Claimed

by Presley Hall

  But we did.

  We emerged victorious once again, and now for the first time in years, however briefly, we are going to set foot on our home soil. I hoped to return with Rose as my claimed mate, to introduce her to our prince as my willing Irisa—but the likelihood of that seems to lessen with every day that passes.

  She’s avoided all contact with me, hasn’t looked at me, has barely spoken. And in the face of such rejection, I’ve been left unsure of what to do. I don’t want to force her, don’t want to frighten her or push her away further. I promised to convince her of the truth of what we are to each other, of my feelings and the connection between us—but I’m at a loss as to how.

  We might be able to speak to one another now, but I don’t have the slightest idea how to communicate with her. How to reach her.

  It’s been a long day spent training and working on the ship—I’ve always tasked myself to do the same things that my men do, all of the grunt work right alongside them—and I’m anxious for a shower.

  As I return to my quarters, my thoughts bound ahead to the room I share with Rose, wondering if she will be there. It’s late, so I expect she will be. But she has spent more time among the other Terran women and less time alone since our fight, so it’s possible she may be with one of them. I’m glad for her friendship with them. I want my Irisa to feel safe and comfortable on this ship, and if I cannot give her those feelings, I’m grateful she can find them among others of her kind.

  Even if it breaks my heart.

  My muscles tense unconsciously as I step inside the room, and when I find her sleeping in the bed, a wave of relief washes over me, more strongly than I expected.

  Will it ever stop? I wonder as I walk toward the washroom. If she continues to reject me, will I ever stop wanting her? Missing her? Aching for her?

  The answer to that question is carved into my heart.

  No.

  I turn briefly to look at her again, and like a magnet, I’m drawn back to her bedside. I look down at her peaceful, sleeping face and breathe in the scent of her skin—the herbal soap, the sweet musky scent of her own body, and…

  Arousal.

  She’s aroused. I can smell it. My nostrils flare as I draw in another deep breath, and a wave of lust rocks me with a force that nearly makes me stumble. That, mixed with the scent of her skin, her natural essence, makes me suddenly rock-hard, my erection throbbing painfully.

  I can hardly think, the sudden need to touch her so strong that every thought I had prior to my arousal has gone completely out of my head.

  Turning away from her with great difficulty, I grit my teeth as I head to the shower. I strip off my loincloth, my thick cock springing free of what little restraint it gave as I step under the hot water.

  Desh. I can’t help it.

  My hand goes immediately to my erection, my head thrown back as I grip it tightly, the ache subsiding only slightly under the pleasure of my touch. There’s nothing delicate in it, no finesse or grace, just the blinding need for release.

  I groan as my hand slides over the swollen tip, and I think of Rose, of the sweet sensation of her fingers sliding over me, of her soft gasp when she touched me for the first time. I think of how I ached to bury myself inside of her, of the torturous need that was its own kind of pleasure, and I can’t restrain myself. My strokes speed up, becoming rougher and harder as I push myself toward climax.

  There’s a great deal of pleasure to be had in taking it slowly, in drawing out the process of reaching that final release, but I can’t hold back. It’s been days since my last encounter with Rose, since I had her soft, writhing body beneath mine, since I ran my lips over her breasts and felt her hand encircle my cock…

  “Oh, krax,” I groan, the sounds spilling from my lips as I thrust my hips forward, shoving my cock into my fist and imagining that it’s Rose, that I have her beneath me, her legs spread open willingly, waiting to receive—

  I hear a gasp from the doorway and freeze.

  Rose is standing there, her eyes wide and round, fixed on the sight of me pleasuring myself.

  “Oh,” she whispers, and I realize it’s the first time she’s seen me completely nude and displayed in front of her, only the glass of the shower door between us.

  I drop my hand, letting go of my cock as if it’s red-hot—which to be entirely honest, it feels as if it is in this moment. My body screams for me to keep going, but I can hardly do that with her staring at me, especially when I’m unsure if she’s intrigued or terrified.

