She stayed focused on putting one foot in front of the next. If she let her thoughts stray to her body’s reaction to him, she was sure she would fall flat on her face. She didn’t understand what was happening. Obviously, it was nothing good. The Silarin had obviously fucked up, once again. There was no way she should want to drop to the floor and let this thing catch her, but she did. She also knew deep in her gut he stalked her and she was even more certain that when he caught her she would change even more than she already had. Part of her still really desired to stop and let him have her, the other half knew she had to keep running. Running was important. The chase was important.
She dodged through doorways and down corridors, skimming past Silarin and maybe even other Sandaki, though she wasn’t sure. All her focus was on running. No one stopped her, no one touched her, and she supposed it was due to the male hot on her heels but didn’t stop to ask. Laira darted through a partially open door into a short corridor and discovered it was a dead end. She didn’t allow herself to panic. Instead she sprinted to the only door and scuttled through it as it opened. The room she found herself in was fairly large and filled with a multitude of odd sized metal cubes. She squeezed through them and crouched low to hide. She knew this wasn’t the best solution, but it was the only plan she had right now. She held her breath, half-hoping he wouldn’t find her, but the biggest part of her so wanted him to rip the room apart for her. She made a face. What the fuck? Why would he? No matter what species he was, he was beautiful. She imagined he had a whole harem of women just waiting for him. The idea made her stomach sink and roll. Shit, she was certifiable. What did it matter if the guy had one woman or a million? He was Sandaki, and that was bad.
Maybe he wanted to kill her. The thought rolled in and out as her very soul rejected the idea. No, he didn’t want to kill her. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. And if someone were to ask her how she knew, she’d have no explanation. Something in her gut told her, whatever else this being was, he wasn’t a physical danger to her.
Laira froze when she heard the door slide open, but nothing else. She eased out just enough to see and found him standing in the doorway. If he wanted a quick fuck, she imagined he could go anywhere. There had to be other women running around he could grab. The whole thought of him being with someone else made fury rise up inside. What was wrong with her? What did she care who or what he fucked? She didn’t; she couldn’t. There was no explanation, other than she was finally cracking up. That had to be the reason. She’d been in this place too long. Whatever grasp on reality she’d had was slowly slipping away.
The silence of the space was unnerving, she knew he hunted. Hunted for her. She wondered if she should take the chance of peeking again. She weighed her options and decided she had to do it. If he wasn’t there, then she had to get out so she could find Isha and the rest of the girls. She eased up to look around the containers she hid behind. She didn’t see anyone, but still felt as if he shared the room with her. Keeping low, Laira began to move through the warren of cartons toward the door. She took an indirect route, not wanting to accidentally stumble out into the open. Still, she saw nothing.
Laira froze as goose bumps rushed over her shoulders and arms. She blinked, realizing she had never once thought to check above her. Slowly, she looked up to find the huge warrior standing on top of a large stack of crates. The image of a huge jungle cat watching prey slammed into her head. His deep topaz eyes darkened as she retreated. As he leaped, she turned and ran. She rounded boxes and discovered the warrior blocked the doorway, fangs bared.
Laira thought she should be frightened as she had been earlier. Instead, she was even more turned on by him. She feinted to the right, looking for an opportunity to move around him, but he closed the distance between them. He flung his head back and let loose an ominous growling roar. The beads in his hair clacked and danced. Laira so wanted to touch them, to feel them move over her naked flesh. She shivered. He grunted, and the armor he wore began to recede from his body, until all he had on was a black bodysuit.
She stared captivated by just how big he was. She shook herself, refusing to give up. She tried to dodge around him, but he caught her in his arms. She kicked out at him and he easily sidestepped her strike. He drove her down to the floor on her knees as he positioned his body behind her. Rationally, she knew she should be fighting him, but the urge to have him mount her, master her was almost overwhelming. He grasped her hands in one of his, forcing her upper body to the floor, effectively ending any notion of escape.
