“Now, it is time for you to join the Everian Hunters who’ve come to this event in the great hall. They will be eager to see you, and those of you who have dream shared will most likely be able to identify your mate without seeing his palm. If a challenge is issued, your potential mate will be required to prove his worth. You may request to see his mark, or you may choose him without that confirmation. Obviously, it’s not too difficult to know the truth when a palm is always visible.”
“Challenge? What challenge?” Katie again. God bless her. I had no idea what the hell was going on.
Treva answered. “Any Hunter may make a claim, and fight to be the first to court you.”
“But you said it’s our choice.” Katie frowned at her.
Treva laughed and headed for the door leading to the large room on the other side of the closed metal. “True. And no matter the outcome of the challenge, the choice will remain with you. Often, Hunters accept the challenge with the intention of impressing their new mates with their skill and strength in hand-to-hand combat.” Turning, she grinned at all of us. “Hoping you will assume those skills will also be applied in bed.”
My mate was probably on the other side of those doors…waiting for me. I wrung my hands together, eager to get on with it. The anticipation and nerves were making me sick to my stomach.
“The last I will share is that before you make your choice, the Officiate will take you and the Hunter to another room where you can spend time together to talk, to help you feel more comfortable so you aren’t immediately alone with him.”
“I wonder what they’re like?” Dani mused aloud. “The Hunters, I mean. We’ve only been here with these guard guys.” What had her dream been like, I wondered?
“Hunters,” Treva replied. “Hunters are honorable, protective. They will be very eager for you. I am not familiar with Earth males, but the males here today will be very dominant and extremely possessive.”
“A possessive, dominant guy?” the petite blonde asked with a sly grin. “When do we start?”
I glanced at Katie. Most of the girls in the room were as excited and ready as I. I could see it in their eyes, the way they were fidgeting and breathing just a little too fast.
There was a knock on the door and a male guard stuck his head in. “All is ready.”
“When does it start?” Treva repeated, then smiled broadly. “Right now.”
***
Alexis
“Are you shitting me?” Katie whispered. “When Treva said eighty, I hadn’t really thought she meant eighty. There are only twelve of us.”
We were standing side by side in the middle of a huge room, Katie on my left. The huge room was a cross between an Earth wedding hall and Hogwarts dining room. The one thing neither of those places could claim was eighty hot men. Every single one of them was gorgeous and the testosterone in the room was worse than I imagined an NFL locker room might be after winning the championship.
I felt like prey, circled and eyed by a group of lethal predators just before they swooped in. All were warriors, I’d heard, men who’d fought the Hive and earned the right to an Interstellar Bride for his mate. Combine that with the mark and these males were well vetted.
Not only did they have to be courageous veterans still serving their planet, but they were all born with a mark that potentially matched their female. A mark that made the two lovers dream of each other. That made them hot and bothered.
I rubbed my thighs together, trying to dull the ache that had only grown since I woke up from my own dream this morning, sweaty and tangled in my nightgown. I’d shared some details with Katie and Dani, but I hadn’t told them that the garment had been up about my waist and my hand had been between my thighs. My pussy had been wet. Sticky even. Like right now.
“Do all guys on Everis look like this?” I leaned over and whispered the question to Dani, who stood on my right.
All of them were dressed in identical uniforms. They wore tan-colored pants and shirt with a darker jacket, a chocolate color, on top. Black boots came to below their knees. Just like on US uniforms, braids or stripes of color adorned their wrists or upper arms, indicating rank. Some had no stripes at all, some had one. A few had more. There were also little pins at the collar of their jacket. They were different, depending on the wearer, and I wondered what they signified.
A man in uniform was hot, but to make this bunch even more…virile, were the thigh holsters. None had guns in them, perhaps so they didn’t shoot each other when fighting over us—I envisioned a fight easily—but having their strong thighs delineated definitely worked for me.
“I have no idea, but my last date on Earth looked like PeeWee Herman in comparison to these guys,” Dani said. I couldn’t help but smile, thinking back on the dates I’d had. Dani totally called it. The boys I’d dated were weak shadows of men compared to these Hunters.
