by Sabrina Kade
“Can we?” She barks out a laugh, and it’s such an odd sound because it’s neither sincere nor fake. “We all remember how you were when you had to give up Washington. Do you think any of us wants to put you through that again? For some guy? Ari, you take care of us. You may do weird things and stuff we don’t like, but at the end of the day, we trust you’ll do the right thing. At least that’s what I believe.”
“Do you think the others believe it as much as you do?”
She frowns. “I don’t know,” she admits, sounding surprisingly honest. “It’s so hard to tell how Alaska feels about anything, you know? Washington dedicated herself to you. Probably more so than any of us.”
“And Kansas?”
Dakota takes another slow, thoughtful bite from her banbask loaf. “Kansas… is Kansas,” she says, sounding awkward. “She spends a lot of time with Dash, but honestly, I don’t know if what they have is…” she trails off, as though trying to find the right words, “… I’m not even sure if what they have is romantic. At least in my opinion.”
My frown deepens. “Is he treating her bad? Do I need to remind Dash—”
“You don’t need to do anything,” she interrupts. “I said it wasn’t romantic. I didn’t say she wasn’t happy.”
Her words sting. “So, she’s happy here? Does she like it? Has she ever spoken to you about wanting to stay?”
Dakota shifts awkwardly on the bed, refusing to meet my eyes as she sets the remaining piece of banbask on the small table to her left. “She has her opinions. I think you need to talk to her about it.”
“Dakota?”
Her light brown eyes lift. “What?”
“Do you want to stay here? Do you believe it’s possible for you? For any of us?”
She shifts, looking more awkward. “As to your first question, I’m not entirely sure yet.”
“What about the rest of my questions? Do you think these aliens are telling the truth, Dakota? They’re Sidyths. They think women are weak. Don’t you think this may be part of some elaborate scheme to prove it?”
“Why would they have babies with us?” she challenges.
“They’ll get to keep them, I’m sure.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think this is a scheme. I see the way they look at their babies. Their mates. I don’t think they would do all of this to prove women are weak.” Her eyes flash up to mine. “I want to believe that no one is that cruel.”
“So you believe it’s possible. To stay, I mean. You think this is the real deal.”
“I do.” I huff, but Dakota isn’t finished. “That scares you, doesn’t it?”
“Why the fuck would that scare me?”
“Staying here? Giving up the lifestyle? Do I need to go on?”
“I don’t want to be a whore,” I hiss.
“I think you do.” Her voice is soft and gentle compared to mine. But she’s not the one growing defensive. “Maybe not the term so much. But the power. The ability to shut off your emotions. If you stay here, you wouldn’t be able to do that. You’d have to open up. You’d have to show some vulnerability. That terrifies you.”
“I’m not terrified of anything.” Annoyed, I stand up from the floor and smooth down my skirt. “And I’m certainly not afraid of being vulnerable. There’s no one here to be vulnerable with anyway.” I turn, but Dakota’s voice brings me to a stop.
“Not even Drozass?”
My heart thuds heavily against my chest. I can’t bring myself to turn around. Interactions with her are supposed to be easy. Safe. And it bothers me because now I think everyone knows I’m struggling with my feelings for the sexy alien who’s over a decade younger than me. It’s ridiculous. The whole thing is. But I can’t cut him out of my life. Not now.
“I’m tired,” I say awkwardly. “I only wanted to stop by and make sure everyone is being treated right.”
“The Sidyths treat us the way we want to be treated.”
I don’t turn back, instead bursting through the privacy curtain and into the hallway. Sidyths stroll around, but it’s not bustling like in the central lair. There, it’s filled with babies, and mamas and papas and smiles and laughter and lies. It’s all lies. It must be. After everything I’ve done over the years, I refuse to believe that some higher power has finally thrown me a bone. A crumb of happiness. A chance to stop working. An opportunity to standstill. A chance to build something with the most beautiful alien I’ve seen in my life. Deep down, I think I deserve all these things, but I’m so afraid that it’s going to be a trick.
What if I end up like Kansas did back at the training center? I saw the sting on her face when she realized that Entla never really loved her. What if I end up like Washington? She believed every lie Baxtus said, and now she’s probably dead. There’s no way that despite all these things, I’m still destined to find happiness.
