Sex, Love, and Aliens, Volume 1 Read online

  His hands tugged at her coverings until finally they were both naked. The cataclysm was too close. Surely her body would ignite as the flames licked at her? Every move and breath fanning them hotter and brighter.

  He shoved her up against the wall, sandwiched with his body, and lifted, the slide of flesh on walls barely even impinging on her senses. Her legs wound around his waist, holding him close. His chest heaved in time with hers, his eyes glittering in the darkness.

  “I can’t wait. Not now.” The growl rumbled through his chest, abrading her distended nipples. The touch of his hard erection scalded her.

  Then slowly, with exquisite care he slid within her body. The tender friction filling every part of her until she couldn’t tell where she stopped and he began. Tears leaked from between her tightly closed eyes. “Cedun! I love you!”

  “Sert Bana Opta Quiot!”

  He moved, slow undulations that sparked off tongues of fire within her. Gia gasped, her body now stiff as her mind warned that she was close to total meltdown.

  Then her orgasm filled her senses, sending her blind.

  Her fingers dug tight, seeking to drag him closer, to share the sensations that flashed in her. “Love… Love… You.” The words were a mindless chant, and he answered with a ravenous kiss that stole what was left of her soul.

  Cedun joined her, holding himself deeply within her as he jetted his seed into her core.

  When it was done, he held her still.

  “It has never been like that. Never before. Only with you.” His eyes shone with such intensity, and now that she’d finally told him of her love, a great weight of concern fell away. After tonight, nothing could ever be the same again. Yet it felt right.

  Her heart melted a little further, and she brushed a finger through his hair. “Never for me either. Nothing could mean as much to me as you do.” She kissed him, desperate to make him understand, and when he responded in kind, the searing flash of arousal licked at her again. “I don’t think I’m ready…”

  Her legs dropped to the floor, floppy and boneless, and he grinned. “To be honest, neither am I. Come, we need a rest.”

  Her muffled snicker filled the quiet as they made their way to the bedroom, leaving the trail of discarded clothing behind.

  * * * *

  Cedun woke slowly, such a feeling of well-being filled him. “Gia?”

  His hands moved along the sheet. It was still warm. She was probably in the bathroom.

  He folded his arms behind his head, reliving the moment she’d made the declaration. “Deandara?”

  She didn’t answer, and this time disquiet fluttered in the back of his mind. Why wasn’t she answering? It was likely nothing serious, but still, he’d feel better knowing where she was. Especially as they hadn’t caught Garret.

  Cedun shoved the bed clothes aside, noting the dark green jacket. He frowned. It wasn’t his, and Gia had been wearing a pair of jeans and light shirt when he’d arrived home.

  “Gustran!” Panic assailed him as he chewed out the curse word. He shoved the bathroom door open but it was empty, a towel lying discarded on the floor.

  Now he raced down the hallway. She wasn’t in the kitchen, and the panic became greasy waves that lurched deep in his gut. He backtracked, finding his pants where they’d stripped in the hallway. His hand found a small container. The subdermal tracker.

  Nausea rose, but he beat it back. Now wasn’t the time to lose any trace of sense. He searched for and located his communicator. “Joruzan? He is… I think he has Gia.” His voice wobbled as did his legs, and he thrust a palm against the wall.

  “And Valerie too.” Joruzan’s voice was cold. Distant. Dangerous.

  “We will find them. But, Joruzan? I did not get an opportunity to tag Gia.” The truth was, right now she could be anywhere and the thought lanced him, sharp like a scalpel, carving at his heart.

  “I got to Valerie. She has her tracker. I was just about to contact you.”

  Cedun looked down at his pants, pooled on the floor. Without conscious thought he scooped them up and started dressing. “Come to me. We will find Garret, and this time, he will pay.”

  Joruzan materialized beside him. “I have got the tracker live, it is currently searching.”

  A small device the size of a cellphone sat in Joruzan’s palm. Cedun watched as it flashed slowly. The rein on his temper wore thin before the machine beeped.