“I’m looking at eighty reasons why I’m glad I didn’t punch my V card back home,” Katie added.
I couldn’t help the snort that escaped, but I sobered quickly when two men came our way.
“Earth females,” the one with dark hair said. He had two stripes on his sleeve.
I nodded my head.
“Have you shared dreams with a marked mate?” He bowed low, taking my hand in his and placing a soft kiss on my fingers. “Or are you free to be worshipped by another?”
The man beside him had lighter hair and remained quiet. While he seemed content to stand before us, he wasn’t as eager. He must be the guy’s wingman, obviously convinced none of us were his mate.
“I’m sorry.” I pulled my hand free and he stood. “We’ve all been sharing dreams since we arrived.” I kind of felt bad for them, but I had to wonder, if they were so good looking, why didn’t they have Everian women climbing them like wild monkeys? I mean, if I didn’t have the mark, didn’t know there was one specific male here for me, I’d be working the hall.
“Terrible news.” He grinned, and I hoped he found his mate. He was charming and fun and hot enough to melt the polar ice caps. But he wasn’t mine, and we both knew it. “Should he fail to please you, I beg you to find me. I will lick your sweet cream until you no longer remember his name.”
Did he…? Was that…? Did he just tell me he wanted to… God, these guys were full throttle. What was Von going to be like in person?
“Back away, Zakariah. She’s mine. I made first claim.” A deep voice spoke from behind me and I whirled, thrilled finally to meet the man of my dreams…
Except it wasn’t. The strange officer who’d been watching me the last two days stood behind me like a guard dog. What the hell was he talking about. He wasn’t mine, either. I glanced quickly from Katie to Dani and both shook their heads. We had no idea what this guy was talking about.
“So be it, Cosmo.” The playfulness faded from my flirting friend, Zakariah, and he inclined his head, clearly disappointed, and walked away.
Over the next hour, six of the twelve women left with a male in tow. Some of the males left on their own and all the while the guard named Cosmo stood behind me, watching like a snake. That’s what it felt like. Like he was a snake and I the fat little mouse he couldn’t wait to swallow hole.
But that was not going to happen. No way. I refused. Not even for thirty days. And besides, Von would come for me. He had to come for me.
When only about ten Hunters remained, Dani leaned her head on my shoulder with a sigh. “I don’t think they’re going to come. Our mates.”
I felt disappointed, but I knew he was here, on this planet. Somewhere. And if he didn’t show up? He’d said to wait for him. But for how long? Was I supposed to just remain in this place, dream about him, until—
A set of the hall’s double doors opened with such force they slammed into the walls. In came an Everian male with more intent than any of the others. More focus. More…power. He wore the same uniform, but I could see some kind of leaf pins at his collar and four stripes on his sleeves. But that was like sprinkl
es on a great big chocolate cake. It was his dark hair with striking blue eyes that had me mesmerized. The way he looked about the room, gaze raking over each one of the remaining women until he looked at me. Then never looked away.
His shoulders were broad and I watched as his chest rose and fell with his deep breathing. Had he run here or something? Was that why he was late? The uniform fit him perfectly, especially the taut fit over his strong leg muscles. His hands clenched in fists at his sides as he made his way to me.
Oh. My. God.
“Holy shit, Lexi,” Katie murmured. “He’s coming straight for you.”
Chapter Seven
Lexi
He was. It was as if I had a rope and I was pulling him in. A tractor beam out of the sci-fi movies. If I was bringing him to me, then he was capturing me in his stare. I held my breath and I was sure my heart skipped a beat.
“He’s so hot,” Dani whispered. “I swear he’s got pheromones dripping from his pores.”
Yeah, he did and I was sucking them all up as if I’d been in a drought. The way my nipples tightened, the way my core clenched, I had to admit I’d never felt like this back home. Not once. I definitely hadn’t felt like this by just staring at anyone else before. And he hadn’t even talked to me yet.
