Engulf

by C. L. Scholey

  “Cobra is testing Raiden’s skills,” Abri explained.

  When Raiden had returned he mentioned this would happen to Abri. Anything a warrior of Cobra’s could do was delved into. His brother Doss and his wicked claw were examined for weeks after he came to Bagron. If Raiden could sense a cloaked vessel, it would mean a great deal. Abri wondered what other senses had been magnified in Raiden.

  Touch was a big part of Abri’s world. When they mated on the ship it might have been the reason Abri wasn’t opposed to having sex with him so soon. Raiden’s touch was electric. She felt him inside her when he simply traced his finger down her cheek.

  “Did you sleep with Cace?” Abri asked.

  Sam went red. “He makes me feel so dainty. He tells me I’m small. I haven’t been called small by anyone since I was twelve. He says he loves me. You know the funny thing is I think he really means it.”

  “I’m not judging. The man is hotter than sin. So is Raiden. I was just wondering if touch was something else heightened in Raiden. I know my taste has improved—or not improved, depends on how you look at it. He was sad and I tasted the feeling. Yes, odd, I know. But true.”

  “I haven’t noticed any new tastes,” Sam said. “I do notice I’m more aware of him than any man I’ve ever known.”

  “I think it will be very easy to fall in love with Raiden.” The idea was startling and disturbing.

  “What’s not to love? He looks like a god with a heavenly cock.”

  Abri raised an eyebrow. “You looked at his cock?”

  “The pants the men wear here show every contour. Or haven’t you noticed?”

  Abri had noticed it. Especially when she was surrounded by huge hunky men who were aroused after doing battle and were on a winning high. It seemed Castian warriors were well-endowed. After witnessing them fighting, it was no wonder Raiden had such awesome stamina. She shivered with the thought. He could screw her for hours.

  “Have you seen any of the others?” Abri asked.

  “Yes. As you know Tasha is fine and can’t believe her good fortune at being surrounded by handsome men who all want her—no matter how much she talks. The others have apartments on the ground floor. Cace said the men are interested, but the must cycle is over. Our friends have time to pick and choose a mate—if they want one. Something tells me they’ll want one.

  “There’s a main room where a bunch of women go to meet and talk. Very few warriors go in. A few of the women are pregnant. One of the warriors got too close to a woman and, Abri, it was the funniest thing I ever saw. A guy went spinning ass over tea kettle and the other warriors laughed their backsides off. The woman never touched him. He just got too close and went flying. I can’t wait for the next must cycle. I want a baby shield that knocks a warrior that huge onto his ass. It was remarkable.”

  Abri wished she had seen it. She wondered if Raiden could be encouraged to let her go down and see this women’s place. It would be nice to see her friends and talk to them—and hear what they had to say.

  The door to the apartment slid open and Raiden and Cace came in smiling. Abri was happy about that. She knew how much Cobra’s approval meant to Raiden. They must have worked things through. Abri rose and went to him. Sam was soon settled against Cace.

  “There is another planet Cobra wants to search,” Raiden said. “He wants us to go with him. My ability to sense a cloaked ship could be very useful.”

  “You’re leaving?” Abri asked.

  “We are leaving,” he corrected. “I won’t leave you here without a shield. The last attack just shows us how desperate the renegades are. Loy and Doss are coming too but their mates are pregnant and have their own shields. There is no other male relative I can hand you over to.”

  “What about me?” Sam asked.

  Cace turned Sam in his arms. “My brother, Davian, will be watching you. He is a relative and can shield you. He has asked for you to stay. He’s taken a shine to Brea who is a bit skittish with all the attention she receives and he feels if she visits you at his home she will get used to him.” Cace looked a little sneaky. “Human women don’t realize it, but each time a warrior touches her more of his secretions urge her body into knowing him better. If Davian were to accidently brush up to Brea each time she visits, well…. Besides, you’ll be safe with Davian; you know how fond he is of you.”

