Aydan (The Azziarin Series Book 6)

by Hannah Davenport

  She raked a shaky hand down her face and turned back toward the bathroom. She grabbed the doorknob and pushed just enough to stick her head inside.

  He stood naked with his head tilted backward, eyes closed, a strong hand gripped around his massive cock. With practiced ease, he worked it up and down.

  With her startled gasp, his head whipped around, and his eyes shot to hers while still working his cock. Heat raced to her cheeks. “Sorry.” Riley quickly closed the door and fled down the hall, his low, sexy chuckle chasing her.

  Chapter Eight

  Aydan

  Riley’s scent drove him mad even though she didn’t try to make herself more alluring. She wore a plain, baggy pink shirt that hid most of her shape, all except the tight blue pants. There was no coloring applied to her face, just a touch of pink to her moist, luscious, lips. Pure female stared at him with innocent blue eyes.

  As he closed the distance in the bathing room, he had to smell her one more time. His semi-hard cock roared to life, making him curse under his breath. He gathered her into his arms. The feel of her soft, delicate body pressed against his set him on fire. His body demanded release. Conscious thought fought with his predatory instinct. He fought his need to bend her over and take what he wanted, needed.

  He felt the hammering of her heart, heard her breath quicken as her eyes dilated with desire. The smell of her juices called to him. Just one taste. Just as he started to lower his head, sink his teeth deep, control won out. A quick step back brought a thread of clarity to his lust-filled brain.

  He watched her flee the bathing room before he released his cock. A quick release to help regain control. Working his cock up and down, he felt the familiar tingle in the base of his spine at the same time he heard a sharp gasp.

  Holding Riley’s gaze, he relished thoughts of her naked, writhing underneath him as he took her hard, took what he needed. Her wide eyes watched in fascination before she fled the doorway. Aydan chuckled before throwing his head back and grunting his release.

  The shower wasn’t much, but he felt clean as he towel-dried his hair. At some point, Riley had laid some neatly folded clothes just inside the door.

  The gray shirt and pants felt nothing like his soft black jumpsuit. The material was abrasive, rubbing his skin with every step to the main area.

  Cassidy sat on the couch, putting on a pair of boots. She smiled as he walked in. “You look better.” Her eyes glanced at the clothes. “I see Riley found Dad’s old sweat suit for you.” She grimaced. “It’s a little tight on you. Sorry. You’re a lot bigger than he was.”

  She stared out the window as a shadow passed over her young, delicate features, but she shook it off quickly.

  “This is fine, and I feel better. Thanks.” The odd look she shot him sent a smile to his face.

  “I’m going to milk old Betsy if you want to watch. Most people don’t know how to milk a cow, but milk is very important for the twins. At least that’s what Riley says.”

  Milk a cow. Those words didn’t translate very well. With his memory gone, helping out was the least he could do. He just needed to learn how.

  He followed Cassidy outside where a large brown and white colored beast stood behind a wooden fence. It looked tame enough as it lazily chewed on straw.

  Cassidy set a metal bucket under the large looking beast and grabbed the teats that hung low. With her practiced hands, the bucket quickly filled. His eyes rounded in horror at the thought. Is that what I drank with breakfast? His stomach churned with disgust, needing to expel the vile liquid. I drank liquid from the teat of a beast!

  There was no such beast on Azziar that gave milk for their consumption. They drank different nectars and alcohol from fruits, and water, but no such milk. A smile graced his lips. A memory. He was from a place called Azziar.

  “This is Betsy. She’s been here a long time.” Cassidy look over her shoulder at him. “Want to try?”

  With a tight smile, he shook his head.

  “Suit yourself.”

  Looking everywhere but at Cassidy and the beast called a cow, he finally noticed the trees. Some were small, some large, but there were many that surrounded the dwelling. It reminded him of a miniature version of home. Another memory. One sniff and a fragrance of wilderness filled his nostrils. It soothed his soul even though he knew it didn’t smell like home. Another good sniff, and he instinctively knew there would be a shift in the weather.

