Enticed By The Corsair: A SciFi Alien Romance (Corsairs Book 3)

by Ruby Dixon

  I need to hear him speak. I'm desperate for it.

  “Pod re-docking to the Fool,” Sentorr says, his calm voice cutting through my wild thoughts. “Alyvos confirmed on board and all vitals good.”

  I rush out of the bridge and toward the back halls of the ship, where the pods reattach. There's a series of doors there, and I don't know which one will be his, or even if I'm feeling along the right door. I could be frantically staring down a closet, after all, and I'd never know. But I have to be here when he comes on board. I have to. I bang into one of the walls as I turn a corner and jam my wrist, but I don't care. I'm so full of frantic worry that I barely feel it.

  Strong hands grab my arm just as I hear a door slide open. “Careful there, love,” Alyvos says, and his voice is like cool water poured over my fried nerves.

  I burst into sobs and fling my arms around his neck.

  “I'm here,” he whispers in my ear. His hand strokes my back. “I'm here, and I was wrong. I shouldn't have left you. You were right to tell me that I was being an idiot.”

  “I didn't say that,” I manage between choked sobs. “Never called you an idiot.” I bury my face against his collar, breathing in his scent. Under the familiar, lovely smell of him, there's still a musky hint of sex, and it fills me with longing.

  “You sure thought it, though.” His voice is filled with laughter, even as he strokes my hair away from my face.

  I lightly punch his chest, but my hit is ineffectual. I'm not angry anymore. Just the thought of him in danger burned all the frustration away and left me with nothing but relief. “I'm just glad you're safe.”

  “I thought this was a great plan at first,” he tells me, murmuring against the top of my head as he presses his mouth to my hair. “I'd go in, punch some guys, be the big hero. Then I realized it wasn't what you wanted.”

  “I just want you,” I whisper, clinging to him.

  “I know. I wanted you to want more. Then I realized the reason why you were upset. You were scared of being left alone again. And I realized what a keffing idiot I am because if anything happened to me, I can't protect you. And it made me realize that rushing in with my fists isn't the smartest plan after all.”

  I hold him tighter.

  “The entire time I was in that pod, I was regretting leaving your side. I should have been in that bed with you, licking your sweet cunt for hours on end. That seemed way more appealing than going after some petty lord who likes to break his toys. Not that I don't want him to get his comeuppance. I'm just starting to think that sometimes it might be smarter if it's not me rushing in at the front.”

  “So we're just going to let him go?” From behind us, I hear Tarekh. He sounds disgusted.

  “Not quite.” Alyvos's hand strokes over my back. “I still disabled their engines. Right now they're drifting on a solar current, but when they go to start things up again, they're going to have a nasty surprise. I figured we could drop an anonymous tip to the nearest planet's authorities and let them handle it.”

  “And not get our hands dirty? Where's the fun in that?” Kivian sounds amused.

  “I've got other fun on my mind,” Alyvos tells them, and hauls me into his arms as if I weigh nothing. “Send the signal and let's surge away from here. We'll be in my bunk, enjoying the zero-G.”

  Someone snorts with amusement. I tuck my body against Alyvos's chest and let him carry me away from the others. I'm still shaking with the fear that gripped me, and I clutch a handful of his tunic to anchor myself against him and remind myself that he's here. That Lord Unto isn't going to touch him.

  When the door to his room slides shut with a gentle whoosh and we're alone once more, I relax. Just a bit.

  “I've never had anyone else to think about,” Alyvos tells me as he sets me gently down on the bed. “Well, except for the crew. But they've always encouraged my recklessness. They don't mind that I go in fists swinging. You're the first one that's ever wanted more from me than just my fighting ability.”

  “You don't give them enough credit,” I murmur. “The others are good people. But not every criminal is worth taking on. You can't save the day every time.” I find the fasteners on his clothing and activate them. Immediately the fabric loosens under my grip.

