by Lily Thomas
Adira gave him a surly look. "Maybe I was just sent here to kill you. You know, cut off the head of the snake and watch the body flail uselessly."
His eyes flashed. "I'd like to see you try."
Adira jumped up from the desk. "I almost had you back in the brig."
Rakshasas stalked up and loomed over her. "You took me by surprise, but next time it won't be that easy."
Adira didn’t back down. “I would have easily taken you in the brig if you hadn’t shot me up with your damned drugs.”
“Lovely little concoction, isn’t it?” He taunted. “By the way, it lasts for days. You won’t be your regular self for a while.”
He turned away and ran a hand across his face. "I can assure you that no information you gather could help your people. Your government royally pissed off the Empire, and now we’re taking back our territory. It is no secret we have more ships and better-trained soldiers than Earth."
"Maybe." Adira saw irritation flash in his eyes at her short response. This was a man who was accustomed to making people tremble before him, and she wasn't giving him that satisfaction.
"We will be at a human colony in about two days.” He looked her up and down, considering. “Perhaps you will assist me in warning the colonists to leave before I am forced to kill them."
"Why would I help you?" Adira studied his face.
Rakshasas sank into the desk chair. "My orders are to kill any humans who remain on the Sri'thaen planets.”
"So if they leave, the Empire will let them live? This will all be over?" It sounded too good to be true. Where was the fierce Sri’thaen attitude she’d heard about?
"If they leave, I won't kill them." He hesitated. “If we can take back the planets intact, I…may…be able to influence the council and put an end to this.” He leaned back in the seat. “If I have to take the colonies by force, there will be no going back. I will be sent to wipe out your species for your transgressions against my people."
Adira’s eyes narrowed. “We may not have the kind of firepower the Sri’thaens have, but you underestimate humans. We will survive, and in time we’ll recover from whatever you throw at us.”
“Let me be clear, Adira. My current orders are to exterminate every last human in the galaxy, starting with these colonists. By the time I’m done, there won’t be a single human left in the Earth Alliance or anywhere else. There will be no one to rebuild.”
Adira’s eyes widened. Ah, there was the ruthless Sri'thaen general immerging.
Rakshasas steepled his fingers and considered her. “It’s your choice.” He said. “Do you help me or watch the beginning of the end of the human race?”
Adira clenched her fists. “I prefer option three.” She said.
Rakshasas raised his eyebrows in puzzlement.
“Killing you!” She shouted.
Adira leaped at him, fists flying. Rakshasas was caught off guard, and she landed the first punch to his left eye. He reeled back but recovered quickly and blocked the second blow. The force of Adira’s jump knocked over the chair, and they tumbled to the ground with Adira on top.
She let out a howl and tried to dig her thumbs into his eyes. Rakshasas grabbed her lower arms and pushed her away, twisting his hips at the same time to throw her off. He rolled over and pinned her to the floor. She writhed against him as he cursed her.
"You may as well kill me now." Adira spat. "Last time I checked, I'm a human."
Rakshasas held her wrists above her head as he appraised her. “Are you, though?” He asked. The look on his face sent a shiver skipping down her spine. “What kind of human has a strength of a Sri’thaen?” He leaned over her and nuzzled her neck. Adira froze, afraid to move.
“You know,” said Rakshasas. “I can’t stop thinking about the red lingerie you have on underneath this uniform.” He rubbed his hips slowly against her, and Adira’s breath caught in her throat. Adrenaline from her enhancements still pounded through her body, and now that she couldn’t fight, it demanded a new outlet. Her hips bucked against him, and he chuckled softly.
He nipped her throat with his teeth, and a shot of electricity ran through her body. It felt…amazing.
Her lips parted, and she let out a sigh. Rakshasas lifted his head from her neck. His lips covered hers, and his tongue thrust into her mouth, needing, demanding. She welcomed him, entwining her tongue with his, instinctively moving to his rhythm.
He pulled away, lifted her up from the ground to stand before him. He raised her arms and brushed a kiss across her lips before removing her shirt. For the first time in her life, Adira felt self-conscious, and she tried to cross her arms over her breasts, but he caught her hands in his and kissed her again until she was breathless.
He pushed her up against the metal edge of the desk, nudging her legs open to stand between them. His fingers traced across the red fabric covering her nipple, and she tilted her head back and gasped.
He growled. “In our tradition, women wear red to signal they are interested in a man and ready to be mated.”
Adira’s head shot up. His words were like a bucket of ice water throwing cold reality over the moment. “Rakshasas, what do you mean by that?”
He leaned over her, fingers tracing down her spine while he whispered against her neck. “You’re here to gather information about Sri’thaens, right?” He lifted his head and breathed into her ear. “Let me teach you the ways of my people.”
"Rakshasas, I don’t think this is the kind of thing that the Human Alliance is interested in.”
He leaned back and looked into her eyes. “Call me Rak.” His hand caressed her face. “What are you interested in, Adira?”
Adira gulped. She couldn’t think of another time her heart had pounded so hard. It was hard to meet Rak’s eyes, so she focused on his lips. They were so close to her own. His scent was all around her, spicy and male, and she wanted to bask in it.
