Karzin

by Elin Wyn

  “Did you have a productive day with Leena?” I asked.

  “I did,” she smiled. “We figured out why no one can remember the attacks.”

  I perked up with interest. “Why?”

  “It’s an unknown species of sentient plant with the ability to produce a gas that affects memory formation,” I explained.

  “That’s insane.” I shook my head. Just when I thought this planet couldn’t get any stranger. “If that’s the case, how come we remember being attacked?”

  “I actually have a theory on that,” Annie said between bites of soft, buttery bread. “I think the attacks are planned in advance. When we went into the crater, we caught the creature-thing by surprise, so it didn’t have time to excrete enough of the gas to completely wipe our memories.” She licked her lips, and my gut clenched. “Either that, or it has a limited supply of the gas, and had exhausted itself with the attack on Einhiv.”

  “That makes as much sense as everything else that’s happened.” I chuckled, forcing my thoughts away from her lips. There was something else I wanted to talk about tonight.

  “Leena’s going to try to make something to block the effects of the gas,” she continued, “but it will only work if it’s given to people right before an attack.”

  “We have no way to predict that.” I frowned.

  “Yet.” She looked at me with a gleam in her eyes. “I have faith that you’ll come up with an excellent plan of defense.” She reached across the table to grab both of my hands.

  “Let’s not talk about work anymore.” I smiled. “I brought you here because there’s something I need to tell you.”

  “Oh?” Annie’s expression brightened. “Should I be worried?”

  “We’ll see,” I joked.

  I felt nervous, a sensation I wasn’t overly familiar with. Funny, I could face down a Xathi hoard without batting an eye, yet this small human female constantly unsettled me. “I brought you here to thank you.”

  “Thank me?” She blinked in surprise, caught off guard.

  “Yes. I’ve been hiding for the last two months. Yes, I’ve been searching for my family, but I was using that as an excuse to completely shut myself away from the world. It wasn’t right. I’m going to continue to search for my family, but I don’t want to shut myself away anymore. I want to move forward and have a real life. I wouldn’t want that if it weren’t for you,” I told her.

  “You would’ve pulled yourself out of your dark place eventually,” she said demurely.

  “Maybe.” I shrugged. “But it would’ve taken much longer. You brought me back to life. I’m ready to stop living in the past. I want to live in the moment and I want you by my side.”

  “I’d be honored to stand by you,” she grinned. The nerves dissipated as she smiled at me. I felt invincible.

  “I found a place in Nyheim. It’s close to where I work, it’s close to where you work. I want you to live there with me.” Her face lit up for an instant before sadness tinged her expression.

  “There’s nothing I want more,” she said. “But my family is completely dependent on me. I can’t leave them.”

  “I’ve thought of that,” I grinned. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a datapad displaying the ad for the second home, a three-bedroom house on the outskirts of Nyheim. “It’s not much to look at, but it has plenty of space.”

  “My family can’t afford a place like that,” she said, shaking her head.

  “I’ve already bought both,” I blurted, then held my breath.

  Annie made a strange choking noise as she looked at me, wide-eyed.

  “How wealthy are you?”

  I leaned back and laughed. This I could deal with. “One of the first things that General Rouhr did after the war was to negotiate with the human leaders for an exchange rate between Alliance currency and your credit system. Since we can’t exactly transfer credits from home, we’re trading by upgrading the power systems, using the technology from the Urai and the K’ver.”

  “Okay,” Annie said, not grasping.

  “Take into account the back pay that all the soldiers on the The Vengeance had accumulated. Hazard pay. Combat pay. All of it.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “So, you’re rich?”

  “Not exactly, but enough that it let me buy both houses and give your parents one to live in while we live in the other,” I finished.

  “You can’t be serious,” she gasped. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “I am,” I assured her. “I’ve saved nearly all of my wages. I have more than enough to live comfortably. If I can’t help my own family right now, please let me help yours.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” A tear slipped down her cheek.

  I reached across the table to wipe it away. “Say yes,” I urged.

