by S. E. Smith
“I knew it!” Manota exclaimed rubbing his fisted right hand in his left. “Why didn’t they say anything?”
Shavic shrugged as he ran his hand across his chest again. “They are happy acting as bodyguards to Walter, Nema and the rest of the crew.”
The Kor d’lurs were known for their keen interest in exploration and research of unknown species and worlds. Their pale gray eyes were a classic feature but the only time Manota had ever seen them was when they were wearing the white and black face paint. He suspected they did that to hide the dark stripes that ran along their temples.
“Have you talked to them much? Do you know their plans?” Manota asked.
Shavic shrugged. “They told me they plan on staying with the humans if that was permissible with you. They have taken a mate among the human females and will not leave her.”
“I see no problem with it,” Manota responded with a nod. “We have never had any issues with the Kor d’lurs. They and the Dramentics have been a peaceful species for hundreds of years. The Alliance lost a good man when Krail Taurus was murdered by Trolis,” he added.
Shavic nodded his agreement. “I was worried about the humans at first. Now, after seeing how they banded together and fought against the pirates, I have to admit they are more than capable of taking care of themselves. I enjoyed the performances they gave, as well. I would love to figure out how they did many of the things they did.”
Manota chuckled as he watched another large transport arrive from the planet. “So would I but Jo said she would have to kill me if she told me. It is considered ‘trade’ secrets.”
“Do you think she would? Kill you, I mean,” Shavic asked curiously.
“No,” Manota said softly. “At least not literally. She is the most compassionate, caring person I have ever met.”
Shavic was about to reply when the door opened and Jo came striding in. Manota studied his mate’s flushed face, pinched mouth, and flashing eyes. He thought quickly over what he could have done to piss her off this time. He was drawing a blank as he hadn’t told her yet about abandoning their plans to use her, her sister and River as bait.
“I’m going to kill your stubborn, hard-headed brother!” Jo growled out fiercely, her cheeks rosy. “I’m going to rip him apart, pickle him in vinegar and serve him sautéed as an appetizer! I was having a private conversation with my sister and River. He had no business butting his uptight nose in our conversation!”
“Jo, mi t’belle,” Manota started to say before his voice faded as his comlink signaled his older brother was trying to contact him. Half a second later, another alert warned him his younger brother was also trying to contact him. Manota glanced back at the furious face of his mate before opening the vidcom to both of his brothers. Their equally fierce expressions on warned him that they knew of his plan. “You told them about my plan,” he breathed out in resignation.
“No, I told Star and River,” Jo said sliding into one of the chairs at the conference table and folding her arms stubbornly across her chest. “Torak just happened to overhear it.”
“You are out of your mind!” Torak angrily snarled out in a harsh voice over the vidcom. “There is no way I would ever agree to use my mate as bait, even if she wasn’t expecting our son! Have you lost your mind, Manota?”
“I happen to think it is an awesome idea!” River piped up with a huge grin as she peeked out from behind her furious mate. “I am definitely in! I want to bring that bastard down once and for all.”
Jazin’s livid face broke into the conversation. “There is no way in the twelve levels of Killian I would ever agree with your assine idea either! I have almost lost my mate more than once. How could you even suggest something so dangerous?” Jazin furiously snapped out.
“I agree with Jo and River,” Star called out from behind Jazin. She finally squeezed in front of him. “I’m totally in.”
Manota groaned as he heard both of his brothers arguing with their mates. Neither female sounded like they were listening to a single thing his brothers were saying. His gaze moved to where Jo was sitting. A slow satisfied smile curved her lips. He knew at that moment that she had planned her line of attack knowing he was having doubts about using her, Star and River. She had told the women first knowing they would never let the men change their minds.
“You planned this,” he accused in a low voice so his brothers couldn’t hear him, not that they could from the volume coming over the vidcom. “You knew I was going to change my mind.”
“Of course,” Jo said with a mischievous grin. “Now, you can’t.”
Chapter 21
“I can’t believe you set up my brothers and me. I was going to tell you that I had changed my mind about using you as bait. I should have known you wouldn’t have listened to me even if I did,” Manota murmured quietly later that night as they lay in his massive bed back at the East House.
“Not really,” Jo replied as she snuggled closer, resting her head on his chest. “You need us. Your plan is a good one. You know it will work.”
“I know,” he replied softly. “I just wish there was a better way,” he added with a tired sigh as he held her closer to him.
Exhaustion bit deeply at both of them. It was well after midnight by the time everything aboard the Seeker had been transported down. A landing pad for the transports had been built on the grounds reserved for the humans and their animals. The transports had made trip after trip, making sure that all the humans, their animals, and equipment were safely delivered.
It had taken a little longer as the circus crew had to set up the needed areas for both their homes and the animals before all of it could be deposited. Each shipment was done as if a beautifully choreographed dance was being executed. Ricki and Walter oversaw the entire operation, one handling the equipment for their living accommodations and the other the animals and other equipment. The only mishap had been when Sacha and Mushie got a little over-protective when two of the transport crew tried to step between them and their mistress. Fortunately, Katarina had kept the huge creatures under control long enough for the warriors to retreat back into their transport ship.
