Without a thought, he turned and slammed his fists onto a table. Instantly, it collapsed to pieces. Rakin stared down at it in disgust. He needed to gain control. Normally, he was the one with the clear thought and plans. He had to figure out what to do before they rendezvoused with Dev. No matter what Dev thought, the Sandaki couldn’t afford to lose either one of them. And, if pushed, Rakin would admit he couldn’t afford to lose Dev. They had been together too long and been through too much.
He needed his mate. Turning, he contacted Kavich as he walked out of his chamber. “We are to meet up with Taj Dev at the given coordinates. When we get to our position let me know, other than that I do not want to be disturbed.”
“Yes, Taj.”
Men scrambled out of his way as he stalked through the halls. He’d put off finding his mate for too long. The beast was rising, and Rakin forced himself to walk instead of run like he wanted. Soon, he thought, soon they would be in their rooms, and he would sink into her heat.
LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” echoed through the room as Laira chatted with her friends. Now that there was music, everyone was more relaxed. Pockets of women danced, laughed, and talked excitedly. If she didn’t know better, it might seem they were all on vacation, but with really crappy accommodations. The room still wasn’t much to write home about, however the music did add a festive air. And the women so needed festive.
Laira glanced over to find her escort still standing stiffly by the door. She’d told him he could go, but he’d refused. She’d then invited him to sit with them. He’d politely refused that, too. She wasn’t sure what he got out of standing by the door but figured if he was content, who was she to complain. She also tried not to look at him because every time she did, he dropped to one knee with his head bowed. Poor guy had to have serious seasickness from all the up and down.
The door opened, and Rakin stepped in. Other than the music, the room went silent. He was impressive, Laira thought, as she watched his eyes sweep over the room. When his gaze landed on her, she could practically feel the heat from across the room. She realized right then, that she truly loved the kilt he wore, and she knew what he had on underneath. Not a damn thing.
By the time she finished contemplating his nakedness, he knelt in front of the bed she sat on. She ran her hands down his heavily muscled arms as he purred.
“Mate, I’ve been looking for you.”
“I’ve been here visiting my peeps,” she said, motioning toward the girls who were pretending they weren’t listening. “What’s wrong?”
“I have missed you.”
She smiled slightly and rubbed her thumb on the furrow between his brows. “I missed you, too, but that’s not what’s bothering you.”
“Come, mate, put your mouth on mine.”
Laira decided to push him to tell her later and leaned forward to press her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Damn, he tasted good and hot, so damn hot. She wondered how one man could be as hot as this one was. Was he born this way? Grew into it? Whatever it was, he had it in spades. And, for some bizarre reason, he directed it at her.
He sucked on her tongue and Laira almost forgot where they were. She really wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and grind herself against him. Yep, not the most couth thing to do in public. Best to wait until they were alone. All she had to do was convince him to leave. Now.
“Let’s go back to your room,” she panted against his mouth.
“Our quarters,” he corrected as he stood. “They are our quarters since you are my mate.”
“Okay, let’s go. As much as I like all these people, I don’t want them watching us.”
Without replying, he headed toward the door, still holding her in his arms. Laira waved to her friends as Rakin exited the room. She dangled from his neck as he entered the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, he pushed her against the wall and sealed his mouth to hers once more. Damn, for someone who had just learned to kiss, he was a master at it. Laira wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her hands into his hair as he ground his erection against her pussy.
She couldn’t understand the wanting. One moment, she’d been fine, chatting with her friends, and as soon as she’d seen him, it hit her. The deep down need to have him possess her, claim her. It was like a disease or some force she couldn’t control. Didn’t want to control.
He barked out some words, and the elevator stopped. In the next instant, he plunged his cock deep into her body. Laira clung to him as he pumped his hips in a brutal rhythm. No matter, it still brought her off as an orgasm shot through her system. Without thinking, she bit him hard on the shoulder. Rakin roared as he slammed into her one last time and came, too.
She panted, totally exhausted as he slowly pulled himself from her body. She tilted her head back and let it rest against the wall. She’d bit him. She eyed his shoulder and saw teeth marks. What the hell? She didn’t know if everything that was going on with her body was sex with Rakin or just sex in general. To truly get off every time, she’d masturbated, since the men she’d slept with hadn’t wanted to take the time or the energy.
“You bit me, mate,” he said, as he dropped to the floor in front of her.
“I know, I couldn’t help it.” She ran her hand over the marks she left. “Sorry.”
He looked up at her and bared his fangs. “I liked it. I want your marks on my body, just as I leave my marks on yours.”
Laira started to reply, but Rakin parted her legs and put his mouth to her pussy. She gasped as he worked his tongue over her sensitive skin. Another orgasm flashed through her as he moaned. Slowly, he pulled away and eased the fabric down over her hips. He rose and pressed his mouth to hers for a long moment. Their combined tastes flooded over her tongue, and she hummed with approval.
Pulling away and smiling, Rakin spoke again, and the elevator started to move. Laira checked her outfit to make sure the fabric hadn’t come loose in any way. Running around on the Silarin ship half-naked was one thing, but she didn’t want to flash the entire Sandaki crew.