  “Yes!” she laughed, then stood up from her seat and walked around to embrace me. I held her close until she pulled away. “Can I see our new home?”

  “Now?” I asked. “We haven’t ordered.”

  “Now,” she nodded. “There’s something I want to do that’s better than dinner.” The mischievous gleam in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

  I stood up from the table, took her hand and left, apologizing to the very nice hostess on the way out.

  Annie giggled the entire way, her steps hampered by the shoes until I swept her up into my arms. “We don’t own any furnishings yet,” I warned her.

  “That’s okay! I just want to see it,” she laughed. Annie burst into the house before me. The main room was spacious. There was also a kitchen filled with appliances I didn’t understand, two washrooms, and several bedrooms.

  “It’s perfect!” she beamed. She turned back to face me. “You’re perfect.”

  I closed the door behind me. “Come here,” I instructed. I opened my arms for her, catching her as she ran to me. I tipped her head up with two fingers and bent down to kiss her.

  “Will you be happy here?” I asked between kisses.

  “I’m happy anywhere as long as you’re with me,” she replied.

  “I never want you to leave my side,” I murmured. “I love you, Annie.”

  “I love you, too, Karzin.” I let myself get lost in her kisses, the soft feel of her perfect lips melting into mine like discovering my love for her anew. Slowly, our kisses turned from sweet and soft to rough and filled with heat, her lips parted for my tongue to dance with hers. Desire seared through me, clouding my thoughts.

  Annie appeared to feel the same.

  “I want you,” she whimpered against my mouth.

  “Take off your dress,” I growled.

  She stepped away from me, a playful smile on her perfect lips. With hungry eyes, I watched her shimmy out of the dress. When she moved to take off her shoes, I stopped her.

  “Leave those on.”

  She smiled coyly and returned to my embrace.

  I ran my hands over every inch of her silky skin, from the elegant curve of her neck to the swell of her perfect breasts.

  Then came my tongue. My mouth claimed every inch of her, from the taut warmth of her stomach to the delicate curves of her hips. I tasted her body, heard her moans as my hands and mouth explored her. I couldn’t get enough of her.

  “Karzin,” Annie said, her breath hitched in her throat. “Please.”

  “I want you, Annie. I want to savor you.”

  I meant my words. I brought her breasts to my mouth, tongue sweeping over the hard peaks of her nipples. I took one breast in my mouth, and caressed the other, feeling her roll and writhe under my ministrations. The sight of her breasts wet and glistening from my mouth was glorious. I pulled her tight to me and ran my tongue down the curve of her neck to her collarbone.

  Then I trailed my mouth down lower as I pressed my hardness against her so she could feel just how much I wanted her.

  “I need to taste you.” Kneeling in front of her, I slipped my arms around her legs, pulling her towards me. My tongue teased every sensitive fold and
I nuzzled my nose delicately against her pussy. At first, I was gentle, hearing her need growing. I wanted to tantalize her.

  Annie moaned, and, in an instant, her fingers laced behind my head as she moved my mouth to please her everywhere she desired it. I wanted her to have total bliss, many times, before I entered her.

  Even though I wanted to sheathe myself in her instantly, I knew that if I waited and prepared, it would be best for us both if I brought her to a pinnacle of pleasure. I wanted that for Annie. I wanted her completely, to taste every inch of her. The wetness of her pleasure painted my face.

  Circling her clit with my tongue, I slowly slid one finger into her; her wet heat a drug I’d never want to break free from. A second finger joined the first, then a third, as I drove them into her pussy, twisting and pumping until she clutched at my hair, knees shaking.

  “Yes!” she whimpered. “I’m coming!”

  Those words were magic to my ears as I held her closer, drawing desire from her with all my energy and strength.

  Her head fell back and her mouth went slack. Her whole body shivered and shuddered. Moans escaped her lips, half words and sighs as her orgasm coursed through her.

  I moaned into her pussy, drinking every last drop of pleasure I could from her as the vibrations of my moans aroused her further. The way she shook in rhythm and reaction to me was deeply sensual, satisfactory on a level I didn’t know I could experience until I shared this with her.

