Yet here was Surnen, fucking ruining everything.
I’d had no idea he would do this. By the gods, she seemed to gasp for breath. His silver hand and wrist were attached to his forearm by twisted silver streaks that ran from his wrist to just below the elbow. He had similar silver streaks running from hips to knees on both legs and also from the backs of his knees to his heels. His face appeared unaffected but for the slight glint of silver in the very backs of his eyes. On Prillon Prime—or Battleship Lorvan, where I had been born, had grown into a warrior and spent several years serving the Coalition Fleet—the hand alone would be enough to frighten a gentle female. But to stand here, streaked in silver? Naked?
I knew transported brides arrived without covering, but I’d assumed it was more because of transport than anything else. Earth was a long fucking way. Although I’d transported hundreds of times, and not once had I lost my clothing or weapons in transit. Perhaps it was specifically a bride protocol? I had no idea, but the glimpses I’d seen of Mikki’s petite, naked figure had made my cock instantly hard. The only thing that could dampen my arousal was seeing Surnen bare-assed.
“What are you doing?” I asked him.
His eyes remained on Mikki. “Following Prillon protocol and custom.”
“That requires you to prance naked in the transport room?” I could see the young Everian transport tech standing at the control station, looking anywhere but at Surnen. Surnen didn’t blink, didn’t even blush at the idea of being bare. Or showing our female his contaminated flesh.
“I do not prance. My mate shall know what I am. I will not hide.”
I shook my head. “Nothing’s hidden. In fact, your cock’s aiming right at her.” Why I felt the need to prod Surnen when I had already accomplished my goal of getting him out of his medical lab, I couldn’t say. But seeing him this way, out of sorts, unstable, awake made me want to push a little further. He’d been behaving like a half-dead corpse for far too long. Years.
This custom he was following was awkward and strange, of course, but had to admit, he’d heard he had a mate and responded. He was presenting himself to her in the only way he knew how. In the most reverent of ways. Odd but reverent. He was trying to do this right, no matter how wrong it seemed. This gave me hope that maybe he wasn’t as dead inside as I’d begun to suspect.
“I am not ashamed to be attracted to my mate. I am honored by the way she arouses me. You please me, mate,” he said, his tone a touch softer, just for her, ensuring she didn’t doubt his cock stand. “Trax, put your collar away before I kill you. It is my collar she shall wear. You, as well.”
I moved from behind Mikki to stand perpendicular to both of them, my collar dangling from my hand at my side. I wanted to see Mikki’s face, but I didn’t want to turn my back on Surnen. “It’s about time you got your head out of your ass,” I murmured.
He ignored me, his gaze locked on our female as he spoke. “I shall allow the blanket, for there is a chill in the room, but from now on you shall cover your body in gray and only gray, mate.”
Our female’s mouth dropped open with an adorable oval shape. As I was not yet familiar with her reactions, I chose to focus on Surnen.
My friend might behave like he had a Viken walking stick up his ass most of the time, but he was not denying his mate. He wanted her. The way his cock dripped pre-cum like a leaky shower tube was plenty of indication. A little prodding, not just from me threatening to make her mine but from the governor over the comm as well—even with a little lying to make him hustle—had him moving now.
He was here. She was his. Ours. I just had to get him to put his clothes back on before she ran, screaming, back to Earth—or to a Prillon mating pair that wasn’t… damaged. I wanted to fuck her just as much as he appeared to want to, but it wasn’t happening in the transport room with the tech as witness. I didn’t think there was a Prillon custom for that, thank the gods.
He didn’t spare me a glace, kept his gaze focused squarely on Mikki.
Mikki.
“Trax, you will remove your clothing. Now.”
I arched a brow—because no fucking way—and said nothing as Mikki stuttered.
“That’s… that’s okay.” She held up her hand as if to stop me. “He already said hello. Gave me a fancy greeting and all,” Mikki commented.