When the doors opened, Rakin put his arm around her and ushered her out into the hall. As they walked, any man they came across bowed and averted his face. Laira checked to make sure all her bits were covered, and when she saw they were, she glanced at the man at her side. Maybe they weren’t allowed to look at him? She thought back to what the girls had told her about what being the Taj Katan meant. If he really was the big daddy of the Sandaki, that had to say something about what a badass he was. She doubted very much that they voted him in, then again, stranger things had happened.
“Why do you look at me so, talla?” He interrupted her thoughts.
“First, am I supposed to look at you? I mean no one else does. They all look away, so am I not supposed to look at you, either?”
“They do not look at me because to do so would mean they are challenging me.”
“So is that how you became the Taj Katan? The girls told me that you’re like the big in charge guy of the Sandaki? Is that true?”
He waited until they entered his…their rooms and pulled her to sit on the bed before he spoke again. “Dev and I both are the Taj Katan. And, yes, we are the rulers of our people. You are the Taja, my mate. Everyone who looks upon you this day knows this is true, since you are wearing the sash of my office.”
Laira looked down at the cloth she had wrapped around herself. She’d just assumed it was just a piece of fabric, she should have known better. These people were warriors. None of them were going to have a random piece of cloth just lying around. What? In case they felt the need to sew?
“I am so sorry,” she said, as she quickly took it off. “I was looking for something to wear that I wasn’t half naked in. Oh crap, and now I’ve messed it up. I’ll clean it or whatever.”
“Not that I don’t want to see your body, but I like you wearing my sash. It tells everyone who you belong to.”
“Possessive much?” She teased as she carefully folde
d the cloth.
“You are my mate, and I want no one’s eyes upon you, but mine.” He leaned over to nuzzle her neck. As he did the beads in his hair brushed against her nipples. She gasped and leaned closer, putting her arms around him.
“Wow, okay, um, the guy I made escort me to the girls kept calling me Taja,” she said, as she eased onto his lap. “By the way, what’s his name? Poor thing kept bowing and kneeling and not looking at me.”
“He is Zarak and Taja is your rank as Taj is mine.”
He kissed down her neck until he could take a nipple in his mouth. Laira ran her hands through his thick hair, loving the sensation of it on her naked body. The man was addictive, and Laira wanted his hands on her, but they needed to talk. She needed to understand the society she’d ended up in.
“Rakin, tell me about the Sandaki. From what the girls have told me, you all are pretty hardcore about protecting what belongs to you. Hell, I saw it firsthand with how you dealt with the Silarin, which believe me, I totally appreciated.”
He pulled away and looked at her. “Why?”
“Why what? Why do I want to know about the Sandaki? Um, because apparently my mate is the Taj Katan which makes me the Taja so shouldn’t I know about the people I’m living with?”
“You are not living with them. You are living with me.”
She wondered if he was being purposefully obtuse or really didn’t understand what she was asking. “Yes, but you are Sandaki. And I want to know about you, who you are. For instance, when you came for me earlier you were worried about something. I’m not sure how I figured it out, I can…sense it? Maybe?”
“There is nothing wrong or upsetting me, mate,” Rakin said.
“I don’t buy it.” She ran her hands up and down his back. “Like I said, I can tell there’s something wrong or, maybe wrong isn’t the right word. Maybe I should say worrying you?”
“Being Taj Katan isn’t easy.”
“I can’t imagine it is. I mean you’re responsible for everything. Or, at least, I think you are. I’m here if you want to talk. I might not get what you’re saying, but at least you can share it.”
He shook his head. “You would not understand.”
“That’s what I just said, but I’m not a dummy either.”
“I did not say you were. You are not Sandaki so you would not understand. Besides, Sandaki do not share information with outsiders. It is not done.”
“Okay, I understand I’m not Sandaki, but I wouldn’t consider myself an outsider.” Laira spoke calmly. She didn’t want the conversation to go badly because he misread her tone, though she was angry. The man had been dodging her questions since she’d gotten aboard the ship. She wanted answers. Any answers. “Do you understand? I’ll be living among all of you. So the Sandaki are kind of my people now. I want to understand.”
“No,” he said. “You will never be Sandaki. So you can never understand.”
Chapter Seven
Laira sat for a long moment absorbing his words and tone. Both hurt. Tremendously. She hadn’t realized he’d started to mean something to her, but obviously he did.
“As long as you don’t share things with me, you’re right, I won’t understand,” she said as she slid off his lap.
He rose and began to pace. “We are Sandaki, and that is all you need comprehend.”
“Rakin, I know nothing about you. I don’t know who your parents are. I don’t know who Dev is to you. I know he’s your Kalkan Arkadasi, I don’t have clue one what that means. Tell me something. Please.”
He shook his head. “I will not answer your questions. They are irrelevant. You are not Sandaki, nor will you ever be. So you do not need information.”
She nodded and climbed off the bed and hunted around for something to wear. Finally, she settled on the clothing she’d boarded the ship in. Clothing? Calling the sarong clothing was a joke; whatever, she wrapped the cloth around her.
