by S. E. Smith
Her hips jerked when he pulled his fingers out of her. She moaned softly when he turned her and lifted her up against his body. She felt like her body had just been turned into a melted pool of lava.
“Now, I take you,” he whispered.
Tina looked at him in disbelief. “I thought that was what you just did!” She whispered as she wondered if it could get any better than what just happened.
*.*.*
Viper chuckled at Tina’s look of disbelief. No, what he had done was foreplay. He wanted her to enjoy what was about to happen. He wanted her ready for the changes that would occur tonight to her body. For that to happen, he needed her mindless, open to the acceptance of the very essence that made him who he was.
Stepping into the bedroom, he lowered Tina onto the bed. She would not be sleeping alone tonight or any other night if he had his way. Hell, if he had his way, neither one of them would be doing much sleeping tonight.
He slid down her body, pressing hot kisses and playful nips as he went. He paused for several long minutes to tease her nipples into hard, swollen pebbles. They loved the rough texture of his tongue as he wound it around them. He nipped each rosy tip until it stood peaked and ready for his lips.
Tina’s loud cries filled the room and ignited the flames of his desire until he was surprised the room did not catch fire. Only when she was begging for him to ease the growing ache between her legs did he continue his exploration of her body.
He loved the way she opened for him. The soft dark brown curls covering her mound glistened with the moisture of her desire. Sweet cum coated the inside of her legs from her earlier orgasm. He bent down and ran his tongue over the fragrant ambrosia.
Cream, his cat purred.
Yes, cream, he whispered. Eat, my friend. There will be much more before the night is out. Tonight your mate will be born if the Goddess permits.
Viper silently chuckled as his cat went crazy. He buried his nose in her curls and lapped at the slick cream coating her labia. He felt her hips lift up off the bed as another loud cry escaped her and more sweet cream coated his lips.
The feel of his cock rubbing against covers pulled an answering moan from him. He could feel the pre-cum seeping from the tip of his cock. Afraid he would lose all control, he rose up over Tina. Sliding up onto his knees, he gripped her hips and lifted her until his straining cock was aligned with her slick entrance.
“Yesss….,” he cried out as he thrust his hips forward.
The movement drove him deep into Tina’s body. He could feel the slight hook on the end of his cock stretching out and locking him to her. It would contract and expand with his movements, but he would not be able to pull out of Tina until he emptied his seed deep into her womb. A shudder escaped him and his fingers tightened as he began moving frantically. This was just the beginning. He would take her over and over and during the course of the night he would leave his mark on her, several times.
Viper drove deep into Tina. She was cupping her breasts, her fingers wrapped around the taut nipples. He watched with growing passion as she played with them while he stroked her. His eyes shifted downward to where they were connected. A low, rasping snarl escaped him as he watched his cock disappear into her soft heat.
A part of him recognized that this was his mate’s first heat. His cock glistened with their combined juice. He tilted his head back as he felt the familiar tingle at the base of his spine growing. His eyes closed and his mind, he could see them connected. His cock pushing deep into her and his hot seed filling her with his essence.
“Goddess!” He gasped as his eyes flew open and he looked down at Tina in stunned disbelief as he came.
Viper was speechless. He could feel the connection, the threads of his essence, wrapping around Tina’s. He could feel the moment a part of him left his body and entered hers. The muscles and veins in his neck stood out as he clenched his teeth at the feel of being pulled apart, stretched, and reformed into something bigger, better than before. He had found his other half. For the first time in his life, he truly understood what he had been missing.
He blinked back the tears that formed in his eyes as he stared down at Tina. Tonight would change both of their lives forever. He would be stronger and more vulnerable than ever.
Leaning forward, he wound his arms around Tina and released an emotion-filled sigh. He pressed a hot, moist kiss to Tina’s shoulder when she wrapped her arms around his waist. Her legs were locked on his, holding him deep inside her as he continued to pulse.
“This is only the beginning,” he whispered brokenly. “Tonight I have made you mine.”
Chapter 20
Tina shivered. She ached all over. Viper had been gone when she woke in the early afternoon. She knew they were due to leave the Horizon sometime today or tomorrow. They would continue on to Viper’s home planet in his Starship. A part of her was excited to see Riley again, while another part of her was terrified about what the future would hold. They had left so fast, that none of the important things were planned or discussed.
Important things like how they were supposed to make a living so they could take care of their basic needs. Needs like food, shelter, clothing and other such essentials for daily survival. Hell, she didn’t know anything about the world they were going to, except for what Viper and Riley had told her.
Another shiver wracked Tina’s body and she released a small moan. Viper had been like a crazy man last night. Every time she had been about to fall asleep, he had ignited her body into a quivering mass of wanton need again and again.
Sitting up, Tina rubbed at her throbbing temple. She swore he must have given her some kind of alien disease when he bit her. She knew he had on at least three separate occasions during the night.
“Damn it,” she groaned when she discovered her legs could barely support her. “The guy wasn’t kidding when he said that he was going to love every part of me.”
Tina released another groan when the communication panel pinged. Riley’s face flashed on the screen. As much as she would love to ignore her sister, Tina felt if anyone could understand what happened to her last night, it would be Riley.
