Gladiator: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 1)

by Anna Hackett

  His big powerful body was naked.

  A shiver ran through her. Finally, she stopped swimming and floated at the surface. She watched Raiden’s strong arms slice through the water, before he stopped near her.

  “Thank you for bringing me here,” she said quietly.

  He kept staring at her and the clear water did nothing to block her view of his naked body. Or the long, thick cock rising up against his belly.

  He swept her into his arms, and pressed a punishing kiss to her lips.

  Whenever he touched her, she went up in flames. All her control evaporated like smoke. All she wanted to do was touch every inch of him, taste every part of him, know him.

  “Raiden—”

  “Yes.” One harsh word.

  Their hands were all over each other. She circled his heavy cock, stroking it. Take. Lose yourself in him. Oblivion, just for a little while.

  But it would be temporary and empty. She ripped her mouth from his. “Let me go.”

  He made a scary sound. “You want this. You want me.”

  She shook her head. “Maybe, but you don’t want to take the risk of caring. Nor do I.”

  “Bullshit,” he said, his pronunciation perfect. His hands cupped her breasts.

  She grabbed his wrists. “I need more than just lust, Raiden. I want to lose myself in you, but I can’t do it knowing I’d be just another warm body in your bed.” Hell, she was so confused. She didn’t want to get close, but she wanted him more than she wanted to breathe. But she tried one more time. “We need to stop.”

  “I see you, Harper Adams. I want you.”

  Dammit. She went back up on her toes to kiss him. He swung her into his arms like she weighed nothing. He strode out of the pool and the next second, he lowered her down onto the pillows. God, she wanted his hands on her skin.

  “If you do not want this, Harper, you must tell me.” He pressed a kiss between her breasts, one big hand coming up to cup one globe. “Say no, and, I’ll stop touching you. I’ll never touch you again.”

  They stared at each other, and a part of Harper’s brain told her to say that little word.

  She opened her legs, letting his big body fall into hers. She saw wild satisfaction cross his face.

  He leaned down and lavished her breasts with attention. She arched into him. His tongue moved over her skin and he tugged her nipple into his mouth, letting her feel the edge of his teeth. She grabbed his head. “Yes.”

  He moved lower, scraping his scruff over her belly. Lower.

  Then he was pushing her legs apart. Harper found herself naked against the soft pillows, her big, rough galactic gladiator poised above her.

  “I wanted to taste you from the first moment I saw you,” he growled.

  His hand slid up her thigh and then dipped into her folds. Harper made a sound, lifting her hips to his touch.

  “So wet for me. It appears human women of Earth are not so different.” He stroked her, sliding a thick finger inside her.

  She moaned. God, that was just his finger.

  “You are very tight.” His voice deepened, took on an edge. “We’ll have to work hard to get me inside you.”

  Yes. She wanted him stretching her. He lifted his hand, his fingers glittering with her juices. He brought them to his mouth, sucking them clean.

  Harper’s belly contracted. So dirty and so sexy.

  His mouth hovered over her and she felt his warm breath on her. “Raiden—”

  He moved and she felt the scratch of his stubble on her thigh. “I’m going to taste you now.” Then he licked her.

  She jerked. God, that warm, rough tongue… When his mouth closed over her, she cried out. Her hands slid down to his head, pushing him closer. His tongue stabbed inside her. It felt so good. So damn good.

  “Tell me what you like,” he growled against her skin. “What pleases you most?”

  She nudged him until his tongue flicked at her clit. She bucked upward with a cry.

  Raiden sat back, an intense, curious gaze on his face. He probed her clit with his finger. “Well, maybe you are a little different.” He circled it, watching her reaction.

  Harper felt the blood pumping through her system, every cell in her body throbbing. She strained up, needing, wanting more.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  “My…” God, she couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. “My clitoris, my clit. It’s…”

  He circled it again and she jerked her hips up. “The center of your pleasure.”

  “Yes. Raiden, please.”

  He leaned over her. “Tell me. What do you want, Harper?”