  Looking up, a little bit of blue sky could be seen through the canopy of trees, along with a wisp of white clouds. One lone sun shone high in the sky.

  The ground was hard, unlike his planet. He grinned, another clue. Foliage of all kinds covered it, hiding its true identity. Brown decaying leaves, low-growing green vines, little white flowers.

  Walking around in front of the house, his hands laced behind him, he kicked the foliage, scattering the dry leaves as he walked. His head shot up at the sound of a slamming door.

  He walked around back and spotted Riley stepping off the small porch. She pulled a hood up, effectively covering her hair as she headed into the woods dressed in brown and green. She blended in well, but his keen eye easily watched as she headed out of view.

  Curiously, he stalked at a distance. She trekked for standard hours, weaving in and out of trees, crossing clearings only to head back into the trees again. She obviously knew the area very well.

  When she stopped, she held deathly still. Frozen in time like a stone statue. Aydan watched as she pulled a long, thin, pointed weapon from behind her back with methodical slow movements. Her eyes fixed on something, but what? He followed her gaze. A tall, brown, white-tailed animal stood at a distance, eating something from the ground. It didn’t suspect a thing as she took aim. She held the target, her hand never wavering. With the tiniest movement, the arrow flew through the woods. Perfect shot! The animal fell dead instantly.

  Aydan beamed with pride as he watched Riley take down the target. The thought of a female on a hunt felt foreign but very attractive as he watched her stalk toward the fallen prey, silent and deadly.

  Just as she knelt beside the lifeless animal, he stepped out of hiding. He would not make her carry the heavy load on her own.

  Riley

  Riley knew he followed her—how could she not? Her body electrified as he grew near. The hair on her arms raised with his heavy gaze. It made it hard to concentrate on the task at hand, killing food for her family.

  There were no grocery stores to shop in, no clothing stores for growing children, there was nothing to buy. Nothing. Everything they had, they either grew in the garden or killed. Everything except the hoarded items her parents had stocked up on. Thank God, they’d bought more than the normal yearly provisions when her mother grew sick. They were nothing if not prepared.

  Walking aimlessly, half paying attention, she’d wandered farther than she should have. Her mind was more on the alien behind her than searching for deer. Luck was with her today. When she finally stopped, a deer stood twenty-five yards away, and she was downwind.

  Riley slowly lifted her bow, and with practiced ease, she nocked an arrow. With a steady eye and hand, she sent the arrow flying silently through the woods, hitting the target. It fell with a thud to the ground.

  In truth, Riley hated killing deer, but with the world in chaos, she’d do everything in her power to feed her family, keep them safe.

  Just as she knelt by the fallen deer, he stepped out of hiding. She didn’t have to look back, she just knew. Her body was hyperaware of his every move. Riley still didn’t know how that was possible.

  She drew her hunting knife and started the practiced routine. The meat went into the backpack cooler while the rest was left for scavengers.

  When he placed a hand on her shoulder, she froze. How can he make me feel this way? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me? He could make her forget everything. This war-torn world. Her responsibilities. And if it weren’t for the love of her family, she’d let him.

  Th
ey could travel the stars together, visit unknown worlds while sipping exotic drinks. Maybe it was a fantasy, but it was her fantasy. Becoming a mother of four at the age of twenty-two was not how she’d envisioned the future. Being a single parent took a lot of work. Everything took work.

  How Riley missed the simple things in life, things she always took for granted. Cell phones, television, a long bath while reading a good book. What she wouldn’t give for a long, hot bath!

  When he knelt beside her, she finally looked his way and grinned. He watched attentively as she worked the knife with expertise.

  “This is a deer. This is what you ate for breakfast this morning.” No telling how long he’d be with them. Might as well teach him about Earth, maybe teach him the language.

  He glanced at the animal. “Dare.”

