Alien Bride (Love, Drugs, and Biopunk)

by McGill, Brie

  He stared at the ground. “I’m sorry I kidnapped you. I shouldn’t have done it.”

  Ninkasi frowned. “You’re sorry that you did it?”

  “I’m not sorry that we met!” He seized her hands. “I don’t regret that I’m here with you now.”

  A part of her burned to forget everything she had endured and enjoy the night, enjoy this moment with him.

  “I’m sorry that you’re here with no pants.” Orion pressed his lips together.

  She bit her lip and smiled. “Are you?”

  “I’m sorry that you got a star burned into your ass.” He wore a matter-of-fact expression.

  Ninkasi leaned backward. “You’re the only one who will see it. . .”

  “And I’m really sorry” —he grabbed her shoulders, keeping her from falling backward— “that I took you away from your life and your family, and kept you locked up inside the chateau for so long. I shouldn’t have done it. I goaded Aleister to take you, in my own selfish compulsion. It was stupid. It was wrong.”

  She studied him with wonder, suspecting he only made apologies as grandiose as this once in a lifetime.

  “I’m sorry.” He looked at her sternly. “I want to. . . I need to protect you. I need you to give me a chance.”

  Staring directly into his eyes, she felt the moment of silence pass between them.

  He released her shoulders. “I won’t kidnap you again.”

  “It might be fun. . .” Ninkasi collapsed against the ground, pulling him with her. “Under different circumstances.” She tugged at the cross-shaped charm around his neck.

  He smirked.

  Pushing one of his hands on top of her breast, she looked away and mentioned, “It might even be fun now.”

  He responded with a squeeze.

  “We have a few hours to kill.” She ran fingers down his chest. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been on an island paradise. . .”

  He swept hands through his hair and kissed her.

  Laughing, she tilted her head back, barely escaping his kisses. “With an amazing, shirtless man who rescued me from incredible evil. . .”

  He kissed down her throat. “I’ll have to take my shirt back.”

  “I think your shirt and pants would be happier together somewhere over there.” Ninkasi nodded over her shoulder, slipping her fingers beneath the waist of his pants.

  Orion sat beside her, and climbed out of his pants. Lurching forward, he tackled Ninkasi to the ground and tore the shirt over her head.

  She was long overdue for a good manhandling.

  Taking her by the hand, Orion led her to a waist-high boulder behind them. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he pulled her onto his lap so she sat facing him.

  Crossing her legs around him, Ninkasi brushed her fingers through his hair and kissed him. She was thrilled they were back in what she knew to be the normal world, thrilled they were alive, thrilled that whatever they endured together was behind them, thrilled. . . thrilled whenever he kissed her.

  Gliding his hands over her back, Orion made a muffled sound of delight, his hardness slipping against the entrance to her body.

  Ninkasi gripped the base of his shaft with a firm hand, poking it into her wetness. Just the tip drove her crazy—she wanted him to shove it inside. A little bit wasn’t enough.

  After teasing her for a moment, Orion grabbed her hips and slammed her down against his cock.

  She threw back her head and moaned, digging her nails into his shoulders.

  His hands on her hips, he guided the pace at which she rode him.

  Rocking her hips, she looped her arms around his neck, increasing her speed. It felt amazing to be so close to him, feeling his breath against her ear, his forehead against hers, staring into his eyes while no one on earth knew the two of them were here. She wanted to be warm with him, safe with him, protected by him—

  He pulled her face toward him and kissed her, a hot kiss with tongue, sucking the heat and the moans from her body.

  Tightening her legs around him, Ninkasi devoured his kisses, frantically pushing her fingertips into his back.

  Sliding his hands under her bottom, Orion scooped Ninkasi into his arms and stood up. Spinning around, he cautiously laid her on the cool rock behind them, and climbed on top of her, his toes digging into the dirt.

  She admired his body, his pale skin, the way his hair shimmered in the moonlight.

  Their moment on the rock was priceless: nature beneath her and Orion’s naked body on top of her, hearing the sea, under the stars—this was what it meant to be alive, this was where she wanted to be. Nothing fulfilled her more in that rugged, unscripted moment.

