“What’s wrong?” Beren asked. “You look troubled. Are you certain I didn’t hurt you?”
“I’m fine, Beren. I just…” She bit her lip and cast her gaze down.
Beren reached out and lifted her chin until she was looking him in the eye again. “Talk to me, Rena. What’s wrong?”
“What if I’m not enough for you?” she asked. “Males like being with lots of females, and you promised to only be with me. What if you regret it one day?”
His gaze softened and he slowly leaned forward. Rena braced herself and then melted against him as his lips brushed against hers. She’d never been kissed before, but she’d seen people kissing. The warmth she’d felt before began to spread throughout her body again, and she felt her pussy growing wet. Beren shifted his hands to her ass and began to lift and lower her onto his cock again. His mouth devoured hers as he thrust into her with every downward stroke of her body. Just as abruptly as he’d begun, Beren stopped and lifted her off his cock completely.
Rena cried out in dismay, thinking she’d done something wrong, but Beren spun their bodies until she faced the side of the tub. She latched onto the edge as Beren spread her thighs apart and thrust into her again. He drove his cock into her, hard and deep, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Rena’s breasts bounced with every stroke, and soon she was coming again. As her body twitched and shivered from the force of her release, she felt Beren drive deep one last one, his cum bathing the walls of her pussy.
He kissed the side of her neck, then her shoulder. He still throbbed inside her, hard despite coming twice. He murmured words she couldn’t quite catch as his hands explored her body. As incredible as it felt, being connected to Beren this way, it was also draining the last of her energy. Rena slumped against the side of the tub and felt Beren withdraw from her.
He quickly washed her, then himself. When he was finished, Beren lifted her out of the water and stepped onto a grate nearby. Warm air shot through the vents and dried their bodies. It shut off and Beren carried her into the connecting bedroom, then eased her down onto the bed. He drew the covers over her before sliding in next to her. It should have felt awkward, being naked with him in bed, but she found that she rather liked it. She pressed against him, her soft curves against his hard frame, and breathed a sigh of contentment.
Beren’s arms closed around her and he held her close as she began to drift to sleep. Even though she was exhausted, every time she’d start to fall asleep, she’d jolt awake once more. Beren would mumble something soothing to her and tighten his embrace, then a rumbling snore would escape him. She took the time to study him, admiring the strong lines of his face, and the muscles in his chest and arms. His hard cock pressed against her thigh, and she slowly lowered her hand and wrapped her fingers around it.
Beren thrust against her palm as she rubbed him, marveling at how soft the skin felt considering how hard his shaft was. Feeling curious, she lowered the blankets and eased out of his embrace. Rena settled on her knees and watched as she stroked him. A bead of liquid formed on the head of his cock and she wondered if it was just a smaller amount of cum. Rena licked her lips and leaned forward, her tongue flicking against the drop and lapping it up.
A salty-sweetness exploded on her tongue, and she went back for more. While she’d never placed a male’s cock in her mouth before, she’d seen it done often enough. The males always seemed to enjoy it, and she hoped Beren would as well. Her tongue curled around his shaft as she took him to the back of her throat. He groaned and shifted in his sleep, his hand fisting her hair as he drove his cock deeper. She gagged a little, but he didn’t stop. Rena’s eyes teared as Beren thrust into her mouth over and over, more of the salty-sweet taste filling her mouth, until he gave a shout and cum coated her tongue and throat.
Rena swallowed and eased Beren’s cock from her mouth. He looked at her through sleepy eyes, and then he bolted upright, a look of horror on his face. Rena panicked for a moment, thinking she’d done something wrong, but he reached for her and dragged her closer.
“Gods, Rena. I never meant to use you like that. If I’d known I wasn’t dreaming…”
“You didn’t use me.”
“Yes, I did. And I won’t let it happen again.”
“Beren, I wanted to please you. I was curious how you would taste. I’ve seen the female slaves doing that to our masters and their guards over the years, and it seemed like something the males always enjoyed. I’d hoped you would like it.”
Beren groaned and closed his eyes before opening them again. “I liked it very much, Rena, but never feel like you have to do that. Giving you pleasure, taking care of you, is all I need to be happy. I thought I would never have a mate, would never find a female to accept me as I am. You’re a gift, and I will cherish you always.”
“All I want is for you to treat me as you would any other female you would claim as your mate. Don’t hold my past against me, Beren. I want us to have a true mating, and not just one of convenience. I know you felt obligated to claim me…”
He reached out and placed a finger across her lips, silencing her. “I didn’t claim you out of obligation. Don’t ever think that, Rena. You’re special, and it didn’t take me long to realize that. I accepted you as my mate because I wanted you. Not just sexually, but I enjoy spending time with you. It’s hard for people to accept me as I am, and I know you’ve feared the same. Maybe together we can become whole.”
“I don’t know that I’m capable of love anymore,” Rena said. “But I do feel something for you. I’m glad that you claimed me, Beren, but please don’t ever hold back. Don’t treat me as if I’m inferior because of what I’ve been through.”
“Rena…”
She could have sworn she saw a sheen of tears in his eyes, but he blinked and they were gone.
