Branded

by Jenika Snow

  She didn’t answer, but then again he didn’t phrase it as though he expected her to respond.

  “Since I saw you I’ve acted out of character, and only thought about you and what would please you.” They held each other’s gazes for a prolonged moment, and it was like something was being connected between them in that one moment.

  What was happening to her, and why was this male, the enemy of her kind, making her feel like she never had to feel fear again?

  Chapter Twelve

  Tolcan pressed closer to Greta and made sure she fully understood what he was saying. She owned him. He would kill for her, torture and maim, but in the end he would gladly get down on his knees and worship every inch of her body. Yes, totally fucking insane to think of a female controlling so much of him.

  It was hard for him to relinquish the power he always carried. He was dominant, overbearing, and always had his control up front. He would never change, never be the sweet, gentle male she deserved. Greta might fight him tooth and nail, and rightly for what they’d done to her kind, for what he’d done to her. She’d drawn blood from his body and declared she was her own person. But regardless of all of that, she was his, and he would go to any fucking length to show her what that meant.

  He took her mouth in a brutal kiss and ground his aching cock into her soft flesh. His shaft pulsed as he imagined what she would feel like beneath him, her thighs spread wide, his dick buried to the hilt in her tight little pussy. She was a virgin, and he’d have to be gentle, something he’d never done before. He’d been rough, brutal, controlling with females.

  The images of her naked before him, and of him taking her innocence as his own, were enough to have him almost losing his seed right there. But the hard bred warrior within him demanded control, ached for it. She was a prize, his prize, and he hadn’t realized what he’d been missing until he’d seen her in that cave.

  Tolcan deepened the kiss and slid his hands through her hair. The tendrils were soft and curled around his fingers. He wrapped the strands around his fist and pulled her head back, succeeding in separating their mouths. Eyes closed, lips parted and slightly glossy from their kiss, Greta looked like a seductress ready to be fucked, ready to scream his name.

  He took a second to stare at her features, and take in the beautiful crescent shape of her dark eyelashes against her fair skin. Her bone structure was delicate, feminine … human. Possessiveness slammed into him. Lifting his hand, he brushed the back of it against her cheek. She opened her eyes and stared at him. Emotions coursed through Tolcan, feelings that made his heart pound and his blood rush.

  “What are you doing to me?” she said on a whisper, not sounding like she was accusing him of corrupting her, although he knew he was. He wanted her, made no secret of that, but she was good and pure, and he was everything opposite of that.

  Tolcan knew she was going to change his life for the better, and couldn’t even imagine where he’d been without her. He wanted to make her happy, wanted to make her see that he could be good, even if he’d been an evil male for his entire life. He’d followed orders, captured humans, and although he’d only ever killed a human when in combat and when they were fighting against him, seeing her sweet, innocent face, he felt like a sadistic, sick bastard for what he’d done.

  Even knowing he’d taken her away from what she’d known as a home and family made him feel like a fucking asshole, and he wanted to show her that he wasn’t like that with her, that he’d be better, try to be good. It would be hard, and he’d struggle at times, because the warrior in him told him to just react and think later. That wouldn’t work if he planned on making Greta his. And she was his, would always be his.

  “Come with me, Greta.” He led them out of the living quarters and into the room she’d been sleeping in. It was his room, and although he didn’t sleep but a few hours a night, he wanted her someplace that smelled like him. He wanted her in his bed, making the sheets saturated with the sweet, floral scent that encompassed her.

  She didn’t fight him, and the aroma of her lust, of her acceptance and desire to be with him, was like a shot of adrenaline through his bloodstream. He’d come right in his pants just from that knowledge alone, but he wanted to sample her, make her scream out, and then he’d take her virginity as his.

  Once in his room the door slid shut seamlessly. Neither said anything for several seconds, and then he went after her, not able to control himself. He pulled her toward his body, kissed her hard and possessively, and swallowed the little moans she let out. He didn’t want to make this painful for her, wanted to only bring her pleasure, and he knew what he’d have to do to make that happen.