  Grabbing her shoulders, Orion flipped her onto her stomach. He slung one arm under her chest, clamped his other hand over the top of her head, and entered her from behind, gently, at first. Once he was comfortably inside, he thrust harder, assailing her.

  Crying out against every slam, she rested her face against the rock, her hand reaching for his hand that locked around her chest. She felt his hair in her face, heard his muted little grunts, felt his face pressed against the side of her head. She loved the way he filled her completely, fit inside her in just the right way.

  His hands found her breasts and he pushed his upper body against her back, fully pinning her to the rock. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he slammed her, breathing hard.

  The added force and the sensation of feeling deliciously trapped beneath him was too much; the tension in her body released, bringing a subdued orgasm that was like a flutter. She yelped, pushing her forehead against the rock, interlocking her fingers with his hands that clamped her breasts.

  “Damnit.” Orion punched into her body, gripping her hands. He howled a long moan, increasing in volume, pounding her until his body shuddered and he erupted in climax. He squeezed her breasts, flattening her torso against the rock with his body and groaned, taking his final staggered thrusts.

  Ninkasi felt him twitch inside her body, filling her with warmth and ecstatic tingles. Never before had she felt like such an animal, and simultaneously so divine. From where she lay, she could see all the constellations.

  She belonged to him.

  Mordred

  XXVII.

  Ninkasi held her breath, watching the door to her house swing open. “Mom!”

  Her martini glass shattered against the floor.

  Ninkasi leapt at her mother, wrapping her arms around her in a suffocating hug.

  Her mother hugged her tightly and burst into tears.

  “Mom.” Resting her chin on her shoulder, Ninkasi smelled the familiar scent of her mother’s sporty perfume. She smelled Noah’s burnt raisin toast and peanut butter from the kitchen. She heard Wittle Man’s frenzied yapping and clattering claws.

  “I thought you were dead!” Her mother clasped her head with one hand.

  “I’m okay, Mom.” Ninkasi remained in the embrace.

  Her mother squeezed her.

  “Who’s there?!” Noah thundered through the house, his heavy steps driving the Chihuahua to bark with greater hysteria.

  Her brother let out a blood curdling scream. “Oh my god!”

  Ninkasi squeezed her mom and stepped back. “Noah!”

  “That’s him!” He pointed at Orion, who stood patiently behind Ninkasi, and continued to shriek, voice cracking. “That’s the man who kidnapped her! That’s the man who attacked us! Call an officer! Call Dad! Call someone! OH MY GOD!”

  Lifting her hand, Ninkasi shut her eyes: she wasn’t sure which was worse, her screaming younger brother or the incessant Chihuahua. “Noah—”

  Her mother snatched her wrist, eyes darting to the figure behind the door. “Is that true?”

  “I—It’s—” Turning her wrist, she attempted to free herself, shooting a hopeless smile at Orion.

  “Noah.” Her mother’s eyes narrowed, and her voice became a low growl. “Get the gun.”

  Noah’s eyes were wide. “I don’t know
where you keep it—”

  She silenced him with the snap of her fingers. “Don’t play stupid! I know you know where we hide it, and I know you weaseled the combination for the lock from your father.” She bared her teeth. “Go get the gun.”

  “Mom, it’s a long story—” Ninkasi winced, trying again to twist free.

  Noah stared at the floor. “Dad made me change the combination and swear never to tell anyone, because he said that way he’d never be tempted to shoot you!”

  She snapped again. “Go. Bring it to me!” Frowning, her mother kicked aside the shattered martini glass. She stooped to the floor, staggering, and caught herself with one hand against the wall. Scooping up the Chihuahua, she rose to her feet.

  The dog growled an innocuous growl, like a motorboat in the distance, tail wagging.

  Her mother stuck her nose against the dog’s face. “Should we attack him, Wittle Man? Should we chase him far, far away? Should we bite him wiff our wittle teefs?”

  Orion edged backward, eyes fixed uncomfortably on the dog.

  Ninkasi cleared her throat, and planted her hands on her hips. “Mom, I want you to meet Orion!” She introduced him with a grandiose gesture.

