by Presley Hall
Our circumstances have given me a chance to get to know who he is, to really know him, and no matter how hard I try to tell myself that it’s not true, I know I’m starting to develop feelings for him. Feelings of friendship for sure—but more than that too. Every time I think about him leaving when we get back to Kalix, going back to his normal life and sending me off to my new one, my heart sinks like a stone in my chest.
I feel genuinely sad, almost heartbroken, as if I’ve lost something.
But that makes no sense. Zhori has never really been mine. We’re just pretending.
I’m so lost in thought that Zhori gets the upper hand on me easily as we go through the motions of another move he’s teaching me. He grabs both of my wrists before I can react, pinning them behind my back and crushing me up against him, his other arm locked tightly around my shoulders.
“You weren’t paying attention,” he says gruffly. “You’d have a hard time getting out of this one, if it were anyone but me.”
I look up at him, breathing hard. I know I’m supposed to try to get away—that’s the whole point of this exercise—but in this moment, I don’t want to.
He breathes in slowly, his chest rising and falling against my breasts. His eyes flick down to my lips, and I can see him struggling with himself momentarily, his hand tightening around my wrists as he takes another deep, shaky breath.
Then he swallows hard and releases my wrists as he steps back, the moment falling away as he breaks eye contact with me.
“We should leave soon,” he says, glancing out the window to where the sun is low in the dull, gray sky. “We’ll eat, then bundle up and head out.”
I clear my throat, trying to ignore the tension churning between us.
“All right,” I say, keeping my voice casual to hide my tumultuous emotions as best I can. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”
But as he turns away, walking into the bathroom, I can’t help but let out a frustrated sigh.
Maybe it’s for the best that we won’t see each other much once we’re back on Kalix. Because this is driving me mad.
19
Zhori
As we leave the inn, I keep Brooke behind me until I’ve thoroughly looked up and down the streets to make sure no one is watching or following us.
We’re bundled up in bulky clothes, hiding our defining features as much as possible, but I know that won’t keep us safe indefinitely.
We’ve got to get out of here soon, I think as we head down the cold, sparsely populated streets, my heart hammering in my chest. I don’t want to fail Brooke. I can’t. And our options are dwindling fast.
The plan is to question people as we go, asking around about this Vortax person as inconspicuously as possible.
The first few aliens that I ask don’t know anything about him or won’t say, and as an hour passes and part of another, I start to feel less and less hopeful that this plan is going to work. But finally, I ask a shopkeeper in the marketplace packing up his stall, and he considers for a moment before nodding.
“I’ve heard of him,” he says, scratching the back of his head. “He doesn’t go to the saloons much, if you’ve been looking for him there. But he likes his dice and his women. He goes to find the women after the dice, once he’s got his winnings for the night.” He chuckles. “So if you hurry, you’ll likely find him there. Look for Sa’ari’s place, on the far side of town. Rough company there, so be cautious. Especially with a female.”
He nods at Brooke, and I wince. I don’t want to put her in any more danger. But I also want to keep her nearby so that I can protect her. It’s a constant tightrope that I’m tired of walking—I can’t wait to have her safely away from this place.
The shopkeeper gives me a quick description of Vortax’s appearance, which I commit to memory.
“Thank you,” I tell him, giving him a token for his help.
He nods in appreciation, and Brooke and I hurry down the street, heads bent against the biting wind as we make our way in the direction he indicated.
My guess is that Vortax doesn’t frequent the saloon we visited before specifically because of his rivalry with Gir. From the way Gir spoke about it, it seems that their animosity has been brewing for a while. I have no idea what kind of man Vortax is, but my hope is that if he and Gir don’t get along, he’s a more decent sort.
We find Vortax exactly where the shopkeeper said he would be, in Sa’ari’s place. It’s a rundown building that seems to serve as a gambling den—and quite possibly a brothel as well, based on the number of beautiful alien females in very little clothing wandering around serving drinks and flirting with the ones who seem to be winning.
I spy Vortax immediately. He fits the description the shopkeeper gave me almost exactly.
He’s as tall as I am, but wiry instead of muscular, with skin that’s a purplish black color and deep black hair pulled back into a ponytail. His features are sharp and angular, and he has seven fingers on each hand, with pointed nails that have been painted gold. A feathered earring hangs from one ear, and his lips are a vibrant purple shade.
Four of the alien females are crowded around him, leaning down and cooing into his ear, encouraging him as he plays a game with several eight-sided dice.
Brooke shivers slightly. I pull her close to me, wanting to avoid anyone getting the wrong idea—especially Vortax. After what happened with Gir, I’m even more determined not to let a single alien in this establishment look at her the wrong way.
The game ends with Vortax the winner. Deep groans and muttered complaints rise up from everyone else at the table, and I tense as the game breaks up, wary in case there’s a fight. I know how these games of chance can go. I’ve been at the table for more than one of them.
But this one seems to be a civilized game, and after a few moments, all the gamblers except Vortax have left the table, off to find a drink or some pleasant company to ease the sting of their loss.
