by S. E. Smith
She didn’t know what happened during the poker game between Adalard and Campeau except that Adalard had won. Bear had been strangely silent since that night. Adalard had disappeared three days ago, and she hadn’t seen him since. She wiped another tear away before pushing open the door to her apartment.
A pair of strong arms circled her waist, lifting her up off the ground, and she gasped when a pair of warm lips caressed her neck. She laid her hands over Adalard’s and laughed at his playful affection. Tilting her head back against his shoulder, she smiled at him.
“I thought you left,” she confessed.
He lowered her to her feet and turned her in his arms so that she faced him. She held onto his forearms when he bent his head and kissed her. Several breathless minutes later, she clung to him to keep from melting into a puddle on the floor.
“I think you missed me,” she teased.
“Very much,” he acknowledged with a crooked smile.
She shivered when a draft of cold air blew in from the open door. He reached behind him and closed it. Clearing her throat, she removed her coat and hung it by the door before she turned and walked into the living room.
“Where have you been the last three days?” she asked.
“Ha’ven and Emma have returned. I had to return to my ship,” he explained, following her.
“I guess this means you’ll be leaving soon,” she replied.
“Yes.”
Adalard’s simple response was like a hot poker through her heart. She kept her back to him and held her hands out toward the hot air blowing from the pellet stove. The brief feeling of joy she experienced was quickly replaced with a sharp, aching pain in her chest again. This time the ache was far worse than it had been minutes before when she was talking with Annalisa.
She’d known this time was coming, but it still felt like it had happened too soon. She closed her eyes when he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his body.
Why do bad things always seem to come in series? she silently wondered.
“Wh-when will you be leaving?” she asked in a voice husky with emotion.
“Tonight. It is imperative that we return as soon as possible,” he explained.
“Tonight!” she breathed out in a shocked whisper.
“Samara—” He paused and gently cupped her face between his palms.
She looked up at him. Her harsh denial froze on the tip of her tongue as she gazed into his violet eyes. He looked down at her, his softly glowing eyes filled with warmth—and love.
“Samara, I want you to come with me to my world.”
She started to shake her head before she stopped. What did she have left here? There was no telling what would happen to her brothers. The only one who might still have anything to do with her was Wilson, and she had no idea where he was. News of what the rest of them had done would already be all over town—the last shred of any honor in her family name destroyed by her brothers’ actions. The only one who meant anything to her was Adalard, but—
“What happens if things don’t work out between us? What if something were to happen to you? How would I survive in an alien world?” she asked, trying to voice all of the reasons she shouldn’t go.
He pulled her closer and kissed her hard. She immediately responded. She groaned as their tongues tangled. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.
“You tie me up in knots. I’ve never understood what it would mean to feel something like this. Our bond is not something that will fade. I need you, Samara. You bring harmony to my energy—a balance—that only a true mate can bring. Look at it. Look at us,” he commanded in a rough voice filled with need.
He held his hand up, palm out to her. She lifted her hand and placed it against his. Her smaller hand looked dainty and pale against his darker skin. Swirling colors of vivid reds, blues, and violets mixed with a sparkling white that danced through the mixture.
“You are the white energy. Your energy is the purest I’ve ever seen,” he said.
A surprised laugh slipped from her. “Pure… me? I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone say that about me before,” she confided.
“I want you to come with me, Samara. I… my feelings for you will not change. You will be loved and protected by my family. You also won’t be alone. Emma will be there. If you ever wish to visit here, I will bring you back. I need you. My people need you,” he quietly said.
“Your people—the thing on your ship,” she replied.
He nodded. “Yes. Whoever created that has the power to do great harm to my people. With your help, we may find a way to protect ourselves.”
Her heart thumped heavily in her chest. She pulled away from him and walked over to the window. Below her, she could see her dad’s old truck that she had restored and Mason and Ann Marie’s house. She pressed her hand over her heart.
“I’ve never been anywhere really except for a trip to Seattle in high school. You’re asking me to-to—” She couldn’t continue.
He walked up behind her, stopping before he touched her, but she could feel the heat from his body. The colors that always surrounded him washed over her and she breathed in.
She parted her lips at the intimate sensation of his mental caress. As she closed her eyes and embraced the sensation, she was unaware that she was sending her own energy out to surround him. She arched her back as the force of their combined energy surged through her. Behind her, she heard Adalard take a deep breath.
“Yes, I’ll go. I’ll need to tell Mason,” she murmured, opening her eyes and staring out the window again with a sense of renewed determination. She turned around and looked at him with a shaky smile. “I’ll go,” she beamed with a laugh.
He swept her against him and captured her lips in a passionate kiss that seared a path straight to her heart. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with the same passion. They both moaned when he scooped her up in his arms. She pulled away and gazed up at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I could get very used to this,” she teased.
“I wanted to do this the first day I met you,” he confessed.
She laughed. “That would have definitely gotten you shot,” she giggled.
“It would have been worth it,” he admitted.