The sensation of being held captive, open to this male’s every whim and desire, made her shiver with longing. She wanted him to fill her, to force himself inside her, imprint himself on her soul. She rested her head on the floor, knowing the skimpy outfit she wore was more of an invitation than anything she could have said or done.
He shifted behind her, forcing his large body closer to her. Unconsciously, Laira moved to accommodate him. She lifted her ass, feeling a hint of shame, but wasn’t able to stop herself. He slid his hand over her pussy and rubbed the sopping flesh between her thighs. She shuddered. He growled and the sound reverberated through her.
She heard the sound of cloth ripping and he leaned over her to clamp his teeth on her shoulder. He thrust his cock deep into her needy flesh. He was huge, that was the only word Laira could use to describe him. He stretched and filled her until she was overwhelmed. Tears welled in her eyes as pleasure and pain danced together, driving a scream from her mouth. He began to shove himself like a piston within her, and she could do nothing but throw herself back to meet him. She heard their flesh slap together in long, wet pulls as orgasm after orgasm rushed through her body. He shoved hard one last time then began to spasm and come. He unclamped his teeth from her shoulder and let out a screaming cry as he continued to drive himself into her.
Laira slumped under him, gasping to catch her breath. He wrapped his arms around her, and he began to lick the wounds he’d made with his teeth. It was comforting, and she tilted her head to give him better access. Small shocks danced through her system every time his tongue moved over her flesh. She idly wondered what it would feel like if he lapped her pussy. She shivered at the thought.
He sat up and pulled his still hard cock from her body. She moaned at the loss, feeling empty and adrift without him covering her. Shoving the thoughts aside, she forced herself to sit back and turn to look at him. He was just as stunning as when she’d first seen him in the hall, maybe even more so now he had intimate knowledge of her body. Unfortunately, she didn’t even know his name.
He grunted and the black armor oozed back over him, but he never took his golden eyes from her. Laira wondered if he was just going to stare then walk away. Probably. Men, no matter where they were from, were major dickheads. And if he did, why should she even give a shit? Hell, he’d practically raped her. Yeah, and if anyone believed that, then they would certainly believe she was a guest of the Silarin and not a prisoner. She turned away from him to look at her own nearly naked body. She clenched her thighs together as both of their juices slicked her inner thighs. Her emotions were a jumble; the only thing she was sure of was wanting to be fucked again. The need was like a beast that rode her hard and wouldn’t let her go.
She kicked the thought aside and slowly climbed to her feet. Moisture ran down her legs, and she looked around for something to wipe herself with. The only thing she had was the strip of fabric she wore and she certainly wasn’t going to use that. She didn’t want to be totally naked in front of the man, which was stupid since she practically was anyway. Hell, she needed to go someplace quiet to think, to get control of herself. She didn’t know what to do now or what this person would do. She hated not being in control but hadn’t been since the Silarin kidnapped her. She looked back at the man who had just given her the greatest sex of her life. He stared at her, almost eating her up with his eyes. She shook her head; she did not need another complication.
Before she could speak, he pulled a c
loth from his armor and proceeded to wipe her dry. She tried to stop the shiver but couldn’t help it as his hands roamed her body. He watched her as he cleaned between her legs. She gasped and clutched at his shoulder when another small orgasm rippled through her. If she didn’t get away from him, she was sure she’d drop to the floor and beg him to take her again.
“I’m leaving now,” she said, moving away without meeting his eye. She figured after the sex, she could at least say something to him. She doubted “thanks for the fuck” would go over real well, so just stuck with the first thought that came to mind, feeble as it was.
“You are correct, talla, we must go.” He carefully folded the kerchief he’d cleaned her with and tucked it away. Then he swept her into his arms and started from the room. His voice held a low growl that rubbed against her like fine silk. Damn, he probably could make her come again by talking alone.
“Go? Where? And my name isn’t tall-uh or whatever. It’s Laira. You can put me down. I can walk.” She squirmed in his arms, but he just tightened his hold on her.
“Laira.” Growling her name, he nuzzled the soft skin of her neck. “We are going back to my ship. Talla means mate’s heart in Sandaki. And I prefer to carry you.”