Vortax pulls one of the female aliens into his lap, although he’s considerably less forceful about it than Gir was. And this one looks thrilled to be there as he gathers up his winnings.
“Vortax?” I approach him cautiously, keeping Brooke very close to me. I want it to be obvious that she is my “mate,” and I keep my arm around her waist, even going so far as to let my fingers rest on her ribs, just below her breast. Vortax doesn’t seem as disgusting or crude as Gir, but still I want it to be clear that there will be consequences if he looks at or speaks to Brooke in the way that Gir did.
But also keep your temper, I remind myself. You don’t have many more ways to get off this planet alive.
Vortax looks up at us warily, his hand sliding idly up and down the alien female’s inner thigh. She coos happily, bending to kiss his neck as he raises an eyebrow.
“Yes?” he says, palming the leather pouch containing his winnings with his free hand. “As you can see, I’m a bit busy. So it’ll have to be good for me to interrupt this delightful attention.”
“I’d like to speak with you.” I meet his gaze, keeping my tone even. “It’s business, and business that will pay well. I’m sure she’ll be willing to wait a few extra minutes for someone as interesting as you.”
“It’s my winnings she’s interested in,” Vortax says dryly, and the female doesn’t argue that. She slips her hand between Vortax’s legs. He’s wearing black leather pants that match the vest that covers his otherwise bare chest, and it’s obvious that he’s enjoying the attention.
Brooke leans closer to me, and I tighten my grip on her waist. So far, he hasn’t so much as looked at her—I have a feeling the alien with her hand on his cock is more his type—but I’m ready to fend him off if he does.
I can feel the same possessiveness surging inside me that I did when we were speaking with Gir, even before he disrespected Brooke, and it concerns me. It’s a feeling too powerful for just duty, and I know I need to leash it before it grows out of control.
Brooke isn’t mine, and I have no right to he
r outside of my promise to keep her safe. But every time I remind myself of that, it feels like a knife in my gut.
“Well, I can fatten those winnings,” I tell the alien sitting before us bluntly. “If you’re willing to hear me out.”
He lets out a long-suffering sigh. “All right. Give me a minute, will you, sweet one?”
He gives the woman a little nudge, and she slides off his lap with a pout. Vortax stands up from the table, blatantly adjusting himself so that the alien woman can see what she’s done to him, and grins at her before gesturing to an unoccupied corner of the room.
“Step into my office.”
We’ll be able to speak more openly in the shadowy corner without risk of being overheard, so I nod, and Brooke and I follow him over.
“We need a ride off Nierra,” I say plainly, my voice quiet. “I can pay you well. We need to go to Kalix—I can give you a portion of it now, and much more once we arrive safely at our destination. You’ll be paid well for your service, and you will not be cheated.”
Vortax considers this, glancing between me and Brooke.
“You know,” he says casually. “I heard about a couple of aliens wandering around Nierra, bartering for a ride off this frigid dump. I heard they went to Gir, and he insulted the female. Heard he got his face rearranged for it.”
Brooke tenses slightly, but she does her best to hide her reaction. I keep my face impassive as I shrug.
“I hadn’t heard that,” I say evenly, and Vortax laughs, shaking his head.
“I’m not stupid,” he tells me with a snort. “I can put the pieces together easily enough to know it was you. But I’m not going to turn you down for that. Far from it, really. If anything, it makes me more inclined to help you.”
Relief floods me. This was the outcome I was hoping for—that Vortax’s dislike of Gir would make him more inclined to help us. Perhaps we’ve come into some luck at last.
“So you’re willing to give us a ride?”
“You did me a favor, you know,” Vortax says conversationally. “Gir’s been an enemy and an annoyance for a long time now. And he’s been scooping up a lot of the profits to be had on this clag of a planet. The injuries you gave him ought to take him out of smuggling for a few weeks—maybe even make him reconsider his life choices. At any rate, I’ll be able to make some real profits while he’s out of the game. So yes, I’ll help you.”
Brooke makes a soft noise in her throat, and I feel my own heart leap in my chest.
Thank the gods. Finally.
We’re not out of danger yet, but there’s a real reason to hope for what feels like the first time in days.
“I’m set to make a run in four days,” Vortax says as excitement pulses through my veins. “My ship docks on the near side of the bay, not far from the entrance to the city. You can’t miss her. Sleek and black, my pride and joy. I’ll be leaving early, four days from now, so make sure you’re there. I’ll leave you behind if you’re not,” he warns.
He names his price, and it’s high. I’ll have to pay him handsomely once we’re back on Kalix. But it will be worth it. To get Brooke safely out of here, I’d pay him anything.
“We’ll be there,” I promise. I fish the last of my tokens out of my coat pocket and hold them out. “This is what I have left on me. The rest, you’ll have as soon as we land.”
Vortax purses his purple lips, gazing down at the tokens, then shakes his head.
“I’ll take full payment once you’re delivered.” He narrows his eyes. “Don’t go telling anyone I’m doing this. I have a reputation to uphold. But I figure I owe you for getting Gir out of my way. In fact, if you’d killed him, I might have knocked a third of the price off.” He grins, and I furrow my brows, not entirely sure whether or not he’s joking. Better not to find out, I think.
