growled and Lepus' eyes widened.

  "Shit sorry." Viper held up his hands to indicate he meant no harm as he backed off the bed and walked over to his comm-unit. Viper tapped aggressively into the thing.

  "Ophidian I need food for the human female and I need to talk to you now!" Viper stated a bit more tersely than intended.

  Hope

  Drogo's touch was so warm as he examined the small nick on her hand. He was breathing deeply as his eyes roamed her body.

  It was one thing to admire his body from afar but now he was touching her. Hope warily stared back as he removed her shoes. His strong hands lingered on her feet.

  Drogo's husky growled nonsensical words shocked her a bit. But the rumble of his voice wasn't truly frightening, it was deep almost sensual, causing the bed to shake slightly.

  Hope was inexplicably transfixed as the image of him naked played in her mind, mixing with the primal rumble of his voice and his firm touch.

  "God, I'm twisted. What is wrong with me?" Hope thought. Was she seriously lusting after her abductor?

  Suddenly Drogo snarled and this time it did freak her out, breaking the spell. The shuddered look in his eyes turned into agitation twisting his face in a frightening way. Hope realized again she was trapped at the mercy of a potentially violent alien.

  Drogo seemed to realize he frightened her and instantly said something Hope assumed was an apology by the way he held up his hands.

  He got up and stalked over to the wall, then spoke angrily into the panel.

  Hope was confused. She had no clue what had happened. One moment he looked like he might eat her alive, and strangely for some reason she welcomed it. The next moment he's bristling and growling.

  Drogo paced like a feral beast occasionally casting glances in Hope's direction. More than a few times he stepped towards her then stopped, only to resume wearing a path in the floor.

  Hope watched him nervously.

  After several minutes of this a sound chimed and Drogo let in another man. This alien was darker than Drogo with shorter dreads that only came to his shoulders. He placed a tray on the table. Hope smelled the delicious aroma of food and her stomach grumbled, earning a surprised stare from both men.

  As Drogo spoke to the other alien in his baritone voice, the other man's eyes widened and he looked at Hope in shock. She didn't know what they said, but it was clearly something about her. She'd have to be an idiot not to figure that out. The question was, what about her?

  The second alien shook his head looking grim as Drogo gestured emphatically. He was unhappy about something. What had she done wrong? She couldn't move for cripe's sake.

  The other man said something to Drogo then moved toward Hope. Instantly she was horrified.

  "No!" Hope screamed but her voice didn't work.

  She couldn't even shuffle back from this new alien.

  Drogo may have kidnapped her, but he'd been nothing but gentle with her. He even seemed to regret when he startled her. This new alien wore a scowl that twisted his face, which was far from comforting. The devil you know is always better than the one you don't.

  Before the other alien reached Hope, Drogo'
s hand shot out grabbing him around the neck with a menacing growl.

  If she thought Drogo seemed threatening before she had been wrong. He was down right terrifying now.

  The man stopped dead in his tracks, yet Drogo's growl deepened. Hope could see long sharp claws that had extended from his gripping fingers. They threatened to tear into the other alien's carotid.

  She held her breath bracing for the worst.

  Something had caused Drogo to go feral against his own kind. That didn't bode well for her. Hope's heart thundered in her chest as she started to hyperventilate.

  Drogo's head swung her way. His brow was creased, his mouth formed a snarl showing his fangs. He turned back the other alien and tightened his grip.

  A trickle of blood ran down the man's neck and Hope gasped.

  "Oh god he's going to slice open his throat here and now!"

  Drogo heard the sound of her ragged breath. He looked at her again, then at his hand wrapped around the other alien's throat. Instantly he released the man.

  The man sighed and started to backed up slowly towards the door, all the while talking quietly to Drogo in a non-threatening voice.

  He then exited quickly leaving her alone with Drogo and his violent mood swings. The last thing she needed was to be sequestered with a pissed off alien sporting claws and fangs. He'd seemed so calm in the woods.

  "This is sheer madness. How can these creatures exist, constantly at each other's throats?" Hope wondered as she eyed Drogo.

  Maybe the other man had done or said something to anger him? Hopefully that was it, and Drogo wasn't some unstable psychotic alien. But then why had he gotten agitated while alone with her?

  "Oh god!"

  Sexy alien or not, she had to get the hell out of Dodge.

  Drogo grabbed the platter of food from the table then sat back down beside Hope on the bed. It dipped under his immense weight.

  Drogo looked at her and rather than a scowl his expression again seemed concerned. He spoke in that deep gravelly voice.

  Hope couldn't move as his long tan fingers came towards her face, the same fingers that just attempted to strangle a man. Thankfully his claws had disappeared, but she still cringed.