  Sam looked disappointed and Cace ran his fingers down her arm. Sam narrowed her gaze onto him. “I know what you’re doing, smart ass.”

  “Of course you do—we’re mated. I can’t make you do anything, but if swaying you by secretion seduction and touch helps, I’ll try. My brother is in love. Human females also don’t understand anything about a Castian’s imprinting—he’s imprinted with her. She’s driving his emotions crazy. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Fine,” Sam said on a pout. “I’ll match make in your absence, but you better bring me back something.”

  Cace grinned at Abri then scooped Sam up and his armor closed over her. They left. Abri gazed up at Raiden. He was smiling at her.

  “You look like the cat that ate the canary,” she said.

  “Blah—what a gross analogy.”

  “It’s just an expression. Does Cobra really think there are more women who crash landed on other planets?”

  “I guess we’ll find out.”

  “When?”

  “Now.”

  “But I have no time to pack…”

  “The problems on the warship have been fixed—too bad, you look sexy in just a blanket.”

  Raiden offered her a sly grin. There was nothing to pack. Anything Abri needed would be provided on board the vessel. The replicators took care of their needs. Abri had a frightening thought.

  “Can a Tonan vessel blow up a Castian vessel too?”

  “It’s happened on rare occasions. This time, two vessels are being deployed. And no matter where I am you will be.”

  “Like glue huh?”

  “I will never let anything harm you, Abri. I can scent your apprehension, but Cobra is a good person.”

  She glanced up at him saucily. “Then take me to your leader.”

  Chapter 8

  Abri stared out the massive window in their room. She had been traveling on the Castian bird of prey for just over a week. Raiden had very few demands made of him and it was rare for her to be left alone. During their time together, Abri had gotten to know him well. Raiden had a great deal of character, a good heart and he was very patient.

  Abri still wasn’t certain if she loved him but felt it was too early. She knew Raiden loved her. His sense of scent and highly-developed emotion towards her was obvious each time he made love to her. There was no denying the connection. Abri just wasn’t certain how deeply it ran within her.

  Abri was still gazing at the stars when the door behind her slid open. She knew it was Raiden without looking. She knew his step, his gait, the sway of his arms. She could not only hear it from her left ear but she sensed it. Each day, Raiden’s sense of awareness grew and because they were connected hers increased as well.

  The idea had been confusing to Abri, but Raiden explained his armor was compensating for half of his and her hearing loss. She asked him if his armor was so intent on compensating why did it not just give him his hearing back. Raiden assumed if he got total hearing back she would lose hers again. The armor wouldn’t allow that—it protected her as well. Abri had sighed at the complexity of the Castian race.

  When Raiden’s lips found the nape of her neck, Abri shivered. There had never been another man who could stir her libido into overdrive with a simple touch. She could see his reflection in the window. One long lock of his blond hair curled in a way that made Abri smile. Raiden, of course, hated the curl. Try as he might, the lock was relentless and would not be pulled, washed or brushed out of place. Abri was happy about that—it added to his charm.

  “I missed you,” Raiden said. She knew he had. A certain taste would come to her mouth when he was away, and in the pi
t of her belly came the annoying feeling of being homesick when he was thinking of her.

  All of the new sensations were hard at first to differentiate between, but Abri was slowly learning to define each taste. She knew when Raiden was concentrating the hardest; the taste on her tongue was overwhelming. It was as though she had bit into a fruit of knowledge. Knowledge of Raiden.

  Abri was on her knees on their bed, she turned in his arms. She smiled as her fingers twisted into his single curl. She tugged playfully on it. Raiden breathed her scent in—nostrils flaring. For a Castian, scent was like a handshake, or a hug of recognition, a kiss on the cheek. Abri could tell he was pleased. She had been waiting for him—nude. She knew when his shift ended.

