Defender (New World Book 7) (12 page)

“Do you war with other species?”

“We’ve eradicated our enemies. Except Castians. My father hated Castians. I didn’t know why until I got older. He was trying to find a cure for the poison water before it was too late. A Tonan’s hate for Castians killed females. Father blamed Tonans but it was easier to place the blame on Castians.”

Macey pondered his words. She sat closer, allowing bare flesh to touch.

“Don’t be sad, Macey.”

“I’m missing home. It’s been a week. Maybe the Tonans are gone. Maybe the storms have stopped.”

Taz laid her back onto the soft ground. His fingers brushed a lock of her hair from her face. With tenderness he kissed her forehead. Then pressed his cheek to hers.

“Every day of my life, I was called worthless and less than nothing.” His breath caressed her skin as he spoke. “I tried hard to fit in. There were cruel things done to other species that made me laugh. I was taught to loath helplessness. Maybe I am evil. I’m not sure. But I’m not evil when I’m with you.”

“We have a saying on our planet,” Macey said as she sensed him battle his emotions. “Nature verses nurture. You weren’t nurtured really, you were taught to be cruel. Maybe our meeting was the right time and place. If you weren’t hitting must you might have killed me, who knows. Maybe it’s time for your planet to heal. Who can guess what will happen when the Castians and your type of Tonans are reintroduced to females. You may be surprised; others like you may take a chance on love.”

“I don’t know. Only the cruel were sent to Earth. Only I was exposed as a test. I may have been sent for other reasons. Maybe Krish and his kind want to see if there is a chance of Tonans going rogue so they will be prepared. I can’t let the others find me, us. My kind will be targeted by Krish’s kind and not be aware if I’m found. Krish would never tell anyone I mated a human.”

“Then we will never go back to Earth?”

Taz was over her, supporting his weight on his knees and elbows. He slid the tip of his nose across her brow and kissed her hair. Macey cupped the side of his neck and gazed into his eyes. Taz looked like a lonely boy until he masked his emotions. The hard warrior gazed back.

“No,” she whispered. “You can’t hide from me.”

She slipped her pants down her hips and lowered his. Taking her hand she guided his erection to her wet heat. Taz groaned. Macey smiled.

“It would seem I can always find you too,” she said.

Taz thrust hard making her gasp. “I can’t think when I’m inside you,” he said and growled.

“Good.”

Moss under her ass was soft and pleasant. Taz pulled her up and ripped the shirt from her. Her pants that were lowered under her ass were next. The replicator had no clue what she meant by undergarments and fighting with the machine was useless. She wore no bra or panties.

“That replicator is handy, even if it can be dense. I’d need two jobs for clothes with you around,” Macey said and panted as he thrust harder.

“Humans wear too many clothes. Summer clothes, winter clothes, fall clothes. Holiday crap, weddings, funerals, parties. Clothes for sports, for casual, for school. Uniforms. And accessories, holy shit. Purses, scarves, hats, gloves. And devices. I swear I shielded once near a human teen who I believe was ‘texting’ and he didn’t notice me, walked right by. I think he fucking wished me a good day. He was disturbing. What kind of deformity causes human males’ assess to be so low? His pants were half way down his legs.

“It’s like you dress your bodies to hide who you are to the outside world. Every day is your holiday Halloween; you only get a bit more creative—only somewhat. I’ve seen a runway of models in pictures. Some are fucking unsettling.”

Macey laughed. She couldn’t help it. She’d never thought of simple garments that way. She then groaned when he flipped her onto her belly. His hand pressed her shoulders down until her ass was high in the air. The sensation of filling always indicated when he began to grow inside of her. He explained it was must and natural. His actions of deep thrusting slowed and for a moment he stilled until she cried out. Her breathing grew heavy. Taz waited longer to ease her into a gentle acceptance.

“Taz,” she groaned.

“My kind will have trouble if they take a female. Every part of me screams you must not suffer. I can’t allow this information to get back to Krish. My kind will be destroyed. We will war amongst ourselves. My race will be lost.”

Macey felt the tips of his fangs bury in her neck giving her instant relief. He rocked against her, caressing her rump. She knew he could feel her sadness when he leaned over her and slid his tongue against her back. She didn’t want him to be used as a weapon against his own kind. Her emotions settled. Until the threat had passed, they would be stuck on the quiet little planet. At least they had each other. Macey hoped it would be enough for the both of them.

