Surrender [Coalition Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Sarah Marsh

  Sally was glad that he couldn’t see the look of pure shock that was on her face at his confession. She was once again both terrified and deliriously happy that he would want to be with her even knowing at that time that she was emotionally damaged. The voice inside her head, which was normally very jaded and disconnected, was suddenly optimistic that she could possibly have a future and a family with this man, if only she were brave enough to reach out and take it. Sally tried to steady her nerves, and then she turned around in his arms to look at him.

  “I want to be with you, Arkenon. You’ve made me feel things that I didn’t think I was capable of,” she said, looking into his hopeful green eyes. “But there are things in my past that you need to know about, reasons why I’m…broken.”

  “Tell me then,” he said gently as he cupped her cheek and brushed away the tear that had escaped with her confession.

  “I wasn’t completely honest in my history interview about my parents. I told Caric that my father left right after I was born and my mother died not long after that. The truth is that my father didn’t actually leave for good until I was about nine, but he’d always been unfaithful to my mother. When I was old enough to finally understand why my mom was so sad all of the time and why he was often gone for months, leaving us to fend for ourselves, it was a difficult thing to accept. Then one day he just came home, packed up all of his clothes, and told my mother that he was never coming back. The next morning I woke up and found that she had slit her wrists in the bath and bled out while I was sleeping in the next room. At nine years old, I had to call 911 and tell them that my mother was dead and she’d left me there without anyone else in the world. I had to let a stranger take me away to child services knowing that my mother hadn’t loved me enough to stay after he had left us.” Sally managed to finish without breaking down, but she still braced herself for the utter horror and pity she’d always imagined would cross anyone’s face if she’d ever told this story before.

  Amazingly, when she met Ark’s eyes, all she saw was compassion and acceptance.

  “It was never because you were unworthy of love that she left you, Sally. Not everyone is strong enough to make it through what life throws at them, and most likely your mother was dealing with some mental health stability issues,” he said, pulling her close and holding her tight. “I’m so sorry that there was no one there to help you through that.”

  “Thank you,” she said, reveling in his embrace. “I want to be what you need, but it may take some time for me to break these patterns of behavior. Can you be patient with me if I still pull back sometimes?”

  “Yes, I can do that,” he answered, pulling her in for a kiss. “But first I think we should give you your reward for good behavior.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sally had never had a man kiss her like Arkenon was kissing her. It felt like every single part of his body was participating. It was slow and methodical, like he was savoring her taste, as though he wanted to crawl into her and explore until he knew her like no other. She could feel the difference now, the difference between sex and making love. No other man’s hands had ever touched her with such reverence, and her body responded like never before, heating up to the point she thought she’d come just from making out with him.

  He finally left her mouth to trail his kisses lower, stopping along the way to tease her nipples with his tongue until they were red and swollen. Her breath was now coming in fast pants as he looked up into Sally’s eyes and continued lower on her stomach, nipping softly along the way. When he reached her soaked folds, she greedily let her legs fall to the sides, opening up for him, which she was instantly rewarded for by his tongue rasping directly over her clit, making them both moan.

  “Gods, you taste good, woman,” he said, closing his eyes to savor her. “I could come just from feasting on your sweet little pussy.”

  “Yes, don’t stop,” Sally moaned, her hips lifting, trying to get him back to where he’d been.

  “I’m not going to stop until you come all over my face, Sally. Then I’m going to slide my hard cock into your still-pulsing pussy and fuck you hard until you come again on my shaft,” he answered and then began to suck and lick at her like a man possessed.

  Sally was so close to coming. Her hips were thrusting, and every time Ark’s talented tongue came back up to tap at her clit, she tried to grab his head to keep him there. Finally, when his lips latched on around the swollen nub and suckled hard, she was pulled into one of the most glorious climaxes of her life. She could hear her own voice screaming as he continued to suckle at her, drawing small tremors from her sheath over and over. Sally was in a daze when he dragged himself up her body and kissed her in a slow, deep kiss, and when she felt the tip of his cock slide into her soaked folds, she was moaning all over again. It felt so good to have his thick length stretching her, filling her up as he entered her slowly, still eating at her mouth. When he was finally seated fully within her, he ended the kiss and looked into her eyes as he pulled back out and then thrust back in hard and fast. The shock of the invasion on her still-throbbing tissues almost made her come again, moaning out loud as he began a hard, fast pace until she did once again tip over the edge and came hard around him, gripping her nails into his ass as he pumped two more times and then pushed deep inside her.

  “Gods, Sally! You’re milking me so hard!” he said as he came deep inside her and then collapsed on top of her, kissing and nibbling on her neck.

  They both lay there and slowly caressed each other for a few moments while they caught their breaths. Sally knew that it had never been like that with any other man. She’d never felt so…connected. She just hoped that Ark felt the same way. Then she started to think again about his job and all the other women that he’d been with over the years. She tensed up when old insecurities reared their heads.