  I licked up every bit of her honey and savored the shudders of desire that rode through her in waves. “Again.” It wasn’t just a command. It was a promise. I wanted her to come more, and I wanted to taste that orgasm, too, before I sunk into her.

  Her legs were wobbly with need, and I held her up as I pleasured her. “I won’t let you fall,” I whispered against her quivering pussy. “You taste delicious,” I told her, again letting the heat of my words bring more pleasure against her -- hot breath on hot skin.

  “I love celebrating with you, Annie.” I nibbled against her thigh and breathed against her pussy before my mouth reclaimed it, and I sucked tightly on her clit with a suction that made her surrender.

  She writhed against me, moaned, and gripped me tightly as her legs quaked.

  She cried out, her body seeming to be out of her control entirely as pleasure was her master. At first, she quivered intensely, and then her body became limp and her moans were lower and quieter.

  When I knew the second orgasm had run through her, I stood, gliding my hands up her body, and turned her face up to mine. I captured her lips in a kiss so she could taste herself.

  “To our future,” I told her when we finally broke our kiss to catch our breaths.

  “I want to touch you,” she gasped, slim fingers working my shirt open. Happy to help, I unfastened my trousers, kicked my shoes out of the way.

  Her hands were gliding across my bare chest, running down my sides, lit flames in their path.

  “I wondered about the stripes,” she murmured, one hand pressing my aching cock, rubbing until I thought I’d go mad.

  “Later,” I growled. “Later you can trace all of them. But I have to be in you now, Annie.”

  I lifted her off the floor, her legs wrapped around my waist.

  Once she was in my arms, I lowered myself to the floor. She giggled and held tight to me, curling against me as I wrapped her in my arms.

  The cold of the bare floor was nothing to me. My body was alive where she touched me and the heat between us radiated, matching our joy.

  The city lights streamed in from the one window, illuminating her bare skin.

  I reached up, cupping her breasts in my hands. I watched goosebumps appear on her skin as I gently caressed her, then rolled her tight nipples between my fingers. She tipped her head back and opened her mouth with a soft moan. Her hips began rocking back and forth against me, and her still-wet pussy ground against my hard cock, every bulge straining against her smooth human body.

  Annie rose up, positioning herself until she was directly above me. The sight of her over me, her perfect tits and her wet pussy, made my cock even harder.

  I lifted my hips to tease her entrance, erasing the space between us and pressing myself against her wet folds, running the thick head of my cock over her as she painted me with her desire.

  From our heated joining in the transport unit, I knew she’d be able to take me.

  And this was better. I could watch her face as she gasped and shuddered, shivering as she slowly lowered herself and took every inch of me, neither of us able to wait or tease even a moment longer.

  The way her eyes rolled up in her head and she bit her lower lip, her face a mask of ultimate desire, I knew that we weren’t just functionally compatible. We were experiencing bliss as we joined together.

  Air hissed through my teeth as she enveloped me in her soft, slick pussy.

  I gripped her hips, guiding her motions as she moved herself up and down, grinding against her with every thrust. The smoothness of her velvet vise gripping my cock was perfection.

  I claimed and marked her.

  Made her mine.

  Eyes wide, she placed a hand on my chest to steady herself. I moved one hand back to her breasts, kneading the soft globes, teasing every nerve of her skin.

  “You look beautiful in the lights.” I looked into her eyes. “In our home.”

  I watched, mesmerized, as she rocked her body against mine, swallowing every inch of me with her tight pussy. As she rode me, every ridge manipulated her delicate pussy walls until she quaked, shivering in delight.

  “Karzin,” she moaned my name in a breathy voice.

  Hearing her whisper my name was my undoing.

  I gripped her hips, holding her in place as I thrust up into her, faster and faster with each stroke, my cock needing to claim her even harder. Faster.

  I felt her tighten around me. Incredible heat surged from her, and her grip was a thundering heartbeat of lust.