* * * *

Humming, Macey washed her clothes in the pond where she stood naked up to her waist. Taz laughed at her before strolling off and said the replicator would do that, but Macey liked being outside. She liked the smell of wind-dried clothing. The planet’s air was sweet and clear. The sun was high overhead, warming her shoulders. A gentle breeze sent strands of tall grass waving and their aroma was heaven to breathe in. She squished her toes into the sandy bottom of the pond. Taz was headed inside the shuttle to see if there were other planets they could visit.

Escape to or hide, really.

Washing her clothes gave her something to do in the monotony that had become life. The water was warm as tiny waves lapped at her ass. Tiny spankings, she thought and chuckled. She envisioned a frog on a floating lily pad, the sound of honey bees buzzing, a butterfly. Her mind was active with her thoughts. A planet filled with innocuous beings would be nice.

“Hmmm.”

Macey stiffened with fear. She glanced around wondering who spoke. It didn’t sound like Taz. Macey screamed when the huge image of a face shimmered into appearance. Glowing red eyes, a hint of a nose, green skin, silver round scales trailed down cheeks, flowing black hair whipped about the twenty-foot-high floating face. She stumbled back, water sloshing to her back now, and she covered her arms across her breasts.

The red eyes centered onto her and Macey was lifted into the air kicking and struggling. She screamed for Taz. Higher and higher she went until she was above the clouds. The ground disappeared. Her struggling ceased and she whimpered, knowing if she were dropped her body would be smashed.

“No, wait,” she pleaded.

“What are you?” the voice was too loud and male, and Macey lifted her hands and covered her ears.

“You’re too loud, you’re hurting me.”

“So you hear and understand me.”

“Yes.” She lowered her hands when he tempered his tone.

“Why are you on my planet?”

“I’m sorry; we thought it was uninhabited. We mean no harm.”

“You have defecated on my food. Eaten my food. What are you?”

“Human. A human female.”

“Hmmm. Humans aren’t capable of space flight this far.”

“No not yet. Tonans invaded Earth. I was kidnapped and brought here.”

“Where is your captor?”

“He’s my mate now. I can hear him, he’s searching for me.”

That was an understatement. Macey was positive she could hear Taz in her mind and he was freaking out with worry. Then she could hear him swearing up a storm near her. He was shielded about twenty feet from her floating as high. Battling the air like a demon.

“Put me down and give me my mate,” Taz bellowed, talons slicing. “I’m here, Macey. Don’t be scared. Please don’t die of fright. I’m here.”

“You are trespassing,” the floating face said to Taz. “I blame you for bringing the female here. You are to leave immediately.”

“Not without my mate,” Taz bellowed. “Set her down gently. This isn’t her fault. I was pressed for time. I had no clue the planet was occupied.”

“You will leave, now.” The face was glaring at Taz and Macey screamed when Taz was dropped to freefall to the ground.

“No, don’t drop me I’ll die,” Macey screamed. “
Taz!”

“I am aware of how fragile you are, human. The Tonan will be fine. You are not allowed to remain on this planet. But I have another planet I am ready to introduce toys to. Your mate is too volatile. You are vulnerable. With a thought I can transport you to safety.”

“You don’t understand. Taz and I are connected. I can feel him in my thoughts. He’s on the move. He will come for me no matter where I am.”

“He would never find you. You would be safe with the others. They are not humanoid but similar.”

“I can’t, I need Taz. I want to be in his arms. I can feel him. I feel his panic.”

“You wish to stay with the Tonan?”

“Yes.”

Macey screamed when a solid body crashed into her. Her chest exploded in agony. She sucked in her breath then gagged. The pain was unbearable. She groaned instinctively knowing bones were broken, perhaps her lungs punctured and other organs crushed. Taz enveloped her in the air. The pain stopped immediately. Her body pressed tight to him, her arms were wrapped around his neck, her face buried in his throat. Her legs were around his waist.

They began to spin wildly in the air. She thought they would freefall to the ground but Taz landed on his feet after a short drop. They stood at the top of a mountain. Taz was growling in fury. His shield was molded to her, calming her. Macey could see through the shield. She was positive Taz had been dropped hundreds of feet. After his fall, he must have raced up the mountain.