  “Yes, but I want to save the day for you,” he emphasizes, undressing me even as I undress him. We're both on the same page when it comes to this, at least.

  “Let him be someone else's problem,” I say with a shake of my head. “I want you here with me.”

  “I can let him go,” Alyvos promises and then presses a light kiss to my mouth. “If that's what you want. But I'm a pirate, Iris. I board ships and steal from people. I get into fights. It's what I do. It's what I'm good at. I don't know that I can change.”

  I shake my head even as I push his tunic off of his body and then run my hands over his exquisitely muscled arms. “I don't want you to change. But right now, I need you more than I need revenge. Maybe that'll change in six months. Maybe a month from now I'll demand that you go after him if the authorities don't. Until then, I need you with me.” I slide my hands down his hips and grip his bare buttocks. God, he's sexy. I'm so relieved he's back with me. “Take on all the small-time jobs you want. Just don't take on something where you can get killed just because you want to fight. Please.”

  “Wise words.” He nuzzles my throat and slides a hand between my legs, seeking out my pussy. “I suppose if I need to choose between a fight and mating, I'll choose the mating.” Alyvos nips at my jaw. “Especially if you're involved.”

  I grab a handful of his short hair and yank, hard. “I'd better be the only one involved,” I tell him sharply.

  My pirate laughs wildly and then pushes me backward onto the bed. “Absolutely. You're the only one I want. That being said…I know you might not want to stay aboard a pirate ship. Not when you could go anywhere. But can this male that thinks with his fists entice you to stay with him? Give him another shot?”

  “You can have all the shots you need,” I tell him. “I love you.”

  “Even if I'm broken and think everything can be solved with a fight?” Alyvos kisses me again, and his mouth is hard and desperate on mine. “I'm not always going to think ahead, love. There might be times I kef things up because my first instinct is to charge in. But say you'll love me anyways.”

  “How could I not?” And maybe my first instinct will still be fear for a long time, but with him at my side, we can balance each other out. “You're everything I've ever wanted. I love you so much.”

  He's between my thighs in an instant, my hair-pulling inflaming him beyond all control. He palms one of my breasts and then rubs his fingers through my folds until he finds my clit, and rubs it until I shatter mere seconds later.

  When he comes inside me, there's no pain. It feels so good that I gasp with the wonder of it. His body feels perfect against mine.

  “My love,” he murmurs as he thrusts into me. “My sweet Iris. I need you so much.”

  It doesn't matter that he's broken, or that I am, too. It's okay that we're flawed as long as we find our way together. So I hold on tightly to him and let Alyvos carry me away to my next climax. I'm safe in his arms. Safe with him forever.

  Epilogue

  Months Later

  ALYVOS

  Iris sits in my lap, nibbling on my ear as I stare down at the cards in my hand and try not to be distracted.

  Impossible task. I can feel her ass pushing against my thigh—that enticing, tailless ass—and her breast rubs up against my chest as she whispers against my neck. “Nines.”

  I grunt, because it's either that or moan her name out, and that might make the rest of the room uncomfortable. “Nines.”

  Across from us, Fran sighs heavily and tosses a pair of nines onto the table. “I swear, I'm not going to play you and Iris anymore. Her memory's better than Kivian's.”

  My mate just grins and nips at my ear again.

  “Queens?” Cat asks when it's her turn.

/>   “Go eat fish,” I say triumphantly. I know it's wrong, but it makes my Iris chuckle in that delightful, husky way of hers, and it's worth looking a bit foolish to the others.

  “Fran and Tarekh have the queens,” Iris murmurs into my ear and adjusts her visor. It took a few months for us to find a black-market visual specialist that would make her a human-sized visor. Bionic implants were suggested, but they're mesakkah sized and not human sized, and until we can find the right person, she's using a radar-sensing visor. It makes her a lot more confident. She doesn't care about the look, she tells me, as much as wandering into the black unknown. I get that, and so I've hung back on the ship with her in a lot of our more recent jobs. That means Cat goes and does cantina duty with Tarekh.

