“You’re right,” he at last agreed. “But still the thought that something could happen to you is killing me.”
Marruk rolled on top of her and looked at her full of concern. He stroked a strand of hair out of her face and moved his fingers searchingly over her evenly proportioned features.
“You’re the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever seen,” he whispered reverently. “I can’t keep my hands of you. Can you forgive me?”
“What’s to forgive? That you fought because of me? That you threw me over your shoulder like a Neanderthal and brought me to your cave?” She giggled. “Or that you made love to me like no man has done before?”
“Did I?” he murmured hoarsely.
The sudden renewed hunger in his eyes made her pussy contract in anticipation. She put her hand around his neck and pulled him down to her. Their lips met and she opened her mouth under his demanding kiss. His growling vibrated throughout her body right down to the tips of her toes. He pulled away from her and looked down at her, breathing heavily.
“Me coshima nu,” he murmured.
Marruk took a nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. She pushed herself against him, groaning. Her hands slid restlessly over his muscular torso. It aroused her all the more to feel the way his muscles moved under her hands. He was so huge, so strong, compared to her. He could do whatever he wanted with her and she would not be able to stop him. But she was not afraid of him. On the contrary, she felt so safe in his arms, as never before.
“Turn round,” he commanded her, moving away from her to give her space.
She did as he asked and he took hold of her waist with his enormous hands and pulled her towards him, in the doggy position. He pushed her thighs apart with his knees and moved his hand down to her wet pussy. His finger found her clit and rubbed in circles over it. She gasped and moved her pelvis. He slapped her lightly on her backside.
“Keep still!” he growled.
Her buttock was burning, but it was a pleasant burning sensation and she had become wetter still. She groaned and had to bite down on her lips to stop herself moving her pelvis again. But she could not stand his sweet torment any longer. She forced her backside against him and was smacked again on the bottom. This time she was ready for it and gasped in arousal.
“My little one likes that, does she?” he murmured quietly. “Let’s see how you like this.”
He took her pearl between two fingers and pressed them together. Screaming loudly, she came so violently that her whole body shook. She would have collapsed onto the mattress if he had not held onto her hips to keep her in position. He then took her with one hard thrust. He rode her hard and leant right over her so that she felt his gasping breath on her neck. Suddenly she felt sharp teeth pressing into her shoulder. The brief pain was immediately replaced by indescribable desire. From the point at which his teeth had penetrated her skin there came a tingling heat that spread like lightening throughout her whole body. She came unexpectedly and powerfully. She was shaken by wave upon wave of pure ecstasy. Her arms could no longer support her upper body and she collapsed beneath him, only held onto now by her hip. She could feel him pouring into her, hot, and his roar echoed around the room. Slowly he let her slip onto the bed and he rolled down next to her. They lay next to one another, their eyes closed and fighting for breath. Keela thought her heart was going to burst at any moment, it was beating so quickly.
“What was that?” she asked breathlessly. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
“All male Carthians have an arousal increasing hormone in them that goes into the woman’s circulation through biting during sex. This is how a male makes sure that his mate enjoys the coupling and is happy to create offspring with him. At least that how the scientists explain it to us.” He laughed quietly.
“I’ve seen bite marks on Amber - when she was getting changed in her room. I asked her about them. It worried me somehow and I was thinking that you were vampires or something. But she didn’t tell me the truth. She said that she’d been playing with a cheetah and it had bitten her.”
Marruk chuckled.
“In a way she’s right. In any case she didn’t really lie.”
“How come? If it was Berka who bit her then she was lying.”
“Berka is a cheetah, Keela – So am I.”
“What do you mean?” asked Keela, confused.
“We’re shifters, Keela. The two cheetahs that the two of you were so shocked by on your arrival were not normal cheetahs.”
“You mean they were men?”
“Well, one of them.” They were my parents. Our women are shifters, too. Only they can’t inject any hormone through their teeth.”
“Moreena and Morticiar? Oh. My. God. So we completely disgraced ourselves. I can never look them in the eye again.”
Marruk laughed.
“You couldn’t have known that it was them. That’s no reason to be ashamed. My parents love you. You have no idea how much they’ve both kept on at me to get on and claim you. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was my mother who brought in Luvoka. Now that I think of it, that makes sense. It didn’t really seem to bother Luvoka that I was taking you away from him. And Amano …”
“What about Amano?” she asked, when he stopped speaking.
“Amano was the one who told me that you were dancing with Luvoka. That you were dancing closely, to be exact. He knew that the thought of that would make me angry.”
“I wasn’t interested in Luvoka. I knew … I thought that you didn’t want me anyway and that it wouldn’t be a problem if I danced with someone else. I like him, he’s nice and … Stop growling and let me finish speaking.” She laughed. “I like him, but I don’t feel anything for him. Or for any man apart from you. I only wanted you but you …”
“I was an idiot,” he interrupted her. “But now I’ll never let you out of my sight again. And I’ll satisfy you so thoroughly that you won’t even have the strength to look at anyone else.”
“As if I would, you stupid alien. Me coshima nu!”
Marruk looked at her in amazement.
“Where …?”
