“I love you, Torque. And I need you by my
side.” Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks for she’d never felt happier than
she did right now. She and Torque were together. And she never wanted that to
change.
* * * * *
Underground, Planet Xylon
Tara looked at Belkor from beneath her
lowered lashes. The man she’d grown close to had gone. She’d heard him and
Belkor talking in hushed whispers. They’d decided that Genok needed to be
neutralized before he led the clan to them.
She didn’t approve of hunting down and
killing the man. But at the same time, she felt grateful that they’d go to such
lengths to save her. Why though? If she was an asset to the clan, was she also an
asset to them? Was this nothing more than a political move?
Either way, she would live to see another
day. She hoped the others would be as lucky. She knew of no certain way to
ensure their safety. If she could absolutely trust these two men, then she
would tell them about Alexa and the babies, about Pitch and Josella. But she
couldn’t take the chance.
“Your mind races, Tara.”
Her head snapped up. The man was too
perceptive. “What’s next? We can’t hide out forever.”
“We will attempt to keep you safe until
your people arrive. Then we will take you to them. We know that some have
already come looking for you but have now disappeared. Is this not true?”
She continued to pretend ignorance. “Not
that I know of.”
He chuckled. “We have heard and seen the
signs.” His face sobered. “They will not be safe.”
“If you knew of the whereabouts of such
people? Could you keep them safe?” She tried to ask the questions as lightly as
possible to imply interest in a what-if scenario only.
He studied her before answering. “I do not know.
The more intruders that come down here, the more dangerous the situation.”
She nodded. “Then it’s a good thing that no
one else has shown up.”
A slight smile tugged at his lips. “Yes.”
Tara heard someone coming and pushed to her
feet as Genok and three other Def’mal rounded the corner. Belkor jumped to his
feet and stood in front of her in a protective manner.
“There!” Genok pointed at her.
She and Belkor were immediately blocked
from escaping. Neither of them even had a chance of fighting back for two of
the Def’mal were armed. She looked for the other man but he wasn’t with them.
Had he double-crossed her and Belkor? She didn’t want to believe it.
The elder man with them stepped in front of
her and studied her face. “Yes,” he said in a gruff voice. “You are of the Koll
family line. I see. You have done well, Genok. The Xylons will have no choice
now but to give us what we demand. Otherwise their bitch will die in the most
painful manner imaginable and we will publicly display her carcass for all to
see.”
Tara stepped forward and spat in the man’s
face. Before the Def’mal could grab her in retaliation, she knocked him off
balance and got her arm around his neck. “Back off or I will snap him in two!”
Belkor elbowed the nearest captor in the
ribs and grabbed his weapon—something that looked like an electronic spear. He
zapped the man, sending him to the ground. “Let us pass,” he said to the
remaining Def’mal blocking their way.
The man glanced at his downed comrade then
looked at the elder. “You would not hurt one of our leaders,” he said, his gaze
switching to lock with Belkor’s.
“Maybe he wouldn’t,” Tara responded. “But I
would.” She glanced around. “Where’s Genok?” she whispered.
Belkor’s gaze darted back and forth before
returning to the Def’mal in front of them. “This is not the way to form an
alliance. I will not go along with our elders in this way.”
“We do not want an alliance,” the remaining
Def’mal said. “We have been cast aside long enough. Now it is time for the
Xylons to be cast aside and for us to rule!” A spark lit the area and he jerked
forward. His eyes widened. A line of blood dribbled from his mouth. Then he
fell, face first, into the dirt.
The man Tara had come to trust stood behind
the downed Def’mal. He held an electronic spear. “More of the clan come. I saw
Genok but he slipped away from me. We must leave now, while we can.”
Tara cut off the older man’s air until he
sagged and dropped to the ground. She didn’t kill him. That would just incite
the clan more. How this would ultimately end, she didn’t know. But she knew
that she had to run to save her life.