  Cat loves cantina duty. And even though I sometimes itch for a fight, I'm learning how to back up Sentorr on the nav panels and some of the bridge duties. Iris told me that it makes Sentorr happy, which seems strange to me because Sentorr practically lives on the bridge. I don't want to take his sense of purpose from him. I have to admit, though, navigating's kind of fun. It's like a puzzle. Granted, I'm not good at puzzles, but I'm learning.

  And it lets me keep Iris company. Win-win.

  My female's getting more confident with time, though. She's still never eager to leave the ship, but last run, she headed onto the station with me for supplies. And that bland voice of hers is supplanted by her temper more times than not, which pleases me. I'd rather have fiery, slapping and spitting-with-anger Iris than the Iris who has no emotions.

  Fiery Iris is quick to suggest we retreat to our bedroom, and I'm always happy to oblige.

  As if she can hear my thoughts, my female leans in and sucks on my earlobe, completely distracting me from the card game. My cock grows hard and I do my best to keep my expression blank, but I know I'm failing. Fran's look of amusement tells me that much.

  The game goes around the table. Tarekh goes, then Kiv, then Sentorr, who's left the bridge for a time so he can join in the fun. I try to concentrate on my cards, but all I can think about is the delicious female in my lap and wondering how fast I can extract both of us from the group so I can be alone with her.

  “It's your turn,” Cat says, a little crossly. She doesn't like losing and is glaring at her cards, much to Tarekh's amusement.

  “You're supposed to ask for queens,” Iris tells me with a little flick of her tongue against my ear. “Ask Fran.”

  “Queens,” I say, choking the words out. My mate's hand has slid below the table and she's cupping my cock through my trou. There's something about card games that makes her frisky.

  Fran slaps the two queens down on the table surface with exasperated amusement. “If her memory's this good, she needs to go on the next job with us. Kiv could use her in the cantina instead of me. Between the two of them, they could clean up like crazy.”

  “No,” I say automatically, ever protective of my Iris. She can stay on the ship for as long as she wants. If she never wants to leave it again, that's fine, too.

  “Maybe,” Iris says to the others. “Let me play with the idea a little.”

  Before I can show my surprise, Kivian snorts. “Isn't the idea you're playing with there, sweetheart. Have a care for those of us that just ate dinner.”

  Iris giggles into my ear.

  “I eat fish,” I tell them, slapping my cards down on the table.

  “You mean you fold,” Cat corrects me.

  “Whatever.” I get to my feet, keeping Iris hauled against my front. She's definitely frisky, her arms twining around my neck. “We'll come back later.”

  “Uh huh,” Fran says, and then gives Kivian an affectionate look that says she's thinking the same thing. Cat just gives her mate a slow wink.

  I suspect that Sentorr's going to be left holding all the cards very soon.

  I carry my mate through the ship and there's never been such a long walk. The moment we're back in our quarters, Iris is tearing at my tunic. “I meant it,” she pants, sliding her hands under the fabric. “Next time you guys have a job, I'll go with. I want to try it.”

  “We'll see.” I gently brush her hair back from her face. “I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do.”

  “I never do,” she tells me with a sly grin and cups my cock again. “Guess what I want to do right now?”

  “Me?” And when she nods, I grin. Kef, I love this female.

  ***

  Author’s Note

  Hello again!

  It feels like it’s been forever since I last put out a book, but it’s really only been like a month. That’s forever in Ruby-time, right? At any rate, it’s been a crazy spring over in my world, so thank you for all the love and support over on Facebook as I plow my way back into scheduled work.

  This novella ran long. Actually, I’m not sure it’s really a novella anymore as much as a short novel, but that’s all right! I always say that one of the fantastic things about independent publishing is that I can let the story be as long or as short as it needs to be. Naturally when I’m pressed for time, they run long. Naturally. ;)

  I hope you enjoyed Alyvos and Iris! I love nothing more than a big protective hero who tries his darnedest to figure out the puzzle that is his heroine. It was challenging to write a visually impaired heroine, because I had to make sure to avoid describing the sense of sight. You’ll notice that a lot of her perspective is about sounds and smells and touches. That being said, it’s entirely possible that I got something wrong. If so, I sincerely apologize as my intent is always to be inclusive.

