Starlight [Warriors of Dareen] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Sara Anderson

  “Fuck you,” she yelled angrily at him. She decided she did not believe a word of his story. It was too far-fetched. “You are in a world of shit. Did you forget I work for the sheriff’s department? They will come looking for me when I don’t show up to work.” Her smile was more of a malicious grin instead of her normal, friendly look. “When they find me, I will make sure they know you held me against my will.”

  Joran shook his head at her, not looking the least bit intimidated. “They have already noticed your absence. Yours and Laura’s. They searched for you, and found the remains that were placed by myself and Varnis. They believe you and Laura were murdered by the fugitive I was there tracking.”

  Kara’s mouth fell open in horror. “No. No!” She was silent for a few moments, simply staring at him in disbelief. She saw something in his eyes that told her he must be telling her the truth. “You can’t just take my life away from me like this.” She blinked her eyes while trying to get her tears under control. He had stolen her, erased her life as if she was nothing, and said they were married. No, it could not be that easy for him. Surely, there was more to it than some sex.

  “I did not take your life away from you, Kara. I hope that you will see this is the start of your new life.”

  “I don’t need or want a new life. I want my old one back.” Kara pushed at him again. “Fucking get off of me.”

  Joran’s face darkened and he tightened his grip on her. “I understand this is new and confusing to you, but you will watch how you speak to me. As your warrior, I demand respect from you.”

  “I didn’t choose you or this, so I do not owe you anything,” Kara snapped out angrily at him.

  “No, you didn’t choose this. For that, I am sorry. I wish it could have been different.” Joran let out a sigh. “It is what it is, however. We both will have to do our best. I have yet to spank you for your disrespect, because you do not understand. If you continue with your disrespect I will punish you.” Joran’s tone was gentle, but also firm.

  “That is hardly fair,” Kara told him, fighting again. You trick me into saying a few words, we frolic in the sheets, and then, just like that, we’re married?”

  “No. It is not that easy. Your father or a guardian has to give permission.” His tone gentled when he saw her face pale. “Females are given to warriors. If they agree to the words spoken and submit to the warrior’s domination, then they are bonded. You did all of these, so we are now bonded.”

  Pain slammed into her chest at his words. Her father was killed in a car accident two years ago.

  “Kara?” Joran sat up and pulled her into his lap. “Lenora, what is distressing you?” He held her close, rocking her while she tried to breathe through the pain. “I know this is all new to you, I am trying to go gently on you since you are not used to our culture.” He held her close and rocked her as his hand moved up and down her back soothingly.

  Kara sunk into the comfort of his arms around her. She shouldn’t have. She should shove him away and stay strong, but the arms around her felt so strong, so safe. Right now, all of what had happened to her was just too much and she needed his comforting. She was not going to think about his statements that she wanted to submit to him. She refused to believe that was why she now relaxed and allowed him to hold her. No, it had nothing to do with her wanting to obey a man. A happy, older man’s face that used to hold and rock her the same way when she was upset floated in her memory, making her heart ache and reminding her of years of loss and loneliness.

  “Please, my bonded, I can feel your distress. Tell me what has upset you like this.”

  Joran’s worry for her ate at her conscience. She wondered, if she told him, if it would lessen the pain. She had been so lonely since her father passed. “My dad couldn’t have given me away. He died a couple of years ago in an accident.”

  “Oh, my sweet Kara, I am so sorry.” Joran kissed her forehead while he rocked her. Kara wrapped her arms around him and absorbed the comfort he was offering. For this moment, she felt safe and loved instead of the empty loneliness she had grown used to.

  After a long while of him holding her, he kissed the top of her head. “Where is your mother?”

  Kara blinked, “She left us when I was really young. Dad never really talked about her much. I could tell he was still hurting.”

  “To have his mate reject him must have been devastating.”

  “I think it was, but we had each other.” She paused for a moment. “So, does this mean we are not really married, or bonded, or whatever it’s called?” Kara asked as she ran her cheek along his smooth chest. “I am sure you could drop me off at home and I could explain that it was a mistake.”

