Zekke was constantly on her mind. Did he miss her? She had no doubt that leaving him was the smart choice to make. He didn’t want her there, and she couldn’t let her squad, her friends, grieve for her, always wondering what had happened, whether she was alive or dead. No, she had made the right choice, even if it didn’t feel like it right now.
Some of the guys didn’t like the constant togetherness, so Jamison, along with the other squad leader, Stuart, had led a few men on missions. Ava chose to stay in. She was exhausted and could barely get out of bed. When she slept, she dreamed of Zekke. It took all her willpower not to run back to him. What is wrong with me?
Ava was still lying in bed, sleepy, when Kim flopped down on her cot and faced her.
“You have been different these past two weeks. What happened when you were kidnapped?”
Ava rolled to her side and sat up so she faced her roommate. She gave her a halfhearted smile but didn’t readily reply.
“Come on, girl, spill it.”
Ava glanced at the door. Kim took the hint and walked over and shut it, giving them privacy.
“I didn’t tell Jamison the truth.” Ava stared at her bare feet for a moment and then faced Kim once again. “Their…” she squinted, “commander. His name is Zekke. He told me that they have one true mate, and when he smelled me, it set off his mating fever.”
“He smelled you?” she raised her eyebrows.
Ava chuckled slightly, “I know, right?” She sighed, “The problem is—well, there are actually a lot of them. The biggest one,” Ava shrugged, “is that Zekke doesn’t want a mate. Hell, he didn’t even ask my name. The funny thing is, I know that the mating fever is a real thing. I feel the pull. It’s taking all of my willpower not to run back to him as fast as I can.”
“Oh…” Kim’s mouth froze in a circle.
“Yeah.” Ava took a deep cleansing breath and told her friend the rest. “I had sex with him.”
“Get out!” she said excitedly. “How was it? Is he made like a human?”
Ava grinned at her enthusiasm. “Incredible.”
“Come on, girl, you’ve got to give me more than that!”
“Okay, okay…” Ava licked her lips as memories tumbled through her mind. “He is made the same, but different.” Ava looked up and laughed at Kim’s eagerness. “He’s a little over seven feet tall, has white hair and mesmerizing blue eyes.”
“Fine. Fine. He’s nice to look at. But what about the rest?” Kim was biting her nails as she sat, waiting impatiently.
“He’s huge! I thought it wouldn’t fit!”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And if that wasn’t enough, there are ridges at the base of his shaft that…” she shook her head. “I can’t even describe how great it felt.”
“Oh, man!” she sighed. “Can I have one?”
“I don’t know how that works. I really don’t know much at all, except maybe they are all dominant.”
Kim grinned sheepishly and said, “What’s wrong with that?”
The two of them laughed together. When it was silent again, Ava played with the hem of her shirt, twisting it in her fingers. She finally looked up at her friend with tears glistening her eyes and said, “I’m late.”
Kim squinted. “What do you mean?”
“You know… late,” she emphasized.
“Oh, like pregnant late?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m never late, but Zekke is the only one I’ve slept with.”
“What about Jamison?”
Ava shook her head. “It’s been a least two months or longer, and we always used condoms.”
“Can you even get pregnant by an alien? And isn’t it too early to tell?”
“I don’t know. He said his brothers had human mates, so maybe, and I don’t have a clue about their pregnancies.” Ava shrugged. She felt numb from the shock of the situation. Having an alien baby on earth was the last thing she needed. It would always be in danger. She would have to leave here and hide somewhere. There was no way to provide for her or the baby.
“Maybe the stress is too much for your body, and you just didn’t start. I’ve heard that’s possible.”
Hope flared in Ava’s eyes. “You think so?”
“Yeah, sure, why not?”
“Thanks, Kim.”
“You’re welcome. Whatever happens, we’re in it together.”
Ava felt more connected to Kim than ever when she said, “Thank you. That means a lot.”
As she lay back down on the cot, all kinds of scenarios raced through her mind. What if she was pregnant? What would her baby look like? With her blonde hair and his white, it would have light-colored hair. Definitely blue eyes, but would they be round like hers or shaped more like his? And fangs! How would she ever breast feed? Okay, bottles it is.
Kim broke the silence. “I wonder what their world is like?”
Ava turned a startled look at Kim, who was now lying on her cot, hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know.” She couldn’t even imagine. “What do you think?”
“I bet they have flying cars,” she mused. They both chuckled.
Chapter Ten
Zekke
“Commander, we have a lead on the female.” Zekke leaped from his chair, sending it crashing backwards. It had been almost two standard weeks, and at times, he questioned his sanity.
His males feared him even more and avoided him as much as possible. The only one who would speak to him openly was Rhett.
He’d had time for a lot of reflection since losing her. He was angry with himself over the way he’d treated her. Now he understood why his brothers cherished their mates. He also understood why they’d agreed to give up their consorts.
She was his for one night, yet the time they had spent together dominated his every thought. He scrutinized his treatment of her and vowed that when he got her back, things would be different. Not only did he need her, now he wanted her.
Zekke had visited Earth every day. He’d searched for her and any humans who might know of her whereabouts, but they never encountered any. He’d almost given up hope.