“Solima’s teaching me. Didn’t you know?”
“No. She didn’t tell me,” answered Marruk. “And she’s teaching you sentences like that?” he asked with a huge grin.
“I asked her for this special sentence,” Keela admitted. “I’ve loved you since you burst into our cell. It just took me a while before I could admit that to myself. I did not intend to fall in love with a sexy alien. I won’t be able to go home again now.”
“You’re at home here now. We’ll leave here in two days and then we’ll start from the beginning. You can change everything at the castle that you don’t like. I’ll show you my world – the most beautiful places. And I’ll make love to you every night as if it were both the first time and the last time. I’ll give you everything that your heart desires. Just don’t leave me – please!”
“Did I not just say that I love you, you big, stupid alien? I’ll go through hell with you if necessary. I’d live in a cave with you, too. Everything’s fine with me, as long as you’re with me.”
“You’ve made me the happiest man on Karrx7.”
For a while they lay in silence next to one another. Each of them was enjoying the proximity of the other person. Keela still felt as if she were in a dream. She felt good here and she loved the man at her side but it would take a while before she would feel at home.
“Marruk?”
“Hmm.”
“Can you really shift into a cheetah?”
“Yes.”
“Would you do it?”
“Now?”
“Hmm.”
“So you’re not afraid of wild cats any more, little one?” he teased her.
“Not if I know it’s you,” she said.
Marruk sat up and then everything happened so quickly that she had trouble following the process. The air around him shimmered in rainbow colours and appear
ed to be vibrating, then suddenly there was a mighty cheetah on the bed. The big cat was making a throaty growling sound and was moving towards her with supple movements. The turquoise-coloured eyes were fixed on her in an almost hypnotic way.
Keela did not know whether to laugh or cry, he was so beautiful – her cheetah. She reached out and put her hand on the animal’s head. The cheetah was purring loudly and rubbing its head against her hand.
She laughed.
“So that’s how it is. You want me to fondle you, do you?”
The purring became louder and the cheetah settled down next to her, putting his head in her lap. Keela stroked the velvety fur and fondled the big cat behind his ears and finally under his chin. When the cheetah rolled his eyes before half closing them she had to laugh. Keela pushed herself forward under the cat’s head and stretched out next to the animal. With one arm lying on the cheetah she yawned loudly.
“I’m tired. A big, arrogant alien’s kept me awake for so long, you know.”
She laughed as the cheetah uttered a rumbling sound and placed a paw carefully on her breast.
“Hey! Don’t take any liberties, OK!”
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the vibrations that went through the body of the purring big cat.”
“Good night!” she yawned, then she fell fast asleep.
Chapter 10
Y-Quadrant, Karrx7
Royal Castle of the Arr’Verkuzzi
17th day of the month of Manao in the year 7067
Federation Time
“What news do you bring me?” snarled Abziarr, the King of the Verkuzzi. He took a large gulp of his ale before looking at the male before him.
Lomkas, one of the king’s closest confidants, bowed respectfully, then rose to his enormous height of two meters thirty and spoke: “Marruk has bonded with a woman who is not from this planet. I don’t know where she comes from but she is the most beautiful creature that I’ve ever seen. Like a goddess. Her hair is light, like kajun grass, and she has eyes the colour of the moss that grows on the trunk of the mokka tree. She is small and delicate, but she is not weak. I’ve seen her training on Marruk’s parade ground.”
“Soooo, Marruk has decided to take another mate after all,” said Abziarr thoughtfully. He took another swig of ale and thought hard. “Send Marsael to me.”
“Yes, Sir,” replied Lomkas and bowed before disappearing.
A little later a male with short, crippled legs appeared. He bowed before the king.
“You called for me?”
“I need your help. Marruk has a new mate. I want to see her!”
Marsael nodded then murmured a magic saying and a puddle appeared on the floor between himself and the king. The surface of the water flattened and an image appeared. It showed a woman with light blond hair and green eyes. She was sitting on a low wall, laughing. Abziarr snarled. This woman was a goddess. Marruk would definitely do anything for her. This was Abziarr’s chance. If he could abduct his enemy’s beautiful mate he would have the house of Arr’Carthian in the palm of his hand.
Chapter 11
Y-Quadrant, Karrx7
Prince Marruk’s Castle
5th day of the month of Lumino in the year 7067
Federation Time
Keela felt as if she were in a fairy tale. Marruk waited on her hand and foot, fulfilling her every wish, as he had promised. At night he made love to her, sometimes wildly and unrestrained, sometimes gently and tenderly. He showed her the beauty of his world and Keela thought less and less about her home on earth. Two months had passed since Marruk had claimed her. Since then a lot had happened: Lory and Charly had been abducted by space pirates but Kordan and Amano had freed them in an adventurous mission and now they were on their way to the planet Moron2 where a wise astronomer lived who might be able to help them to find out where earth is - not because Lory and Charly wanted to go home but because they wanted to find more women for the Carthians. Keela and her friends had expressed just one condition: the Carthians were to select their mates on earth and give them the choice as to whether they came with them or not. No more abduction.
“Very faraway today?” murmured Marruk into her ear, covering her body in goose bumps as he gently bit her lobe.