Pushing off the bed, Tina pulled the covers off with her and wrapped them around her body as she stumbled to the control panel. She slid into the seat and pressed the button on the fourth chime. Tina rested her head on her hand the image of her sister came online.
“Wow!” Riley said, looking at Tina with concerned. “You look like shit. Who did you get into a fight with?”
Tina took one look at her sister and bowed her head so her hair could hide her face. Silent sobs shook her shoulders as her sister’s words switched on the water faucet inside her. She didn’t know what was wrong, she just felt off, strange, like she wasn’t herself any more. It took her a full two minutes to finally get herself under enough control to answer Riley’s rapid questions.
“Tina, sweetheart. Oh, Tina, I fucked up again, didn’t I? I’m so sorry,” Riley murmured softly. “It will be alright. You’ll see. Everything will be alright.”
Tina shook her head. “No… No… it won’t,” she muttered between sobs. “I really screwed up this time. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“What happened?” Riley demanded. “You can tell me, Tina. If I can’t fix it, I’ll see if Vox can. He’s actually pretty good with the off-with-the-head commands.”
A soft giggle escaped Tina when she thought of which head she might like to see chopped off. Her grandmother was right, humor did help solve problems, especially when she pictured a tiny, animated penis running around and Vox chasing it like the Red Queen yelling ‘Off with his head!’.
“Thanks, Riley,” Tina sighed as she brushed her damp cheeks. “I needed that.”
Riley giggled. “I can imagine which head you must feel like chopping,” she snorted. “I felt the same way after my first night with Vox. I thought he was going to kill me. I swear there needs to be a new word for ‘horney’ in the dictionary. It just doesn�
�t do justice for Vox.”
Tina drew in a shaky breath and looked at her sister. “Did you… Did you feel weird after it? I mean, like you weren’t you anymore?” She asked. “I feel like there’s something inside me.”
“Was it Viper?” Riley asked in a quiet, serious tone. “Did he bite you?”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Yes, and bite is an understatement. I’ve got chew marks all over me,” she retorted dryly. “I think he thought I was a new chew toy.”
Riley stared at Tina for several long seconds. Tina could see the doubt, worry, and something else in her sister’s eyes. Impatient to know what Riley was trying to hide, she finally snapped at her.
“You were never good at hiding secrets,” Tina bit out. “What are you trying to hide? Did he give me some alien STD?”
*.*.*
Tina scratched absently at her arm. There were some things that people shouldn’t know about. Things like turning into a hideous creature without your permission. She had been stunned when Riley finally explained what was happening to her.
“It’s kind of weird at first, but you get used to it,” Riley said with an apologetic smile. “I mean, well, you can run and jump faster and I’ve learned to shift just enough so I can do my own nails.”
Tina had excused herself to go throw up when she saw Riley partially shift one arm so she could show off her painted claws. It had taken Tina twenty minutes to regain her strength enough that she could get a shower and get dressed. She didn’t know where Viper was and didn’t care. All she wanted was to find somewhere safe where she could bury her head and die.
She had found that place in her grandmother’s cabin. Tina felt bad for having a meltdown the moment her grandmother opened her door. Forty minutes later, and two glasses of Valdier whiskey, and Tina was curled up in Pearl’s bed with a nice buzz and an empty heart.
“He should have told me,” she whispered as another tear escaped. “He should have asked me if I wanted to turn into a Werecat. I own a chicken. Do I look like cat material?”
Pearl had quietly excused herself with the suggestion that Tina get some sleep. She wasn’t sure she would be able to sleep, but she was going to try. Maybe then, she could wake up and pretend this was all just a bad dream.
“How am I going to take care of Ruby if I want to eat her?” Tina thought, pulling the pillow into her arms and yawning. “Think beef.”
*.*.*
Viper ran his hands through his hair and turned in a circle. He had been doing a walk around of his Starship in preparation for their departure. He was excited to get Tina down to the planet. Vox had planned the wedding for shortly after they arrived.
Viper’s plans were to attend the wedding, then whisk Tina away to his home in the forest. There he would coax her cat to the surface. A shiver of need coursed through him at the thought of having Tina in the vision he had glimpsed. Her dark brown coat glistening in the sun and shadows as they ran through the forest. He could even picture where his cat would claim his mate. There was a waterfall deep in the forest. Huge old growth trees rose up to conceal it. He would take her in the small grassy area along its bank.
All of those visions came crashing down around him when he received a call from Vox while he was checking the star charts. He had answered it, hoping it would be Vox telling him that they had gone ahead with the wedding and to just drop Pearl off on his way to his forest home. Instead, it was Vox chewing his ass out for upsetting his mate.
“She is with cub!” Vox growled in anger. “You have her upset. Riley is not easy to deal with when she isn’t upset. She is impossible when she is.”
“I heard that, you big oaf,” Riley hollered from the other room. “You gifted me with the power of incredible hearing, remember? It happened when you changed me without my knowledge or permission, just like your mangy brother has done to my sister.”
The dread that had been building inside Viper, turned to a heavy stone weight as it settled in his stomach. It was difficult enough to deal with the idea of the transformation the first time a Sarafin changes, he couldn’t imagine what Tina must be feeling. This would be beyond strange to a human.