  “Sally, what just happened?” he asked, pulling back to look at her. “What are you thinking that made you tense up?”

  Sally knew that she had to tell him, in for a penny and all that, so she figured that faster was the way to go and just blurted it all out.

  “I started wondering if it was as amazing for you as it was for me. Then I started thinking about what you do and how many women you’ve probably been with, and then of course things just went downhill from there…” The words came rushing out of her mouth, which made her cover up her face in embarrassment.

  “Hey,” he said gently, pulling her hands away from her face to look at him, “don’t hide your face from me. I want to see what you’re feeling, always. It was just as amazing for me as it was for you. It was the most amazing connection I’ve ever felt with another person. I see you, Sally. I see how strong you are, how smart you are, and how brave you are. Despite everything that’s happened to you in your life, you’re still one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. You are an example of your race and a natural leader. Don’t think we haven’t noticed how much the other women of your group look up to you and rely on your guidance. I’ve met thousands of women during my life in the guild, Sally, and not once had it ever occurred to me to take a mate until I saw you that first day we met.”

  Sally had tears running down her face by the time he leaned in for a sweet kiss. He really made her feel like she was all those things, like she was worthy of him.

  “How will this work if we do this marriage thing?” she asked quietly. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to share you with anyone else.”

  “Sally, from this point on, I am yours and only yours. I don’t need anyone else. I will be faithful to you, I swear,” he answered solemnly. “On Sirus, marriage vows are a sacred thing, revered above all else. Not all couples require monogamy from one another, but I have no need for anyone but you.”

  “I don’t want anyone else either,” she answered with a relieved smile.

  “I am glad to know it, little one,” he said smiling back at her. “You are, however, only halfway through your courtesan training, and there are still many other pleas
ures that I’ve yet to show you. Some may involve others, but only as a tool for your satisfaction, under my direction.”

  Sally’s smile slipped as she tried to understand what he was saying.

  “Do you mean you want to see me having sex with someone else?” she asked, confused.

  “No, I would not allow another man to make love to you,” he said calmly as he slipped his hand down her belly until his fingers were sliding inside her gently. “But I would show you unimaginable heights by using every tool at my disposal, including other bodies. Can you say that it doesn’t turn you on to think of me tying you up and blindfolding you, having more than just my hands caressing your body, having my cock sliding into your sweet, sweet cunt while perhaps another shaft slides into your mouth? Or perhaps a tongue licks over your wet folds around me and suckles your needy clit as I pump inside of you?”

  The picture that his words created in Sally’s mind was explosive. She knew he could feel her pussy fluttering around his fingers, and as they slowly thrust in and out of her, he brought his thumb in to circle her clit, and just like that, she came moaning his name.

  “See what I mean, love?” he said as he brought his fingers up to lick her essence off of them. “You have much to experience yet, and as guild matron, you will be the very picture of a woman who embraces the power of her own sensuality.”

  “Wow,” was all she said as she snuggled back into his chest and imagined all the possibilities.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sally and Arkenon enjoyed a relaxing morning in bed, until finally he checked the time and announced that they’d better get showered or they’d be late.

  “Late for what, I thought it was the weekend?” Sally asked as he scooped her up from the bed and carried her into the luxurious bathroom over his shoulder.

  “We have a lunch date. You are going to meet my family today,” Ark said as he adjusted the water and let her supple body slide down his.

  “What!” she squeaked out as she looked up at him in shock. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to meet your family…What if they don’t like me?”

  Ark looked down at her while he continued to bathe. He’d assumed this would be her reaction to meeting his family and was ready to play the high card in his hand.

  “Do you trust me, Sally?” he asked.

  “Yes?” she answered, looking up at him.

  He couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked, standing there soaking wet, biting her lip in uncertainty, but wanting to trust him.

  “I promise they will love you. How could they not?” he said as he began to lather her hair for her. “Plus, we will be contacting my brother, Roan, and his mates as well, and I know how much you’ve been itching to speak to Eve.”

  He continued to wash her as he watched the information take hold and then realization bloom in her face. The way he could see the emotions flit through her eyes now that she’d let her guard down around him was breathtaking. It was a gift he swore to himself he would never take for granted.

  “Evie? Are you saying that she’s married to your brother?” she asked excitedly as what he’d said began to sink in.

  “Yes, she will be your ‘sister-within-the-law,’ I believe your people say?” he answered, ushering her out of the shower and wrapping her in a big towel.

  “It’s just ‘sister-in-law,’” she answered, smiling to herself, then looking up at him. “Wow. That’s pretty cool, huh?”

  “Indeed, love,” he answered with a teasing smile as he gave her a quick pat on the ass. “Now go and get dressed before we’re late!”

  * * * *

  Sally couldn’t deny that she was nervous as they made their way down to the gardens to meet with Arkenon’s parents, but she tried to focus on his hand holding hers and take the support that was given. As they stepped out onto the beautiful patio, she was a little surprised to see Lady Samal standing there beside a large man that looked much like Arkenon, only older.