  Her gaze stays fixed on my straining erection, and to my utter surprise, I see her lick her lips slightly.

  She blinks once, then takes a tentative step forward.

  And then another.

  It’s almost too good to be true. I’m afraid to let myself hope as I see her slowly approach me, and when she reaches the door of the shower, her fingers touching the glass, I speak quietly to her, keeping my voice soft so as not to startle her.

  “You can come in, Rose, if you want. I won’t bite.” And then I chuckle, unable to stop the next words. “Unless you want me to.”

  She’s standing in the baggy shirt that she wears with those awful mechanic’s pants, and I see her trying to decide, debating internally whether to come in and join me or flee.

  And her shoulders square a little, as if she’s made some decision. She reaches down, stripping the shirt off, and I stare in amazement as she drops it to the floor and reaches for the handle of the shower door.

  I can’t move. My brain feels dazed, my body wooden and slow. I’m afraid if I do anything at all, she’ll change her mind and run, and I need her so badly that I feel desperate, as if I might beg her to touch me. The mate bond is almost frightening in its intensity, because I can feel the words on the tip of my tongue—me, a commander of warriors, on the verge of begging a woman for release.

  She says nothing, only reaches out, the tips of her fingers trailing down the long, hard ridge of my cock, and I shudder and groan, my head tilting back as my eyes flutter closed. I feel her fingers circle the tip, and then my eyes fly open with surprise as I feel her lips, warm and soft, press against it.

  Krax. I think I hiss it aloud, looking down with shock.

  Rose is on her knees, her hand reaching up to encircle my shaft as her lips part to envelop the first inch of me, and I groan deeply as I feel the wet heat of her mouth, taking me in hesitantly inch by inch. Her eyes are wide and nervous, and I get the impression that she hasn’t done this often. But by all the gods…

  I’ve gone from wanting to come as quickly as possible to wanting to make this last as long as I can manage. It’s been longer than I can remember since a woman has done this to me, but this… this is different. This is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

  This isn’t some portside woman that I’ve paid to suck my cock. It’s Rose. My mate, my Irisa, the woman I’m bound to and fated to love, on her knees in front of me with the desire to please me.

  She slides her lips another inch downward, choking slightly on the width of my shaft. I reach out, gently stroking her hair as I struggle to maintain some control. The urge sweeps over me to grasp her hair, to thrust my cock into her mouth, but I restrain myself. I don’t want to hurt her—I never want to do that—and I want her to enjoy this too.

  And I can see that she is. She slides her mouth off of me momentarily, her tongue swirling around the swollen tip, and then she grasps me, her gaze sliding upward to meet mine wickedly as she runs her tongue over the length of my cock, up the side and down again, tasting me… playing with me.

  “Krax,” I groan again, louder this time. I can feel myself throbbing in her hand, and I can’t bear it anymore. “Please, Rose,” I whisper, my hips arching as I thrust myself into her hand, rubbing against her waiting lips. “Krax, please, make me come.”

  Her eyes light up at that, and she grips me tighter, bringing me to her mouth again as she slides her lips down onto me in earnest this time, moving faster and faster as she
watches me, her gaze fixed on mine.

  She can’t take all of me into her mouth, not yet, but it doesn’t matter. Her hand and mouth move in tandem as she does exactly as I’ve begged, and it’s a matter of seconds before I feel myself swell and harden even more in her mouth, pleasure like I’ve never felt washing over me and turning my knees to water as I come in a blinding wave, spilling between her lips and into her mouth.

  My fierce, beautiful mate holds me there, never stopping for a second.

  Gods, I’ve never seen anything more arousing in my life, I think as I shudder and grip the wall, shocks of pleasure reverberating through my body as she keeps going, her lips fastened around my throbbing cock, her throat working as she swallows.

