by Sadie Carter
“My friend, Rich, doesn’t understand our language. He does speak Standard, which I also speak.”
Another muttering went through the crowd, and Laylla looked at Nate in surprise. He understood Rich. That meant she could learn more about him. Where he came from, how he’d come to crash land on Tiran.
But it also opened other possibilities. Things she didn’t like to think about. Like, was he already claimed by a female?
“Rich did not turn with Eion called out as he clearly didn’t understand that Eion was speaking to him. He had his back to Eion when Eion attacked, slamming into him and sending him crashing to the ground.”
“You say that Eion instigated the fight,” Elder Maren said with a frown. “Yet it is Eion who is injured.”
“Because he’s a terrible fighter,” Nate stated baldly. Nate turned to Eion. “A bit of advice. Don’t start a fight you have no chance of winning. Rich fought back because he wasn’t about to lie there and allow Eion to harm him. Will you condemn him for defending himself?”
Nate stepped back, and the Elders spoke in whispers. Laylla remained tense. It was Roick’s word against Nate’s. Everything rested on Masan’s shoulders. Masan was a quiet man, but sensible. She watched Rich, but he didn’t look worried. He’d crossed his arms over his chest and looked somewhat bored. Probably because he didn’t understand any of what was being said. But his bored look calmed her worries slightly.
She could tell Nate was telling the truth and he had no reason to lie.
The Elders finally parted. “Masan, you may speak.”
Masan looked around nervously then stared down at his feet for a moment. “It is as Nate said. Eion attacked the new male. Unprovoked.”
Her breath left her in a rush as the room erupted. Eion was protesting furiously, pleading with his grandmother. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at his behavior, although why she expected any different from Eion, Laylla didn’t know. But she did know that Rich would never act this way. His arrogance might be unusual for a male, but she realized that she liked that he was different from the other males.
Laylla stepped forward. “Permission to speak.”
Everyone quietened. The Elders turned to her. “As my male was the one wronged, I am within my rights to withdraw him into my care.” Where she could be certain he would not be attacked again. Not that he couldn’t defend himself, but whether he could defend himself or not wasn’t the issue. It was her right to protect him and she needed to be certain he would be taken care of.
“This will not happen again. Eion will be punished,” Elder Maren said.
“Grandmother!” Eion protested.
“Quiet,” she snapped at him. “You have disgraced your family by attacking another male unprovoked and then lying about it.”
Eion looked shocked. Rich smirked. Even though he couldn’t understand the words, he obviously realized that Eion had been reprimanded.
“Your male will be safe with the other males,” Elder Torin told her.
“You cannot guarantee it, though,” Laylla stated. “He does not understand our language or our ways. I wish to have him under my care.”
“And when you cannot be with him?” Elder Torin questioned. “If he does not understand our ways, he cannot be left alone.”
What Elder Torin said was true. Someone cleared their throat, and she turned. Nate stepped forward with a small smile. “Perhaps I could help. As I can speak to Rich, perhaps I can help him with the language and rules.”
Elder Torin nodded slowly. “You will drop him off to the unclaimed males holding during the days, Laylla, and Nate can help train him. Particularly since you are still working off your punishment.”
She wished to be the one training him, but she understood. Elder Torin still had to save face.
“Very well. But I wish to sit in on some of this training.” That way she could speak to Rich, find out more about what he was doing here.
Elder Torin frowned but nodded. “Very well.”
***
Rich followed Laylla as she clasped hold of his hand and pulled him from the room. The male who had attacked him glared at him as he walked past. Rich gave him a wink. The bastard was jealous, and who could blame him? Laylla was gorgeous, and she was his.
Except she wasn’t really. Because he still intended to leave as soon as he could make his escape. He didn’t know what had been said during this hearing or trial, but he guessed the truth had come out considering he wasn’t being dragged away and locked up.
Poor Eion, that idiot really didn’t have a clue how to fight. Rich wasn’t a fighter, and he’d kicked his ass. He almost felt bad for the guy. He’d lost the girl and got his ass handed to him.
Laylla led him to a small hut on the outskirts of the village. He looked over at what appeared to be a rock wall being constructed. Primitive but effective he supposed. He wondered who was building it since it was obvious none of the men did any physical work. He studied Laylla, noting her toned arms and thighs, the dust coating her skin. She looked like she’d put in a hard day’s work.
He frowned slightly. It didn’t sit right with him that she worked her ass off while he had sat around for most of the day. Except for one walk, a pathetic excuse for exercise, really. Rich might prefer a boardroom to nature, but he worked out regularly. He looked around in interest as she led him into the hut. The only thing covering the windows and door were animal hides. The floor was dirt with a few furs covering it. A raised box with more furs on it was obviously used as a bed.
Primitive and small. But it was tidy.
Laylla grabbed a couple of well-worn fur cloths then took hold of his hand again. She led him out to the stream, walking along until they reached a bigger swimming hole. She tugged at his ridiculous skirt thing. As soon as he got away from here, he was burning this garment.