  Forcing himself to pull back he moved toward the small dresser in the corner. Inside it held a few items he kept when he needed to patch up war wounds. There was a small tube of numbing gel, and although he’d never used it while closing an especially deep cut, because in his warrior status pain equaled strength, he was glad he’d kept it. It would help in this instance in allowing Greta to take him more easily. Even if she wasn’t a virgin Rogues were well endowed, had to be to match their height and size. Taking her would have been uncomfortable for her human body regardless, but the gel would make it so she experienced the pleasure and not the pain.

  He looked at her again, stared at the way she was nervous, and that the physical evidence of that was clear. Her eyes were wide, her pupils dilated, and she was twisting her hands together in front of her. But she smelled of wetness, of lust and need, and he wasn’t going to deny her. He may like sex rough and hard, but he’d never wanted a female before, not like he wanted Greta. He’d go slow, be gentle and easy, and maybe when she was comfortable with what he wanted, what he needed as a warrior, they’d explore that together.

  “You’re ready, Greta?” he said, not able to keep his voice from sounding rough, animalistic even. She didn’t know about the physical traits that happened to his body when he was aroused, and he didn’t want to scare her. He’d have incisors, but they’d emerge when he was his emotions were high, whether from anger or arousal … or ready to mark, to brand his female. They’d never come out during sex, but then sex for Tolcan had only ever been about release. This was different, so different.

  “I’m ready,” she said softly, and he saw the way her pulse jumped at the base of her throat.

  He growled out, unable to stop the pleasure and arousal thumping through his body that she was giving herself to him.

  “Go to the bed, my female,” he said softly, trying to be calm, to be gentle, even when speaking to her. He watched her move to the bed, her ass jiggling from the movement and his cock jerking. He palmed himself, cupped his dick through his pants, squeezed his shaft, and knew this female was going to control him, control his world, his desire, and he’d never get enough of her. There would never be another female for him, never be anyone that could have this kind of hold on him. He knew from the moment he saw her in that cave she was something special, something that would have him questioning everything. He just didn’t know the impact it would make on him.

  He moved closer to her, stared at her as she lay on the bed, her body now free of clothing, and every part of her on display. She wasn’t thick or curvy, not how he usually liked his females, but to him she was perfect. She’d also been running her whole life, trying to stay alive, and that lifestyle meant she didn’t have proper nutrition. But since being here with him she’d gained a little weight, not much, and he was pleased that she looked a little healthier. As time went on he knew she’d fill out, and he looked forward to seeing her glow with vitality.

  “This gel will help with penetration, will take the pain away and make this first time bearable.”

  She slowly nodded.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, so this is the best way to go.”

  “I trust you,” she said and licked her lips.

  He’d wanted to go slow, make her scream with pleasure before he slid into her welcoming body, but she pushed herself up on h
er elbows and surprised him with her words.

  “I can’t wait. I need you now.” She slowly opened her legs, showing him her pussy, the glossiness of her cream, the pinkness of her slit, and everything in him switched. He turned into the beast he didn’t want to be with her, turned into the animal that needed her like a dying, wounded creature in order to survive. Tolcan craved her like he’d tear right through his flesh if he didn’t have her at this moment. He got on the bed, used the gel to cover her pussy, and pushed his finger, coated with the clear substance, into her body. She gasped, squirmed a little, but he kept his focus on her, telling her without words things would be perfect.

  He tossed the tube aside, looked down at her body, and groaned. The way she was propped up on her elbows had her collarbones standing out in stark contrast. Her breasts were large for her small frame, and tipped with red nipples. The color was vibrant because of the blood flow from her arousal, and his mouth watered. Her hipbones stood out, her belly slightly concave. He’d fatten her up, make her full and thick, healthy and strong.