No.
I storm past the smaller Gathering Room in the second lair, hoping to all that’s precious that Drozass isn’t in his lair. I need someplace to lay down and think. And Drozass makes me all fuzzy in the brain, and down there. I’m not used to wanting a man as I want him. When I initially came to Hethdiss, everything seemed so reasonable. Familiar. A Toda attacked Phoebe. I helped. Blythe tried to play the hero, but at the end of the day, she doesn’t care about anyone but herself. I was ready to spread and take it for whatever timeline I was sure we’d learn eventually and then move on to the next assignment.
Except, it wasn’t that way at all.
Instead, the Sidyths said they wanted mates. Partners. Equals. Families. Prince Korben mentioned something about creating a utopia where females and males are treated equally. I didn’t want to believe him. But his actions proved to speak louder than words because before long he had Blythe as his Chosen mate and her stomach round with pregnancy.
York followed. Then Ellis. And Layla and Sloane. Then Phoebe.
And most recently, a widower named Glykoran has taken Celeste as his second mate.
Drozass’ room is empty when I return, and a sigh of relief escapes my lips as I settle under the thin covers despite the sun rayers keeping the temperature around eighty degrees. Call me crazy, but I can’t sleep without something covering some part of my body. I guess I feel too vulnerable. I close my eyes, still allowing my mind to drift — not only to the actions of the Sidyths but Dakota’s words only a few minutes ago.
She thinks I would be devastated if she took a mate.
Maybe I would be. I can’t imagine leaving without my girls. But if things keep going the way they are, I may leave this planet alone.
Without my family.
I’ve already lost Washington. Can I bare losing Alaska, Dakota, and Kansas?
Somehow though, despite the mental turmoil, my brain manages to shut up just long enough for me to find some much-needed sleep – and escape from everything I’m about to lose.
***
My eyes pop open from under the sheet when I hear someone enter the room. It’s Drozass. No one else would dare enter someone’s room without permission, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to show any signs of being awake. I can’t help but wonder what time it is, but of course, there’s not precisely a cellphone I can slide over from the nightstand to check. Still, I snap both eyes shut only to peek one back open, and sure enough, Drozass has entered. I notice the first thing he does is touch the end of the bed where my bare feet are exposed, and he gently pinches my big toe. Just that touch alone sets my body on fire, and I barely keep the moan that wants to escape my lips from filling the stuffy air. I do, however, pretend to roll over in my sleep, in hopes that he won’t touch me again.
He can’t touch me again. It feels too damn good. Even now, I’m practically squirming under the sheet to keep my horniness in check.
After shifting, Drozass shrugs and thankfully turns the sun rayers down to a lower heat. I don’t know these guys deal with such a sweltering temperature, but to them, the same could be said about dealing with chilly air.
I once heard Layla say the cold air almost paralyzed Dolan, and that’s practically unthinkable. I guess aliens are damn good at hiding their weaknesses from primitive humans.
Once the room is a few degrees less stifling, Drozass moves to the small bureau in his lair. The light of one particular sun rayer frames his body perfectly. Without his shirt, I see how cut he is, and how damn cute his butt looks when he removes his shorts and tucks them into a drawer. He likes to sleep nude. It never bothered me before, but suddenly I’m wondering if I should pretend that I need to go for a walk.
I thought he turned the sun rayers down, but now it seems hotter than ever when Drozass spins around abruptly, and our eyes meet.
Fuck.
“I had a feeling you were awake.” His voice is lax and rumbling, sending chills right down my spine and through my pussy. No man’s voice should make me react this way. And Drozass is so young. Why does he have to sound just like silk and honey, ocean waves and thunderstorms?
“You woke me up,” I say, trying to sound calm about the whole thing and not like I was staring at his beautiful blue ass without a shame in the world.
“I can see that. I apologize.” He grins, turning away from the bureau, and once more, my mouth goes dry.
