by Alyse Anders
“I’m not sure you’ll have much of a choice.” Tara’s voice was as soft as it had been back at the medical facility, but there was an edge to it he hadn’t noticed the first time. “He knows I’m here.”
Zee knew that there was an empathic connection between the Fallen and their mates, but it was his understanding that most of the strength of that bond was on the side of the cyborg and not the human. “How do you know?”
Tara stopped moving, turned her head toward the south of the building and frowned. “I can feel his frustration.”
“I’m only vaguely aware of Zee’s emotional state.” Mags walked over to Tara and gave her hand a squeeze. “There must be a strong bond between you.”
Where Rennick was concerned, Zee knew that would only spell trouble for the rest of them. “Follow me to your rooms.”
Most of the quarters used by the guards were close to where the prisoners were kept, but behind a security barrier that ensured that in the event of an attempted escape or riot, there was a safe area for them to retreat. Zee had quarters, but rarely used them, preferring to spend his time connected to the prison’s systems through his cybernetic link in his office. He didn’t want the women to be too far away from where he was, so the normal quarters weren’t an option.
Zee pointed down the hall to the doors closest to his office and the trio made their way over. “I have a room that’s been designated for use by Aidric on the rare occasion when he’s visiting the prison. Tara, we’ll put you and your belongings there.”
“When will I be able to see Rennick?”
“We’ll discuss it in the morning.”
“I need to know – ”
Zee stopped dead and spun to face her, snarling. “In the morning!”
Tara blinked and took a small step backward. “And you say that Rennick is the aggressive one.”
Mags stepped between them, placing a hand square in the middle of Zee’s chest. “We’re all tired and a bit overwhelmed by everything that’s happened in the last two days. Let’s just get Tara to her room so she can rest. We’ll figure the rest out later.”
Zee knew he had a temper to rival any of the people within the prison, but never had he been called out for it in such a manner. Most were too fearful of how he’d react to even attempt such a thing. But not Tara. Perhaps she really was capable of handling Rennick and the chaos that came along with him. Just as Mags was capable of putting him in his place. The weight of her hand pressed against him gave him the mental presence to ease back on his anger. “The room is over here. It’s clean and hasn’t been used in decades.”
When the door opened, Tara walked directly in and set her bag on the small table to the side of the room. There wasn’t much in the way of comforts, and he knew the women would need some necessities that he wouldn’t have considered. “Let me know what’s missing and I’ll have supplies provided for you. There’s a bathing facility through the back and a food replication unit on the right. It’s been programmed with Grus delicacies, but I’m not sure if your human palate will enjoy that. If not, we’ll make a change.”
“It will be fine.” Tara turned her back to them both. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Zee hesitated for a moment before Mags tugged at his arm. “Where’s my room?”
“This way.” They left Tara, and he had to fight the feeling that he was somehow making a terrible mistake. “I have quarters that I use that are connected to my office. They’re not as spacious as these but should be sufficient for tonight.”
“Honestly, I don’t care. I just need a place where I can rest for a bit and maybe get something to eat. Everything that’s happened to me has started to catch up.”
It would have been easy to detect her exhaustion without the aid of their emotional connection; her body seemed to deflate the moment they left Tara and she was walked a half-step slower than before. Without thinking, Zee scooped her up in his arms and carried her the short distance down the corridor to his office.
“My room is off my office here. As I said, there’s not a lot of room, but there’s a bed where you can rest.”
Having Mags body pressed against his chest created a sense of ease that he hadn’t experienced before in his life. Everything else around him fell away – the fear of being seen, of not feeling worthy of her attention – and a rush of something far more tender flowed through him. Something he didn’t dare put a label on.
The doors to his office slid open and they were finally safely inside, hidden from prying eyes. He should have put her down and let her walk the rest of the way to the bed, but now that he held her, he didn’t want to lose the contact. Mags didn’t struggle or move as though she wanted to be put down, so he took that as a sign they both wanted the same thing.
Zee carried her through the small door off to the side of the office and into the tiny antechamber that held nothing more than a bed. It was far smaller than the one they’d shared back at the medical facility, but it would be enough for what he wanted to do. Gently, he set her on the bed and got on his knees beside her. Mags rolled onto her side and pillowed her head with her bent arm. She smiled over at him, her eyes heavy with sleep. “What are you going to do once I fall asleep?”
“I don’t require rest the way you do. I’ll be out in the other room working.” He’d be putting measures in place to ensure nothing bad could happen to either woman. “You can come see me whenever you want.”
Zee knew he should take his leave right then and let her rest; she clearly needed to sleep. But there was no way he could walk away without touching her. She was quickly becoming an obsession for him, a behavior he never thought he was capable of having for anyone. He cupped her cheek and leaned in to kiss her mouth. The gentle press of her soft lips against his was quickly memorized and stored in his matrix. The itching in the back of his brain was back, but far lighter than before, as though an old wound had finally healed up and he was left with a tiny scab.