  “Why would you want to introduce me to your kidnapper?!” her mother hissed.

  “I got it!” Noah stormed through the house, triumphantly waving the gun above his head.

  “Give me that.” Her mother seized the gun.

  Shaking her head, Ninkasi swiped the gun away from her mother. “You don’t know the first thing about how to use one of these.”

  Her mother frowned. “You’re right, I don’t.”

  “And you’ve been drinking.” Ninkasi sighed.

  Her mother crossed her arms.

  “No one underage should ever shoot a gun.” Ninkasi wagged her finger at Noah. “Let alone at the man who saved my life.” She shook her head. “Both of you are so irresponsible.” Ninkasi leaned out the door and chucked the gun across the yard.

  It landed somewhere in a patch of grass, firing on impact with a loud crack. A bullet ricocheted off the neighbor’s vahan with a metallic zang.

  Ninkasi winced.

  Mouth opening in horrified protest, Orion slowly backed away.

  “Nobody. . .” She made a cursory, sideways glance at the neighbor’s vehicle, and cleared her throat. “Nobody’s shooting anybody!” She grabbed Orion’s hand. “Come on! Let’s go inside.”

  Noah sat beside his sister on a love seat in the parlor.

  Orion faced them, sitting alone in an armchair. He sat up straight, occasionally rubbing the back of his neck. Sweat gleamed on his forehead.

  Ninkasi stared at the ceiling, listening to the rattle of ice cubes in a martini shaker from the kitchen.

  “Whoa!” Noah lurched forward, ogling Orion.

  Orion raised an eyebrow.

  Grinning, he jumped to his feet and pointed. “You have six fingers!”

  Ninkasi’s mother returned to the parlor, a fresh martini in hand, Chihuahua at her feet.

  Wittle Man hesitantly approached Orion, bared his teeth and issued a puny, disapproving growl.

  Orion stiffened, plastered against the back of his seat, eyes locked on the dog.

  Her mother stuck her nose in the air. “That’s right, you should be afraid.” She sat in an armchair opposite Orion, and crossed her legs. “So.”

  “So. . .” Ninkasi drummed her fingers against a side table.

  Turning toward Orion, her mother smiled carnivorously, pointing at him. “You kidnapped my daughter.”

  He hung his head.

  “Wait!” She waved her hand, falling sideways and sloshing gin from her glass. “Let me start again. You busted my locks, shattered my windows—” She sipped her glass. “Honestly, I don’t give a damn, the house is in my husband's name and he paid for the repairs.” She patted her mouth. “But you kidnapped my daughter.”

  Ninkasi buried her face in her hands.

  Orion glanced to the side. “Our intention. . . was to kidnap your husband.”

  “Oh.” Her mother’s expression flattened. “Why didn’t you say so?”

  Ninkasi dragged her hands down her face.

  Knocking back a big swig from her glass, her mother swatted at him, laughing. “I would have told you anything you wanted to know! I’m surprised that bastard doesn’t have more people after him all the time.” She snorted. “Maybe because no one can stand to cart his awful ass around in spite of a ransom.”

  Orion rubbed the back of his head.

  Her mother stumbled toward the sofa and shooed Noah away. Flopping down beside Ninkasi, she raked her fingers through her hair. “Did they hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “No, Mom.”

  Her mother rested a hand on her cheek. “It doesn’t look like they hurt you.”

  “I’m not hurt.” Ninkasi glanced at Orion. “Orion took care of me.”

  “Took care of you?” Leaning backward, her mother raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

  Staring at the floor, she tapped her feet together. “He brought me food.”

  Her mother crossed her arms, bracelets jangling. “What did he feed you?”

  Supporting his head with one hand, Orion looked out the window. “Cheese plates, glitterfish Cioppino, beef medallions—”

  “SILENCE!” Ninkasi’s mother whipped a pillow across the room, hitting Orion in the chest.

  Grimacing, he endured the impact.

  “I’ll interrogate you next.” She dismissed him with her hand. “Honey, what did they feed you?”

  Ninkasi bit her lip. “Dessert wines and. . . chocolate tortes.”

