The Alien Pirates' Treasure (Star Pirates Book 1)

by Charity Wells

  “Oh, shit!” I yelp as I flail towards the ground.

  Strong arms wrap behind my back and neck, catching me before I hurt myself. “I’ve got you,” Ca’lek says in a quiet but tense voice.

  I hadn’t even known he was in the room. His dark fur must’ve concealed him in the shadows. What’s he doing here all alone in the dark anyway?

  Carefully, he sets me on my feet, but he doesn’t let go. My heart beats erratically in my chest as my fingers clutch onto him for dear life.

  “Thank you,” I say, breathless and fixated on how close and intimately he’s holding me.

  A few seconds pass without either of us moving, and I eventually clear my throat. Just as he’s about to let go, one of the babies kicks hard, jabbing him where my belly presses against him.

  Startled, Ca’Lek shifts, eyeing my stomach with surprise and suspicion. I can barely see him in the light from the corridor. His hand moves, slowly drifting down until it hovers just over my stomach. Then it lands, smoothing softly over the curve. The baby kicks again, connecting with his palm. He jumps, pulling away. Then his lips curl into a smile. It’s like he’s forgotten I’m here and it’s just him and my belly. His hand drops again and pushes lightly, like he’s trying to find the baby again. More kicks answer him. Obviously they’re both awake and moving now. Ca’lek’s face brighens in delight. I can’t help but giggle at his amazement, it’s refreshing in a man. Hearing me, he looks up with a huge smile plastered across his entire face.

  “The babies say hi,” I tell him.

  His expression changes again and his eyes grow wide, then he surprises me by pulling me closer to his body in a soft embrace. Burying his nose in my hair, he inhales and sighs. I shiver at the intimate gesture, enjoying the heat of his body on mine. He groans, the sound purring against my shoulder. I catch my breath at the sound, inhaling sharply through my nose. Something smells good. I sniff again and realize it’s Ca’lek. He smells fucking amazing. There’s a rich, spicy musk rising from his fur. It’s warm and inviting, which leaves me breathless and dizzy with want.

  Reaching higher, I thread my hand into his mane, digging my fingers into the soft fur and wafting more of that scent into the air. He trembles under my touch, clutching me even tighter now. He steps forward and my back touches a wall. His tongue drags up the side of my throat. A tiny mewl of desire escapes me. As my body burns with desire, I become wet with need. Ca’lek inhales and growls possessively, which only spurs me higher.

  “Oh, Ca’lek,” I murmur, encouraging him even further. I know I shouldn’t—we shouldn’t—but I can’t stop.

  With no warning, Ca’lek freezes and a slew of quiet curses fly from his mouth. Slowly, and with obvious effort, he releases me and takes a few steps back. I find the sudden loss of his heat disturbing and without thinking, I try to follow him.

  He steps back again. “Now that you are...well, I will leave you to whatever it is you came in here for,” he says stiffly. There’s a rustle of sound as he moves further away, heading for the exit.

  “Ca’lek, wait—” I start, wanting, no, needing him to stay.

  “Good night,” he interrupts.

  Then the light clicks on, blinding me, and he’s gone.

  “Aw, fuck,” I curse, knowing he’s left me high and dry. Well, not actually dry I should say…

  Shit, what is wrong with me? It’s gotta be pregnancy hormones or something. I’m not normally like that at all. And Ca’lek has a girl he’s going home to, even if he doesn’t like her.

  It’s because he saved you and nothing else, I lie to myself.

  I was caught off guard by how nice he was being. He was just rattled because he had to touch me again. I mean, he said so himself. His people don’t embrace the opposite gender unless they are mates. He is just starved for female contact, that’s all. And he smelled so damn good. It was a perfectly natural reaction for either of us.

  No longer hungry, I head back to my cabin to lay down. I wouldn’t call my new living quarters luxurious by any stretch of the imagination. Bland would be a better world. It’s certainly spacious. It has everything I need, and the bed is very comfortable given we’re on a ship. My bed back home was never this soft. Thinking about home, my thoughts become sad; it only feels like a few days for me, but for everyone else it has definitely been longer.