“She knows…,” Viper whispered.
Vox looked at Viper with a combination of anger, sympathy, and regret. “Yes, Riley wished to talk to Tina. She felt our son kicking and wanted to share it with her sister. Tina was very upset and shared what happened with Riley. If it helps, Riley was not pleased at first either, but she has come to accept it,” Vox murmured in a low voice.
“Only because I look good in my tiger’s coat,” Riley commented, coming up behind Vox and pressing a hot kiss to his neck. “She is more sensitive about things like this,” she added, looking at Viper. She playfully nipped Vox on the shoulder when he snorted. “She is, but she has a good heart. She just doesn’t like surprises.”
“I must go to her,” Viper muttered. “We will be home by tomorrow afternoon.”
Viper turned off the communicator and shut down all power systems. Once he knew the Starship was secured, he strode down the back platform that was already opened for the technicians stocking it. He was half way across the landing bay when the hair on the back of his neck stood up in warning. He was turning when he heard a familiar voice shout his name.
The dread he felt earlier was nothing compared to what he was feeling now. He watched warily as Pearl St. Claire walked with long, confident strides toward him. The woman really was magnificent even if she was close to six decades old. Her white hair was spiked on the top and she wore a set of dragon-shaped earrings. She must have been sweet-talking one of the Valdier symbiots, probably Tandor’s, into creating her some jewelry. Her body was clad in the black leather of a Valdier Warrior. The woman was moving up in the world. What concerned him the most was the shotgun she used back on Earth was clutched in the palm of her left hand.
“Viper! I warned you,” Pearl shouted. “I warned you what would happen if you hurt Tina. It’s time to meet your maker, you sorry-ass-son-of-a-bitch. I really don’t give a damn who it is.”
Viper had stopped when he saw Pearl, but now his feet were moving backwards. He turned and started running, he was almost through the side entrance when he heard the familiar roar of the shotgun and the painful sting of the rock salt cutting through the leather of his uniform. Goddess, he hated that woman sometimes. He winced when the second round caught him across his thighs. He hated even more Pearl’s expertise with the damn weapon she loved to carry.
Chapter 21
Viper eased his favorite Starship down onto the platform. He quickly closed everything down and secured it. Since he was traveling alone, he could move faster. Unfortunately, he had to wait for clearance before he could open the platform door of his ship.
He swore when he saw the other ship was already preparing to lift off. The damn tower had delayed him so that Pearl and Tina could arrive and disembark before he even set down. It had been two days since he had seen Tina. Even Creon had apologetically detained him so that the transport Vox had sent could pick up the two women and depart before he could prevent it.
*.*.*
“I apologize, Viper, but Vox is the ruler,” Creon said with a sympathetic grin.
“Not to mention one of your best friends,” Viper had snapped when he realized that the men had ganged up on him. “She is my mate. You have no right to interfere.”
“She asked for assistance,” Creon retorted. “I had no way of denying her.”
Viper had turned away in anger. He would see Tina at the wedding. If she wouldn’t listen, he would kidnap her and love her so thoroughly, she wouldn’t be able to deny him.
Mate, need mate, hurting, mate hurting, his cat hissed pacing back and forth in agitation. Mate hurting.
I know our mate is hurting, Viper snapped. Do you think I can’t feel her pain?
“Besides, I didn’t want to have to mop your blood up off the ship again,” Creon added with a raised eyebrow. “It makes me appreciate just getting my ass kicked by Ca
rmen, instead of shot.”
Viper shook his head at Creon. “How would you feel if Carmen were ripped away from you?” He asked in a husky voice.
The laughter in Creon’s eyes faded until it was replaced with concern and a haunting that told Viper that the Valdier Prince understood what he was saying. Without their mates, their existence was pure torture.
“Take this,” Carmen said, stepping up to where he and Creon were standing. She waited until Viper took the white cloth out of her hand before she stepped back and wrapped her arm around Creon’s waist. “We both understand what it feels like, Viper,” she added. “So does Tina. This is a very strange world for us. Just be patient, we are fast learners.”
Viper stared down at the white cloth for several long seconds before he nodded. Looking up at Carmen, he realized that he should have shown her the respect she deserved when he first met her. Beneath the delicate beauty beat the heart of a warrior.
Stepping forward, he held out his hand to her. She started in surprise when he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it before bowing and releasing it to step back. He nodded to Creon.
“I apologize for my behavior when we first met, Lady Carmen,” Viper said in a quiet voice. “It was an insult to you and unfitting for a Prince.”
Carmen gave him a bemused smile and shook her head. “Everyone makes mistakes, Viper, you just have to be strong enough to learn from them and move on,” she replied with a grin.
“Pearl’s Rule Number Eight,” Viper murmured with a bow of his head. “It is amazing how smart she is beneath her tough exterior.”
*.*.*
Now, he worked his way through the palace to the room that had been set up for the wedding. He paused at the entrance. He didn’t notice any of the beautiful decorations. His eyes were focused on the curvy brunette partially hidden by his younger brothers and Pearl.