  “We will be at the planet tomorrow,” Raiden said. “Cobra asked for me to accompany Cace for a small shift in duty. Our sensors are picking up some form of life. There’s also an Earth vessel.”

  “Am I going with you?”

  “No. You’ll be safe enough on board. If I sense anything at all from you, I can return immediately.” Abri frowned up at him. “Don’t worry.” He trailed his warm moist thumb across her cheek. “My sense of awareness is growing stronger. I can sense before each warrior walks into a room who it is. A bird of prey is huge. I’m guessing it could be a week away and I would sense it.”

  Abri grinned at his cocky attitude. She was happy he no longer despised his partial hearing loss. Raiden may have preferred not to be deaf in one ear, but his other senses seemed to be the envy of many. Even Doss was amazed at his newfound skills and Abri could tell Raiden was pleased at the idea of not being so envious of his big brother.

  Abri had the pleasure of getting to know Loy and Doss better. They spent a great deal of time with each other. All three brothers were close and Abri couldn’t wait to get back to Bagron to meet Zoe and Brandy—their mates. Though not as intimidated by Cobra, Abri went out of her way to avoid him. Raiden was right—he was a good person, but he was just too intimidating. She came to understand Cobra’s warriors meant everything to the man. He would go to any length to do what he deemed in their best interest. And surprisingly, his warrior mate was a thirteen year old boy—his son. Cobra had been the one to find out male children could be turned Castian warrior by a bite. Cobra had done it to spare the boy pain after he had been attacked by a Tonan. Cobra had saved his life and mated his mother.

  “Are you all mine now for the night?” Abri asked.

  “I’m yours until the planet comes into view.” Raiden slid his black pants down the length of him in a seductive way.

  Abri slipped her arms around his neck. When their lips met, she welcomed his taste. She loved the fact he thought she was as sweet as honey. Large hands roamed across her shoulders, massaging her. There was just something about a man who was so large he could snap you in half yet be so incredibly tender.

  Bright gray eyes shined with so much passion and yearning. Abri felt at times she didn’t deserve him—his love and adoration. Raiden had given up his hearing for her and he had mated with her to save her life. Everything he did was for her. He always saw to her comfort first. Why was it so hard to love him?

  Because he could die.

  Abri wished the thought would go away. She pushed it from her mind. She didn’t have to love him to make love to him. She lay back with Raiden following her. He stretched out beside her on the bed. His fingers trailed a path from her jaw to her thigh. Abri leaned closer and licked his chest. He shuddered and she knew he tasted her desire.

  When her hand slipped lower to grip his magnificent cock, he groaned. He had the most perfect erection. Hard and straight, large and long. He had mentioned his dick would grow when in must. Abri wondered just how big he would get. Certainly she couldn’t take much more of his size and width.

  As her hand stroked him, she thought there couldn’t be a more perfect man if she had created him herself. Raiden moved closer. If his scent emotions were channeling her thoughts he would be deliciously aware of how stunning she thought he was—how badly she wanted his cock to plunge and retreat.

  “Abri.” He groaned. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

  In fact she did. He did the same thing to her. “Show me what I do to you,” she said.

  Raiden pushed her onto her back and kissed hard against her throat. His demanding lips and tongue ravished her body. His teeth claimed a nipple and she cried out. Each time they made love, their passion grew. Raiden’s sexy vampire fangs glistened with moisture when he lifted his face from her neck. He hadn’t bit her; he wouldn’t until she was spent.

  The fangs disappeared when he closed his lips over a breast. So much about these warriors was instinct. His heavy thigh lay across her legs trapping her beneath him, but it wasn’t a crushing gesture. She loved the feel of him. His blond locks moved lower when he released her throbbing tit. Soon he was turned around and a swollen cock was pushed past her lips while Raiden feasted between her thighs.

