Heated Mating
Page 1
Heated Mating
Savannah Stuart
Heated Mating
Author’s Edition
Copyright © 2014 by Savannah Stuart
First published June 2011
Reissue Copyright 2014
Cover art and design by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
Digital Formatting by Author E.M.S.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.
Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book. This purchase allows you one legal copy for your own personal reading enjoyment on your personal computer or device. You do not have the right to resell, distribute, print or transfer this book, in whole or in part, to anyone, in any format, via methods either currently known or yet to be invented, or upload this book to a file sharing program. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
ISBN: 9780996087490
Prologue
Planet Lumineta, 2235
As Linc stared at Saroya’s exposed back, he understood his dead brother’s love of the dark-haired beauty.
The funeral pyre burned before them and the entire clan. The firelight played off the sheer shift Saroya wore. Compared to what most of the females of the clan wore her clothing was more than acceptable but he hated that the material dipped low, exposing most of her back. The arch of her spine was delicate and beautiful. He wanted to trace his fingers up the length then follow with his tongue. Unlike the females of his people, Saroya and the handful of other women they’d rescued from the dying blue planet were smaller, more fragile. Not weak, they’d proven that much. Just different in some ways.
Ever since his brother Gage had returned from that fateful mission with Saroya and ten other foreign females in tow, Linc had cursed the Goddess that he’d busted his knee up the week before and Gage had met her first.
If he hadn’t hurt himself during training he’d have been on that mission. A mission his scholarly brother had only been on to collect data. And Linc would have seen Saroya first. She’d have been his and only his. It didn’t matter that his society consisted mainly of male-female-male joinings. And it didn’t matter that Gage and Saroya had tried to welcome him into their bed on more than one occasion. None of that shit mattered because he didn’t share.
He would not share her. With anyone. Not even his own brother. So he’d always declined their invitations. He couldn’t be sure but she seemed to think he preferred the opposite sex. That was fine with him. Let her have her assumptions.
A few wisps of her dark hair had come loose from the clip she’d secured it with. As he watched her, he noted a small tremble race through her. His people didn’t show much emotion but hers were very different as he’d learned over the past six moon cycles. Though he couldn’t see her face, he knew she was crying. Linc wanted to reach out and comfort her but he was a warrior. That wasn’t done.
When she shifted her weight forward, as if she were ready to throw herself off the cliff and onto the burning pile of her lover’s remains, he felt his entire fucking world shift. He nearly lost a century of his life.
Lightning fast, Linc lunged at her and wrapped his arm around her waist in a hard, tight grip. Even if she wanted to leave this life, this planet, he would not let her. Could not. He refused to live in a world where she didn’t exist.
She struggled against him, silently crying until he twisted her around to face him. Barely reaching his chin, she wouldn’t look at him as she beat his chest a couple times with her fists. Her words were incoherent and laced with grief. He was pretty sure she called him a heartless bastard too. He wasn’t sure why, but the words pierced him. Hard. That was his brother slowly turning to ash down there. He was hurting too, even if he couldn’t show it. And he hated himself for wanting his dead brother’s mate so badly.
Just as suddenly, she stopped fighting and molded against him. Her arms wrapped around him and she buried her face against his neck. Shame burned through him as the rest of the clans present tried not to stare at the spectacle they made. No one but Saroya and his brother knew that theirs had not been a true bonding. That only Gage and Saroya had been lovers. That he’d just been a roommate. Now surely everyone knew that she’d preferred his brother over him.
Goddess, he needed a drink. Her wet tears streamed down the back of his neck and onto his shoulder as her slender body pressed to him. To his absolute fucking horror he felt his cock growing. With her soft body molded against his it was impossible to control himself. He, a trained warrior of Lumineta, could not rule his body.
Thankfully she seemed oblivious because she just held him tighter. “Get me out of here.” Her voice was shaky and thick with tears against his neck.
Without pause or apology, he turned and hurried toward one of the transport platforms. He would do anything she asked, even if it meant leaving his own brother’s funeral. Gage would understand. Still holding her tight, he punched in the code to their home. Moments later they stood in their main living space. The once bright fire burning in the stone hearth had dwindled considerably.
As soon as she realized where they were, Saroya shook herself and stepped away from him. Her electric blue eyes glittered with unshed tears. They looked like the bright gems found deep in Lumineta’s mountains. As rare as she was.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was soft, hoarse.
He frowned, and against his better judgment, he cupped her cheek. Touching her was like touching fire but at this moment he didn’t care. He’d just lost his brother and the only female he’d ever cared about stood before him in pain. “For what?”
She ducked his gaze and stared at the stone floor. Her hands plucked at the sides of her shift. “For shaming you. I should have controlled myself.”
