Torrin pushed harder. Deeper. His cock nudged her cervix again, still pumping hot seed deep into her fertile channel.
He’d spent the past fifteen years with the Lumerian Knights. Their way was different from the Caldorian and he’d abided by their rules. He’d never spent a night with a woman without covering his shaft. Ever. But this was different. Juliette was different. With her, he wanted the Caldorian way. He wanted to fill her. Watch her swell with his child.
At last, he was spent. Juliette was already half asleep. Smiling tenderly, he pulled her in close and let his eyes drift closed.
Chapter Nine
Waking slowly, Juliette moved carefully, not wanting to disturb Torrin. She was sore. Well used. Satisfied in a way she’d never been before. She’d had lovers before. Plenty of orgasms. What she’d experienced last night with Torrin was on a whole new level. She was almost afraid to examine the experience. Somewhere along the line her heart had become involved. Damn, damn, and double damn. Now what was she supposed to do?
Lifting her head slightly, she watched him sleep. He’d insisted she stay near him, holding her as they’d dozed off, exhausted. They’d reached Cappra’s orbit while he was still deep inside her. Neither had paid any attention to the A.I. system notification. Now, though, Juliette looked to the flashing light on the side of the platform bed. All too soon he’d be leaving for his mission. He’d refused to give her any details about what he was searching for, much to her chagrin.
He wanted her to trust him. Stay with him. Belong to him, yet he refused to share more than the barest essentials about himself. She wanted to know everything about him. Every detail.
She’d promised him only one day, but her heart told her that was a lie. She’d fallen for him when she wasn’t looking during the three days on board the ship together. They’d laughed, talked, plus now she could mentally add having the most amazing sex of her life to the list. Who could blame her for falling for him just a little?
Juliette shook her head in disgust and dismay. She didn’t do commitment. Didn’t want to go through what her mother had endured. Realization hit her hard. Her mother was stronger than she could ever be. Losing Torrin wouldn’t just rip her heart out. No. Losing him would be much, much worse. The loss would break her.
Juliette put her head on his chest. The slow, steady thump-thump of his heart reassuring her as nothing else could. So what do I do? He said his mission is dangerous. He might not make it back. He doesn’t even have any backup. His unit is apparently too far away and that Falden jerk doesn’t want him to wait because whatever it is they’re looking for is constantly being moved.
She couldn’t help herself. Stroking her hand over his chest and down his arm, every feminine instinct she had drove her to stroke him, feel the contours of his strong body, so different from hers. He was solid where she was soft. Big. Strong. Male.
Juliette squirmed. He shifted, planting his hand on her hip. Her heart melted. Even in sleep he was possessive. Protective. But who will protect him? He has no backup.
No backup. She stilled. Her heart leaped. She could be his backup. She had skills. He’d even said as much. She’d successfully navigated Mora Five, hadn’t she? Reputed to be one of the most dangerous planets around, and she’d been fine. She could do it. She knew she could. All she needed to do was convince one very hot, sleepy alien to let her come with him.
“So pensive,” Torrin grumbled sleepily, running his large hands up and down her waist and hips. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing,” she said cheerfully. “Just working out a problem in my head.” Wiggling her bottom, she laughed as his semi-erect shaft hardened. Desire quickened her pulse. Spreading her knees to either side of his hips, she sat atop him. The man was seriously huge.
“Mmm,” he rumbled sleepily, shifting suggestively beneath her. “Anything I can help you with?”
Before she had a chance to respond, his fingers found her entrance, easily slipping inside. “You’re wet. Are you sore?”
“A little. I don’t mind.”
“No. Hang on a second,” he said, reaching to the side where the cylinder with maju paste lay tilted on its side. “I think there might be just enough left to heal your tender bits.”
She groaned as he swiped the interior of the cylinder, then rubbed the contents over her clit and deep inside her.
“Better?”