  Sentorr’s story will be coming soon, but not right away. My original schedule was to get Icehome #2 (Veronica’s Dragon) out in April, Dragons #5 in May, and then back to IPB in June. Clearly I’m a wee bit off of what I anticipated, but that’s still the schedule I’d like to stick to for this summer!

  Well, in addition to writing a few other goodies I’ve got up my sleeve. No details yet, but soon. Sooooooon.

  At any rate, Veronica’s Dragon is next. May. Promise.

  As always, thank you so much for reading. You don’t know how much I appreciate having my ‘tribe’ of people that get my stories and love to hear them. It’s the best thing in the world and I’m grateful every day!

  <3

  Ruby

  CORSAIRS!

  You’ve read the others in the series, right?

  If not, allow me to convince you. Pirates! Swashbuckling! Human captives rescued by space rogues who are marshmallows for their females! It’s all good stuff and it’s all available on Kindle Unlimited.

  Click on the icon to start with book 1, THE CORSAIR’S CAPTIVE.

  A pirate doesn’t ask for permission - he takes.

  When I see the delicate human female collared and enslaved by the smuggler I’m about to swindle, I do what any male would do.

  I take her from him. It’s what I do best, after all.

  Now Fran’s mine, and I’m never giving her up. On board my spaceship, she’ll be safe. She’ll wear my clothes, eat my food, and sleep in my bed. I’ll keep her safe from a galaxy that wishes her harm.

  But my sweet Fran wants nothing more than to return to Earth. How can I take her home when she holds my heart in her dainty, five-fingered hands?

  This story stands completely alone and is only marginally connected to the Ice Planet Barbarians series and Prison Planet Barbarian. You do not need to read those books in order to follow this one.

  Also by Ruby Dixon

  FIREBLOOD DRAGONS

  Fire in His Blood

  Fire in His Kiss

  Fire in His Embrace

  Fire in His Fury

  ICE PLANET BARBARIANS

  Ice Planet Barbarians

  Barbarian Alien

  Barbarian Lover

  Barbarian Mine

  Ice Planet Holiday (novella)

  Barbarian’s Prize

  Barbarian’s Mate

  Having the Barbarian’s Baby (short story)

  Ice Ice Babi
es (short story)

  Barbarian’s Touch

  Calm(short story)

  Barbarian’s Taming

  Aftershocks (short story)

  Barbarian’s Heart

  Barbarian’s Hope

  Barbarian’s Choice

  Barbarian’s Redemption

  Barbarian’s Lady

  Barbarian’s Rescue

  Barbarian’s Tease

  The Barbarian Before Christmas (novella)

  Barbarian’s Beloved

  CORSAIRS

  THE CORSAIR’S CAPTIVE

  IN THE CORSAIR’S BED

  ENTICED BY THE CORSAIR

  STAND ALONE

  PRISON PLANET BARBARIAN

  THE ALIEN’S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE

  BEAUTY IN AUTUMN

  BEDLAM BUTCHERS

  Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 1-3: Off Limits, Packing Double, Double Trouble

  Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 4-6: Double Down, Double or Nothing, Slow Ride

  Double Dare You

  BEAR BITES

  Shift Out of Luck

  Get Your Shift Together

  Shift Just Got Real

  Does A Bear Shift in the Woods

  SHIFT: Five Complete Novellas

  Want More?

  For more information about upcoming books in the Ice Planet Barbarians, Fireblood Dragons, or any other books by Ruby Dixon, ‘like’ me on Facebook or subscribe to my new release newsletter. If you want to chat about the books, why not also check out the Blue Barbarian Babes fan group?