No, he had talked to me. In my dreams. And then some. I knew it was him. Von. Felt it.
When he stopped before me, he stared. I stared back. I couldn’t miss the chiseled brow, the piercing blue eyes, the blunt nose, full lips, square jaw, dark stubble. God, the list could go on and on, but either Katie or Dani cleared her throat.
“These are my friends.” I said their names, but didn’t turn my head. Neither did he.
“Greetings, friends,” he said in way of reply. His voice was just as I remembered and I shivered.
Having him two feet in front of me made my dead libido wake up. I wanted to jump on him, kiss him, lick his neck, run my fingers through his hair, then down over his chest and rock-hard abs. Over his cock. God, I wanted to squeeze it in my fist, stroke it. Lick it.
I whimpered.
The corner of his mouth tipped up at the slight sound.
“Will you tell me your name now?” he asked, and I smiled. It was his way of letting me know he was the one in my dreams. No one else would know that detail, no one but him.
“Lexi,” I whispered.
He repeated it once, then again. Testing it. I loved the sound of it on his tongue. What else would be good on his tongue? Yeah, my nipple.
“Oh my god,” I groaned.
One dark brow inched up. “Problem?” he asked.
“I have one.” The voice was gruff, loud. It made my mate’s face go dark with anger as he finally tore his gaze from mine to look past me, over my shoulder.
“Cosmo.”
I finally looked away from my mate’s chiseled features and glanced over my shoulder to where Cosmo stood in his navy uniform with Officiate Treva in matching navy beside him.
The tension between the two males was obvious. I didn’t like the guy and it was obvious Von didn’t either. I was actually glad they weren’t friends because that would be awkward. Who wanted to be with a guy who had a creepy best friend?
“You have met Alexis Lopez?” Cosmo asked.
Cosmo knew my name? I hadn’t spoken a word to him. Why did he know my name?
Von turned and faced his adversary. “I have met my mate, yes.”
“Your mate?” Cosmo countered. Anger turned his eyes cold. “Officiate Treva will confirm that I have already made first claim.”
I saw Von’s fists tighten, felt the anger come off him in waves. “She is mine. I challenge your claim.”
What? This Cosmo guy made a claim on me? Was there a sign-up sheet somewhere I didn’t know about? He hadn’t spoken a single word to me. Shouldn’t he have at least asked me first? While I didn’t want to get too close to the guy, he could have come to me. Maybe he’d tried? I had to admit, if he’d been trying, I hadn’t made it easy for him. Every time the three of us saw him approaching the last two days, we would spin around and walk the other way. Maybe I should have sucked it up and talked to him, let him try, because I could have shut this shit down pretty fast with a big fat no.
“She is mine.” Cosmo’s voice seemed to lower an octave and the sound of his dark declaration made me shiver, and not with desire, if that was his goal.
“You cannot refuse my challenge. She’s my marked mate,” Von growled.
“What?” Cosmo was livid, his face turning a mottled shade of red. Wow, he really wanted me. I’d always wanted to be sexy and desirable enough that two guys might fight over me, but I realized that was not a good fantasy. These two men were powerful warriors, and they looked like they were ready to rip each other to pieces with me standing between them.
“We have dream shared, our marks match,” Von added, looking at Treva now. Obviously this clarified everything, to everyone but me.
“Is this true?” Treva asked me, her gaze steady but emotionless. It seemed she was the impartial judge in this face-off.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Major Cosmo, as you are well aware, the law states that the female will choose which warrior will receive first rights, and thirty days to officially mate,” she said, sounding as if she was reciting from some legal rule book. She probably was.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katie’s shoulders relax. Clearly she had been worried I’d have to go off with creepy guy, too.
“I demand a combat challenge,” Major Cosmo barked. He turned to me. “You must accept the winner of the challenge as your first.”
“No.” The word whispered over my lips like a soft sigh. No way. And what was Cosmo’s problem? Was he not backing down because he really wanted me or because he didn’t want Von to have me? There appeared to be no love lost between the two of them and I didn’t want to get caught in the middle of their fight.