Her nipples hardened as the paste began to tingle. She needed him inside her. Needed a hard ride. Without answering, she leaned forward, positioning herself over his hard staff, plunging down, impaling her tight sheath, stretching almost to the point of pain. The maju paste both soothing the ache and stimulating her at the same time.
Heat flashed from her core, pulsing through her body. Torrin lifted her easily, slamming her down again, his show of strength only adding to her desire as he lifted her again. He knew exactly what she wanted. What she needed. And he gave her both.
He set a punishing pace. They were on borrowed time. Fast. Hard. And oh, so right. Juliette’s toes curled as she reached her peak, crying out in release as she milked him.
Torrin held her close for a long while, content to stay in her welcoming arms. He knew he needed to get up. Finish his mission. He also suspected his woman was going to protest. Demand to come along. He couldn’t let her do that.
Juliette’s sweet voice pulled him from his thoughts. “What?”
“I said, we make a pretty good team,” she repeated.
He stiffened. Here it comes. He couldn’t disagree with her. They were absolutely explosive together. She’d saved him on Mora Five, just as he’d saved her on the Vilitos ship. Closing his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see the disappointment in her eyes when he told her she couldn’t come along, he mumbled, “I agree. I hope you always remember you said it first.”
“Well, that’s a strange thing to say. Of course I’ll remember.” She fidgeted. “You know, I could help you,” she said eagerly, “on your mission.”
Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. This was going to be hard. The moment she’d touched him with maju paste she’d become his everything. Before that, even. Her courage had won his heart on the Vilitos ship. Losing her would break him as nothing else ever could. And yet, telling her she couldn’t accompany him on this mission could break their relationship before it really had a chance to solidify. He opened one eye a fraction, peering through his long lashes to her upturned face. “No.”
Misty gray eyes turned stormy. “No? That’s it? No discussion? Just ‘no’?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Rude,” she glared angrily. “I don’t accept that, and you have no authority over me. I’m my own person. I make my own decisions. I was merely having a polite discussion with you, not asking for your permission.”
Reluctantly Torrin got up, dressing quickly in the clothes he’d ‘borrowed’ on Mora Five during his first attempt to locate the maju water vendors. He needed to blend in, and since the outdated synthesizer could only duplicate the most basic items such as food and blankets, he would have to do without any weapons or, more importantly, cloaking technology. He was a Lumerian Knight. He could take down any living creature with his bare hands, but he couldn’t make himself invisible. However, he was equally skilled at blending in. No one would notice his presence. The Lumerian Orb he’d been instructed to retrieve was purportedly inside the Council Ambassador’s residence. Get in and get out. Those were Falden’s instructions. He closed his eyes, mentally beginning to prepare for the mission. Focus. Prepare. Be ready for anything.
“Are you ignoring me?” Juliette steamed, wrapping herself in the warming blanket she’d found earlier. “We’re having a discussion here.”
Torrin finally turned to her, his eyebrows raised. “No. We are not.”
“Excuse me?” Juliette retorted angrily. “I most certainly think we are. I want to come with you. No. Correction. I am coming with you.”
He stepped close, diving his hands into her long silky t
resses, his thumbs brushing against the pulse points in her neck. He kissed her until long after her stiff posture softened and she leaned into him. He needed her surrender. Her unspoken promise of tomorrow before he said anything more.
“Juliette,” he said, nuzzling her hair. “I need to know that you are here. Safe. Protected. Cappra may not look dangerous, but it is. People disappear here. Good people. I cannot allow you to risk yourself like that.” He held her close, swaying them slowly, comfortingly, side to side.
“I see,” she mumbled into his chest, sighing with disappointment, her shoulders slumping. What had she expected, after all? She shouldn’t have asked him in the first place. She didn’t need his permission. His approval. She’d been on her own far too long, making her own decisions, living with the consequences of those decisions, for too many years to start asking for permission now, or waiting for it. She hugged him, squeezing so hard he coughed. She couldn’t help herself. Her heart was breaking. Shattering into a million pieces as she mentally said her goodbyes.