“What? Why? I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“Because you are my mate, by right of claiming, and I refuse to let you go.”
Mate? What the fuck? “Wait a minute there, dude. I don’t even know you. Okay, I fucked you, but it’s not all my fault. I’m sure of it. Ever since I’ve been here…well whatever. Forget it. Just know I don’t normally let some guy screw me from behind, you know. Wait, that didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean fucking me in the butt, I meant…fuck, I have no idea what I meant.”
His eyes darkened. “Talla, soon you and I will know each other in every way possible. And you will scream with pleasure.”
Laira wondered what she had gotten herself into.
Rakin, Taj Katan of the Sandaki Empire, carried the flame-haired female who was now his mate. His body still hummed from the chase, and he longed to claim her again. Never before had a female made him feel the needs this small alien did. He told himself it was due to finding aliens within their system and capturing them; deep inside he knew this was not so. Only the hunt for a mate gave a Sandaki the rush he was feeling. He knew that it should not be possible an alien was his mate, but it was. She was his, and he would kill any who would dare touch her.
He breathed deep, drawing her scent into his body. She smelled ripe. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her hot sheath again. Unfortunately now was not the time. They would have to wait until they reached his quarters on the Drakon Scaal. It would have to be soon though, because he could not delay for long, and judging by his mate’s movements and scent, she could not either.
He found his Second-in-Command, Kavich, with three women. The three of them looked from him to the woman in his arms and scowled. Kavich quickly knelt before him, head bowed.
“What have you done to her?” a woman with ebony skin demanded. “If you have hurt her, we will make sure you pay.”
“She is my mate, and nothing about her is your concern,” he returned with a snarl.
“She is our friend,” a girl covered in blue scales returned. “So everything about her is our concern.”
Laira tried to struggle from his arms. “Knock it off. Dude, put me down. I can walk and talk for myself. I’m sick and tired of being man-handled.”
Rakin looked at the four women so obviously from different worlds. What were they doing aboard a Silarin ship? He had a feeling he knew, but wanted it confirmed before he wiped the vermin from his space.
“Tell me why you are with the Silarin.” He spoke to his mate as he eased her to the floor, ignoring the other women.
“Gosh, I just couldn’t resist the Silarin’s invite.” She rolled her eyes when she was finally on her feet. “What do you think? They kidnapped me, the fuckers. They kidnapped all of us.” She shook her head in disgust. “You just broke up their little auction, as much fun as it was.”
He scowled in anger. Scum like this had dared to enter his space. They would not live to regret it. He turned to the man who still knelt on the floor before him. “Kavich, make sure we rescue every slave and transport them to our ship. I also want all information from this vessel. After that, blow up this piece of junk with the Silarin in it. Have Hadron send a message to the Silarin home world to inform them if any more of their ships end up in our space we will invade in full force.”
“Yes, Taj.” Kavich slowly backed away, never once raising his head to look upon Rakin or his woman. To stare at either would have been to issue a challenge, and for that, Rakin would have killed him. No one challenged the Taj Katan of the Sandaki and lived.
“Wow, you don’t mess around, do you?”
He turned to find his talla watching him. He felt the urge to mount her once again just due to her eyes upon him. An involuntary growl escaped as she licked her lips. He could smell her heat and knew she would want the same. Unless she wished for him to take her here, in front of the Sandaki fleet, he had to get her back to his quarters. Now. He could not rein in the beast he carried for long. It would soon demand the connection to her.
He took her hand and moved off down the corridor, needing to find an open space in which to transport. Sounds from behind indicated the three women followed. Why hadn’t they gone with his Second? Would he be stuck with them forever?
“Dude, where are we going?”
“My name is not dude, it is Rakin, and we going back to my ship.”
“Okay, well you need to slow down. After all the shit that’s gone down today, I refuse to run anymore.”
“We are going with you.” One of the other women spoke up. “We are friends and stick together.”
His first inclination was to destroy this being who dared to speak to him. He stopped himself since obviously they knew his mate, and she liked them for some reason. He nodded. “Fine. You may follow, but keep up.”