Her throat tightened at the emotion in his eyes. “I love you,” she said, caressing the scar on his cheek.
Samara’s quietly spoken words washed through him, and he tightened his hold on her as he walked down the hall to her bedroom. His return to the ship would have to wait for a little longer. He wanted to embrace the last few hours that they would have alone. He knew once he returned to his warship, his duties would take away a lot of the time he would rather spend with Samara.
By the time he made it to her bedroom, he was on fire. She was nipping at his earlobe and pressing hot kisses anywhere she could reach. When he laid her on the bed, she dragged him down on top of her and captured his lips. A groan slipped from him and with a thought, he envisioned them both naked.
She pulled back in surprise when she felt the cool air against her naked skin and stared up at him. He gave her a crooked, devilish grin. She giggled, tangled her hands in his hair, and kissed him again.
He responded, opening his mouth and tangling his tongue with hers. She wrapped one leg around his thigh and applied pressure to his shoulder. He realized she wanted him to roll over so that she was on top. He did, without breaking their kiss.
I’ve always wanted to do this, she silently confessed.
Do wha-at… ah…
His breath huffed out when she wrapped her hand around his full cock and rose up on her knees. He kept his eyes locked on her face as she rubbed the tip against her soft mound, then slowly impaled herself on his throbbing shaft.
Oh yesssss….
“Goddess, Samara, you are beautiful!” he murmured as he captured her breasts in the palms of his hands.
She rose up, sliding along his cock before pressing down until he was buri
ed so deep he felt the tip of his cock brushing her womb. Her eyes were closed, her pink lips slightly parted, and she had a dreamy expression on her face as she rode him.
He uttered a hoarse inaudible curse when she found his nipples and pinched them. Pressing his feet into the bed, he rocked his hips in motion with hers. A sly smile curved his lips when she gasped.
Adalard breathed as he pulled almost out of her. It was pure torture feeling her soft, slick walls stroking the entire length of his cock. Rolling her pebbled nipples between his fingers, he pinched them, applying a tiny spark to give it a little sting. She popped her eyes open, and her channel walls tightened around him.
She splayed her hands across his chest. “Do that again,” she requested.
He pinched her nipples again, sending a little more spark to them. She cried out, her body clenching him again as she moved up and down. She wrapped her hands around his as she began moving more frantically. He continued rolling her nipples and sending the tiny shocks to them.
Her sheath turned to molten liquid, slick with their combined desire, as the friction between their bodies heated from the force of their joining. He gritted his teeth, determined to hold on long enough for her to come. When the tingling spread, he knew he wouldn’t last much longer.
“Now it is my turn,” he grunted.
She opened her mouth to protest when he lifted her off him, but still started to roll so he could be on top. He shook his head. Understanding dawned when he rolled to his knees behind her and held her hips. She bent forward when he entered her swollen folds. His breath hissed out as he watched his cock slide into her.
“Goddess, but you have no idea how sexy this looks,” he muttered.
He pulled out to the tip of his cock and thrust his hips forward, impaling his shaft as deep as he could go. Bending over her, he slid his hand across her stomach to her mound and parted her soft lips. He found the hidden nub and gently stroked it, sending the same tiny sparks to it that he had to her nipples, while rocking his hips.
“Adalard!”
Samara’s hoarse cry filled the room as she wrapped her hands in the bedcovers and pushed back against him. Her body shuddered as she came. He slid his hand back to her hip and increased the pace of his thrusts to match the pulse of her orgasm. Fire spread through every nerve ending in his body before pooling in his cock. A cry tore from his throat as his orgasm erupted from him, washing her womb with his hot seed.
He shivered in extreme pleasure when she squeezed his overly sensitive cock. He drew in shuddering breaths, waiting for the intensity of their joining to fade enough for him to move. Samara moaned, wilting from the aftermath of their lovemaking. He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her to him as they rolled until they were both lying on their sides.
“I never knew what the big hoopla was about sex until now. I could definitely get addicted to this,” she murmured.
He chuckled, kissed her shoulder, and rocked his hips enough to remind her that he was still buried deep inside her.
“I’ll be happy to fill your need anytime you like,” he replied.
She laughed, caught his hand, and pulled it to her breast. “How long before your battery recharges?” she teased.
His cock twitched, swelling again, and he sent a slight charge through his fingertips to her nipple. “What makes you think I ever run down?”
Her gasp turned to a moan. I told you I couldn’t lie to you.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Adalard hugged Samara when she swayed. His curse echoed with the hum of machinery in the transporter room and the cheerful banter of his crew. He had forgotten the disorientation that often happened the first time someone transported.
Samara gripped his arm, breathed deeply, and looked around the room with wide, wary eyes. She pressed against him when one of the transporter room techs walked up to the edge of the platform. He murmured for the man to take Samara’s luggage to his quarters.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were going to return,” Ha’ven drawled.
Adalard grinned. “Samara needed help packing.”