“Rena, I have never thought of you as inferior and I never will. You’re incredible is what you are. A fighter, so strong and so damn beautiful. I’m honored to call you mine, and I will fight anyone who tries to take you from me.” He came even closer and his hand tunneled through her hair. “I think I could easily love you.”
His lips closed over hers and Beren pressed her down onto the bed. His body settled between her legs, and she felt his hard cock brush against her again. She was a little sore from the other two times he’d taken her, but Rena would never deny him. She loved how it felt when they were joined, the sensations he created that stole her breath and left her dizzy.
With one thrust, he entered her. Rena wrapped her legs around his waist and she clutched at his shoulders with her hands. Her nails bit into him as he took her gently, yet thoroughly. Her breasts brushed against his chest, her nipples tingling from the contact. Beren braced his weight on his hands, but his body brushed against hers with every stroke of his cock.
“Rub your pussy, Rena,” he said. “Make yourself feel good.”
Her cheeks flushed at the suggestion, but she reached between their bodies, seeking that small nub that Beren had touched earlier. Her touch didn’t feel as good as his had, but soon she was nearing her orgasm. He powered into her, his muscles flexing with every thrust of his hips. A fine sheen of sweat coated their bodies, and Rena panted for breath as he drove into her again and again.
“Come for me, Rena,” he said, his voice almost a growl. “Let go, sweetheart, and come for me.”
“Beren!” she cried out as she came, harder than before. Her thighs trembled where they clasped his waist, and her grip on him tightened as he came inside her.
“Rena,” he murmured, kissing her softly. “My sweet, Rena.”
“Yes,” she said. “Yours.”
Chapter Six
Beren had enjoyed the next six days with Rena on Lero Prime, but he’d known it would come to an end. They’d been eating breakfast when someone had started banging on the front door. Beren’s gut had tightened, knowing that only his commander would be so forceful. No one on Lero Prime would ever act so uncivilized. Which meant that his holiday with Ren
a was at an end, and it was time to face reality once more.
He opened the door and stepped back to allow Ryx entry. The commander glared at him, then slammed the door shut. Beren glanced over his shoulder, hoping Rena hadn’t witnessed the outburst. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her, and in Ryx’s current mood, there was no telling what the commander would say or do.
“Do you know how many damn outposts I went to before I found you at this one?” Ryx demanded. “Three. The life pod malfunctioned so badly that I couldn’t track it.”
“I’m sorry, Ryx. I should have asked if there was a way to contact the Pryxus, but I couldn’t be certain the pirates hadn’t boarded the ship. Then they would have known where to find Rena.”
Ryx’s eyebrow lifted. “Yes. And speaking of Rena, why is it that everyone at this outpost directed me to the temporary home of a newly mated couple?”
“Lero Prime is very conservative, as you know. The Chancellor said I needed to claim Rena in order for us to remain here. It was too far for her to walk to the main city,” Beren said, though it was only the partial truth. While the Chancellor had said those things, it hadn’t been the reason he’d readily agreed to mate with Rena. After spending the last few days with her, he knew he felt something different for the female, something he’d never felt before. He didn’t think it was love, but there was a certain warmth when he spent time with Rena.
“You know Borgoz will have the mating reversed when we reach home.”
Beren lifted his wrist to show the permanently attached silver cuff. “It can’t be undone. Our mating is for life.”
Ryx cursed and began to pace. “And what does Rena think of this?”
“I’m glad that Beren is my mate,” she said as she stepped into the room. “I would have been miserable with anyone else.”
“And if your father doesn’t accept his mating?” Ryx asked. “He could demand that you return to Vaaden with him. The council would never allow it, but he could start a war with my world.”
“Enough,” Beren said, his tone brooking no argument. “You may be my commander, but Rena is my mate, and you will treat her kindly and with respect. None of this is her fault. She is not your enemy, and if there is a war, it is not her doing. Rena is innocent, and you would do well to remember that.”
Ryx glared at him.
Beren lifted his hands to placate the commander before he unleashed his temper in front of Rena, even more so than he’d already done. “You said yourself that I should do whatever it took to guarantee Rena’s safety. I thought perhaps you’d realized that something like this might happen.”
“I’m not angry with either of you,” Ryx said, sighing deeply. “But Borgoz won’t be happy about this, and I’m sure he’ll take it out of my hide. There was a reason he wanted her bound to a councilman, and as great a warrior as you are, you’re not going to join the council overnight. Just because it happened with Siril doesn’t mean there’s a chance for the rest of us.”
“I’m happy with Rena,” Beren said. “I can’t say that I’m disappointed in how things turned out. No other female has ever looked at me the way she does. I honestly don’t know that I would have ever found a mate if she hadn’t been given to you. I’ll talk to Borgoz if he’s angry and try to explain things.”
“The Pryxus is in a field outside the outpost gates. Gather whatever things you’ve acquired since coming here, and let’s go home. With some luck, we won’t run into any more trouble along the way. I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to think a vacation sounds nice,” Ryx said.