“I missed you,” he told her, grateful for once that she couldn’t understand a word he said. He’d never be able to speak his mind if she did. “I was pissed at you when I first ended up in male day care, but Nate explained that you were being punished.” He couldn’t see any marks on her, so he hoped it hadn’t been a physical punishment.
She stripped then grabbed his hand, pulling him into the water.
“Shit!” It was surprisingly cool, and he took a step back. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her face intense. Then she grinned. Oh no, he didn’t like the look of that grin. She lunged at him, sending them both under the water. He came up spluttering, shivering from the cold. “Oh, you’re in for it now.”
He dived under the water, hearing her scream as he grabbed hold of her ankles and tugged. They played for a bit until they were both shivering. When they got out, she wrapped him in the largest fur before drying herself.
Rich sighed. “You know, I always thought being worshipped and treated like a king was my thing. But I’m starting to get a little annoyed by how one-sided our relationship is.”
What relationship?
He pushed that voice aside before grabbing hold of the back of her head and pulling her in for a kiss. When he drew back, satisfaction filled him at her glazed look. “We both like to be in control, sweetheart. If we were on an equal footing, this would be a real interesting ride.”
He kissed her again, nipping at her lower lip. He reached beneath her fur to cup her breast, thumbing the nipple. She made a small whimpering noise and pressed closer to him.
“You missed me too, didn’t you?” He slid his free hand down to cup her mound. Her moisture coated the palm of his hand. Damn, she was amazing.
She attempted to pull back and slide down to her knees, but he grasped hold of her hips, shaking his head. “Oh no, no sucking me off this time. Shit, listen to me, I never thought I’d turn down a blow job.” He turned her, pressing her hands to the trunk of the tree and holding them there. He nipped at her neck then blew a breath into her ear. She shuddered, pressing her ass back against him.
“This time, I’m in charge,” he told her. He slid his cock b
etween her legs, brushing it against her warm folds. She groaned, and he closed his eyes, praying for some control.
He clasped hold of her hips, pulling her back slightly as he plunged deep inside her. Even though it had been less than a day since he’d had her, it felt like a lifetime as he thrust in and out of her tight sheath.
He smacked her ass, and she let out a low growl, glaring at him over her shoulder. He just grinned. “You liked it. I felt your pussy clench down on my cock.” He gave her another smack, felt her shudder.
He sped up, his balls tightening to the point of pain. He needed to come, badly. But he wasn’t coming before her. Reaching around, he cupped her breasts then twisted the nipples slightly before biting down gently where her neck and shoulder met. She cried out, and he felt her pulse around him as she came.
One, two, three more strokes and he came with a shout, nearly collapsing against her as his legs turned to jelly, his breath sawing in and out of his lungs.
“Jesus, baby. If that’s what we can do after one night apart, imagine what it would be like after a week.”
Or longer. But he didn’t want to think about that right now. He just wanted to go back to that tiny hut that had no running water or electricity or floors and lay curled up around his woman all night. He needed to spend as much time with her as he could.
Before he had to say goodbye.
Chapter Eight
Laylla looked back at Rich in exasperation. “It’s just for the day.”
He looked up at the building where the unclaimed males lived and shook his head stubbornly. She knew he didn’t understand. She felt frustrated that she couldn’t explain that she had to work on the wall today and that he had to come here. For his care, primarily. But also, so Nate could work with him.
“Come on, Rich.”
He gave her a pissed-off look. She forced herself to give him a stern look in reply. He was not in charge. She was. But inside, she wished she could give in to him, take him back to her hut and spend the day with him. Spending the night with him curled around her had been amazing. Although she still couldn’t believe that she’d let him take charge by the river last night. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered that he had smacked her ass.
And that she had liked it.
What was wrong with her? She was supposed to be in charge. To be the dominant one. And yet she’d enjoyed having him take control. She was just thankful that they’d been on their own and no one had seen. Males of her species did not dominate females.
She crossed her arms over his chest, mimicking his stance. “Rich, you come or I will drag you in there.” She didn’t feel good about the threat, but if the elders thought she couldn’t control him, they would be within their rights to remove him from her care, claimed male or not.
And she couldn’t allow that to happen.
She snapped her hair out and his scowl deepened. But he seemed to understand her threat because he stomped forward, glaring at her as he reached the doors. They were opened by two female guards.
Laylla nodded at them as she followed Rich into the large sleeping hall.
“Ah, there you are. I wondered if you were not coming.” Nate walked up to them, bowing to Laylla. He looked at them both, obviously taking in their scowling faces. “There is something wrong?”
“Rich didn’t wish to come here. He doesn’t understand.”
Nate turned to Rich, speaking to him in his language. He nodded then turned to her. “He believes that you are leaving him here again. That you took him back to your hut last night because you were horny.”
“Horny?”
Nate’s lips twitched. “That you wished for release.”
Her eyes widened. “He was just as in need of release as me.”
“Really?” Nate drawled. “Do tell.”
She glared at the older male who shrugged unrepentantly. “Can’t blame an old male for trying.”