  She giggled. “That’s close enough.” She thought to try something else. “I am Riley.” She pointed to her chest. “Riley.”

  “Riley.” His voice deep, sexy. Pointing to himself, he said, “Aydan.”

  “Your name is Aydan?” Her heart fluttered with excitement when he nodded. Aydan. Just knowing his name seemed more personal, intimate, and now she didn’t have to call him alien man.

  “Okay, Aydan.” She shot him a happy smile. “I know you can understand me.” He nodded. “We need to get this home before it spoils.” She looked up at the sky. “Although I think it will turn even colder the next few days. It’s March, but it feels like snow.” She scrunched her nose. Riley couldn’t wait for spring. The weather had already tempted them some days, alternating between warm and cold.

  By the excitement shining in his eyes, she knew he wanted to help, but until he learned how to do it, she couldn’t risk him ruining the meat.

  With the last cut made, they packed the cooler and headed back toward the house. Instead of following, stalking her in the shadows, he now walked beside her.

  “See that tree there?” She pointed off in the distance. “The bark is lighter than most. Some call it white bark. It’s a sycamore tree and is always found near water. So, if you get lost, head toward sycamores, and you’ll find water to drink.”

  They walked on, and she told him about the maple trees. “Maple trees are the first to bloom, and my bees love them.” She chuckled as she trekked on at a steady pace. “We sometimes tap the trees and gather the sap. If you boil it down, you have maple syrup. It tastes really good, but it takes eight to ten hours to boil down a five-gallon bucket. It’s a lot of work.”

  As they trekked toward the house, she told him about the different trees and foliage. Everyone needed some knowledge about their surroundings, and it filled the silence.

  She explained the red bird that landed on a nearby branch. At a distance, a squirrel ran on the ground before heading straight up a tree. “Those are okay to eat, but they are not big enough for a family of five.” She glanced at him, then amended, “Six.”

  Twilight blanketed the Earth, and soon it would be too dark to see her hand in front of her face. She quickened her steps, needing to get home. When their small cabin came into view, Riley’s grin split her face.

  Before they made it to the porch, everyone rushed out to greet them.

  “Did you get one?” Hope was easily heard in Cassidy’s young voice.

  “I did. I got a big one.” Whoops and hollers filled her ears. A deer would feed them for two or three weeks.

  Riley headed toward the kitchen where she found the plastic containers. She filled them with meat and then took the containers to the springhouse. It was the best refrigeration system they had, and even though it was primitive, it worked like a charm.

  Unlike most springhouses, theirs had a locked door to keep out unwanted guests, such as coyotes or bears. It straddled the spring that ran from the mouth of a small cave, ensuring the water was cold in the hottest of summers. They had to dig the spring out a little, allowing more storage for the meat, milk, and eggs.

  That night after a nice dinner of roasted deer meat, potatoes, and green beans, Riley and her sisters cleaned up the kitchen and got ready for bed.

  Riley yawned with exhaustion before tucking the twins into bed. They both shared a twin bed. The thick patchwork quilt would keep them warm, even if the fire went out. She pulled the cover up to their necks, tucking them both in.

  Haley looked at her with slow, blinking eyes. “Mama, story time.”

  Kaley also blinked and the stretched her mouth wide in a yawn. “Yeah, me, too.”

  Riley smiled lovingly at the two little girls. Her life might be hard, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. The unconditional love these two shared with her, their innocent faces bright and full of wonder most days, brightened up the glummest of days.

  “Once upon a time in a land far away…”

  Chapter Nine

  Aydan

  Aydan stood outside the bedroom door listening as Riley told the twins a bedtime story. With a grimace, he raked his knuckles across his aching chest. What is wrong with me?

  He listened intently as she told the story. Real or made up? Probably made up although some of it resonated with him. He wasn’t from here, evident by his reflection in the looking glass. He knew he hailed from Azziar, but where was that? Was anyone looking for him? Did anyone miss him?