“I’m on my way,” he responded as he walked quickly with purpose. When he entered the meeting room, he looked to Rhett and tried to wait patiently.
“Commander, the ground team just reported in. They saw a group of humans dressed in uniform clothing.”
“Where?” Zekke ground out. He didn’t care how they were dressed. All he wanted was to find someone who might lead him to the female.
“A hidden entrance that leads underground.” Rhett grinned. “They want to know your orders on the situation.”
“Tell them to wait for me.” He spun around and headed for the cargo bay.
****
Zekke joined the team of five outside the hidden entrance. They were huddling behind a few tiny trees just outside the city. He wasn’t sure what he was looking at as he stared at an empty space. At least until his eyes latched onto a circular metal hatch with a handle. “Any activity?”
“No, Commander. We were fortunate to catch the group leaving. There’s been no activity since.”
Zekke studied the area where this entrance was located. There was no way to hide their arrival. They had to go through the hatch located on the ground. He wasn’t even sure she would be in there, but he had to find out.
“All right, let’s go.”
With his phaser pointed in front of him, he led the way. They took their time, trying to be as quiet as possible as they headed toward the underground entrance. The round metal door lay flat on the ground. He never would have found it if his soldiers hadn’t caught the humans leaving.
He made eye contact with the others, telling them to be ready. Zekke reached for the handle and pulled. The door creaked slightly when he pulled it open. Metal steps descended straight down into a looming black hole. A faint glow could be seen at the bottom, so he knew someone was down there, at least part of the time.
Climbin
g down the ladder would leave him vulnerable, but he had no other choice. He holstered his phaser, looked at his males, and then started the descent. The others quickly followed.
When he reached the bottom, shouts rang out as the humans ran for their weapons. Zekke pulled his phaser with one hand and grabbed his short sword with the other. He wasn’t looking for a fight, but he’d give them one if they wanted.
Six humans aimed weapons at them; their phasers were pointed at the humans. It was a standoff. Intense quiet cloaked the room. She was not there.
A door jerked open. “What’s going on out here?” his mate said irritably. When her eyes locked with his, the volatile mood disappeared as relief washed through him. She was a balm to his battered soul. Her eyes darted between the two groups. “Stand down,” she ordered in a voice of steel.
He watched in awe as the humans followed her orders.
One of them slightly lowered his weapon but kept a wary eye on Zekke. “Sarge?”
“It’s okay, Rick. I know him.”
“Sarge, Jamison won’t like them being here.”
She crossed her arms and said in a stern voice, “Jamison’s not here, and these are our allies.”
“Sarge…” he tried again.
Zekke watched with fascination as his mate got in this Rick’s face. They were almost nose to chin when she said in a deadly quiet voice, “Are you questioning me?”
“No, ma’am!”
She quickly glanced at Zekke. “Good. I know them. They are not here to harm us.” Rick fell silent, then, but kept a wary eye on the newcomers.
When his mate rounded on Zekke, he grinned. Watching her take control of the situation made him proud. It also made him hard. She looked at him sharply and said, “Stop smiling. Your fangs are even longer now, and you’ll scare everyone even more.” The only answer was a big, boisterous laugh.
“What is wrong with you? Why are you here?” she hissed.
“Nothing is wrong, now that I’ve found you. I have missed you, mate.”
“I am not your mate,” she said quietly, not wanting the others to hear. “Remember, you didn’t want me. The way I heard it, I was nothing more than a consort. Maybe less.”
Her words stung, but he knew they had been true at the time. But not now. He took a step closer and said, “I am sorry, Sarge.”
She drew back in confusion, pulled her eyebrows close together, and asked, “What did you call me?”
“Sarge. That’s what the other male—this Rick—called you. Is that not your name?”
Her lips twitched a little in bitter amusement, a reminder that he’d never asked her her name. “No, it’s not my name. It’s my rank.”
The distance swelled between them. The wall between them felt almost impenetrable, and this was his fault. The air tasted thick with tension, and he needed to fix it. “I need to speak with you in private.”
She crossed her arms, cocked her head to the side, and studied him. He stiffened his shoulders and mimicked her stance. Just because he wanted her didn’t mean he would beg. The commander never begged.
After a short showdown, she glanced over her shoulder. The entire room was focused on the two of them. “Fine,” she said and then turned and walked away.
He followed her into a small room. The meager supplies drew his attention as he looked around the tiny space. It had two small cots, a chest of drawers, and not much more. She fastened the door behind him and crossed her arms once again. He reached for her, but she took a step back. “What are you doing here?”
“I am here for you.” She arched one eyebrow. “I am sorry for the way I treated you.”
“You were upfront with me from the beginning. You said you didn’t want a mate, and that’s okay—I don’t need someone who treats me the way you did,” she shrugged.
“I apologized for that.” This would be harder than he’d thought. She’d tried to act unaffected, but he could smell her hurt. He could also smell her desire for him as the two scents mixed and swirled together. An explosive combination. He needed to tread carefully. If he took her against her will, he and his soldiers would have to fight the other humans, which would make things much worse.