  “We are still bonded. The captain took guardianship of both you and Laura and gave you to me.” Joran sighed. “Please, my bonded, give up this notion you can go back. You have been gone one of their Earth weeks. They found what they believe are your and Laura’s remains. You were declared dead. There is no going back, ever.”

  Kara stared at him. “Everyone thinks I am dead?” she asked in a shocked whisper.

  Joran’s look was grim but contrite as he nodded. “Yes, my lenora. That life you had is over. The sooner you let it go and focus on your new life, the happier you will be.”

  Kara let him hold her again while she cried, mourning the loss of the life she had built. As sorry and lonely as it was, it was her life. He whispered comforting words she did not understand as he rocked her gently.

  She did not know how long they sat together with him comforting her when her thoughts drifted to the previous conversation. “Wait a minute, he gave me to you?” Kara sat up straight, her anger suddenly flaring, and she glared at him. “What do you mean, he gave me to you? I am not a dog that can be given away.”

  “You are far from a dog, my beautiful Kara,” Joran told her gently while wiping away the last of her tears. “But we Dareen care for our women. The father cares for his daughter until he finds her a mate, then he gives her to the mate that was chosen for her. Most fathers allow their daughters to choose one, but sometimes it is necessary for a father or guardian to choose for a woman. This was one of those times.”

  “I am not Dareen, though!” Kara protested with a frown.

  “Both you and Laura are Dareen now.” He held his finger up to her lips when she opened her mouth to argue. “Hear me out. We were on a mission to capture the Shara that escaped a fight we were in. They are the ones that attacked you and your friend.”

  “They weren’t monsters, then?” Kara asked, shuddering at the memory of monsters closing in on her outside of the old store.

  “No they are a race of aliens that are known for brutal treatment of women.” Joran’s jaw tightened and he fisted the blankets on the bed as he told her about the race of aliens.

  Kara suddenly remembered her best friend. “Laura. Where is Laura?” she demanded. She could have kicked herself. How could she forget her best friend in her own selfish demands?

  Joran’s face suddenly turned grim. “She has been healed of her injuries as well.” She could tell by the look on his face something was horribly wrong.

  “Where is she? Have you harmed her? If you hurt her, I swear I will kill you.” She snarled fiercely.

  Joran smiled at her with a look of pride. “My little warrior.” He ran his hand down her face with a smile that warmed her stomach again. She had done something to please him, but she was a bit confused. “You are always trying to protect those you care about. What a treasure you are.”

  Kara scowled. “I mean it, and you better not have hurt her.”

  Joran’s smile turned sad. “It is as I assured you, and her injuries were healed. Physically, she is well.”

  Dread sank into Kara. She knew something horrible had happened. She tried so hard to remember, but all she got were fuzzy snapshots. Monsters. Laura was crying, begging for help. A slapping sound of flesh. It was suddenly like a switch was flipped and her memories shut down, leaving her with a feeling th
at something terrible had happened but unable to remember the details.

  “What happened to Laura? Where is she? Tell me!” Kara demanded, worried the reality was that Laura had died and everyone was trying to keep her from realizing the truth.

  He stared into her eyes, trying to decide what to tell her, he sighed as he made a decision. “The Shara raped her, and she is deeply traumatized. We have medications we use to help trauma victims cope, but it does not work for everyone. It worked better than we hoped for you, but your friend did not respond at all to treatment. Perhaps once back on Dareen—”

  Joran did not get a chance to finish before Kara was again fighting to get up. “Let me see her, please? I need to see her.” Tears were again falling down her face, but this time it was for her dear friend.

  Joran studied her for a moment before he nodded. “Let me contact Doctor Legav and see if he will permit visitors. You will allow me to get you cleaned up and feed you. Any arguments and I will keep you here with me.”

  Kara nodded, once again agreeing to his demands without a second thought.

  Joran smiled at her in delight at her obedience.