  “Got them! Location of subdermal tracker?” Cedun’s heart beat a little faster.

  “Subdermal tracker is located twenty-seven point four six seven nine degrees south by one hundred and fifty-three point zero two seven eight degrees east. Distance, approximately sixty-nine point six kilometers via road.” The robotic tones echoed through the tense silence. So far away.

  “Can you pinpoint the exact location?” Cedun leaned closer to the tiny diagnostic device.

  “Location is accurate to one hundred and fifty meters.”

  “Joruzan, can we link the location via our transmitters?”

  Joruzan nodded and set to work, tweaking the parameters of his personal unit then doing the same with Cedun’s. “That should work.”

  Cedun held up a hand. “Let me grab my stunner from the kitchen, then I am ready.”

  They’d worked together before, so Joruzan was already attuned to the way Cedun worked. He waited the minute it took Cedun to collect his small weapon then rejoined him. “Ready?”

  Cedun nodded, and together they depressed the transmission buttons and the world melted away.

  Chapter 5

  The room was small—tiny really. Valerie lay on the bed, her mouth, hands, and feet bound tightly. Her eyes were dagger points of blue fire, and Gia was pleased they weren’t aimed at her. Gia wanted to comfort her and get away, but she too was firmly tied to a chair. Only her mouth was free.

  “It’s okay, Valerie. I’m sure Joruzan and Cedun will come looking for us.”

  Valerie blinked furiously at her and muffled something.

  “That’s exactly what I was hoping for.” The door before her had opened while she’d been trying to settle her mother.

  “Why? Why, Garret? I mean, you had me before and Cedun’s presence never seemed to bother you. You were the one that took off with Floss.”

  He leered and her stomach rolled at the foul smell that emanated from his mouth. He laughed into her face, and she shrank away. “It was never really about you, baby cakes. You were just the sexy icing on top. Every time I used your luscious little body I was slamming it home to the Ba’Tua. See, Lover Boy was always bad at hiding his emotions. He wanted you and I had you. It was just unfortunate things came to a head earlier than I planned.” Garret shrugged, and Gia’s mouth dried a little more.

  “What do you mean? Did you know Cedun before?” But Cedun had never mentioned him. Another layer of confusion piled up.

  “The Turaa would never know me. I’m just a lackey. A half Galecian lackey at that. Less than the dirt beneath his feet. I grew up on Dirustandi, the son of a human whore, who sold herself to a Ba’Tua after she stole me from my father. He’d found her in a slave market. All he wanted was that she pay for her way with her body. She ran away with a Ba’Tuan freighter crew. But I knew and remembered. My roots were always Galecian. When the time came, I made contact and they took me home. Trained me. Gave me purpose. Then they set me free.” The far-away look in his eyes wasn’t sane, she didn’t think. It froze the marrow in her bones.

  Garret turned away, and for the first time Gia noted the lank greasy hair and stale sweat that filled the air. This wasn’t the Garret she knew, and that made him all the more dangerous.

  “What… What did they train you for?” It was like picking at a scab, each new piece of information hurt and scared her, but she needed to know. Once she had all the information maybe she could plan a way to get herself and Valerie free.

  “You’re just a dumb human, happy to live in your secure little bubble. You were happily ignorant of others who want w
hat you have. We need your resources, so I was sent ahead as an advance scout. Then the Ba’Tua arrived.” He smiled, a cold uptick of thin lips. “That’s when I saw him. I saw the way he looked at you and knew it was time for my personal vengeance on the Ba’Tua and on him.”

  Stall him. Play for time. Find something that will give me an edge and maybe he’ll change his mind. Gia’s eyes flicked back and forth, looking for potential weapons. Hints. Anything that would help end this growing nightmare. “You don’t sound like—”

  “Like the Ba’Tua? Why would I want to? I’ve been here long enough to learn to speak as you do.” His nostrils flared as he turned back, ran a light finger over the v-neck of the thin nightshirt she’d covered herself with when he’d turned up. “I refused to go back, because you are my personal way of shoving it up the Ba’Tua and particularly Turaa Cedun. You were good in the sack, it’s true, but even that wasn’t enough reason for me to care.”