“Yes, you did.” Her face was closed off, but he could hear the defiance in her tone.
He reached for her hand, but she jerked it away and put it behind her back. Zekke sat down on one of the cots and sighed loudly. He held up his hand, gesturing for her to join him. She heaved a sigh and took a seat on the other cot, facing him.
“I do not want to fight the humans, but I will if it comes to that.”
“Now you threaten my friends? All for a mate you don’t want? Go home, Zekke.”
They sat in silence for what seemed like forever. He stared at his feet. How could he possibly make her understand? Raising his head and meeting her eyes, he settled for telling the truth. If that didn’t work, then he would take her by force.
With his elbows resting on his legs, and his hands clasped together between his knees, he started. “We were caught by surprise when the Tureis attacked our planet. Unlike you, we have the means to protect ourselves from such attacks.” He blew out a breath. “Before we could stop them, they had destroyed many populated areas.”
“Just like here,” she said quietly. At least he had her attention.
“Yes.” He held her eyes, needing her to hear what he had to say. “My mother was visiting a nearby market when it was destroyed.”
“I’m sorry,” she said with a softer tone.
“She wasn’t the only one killed. Many of my people suffered the loss of a loved one. I watched my father grieve for the loss of his mate. Other males were brought to their knees from the loss of theirs. But it wasn’t just mates. They were mothers and daughters. Losing my mother was the first time I experienced true pain. After that, I vowed never to make myself vulnerable. I watched as strong males suddenly became weak. I watch my brothers with their mates, and I know,” he covered his chest with his hand, “I know they would be destroyed if anything happened to them. Love makes you weak, and I never wanted that.”
He saw water in her eyes and frowned. How odd. She quickly swiped it away and said, “Love does not make you weak. If anything, it makes you strong. You fight harder when all hope is lost. You stay alive when it seems impossible. You do it because you have something worth fighting for. Someone to come home to.” When he shook his head in disagreement, she continued. “Think of your brothers. What would they do to save their mates?”
“Everything!” Zekke said with conviction.
“Exactly,” she said with determination.
Zekke studied the delicate female. The one who’d just ordered the entire room to lower their weapons. Maybe he should just start over. “Our meeting wasn’t the most amicable. Let’s start over. I am Zekke Ga’Darinan, prince of the planet Azziar.”
He waited for her to respond. She grinned a little and stuck out her hand, “It’s nice to meet you, Zekke. I am Ava Thompson, Sergeant in the US Army of the planet Earth.” He stared at her hand until she reached down and grabbed his, giving it a good shake. “That’s how we greet people here.”
He nodded. “What should I call you?”
“Ava.”
“It is nice to meet you, Ava, of planet Earth.” Her name rolled off his tongue. Now, for the reason he was here. “You are my mate. The past two and a half standard weeks have been… difficult… without you.”
“But you still don’t want a mate,” she supplied.
“I’ll admit, I’m… conflicted. My mind tells me no, but my heart yearns for you.” He could smell her hurt, but she was a master of disguises. Her outward appearance was cool and collected.
She laughed humorlessly. “I can tell this entire conversation makes you uncomfortable.”
He grinned. “It is true. I do not talk about feelings.” He never talked about feelings. He did what he wanted when he wanted. This was uncharted territory.
Ava
When Ava spot
ted Zekke standing in the bunker, the air rushed from her lungs, leaving her breathless and gasping. She wanted to run to him, throw her arms around his neck and never leave his side. It didn’t last but a second until she regained her composure. What was he doing here? How did he find her?
Her shock was short-lived as her eyes swept the entire room. There was an intense standoff as both species faced each other. Someone was bound to get hurt. “Stand down!” she ordered. After they lowered their weapons, he gave the hand signal, and his team also lowered theirs. She then turned and faced Zekke. He seemed different, somehow. When he laughed aloud, she didn’t know what to think; she’d hardly even seen him smile. The only thing she knew for sure? She wouldn’t run into his arms, no matter how badly she wanted to.
Now they sat facing each other. Her soul longed for him; he made her want things that she’d long forgotten. A family, a husband. But things had to change. He told her why he felt the way he did, but it wasn’t enough. Was he willing to change for her? She didn’t need much, only someone to love her. Another thought came quickly on the heels of that one.
“What about your consorts? I don’t know much, but I did overhear you talking about that.”
“I do not have consorts at this time.”
“At this time,” she murmured, the bitter words leaving a bad taste in her mouth. “Does that mean you plan to have them later?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
Although she admired his honesty, she would never openly admit how badly those three words crushed her soul. A knife through her heart would hurt less. She smiled sadly and said, “Goodbye, Zekke.”
“I am not going anywhere,” he ground out. “I am sorry, I just don’t know what I plan to do. It is our culture.”
He pleaded with his eyes, but Ava was just too tired. It was an impossible situation. She’d barely slept since she had escaped, but the way he described his culture was no way to live. Culture be damned. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the door burst open, and Jamison filled the entrance. He looked pissed, his jaw hard, his muscles flexing with every step as he stalked over.
Zekke: A Scifi Alien Romance (The Azziarin Series Book 5) Page 9