Seeing Drozass fully nude isn’t new for me. Seeing aliens in general nude isn’t anything special either. But Drozass naked? That’s something special. The lines on his corded blue muscles always leave me wanting to lick him. His golden eyes don’t turn away from mine either, still meeting me straight on. I’ve never been with a man who forces me to look away first unless it’s a command by a client. But I can’t help myself anyway. I love his face, but I also love that beautiful piece of muscle standing fully erect between his legs. His dick is something straight out of porn, only blue. He’s long, thick, and scaled. Even in the brief moments I’ve been watching him, he’s somehow managed to get himself aroused.
By me. I’m the one who does this to him.
Just like he’s made the area between my thighs wet and slick with arousal.
“You don’t look apologetic.” I make sure he knows I’m looking straight at his cock. “What were you up to before you came here?”
He shakes his head, shooting me a heart-achingly sexy smile. “I wasn’t doing anything. I grew hard the moment I saw you sleeping in my sheets.” He reaches down and gives himself a long, leisurely stroke. “Your adorable toes poking out. The soft expression on your face despite already being awake. How can I not be aroused by all of that?” His eyes find mine. “By all of you?”
He’s making me hazy. I’m losing the ability to think. All that big, blue muscle, kind face and sweet words, how can I not feel flattered by everything he’s saying? He’s already told me no one else does it for him. I should be honored. He’s hot. Easily the hottest male I’ve ever seen. And what makes it difficult is he’s more than a pretty face. Lots of aliens are attractive. But Drozass is more than that. He’s kind. Patient. But not a pushover. If anything, he pushes me. And I’m not used to being pushed. And right now? It looks like he’s about to start pushing for some pleasure.
I’m not entirely sure I have it in me to fight tonight.
“What did you do on this day, Ari?” He calls me by the nickname that drives me crazy. My family members say it but hearing that name from his lips is an entirely different story. It makes me think that he’s in with me. He’s close to me. More than a client. “Because unless something happened, I think I’m the cause for smelling all the heat coming from your cunt, yes?” He strokes his cock, smiling as though he knows he’s right. “Did you talk to any of my brothers?”
I shake my head hard.
“Did you speak to your family? Do one of the pale-haired ones make you smell like that?”
I don’t blush. Dirty talk rarely gets to me, but there’s a violent tingling between my legs as I try to sit up straighter in bed. His long, scaled fingers remained circled around his thick, glorious cock. I shouldn’t fuck him, but would it be so wrong to give him a blow job? No man in the universe would turn one down. And he looks so tasty. Like blue raspberry saltwater taffy from a candy shop next to the ocean. Smooth and silky, hard and soft. I lick my lips. He keeps acting like he has the upper hand with me, but I know that despite going on my knees, I’ll find a way to be in control.
His eyes widen as I get out of bed and fall before him, staring straight up. I can tell that he’s surprised, and I lift my eyes to meet his.
“I may not have the sense of smell you do, but I can tell you need release.” As though to prove my point, I reach up and tickle the underside of his cock, and then brush my fingers across his heavy sack. A groan escapes. Ahh, that’s it. Not so in-control now, are we? I smile, relieved that despite him smelling my need, there’s no way he can see the way my pussy is dripping. I lean forward and kiss the tip of his dick, and his body bucks, gripping my shoulders to steady himself.
“Scheita, Ari,” he groans, locking his eyes with mine. “Your mouth feels so good. Does this mean you wish to suck me? Take my cock in your mouth?” He tries to gain some of the lost control back by dragging the tip of his dick across my lips, but when I pretend to bite, he lurches back. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?” I tease. “I suppose it depends.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “On what?”
“On how badly you want me to put my mouth over your cock. I could be gentle…” trailing off, I take him damn close to the base, licking and flicking my tongue, enjoying the sounds of pure ecstasy over my head. I pull away and nip the tip, and he grunts. “Or not.” A grin spreads across my face. “I guess it all depends on how badly you want me to suck you. You’ll have to take the risk to find out what I’m feeling tonight.”
A low, trembling breath rocks through him as though he’s pretending to think it over. But I know he’s not. No man would. Even if I chewed on his sack, he’d still welcome a blow job as an apology. That’s just how desperate males are. And it’s a powerful thing because no matter how much I act up; I know what will calm them down. “What’s it going to be?” I tease, pretending to nip him again—before he captures my face between his hand. My eyes widen.