  Do they have any idea I was abducted? Or do they think I just ran away? I may not have had the nicest apartment or the best job at the day spa, but I did well enough for myself. Not many could say they had a decent home and steady work on the station, but I could, and I did it all on my own.

  Now, I have nothing. It’s just me and these two. How will I ever care for them? No ones going to hire me in my condition. Hell, I’ll be lucky to find a job after I give birth, much less someone trustworthy to watch the babies while I work. All I know is that wherever I get dropped off at, I’ll be starting from scratch and the universe isn’t a very forgiving place for someone like me.

  I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, then grab a pillow and try stuffing it beneath my knees. It’s not easy. I let out an irritated sigh when I finally succeed and realize this isn’t any more comfortable than my last position.

  I’m tired, horny, and frustrated. Every inch of my body has ached since I woke up on that damn Viktoid ship. Every part of me is sore, stiff, and uncomfortable. My back screams by the end of the day, my feet swell, and my legs are constantly tired. It’s impossible to roll over without losing my breath, and God forbid I need to pee anytime soon. Getting up requires a herculean effort. Why did my life have to go from decent to sucks ass practically overnight?

  ∞∞∞

  Va’naar

  Ca’lek has been acting strange since his attack on Kuma, which is stranger than normal. I was starting to worry. He has been avoiding all the public areas on the ship, staying either in his cabin or on the bridge. Occasionally he visits the cargo and medbay, or turns up in the engine room, but he never goes to the crew lounge or the mess hall anymore unless he has to. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s avoiding Polly, but that can’t be it. He seems to be avoiding me as well.

  For myself, I tried to follow his order and stay away, but inevitably, I often found myself hovering within her vicinity, watching her surreptitiously. I soaked in her smiles and laughter, wishing they were directed at me. And the times that I caught her watching me were the best moments of my day. I knew I was setting myself up for heartbreak, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted her, not Sa’rin. I wanted the sweet, friendly little human. I craved her warmth and good humor. She was always so kind to the other crew members, asking how they felt or how their shift had been.

  The day I walked into the mess hall and found her rubbing Kuma’s shoulder, I nearly lost it. Her hands were on him and the groans of pleasure he made were practically obscene. We all froze, eyeing each other warily. A growl rang through the sudden silence. It was me, I growled, glaring at Kuma. Swallowing with effort, I had forced myself to step back and leave the room.

  “What was that about?” I’d heard Polly ask quietly. Kuma’s chuckle had made me growl under my breath again.

  “Just a quirk of biology,” he’d replied vaguely. Polly’s next comment was lost as I moved further from the room.

  I was a mess. The last several days both Ca’lek and I have wasted countless hours searching for that strange damned smell. Not only is it getting stronger, but each day I find myself more on edge. I’m starting to believe that my restlessness and irritation are being caused by it, though I’m not sure why.

  We’d both pestered Messa about the environmental systems to the point that she started throwing stuff at us when we head into her bay. I asked Ha’dir about the possibility that we had somehow picked up a contagion that was affecting our olfactory senses when we raided the Viktoid’s ship, but an exhaustive search came back negative. On top of that, he doesn’t smell it at all.

  My species has a sensitive olfactory palate, and it is very strange that Ca’lek
and I are the only ones who smell it. Ha’dir surmised that we may have been exposed to a female’s pheromones on the Viktoid ship considering the only females around are Messa, who is mated and incompatible with our species, and Polly, who is human and we all know they don’t produce pheromones the way we do.

  Five cycles have passed since we raided the Viktoids and I can’t stand this anymore. My mind is clouded by thoughts I shouldn’t be having. It’s impairing my judgement. I know it has something to do with that smell. Every time I catch a big whiff of it, I become uncomfortably hard. All I want is to find Polly and bury my cock in her cunt. If something doesn't change soon, I fear I may do something I shouldn’t.

  ∞∞∞

  Ca’lek

  She was soft. By Vren, she was so soft. I could still feel her in my hands and it was maddening. I wanted more, I wanted her, but I couldn’t have her. Sa’rin is waiting. We can’t break the bonding contract. It’s unheard of and unfair to our intended. We couldn’t betray our families or her by taking another.