Torrin kissed her long and hard. Something felt off. She’d acquiesced, given him what he wanted, so why did he feel as if she were already pulling away from him? Distancing herself? Not just until he returned from his mission, but forever? Squeezing her just as tightly, he vowed, “I know you’re not happy with my decision. I will come back as quickly as I can, and then we can discuss anything you want. Promise me you’ll be here when I get back.”
Juliette pulled away, shaking her head sadly. “I don’t make promises, remember?”
Torrin pulled her back into his arms, hugging her almost desperately. “Don’t leave this ship,” he ordered. “If you want to end our relationship, I can’t stop you, but Do. Not. Leave. This. Ship.”
“And if I do?”.
“If you leave, I’ll find you and put you over my knee. This time it will hurt.”
She pulled away again, fuming. “I’m not a child. You wouldn’t dare.”
Gaze narrowing, he growled, “Try me.”
“We’re done here,” Juliette said, slicing her hand angrily through the air.
Torrin met her glare, his own face an angry mask. “Not by a long shot. Don’t test me. I meant what I said.” And with that, he turned and left.
Juliette watched him leave, following his progress until he was out of sight. “That makes two of us.”
Chapter Ten
Cappra – Evening
Torrin slowed and melted into the crowd unnoticed. He’d jogged several miles from the Space Port on the outskirts of the city. Cappra was a thriving metropolis, with millions of visitors from every planet represented in the Intergalactic Council each year. Tall glass buildings reflected the many lights of the city as dusk gave way to the darkness of night. He’d traded the clothing he’d procured on Mora Five, along with a few black market items, for the traditional garb worn on Cappra. A close fitting, synthetic shirt and loose pants, with a soft, furl-ike overcoat and boots.
Happy revelers intermingled with others just trying to get home, their faces drawn and tense. He followed the rhythm of the crowd, unhurried and seemingly without any real destination.
He needed to focus on his mission to find and retrieve a missing Lumerian Orb, yet his thoughts continuously strayed back to Juliette. She’d been furious at his order to stay on the ship. He was a Lumerian Knight, with years of training and experience. He knew how dangerous this planet was. He couldn’t allow her to accompany him. She was smart and resourceful, he’d seen that for himself on Mora Five, but this mission was something else. He’d felt a sense of unease from the moment they’d landed. Juliette could be angry as long as she stayed on the ship. He could never risk her life. In a few short days she’d become his everything.
Looming up ahead on the right like the giant palatial monstrosity that it was, the Ambassador’s residence gleamed pearly white behind a row of buildings, lights glaring from every window. The residence looked innocent enough, free of foul play, and yet in his gut he felt a growing dread the closer he came. His stomach churned and the hairs on the back of his neck and arms rose as if charged with electricity. He’d been to many places. Many worlds. Nowhere else came close to making him feel like turning back like this place did. Turn back and get as far away as he could. What the hell is going on here? This place belongs to an Intergalactic Council Member. Or the Ambassador, which is essentially the same thing, as he or she acts as a liaison for the Council Member. Some of them have been known to take a bribe or two, but surely they wouldn’t conduct such business from their own homes?
Torrin and the others on the street turned a corner and came to a standstill. The street was blocked off and people were beginning to gather for what appeared to be some sort of street gathering, or parade, blocking his destination. Both to the right and left were narrow side streets, nearly abandoned. Apparently everyone was attending the parade. He needed to get into the Ambassador’s residence. He’d just have to cut across the parade.
Spotting a large, rowdy group of young men who seemed like they intended to cross the parade, he maneuvered his way close to them. As they entered the street, he kept his head slightly down and toward one of the boys, nodding and laughing on que with the others. He had no idea what the parade was meant to celebrate, but the music was loud and blending in was easy.
As soon as they were across, he split from the group and headed down a side alley, leading him closer to his destination. Picking up an empty bottle from the ground, he sniffed and nearly gagged. The contents were rancid and foul. Perfect.