“This—is—my—
mate
,” Taz bellowed, his entire body shook with the force of his explosion. She would have winced from his frightening tone if the shield hadn’t released secretions into her pores. Every ounce of him was bulging with raw unbridled power. His ragged gasps for air were growls of seething fury. His talons were spread in lethal fashion. Macey knew he wanted to rip the face apart.

The face chuckled. “My, my, yes he is persistent. You may both go.
Now
.”

The red eyes faded as the face turned away with the wind. Taz started down the mountain. Her body pressed to his skin, Macey felt his heart pounding. She wasn’t certain if it was from exertion or worry. One moment he was in the air, his claws connecting with and pushing from the bark of a tree trunk, flying through the air, the next he was on the ground racing. The ground beneath him was eaten up at such a speed Macey closed her eyes for a moment. Taz didn’t stop when they reached the bottom of the mountain. He continued on until he leaped into the shuttle. As soon as the door closed Taz dropped his shield but continued to hold Macey to his chest.

“I’m so sorry,” Taz whispered his words were frantic. “Please forgive me.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Macey said filled with surprise. “How could you have known a giant fucking floating head would appear and lift us into the clouds? Which was totally freaky.”

“I hurt you. There was no other way. I had to break its hold. My shield calculated the force of the blow. Life threatening. I knew my shield would fix you, but I’m so sorry. A mate never hurts his mate. Never. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. Your pain hurt me too. I felt it all, everything I did to you. I warned you I can be cruel, but I can’t let anything take you from me. I didn’t do it to be evil, I swear.”

“I’m fine, Taz. Nothing hurts and it was only for a second.”

“I should have researched the planet better.”

Taz carried her to the cot and set her down. He wrapped a blanket around her. He sat beside her, leaning forward. Macey could sense his worry, the idea of knowing and not guessing his emotions helped her to understand him better. She ran her palm down his arm. He was shaking, rocking.

“Taz?”

“There are no other planets that damned shuttle can get us to safely. There are black holes, but I can’t risk your life, ever again. We have two choices, Earth or my planet.” He turned to take her in his arms. “I can’t take you to my planet.”

“Then Earth it is.”

He moved back, holding her at arm’s length. “Macey, I don’t know if the storms will stop over time. They will get worse, I’m positive. Krish will make certain everything on Earth will be destroyed to get what he wants.”

“Do you know when you worry your beautiful eyes sparkle with passion? I wish I had eyes like yours.”

Taz seemed startled. “Your eyes are the color of the sky. Freedom is in the skies.”

“Your eyes are the color of Earth. Alive, vibrant, living. And chocolate. I’ll tell you a secret about females and chocolate sometime.”

The shuttle began to rattle. Taz groaned. “Floaty’s not-so-subtle hint. And hell yeah, fucking freaky.”

He jumped up and ran for the console where he punched in a bunch of codes. The rattling stopped when they were in the air.

Home.

Macey was going home. To the good, the bad and somewhere out there, the evil ugly waited.

Bring it on!

“What’s wrong?”

Taz monitored the calculations on the console. Earth’s atmosphere was a mess. In the relatively short time they had been gone, the storms were picking up. Everywhere he looked activity loomed; in some areas, more sizable than others. He wanted to get them as close to where he kidnapped Macey.

“It would appear the Tonans are vamping up their diligent warnings. There’s a snow squall in the area I found you.”

“That’s not possible. We have gotten snow but nothing major. I mean, the state shuts down when there’s a light dusting.”

Taz pointed to the console. “You see all the green hovering here, en masse? This is your area. This is snow. Lots of snow.”

“We’re not equipped to handle blizzards.”

Taz wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his side. He kissed her forehead. “I think you need to go to the replicator and see if you can make it understand hats coats, mitts, and boots. Well, you get my meaning. Try not to fight with it. You’re kind of zero for two now, or is it three.”

“Can you land this in a blizzard?”

Taz thought about lying and changed his mind. “It will be rough. I’ll do my best; we’re going to need the shuttle to escape Earth if the storms don’t stop. We’re going to have to hope the skies settle.”