“Be gentle with me, Ari,” he says in a low, teasing voice.
“What if I don’t want to be?”
“I will be upset.”
“What happens then?”
“I guess you’ll have to find out.” A devilish grin hits his face, and we’ve reached a catch-22. He wants dick sucked. I don’t want to know what’ll happen if I don’t play fair. He always manages to push me. Catch me off guard. I grin once more and brace both hands on his trim, toned hips. He releases my face, at last, threading his fingers through my dark hair, and the feeling of it sets all the sensitive nerve endings on fire.
That touch alone lets me know that Drozass doesn’t want to play games. He knows I’m not going to bite him. I am, however, going to put my mouth on him. I’m not in the mood to fight. I don’t want to think about my conversation with Dakota. Or Kansas. Or how disappointed Alaska will be. I’m a Call-Girl. My work is about pleasure, and it’s damn time I’ve had some.
I take him in my mouth, enjoying his reaction to my touch. He tenses when I give that second suck, working down to the base and then back up, curling my fingers around his hips. I want to lower them and pinch his ass, but I guess I’ll save that for another time. Instead, one of my hands finds his sack and I knead it gently with my fingers. He’s soft down there, silky and hairless. So much of him reminds me of a human, but it’s different enough to know I’m dealing without something out of this world. My world, rather. The scales flatten with my touch and then spring free when I move past.
“Ari…” he growls, fisting my hair tightly.
More tingles.
I notice that every time I pull away from his cock, more cum appears, and I lap him up greedily, enjoying the heady taste with a touch of something almost sweet. Like cinnamon and smoke. He tastes so good, and I wrap my mouth
around the crown, enjoying his taste. He reminds me of the fall, which was always my favorite season back home. I flick my eyes up to meet his, and he’s watching with such a look of satisfaction, that it makes me want to do more. Work more. He’s not in control right now. I’m on my knees, but I’ve got him by the balls.
The thought makes me chuckle, which I guess creates a vibrating sensation around his cock, and he makes another sound between a hiss and a snarl. It’s sexy, encouraging me to return to sucking. Pushing down and coming back up and going harder and faster until I feel his entire body stiffen. He’s close. And I know just what to do to finish him off.
“Drozass…” I mutter while keeping him in my mouth. He probably has no idea what I’ve said, but it doesn’t matter. It works. Drozass grunts, spasms, and the next thing I know, my mouth fills with chilled, creamy seed. I know it’s not for everyone, but I enjoy the taste of cum. Or maybe I enjoy Drozass’. I don’t know, but I can say that because of his sweet, smoky essence, I happily change my motions from sucking to swallowing so I can enjoy every drop he has to offer.
“Scheita!” Drozass roars, releasing my hair as his body goes limp. “Ari!”
I grin up at him. I love the feeling of power that washes over me, seeing him look so vulnerable. This is why I love what I do. This is why I can’t give this up. Drozass is a challenge, but he can’t be that much different than other males. I’m sure he’s not special—and my train of thought stops at that as Drozass gathers himself.
Drozass. Not special? I don’t even like the sound of it. It makes me feel funny. I’m not entirely sure what part of it bothers me but thinking Drozass is like every other male feels wrong. I know it’s not true. But the thought creeps up anyway. Alaska would never want to hear me say that an alien is special. Kansas would be triumphant about it. Able to prove that even Arizona can be weakened by a male.
Weakened. Weak. No. I don’t want to be that person. This was about release. That’s all.
Drozass finally collects himself and collapses on the edge of the bed, spreading his thighs open. He’s breathing hard, but he has enough strength to open his arms as though to welcome me to sit in his lap. It’s such an intimate way to relax, but I love how much bigger he is than me. So, despite my brain screaming how this isn’t a good idea, my body takes the lead and I find myself with my back pressed against his chest and his arms wrapped around my waist. I’m still clothed. He’s still nude. It’s wrong. I’m going to end up falling for this alien, and I’ll have no one to blame but myself. Because while I can scream from the metaphorical rooftops that this was only about sex, Drozass’ behavior afterward, and mine, tells an entirely different story.