  “You could have told me that Lady Samal was your mother,” she whispered to him as they approached the other couple. “At least then I wouldn’t have worried so much about meeting her.”

  “Consider it an exercise in trust,” he said as he gave her a quick kiss and then pulled her forward.

  “Sally! This is my husband and Arkenon’s father, Darius,” Lady Samal said as she pulled Sally in for a brief hug and presented her to the other man.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Sally. Samal has been telling me all about you ever since your first orientation day,” Darius said as he gently shook her hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you as well sir,” she said shyly, realizing that Ark had stepped up to wrap his arm around her waist.

  “Please, call me Darius…or Dad if you like,” he said, giving her a wink that had her turning a bright shade of red.

  “Father, I think that it may be a bit soon for Sally, if we could keep the teasing to a minimum for now,” Ark said, coming to her rescue as they made their way over to a nice table in the shade.

  Ark’s parents wanted to know all about her as they all tucked into the wonderful lunch that Ark’s mother had prepared. They already knew a great deal about Earth from Eve, and it was a foreign feeling for Sally to have anyone take a paternal interest in her life. However, eventually she was able to relax and let them get to know her. Once they’d finished their dessert and packed everything away, Sally was getting excited when she thought about talking to Eve. It was true that Benic had become a good friend, and she’d reluctantly taken Devyn under her wing in their classes, but she missed Eve and her outrageous sense of humor.

  “Shall we use the comm in my office to contact the Nomac?” Ark asked as he extended his hand to Sally to help her out of her seat.

  “Yes, I spoke to your brother last evening, and he assured me that they would all be available for our call this afternoon. Eve is quite excited to see you, Sally. She’s been pestering me every day since you were released from stasis as to when she’d be able to speak with you,” Samal said with an indulgent smile. It was quite clear how enamored she was with her daughter-in-law.

  Sally hadn’t thought much about the time she and the other women had spent in stasis. They were told it’d been about two months. Apparently Eve had been under for only two weeks of that time before she was rescued by her now husbands. But here they were, almost three months from when they’d been abducted, and things were so different for both of them now. She’d seen how difficult it was for Eve to meet a man at home that could withstand her strong personality, and unlike Sally, Eve wasn’t good at faking anything, so she’d just stayed single instead. It seemed bizarre and extreme that they both had to literally go out of the universe just to find the right men for them. Were the other women taken just like them? Wandering around on their planet, not really belonging there?

  When they all arrived in Ark’s office and got seated, a panel slid back to reveal a large screen on the wall. Then Ark went to his computer and contacted his brother’s mate’s ship. All of a sudden, the screen lit up, and Sally could see Eve sitting there with three other men.

  “Roan, you’re not doing it right! There’s something wrong with the screen!” the redhead yelled. She was turned around, pointing at one of the large men in the office with her.

  Sally had to laugh. It was Evie, all right. Even if she couldn’t see her face, she could tell by the flaming-red hair and the bossy attitude that her friend was perfectly at home in her new relationship. Eve must have heard the chuckling coming through on the vid screen because she flipped back around and squealed when she saw Sally sitting there with her in-laws.

  “Oh my God, Sally!” The excited woman bounced in her seat. “I’m so happy to see you! They’ve been telling me you weren’t cleared for communications yet, and I almost was to the point where I was going to tell them to turn this heap around and go back to Sirus!”

  “It’s good to see you too, Evie! I heard that you got hitched while I was sleeping,” she answered, “
and to three men, no less! You don’t mess around. Did you go to Costco and get the variety pack?”

  That had most of their audience laughing, after all. Looking at all three of Eve’s new husbands, she certainly did get a nice variety, and the snickering from her men had Eve playfully smacking the man sitting next to her.

  “Truthfully, I got hitched while I was sleeping as well. But that’s a longer story I’ll tell you in person,” she answered with a wink. “And what can I say, who am I to turn down these three hunks? Let me introduce you! This is Kham. he’s Dhuaatian. Next to him is Kai, and the big brute behind us is Roan. They’re both from Sirus.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Sally. Our Eve has told us all about the adventures the two of you got up to at your previous place of employment,” Kham said with a polite smile.

  “And the adventures you had when you ladies went out for a night on the town,” the cute one Eve had introduced as Kai added with a wink and a teasing smile. “We’re so glad Ark finally found a female who can put him in his place.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Sister,” was all Ark’s brother, Roan, said as he stood smiling behind his mates.

  Sally tried not to let it freak her out how both Ark’s parents and then his brother addressed her like she and Ark were already married, but then again, they hadn’t covered Sirotion mating practices yet in her classes, so it was quite possible that there wasn’t a large ceremony like humans had back on Earth. She made a mental note to bring that up later with Ark so she could get some answers.