The need in him to claim her again increased his footsteps, causing the women behind him to break into a trot. Once again, he stopped and pulled his mate into his arms. She squirmed and complained, but he didn’t want her to run. He started off again at a fast clip. He could hear the other women close behind, but did not slow. Either they would keep up or not. It made little difference to him.
Reaching a more open area, he stopped and settled his woman more comfortably in his arms. He then spoke without even looking at any of the out-of-breath women. “Touch my armor,” he ordered them.
Tentatively, they edged forward and placed hands on his arm. Nodding sharply, he spoke aloud. “Krich ta.” The air shimmered around them, and when it cleared, they were standing within his quarters on the battle cruiser, Drakon Scaal. The cabin was large and spacious, befitting one of the rulers of the Sandaki Empire. Ignoring the opulence of his surroundings, he carried his other half into his sleeping chambers to lay her on the bed.
She looked right sitting amid the rich fabrics woven on his home world. He knew she would look even better spread out under him as he drove his cock deep within her body. Rakin retracted his armor, leaving only a small square strapped to his back. He pulled it off and hung it on a hook by the bed. He began to shed the fabric shell he wore, but stopped at the indrawn breath behind him. He turned to find the three women staring at him. God’s teeth, would he have any peace?
“Haldise, come attend your Taj,” he demanded in a rough voice.
In a flash, a tall, fine-boned woman stood before him. She was dressed in flowing robes, her face obscured by a filmy hood. She bowed low. “How may I serve Taj Rakin?”
“Take these women, and get them food and clothing.”
“Yes, Taj.” The High Priestess bowed to leave, but hesitated. “You have found your heart mate.”
He nodded sharply. “Yes, among the slaves the Silarin were selling. I have claimed her as is my right. We are bringing all
the slaves on board, so make sure they are all seen to.”
“What is to become of the Silarin vessel?”
“Destroyed.”
She nodded. “Before it is, may I go aboard? I want to see the ship.”
Rakin studied her closely. She never made an idle request, so obviously she was looking for something. “I will have Kavich escort you.”
“That is unnecessary, Taj,” she said, softly. “I do not want to pull your Second from his duties.”
“It is necessary, since you are important,” he countered. “You will have Kavich and a full armed escort, or you will not be allowed to leave this craft.”
“As you wish.” She bowed low. “We have much to speak of, Taj. Please summon me when you are unoccupied.”
He looked back over his shoulder to the nearly naked woman sprawled across his bed. If he were lucky, he might make it out of his quarters by the time the ship docked at the home world. She eyed him with a slight smile on her lips…or not.
“Taj, I would also council you to contact Taj Dev.”
The High Priestess would not meet his eye and he sensed the anxiety in her at the mention of his Kalkan Arkadasi—his shield mate. Dev did that to people, even when he wasn’t on the same ship. Hell, he could do that even when he wasn’t on the same planet.
“I will, Preestrinna. Now, leave me with my mate.” His fangs extended, the beast so close to the surface it rippled right under his skin.
She bowed and quickly ushered the women from his rooms. Turning, he found Laira leaning back on her elbows watching him intently. Her eyes, as richly purple as priceless kozana stones, entranced him. He wanted to cover her with his scent and fuck her until she could think of nothing but him filling her.
Chapter Five
Laira watched as the man before her slowly stripped off his clothing. Her mouth watered at his broadly muscled shoulders and lean six-pack abs. Across the expanse of his chest was a black tattoo that made her think of the tribal tats back on Earth. The tattoo looked, to her, like two stylized dragons facing one another. They started at each of his shoulders and moved down his body, around his pecs, and finally ended right at his pelvis. She glanced down his body and found a cock large enough to choke a horse. Fuck, what the hell? The man was hung. She studied him. She knew his dick had fit earlier, maybe it hadn’t been this large. Whatever, while there was no way that thing was going to be comfortable in her body, at this point she was ready to try and take one for the team. It was the least she could do for the female species.
Mated (The Sandaki Book 1) Page 5