  Pinching Ninkasi’s stomach, her mother wrinkled her nose. “In any case, they haven’t been starving you. You said he took care of you—how else did he take care of you?”

  Wondering if bringing Orion to meet her mother was a bad idea, Ninkasi pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know, Mom. I was given clean clothes every day.”

  Her mother frowned, petting the taffeta frocks of her gown. “Prom was over six years ago.” She narrowed her eyes, shooting a ferocious stare at Orion. “Did he dress you, personally?”

  “No, Mom!” Ninkasi felt the heat rise to her face.

  Her mother dug her nails into Ninkasi’s leg. “How else did he take care of you?”

  Nodding at Orion, Ninkasi signaled for the surprise—she wanted anything to end this awkward line of interrogation.

  Orion passed her a long, slender paper bag.

  “Mom, I don’t know how else to make you believe that everything is okay.” Turning toward her mother, Ninkasi handed her the bag, and pursed her lips.

  Her mother glanced at the bag, glanced to Orion, and then to the bag again. She reluctantly stuck her hand inside, and retrieved a narrow bottle. Holding the bottle at arm’s length, she squinted to read the print, and her mouth dropped open in shock. “Ice wine. . .! Vintage. . .!”

  “Orion is from Chateau Bernadette.” Ninkasi reclined, wagging her foot.

  Her mother clasped the bottle against her chest. “That same vineyard that sells the wine and artisan cheese at the market?” She quickly glanced at the bottle again, and reclaimed it in a hug. “Is it true they own the entire island?”

  “It began as a closed-loop, sustainable community.” Orion leaned forward in the chair, rubbing his chin. “Hence the farming of superior grapes in biodynamic soil. But, the community evolved into something politically motivated after falling into the hands of the late founder’s nephew.”

  “I see.” Her mother caressed the bottle. "There's more than just grapes in this bottle." Her eyes widened. "It's like an entire story!"

  “Listen.” Orion gestured to her mother. “It was never anyone’s intention to harm your daughter, or to bring harm to your spouse, for that matter. We planned on holding him captive until a major vote passed without his influence. Nothing more, nothing less. No duct tape, no starvation, no torture.”

  Ninkasi’s mo
ther downed the rest of her martini in one gulp, and slammed the glass against the table. “He’s still accepting bribes, isn’t he?” She shook her head. “You should lock him up so he never sees the light of day. Although. . .” She held the bottle of wine against her face. “Your island sounds like paradise. Maybe you should kidnap me, instead.”

  “I apologize for taking Ninkasi and causing you. . . untold amounts of distress.” Orion wiped his forehead. “But taking a child was out of the question.”

  Noah wrinkled his nose.

  “Our intention was to hold Ninkasi to influence the senator’s vote.” He fiddled with his cravat.

  “But then, I was actually kidnapped by some bad people, and that’s when things went south,” Ninkasi finished for him, following his eyes. “And Orion saved my life. He didn’t have to. He could have left me. It would have been easier.”

  He stared at the floor. “I had some help from a friend.”

  “Well, there is only one thing left for me to do.” Ninkasi’s mother stood, brushing herself off. She lifted the bottle triumphantly in the air. “Put this in the cooler, and pour us a round of drinks!”

  Ninkasi buried her face in her palm. “That’s two things, Mom. . .”

  Her mother turned to Orion. “May I get you a drink?”

  He pressed a finger against his chin. “What are you drinking?”

  “I was drinking gin.” Her mother grabbed her glass and turned it upside down. “But it looks like that’s gone. I’m embarrassed to show you my rack of wines, if you have your own vineyard.”

  “I would never turn down a glass of wine.” As if drawn by a magnet, Orion followed Ninkasi’s mother into the kitchen.

  Ninkasi lurched forward, slamming her hands against the couch and staring in awe.

  “Do you like red or white?” Her mother took him by the arm.

  “I prefer red.” Orion trudged after her. “But if white is your preference, I will happily drink white.”

  “I’ll drink the rainbow!” She pointed at the ceiling. “Red it is!”

  “Perhaps something with a fruity nose?” He peered around the kitchen. “With spicy notes, nothing too astringent.”