Ha’ven lifted an eyebrow as the tech walked by him carrying a suitcase in each hand. “Yes, I can see how that would take a while,” he dryly remarked.
Adalard ignored his brother and focused on Samara. “Are you feeling alright?” he murmured.
She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay. That was a bit of a head rush,” she shakily responded.
“So, this is the human who has captured you,” Ha’ven murmured.
Irritation flashed through Adalard. Ha’ven was looking Samara up and down like she was a Subervi steak. He flushed when his brother gave him a pointed look, and he remembered his own reaction to Emma the first time he met her.
“Be nice,” he cautioned.
“Since when have I ever been that?” Ha’ven dryly replied.
He frowned and shook his head. “Where’s Emma?”
The humor on Ha’ven’s face disappeared. “She is in our quarters. The death of her mother has been difficult for her.”
“I understand. I was hoping she and Samara could meet,” Adalard said.
Samara squeezed his arm. “It’s okay. I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. If I can be of help, please let me know.”
Ha’ven’s expression softened. “Thank you, Samara. I will let Emma know that you are here,” he said. “After Samara is settled, I would like to meet with you,” he continued.
“Of course,” Adalard replied.
“I will see you in an hour in the Command Room. Samara, it has been a pleasure to meet you,” Ha’ven said, stepping aside so that they could all exit the room.
Adalard guided Samara out of the room and turned to the right. He fought a grin as they navigated the corridors. Between the gawking of his crew members and Samara’s fascination, he was rather enjoying the novelty of the experience. Her sudden inhalation of breath made him look up.
“Who is that?” she whispered with wide eyes.
Adalard scowled. “His name is Crom. He is a Moniker. He has assigned himself as Emma’s personal guard,” he replied.
Crom stopped and stared at Samara with a curious expression. She stared back at the Moniker for a few seconds before she grinned. Adalard gritted his teeth when the Moniker straightened to his full height and rubbed his belly.
“She is off limits, Crom,” he growled.
“I might be able to charm her away from you. I know you don’t have any,” Crom replied.
Samara giggled. “I like him.”
He groaned. “Don’t encourage him. Ha’ven has enough trouble trying to keep from tripping over this walking rug,” he muttered.
Crom grinned. “You and your brother are jealous you don’t look this good. All you have is a lot of hair on your heads,” he retorted.
“Oh, Adalard’s got hair in other places,” Samara remarked without thinking.
“Pshaw! I hope you aren’t impressed by the tiny patches he has on his—” Crom scoffed.
“It’s time to go,” Adalard interjected before Crom could finish his graphic anatomy description.
“Bye, Crom,” Samara said with an amused smile and a wave.
“Another human woman after my heart,” Crom answered as they passed him.
Adalard groaned. “Be careful or we’ll never get rid of him,” he warned.
Samara’s delighted laughter filled the corridor. Crew members paused and smiled before continuing on their way. Adalard wrapped his arm around Samara and hugged her close to his side.
I am going to be fighting off more than Crom if I’m not careful, he mused.
Outer Region of Heron Prime
“Incoming communication DQ187,” the computer announced.
Hamade looked up from the report he was reading and accepted the communication. He pursed his lips in annoyance as he scanned the message. The spy on the Rayon I finally reported in—if the cryptic message could be interpreted as a report.
Experiment failed. Returning.
The message told him nothing about why the experiment had failed or where the two Ha’darra Princes had mysteriously disappeared to. Frustration swelled inside him as he rose from his desk and walked over to the long rectangular viewport that looked out into deep space. The Empress would not be pleased when she discovered that her experiment was a failure.
There is no use sharing the information with her until I know what happened, he thought, justifying the delay.
The chime of the communicator pulled him back from his morbid thoughts. He returned to his desk and scanned the code on the screen, accepting the communication.
“General, I have the cargo you requested,” Lesher announced.
“Excellent. Deliver the cargo as soon as possible,” he replied.
“Yes, sir,” Lesher responded.
Finally! he thought with satisfaction.
The bait had been caught and they would now set the trap. This would be the end of the Ha’darra family after centuries of failure. It was imperative that nothing go wrong now.
“To the future of a new world,” he murmured.
Onboard the Rayon I:
Earth’s orbit
“I’ve been doing some research, and I think I may have found some information that will help with the entity that was placed on your transport, Adalard. I won’t know for certain until you return,” Arrow said.
“Whatever you do, don’t release it,” Ha’ven warned.
Arrow glared at his eldest brother. “I’m not stupid. I take these things much more seriously than either of you. Did you bring Samara?” Arrow asked.
“Yes, but remember what I said—she is not one of your test subjects,” he replied.
Arrow’s face distorted on the vidcom for a second before it cleared. Adalard wasn’t sure if it was caused by a cosmic interference or Arrow didn’t want them to see the obscene gesture that he’d learned from Cara Truman, Trelon Reykill’s mate. The extension of a middle finger had a universally crude meaning on Earth that Arrow had embraced.
“I know she is not a test subject, but I will need to study the entity and her together,” Arrow insisted.