  “Lick me. Suck me.”

  He moved back to her clit, sucking her.

  It was too much and it wasn’t enough. As her release crashed into her, she wrapped her legs around his head, and screamed his name.

  Chapter Twelve

  Raiden had never had a woman come alive under his touch like Harper. She was so responsive, so hungry, so greedy.

  She was still making husky sounds, small shivers going through her body. He pressed a kiss to her inner thigh, then he stood.

  She looked up at him through heavy eyelids. Her rapid breathing was making her full breasts heave and Raiden took in every inch of her. He felt like he was going to explode.

  “I want you to touch me,” he demanded.

  “Oh?”

  “I want your mouth on my cock. Now.”

  She got up on her knees. “I don’t like bossy men.”

  “Harper, suck my cock.”

  She moved closer, her hands pressing to his thighs. Her short nails dug into his skin. “You are too used to getting your own way.”

  Pushing the edge, he made a growling sound.

  Suddenly, she moved, leaping up and taking him down. He landed on the soft pillows with Harper straddling him.

  “Luckily, I seem to like it,” she murmured. “Mostly.” She scooted back until his cock was in her hands. Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

  Raiden paused, watching her as she looked at him. “Am I…different from the men of Earth?”

  “Ah, just a little larger.” She wrapped her fingers around his thick cock and pumped.

  She dragged her tongue across the head of him. Raiden swallowed a groan and let her lick at him. Then she opened her mouth and took him in.

  She moved slowly at first, adjusting to his size.

  “Relax,” he murmured.

  But it didn’t take her long to find her rhythm, bobbing her head and sucking him deep. He felt his cock hit the back of her throat, but she swallowed, moaning on him.

  Damn. He tangled his hand in her hair, pushing her down deeper so she took more of him. She was driving him crazy and he was losing control. He never lost control.

  He felt his body tensing, his hips thrusting up against her mouth, but he couldn’t quite let go.

  She pulled off him. “I’ve got you, Raiden. I’m here.” Her gaze met his, and then, keeping eye contact, she lowered her mouth down on him, sucking him between her lips.

  Raiden couldn’t hold back any longer. He came with a roar. As he spilled himself inside her mouth, he felt Harper’s hands stroking him, her mouth sucking every drop.

  He yanked her up into his arms, holding her tight. Her arms moved around him. Raiden buried his face in her hair and for the first time in a very long time, just let himself enjoy the feel of a woman.

  She nuzzled into him, her skin still damp. But he wasn’t done with her yet. Far from it.

  He rolled her under him again, covering her with his body.

  Her eyes went wide. “You’re ready…again?”

  “Aurelian men come two or three times in quick succession.”

  Her mouth opened in an O. Her beautiful breasts, topped with pink nipples captured his attention. He leaned down, sucking on them. She writhed beneath him.

  He slid his hand down her body and her hips rolled against him. Finally, he was sliding a finger inside her. Damn, she was
tight, but she was also wet, making the entry smooth for him. His cock was going to feel so good sliding inside her. He pumped her harder, loving her responsive moves and cries.

  “I want to bury myself deep inside you, Harper.”

  “Fuck me, Raiden. Please.”

  “Where do you want my cock?”

  “Inside me.” Her head dropped back.

  Raiden reared up, holding her in his lap. “Let me see your eyes, Harper.”

  Blue-gray eyes came back to him. He lifted her with one hand while his other circled his throbbing cock. He lowered her down, the head rubbing through her damp folds.

  As he entered her, she moaned. He’d never heard a more beautiful sound. He pumped his hips up, slowly working inside her. She was so damned tight.

  “You’re too big,” she whispered.

  “No, I’ll fill you up just right.” He pumped inside her again, finally buried all the way inside her.

  He filled his hands with the sweet curves of her ass and started to move. She cried out, and the sound of their bodies slapping together filled the room.

  “Again. More.”