  I reach down, grasping her arms to lift her up, and I see her lick her lips, her eyes sparkling with pleasure as I press her back against the wall and kiss her hard, tasting myself on her tongue. She gasps into my mouth, her soft body arching against mine.

  Now it’s my turn to sink to my knees, and I hear her squeak with surprise as I hook one of her legs over my shoulder, my hands hard on her hips as I press my mouth between her legs without preamble or pleasantries.

  It doesn’t matter—she’s soaking wet already, slick with arousal, and the thought that being on her knees for me gave her such pleasure sends a fresh shock of lust straight to my groin, making my softening cock throb momentarily.

  She moans, writhing in my grasp when I slide my tongue over her, swirling it around her small, throbbing clit as I let go of her with one hand and slide it up her inner thigh, my fingers teasing her opening as I suck at her clit softly, waiting for her to arch her hips, to thrust them forward with frustration until I give in and slide my fingers inside of her.

  There. There it is.

  She arches into my mouth, squirming with need, and I give her what she wants, sliding two fingers into her so that she gasps aloud, and then moans as I press them against the spot that I know will make her come.

  It doesn’t take long. I know the pattern that she likes, the spots that will draw it out and the ones that will send her over the edge, and I want to see how quickly I can bring her there.

  It’s a matter of moments. Her leg tightens around me, her hand burying itself in my hair. I feel her fingers slide against the side of my horn, and that in and of itself is an intimate touch that sends a shock of desire through me. I think of her grasping them as I bury my face in her, holding on to me as I make her come, and I double my efforts, devouring her.

  She cries out raggedly, her hips thrusting against my face with abandon as she forgets everything except the pleasure overtaking her, and I hold her there, wringing every last bit of it from her body until I feel her slump against the wall. Then I stand slowly, still supporting her as I rise up to my full height and look down at her.

  Her eyes are wide and slightly glassy, and she reaches out to touch my chest, steadying herself.

  “That was…” she whispers. She doesn’t seem capable of finishing the thought at the moment, and I grin at her, pleased.

  “I know what you mean.”

  “Was it good… for you? I mean, I haven’t done that often, I don’t know…”

  I laugh, a deep sound that comes from my chest, throwing my head back momentarily before looking down at her. “Gods, woman, it was incredible. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

  “Really?” She bites her lip, and I reach down, stroking her jaw gently with one finger.

  “Yes, really,” I tell her. “Now come here. Let me clean you up.”

  “Tordax? I’m… I’m sorry I’ve been so withdrawn,” she says softly as I lather up a cloth and begin to run it slowly over her body, enjoying exploring the curves and lines of it. I will never tire of touching my mate. “After we talked that first time… I didn’t know what I wanted. You seemed so upset by it all, and I just didn’t know how to reach out to you. How to talk to you.”

  “And do you know what you want now?” I look down at her, cupping her cheek. “You don’t have to answer. And if it’s still the same, I understand. But I think I have reason to believe perhaps things have changed a little?”

  “I don’t know,” she admits honestly, and I feel my heart sink a little.

  But it’s progress, I remind myself. Days ago it was no, never. It was her shouting that she wanted to go home. Now she’s saying there’s a possibility.

  “Tell me about where you’re from,” she says, sitting down on the small ledge in the shower as I begin to wash my hair. “Tell me about Kalix.”

  I look down at her with surprise. There is almost nothing in the universe I miss more than my home planet, and the fact that she asked me about it, that she wants to know more about me and my people, affects me more deeply than I was prepared for.

  “It’s beautiful,” I murmur, my gaze falling out of focus as I think of my home, the planet I’ve left behind. “There are vast grasslands, and forests, and mountains. The mountains are the most beautiful, far in the distance of the capital city. When it’s warm, there are flowers of more colors and fragrances than you can imagine, and plenty of creatures that roam about outside the city. And the city of Jocia itself… well, it’s hard to describe. You have to see it to understand.”