He had spoken with Jazin several times over the past few days. He wanted to warn him of the strange creatures that had returned with him. He knew both of his brothers were nervous about whether Tami and Alan would accept them. Even though they were not River’s birth parents, Torak had shared that River considered them as close as her own parents had been.
He had talked to both Torak and Jazin after they had finally calmed down. His father had joined them and had agreed that the plan was the best possible solution to catching Tai Tek once and for all. His father mentioned that he was concerned about the fact Ristéard Roald, The Grand Ruler of Elpidios, would be on Kassis during the ceremony. He wanted to make sure nothing endangered the huge ruler.
“The last thing we want is a war between Elpidios and Kassis. Right now, Ristéard is on our side. I would like to keep it that way. I also want to get his planet accepted into the Alliance. Someone targeting him while he is on our world would not look good,” Ajaska said heavily. “I don’t know enough about him yet to go into the details of what Tai Tek has been doing.”
“We may have to let him know what is going on,” Manota said reluctantly. “Is it possible to postpone his visit?”
Ajaska shook his head. “No. I don’t think it would go over well, especially after I gave my word. His planet needs the crystals. Torak is making sure all the crystal plants are cleared. Jazin, Jarmen, Armet, and Dakar are working on additional securities. Dakar knows Tai Tek. He agrees that your plan is the best opportunity to pull Tai Tek out of hiding.”
“K’tar and Kev have been successful at closing just about every line of credit Tai Tek has hidden. Unless he has a substantial stash somewhere else, he will be limited in his ability to hire mercenaries,” Manota had shared.
“Gril has been working on shutting down the rebels who were following Trolis before his death. He s
ays there are still two warships unaccounted for. He warned us that they may be with Tai Tek. Each has over a hundred Tearnats and mercenaries,” Torak responded.
“Jarmen and Armet are working with Dakar trying to find any more hidden bases. We are passing the information on to Gril who has two of his generals with squadrons on standby to take them out,” Jazin added.
Manota hid his surprise to hear Jarmen was actually there working with them. He knew about the male whom his younger brother had rescued from a research facility. Jarmen was very quiet, reclusive. Manota had been worried when he first discovered that his brother was helping the male but over the years, it was obvious the unusual male meant no harm to his little brother. Now, he was grateful for any and all help they could get. He wanted Tai Tek dead. He had too much to lose if the former councilman was not dealt with as soon as possible.
Both of his brothers had reluctantly agreed that the plan was solid and would work but none of the men liked it. It went against every instinct of a Kassisan warrior to use a female in battle.
“Sleep, Manota,” Jo’s softly whispered voice echoed in the darkness drawing him out of his thoughts. “I can feel the tension in you. Everything will work out, you’ll see.”
“Help me relax,” he murmured back gruffly as he pulled her closer.
Jo softly chuckled as his hands moved up her back and side before they slid down where he grabbed her hips, turning her until she was on top of him. She tilted her head back so she could gaze down at him. There was just a sliver of light coming in through the windows from the moonlit sky. Shadows played over his face but she could clearly see the silver flames burning brightly in his eyes.
“You’re incorrigible, you know that?” She teased as heat flooded her when she felt his cock pulsing against the inside of her thigh.
“Maybe you should try to redeem me?” He suggested as he wound his hands in her hair. “Love me, Jo.”
Jo’s breath caught as she heard the slight whisper of desperation in his voice that he didn’t realize was there. She knew at that moment that he was not as calm as he was pretending to be. Her heart melted to know that deep down, her proud warrior was terrified of losing her. She bent down and brushed her lips against his. A shudder shook his body at the tender touch.
“I’ll love you forever, Manota. When this is over I think I’d like to start a family,” she whispered against his lips. “If you want to, that is.”
“Gods yes! You are so beautiful, my Jo,” Manota groaned out, pulling her head down so he could kiss her deeply.
They drank from each other, both desperate for different reasons. The dark shadow of what was to come disappeared as they came together in a tangle of limbs. Jo poured every ounce of her love into the kiss, tangling her tongue with his in a fierce battle to drive his fear for her away. She refused to believe they would not be successful in their fight against the man determined to bring down the ruling family.
“I love you so much, Manota,” Jo whispered as she pulled her lips away from his.
She continued sprinkling little kisses across his chin and jaw before she began working her way down to his neck and chest. She wanted to taste and explore every inch of him. She was overwhelmed with the need to just touch him. The exhaustion from the long day was forgotten as a desperate energy filled her with a need to drive his fear away.
“Jo,” Manota groaned out as she ran her tongue over his left nipple. “Mi t’belle, you drive me insane.”
“Just wait,” she breathed out as she wrapped her hand around his long thick shaft. “You wanted help relaxing. I planned to do everything in my power to grant you your wish.”