  And then he gazed at her pussy, at the way her lips were spread, her clit protruding and engorged from her desire. And then there was her pussy hole, small, tight, and calling out to the male side of him. She was tiny in comparison to him, and fortunately he’d thought of the gel, because if not she would have been in far too much discomfort.

  “Come here, Tolcan.” She lay back on the bed, her chest heaving as she breathed in and out.

  Positioning himself over her body, he smoothed his hands up her inner thighs, and framed her pussy. And then he let go of her, took his cock in hand, and stroked himself up and down a few times. Her pussy was a thing of beauty, perfection. He had to force himself to go slow. Once the head of his shaft was at her entrance he stared at her face, and leaned down to kiss her because he couldn’t help himself.

  “I’m ready,” she said against his mouth.

  He started to push into her, breaking through her barrier, and seeing the blood coat his shaft as he slid into her. He braced his hands on the bed beside her head, and gritted his teeth. The gel he’d used helped to loosen her up to accept his size made it easier, but she was still so damn tight. He needed to come already, but first she’d get off again, and then he’d fill her with his seed, make her smell of him, marked by him. He’d ensure there wasn’t any inch of her that didn’t smell like him. This night was about claiming his mate, and that was what he was going to do.

  Once he was buried to the hilt, balls deep in her tight, virgin body, he breathed out, and let her get used to him inside of her. He didn’t care what a female felt or thought during sex, but Greta was different, and he wanted to make sure she was okay.

  “You’re okay, my female?”

  She nodded.

  He started thrusting in and out of her, slowly at first, but with each passing second he moved harder in her body. Her breasts jiggled, her moans came quicker, louder, and he felt his body start to change for the branding. His canines elongated, his nails grew into claws, and his heart beat faster. His mouth watered to claim her, to bite her. It was forbidden to be with a human in any way that was consensual, that wasn’t a slave/Master relationship. But Tolcan didn’t care. This was his female, his mate, and she’d wear his mark to prove it.

  He pumped harder, faster in her, and when she grabbed his biceps, dug her nails in his flesh, and had pain shooting up his arms, he groaned in pleasure. She came right then, her pussy milking his cock, and drawing his seed closer to the surface. He pulled out of her, and in one swift move flipped her on her belly, lifted her hips so her ass was in the air, and palmed the cheeks of her bottom. With one hand he pulled one of her ass cheeks apart, exposing her tight asshole. Her ass was tempting, but he wanted her pussy more, wanted her to be used to what they were doing now before he experienced more with her.

  Pre-cum dripped from the tip of his cock as he ached to be buried in her again. He had pulled out when her orgasm had claimed her, and it was the most intense thing he’d witnessed. He lowered his body, placed his face right by her pussy, and licked her cream clean from her pussy lips and slit. She tasted fucking incredible, so damn intoxicating, and he would never be able to get enough. Greta looked over her shoulder at him, and Tolcan wondered if she realized she was thrusting herself back on him. The look of desire on her face, told him his human needed him as much as he needed her.

  Removing his mouth, he leaned over her so his chest covered her back, and took her mouth in a hard kiss. Taking hold of his dick, Tolcan pulled back once more and stared down at her exposed pussy.

  He ran a finger up and down her slick cleft, and then placed his cockhead at her entrance once more. He pushed just the tip in, gripped her hips, and without waiting, shoved every single inch into her. He groaned, she moaned, and that was when the beast inside of him broke free again. There was no physical change. It was just a wild, primitive sensation in him that consumed him and made him feral.

  “This is what being with my kind is all about, Greta, what it means to be claimed by a Rogue.” He didn’t know why he was talking, or even how in the fuck he was able to form words as he plowed in and out of her. He should have gone slow, eased her body into taking his, but she was so ready to be fucked by him. “You are not a slave, not a concubine to me. You. Are. Mine.” He pushed inside of her cunt and pulled back out. “You’re my mate, female.” He did this more forcefully each time, but he was so lost in the feel of his woman that he couldn’t control himself. The rippling of her orgasm moving along his cock was his breaking point.