  Raiden couldn’t handle any more. He thrust hard, hearing her cry as he went deep, then he pushed her back on the pillows and started to hammer inside her. “I could live here. Right here. My cock will never get enough of you.”

  “Yes.” She arched up, taking everything he gave her. Then her body clamped down on his, and she screamed his name.

  He dragged his cock out of her and rammed home one last time. His body jerked, and he threw his head back, as his orgasm slammed into him and he came deep inside her body.

  He dropped his forehead to hers, trying to pull air into his burning lungs. He couldn’t seem to form any words, so he just stayed there, buried inside her, and pressed his face against her neck.

  “Don’t let me go,” she murmured against his skin.

  “I won’t.” And Raiden knew that wasn’t a lie. He wasn’t done with her and a part of him wondered if he ever would be.

  ***

  Harper took her time cleaning the weapons. She wiped the oiled cloth along the blade of each sword. She’d already completed one wall of weapons in the weapons room. She only had a few more to take care of.

  The room was packed with weapons from all around the galaxy. The walls were covered in swords, daggers, and staffs. Racks filled the space and held axes, nets, and various other weapons she didn’t recognize.

  But all her attention wasn’t on the blades. No, her chaotic thoughts all starred one sexy, tattooed gladiator, and what they’d done to each other yesterday evening. She was more than a little sore between her legs.

  Harper blew out a breath and smiled to herself. She’d had several lovers in her lifetime, but nothing could quite equal what she’d shared with Raiden in that subterranean pool.

  God, he’d been insatiable. He’d taken her again on the edge of the pool and he’d given her the longest, strongest orgasms she’d ever experienced. Oh, it was so easy to imagine that big cock of his sliding inside her, filling her up.

  They’d stayed by the pool, sleeping on the pillows in a tangle of limbs. They’d snuck back into the House of Galen at sunrise.

  The sound of quiet footsteps made her shake her head. She’d better focus on what she was doing or she might just slice a finger off with one of these swords.

  “Mistress.”

  Harper’s head jerked up. She saw a young woman standing nearby in a simple white dress—she’d learned this was the standard garb household servants wore. Her head was bowed and she didn’t make eye contact, but Harper didn’t think she’d seen her before. “Ah, can I help you?”

  “For you.” The woman moved forward and held out a small piece of paper.

  As Harper took it, the woman hurried away, disappearing out of the room and down the corridor. Harper glanced at the paper. It wasn’t like paper on Earth. It was tougher, more fibrous, and made her think of old-fashioned papyrus.

  She flicked it open. There were words scrawled on it…in English?

  Harper. I need to see you. It’s important. The guards will let you through at midday today. Come alone.

  Harper’s muscles locked. The writing was shaky, but she’d seen Regan’s scrawl in her notebooks back on the space station. It was definitely her friend’s handwriting. Harper stroked a finger across the writing.

  Quickly, she folded the paper and slipped it into the pocket of her leathers. She tapped her foot on the ground. She should tell Raiden about this. She shook her head. He’d order her not to go. Hell, he’d probably lock her up. She knew it was insanely risky to sneak into the House of Thrax…

  Harper assessed the risks. They were high. But she was trained, she wasn’t defenseless this time. She had to see Regan and getting caught was worth the risk.

  Harper kept herself busy for the next few hours, waiting impatiently for the suns to reach their zenith. She timed her escape when the others were heading into the dining room to eat their midday meal. As soon as she saw Raiden and the others enter the large dining area, she grabbed a basket of damaged gauntlets and ducked out into the tunnels.

  As she approached the main doors of the House of Galen, she took a deep breath. Stay calm. Act like you belong.

  The guards both eyed her. “What are you doing here?”

  She lifted the basket. “Need to drop these guards and armor pieces off for repair.”

  The guards frowned at each other. “We have no authorization of this.”

  She shrugged. “No skin off my nose.” When they both just stared at her, she shook her head. “I mean, it doesn’t bother me.” She held the basket out. “You guys can get them where they need to go. I know Raiden won’t be happy if his favorite harness isn’t ready for the fight tonight.”