Her original savior handed back the
electro-zapper he’d confiscated from her. “You will need this.”
As she took the weapon, she looked at the
two men in front of her. All their lives were at stake if they didn’t escape
and find their way back to her people. “We’re all fugitives now. And in this
together. Let’s go.”
* * * * *
Splitter Ship RS-18, Deep Space
Torque sat across from Jaeda in her
quarters as they ate a luscious meal of fruits and tender meats under the moonlight.
The artificial surroundings almost had him believing they were outdoors on some
tropical planet.
She’d attended to a few duties earlier and
then told him that she was his for the rest of the night. He liked the idea and
intended to put their time to good use. While they ate, she told him all about
her life on Bogadh, and he told her about his life on Xylon and his history as
a warrior. He also told her about Sam and Brianna being mates. He’d never been
more comfortable with a woman and he enjoyed the feeling.
“What is it?” he asked when she stared into
his eyes without speaking.
“I was just thinking of your sacrifice.
Xylon is in ruins, needing to be reformed and rebuilt. And you agreed to come
to my planet instead of going home.”
“Your planet is in a time of upheaval and
change too. Besides, I’m a fighter, not a builder, not an administrator.
Xylon’s fight is over for the most part. Now, I’m here to help you fight. I
will return to Xylon, of course. But I’m needed more here, I think, right now.”
She smiled slightly. “Yes, you’re
definitely needed here.” Her pupils dilated as her gaze slid down his body. “My
appetite for food is sated. Now I have another hunger that needs feeding.” She
stood up and started toward the bed. She hesitated and looked over her
shoulder. “Are you joining me?”
He shot to his feet. “Oh yeah.” He felt
like running after her as if he was some young warrior-in-training getting
ready for his first alliance. She touched something deep inside him that he
never knew he had—an emotional-sexual joining of senses. So powerful. Was this
what Braden and Alexa felt? What Brianna and Sam felt? Now he understood their
special connection and why they fought so hard for that connection.
Jaeda untied the shift she was wearing and
let it fall to the ground. Her perfectly rounded butt caught Torque’s eye and
he practically groaned as she crawled onto the bed. He pulled off his shirt and
walked toward her. When she turned on the mattress, their gazes met and held.
“Lock entry and turn off your comm,” he
told her.
She reached over and set the lock. “I can’t
turn off my comm. There might be an emergency.”
“It’s important, Jaeda.” He intended to
brand her as his own tonight. There could be no interruptions. Even though she
had Xylon blood running through her veins, her multiple other genetics could
make the process difficult if not completed properly. “You understand?” He saw
her visibly swallow.
“You want to brand me. Tonight. Now.”
“Tonight. Now.” He hoped to see no
hesitation in her eyes. He needed her to want him as her mate just as much as
he wanted her.
“Doesn’t that require some sort of council
approval or something?”
“Fuck that. Besides, there is no council
anymore. Tonight, Jaeda. Yes?”
Her irises shifted to a darker gray. She
nodded and reached over to shut off her comm unit.
Torque’s cock grew hard inside his pants
and he quickly shucked them. His heart raced faster than ever. Not even in
battle had he felt this shaky on his feet. The realization that he’d finally
found his other half was almost too good to believe. He stepped up next to the
bed, admiring Jaeda’s perfect body. Yes, he noticed some war scars here and
there. But to him, she was perfect.
She rose up onto her knees and slowly
grazed her fingernails down his chest. His muscles twitched at the exquisite feeling.
“I have read about the process. About joining with a Xylon male. Everyone will know
that I am yours.”
“Yes. My mark will be on the back of your
neck. Do you have an implanted Xylon chip?”
She nodded. “Laszlo saw to it.”
“Good.” Xylon chips implanted in
multi-genetic males or females were not one hundred perfect effective and
oftentimes they didn’t work at all, especially the communication nodules. But
it was needed for the brand to take properly. Once done, they would be connected
in all ways—physically, mentally, and emotionally—for life.