Mags sighed against his mouth, her kisses were soft and lazy, but she made no move to pull away or stop. She reached up and held his face in her hands as she rolled once more onto her back, bringing him with her. Still on his knees, still kissing her, he reached down and slid his hand beneath her shirt to cup and squeeze her breast. She gasped into his mouth as he captured her nipple between his fingers and pinched just hard enough. It felt as though he were cheating in a contest, having this connection with her and knowing everything she felt. He could tell when the touching was becoming too much and released her, moving his hand lower to slide beneath her waistband and against her pussy.
“God.” She bit down on her bottom lip and closed her eyes as she widened her legs.
Zee’s arousal spiked, his cock hard and his rondello filling with blood as he slid his fingers through the wetness of her pussy and moved to press against her clit. “I want to feel your arousal. I want to hear you come. To bring you pleasure by my hand.”
Mags gasped. Her eyes were already shut, but somehow, they squeezed tighter. “Please.”
He wanted to tease her, punish her for not listening to him and staying behind at the medical facility. He also wanted to reward her for the very same thing; thankful that he wouldn’t have to suffer alone without her by his side. Mags was a drug and Zee knew he was addicted with no way of breaking free.
He wasn’t certain he even wanted to.
Pressing his fingers hard against her clit, Zee lowered his mouth and captured Mags once again. He swallowed up every sigh and gasp as he fucked her with his hand. The smell of her arousal was overwhelming, the heat radiating from her, warming more than his skin. She began to buck her hips in rhythm with his fingers and he felt the swelling of her clit.
“Are you close?” He spoke the words against her lips, licked at the smooth skin as he did.
She whimpered as she nodded.
Gods, he wanted to mark her again. Bite down on the soft juncture of her neck so he could taste and feel her lifeforce, and know that she was his to love
and protect forever. He couldn’t stop from breaking the kiss and moving his mouth along her jawline toward her shoulder. His mouth salivated from the sweetness of the sweat on her skin. She was still wearing a shirt and he didn’t want to stop to take it off, which meant he was prevented from reaching the place he desperately wanted.
Mags must have been aware enough of what he was trying to do that she pushed him up enough so she could pull her shirt off, baring herself for him. There was no holding back now, and he lowered his mouth to her shoulder, licking and tasting the skin. His cock throbbed and there was a chance he’d come without her even touching him; something he’d never experienced in either his life or re-birth.
No, Mags first; his own needs could wait.
Increasing the pressure on her clit, he continued to lick and nip at her neck and shoulder. With every tingle of pain she experienced, he could tell her arousal increased until she was moaning and bucking so hard against him Zee thought she would fly off the bed. The presence of her pants made it difficult for him to move his hand easily, but it didn’t seem to matter. Mags thrust up with her hips against his finger as the first burst of pleasure exploded through her.
She cried out, her body ridged and trembling as the pleasure raced through her. Her essence coated his already slick fingers, making it easier to slide a finger inside her pussy to fuck the last rolls of her release from her.
Finally, she tried to pull away, the pleasure too much for her to handle. “Stop. Please stop.”
Zee did as she asked, even if his body was demanding that he strip her naked so he could fuck her. His cock was painfully hard in his pants and there was no way he’d be able to do anything else until he found his release. Pulling away from Mags, he removed his hand from her pussy and quickly pushed his own down his hips just low enough to free his cock. Mags opened her eyes and watched, mouth open as he began to stroke himself. He let his gaze roam across her half-naked body as he rubbed his hand, damp from her orgasm, along his shaft. Her scent was on his skin, her moans still echoed in his ears and the warmth he felt toward her filled his chest. Zee knew she was the most important person in the universe to him and there was nothing that would change that.
Mags watched him stroke himself, moving her hand to her breast to tease her still hard nipple. “You’re so fucking big. Everything about you is big, strong, present.”
Zee closed his eyes, but he couldn’t shut out the rush of her emotions; admiration, arousal and something that felt like love. That blast of everything good coming from her, fully directed at him was too much for him to handle. The rush of his pre-orgasm sent pleasurable heat through his body, rending a cry from deep in his chest. Unlike before, there was little time for him to catch his breath. Zee stood, knowing exactly what he needed to do. As he was hit with his full orgasm, come shot from his cock and landed across her breasts and stomach. The scent of his pheromones followed, coating them both and forever marking Mags as his – may the Gods help anyone who tried to take her from him.
The rush of pleasure sapped what little energy he had left, and he collapsed down once more, his body now half-draped across Mags. They stayed that way for a long time, come sticking their bodies together as Zee tried to catch his breath and Mags ran her fingers across the skin of his bald scalp. They didn’t say anything, even as Zee’s mind slowly turned from the need to claim and be with her, to the reality of what that life would be like for her here in the prison.
He knew now that there was no way he could survive without her by his side. What he didn’t know was how he could make this life that he’d chosen bearable for her.
“Are you okay?” She traced along the side of his cybernetic head implant. “You tensed up.”