  “I know you want me to see it,” she says softly. “It sounds lovely.” She hesitates, biting her lip again before blurting her next words out. “Why can’t you take me and the other women home? To… to earth?”

  I sigh. “It’s been many years since we’ve been home to Kalix. This is the first opportunity we’ve had—and I can’t deny it to my men. They’ve been faithfully fighting the Orkun at my side for years now. They need to see their home, to remember what they’re fighting for. They’ve all lost a great deal.”

  “And what about you?” She looks up at me with soft, questioning eyes. “Have you lost anything?”

  I don’t know what it is about Rose that makes me want to tell her things I haven’t spoken of in years, to be vulnerable, to confide in her. It’s the bond, I know that much, but it’s still strange to me. I’ve kept all of this locked away for so long.

  “My parents,” I say finally. “They died in one of the early raids by the Orkun, when I was a teenager. Older, almost an adult, but still young enough to need my parents. I was already enrolled in the training academy by then, but I still saw them. My father… he was very proud of me. I like to think that he still would be.”

  To my surprise, I see tears in Rose’s eyes. She stands up, reaching one hand out to touch my face gently.

  “They both would be,” she murmurs, and I’m startled to feel my own eyes prickle with emotion. Not tears, not quite, but emotion that I haven’t allowed myself to feel in a very long time.

  “Thank you.” My voice is rough, and I wrap my fingers around hers, enveloping her smaller hand in my larger one.

  “My father is dead, too,” she whispers. “He loved me more than anyone ever has. He supported all of my dreams, always encouraged me. When he was gone, I felt lost.”

  I know exactly what she means. “I felt that too, when I lost my father.”

  “So what did you do?” Her eyes search mine, and for the first time, I feel all of the walls come down between us. She’s speaking to me not as an enemy, not as a captor or as someone to fear, but as a friend. As someone she knows.

  Someone she trusts.

  “I found purpose in protecting my people. In doing all that I can to avenge them and keep them safe for as long as possible. I do whatever I can to reach that end, and I hope that it is enough.”

  She regards me for a long moment and then she leans up, kissing me softly. Her lips are sweet and warm, and I slide my arms around her, holding her against me.

  “Here.” When our kiss finally breaks, I turn her in my arms. “Let me wash your hair.”

  She obliges, and the soft, contented noises she makes as my fingers massage her scalp slowly turn into moans. I feel her backside grind against me as she arches her back, and my
cock twitches in response, but I find myself wanting to please her more than I want my own pleasure. I slide my other hand down her waist, over her thigh and between her legs, and when she parts them without any hesitation, I feel a sense of satisfaction.

  She wants me. She came to me tonight of her own accord, and what’s more, she stayed.

  She is growing more comfortable with me.

  And, truth be told, I with her.

  All the things I’ve feared over the past days begin to recede from the forefront of my mind, and I lose myself in the sweet sound of her moans as I hold her against me, my other hand moving to her breast, cupping and toying with her nipple as my fingers slide over her clit, playing her like an instrument.

  She makes the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard, better than any music, and when she arches against me and comes, her hips pressing herself into my hand as I bring her over the edge for the second time in the past hour, a feeling of certainty hits me right in the chest.

  I know that I can never, never let her go.

  19

  Rose

  I lie awake for a long time, staring up at the ceiling.

  After our shower, Tordax and I ate a late meal together in his quarters, and we talked about casual things—nothing like the conversation we shared earlier under the spray of the water.

  I asked him if his people had pets in Kalix, and he told me about birds that can be tamed and a creature that sounds very much like a house cat, and is usually owned only by wealthy families. He told me about his favorite food, a dessert that sounds similar to a souffle, and a sweet and spicy alcoholic drink that they have during the high holidays.

  The more small details he tells me about his planet, the less strange it seems, more like an alternate earth and less like an alien world.

  Exotic but similar, the way he is.

  Now he’s snoring lightly next to me, and all I can do is think about the events of this evening, and what it means.