“Will you please explain that I have to work on the wall today and can’t watch over him, which is why he is here. That I will be back to collect him tonight.”
Nate turned to Rich. They talked back and forth for a moment, and by the end of their conversation, Rich’s frown had deepened, but he was no longer glaring at her.
“He understands, but he is not happy. He said that it is ridiculous that you are being forced to do heavy manual labor while the males around here sit on their asses and get their cocks sucked. Um, his words,” he added as she raised her eyebrows.
“But the males cannot be expected to do physical labor.”
“Where Rich comes from, the males do most of the physical labor.”
“His race is patriarchal?”
Nate spoke to Rich. “Not precisely. At one time, yes. Males and females are considered equal where he lives. But he says if you lived with him then he would not allow you to do hard labor.”
“Allow?” She gaped at Nate.
Nate shrugged, smiling. “He also said a few words about the elders, but I do not believe it wise to repeat those.”
Allow? Was he serious? “He does not allow.”
“Like you do not allow him to do some things? Rich is different from the males here.”
“I know that,” she said stiffly.
“Perhaps you do a little bit, but I do not think you fully understand. Where he comes from, he is considered very important to his government. Um, the people who rule his planet. In fact, he intends to return to his home planet and take over rule from a currently corrupt leader. Being treated as though he is of little use, as though he is a child, it is humiliating.”
Laylla stood there, absorbing those words. She had not ever thought she was humiliating him or treating him as less than hers. On the contrary, she only wanted what was best for him.
And what if that wasn’t being here with her? Rich was different. He was smart and strong, and she guessed she’d always known, deep down, that she couldn’t keep him.
“People are coming for him. They will find him eventually. I just thought you should know,” Nate told her gently.
Before her feelings for him grew so great that letting him go would become impossible. “I had no right claiming him.”
“Perhaps not. If it is any consolation. He seems to have a lot of feelings for you.”
Laylla nodded stiffly, then looked over at Rich who was staring at them both. She reached for him and pulling him close, kissed him. “I will be back for you in a few hours.” She turned and walked away before she could make a fool of herself. Before she could beg him to stay.
She might want to keep him here, but if she truly cared about him then perhaps she had to let him go.
***
Something had changed. Since Laylla picked him up last evening, she’d been different. More intense. The sex had been insane. She’d been insatiable, taking him so many times he’d lost count. But there was almost a sadness to her, something he couldn’t figure out.
So, when she dragged him out of the hut soon after they awoke, he didn’t know what to expect. He thought she might be taking him back to where Nate and the other males lived. But she led him in a different direction, towards the stream then the meadow beyond. He was surprised to find the female with the limp there, standing next to one of those two-headed beasts with the purple manes. Were they going for a ride somewhere?
The female with the limp spoke to Laylla who simply shook her head. Then Laylla grasped hold of the other female, hugging her. The other female looked shocked as Laylla stepped away and climbed onto the purple animal. Laylla held out her hand to Rich. He shrugged then took it, letting her help him onto the beast. This time he sat behind her, hugging her as she took off. They rode for hours, only stopping for a few minutes at a time to rest and eat some of that disgusting jerky. He hoped this journey they were on wasn’t going to last long. The sun was starting to set when they found themselves in a long meadow. He looked across, squinting. Was that? Shit, it was!
“My ship! Holy hell, you’re taking me back to my s
hip.”
She kicked the beast, and it took off towards his ship. What did this mean? Was she letting him go? Why? Did she not want him anymore?
Shit. He should be overjoyed that she’d brought him back here. It was what he wanted. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder why. He wished he could communicate with her, it would make life a lot easier. He remembered the translator he’d purchased from Kyle. It was something he had been working on to help facilitate communication between the humans and Zerconians. It wouldn’t work on him because her language wasn’t loaded on there. But his language was.
If he could manage to find it.
He jumped up as she pulled up next to the ship. He turned back to her and held up his hand. “Stay,” he told her in her language. He waited for her nod before running into the ship. He had to pause and let his eyes adjust to the darkness. There should be an emergency pack around here somewhere with glow sticks.
There it was. He pulled the pack out and opened it, searching around until he found the sticks. He shook a couple to make them light up. Then he picked up the emergency pack, putting it on his back. Then he moved through the ship to where he’d been when he’d crashed. He looked in the drawers of his desk, grinning as he found the translator. Looking around, he spotted the bobble-headed Santa and grabbed that too. Then he quickly exited.
Laylla was where he’d left her but she’d dismounted. He dropped the pack and held out the translator to her. She looked puzzled. He placed it in his ear before pulling it out and pointing at her ear. She frowned slightly but nodded, and he placed the translator in her ear then switched it on.
Please work.
“Laylla? Laylla, can you understand me?”
Nothing. Shit.
“Damn it, I hoped that would work.”
Laylla stared at Rich in shock. She could understand him! “Rich, how can I understand you?”
His face lit up with a smile that turned him from gorgeous to breath-taking. “It’s working!”