“What are you doing?” Rakin asked, interrupting her.
“I’m dressing. I’m going to go down and stay with the rest of the rescued slaves.”
She turned to face him. God, he was beautiful. From the expression on his face, he was confused. Oh and pissed, couldn’t forget that. He’d have to get over it. And he would. Because he didn’t have a choice, just as she didn’t have many choices. Could she have actually been happy with him? The point was now moot. No matter what, her emotions, her feelings were her own. She was the one who made the decisions in what she felt. Now, she knew there was no chance for them. He’d tossed around the word mate, and she assumed, obviously making her an ass, that he meant for them to be companions as well as lovers. Well, she was wrong again. She had forgotten her own self-made rule to never get involved. Never let anyone close. No more, she thought. No more.
“You are my mate, and this is your place.” He stepped forward until he towered over her.
Laira crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, but see I was obviously mistaken about what being your mate meant. I thought it meant that we were companions and friends and we could share stuff with each other. That’s how two people grow close. That’s how you build a relationship. But you helpfully pointed out to me that I was wrong. You don’t want anything important from me. You don’t even want to attempt to have anything because I’m not Sandaki, and I’ll never be. This means I can’t share in your life. I’m someone you fuck when you need that service. So really, I’m nothing more than a slave—just like the Silarin created me to be. I guess you owe them money for producing me for you, huh? I’m going to go down and be with the people I need to be with.”
“Talla, you do not understand—”
“You’re right, I don’t understand. And you don’t want me to,” she cut him off. “Thank you for setting me straight before I did something stupid like get attached to you or think that I could really be a part of your life. Man, that would have been way stupid of me. You reminded me of what I was invented to be, and from now on, I’ll make sure I remember.”
“I will not let you leave,” he said.
“I am so tired of people telling me where to go and what to do and how to be. I know you believe I don’t have a choice in whether I stay with you or not. You already told me that. Right now though, I don’t want to be in the same room with you. Besides, we already fucked so I’ve served my purpose.”
Laira squared her shoulders and stared him in the eye. Whatever he saw made him step aside so she could walk out of the room. She’d be damned if she would cry. She wouldn’t. She didn’t need anyone or anything. She never had and never would. No matter what happened, she could take care of herself.
Zarak fell into step behind her and she stopped. “Whatcha need, pal?”
He immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “Taja, I am to stay with you.”
“Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “First of all, my name is Laira. I am not Taja or talla or anything else. Second, I don’t need you to stay with me. I’m heading down to my friends.”
“You are the mate of the Taj Katan,” he said, speaking with his head bowed. “You are the Taja. I am to make sure you are safe until you are with the Taj.”
Laira gritted her teeth. No tears. No tears. “Look, dude, you are so obviously confused. I am not the Taja or whatever, I am not Sandaki. So you will either call me Laira or nothing. Do you understand? Oh and the bowing stuff, forget it. Get up. I’m a Silarin slave, so I’m sure the Sandaki don’t bow to someone like me.”
Shaking her head, she started down the corridor. She didn’t hear Zarak climb to his feet, but she knew he was behind her. She chose to ignore him. All she wanted to do was get back down to her friends. She needed to put all this Rakin mating shit behind her and figure out what she was going to do. She knew she couldn’t go home. The Silarin made sure of that. Perhaps if she could get some of the other freed slaves home then she could feel as if she accomplished something.
Hell, could any of them go home? She knew Isha couldn’t, since
her planet was water, and Chal and Garja both had said they couldn’t, but what about the other women? And if one of the other women had a beautiful planet, who was to say all four of them couldn’t get off and live there? Fuck Rakin and his claims of not letting her go. Who was he to make decisions for her? He hadn’t paid for her. He didn’t own her. No one did. She belonged to herself and she made the decisions about her life from here on out.
Concentrate on helping the others, she told herself. Think of something else, anything else. That’s what had helped her get through the first few days on the Silarin ship. She would help who she could and start exercising again. Get stronger, she told herself. The Sandaki were a warrior culture, so she couldn’t show any weakness. She had to toughen up, put her emotions behind a wall. That was the only way she knew she could survive any of this.
Rakin stood in the empty room not understanding what had just happened. One moment, his mate had been wrapped around him, and the next she had gone. She was obviously upset, but she had asked about the Sandaki, and that was something none of them talked about. They had not been born as other races, but created. Constructed for one purpose. To fight. That was it. If they died in the process, there had been nothing lost, since the machines could make more of them. They’d eventually rebelled and destroyed the people who’d produced them. From the moment their people had fought and won freedom, they had decided never to speak of their beginnings to outsiders. This was why they had locked their space down. No one would ever know, could ever know. Obviously, the technology had gotten out.
Created. The word raced through his mind. Laira had told him he should pay the Silarin for producing her. Did that mean the mating urge between them was not real? No, he wouldn’t believe that. He had never been attracted to another woman as he was to her. Her scent, her taste affected him. His beast longed for her, wanted to mate with her, claim her, protect her.
Mated (The Sandaki Book 1) Page 9