“We shall do this properly,” Surnen continued. “Tradition dictates—”
“Tradition doesn’t dictate it happens in a transport room,” I said. Hopefully he was specific enough in his rule following to agree. “We should take this to your quarters.” I cleared my throat. “Our quarters.”
Surnen’s pale brow winged up. “We do not take our female to our private quarters until her medical exam is complete.”
“Medical exam? You want to play doctor?” Mikki grabbed the blanket tighter about her and took a small step back. Perhaps it was all females from Earth who didn’t like that concept.
Surnen glared at her, and I wanted to punch him. “Yes. You will be examined before we touch you. I must ensure you are healthy after transport. It is my duty.”
She shook her head, her dark hair swaying around her shoulders like liquid darkness. I wanted to touch, discover if those black strands were as soft as they looked. Gods, she was beautiful. Perfect.
She shook her head. “Yeah, no. That’s not my kink.”
I tried not to smile, biting my lip to keep from doing so. She might be tiny, but she was like a little ion blast and I had a feeling she was going to blow up Surnen’s rigid routine.
“Kink?” Surnen turned to me, confusion on his face. I lifted my hands helplessly.
“I don’t play doctor and patient to get turned on. Sorry, but no. I hate the doctor’s office.”
“Turned on? Are you currently off?”
Mikki ran her teeth over her upper lip in frustration, and I could not tear my gaze from the sight. “No. I’m not off. I mean, medical stuff is not arousing. I know some people like it, but it’s just not my thing.”
“It is not a sexual encounter, but one meant to confirm you are healthy. We will satisfy you sexually during the exam. Your responsiveness is part of the test.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You mean what by that, exactly? What does satisfying me have to do with it?”
“I will assess all your body’s responses, including your reaction to sexual stimulation, to ensure you will respond properly and do not have any neurological or other medical issues that we may need to correct.”
“And what is considered responding properly?”
“Trax will hold you in place, mate. He may kiss you or stimulate your breasts while I initiate the other examination. I assume you were fitted with the proper body waste regulators before transport. I will confirm the proper placement of the transponders as well as stimulate your clitoris until your body’s autonomic response takes over and creates conditions for a proper sexual release.”
I wanted to smack Surnen in the back of the head, throw Mikki over my shoulder and take her to bed before the good doctor scared the hell out of her. What the fuck was he playing at? I expected Mikki to shrink into herself, to be intimidated by Surnen’s aggressive attitude. Instead she straightened her shoulders, narrowed her gaze and leaned toward him.
“Let me get this straight. You want to hook me up to some alien medical gadgets to find out if I can have an orgasm?”
“That is an oversimplified explanation, but yes.”
“Don’t waste your time, Doc. I can. I really, really can.” She looked him over, her gaze moving slowly, and I suddenly wished I were naked as well. “Maybe not with you, but I absolutely have no problems in the orgasm department. I don’t need to go to medical to know that.”
Surnen’s eyes bulged at her calm assurance. She was nothing like Prillon females. Nothing at all.
“The orgasm should please you,” he replied. “You will be rewarded for being—”
Our little fireball interrupted the almighty doctor. “For being a good gi
rl? Again, no. And gray isn’t really my color. I’m more of a reds and yellows kind of girl. A bit of blue, ocean colors. Sand. Gray, not so much. If you really want me to wear gray every day for the rest of my life, I think I need to trade you in for a new Prillon mate right now.”
Surnen’s mouth fell open as if he were momentarily stunned. “You will not wear my colors?”
“Not if gray is the only option, no.”
“And you will not submit to a standard physical examination?”
“I won’t submit, period.”
I did my best to hide my smile at the dumbfounded look on Surnen’s face. His gaze moved to mine, and he wasted no time in chastising me. “You find our mate’s defiance humorous?”
“No. I find you humorous. You, arguing with our mate, naked. It appears not everyone in the universe will bow to your rules and regulations.”