She didn’t wait to give him a chance to respond. Scooting further down until she was kneeling between his thickly muscled thighs, she wrapped her lips around the head of his long length. It was time to show him that she was not only an excellent aerialist; she was pretty damn good at sword swallowing too. His cry filled the bedroom as she slid his thick cock into her mouth, taking the entire length.
*.*.*
Manota had only dreamed that Jo would want to take him into her mouth but he never dreamed she could take the entire length. Never with all of his other lovers had they taken him the way she was doing now. He watched as she pulled back, tonguing the tip again before sliding it back down her throat.
A shuddering cry ripped from his throat as she swallowed. The movement of her throat moving up and down rubbing the entire length of his penis as it fisted tightly around him. The sight was so erotic he felt the tingling starting at the base of his spine and working upwards. He knew he wasn’t going to last long between the sight, sounds, and feel of her wrapped around him. When she slid her other hand between them and cupped his heavy sack he exploded with a harsh groan. His head fell back against the pillows as she continued to swallow his seed as it pumped from his body down her throat. His fists clenched the covers in an effort to not grip her as he pulsed. The overwhelming climax was so strong he could feel his body trembling as he jerked out the last of his orgasm.
His loud hiss filled the room as she slowly pulled back, releasing his trembling form. Harsh, uneven breaths echoed as he continued to shake from the waves of intense pleasure rocketing through his body. He slowly unclenched his fists as he came back down from the paradise she had taken him to.
He forced his eyes open far enough so he could see her kneeling between his legs, a soft knowing smile curving her swollen lips. He was trying to figure out how in the hell she swallowed him like that when a sudden memory flashed through his sated brain.
His mind flashed back to a morning that seemed a lifetime ago. He and Jo had been sitting with his father, brothers, Star and River in the main living quarters of the North House. They had been watching ‘home movies’ that Walter had given to River of the girls when they were just children. He had been shocked to discover they were performers, not warriors on their world. It was during one of the movies that Torak had choked out a startled exclamation.
“So that’s how you know how to do that,” Torak had murmured in disbelief.
“Know how to do what?” Manota had asked glancing at his brother who had an expression of awe on his face. When Manota had looked puzzled at River, her face had been a bright, bright red.
Torak had then turned to look at Jo. “Do you know how to do that?” He had asked with a mischievous grin.
“Of course, Kid taught all three of us how to do it,” Jo had responded. “Why?” She had flushed and looked at Torak with a silent look a moment later.
Now he understood why Jo had suddenly turned as bright red as River and shot his brother a look that spoke of severe pain should he say anything else on the subject.
Torak’s knowing smile as he looked at him now spoke of his own personal experience. “I only hope you find out one day, brother. Both of you. It is a most incredible thing,” his brother’s voice echoed in his memory.
The scene of the girls swallowing swords instantly replayed in his mind over and over as he came down from his sated bliss. Manota hadn’t understood Torak’s question to Jo until now.
I will have to tell Torak he was right, Manota thought as he reached for his smiling mate. I have truly discovered what an incredible thing it is!
“My turn,” he growled out as he flipped her so she was under him. “You are a truly amazing female.”
“How about you show me how amazing I am?” She teased before her breath escaped her as he did just that.
Chapter 22
Three days later, Manota looked over the large area set aside for the humans searching for Jo who had come over earlier to visit with her parents and Ricki. It was incredible to watch the humans work. They moved with a seamless organization that spoke of years of training.
One section was reserved for their mobile living quarters. Engineers and builders were working on more permanent structures for them but the humans did not appear to mind living in the small, cramped quarters they had brought with them.
; His eyes scanned the area pausing on the two Kor d’Lur Mimes. The two men moved silently among the crowd of workers. They often wore the face paint when the Kassisan workers were present. He suspected they were not comfortable with letting others know who they were. Manota knew very little about the species but suspected they were wary of being around the native Kassisans.
Both his brothers and his father had returned to Kassis the previous afternoon. He looked forward to meeting with them but needed to make sure his mate was safe before he became locked up in meetings. The Ceremony of Zephren was scheduled to take place in two weeks and they had several security issues that needed to be reviewed before they were ready for the confrontation that was bound to occur. Manota turned when he heard a small commotion coming from near the entrance to the big tent that was set up in the center of the compound. The noise was coming from two men who were talking rapidly with each other. Behind them, two strange looking service bots followed. One was large and had to stop frequently so it did not step on the two men who were speaking in a strange language while the other service bot was smaller. It rolled in and out of the two men’s legs as they argued.
“Je dis que nous mettons en place un restaurant de la ville!” I say we set up a restaurant in the city! The one man was saying.
“Vous ne comprenez pas l’affaire comme je le fais, Luc! Nous pouvons mettre en place en place comme ils l’ont à Las Vegas! Dîner et un spectacle. Il suffit de penser de lui!” You do not understand business like I do, Luc! We can set up it up as they have in Las Vegas! Dinner and a show. Just think of it! The other man argued.
“Bonjour, messieurs! Mon nom est Jo Strauss.” Good morning, sirs! My name is Jo Strauss. Jo called out from the entrance to the tent as she listened to the men arguing back and forth while the service bots just grumbled and groaned.