He forced her chin upward with his finger. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
As their eyes locked, her blue ones filled with too many emotions for him to register. Confusion, pain and something he didn’t understand. Finally she spoke but her voice was strained. “Will you be bringing someone else into our union after the mourning period?”
“No!” The word came out louder and sooner than he’d intended. He hadn’t expected the question. Though maybe he should have. With the higher ratio of males to females, it was standard practice among his people to bring in another male after six moon cycles. But that wasn’t going to happen. Even if his leader demanded it. He would not. Not for anyone.
Her brows knitted together. “Then you wish to let me choose…someone else?” Her voice cracked on the last word as more tears spilled down her cheeks.
Had she lost her mind? “Why would you ask that?”
Confusion and a trace of hurt clouded her expression. “You’ve never touched me. Barely look at me. I thought you might want me out of your house. Maybe I’m not your…preference?”
If he looked at her too much the pain made it difficult to breathe. “You were my brother’s female and this is your house too.”
Her frown deepened. “According to your culture, I’m yours too. We’re technically mated. Unless you decide you don’t want me.”
He sighed. It had taken most of her females many moon cycles to get used to his people’s way of life. Some still hadn’t chosen males. Saroya had taken to their way of life quickly because of her feelings for his brother. The speed with which she’d embraced their world had
made it even harder to keep his hands off her. But he hadn’t been willing to touch her when it had been so obvious she loved his brother. It didn’t matter that he’d been within his rights. Why would she want him, a scarred warrior? He struggled to find the words without confusing her. “I don’t share.”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she digested his words. “So you do wish for me in your bed?”
“No, yes. I…” Was there a right answer to her question?
Her eyes flared for a moment, then she shook her head. “I don’t even know why I’m asking about this now,” she muttered as if she were speaking to herself.
Before he could think of a response, she turned and strode from the room. The soft-soled slippers she wore were silent against the cold floor. Every fiber inside him told him to go after her, to comfort her, but his legs wouldn’t listen.
Chapter One
Six Moon Cycles Later
“We need to do this more often. I mean… Oh, hell, I know you’ve been in your mourning period. I didn’t mean it like that,” Leilani muttered, her cheeks tinging pink as she looked at Saroya.
Smiling, Saroya shook her head. “I know what you meant, and you’re right. I miss you and Brianna.” Six moon cycles had passed since her mate’s death and her mourning period was officially over. Not that she needed a damn clock to tell her when she could or could not be sad. She would always miss Gage, but after escaping a dying planet, she knew how fragile life could be. And Gage wouldn’t have wanted her to mourn forever.
“That woman is so sweet, I can’t believe I haven’t spent more time with her.” Leilani shook her head and took a sip of her dark red villana.
Saroya had chosen a lighter gold villana tonight, wanting something sweeter. “No kidding. You two are so similar.” Not to mention they worked at the same architecture firm. But Saroya knew that they were in different departments and had different jobs altogether. Brianna was behind a lot of the designs and Leilani was a super assistant. That wasn’t actually her job title but it was what Saroya thought of her as. She was so organized and put together.
“What’s going on with you? I’m so glad you’re finally getting out but…where’s Linc? I thought he’d have stayed closer to the planet with, you know.” Leilani’s dark eyes filled with concern as she watched her.
Leilani was from a small group of islands from the dying planet they’d been saved from. Her dark hair was swept up into some complicated twist of loose braids on the back of her head and her bronze skin seemed to glow year round. To say she was beautiful would be an understatement. They’d already had four different males try to buy them drinks tonight and they’d only been at the restaurant for less than half an hour.
Saroya cleared her throat and looked down at her tulip-shaped glass. “Work is good for him, I think.” Because she didn’t actually know. Linc had up and left almost directly after Gage’s death. The stupid part of her had thought that they might actually get to know one another, maybe even become friends if not lovers. But, he was gone and barely contacted her at all.
Leilani snorted. “What about you? I thought… I guess I just don’t understand the culture yet. I just thought this would have been a time his superiors let him stay home. The males here are so protective of their females, you know,” she murmured.
Saroya nodded, that familiar pain settling in her chest. She’d never told anyone that her joining with Gage and Linc had really only been a true joining with Gage. Not even Leilani and not Brianna, the two females she’d bonded with on the rescue ships that had brought them to Lumineta. It didn’t matter that she was officially bonded to them both, she’d only slept with Gage.
Leaning forward, Saroya cleared her throat. “Can I tell you something?” she whispered, needing to get this off her chest. Since her friend Brianna had been having a hard time adjusting to all of Lumineta’s customs she’d never opened up to her about what things were like at her home. But Leilani loved it here. She might not have chosen mates but that was because she was busy with her job and the woman had made it clear she was picky.