Von growled, his body crowding me. His hand came to rest on the small of my back, but instead of feeling intimidated, like Cosmo made me feel, I felt protected by Von’s aggressive posture, his touch. His strength. An odd sense of comfort washed over me and I swayed toward Von, wanting more of his heat, his nearness.
Cosmo watched me move and his eyes narrowed. I shivered as Von gently pulled me to stand behind him where Cosmo could no longer see me.
“You have no choice, Cosmo. You must accept Von’s challenge,” Officiate Treva ordered.
Von turned to look at me for a moment and I forgot to breathe. I saw so much hunger in his gaze, such awe. His gaze fell from mine and I knew he was staring at my right breast.
I didn’t want to watch some stupid fight where Von and Cosmo would beat each other to death. That was crazy. I peeked around Von and spoke to the Officiate. “Treva, I would like to see proof of Von’s mark before I choose him.”
“Doesn’t she understand how this works?” Cosmo asked. “Von, show her your damn palm.”
Von glanced at me. “My mark is elsewhere.”
Treva’s eyes widened and Cosmo appeared to have been hit in the head with a bat. “Elsewhere?” he asked.
“I was not born with the mark on my palm,” Von replied, although I knew that. I knew it because my own mark tingled on my chest. Did his as well?
“This is quite unusual,” Treva replied. “You must both reveal your marks then to confirm the match.”
“Here?” I squeaked, thinking about having to expose my breast to the entire room.
“Is there a problem? You made the request,” she replied.
Von stepped between us and spoke to her. “I am aware of the protocols, Officiate Treva, but Lexi’s mark is on a place I do not wish other males to see.”
I blushed and my nipples tightened as he watched, as if answering his silent call. He lifted his hand, as if to touch me, but stopped himself and moved to block Cosmo’s view completely once more. Treva had said they were possessive and protective, hadn’t she? I just hadn’t realized how much
Von’s all-male posturing would turn me on.
Officiate Treva looked at me. “Follow me to a private room.”
Von looked at me again, nodded. His jaw was clenched. He didn’t like what was happening, didn’t like the way Cosmo lurked or looked at me, but it seemed he couldn’t argue further. And I had no desire to see his beautiful chiseled face marred by bruises and blood.
Treva walked to me. “Alexis, if you will accompany me?”
I glanced at Katie and Dani, bit my lip. Katie shrugged and Dani nodded, a reassuring smile on her face.
I didn’t have a choice but to follow. If I wanted Von, I’d have to play by their rules. I’d initiated this to try to stop a fight, but judging by the way the two men were scowling at one another, this wasn’t going to matter. Nothing would dissuade Cosmo.
Maybe he didn’t want me at all. Maybe he just wanted an excuse to fight Von.
Treva led the way. I was behind her and the two men followed. Looking back, I peeked around their large frames and saw Katie and Dani giving me thumbs-up signs until the door to the main hall closed behind us. Treva led us to a side room, a much smaller one. I heard the door click shut.
“Are you aware of the mark on your body, Alexis?” Treva asked.
I nodded, then whispered, “Yes.”
My gaze flicked to Von, who was watching me with coiled tension.
“Senior Hunter Von mentioned it is not on your palm, but in a private location?”
I nodded again. When none spoke, I realized they were waiting for more from me. “The side of my breast.”
Major Cosmo’s nostrils flared and Von’s blue eyes darkened to a stormy gray.
He stepped forward, stripped off his brown uniform jacket, dropped it to the floor. Unbuttoning his shirt, he tugged the side of it open to reveal part of a drool-worthy chest. There was a smattering of dark hair and a flat nipple. Beside it, on the side of his ribs was his mark. A mark identical to my own. I gasped, seeing the upside-down Texas-shaped discoloration on his flesh was fascinating. I wanted to touch it. Kiss it. Trace it with my tongue. I could even feel my mark tingle beneath my dress. A proximity thing?
His Virgin Bride (Interstellar Brides: The Virgins Book 1) Page 5