  Her stomach and sex warmed at his pleasure with her. She cringed. She was doing it again, giving into a man without a second thought. She was an independent woman, not some doormat.

  Chapter 7

  Joran took her into his bathing room and ran the shower for her. Unlike showers she was used to, he walked her into a small closet-type room, then spoke words she did not understand. Warm water came down out of the ceiling like a heavy downpour of rain. “I will program English into our quarters so you will be able to use anything in here.” Joran told her while Kara stared up at the downpour.

  “Thank you,” Kara told him, closing her eyes.

  “You’re welcome. This is your home.” He held her for a while under the torrent of deliciously warm water. Between the heat from the shower and the comfort of his arms around her, she started to feel safe, cherished. She could almost see this man taking care of her for the rest of her life. With a sigh of regret, he finally let her go and ran his hands through her hair to make sure it was thoroughly wet. He pushed a silver button on the wall, making a white nozzle come out. He put his hand under the nozzle in time to collect the white foam coming out of it. He rubbed it through her hair and massaged her scalp. Kara closed her eyes in pure contentment. Never had she felt so pampered. Joran hit the button again and more foam came out, this time he rubbed it on her body, slowly. He massaged tight muscles while he swirled the foam over her skin. The smell was just as relaxing as his hands. Its smell was close to her bath gel she got at the mall that she used sparingly, due to the price.

  Joran’s hands worked slowly down her abdomen before making their way to her sex. His legs pushed hers apart, giving him access. Kara moaned when he swirled his finger over her clit.

  “You love what I do to you.” Joran licked her ear as he whispered it.

  “I do,” she moaned back, unable to stop herself. It felt so damned good.

  “Beg me to fuck you.” His harsh voice was full of command.

  “I can’t.” Kara’s eyes came open and she looked at him. She could not go and beg him to do that stuff to her.

  His finger pushed harder onto her clit. Kara whimpered and her knees gave out at the spike of pleasure.

  Joran pinned her against the shower wall. “I can torture you with the need to come if you do not obey me.” His fingers kept swirling around her pussy, causing her body to shake in sweet torment.

  “Please,” she asked him when he kept taking her to the edge and then backing off before the bliss could be released.

  “Please what?” he asked with a sadistic smile. “I want to hear you beg me.”

  “Please, Joran. I need.” She panted. She moved her hips, trying to get just a little bit more contact, but Joran chuckled at her efforts.

  “All you have to do is ask, my lovely bonded.”

  “Please, Joran. Please, fuck me,” she begged, no longer caring how vulgar it sounded. She just wanted the release he could give her.

  “I would be happy to.” Joran picked her up so her pussy met his cock. Her feet dangled in the air. He used one hand to guide her legs around him. He lifted her slightly, then pulled her hard down onto his throbbing shaft.

  Kara opened her mouth and screamed. The pain and pleasure mixed, filling her with intoxicating pleasure. Joran did not stop or let her get used to his cock. He gripped her hips in a hard grasp. He picked her up and slammed her back down, impaling her over and over on his cock. Kara clawed his shoulders and back, screaming as wave after wave of ecstasy crashed over her. Her lungs burned and her body shook from the force of his dominating thrusts. Just when she thought she would die from the pleasure, Joran’s thrusts staggered. He moaned loud and long as she felt his cock throbbing in her, his seed filling her womb. He held her for a while, breathing hard and resting his head against hers. “You are almost too good to be true, Kara,” he murmured softly in her ear.

  He turned off the water and dried her with a soft towel, then brushed her hair using softly blowing warm air with the brush until her hair was fully dried. “You have no idea how honored I am that I get to spend my life cherishing you, protecting you.” He kissed her shoulder gently like a lover would. “Words will never express how angry I am that the Shara attacked you. I will seek vengeance against them for you, as is my right. I am not sorry that I got to keep you, though. Never will I be sorry that you are mine.”