  And where in the hell is that smell coming from!? I was constantly aroused now, especially since I tasted Polly. For the last three cycles, I’d woken up with my cock in my hand and cum on my belly, gasping for breath and cursing the cold emptiness of my bed. I wanted Polly next to me, under me, and with Va’naar on her other side. I wanted the bond completed, with both of them. My relationship with Va’naar would never be about sex, but mating with the same female would solidify the bond I have with him, making it stronger, changing it on another level.

  It was becoming more obvious by the day that Va’naar and I were producing mating pheromones, but Ha’dir couldn’t figure out why. The med-scans showed no signs of chemical exposure and without corresponding female pheromones, we should not have been triggered.

  Ha’dir had no heat suppressants on board and if it didn’t stop soon, we would spend the next several cycles in misery with no relief until our mating with Sa’rin. Thank Vren that Va’naar has been keeping clear of Polly. Even though our pheromones won’t trigger the human female into a mating heat, I worry that his excessive nurturing behavior—combined with his attachment with Polly—would make it impossible for him to bond with Sa’rin when the time comes.

  If only Polly hadn’t come into the mess hall that night. If only I hadn’t given in to my desires and tasted her. The flavor of her skin on my tongue had lingered for hours, making it impossible to sleep. As I busy myself with tasks to take my mind off my aching cock, I tell myself over and over that mating with Sa’rin is the answer. The problem is no matter how many times I envision Va’naar and myself bonded to her, Polly takes her place in my mind and I become aroused all over again.

  What in Vren’s unholy balls am I going to do?

  We’re only one day cycle from Rissa V and another six from home. I need something to keep both me and Va’naar busy and out of trouble. With the exception of raiding the Viktoid ship, rescuing Polly, and helping the peaceful brellians, this trip has been uneventful. The lack of action is frustrating. I need that rush of adrenaline that comes with raiding a ship to take my mind off Polly.

  I close my eyes, envisioning a massive ship with cargo bays filled with loot. My team and I would board the ship and take out the enemies who care for nothing but their own selfish greed. Va’naar and I would search under every surface and behind every bulkhead until we secured every last valuable item. Then, after keeping our fair share, we would deliver the remains to those who needed it most.

  I groan, trying to find satisfaction with my fantasies, but a brief flash of Polly’s wide green eyes enters my mind. I feel my cock stiffen as it comes to life. The pain is almost unbearable where it strains against my trousers.

  “Kuma,” I choke out. “Find us another raid.”

  “Yes Cap’n. You okay? You sound off.”

  “Just find us a damn ship,” I yell. Turning off my comm, I storm to my cabin. The need for release is too overwhelming and I refuse to think too hard about the fact that it was a certain human I was stroking my cock to and not my intended mate.

  Chapter 6

  Polly

  We’ve finally reached orbit around Rissa V, but it’s late and visitors are only allowed to land in the mornings. I’ll have to wait until their run rises on the eastern hemisphere to get off this blasted ship and out into some fresh air. It’s been six days since my rescue and I feel like a basket case. I’m itchy and the ship has been much too hot for me. I haven’t slept well in days. Ever since that heated encounter with Ca’lek in fact. I’m either lying awake sweaty and miserable, or waking up sweaty, panting, and miserable.

  This stop at Rissa V should be a nice change of pace. According to Messa and Duresh, the market colony, where outsiders are required to land, is safe enough for me to explore with them while Ca’lek and Va’naar deliver the medicine they stole. We’ll go down to the surface tomorrow. Then it’s off to Mephida and whatever new life I can scratch out for myself.

  For now, I’m standing in the corridor behind Messa, watching her scan through the environmental controls. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with it?” I ask, astonished that I’m the only one who appears to be having an issue. Sweat drips down my hairline and onto my brow, which I wipe off with the back of my hand. No matter how many showers I take, nothing cools me down.

  “Yes, just as I told Ca’lek and Va’naar, there’s nothing wrong with the environmental settings.” She closes the hatch next to my quarters and sighs, clearly exasperated.

  “Well, clearly something’s wrong if they’re complaining about the heat too.”