  Abri sucked him deep and hard, her throat arching to take more of him. Her hands massaged his rock tight sculpted ass. She moved faster wanting to taste more of his flavorful secretions. Raiden was doing wonderful things between her thighs. He played mercilessly with her clit before parting her outer lips with his tongue. Abri whimpered when his stiffened tongue slid back and forth into her at a fast pace.

  Abri closed her eyes. Raiden ran his tongue back up to her clit and licked her softly. His warm mouth and secretions made her writhe with her mounting orgasm. When he pulled his cock from her mouth Abri could have screamed as he inched his way back up her body. His lips and breath hovered over her skin in a caress. The pads of his fingers barely touched her and yet it was so sensual.

  “Raiden, please.”

  She knew that he knew exactly what she was feeling. Abri wanted that cock of his inside of her so bad she would go looking for it if she had to. When she felt Raiden hovering over her face, she opened her eyes to gaze into his smiling face. Yes, he knew damned well he was driving her wild. Abri sank her hands into his hair and pulled him down. When he kissed her he played with her lips, tormenting them with butterfly taunts.

  The tip of his cock rested right at her wet pussy and try as she might she could encourage him no closer. Again, she begged for him to have her. Abri was breathing so hard and so fast when he ground his mouth onto hers she was left breathless. He pulled up and thrust his cock into her making her groan. She wanted all of him. She lifted her legs higher to wrap around his waist and hung on tight while he took her on the ride of her life.

  Raiden pushed in deeper. His cock was slippery and hot. His hands slipped under her shoulder blades and he turned her sideways for a moment to plant his feet firmly on the floor. He unwrapped her legs from around his waist and pulled them onto his shoulders. His grip tightened onto her hips and Abri was bounced back and forth onto the bed with the pressure of his hammering thrusts.

  Abri’s hands fisted in the sheets. She couldn’t stop her screams of pleasure. Raiden was making a deep growling sound in the back of his throat. The power of the man was phenomenal. It sounded like a clap of thunder each time their hips met. Soon Abri was gasping. Her body shook when she came and she lay spent with Raiden still thrusting and retreating. A hand on one of her hips moved up to grip her behind her neck, and with sheer strength, Raiden lifted her.

  Fangs sank into the side of her throat and Abri collapsed. Beautiful lethargy swarmed across her body making her deliciously limp and accepting. Raiden slowed his thrusts and turned her onto her belly. Abri felt her feet on the floor and was kept bent over with a strong arm around her waist.

  Remaining gentle, Raiden slipped his cock in and out of her. His hand caressed her back and behind.

  “I love you, Abri.”

  Abri knew he did. She wanted to love him, but she had tried so hard to turn off the emotion she wondered if she had succeeded. She felt something for him. They had all the time in the world. The words could wait until she could figure out exactly what it wa
s she was feeling. When Raiden slipped from her and scooped her into his arms, he laid her on the bed and stretched out beside her.

  His gentle hands massaged her shoulders. She looked into his face and saw a small smile. She did what she had wanted to do so many times. Abri face planted against his solid chest. At the moment he could love enough for the both of them.

  * * * *

  Morning came too early for Abri. She had watched Raiden leave a few hours previous. Her belly was in knots. When Cobra came storming into the room, Abri jumped from the bed startled. She had been looking out the window at the planet. Her heart was thumping, she was sweating. Something was terribly wrong with Raiden. For a brief moment, her mouth had filled with the taste of fear—then it vanished. Abri tasted nothing more. She sensed nothing, felt nothing. There should have been something.

  “Thank the heavens,” Cobra said and pulled her from the bed to look her over.

  “What happened?”

  “Raiden is missing,” Cobra said and Abri’s hand flew to her mouth. “I had feared he was dead, I can’t sense him at all. But you are alive—which means he is.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “There is an evil on the planet.”

  “Tonans?”

  “No. Worse. It’s a nothing. We can’t fight nothing.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “I know,” Cobra shouted. Abri jumped and he took a deep calming breath. “Abri I need you to come to the planet with me. You’re Raiden’s only hope.”