  The ache in his chest tightened, making him want to slam his hands against the wall. Instead, he tightened them into fists and clenched his teeth so tight it was a wonder they didn’t shatter.

  Riley finished the story and caught him standing outside the door. She took notice of his rigid posture and patted his chest.

  “You look like you could use a drink.” With a slight head nod toward the kitchen, she turned and walked away. “Come on.” Her words drifted quietly back to his ears.

  He waited as she disappeared through a dark doorway that headed downstairs. She returned carrying a jar of clear liquid and a smile on her face.

  “Mom and Dad didn’t believe in buying many things. They preferred to make their own. Dad had a moonshine still, and of course we made mead from the honey. We still have both, but when I run low, I just make more.” She shrugged and grabbed two small glasses from the cupboard.

  None of what she said made sense to him. He’d never heard of those things but accepted the glass filled with clear liquid.

  “Let me get the quilt, and we’ll go outside. It’s cold, but I can’t breathe in the house. It makes me feel trapped at times.”

  Aydan followed Riley outside to a freestanding porch swing. He sat down beside her as the swing swayed back and forth slightly. She glanced at the stars and took a sip of her drink.

  He sniffed the contents of his own, and then swallowed a drink. Oh sish! His eyes watered as the liquid burned like fire down his throat, causing him to cough.

  Her light laughter drifted along the wind, easing the silence. “I’m sorry. I forget how strong this stuff is.” She took another sip. “Sometimes, I just need something to help me escape, if only for a short time.”

  Escape what? He tried another sip, but this time he was ready for the strong liquid.

  He knew she wouldn’t understand, but the intimacy of the situation made him want to talk. “I can’t remember much, except I come from Azziar. I don’t know if anyone is even looking for me.”

  She shook her head in understanding, even though she didn’t understand. Riley probably understood the tone of his voice, the sadness interjected in it.

  Riley

  Riley listened as he talked, the sadness and sincerity easily heard. She enjoyed sitting on the swing, sharing his company. It’d been so long since she’d had adult company. Belle tried to fill that void, but she’d never been anywhere, never experienced anything other than living here. Their conversations were Riley telling Belle stories about things she’d done while on her own.

  This felt different. She could tell Aydan anything, and he wouldn’t repeat it. Couldn’t repeat it.

  Nighttime had fully descended, and the full m
oon hung large in the sky. The crisp air was cold on her face as she took another sip of moonshine, which warmed her from the inside out. Stars sparkled in the cloudless sky, and as she stared, she wondered, “Where are you from, Aydan?”

  His eyes followed her gaze as he, too, stared at the sky. “Azziar.”

  “You know, I never once looked up and thought about life out there. I always looked straight ahead, wanting to see the next town or city. This world holds so many wonderful things, and I barely saw any of it.” Riley took another sip as she gathered her thoughts. “I love my sisters, but sometimes I feel trapped. The responsibility…” She shook her head and tightened her lips. “If I don’t hunt, they starve. It is difficult to think that their lives depend on me.”

  He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. Riley leaned her head over and rested it on his chest as the two of them sat in silence and stared at the stars.

  Both glasses sat empty as they swayed a little on the swing. Riley turned her head up toward Aydan. “Thank you for listening to me.”

  He looked down, their eyes catching. Her body stayed on high alert with him near, but with the moonshine and the cloak of darkness, her reserve abandoned her. She not only needed adult contact, she wanted it, desired it with every fiber of her being.

  In one swift movement, she closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. He hesitated and then wrapped both arms around her, pulling her so close that no space remained. She could feel his hardness pressed against her belly.

  She fully turned, climbed on top and straddled his waist; his cock near her drenched panties as she rocked herself on him.

  With her arms around his neck, she nibbled his ear, slowly moving down his neck. The sensations shot from her core, and they were both still fully clothed. Oh God! How long had it been since she’d been kissed, caressed? Way too long!