  Her legs began to tremble as unrestrained cries of pleasure tore from her lips.

  As she screamed, I held her to me, shuddering as I found the heights of my pleasure with her, my cock erupting as I filled her with my seed. “My Annie.” My perfect Annie.

  She went limp on my chest as she gasped, catching her breath. I held her close to me, shielding her from the chill of the cold floor.

  Claiming her because I needed her to still be in my arms.

  I would always hold her, house her, protect her.

  Annie was mine.

  Would always be mine.

  Just the thought made my cock twitch again.

  Annie felt it and gave a soft moan, enough to make me harden again. But for now, I was content to just hold her.

  Breathe in her scent.

  “I love you so much.” The words couldn’t be denied. She deserved the truth. Deserved everything.

  Her soft breasts pressed to the hard wall of my chest. “Karzin, I love you more than I even knew I could.”

  The raw emotion in her voice touched me deep inside.

  “Let’s stay like this for a while.” I kissed the top of her head, caressing her back, memorizing every soft curve.

  We lay there together for hours, whispering sweet nothings to each other in the dark until the light of day shone through the window of our new home.

  Home. With my mate.

  Annie

  “You look nervous.” Karzin gave me a gentle nudge as we rode the elevator up to General Rouhr’s office.

  “I am nervous.” I forced a laugh, but I felt like I was going to throw up.

  “Don’t be!” Karzin encouraged. “Although, you probably should’ve gotten more sleep last night.”

  “And who’s fault is that?” I exclaimed.

  While Karzin and I scrounged for furniture for our new place, I spent most of my nights on the Aurora. Sleeping was rarely a priority in his cabin.

  “Yours, for being so easily seduced by a handsome Valorni,” Karzin teased.
/>   I swatted his arm.

  The elevator door opened and we made our way to General Rouhr’s office. He’d gathered the members of Strike Teams One, Two, and Three in a large conference room. Councilwoman Vidia was there, as well. I don’t know why, but I’d always had the impression that she’d look older. I quickly noticed the affectionate gazes she traded with General Rouhr.

  “Are they together?” I whispered to Karzin.

  “Yes. It surprised all of us. We never thought Rouhr would slow down enough to find a mate,” he explained.

  “Good for them,” I nodded.

  I spotted Jeneva sitting in a cushy chair with a hand resting affectionately on her growing belly. A Skotan that had to be Vrehx stood behind her, his red hands resting on her narrow shoulders. Jeneva looked happy, serene, and curious. Vrehx looked the opposite.

  Leena was there as well, standing in the back of the room next to a towering Valorni that had to be Axtin. Leena twisted her mouth with impatience. Axtin looked rather bored. I spotted Dr. Parr as well, hand in hand with a Skotan. I hadn’t realized she had an alien mate. Apparently, I’d joined a club.

  “Sucks to be a human male nowadays,” I joked quietly to Karzin. “How could they compete with you and the others.”

  “They can’t,” he said with a cocky wink. I rolled my eyes, then took a deep breath to calm my racing heart and looked over the notes on my datapad for the hundredth time.

  I had spent the better part of the last three days barricaded in the Aurora’s lab going over absolutely everything. I wanted to do this right.

  “Looks like everyone’s here.” General Rouhr’s deep voice startled me. “I won’t take up time with introductions. Annie, if you’re ready, we’ll start with the information you’ve gathered.” I managed a jerky nod and stood up.

  “You’re going to do great,” Karzin whispered to me as I walked past him. His words helped to settle the knot twisting in my stomach.

  General Rouhr gave me a nod of encouragement as he gave me the floor. I stared at the sea of faces watching me. Some looked interested, others looked bored and disinterested.

  “H-hello.” I cleared my throat. “I’m Annie Parker. I’m a geologist. As you all know by now, human settlements have been targeted by a series of mysterious attacks that have left buildings toppled and people dead. For the last week or so, I’ve been gathering information in an attempt to identify the mystery assailant. With the help of Dr. Leena Dewitt and Jeneva Calder, we now have an idea of what we’re up against.”