  Roaring out and curling his fingers into her side, he slammed into her once more. His balls slapped against her clit, and he pumped his cum into her, filling her to the point their combined fluids slipped down her inner thighs. Tolcan couldn’t help himself. He slapped her ass over and over again, loving when the flesh reddened and shook from the force. She moaned for more.

  He groaned roughly, and when he was sated leaned down and kissed the center of her damp back. But he wasn’t nearly done. He ran his incisors over the tender flesh of her neck, and without warning pierced her throat, but she’d tilted her head at the last minute, an act of surrender in his culture that had him grunting.

  The metallic flavor of her blood coated his tongue, but he let his saliva seep into her bloodstream. His scent moved through her body, and he felt intense pleasure all over again that she was his fully.

  She breathed heavily, her body coated in a light sheen of sweat.

  He pulled out of her with a disappointed exhale and lay beside her. He immediately pulled her into his arms. She wasn’t asleep, but he felt her exhaustion as if it were his own. He already couldn’t get enough, and knew he never would either.

  Pulling her closer, he wrapped his arms around her, kissed the top of her head, and for the first time in his life felt content and completed. He hadn’t known that claiming Greta would cause the wall that had been around him to break apart … but only for her. He hadn’t realized that this was the feeling that would be inside of him when he found his mate.

  She curled her hand around his bicep. What a strange and wondrous thing to care about someone, especially the species that he’d been trained to hate and destroy. She was perfect, and all his. Nothing and no one would change that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Greta was nervous, frightened, but hoped things worked out the way they planned. Of course the plan hadn’t been anything but Tolcan contacting the Royals from his pod. She’d stayed hidden, but she’d heard them regardless. Hearing Tolcan risk everything for her, for what she desperately needed to happen, made her feel this softness toward him.

  Yes, they’d had sex, her first time even, and the fact she wore his mark, his brand he’d called it, made her feel like she belonged. It was strange thinking of it like that, thinking that she was marked by her enemy species, but she couldn’t help but feel that. She also found herself touching the twin marks on her neck, running her fingers along the redness that wouldn’
t go away from around the puncture marks, and knew this signified something very great with the Rogues.

  She knew humans shouldn’t have any kind of marking like this one on them, because Rogue and human matings were forbidden.

  They now stood in a large arena, Tolcan in the center, and the one named Redon, the Rogue who owned Jayce, standing a few feet away. She knew Redon wasn’t fighting, because apparently on earth the Rogues had changed their traditional rules. Now, with the Royals changing the rules, a Rogue that was challenged in a Dukka could hire a much stronger, fiercer fighter, and that was what Redon had done. The male that stepped forward to fight Tolcan was just as big as Tolcan, but didn’t have the bands of being an enforcer.

  She scanned the crowd, looked over where Redon was standing, and her heart raced when she saw Jayce amongst the slaves shackled together. He watched her, this comforting smile on his face, and she knew he was trying to make her not be afraid. Did he really know what was happening? Did he know Tolcan was helping her, that he was risking everything to save Jayce because she asked? What would he think when he knew Tolcan and she were together, that she cared for the Rogue, wanted him as her own, and had slept with him?

  Did she even care what anyone thought, even Jayce? No, she didn’t, because this felt right. She loved Jayce like a brother, but she hoped he saw she was happy and that Tolcan wasn’t like the other males out there trying to extinguish their kind. At least he wasn’t anymore.

  “This Dukka was challenged by Enforcer Tolcan. Redon, the challenged, has decided to use Earth rules and acquire his champion against the Enforcer. Taking Redon’s place is Wayward the Undefeated.”

  God, that didn’t sound good. Although she knew how powerful Tolcan was, she also could see the hatred on Wayward’s face, saw the scars lining his chest, and even the old, dried blood on the leather pants he wore. Did he wear the same clothing when he was fighting? Was it a ritual for him? Greta found it disturbing in every sense of the word.