“Thank you,” I say.
He nods. “I’ll see you at the appointed time.” A hungry smile spreads across his face as he glances toward the table. “In the meantime, I’ve got an appointment with a few of the ladies here.”
He strides away from the shadowy corner, and I notice several of the women who’ve been lingering near the table he was playing at earlier perk up.
I can feel Brooke vibrating with elation for the entire walk back to the inn. I’m shaky with it as well, although I do my best to temper my hope. I know all too well that something could still go wrong. But there’s a real chance we might succeed. That we might not die here after all.
The moment we step into the room, Brooke throws her arms around my neck.
“Oh my god, we did it! We found someone to get us out of here!”
She’s bouncing on her toes with excitement, hugging me tightly. I can’t stop myself—I hug her back. Her excitement is infectious, and it mirrors the same feelings rising in me as well.
She pulls back a fraction of an inch, her arms still around my neck, her body brushing up against mine. Our eyes meet, and we both go very still.
“Thank you, Zhori. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come back for me,” she whispers breathlessly, but I hardly hear her.
All I can think about is how beautiful she looks, her hood fallen back and her hair coming loose from its braid, her cheeks flushed with cold and happiness and her lips as rosy as ever, full and perfect and so very close to mine.
There are a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t kiss her… but in this moment, I can’t remember any of them. Before I can stop myself, I cup the back of her head in my hand, fingers threading through her soft hair, and press my lips to hers.
It’s as if every bit of tension that’s been building between us all day as we trained together snaps in a single instant.
Heat flares between us, and she responds immediately, arching against me as our tongues dance. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Lust rages through me like a wildfire, out of control and impossible to contain.
I back her toward the bed, shedding my coat before pushing hers off her shoulders. I fumble with her sweater as I kiss her, unwilling to let my lips part from hers for a second even though I desperately want her naked.
When I finally manage to strip it off, I toss it to the floor. She fumbles with the button of her heavy trousers before shoving them down and kicking them off, leaving her in nothing but the small scrap of fabric that covers her entrance. And then that last bit of clothing disappears too, sliding down her legs to lie forgotten on the floor. I kiss her again, hard and hot and urgent, my hand coming up to cup the full curve of her breast as my thumb slides over her nipple.
Just this once, I think feverishly. We’ll get back on Kalix soon, and this fantasy will be over then. But I want her, and she wants me. And gods help me, I can’t resist any longer.
A part of me knows I’m fooling myself. A desire as strong as what I’m feeling right now can’t be slaked by one night. I’ll want more—I know I’ll want more.
Her hand slides over my hip as my loincloth falls to the floor, reaching for the rigid length of my cock. I suck in a breath when she wraps her fingers around me, growling against her lips. I can’t think of anything except for how beautiful she is, how sweet she tastes, how much I need her.
I pick her up, hands clasped around her narrow waist, and lift her onto the bed, following her onto it with my body stretched over hers. She gasps as I kiss her again, my cock sliding between her legs, the tip of it brushing against her heated, drenched flesh.
Our lips collide again and again, my tongue delving into her mouth as I grind my hips against hers, nearly mad with desire. Breaking our kiss, I trail my lips down to her throat, relishing her sweet moans. She yelps softly when I lick the lobe of her ear, and I make a note of the shuddering breath she takes when I suck it gently into my mouth, nipping at the soft flesh as she whimpers and writhes beneath me.
“Zhori, please,” she whispers. “Fuck, I need you. I’ve wanted you for so long…”
If we’re going to do this, we only have a few nights on Nierra.
I want to remember them forever, long after we’re back on Kalix and I can’t pretend that Brooke is mine anymore.
She squirms beneath me as I drag my tongue down her throat, breathing her in, biting gently at her collarbone as I move down to her breasts. Her back arches when I cup them in my hands, laving my tongue over first one nipple and then the other, sucking and biting at them as she cries out.
“You’re beautiful,” I whisper hoarsely. “Krax, you’re the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen.”
I drag my tongue over her nipple again, loving the way she writhes as I do. I want to taste her, want to lap up the addictive wetness of her arousal—but I need to be inside her. My cock is almost painfully hard, my heart crashing against my ribs as desire builds inside me.
Her legs open wider as I settle between her thighs, and when my cock slides through her folds, we both shudder. I brace my hands on either side of her head, looking down at her as I notch my cock at her entrance.
And then something hits me in the chest.
I freeze in place, my gaze locked on hers. A deep, pure knowledge pulses through me like a second heartbeat, clicking into place with a certainty that nearly overwhelms me.
Oh gods. How could I have missed it?
The past few days flash through my mind in a blinding rush. The endless nights where I held her in my arms, my body aching for hers. The anguished fury that rose up in me every time I thought of her finding a mate on Kalix. My overreaction to anyone so much as looking at her or speaking to her out of turn. The possessiveness and need and endless desire that I’ve been fighting nearly since the moment I met her.
I didn’t understand what it was.
I’ve never felt anything like it before because I’ve never found this before.
The realization hits me hard, knocking the breath from me as five simple words echo through my head.