  The high from his rough sex was losing its grip on her. Kara rocked a bit. He was not her lover, he was her captor. But maybe, if this was how captives were treated, she never wanted to be set free. No, she must remember she had a life, one this man stole her from. A lonely one. One that no longer existed, according to him. He made sure no one looked for her or wondered what became of her. She should be angry, but she was finding it hard to stay that way. She wanted to please him, but no, that was wrong. Strong women did not live to please a man. She was so confused. She shook her hair in front of her face again so she could look into Joran’s face. Maybe then she could feel some anger. Looking at him through the veil of her hair, she did not find anger. She found something that made her blush and her sex come to life again.

  “No, my beautiful bonded. You will not hide yourself from me.” His face was stern, but there was tenderness in his eyes.

  “Don’t tell me what to do.” Kara winced, her demand sounding weak to her own ears.

  Joran raised an eyebrow at her and smiled in a sinfully delicious way. “Kara, you will do what I tell you to do. I am giving you a lot of leeway since this is all new to you, but I am warning you now. This is the last time I will tolerate your disobedience. Disobey again and you will be punished.”

  Kara’s mouth dropped open in stunned shock. How dare he threaten to punish her! She was not a child to be punished. She wanted to hate him. She looked into his eyes, looking for a reason to loathe him, for a reason to escape. All she saw, however, was the most handsome, tender man she had ever been with staring at her with an expression close to love. No, he could not love her. She was unlovable. His expression stayed the same tender, almost loving look as he brushed her hair out of her face. “You use your hair to hide. You hide from others and you hide your pain. From now on, you hide nothing. If someone causes you pain, I will know it anyways, and I will teach them some manners. If you are hurting, I will know. You no longer are alone. We deal with life’s joys and pain, together.” He stared down into her face, keeping her eyes locked with his as he spoke softly.

  She swallowed hard the lump that was suddenly in her throat. She tried to get her emotions under control. She could not allow him past her walls. He would swallow her whole if she let him. Maybe that was not such a bad thing, though. Was it possible she would find love in the arms of an alien that kidnapped her? He saved you, her inner voice whispered at her.

  * * * *

  Joran got her a light short-sleeved dress and sl
ippers to wear to the infirmary. It was much thinner then what she was used to, but it was better than nothing.

  She walked with him, turning down different corridors, seeing all manner of very big men walking in the halls. Some had lighter shades of brown for their hair color, but all of them had a golden color to their eyes. Most looked at her with curiosity, while others did not seem to notice her.

  She kept forgetting to pay attention to where she was walking when there was so much to see. All the walls were the same metallic gray that was in his room. The whole ceiling seemed to light up, brighter than regular light from the sheriff’s office she was used to. Kara reached out to touch the wall. It was smooth like burnished steel.

  The floor looked like it was made out of a polished soap stone. It was strange how it shined like polished stone, but it was soft on her slippered feet.

  They finally reached the large double doors of the infirmary and they opened for them with a soft hiss.

  She instantly recognized the large room. She and Laura were both brought here. Kara felt a little sick to her stomach when more memories hit her. They must have given her some powerful drugs for the memories to be so slow in coming back to her.

  Joran pulled her off to another door and swiped a card through a pad, and a man spoke in a language she didn’t understand. Joran answered in the same language. Kara stared at him, wondering what they were talking about. She thought he already got permission to see her. The door made a soft buzzing sound and opened for them.

  Kara walked in, then stopped, staring in horror. Laura was curled up in a massive bed. She looked tiny in it, but that was not what shocked Kara. She looked broken. Laura was awake, but was curled into a fetal position, staring at a picture of a beautiful mountainside, but Kara doubted she was really looking at the picture. She was staring but not really seeing.

  “Laura,” Kara whispered while standing in the doorway. Joran guided her forward toward the bed. Kara let him guide her to her friend. She climbed up to sit by her and pulled her hair out of her face. First, she checked her over for any bruises, but like Kara, there was no sign of any bruises or bites anywhere. Everything was healed, but Laura did not look at her or acknowledge Kara in any way.