“I was just thinking about how happy I am. And it’s so beautiful out here.”
She was sitting at her favourite place, at a small table shaded by large trees. Marruk had had a bench set up here especially for her and the measurements for a pavilion had already been drawn up.
“So? What did Berka and your father want? They looked very sombre. Has something happened?”
Marruk’s expression became serious.
“There have been a lot of attacks again, in several villages. Two men are dead, several injured and three women have been abducted. They only abduct women who have not been claimed, but still we can’t and won’t put up with that. I will set off today with Berka and my father. We’re taking a few men with us, but I’ll leave eight guards here with you to protect you and Solima. I’d like you and Solima to be particularly careful whilst I’m away. Don’t go out of sight of the castle. Listen to what the males tell you. I’m not happy about leaving you here but we have to put an end to this matter.”
“We’ll take good care,” said Keela reassuringly, looking deep into Marruk’s eyes. “We’re well protected here.”
“Perhaps you’d be better off at the palace,” he said, in two minds.
“Nonsense. Nothing’s going to happen to us. We’re a long way from the border here and the Verkuzzi don’t have gliders, you said.”
“You’re right. It’s just that the thought of losing you …”
She saw concern and love in his eyes. She knew that no matter what might happen, this man would not hesitate a moment in giving his life for her. He had shown her more than once how important she was to him. It filled her heart with warmth and love to know how deep their bond went. She was not sure whether it would ever have been possible to have bonded like this with a man from her planet. Probably not. The Carthian men were indeed very special in their love and loyalty. And in their passion, she thought, tingling with relish.
"Marruk!” she whispered quietly.
“Hmm.”
“Would you make love to me again before you go?”
“Here?” he raised an eyebrow, but she could tell by the way his turquoise-coloured eyes were darkening to midnight blue that his interest was awakened.
“Yes. Here. Now!”
With a groan he pulled her to him and took her mouth in a wild, assertive kiss. Keela knew that he would not be gentle this time. His fear was too great that something might happen to her in his absence. But she did not want him to be at all gentle. She wanted her wild, passionate big predator, and she got just that. And how she got it!
***
Marruk had been away with his brother, his father and two dozen other men for two days. Keela tried not to be over-anxious, if only not to unsettle Solima. But she could not stop thinking about Marruk and the dangers that awaited him. What would she do if something happened to him? She did not want to think about it. She was unable and unwilling to imagine a life without him.
A sudden whirring noise made her jump and she suppressed a scream as an arrow shot into a tree very near to her. Her heart began to race and she wanted to scream for help to alarm the guards who were always within in shouting range, but then she realised that there was a message attached to the arrow. Curious, she pulled the arrow out of the trunk and took off the note. Her hands shaking, she unfolded paper. A lock of hair was attached to the paper. A brown lock. Her heart missed a beat. With a sickening feeling in her stomach she began to read the message.
My Lady Arr’Carthian
I arrested Prince Marruk whilst he was attempting to seize my estates. And also the king, the Prince’s brother and all of the men who were with them. Enclosed is a lock of your mate’s hair as
proof of my statement.
You have the power
to save the lives of all of these prisoners. Do not say a word to anyone. I have spies at the castle and I would find out if you were to go behind me. So, tell no one about this note or about
what you intend to do.
At midnight tonight come to your favourite place.
Come alone and unarmed.
Your humble servant
Abziarr Arr’Verkuzzi
Keela thought her heart was going to stop beating. Her greatest fears had been realised. She had had a bad feeling from the beginning. And it was even worse than she could have imagined. Not only was Marruk in danger, but the king and Berka, too, and also all the warriors that had joined the mission. She had to do what this Abziarr demanded of her. The life of so many men depended upon her. The only question was how she was going to manage to keep this to herself until midnight - and how she was going to get past the guards.
The last few hours were hell for Keela. Her thoughts were constantly with the imprisoned men and above all, naturally, with Marruk. The worst thing was that she could not speak to anyone about it and the knowledge that one of the people here in the castle was a traitor unsettled her. Who could it be? One of the guards? Or one of the servants? The cook? She knew all the men well and trusted every one of them – or at least she had until the moment when she read the note. Now the opposite was the case and she no longer trusted anyone at the castle. Every time she saw one of the men in the castle she wondered whether he was the spy. She searched for clues in the behaviour, the expression and the words of every man, but she could not find any. She simply could not trust anyone. This whole thing was driving her mad and with every hour she became more and more anxious.
She looked at the clock next to her bed. There was one more hour till midnight. She felt so sick with worry that she had barely eaten anything all day. So as not to draw attention to herself, she had forced herself to eat something, only to bring it up again later in the toilet. She was horribly afraid of what was coming to her, but she was still more afraid that something awful would happen to Marruk and the other men. She had no idea what this Abziarr expected of her. Why did he want to exchange her for the life of the men? Did he in fact want to make her his mate? That would be worse than if he were to kill her. She would never give herself willingly to another man. She would rather take her own life. She did not even know what these Verkuzzi looked like. Were they humanoid like the Carthians or were they possibly monstrous creatures?
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