  Both guards straightened.

  “Fine,” the taller one said. “Go. Take it and get back here.”

  She nodded and hurried out into the main tunnel. She walked through the tunnel network, heading toward the House of Thrax. She’d studied a map of the arena and its tunnels on the wall in the gladiators’ living area. She just prayed she didn’t get lost.

  How had Regan convinced the guards to look the other way? God, Harper just hoped her friend was okay. She needed to talk to Regan, see for herself she was unharmed. She had to tell Regan to hold on, that she was going to get her out.

  A memory hit. I’m going to help you, Brianna. Just reach out and let me help you. Harper’s steps faltered. She hadn’t been able to save her sister, but this time, she wasn’t going to fail.

  Harper reached the corridor leading to the House of Thrax and stowed her basket in an alcove. She waited in the shadows around the corner, staring at the double doors made of beaten copper-colored metal. They had a logo with a set of horns on it—the symbol of the Thraxians. Two alien guards stood flanking the doorway.

  It had to be midday. So what did she do now? Ask the guards to just let her in?

  The next minute, the doors to the House of Thrax opened, and she saw the young woman who delivered the message arrive, holding a tray of drinks. The woman laughed quietly with the guards, passing the drinks to them. They moved to the side of the open door.

  Harper took the opportunity.

  She forced herself not to rush, and kept her steps quiet. She reached the door, and while the men were tipping back their goblets, she slipped inside.

  Unlike the House of Galen, inside the House of Thrax was very dark. Through the shadows, she could see the bars of the cells lining both walls. Somewhere ahead, she heard someone moaning in pain. She swallowed. God.

  Harper quietly crept along the cells, searching inside for any sign of Regan. She saw many different species sitting on the dirt-packed floors, slumped over, heads buried in their hands or curled up in a fetal-type position. One man looked up and bared his sharp teeth at her.

  She moved on, and then caught a flash of pale skin in the darkness. A woman was curled up on the floor, matted hair hiding he
r face. She looked about Regan’s size.

  “Regan,” Harper whispered.

  The woman lifted her head.

  Harper gasped, shock reverberating through her. It was Rory Fraser, Regan’s cousin.

  Rory pushed to her feet, her red curls tangled around her face. “Fuck me, Harper. Is it really you?”

  Harper reached through the bars and gripped Rory’s hand. “Sure is.”

  A shudder wracked the woman’s fit body. Her face was covered in dirt and bruises. One of her eyes was swollen shut.

  Harper moved to test the cell door. It was locked tight.

  There was movement from the cell beyond Rory’s.

  “Harper?” A harsh whisper. “Oh, my God, Harper.”

  Regan stood with her arms wrapped around her curvy body. Harper’s heart leaped, her throat closing. They were alive.

  “It is so good to see you,” Harper said.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Regan said quickly.

  “I’m going to get you out of here.” Harper searched the cells. “Have you see Madeline? She was taken with me?”

  Both women shook their heads.

  “You shouldn’t have come.” Regan’s eyes met Harper’s and her face blanched. Her gaze moved over Harper’s shoulders, her mouth opening—

  A hard blow slammed between Harper’s shoulder blades. As she slammed into the bars, she slid down and turned. A kick caught her in the ribs, pain flaring. She looked up and saw Thraxian guards rushing out of the shadows, their veins glowing orange.

  She heard Rory cursing and Regan shouting.

  A trap. Dammit to hell. She’d walked right into it with her eyes wide open.

  Harper reached for her swords, and mentally she cursed herself. She wasn’t wearing them.

  She kicked out with her foot and toppled the closest guard. When the next one rushed at her, she ducked under his sword, and jammed a fist into his armpit. When he grunted, she swung around and thrust the edge of her hand against his lower back. He went down to his knees, dropping his sword.

  Harper scooped the sword up and twirled. The blade of her sword slammed against the one the next Thraxian held. Metal clanged on metal as she fought. But more were coming.

  Too many more.