  Messa turns around and frowns. “They’ve been complaining about a strange smell in the air, not the temperature. If you ask me those two have gone mad. If they aren’t griping about something no one else can smell, they’re bickering like newly hatched spawn over their mother’s teat.”

  I utter a sharp laugh at her joke. I like Messa. She’s so carefree and brutally honest. She just cracks me up.

  “Well, can I at least have a fan or something? Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones, but I can't sleep at night. I’m way too hot. I end up tossing and turning all night and by the time morning comes, I’m a sweaty, exhausted mess.”

  Messa pulls up her date pad, flicking her fingers over the device. “That I can do. I’ll have a cooling unit fabricated and brought to your quarters in no time.”

  “Oh my God. Thank you.”

  She nods her head and heads back to her workstation, leaving me to my own devices. As soon as the coast is clear, I lift my arm and sniff my armpits, worried that the constant sweating has caused me to put off some terrible body odor despite the regular showers I’ve been taking. When I detect nothing but a hint of soap, I’m relieved.

  “Well, at least they can't blame me…” I mutter beneath my breath.

  “Blame you for what?” Ca'lek asks, suddenly appearing behind me. He looks wild and his pupils are completely blown. Sniffing the air around me, he’s close enough that I can smell that wonderful spicy musk of his. It sets me on fire.

  “No...nothing at all,” I say, trying to discreetly fan myself from the sudden increase in heat blasting through the corridor.

  Heavy footsteps come up behind me and catch my attention. I turn to see who it is. It’s Va’naar. He looks almost as wild as Ca’lek. Sniffing furiously, he searches along the corridor.

  “Ca’lek, it’s getting stronger,” he growls as he nears us.

  As he approaches I notice that his pupils are also blown wide just like Ca’lek’s. What in the heavens is going on? Maybe Messa isn’t too far off the mark. I don’t think they’ve lost their minds though, they look more like they’re high on something. Between their strange, erratic behavior and now this.

  I watch Va’naar’s odd sniff search of the hall, all too aware of Ca’lek standing right on top of me, smelling the air while eyeing me aggressively. Then it hits me. I groan, covering my face in embarrassment. They are smelling me, aren’t they? They have to b
e. Mephidaeans have really strong olfactory senses.

  Va’naar closes in on me, pressing against my back. I gasp in surprise, then step away from him as he smells the air I was just standing in. I’m absolutely mortified now. Do I really smell that strong?

  Taking a few steps back, I fumble with the door scanner. The door hisses open, and I slowly back into my room. At the same time, I catch a whiff of Va’naar. His scent is similar to Ca’lek’s, but lighter, with a citrusy tang instead of Ca’lek’s deeper, spicier musk. The tang of his scent has me shivering with need, soaking my panties.

  “It’s her,” Va’naar groans to Ca’lek, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me since he snuck up on me. Ca’lek growls low in reply.

  Watching them sends another tingly shiver down my spine. It’s not dread I’m feeling. No, I’m trembling with need. My body clenches in anticipation and I’m breathless from it. They look at me like starving men staring at a feast, but I can’t. I want them so badly. I want to invite them in, but I slap the touchpad instead, and the door begins to close.

  Ca’lek’s hand shoots out and grabs the door, stopping it before it has a chance to shut him out. A low rumble rises in the back of his throat. He steps forward, following me inside. Va’naar crowds closely behind him with an eager whine in his throat.

  “Ca’lek? What are you—”

  His hand reaches out and curls behind my neck, drawing me gently to him. My belly collides with his abs and he curves over me, running his nose along my neck. Va’naar circles around and presses against my back, tracing the other side of my throat with his nose. I shiver under their touch.

  “You smell incredible,” he purrs, nipping my shoulder. The sharp little pinch makes me gasp. I’m sandwiched between two hard, hot bodies. Va’naar’s hands slip between Ca’lek and I to cup my tender breasts. I moan, arching into his palms. Ca’lek grips me tightly, like he’s afraid Va’naar will pull me away from him.

  “Gently,” Va’naar cautions Ca’lek, earning a strained glare from his primary, but Ca’lek’s caresses become lighter and more tender.