“I’ve heard the humans use the term honeymoon. I suppose that’s what Rena and I have been doing since the mating ceremony. That’s probably as close to a vacation as I’ll likely get,” Beren said.
Ryx shook his head. “No way Borgoz, or anyone else, will demand that you return to duty immediately. Not with a new mate. You’ll need time to get Rena settled and show her around Zelthrane-3. There’s also the matter of your father.”
Beren winced. He knew that Ryx was right, Rena would have to be introduced, and likely sooner rather than later. But he didn’t have to like it. Beren knew his father cared, to some degree, but he also made it a point to list all Beren’s faults every chance he had, and Beren was a little worried that his father might do the same to Rena. Blood or not, if he made Rena cry, Beren was going to put his fist through his father’s face.
“I’ll get our things,” Rena said.
Beren watched her go, her hips swaying as she walked out of the room, and he wished they didn’t have to leave just yet. It had been nice being here, getting to spend so much time with his new mate. And the people at the outpost had been most welcoming and helpful. Beren hadn’t had many credits on him, but he’d managed to procure a few outfits for them, and the Chancellor had insisted on covering any food or drinks they might need, and said there was no charge for the small home.
Maybe Beren could convince Rena to come back here for a visit on their one year anniversary. Humans did things like that, didn’t they? Not that she was human exactly. Her DNA might say she was human, but she didn’t remembered being raised as one. He was still perplexed as to how she’d ended up on Vaaden in the first place, and why a high-ranking male would have claimed her as his daughter. It was the most bizarre thing Beren had ever heard.
Rena returned a moment later with a small cloth sack containing their clothing. He took the bag from her and gripped her hand as they walked through the outpost. As they neared the gates, Beren came to a halt.
“What about the Chancellor?” Beren asked Ryx. “We can’t just leave without telling him.”
“I took care of it when I was searching for you,” Ryx said.
Beren nodded and they continued through the gates and across the field toward the Pryxus. They boarded the ship and Beren took Rena straight to their quarters. He placed their belongings on his bed, and removed the small cot he’d brought in for her before. Now that they were mated, she would no longer need it, and it took up too much space. When he returned, Rena was sitting on the bed and their clothing was put away.
“Just two more days and we’ll be on Zelthrane-3. Although, as long as it’s taken us to arrive, there’s a chance your father may beat us there if he decides to come at all. How do you feel about seeing him?” Beren asked.
“I’ve missed him,” Rena said. “But I’m worried that he won’t accept our mating. No matter what he says, I won’t leave you, Beren. You mean everything to me, and my place is here with you.”
“I’d never let you go without a fight. You’re mine, Rena. And I always protect what’s mine.”
She smiled a little.
“We’ve had a busy time on Lero Prime,” Beren said.
Rena’s cheeks flushed and she bit her lip. He loved when she did that. It made him want to lean forward and taste the sweetness of her kiss, and he now knew that she didn’t just blush in her cheeks, but all over. He’d enjoyed making her do that frequently over the last six days.
“I’ll set up a movie on the Vid-Comm and we can relax for a little while,” Beren said. “I’m sure I’ll be needed at some point, but for now, the Pryxus can run without me. They seemed to have fared well enough while we were on Lero Prime, so another day shouldn’t hurt anything.”
Beren loaded one of those romantic movies he’d heard the Earth females enjoyed, then sat on the bed and gathered his mate in his arms. Her head rested against his chest and he breathed in her scent. Holding her, just being near her, calmed him in a way that no one and nothing ever had before. It just proved that Rena was special. He didn’t know that he deserved someone like her, but he was going to make sure she never wanted for anything.
“Does that really happen?” Rena asked, pointing at the screen.
Beren tried to focus on the movie and couldn’t quite understand her question. It looked like a normal enough scene to him.
“Does what really happen?” he asked.
“The female is just walking
around on her own. No one is gawking at her, no one has tried to touch her, and she seems… happy. She’s just allowed to wander freely and go wherever she wants without being escorted?” Rena asked.
“Rena, what was your life like on Vaaden?” Beren asked. Something told him that despite the Vaaden male claiming her as his daughter, that she hadn’t been given the freedoms of a true Vaaden female.
“My father or one of his trusted friends would take me somewhere if I wanted to leave the house. We had a walled-in garden that I could enjoy whenever I wanted. My father was a busy man, but he always made time for me. He made sure I had the best of everything.”
“So he took care of you, but you weren’t allowed to leave home unescorted?” Beren asked.
“He was protective,” Rena said.
Beren rubbed her arm, not sure how she’d take his next question. He didn’t want to upset her, but he needed her to see that things weren’t as they should have been. He didn’t know if it would anger her, hurt her, or if she’d simply accept that her life had never been quite right.
“Rena, were other females allowed to wander Vaaden on their own?” Beren asked.
“Well… yes. But their fathers weren’t important men like mine was. I’m sure he was just worried that something would happen to me.”
“Or he knew that you were human and didn’t have the same rights as a true Vaaden female,” Beren said. “I know you said he called you his daughter, but are you certain he didn’t have papers on you? Ownership papers?”
Rena and the Alien Warrior (Intergalactic Brides Book 16) Page 8