"I…I…” She felt her heart skip a beat.
Rak lowered his brawny arms to the desk. She should have felt trapped. All of her training should be screaming at her to break free. Instead, she felt…safe.
He rolled his hips against her. "Do you want to learn more?” He asked.
Adira put her arms around his neck and tilted her face to meet his. “Yes.” She breathed.
His head dipped, and their lips connected. This moment was like nothing she'd ever experienced. It sent her heart rocketing into her throat. His hands made their way to her bottom, and he lifted her onto the edge of the desk. His mouth dominated hers as he lifted her legs. Adira wrapped her legs around his waist naturally and pulled him closer. Even though she’d never done this before, it was like she knew what to do.
His hands made short work of her crimson bra, and her breasts spilled out. He grabbed each mound reverently and slowly massaged them as his thumbs and forefingers played with her pert nipples.
Her breath hitched in her chest, and her mind went blank. What was he doing to her? She was always in control, but she could feel that control slipping away from her. The area between her legs began to ache, and she felt a moistness build.
"How do you feel?" He whispered into her ear.
"I must be losing my mind." If the chief saw what she was doing, how she was losing control, he would put her in solitary with no food for at least a day, maybe two.
Rak smiled. "I'll have you screaming my name, by the time I'm done with you," he promised softly in her ear.
Adira's heart fluttered again. She had no idea what was going on. Things had just taken a shift… to a place where she had no idea what she should do.
Rak’s head descended, and he sucked a nipple into his hot mouth.
Adira nearly fell back on the desk as pleasure washed over her. Her hands came up to run through his silky black hair. She hadn’t noticed the length before, but now she loved that it was just long enough that she could feel it between her fingers.
Rak left her breasts to continue kissing down the soft flesh of her trembling s
tomach.
Adira's hands came up. She grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head away. She looked into his gray eyes. "We shouldn't.” She panted. “You're a Sri'thaen, and I'm a human."
"Does that really matter right now?” He whispered hoarsely. "You want me, and I most definitely want you. Why don’t we enjoy the moment instead of worrying about what we are."
He removed her hands from his hair. He slipped his fingers into the waistband of the uniform and pulled off her pants and underwear in one smooth motion. Adira shifted uncomfortably on the desk.
"Beautiful." His voice was husky and rough, and Adira knew that he meant it. A bit of her self-confidence returned, and she ran her hands across his chest, the chest that she’d fantasized about caressing only a few short minutes ago.
Her hands stopped at the edge of his pants, hesitant to go further, but Rak didn’t seem to notice. His hands returned to her breasts, kneading, caressing, and her breath hitched. He nudged her legs open and pushed her back across the desk.
Before she realized what he was doing, his face disappeared between her thighs. He sucked her clit into his mouth, his teeth lightly scraping against her, and a gasp tore from her throat.
Adira's head fell back, her hair spilling over the desk behind her. Her stomach trembled and her back arched from the sensations rolling through her body. Her hands reached down to latch onto his hair, and she pushed his head below her clit.
His tongue slid into the wet hollow of her pussy, and he let out a growl that vibrated against her already sensitive flesh.
"You're ready for me." Hunger burned in his gray eyes, and she trembled with her need.
A part of Rakshasas couldn't believe he was about to pleasure a human woman, but he wasn't about to stop. His cock strained against his tight pants, demanding he finish what he'd started.
The red bra and underwear had sent his head into a frenzy. Sri'thaen men adored the color. It was the reason red, and all its hues were banished from the public eye. A Sri'thaen male in a serious relationship could overcome the influences of the alluring color, but it was difficult and took focus.
Any woman who broke the law by wearing red in public would be sentenced to a few days in jail. It was for the safety of the people, so there weren’t riots in the streets.
Her hazel brown eyes fell to his hands as he whipped off his belt and let his pants hit the floor. He stepped out of them and heard her sharp intake of breath.
Glancing up, he found her eyes riveted on his cock, which strained towards the ceiling with its need. He found himself beaming under her appreciative glance. Her eyes widening as his cock throbbed with its need.
“Spread your thighs wider.” He commanded her. She might have him under some weird spell, but he was still going to be in charge of this situation.
Adira obeyed him and spread her thighs wider, inviting him. Rak licked his lips. Her glistening folds pull him in. He'd give anything to stick his head between her legs, but right now his cock was demanding its turn.
Reaching out he seized her thighs and hauled her ass to the edge of the desk and positioned his cock at her entrance. She was dripping and ready, so he plunged in. He was surprised to feel a moment of resistance, and a brief flash of pain crossed Adira’s face.
Rak panted as he stopped himself from thrusting into her again. “What? What was that?" He was too shocked to even understand what his mind was screaming at him. He couldn’t understand what was wrong. Concerned, he drew back.
Her legs came up and held him in place her heels digging into his buttocks. She bit her lip, “Just give it a second and it will be fine.”
Rak wasn’t sure what to say or do. He was still confused even though something in the back of his mind was begging to come forward.
"Please." She begged. "Continue.”