He leaned forward and covered her lips. So
soft. So sweet. She opened her mouth for him and he slipped his tongue inside.
He took his time, tasting her and enjoying the moment. When he felt her fingers
curl around his cock, he deepened the kiss, needing her more than he’d ever
believed possible.
Jaeda’s hand moved up and down the length
of his shaft. He broke their kiss and groaned. “I love the way you taste. The
way that you touch me.” He skimmed his lips over her cheek and down to her
neck, where he stroked her delicate skin with his tongue. He allowed his hands
to glide down her back and over her butt, touching her lightly, teasing her
warm flesh.
“I need you inside me,” she whispered in
his ear. She pulled away from him and laid on her stomach.
Torque smiled. She had positioned herself
for branding. The brand was formed with the mouth of a Xylon male and placed on
the back of the female’s neck during orgasm. Each brand had its own unique design,
designating a specific joining.
He kneeled on the bed beside her. When he
brushed the hair off her neck, he felt her tremble. Not in fear. He could feel
her need. It raged hot and heavy and true. He lightly placed a kiss on the spot
where his mark would go.
“Do it, Torque. Join us as mates.”
He moved between her spread legs and pushed
some pillows beneath her hips. “We need to orgasm together. I’ll place the
brand at the same instant. The pleasure will mask any discomfort.”
She nodded then moaned when he slipped his
fingers between her thighs. She was wet and ready for him. He was ready for
her. His cock was hard, the tip moist with pre-come. Both of their bodies felt
hot and extra sensitive.
With more gentleness than he’d ever used
with a woman, he pushed forward, sliding his cock into her pussy. She pushed
back against him, enveloping his cock deeper, as he curled his fingers around
her hips.
Torque groaned and moved his hips, fucking
her slowly. He tried to control his body, needing to wait until she climaxed
before he allowed himself to come. Softly, he brushed away the hair from the
nape of her neck and held it aside.
Jaeda’s pussy massaged his cock,
contracting around the thick flesh then releasing. “Ah, fuck.” He wanted to
surge forward and come hard inside her. “I can’t hold out much longer.”
Her fingers curled into the bedding beneath
them. She undulated her body and her skin began to flush. Jaeda moaned and her
muscles tightened. She arched her back. “Now, Torque!”
When he felt her climax, he fucked her
harder and after three quick strokes, he came. “Ah, yeah!” He adhered his lips
to the back of her neck and branded her with his mark.
As the mark seared into her skin, she came
again and almost bucked him off her, but he held her tightly—one hand in her
hair and the other arm now around her waist. He moved his hips aggressively,
unable to go slowly.
Jaeda screamed out her pleasure in the
shifter tongue. Her orgasm seemed to go on forever. Then, finally, they both
collapsed onto the mattress.
The room grew quiet except for their heavy
breathing. Torque moved slightly off her and rolled onto his back. She turned
toward him and snuggled against his chest.
“It’s done,” he whispered in her ear.
He felt moisture against his flesh and knew
she was crying. The intensity of the joining had affected both of them. He held
her closer and massaged her back. Gently, he slipped his fingers beneath her
hair to feel the mark on her neck. It had taken.
She raised her head and kissed him lightly
on the lips. “A new life.”
“Yes. For us and for our people. There is
much to look forward to, my love.”
I will stay by your side, loving you
completely, until my soul leaves my body, and even then, we will somehow unite
in the afterlife for all eternity…
As if she’d heard his
thoughts, she looked up at him and smiled.
Ruth D. Kerce got hooked on writing in the fifth grade when
she won a short story contest—a romance, of course. And she’s been writing
romance ever since.
She writes several subgenres of romance—historical,
contemporary and futuristic. Her books are available online in many internet
bookstores. Her short stories and articles are available on several websites.
She has won or placed in writing contests and hopes to continue to write
exciting tales for years to come.
Ruth welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
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