With Surnen grumbling in frustration, I made myself a warm, safe wall at Mikki’s back as he returned his attention to convincing her that he was right.
He was always, always right. Most of the time I didn’t question him. He was brilliant, disciplined and honorable. Three reasons I’d agreed to be his second and chosen him as mine—should I have been lucky enough to be matched first. But this female was more exquisite in her defiance than I could have ever imagined.
“My only intention has been to protect and serve you,” he explained. “The medical exam is to ensure you are healthy. Covering yourself in gray would notify everyone on Prillon Prime that you are a member of my family, under my protection. For doing my duty, you would now refuse me? Refuse our nearly perfect match and request another male as your primary mate?” Surnen’s voice actually shook. I had never seen him so… frantic. Panicked. He hid it well, but I knew this male better than I knew anyone else on The Colony, and I had never seen him this close to losing control. He was stumped.
My gaze whipped to Mikki because I needed to know her answer as well. She had accepted me, but now Surnen truly was her primary male. If she refused him now, I could not make a claim on her, not without dishonoring my friend, and that I would never do. He was an honorable male. He had suffered more than most. I prayed to the gods that Mikki would not deny him. Deny us both.
My breath held as I awaited her answer.
She frowned. “No, you idiot. I just got here, and you’re standing around, your huge cock bobbing in the breeze and telling me I have to submit to a medical exam. Not overly romantic.”
“Prillons do not require romance.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” Her eyes lowered to his cock once more.
“I am aroused by you. I find you lovely and desirable. I am not ashamed of my body’s reaction to your presence.”
“You shouldn’t be ashamed, not with that thing.” She pointed. “But trust me, if you want to get your hands on me, it’s going to be because I’m desired, not diseased. I do not need a stupid medical exam.”
Surnen pursed his lips, studied Mikki for a minute. She didn’t flinch, didn’t even squirm. I was used to his long pauses, his lengthy considerations. But this time the data he processed wasn’t scientific. It was emotional, irrational, female, and her happiness and cooperation were on the line. He would have to learn to take emotions and another person’s needs and desires into account from now on. I was a rule follower. No question. Any warrior had to follow directives, follow procedures. That was how we remained alive. That was the reason we didn’t panic in a battle. Structure and focus were what had kept us all from losing our minds when we’d been held prisoner and tortured by the Hive. I was eager to have a mate who submitted to her warriors, but I wanted her to give herself to us willingly, by choice, because we had earned her trust.
Surnen had to learn that Mikki’s trust, her submission to us would be all the more precious if given rather than forced.
He could not make her trust him, nor could he give her orders. She was not part of the Coalition Fleet. She was not military. She held no rank and no position except as his mate. His lady. And mine. Our female had a mind of her own, as he was quickly learning. A warrior would never dream of forcing a female who was unwilling. It simply was not done. If we could not earn her permission, we did not deserve to touch her. That was simple and true. Surnen knew this truth as well as I, and judging by the confused look on his face, he wasn’t sure what approach to take with a female who was so… different.
“As I said, and you can see, I am well pleased by you. I find you to be beautiful, desirable, perfect. I wish to show you pleasure and earn the right to claim you forever. I will not ask you to give yourself to us here.” Surnen flicked his gaze to mine.
Mikki chewed on her bottom lip, but the look in her eyes was confused. “Look, there was this dream, when I was tested, where they were—” She blushed, the dark rose color starting at the base of her neck and moving upward. I desperately wanted to know what she’d been about to tell us.
Lifting my hand, I placed it on her shoulder so she would feel me. My heat. My protection. My assurance worked, for she took a deep breath and finished her story.
“There was a dream where the woman, the mate, was being claimed by two warriors, and there were a bunch of other warriors standing around the edge of the room chanting or singing or something.”
Surnen nodded and I, too, knew to what she referred. “Ah, yes, the formal claiming. Those warriors were chosen as witness to provide additional protection to his mate. It is an honor to be chosen,” I answered.