"Are you sure? Maybe Sri'thaens and humans don't match up.”
Adira shifted against him, and his cock throbbed eagerly in response. "No. Keep going. It already feels a lot better.”
He would believe her because the pained look had disappeared from her face. He took hold of her hips. At first, he moved slowly, still afraid of hurting her, but as she thrust against him, he plunged harder and harder, again and again, until she panted his name.
"Rak, Rak…Oh, harder, please!" She nearly screamed at him spurring him on.
He met her demands. His lips captured hers, and he swallowed her cries of pleasure. Rak could feel her tighten, hovering on the edge.
"Come for me, my little spy. I want to feel you clench around me."
“Oh god!” Her head fell to the side as her back arched, pressing her tight nipples against his sweat-slicked skin.
His shaft throbbed inside her, and he could feel himself losing control over himself. “Fuck.”
Her muscles shuddered around his cock tightening around his length and milked every last drop of essence he had in him. He roared her name to the ceiling, and the desk jolted against the wall as he finished with a few final thrusts.
Rak's head dipped down, and he placed his forehead against hers as they both caught their breath. What the hell had overcome him? He’d just slept with the human spy who’d infiltrated his ship. This was not how it was supposed to go.
He backed away leaving her welcoming entrance behind, and she protested weakly. Her hazel eyes gazed up at him dimly, and he could read the surprise in those depths. They’d both gotten carried away. He should’ve been stronger than his desire.
Wrapping his arms around her and then paused. He wasn’t sure taking her to his bed would be a wise idea, but he was still coming off the high of climaxing and couldn’t think clearly. He picked her up off the table and carried her over to his bed, flung back the covers, and joined her beneath them.
She smiled up at him, still coasting on the aftereffects of their lovemaking.
"Adira?"
"Yes?"
He couldn't forget about the look that had been on her face. "What happened back there?"
Should she tell him? Adira hesitated, but she couldn't see any possible way for him to use the information against her or humankind.
"I haven't been with a man before." She watched as his brow crinkled with confusion. She’d never even known it would be painful, thankfully the advancements of her body allowed her to overcome said pain.
"Never?"
Adira shook her head.
"How?" His eyes skimmed over her face. "Do humans not have sex?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "The government took me when I was a child, made me what I am. I haven't had the same life experiences as others.” She'd known better than to grow close to any of her classmates, lest the chief order her to kill one of them or found out. Fraternization was not allowed and would’ve resulted in punishment.
Although she now wondered about the chief's choice in her undergarments. It felt like he'd chosen the red ones, in case she needed to seduce a Sri'thaen, yet he hadn't taught her to seduce men. She wondered if he’d secretly given her a weapon in case she was caught.
"How old are you?" Rak pulled away from her a bit.
Adira snorted. "Eighteen."
He raised an eyebrow. "That young?"
It wasn’t like she was a child. "I'm an adult in my species. Humans only live until one hundred." He couldn’t use that information to his advantage.
"How interesting."
"How old are you?" It was information she could bring back though she doubted the chief would find much use in it.
"Eighty-six years old."
Adira whistled, as her eyes took in his face. "You look good for such an old man." Then she frowned. What was she doing? Mentally she gave herself a shake. She’d slept with him… to stay alive and gain an advantage… there was no reason for playful banter. Or was there?
A smile cracked across his lips. "Sri'thaens live until they are about one hundred and eighty or so. I'm still in my prime."
Her eyes scanned across his chest and down to his abs. He was definitely in hi
s prime. Her heart lurched in her chest. It was cruel of the chief to let this be her first time with a man. There were so many unknown emotions flowing through her, and none of her enhancements could do anything about emotions. She swallowed hard.
"We weren't at war with your kind when you were a child. Why did they train you to be a spy?" His gray eyes skimmed over her rumpled hair.
Adira wasn't sure if answering his questions would be giving him too much information about the Earth Alliance, but she couldn't think of what he might do with the information.
"They've trained several of us. Earth isn't known for trusting aliens, so they made sure they had people trained to infiltrate alien governments."
"It sounds like a cold upbringing." His gray eyes bored into her.
Was that pity in his voice? She prickled a little, but let it go. It hadn't been a cold upbringing. It had been her only upbringing. Without the memories of a warm embrace, she'd never felt like she missed out, until perhaps now.
Adira smirked shoving the thoughts from her mind and poked a finger into his chest. "Says the general of the Sri'thaen fleet. I've never known any military to be warm and fuzzy to their soldiers."
"But to do it to a child. Someone who isn't able to decide for themselves. I chose to be in the military as an adult. You had no choice in the matter." He looked disgusted at the very idea.
"Are you saying your people never do anything shifty?" Adira was skeptical any species was pure of heart. They all had dirty laundry that they didn't wish to have aired in front of the rest of the universe.
"Shifty? What is shifty? It didn't translate."
"Umm… shifty means underhanded or sneaky."
"My people can be shifty, but we leave our children out of it the best we can."
"What's your home planet like?"
Rak grinned, flipped her onto her side, so her back was against his chest, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Looking for more information to tell your government, my little spy?"
"Always." Her stomach made a strange sound.