Dousing his back with the contents of the bottle, he made his way to the back entrance, his gait uneven, as if intoxicated or feeling unwell. Since he was quite tall, he also slumped a bit, so as not to alert or intimidate whoever was guarding the door. His plan was to gain entrance without causing a stir. To do that, they needed to think he wasn’t a threat.
As expected, a guard stood to each side of the door. Not unkempt, they were still surprising. They wore mismatched uniforms, one in dark blue and the other black, continuously shifting their attention from him to the door, their movements agitated. Nervous. “Stop,” the guard said, one hand wrapping around the laser pistol strapped to his thigh, the other held palm up.
Torrin’s look of confusion was genuine as he wobbled from one guard to the other. These two untrained fools couldn’t be the regular guard for an Ambassador. Something was very wrong with this picture. Taking a chance, he purposely stumbled into the guard on the right, an older, portly humanoid man, breathing heavily as he slurred, “Where’s the regular guard?”
“None of your business.” The humanoid shoved Torrin back, cringing. “Ugh, you reek,” he shuddered, “like something dead and rotting. Come back when you’ve cleaned up. No beggars welcome here.”
Torrin continued his ruse, waving his hand and pointing his index finger back toward the door, slurring, “Need in.” He bent forward slightly, making a scrubbing motion. “I clean floors.”
This time the other guard, younger and almost frail looking, snickered, “Clean the floors? You must be joking. Filthy maggot, you’re so disgusting, you’d make them worse.”
The older guard glared at his partner, “Shut your mouth, Rufis. Don’t go borrowing trouble.” He turned back to Torrin with much less force and said almost kindly, “Go on with you, now. Clean up crew’s already been hired for the day, so you need to turn around and go back where you came from.”
Torrin bobbed his head vigorously. “I clean floors. Crew.”
The older man eyed Torrin, then shook his head sadly and sighed before turning to open the door. “Every parade day some young fool tries to come through the back, thinking to do the impossible. I tried to get you to go. I tried. You want in?” He motioned for Torrin to proceed, “we’ve got orders to let all visitors in on parade days. They think it’s entertaining. Head down the stairs. You’ll find what you’re looking for down there.”
Torrin didn’t hesitate. He kept up the fake persona, stumbli
ng through the entrance in case this was some sort of test. Only when the door slammed shut behind him did he straighten and drop the act. Shedding the stinking fur-like overcoat, he tossed it into the corner. The hall was eerily empty. Not a single person stood in his way.
The guard outside said to go downstairs, but then he had assumed that Torrin was there for whatever was awaiting the people after the parade. He didn’t care about any of that. He was there only to retrieve a missing Lumerian artifact. An orb, stolen from Lumeria and traded on the black market. That was his only mission. Then he could return to Juliette and set things right between them.
Rather than go downstairs, as instructed, he crept through the halls on silent feet, ready to fight his way to the orb if necessary, every sense on high alert. As he passed one empty hall after another, he realized no one was going to stop him. It seemed everyone was occupied with the parade.
Quickly, up the grand staircase he went, his only weapon speed and hand to hand combat skills. Those would have to be enough. Only citizens of Cappra were allowed to have weapons, so no one was allowed to leave the space port without passing through a security check.
Room after room he searched, silently opening doors and rummaging through each one, looking for hidden doors, closets, drawers. Anywhere that could potentially hide the orb, careful to leave the rooms looking undisturbed. Lavishly decorated, as befitted an Intergalactic Ambassador, Torrin cared nothing for the elaborate crystal chandeliers or cozy fireplaces, barely taking note of the finely crafted furnishings.
About halfway through searching the rooms on that floor, he was about to enter another when he paused, every cell in his body, every sixth sense he had, screaming that this room was different. Dangerous. Occupied.
Backing away from the door, he silently stepped to the side, crouching low. Whatever or whoever was inside was very dangerous. Lethal. Torrin scratched at the bottom of the door, hoping to fool whoever was inside into thinking a rodent was chewing at the door. In a palatial structure of this size, animal infestations would be a constant concern.
Alien Knight Steals The Bride Page 9