“Really?” Mikki looked up at Surnen from under her lashes. “Well, I rejected that dream, and then Warden Bisset had to send me to a second dream, where the woman was alone with her men. No one else was there. That was much better. I just want to let you know that I don’t want that public claiming thing. So I’ll stay, and I’ll give you your thirty days, but no medical exam and no sex with a bunch of chanting peeping Toms standing around. Those are my conditions.”
“You do not wish us to honor you with a formal claiming?” Surnen’s shock was making him look ill, his normally golden hue fading to a pallid gray-green.
“Not if allowing you two to fuck me in front of a bunch of strangers is considered an honor.”
Surnen cleared his throat. “They are not strangers, and they would not be strangers to you. The warriors chosen are close friends, brothers, family or warriors we trust. You would know them well.”
Mikki swayed and tried to take a step back. “Oh, shit. That’s even worse. No. No way. I’m not doing that. Are we clear? Because if that’s not okay with you, I’ll just hit the reset button and forget any of this ever happened. They can get me a new match. And you, too. A woman who will go for that kind of thing.”
Surnen’s silence stretched, but again Mikki didn’t back down or look away. She was fierce, and I was already half in love with her. “Do you always make such demands?” Surnen asked.
“Yes, pretty much.” She tilted her head and smiled at him, really smiled, for the first time since her arrival. I witnessed Surnen’s reaction and knew this female would be going nowhere. If anything, he wanted her more than he had a few moments ago, as did I. She was passionate, fearless and unafraid to speak of her desires. She would be pure fire in bed, and I could not wait to be burned.
To tame her.
To make her scream our names and beg for more.
I wanted all that fire given to me, surrendered. I wanted her to submit to us willingly, gift us with the passionate spirit we had only glimpsed so far.
“At this moment I wish to share your pleasure with none but Trax, and only in the privacy of our personal quarters,” Surnen replied.
Her smile thinned, became wary. “Okay. So no medical exam?”
“I will accept that a medical examination would make you uncomfortable at this time.”
“Great. We agree. So now what?”
“Now we will learn what pleases you and brings you pleasure.”
She looked at him wide-eyed. “You mean you want to have sex with me righ
t now?”
“Yes.” Surnen nodded. “I wish to touch you and give you my seed.”
She laughed at that, throaty and deep. “Wow, and I thought I had no filter.”
I wasn’t being left out of this. “I will show you how much you please me, mate, if that is your desire.” It wasn’t romance, but I gave her a choice.
She looked between us. “Well, no baby making. Not yet. I told the warden I wasn’t ready for that, and she took care of it. But I didn’t come all this way for the food. I had one hell of a testing dream, and it made me eager for two cocks. You might as well put those things to good use,” Mikki said, pointing at Surnen’s cock, then toward mine, which was pressed against my uniform pants. “Yours, too.”
She walked toward the exit, clearly done with the conversation. Her head was held high, the blanket tight about her. She had no idea where she was going, but it was clear we would be following this female everywhere and anywhere she wished to go.
5
Mikki
* * *
Oh, good God, teasing that Neanderthal was way too much fun.
At first I hadn’t understood the complexities of what Trax was doing with Surnen. The doctor seemed to be a hard-ass—in more ways than one—and needed to be nudged out of what appeared to be a strict routine. My presence must have messed with that, and the guy wasn’t sure what to do with himself. Trax had prodded him into action, threatening to claim me as his own.
Yeah, right. Surnen had zero intentions of handing me over to Trax or anyone. I smiled inwardly because while he seemed a tough nut to crack, goading and teasing did the job. Trax hadn’t been mean about it. Subtle psychology at work. I was impressed. Hearing Trax’s whispered words about taunting the beast and enjoying his fury was quiet reassurance that made my pussy clench and my knees weak. Who knew I was such a sucker for a bossy, uptight, ramrod stiff, formal, naked—gloriously, hotly, yum-yum naked—alien?
Her Cyborg Warriors Page 5