Zee reluctantly pulled away from her, but not before placing a kiss on her forehead. “I will be fine. Let me get you something to clean yourself so you can sleep.”
He knew that she didn’t believe him, but she was also too tired to argue. Zee got her a cloth and helped bathe her skin, clearing away his essence. He then helped her get dressed and found a warm blanket for her to burrow beneath. So many differences he’d have to get used to, to ensure her comfort. He fixed his clothing so no one would realize that he’d been intimate and turned to leave Mags to her rest.
“Zee?”
“Yes?” He gripped the frame as the door slid open.
“Everything is going to be okay. You’ll see.”
He wanted to believe her, but he knew things rarely went as easily as he hoped. “My instincts tell me we’re not safe yet.”
“Trust me.”
If only life was that easy. “Sleep.”
Leaving her behind, Zee went to his terminal to check the status of the prison and hoped for once, his gut was wrong.
Chapter Nine
Mags slept like the dead. The events of the past day had taken every bit of energy out of her and left her as little more than a husk. When Zee had slipped his hand into her pants, she knew that there would be no way to keep awake once they’d finished. When she opened her eyes and realized that there were no windows, no external light sources to give her an indication of how long she’d been resting, a rush of panic squeezed her chest.
As she sat up, the computer activated a light so she could see enough to swing her feet to the floor and fix her clothing. She was surprised Zee hadn’t come in the moment he realized that she was awake. She’d been shocked at how much their connection had deepened last night from that simple act of lovemaking. And it was love that she knew they were both feeling – totally illogical and even a tiny bit irrational, but most definitely love. If he wasn’t here, that meant he was probably dealing with something that had to do with the prison. It was his job after all, and one that was important.
If Mags was going to be living here now, she would have to find a role where she could be helpful. She missed being a paramedic, the rush that she’d get from helping others when they needed it. While she might not understand alien physiology, there might be a role here that would be similar that she could learn and at least be useful. She needed to find Zee and talk to him about what her future here would hold.
The door slid open and the light from the office had her shielding her eyes with her forearm. “Zee?”
It took her a moment to adjust to the brighter room, but when she did, she was surprised to see Zee standing silently in front of a computer terminal. She carefully walked around to his side, not wanting to startle him, but moved into what she hoped was his periphery. “Zee?”
His eyes were wide and unblinking, fixated on a point somewhere on the wall behind the computer terminal. The glow from his gray eyes was brighter than before, as though the energy from his matrix surged through other parts of his body as well. Perhaps it did; there was so much about him that she didn’t know. Shit, she’d only been introduced to him, this world, and the new realities of her existence a day ago. That was hardly enough time to process what had happened to them, let alone have the chance to wrap her head around what her life was now going to be like.
One day.
God, it was too much to really think about.
She hadn’t come out to the far reaches of space to find a relationship, seeing as she’d taken great pains to avoid those back on Earth. Everyone – even herself to a certain extent – had simply accepted that the women on the Kraken were destined to be with these cyborgs as their mates. As far as she was aware, no one knew why this happened or how it was even possible. Did it even make sense for them to accept this connection without determining the reason for its existence? For all they knew, the moment all of the women were awake and with their mates, something bad would happen and end the galaxy as they knew it.
Unlikely, but still the question was worth asking.
Mags pushed those strange thoughts from her head, reached up and placed a hand on his forearm. “Zee?” He still didn’t respond.
The last thing she wanted right now was to be alone with a cyborg who was unable to communicate wi
th her. She’d just spent a huge chunk of her life alone in a stasis tube and craved conversation with another.
Tara would probably be awake by now. They could have a chat about the state of things over some food and figure out how best to address the next steps they should take about their new lives. Mags didn’t even know if Tara would stay in the prison if she wasn’t able to be with her mate Rennick. God, she didn’t know how she would have reacted if Zee was a killer and she’d been told they were destined to be together. And while Mags didn’t know Tara, she could imagine she might want to have someone to talk to, even just to bounce ideas off of.
With Zee connected to the computer, she assumed he wasn’t going to be moving anytime in the next little while. She was under the impression that he’d be able to track her anywhere she went here in the prison, especially if his cybernetic interface was linked with the AI. She was still aware of his presence mentally, like a faint itch in her head. If their bond was this strong, then there was no harm in leaving him to go talk to Tara for a bit. With one final squeeze on his arm, she turned and left him to his duties.
Mags was only halfway down the corridor when the door opened, and Tara stepped out from her room. She clearly didn’t see Mags, as she quickly made her way in the opposite direction that led her deeper into the prison. Mags couldn’t imagine why Tara would go anywhere alone here, considering the warning Zee had given them both upon their arrival. All she could think of was that it had to do with her connection to Rennick. There was no way Mags could leave her alone to wander in this place, let alone do anything that would put her in danger.
“Tara!” She sprinted down the corridor, catching up to Tara before she turned a corner. “Where are you going?”
“You should go back to your room.” There was a clear note of determination in her voice, and something else Mags couldn’t put her finger on. “Your mate wouldn’t like it if you got hurt.”