“Of course, what…” She trailed off as her gaze landed behind Saroya. Her pretty lips pulled into a tight line.
Two males approached their table. She and Leilani were sitting outside in a courtyard of the Venesian restaurant they’d chosen, which in hindsight, they probably should have gotten a seat inside of. On Lumineta, she’d quickly come to learn that females out dining by themselves were a rarity. They usually brought a male with them for this very reason. Crime here was almost non-existent and males were respectful of females but…they weren’t going to pass up approaching two unattached females. Which was going to make talking to her friend impossible tonight. Saroya bit back a frustrated sigh.
Before the two males could stay anything though, Leilani smiled brightly and shook her head. “We’re waiting for our mates.”
Just like that, the males nodded politely—both looking disappointed—and continued down the street. Saroya snickered under her breath. “Maybe we should just get a plaque made that says that.”
“Right? Back to what you were saying.” Leilani gave Saroya her full attention then, one of the reasons she adored the other woman.
She knew her friend wouldn’t judge her but, still, it was hard to get the words out. Screw it. “Linc and I have never slept together.” Her voice was barely a whisper. Leilani’s dark eyes widened but before she could respond, Saroya continued. “I know I legally joined with both of them but just Gage and I were intimate. I’ve never slept with Linc,” she said even more softly. “Linc said he didn’t want to bring anyone else into our house or anything now, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t know if he likes women.”
Leilani was silent for a long moment, just looking at Saroya in a state of almost shock and horror. Okay, her little confession wasn’t that bad.
When her friend finally spoke, her words confused Saroya. “Linc is definitely interested in women.”
“How do you know that?” she snapped, a surge of anger unexpectedly punctuating her words.
Leilani blinked once in confusion before a wide grin spread across her face. “I know because I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Don’t take this the wrong way because it’s not like I sit around and fantasize about my best friend, but I used to think you had this epic sex life with the two of them. The way they’d both look at you when you were all together. Yeah, I noticed that Gage was the only one who was affectionate but I just thought Linc wasn’t into PDA or something. But he definitely wants you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and it’s hot.”
Saroya sat back against her seat, digesting her friend’s words. Before Gage died she’d only been with him for six moon cycles and in public both males had always been attentive to her, making it clear she was taken. Linc had never been affectionate, as her friend had noticed, but he’d always been kind. Maybe that was Leilani had seen between the three of him. “You’re sure?” She knew how Linc was in private: completely oblivious of her. Maybe Leilani was onto something or maybe she’d just been reading him wrong.
“Oh yeah. No doubt in my mind.”
“Then how do I get him to notice me?” she blurted, feeling foolish. It wasn’t as if the man was even around for her to do anything with, but he had to return home sometime. He was actually scheduled to be home in a week so maybe she could feel him out then. Or if the opportunity arose, maybe she could make a move. She bit her lip at that thought. She wasn’t normally bold but she could make an exception with Linc.
Leilani rubbed her hands together gleefully. “We’re going to come up with a game plan that guarantees he can’t ignore you. It’ll involve you being naked, so fair warning.”
Saroya’s cheeks turned red, but she laughed at her friend’s enthusiasm. Moving to a completely new planet and way of life had been hard enough. Especially immersing herself in a new culture where taking two mates was not only accepted but encouraged. She still sometimes fought guilt over that. There were
times when she felt so alone, especially lately. It felt so good to finally open up to someone. And just maybe it would make a difference with her interaction with Linc.
Whenever she saw him again.
* * *
Saroya stripped her silky black shift off and draped it on the trunk at the end of her bed. She’d hang it up tomorrow. Without bothering with the cover, she fell on top of it and stretched out. Blindly, she stared at the gauzy white canopy draped above her bedposts. She knew Linc would never enter her chambers without announcing himself. And he’d never do that anyway so she didn’t bother with clothes either. As far as she knew, he’d never stepped foot in her room.
Her heart was heavy and confused. Tonight’s dinner with Leilani had helped put things in perspective and reminded her that she wasn’t alone, that there were other human women dealing with this culture shock too.
Six moon cycles had passed and even though she missed Gage and the friendship they’d shared, she still wanted Linc. She was ashamed that she fantasized about him even now. She’d been terrified when she’d first learned of the Luminet custom of two males to every female. It was why she’d aligned herself with Gage so quickly. Only too late she’d realized that they would give females a choice about who they wanted to mate with and that it didn’t have to be right away. Gage had been a good mate, and a kind lover, but she hadn’t loved him. He’d been more of a friend than anything.
Back then she’d been so scared of their culture. Everything had been so shocking, including the ability to travel through space and the fact that there were many other alien species—that humans were compatible with. When she’d met Linc she’d been nervous but excited.