  He whispered the last words against her temple and she knew, deep down, that the cold, brutish nature he was showing now was the real Garret.

  “So now you’re here. I’m going to give you one last lay, then baby girl, your usefulness is up.” The words were cold and impersonal, and she started to shiver and shake. He meant exactly what he’d said.

  His hands rose to the buttons of his jeans, and the bitter tang of nausea assailed her again.

  “Please… Please don’t do this, Garret. I haven’t done anything.”

  He laughed, the sound malevolent. It chilled her to the core. “No, but he has. So you will both pay.”

  Gia’s eyes flicked to Valerie, her face so white. “Don’t look! Please, don’t look.” Tears pricked and streamed as she pleaded with her mother. Looking in her mother’s eyes, she saw the torment of knowledge on Valerie’s face.

  Then something was shoved into her mouth and Garret leaned in close. “Don’t want you upsetting your mama now. After all, she’s next.”

  Hard hands tore the nightshirt from her body, and she whimpered. If only Cedun would save me, but he’d have to find us first. He’d be too late.

  * * * *

  Cedun and Joruzan materialized outside a shabby building with a locked door. More than anger suffused Cedun, giving him an adrenaline rush. His muscles rippled as if with a life of their own. He avoided the fact that Garret had both Valerie and Gia for nearly an hour. That he could have done anything to her. His mind whispered insidious thoughts. She could be dead. The thought stole his breath and he wheezed.

  “Let it go, Cedun. We will find them.”

  He couldn’t look at Joruzan, sure he’d see a similar fear in the other man’s eyes. Cedun fought the sense of vertigo. Defeated it. He glanced again at the door then Joruzan. “Kick it down.”

  Joruzan, his face set in granite like lines, nodded. They reared back together, lifted their legs, and rammed the wood. It splintered beneath their combined efforts.

  A scuffling sound caught his attention and he was off, legs pumping. The door was open and he looked within, his heart thudding hard when he saw Valerie tied to the bed, her mouth gagged. Joruzan shoved past him, throwing himself to his knees.

  “Valerie…”

  The anguish in Joruzan’s voice speared Cedun as he looked for Gia, but there was no sign of her. Fear was more than a cold trickle now, his body felt as if it were encased in ice. “Where is Gia?”

  Valerie looked at him, her face pale. “He… He took her through there. He’s planning… Dear God! He’s mad!” Tears oozed down her cheeks, but he couldn’t stay. Gia was still in danger. Needed him.

  The door Valerie had indicated was shut, and he laid a shaking hand on it. The whole time his mind circled in a loop of ‘Let her be safe.’

  The knob turned without a squeak and he peered inside. There, looming over his precious Gia, was Garret. Naked and fully aroused, ready to rape her.

  Cedun’s muscles coiled tight as he took in the view before him. Gia was on the bed, spread-eagled, legs and hands tied. She too was naked and pulling at the bindings.

  Cedun gave a roar of anger. Fury, such as he’d never felt before, gave him the speed he needed. He charged, only stopping when he’d knocked Garret aside. He didn’t feel the impact, but somehow his hands rose, gripping the man at his neck, squeezing.

  “I will kill you for this.” The words were a feral snarl as the primitive need to protect and avenge his mate rose. Death is all he deserves.

  “Gggg… Ghhhhh….” The gurgle tore from Garret’s throat, his vocal chords rippling beneath Cedun’s grip. Fingernails tore at him, but he ignored the sting of Garret trying to loosen his hold.

  “Cedun, let him go.” A hand landed on his shoulder. He wanted to pull away from the touch, but his hand loosened just a little. It was enough for the man to wheeze and his face to lose the bright purple tones.

  “Now is not the time to act in anger. Let him go.”

  He turned to Joruzan, who now stood beside him. “He would have…” He struggled with the emotions that battered his mind and heart.

  “But he didn’t. We got here in time. Let him face trial.”

  How could he? How can you not, whispered his brain. Think of Gia. Cedun stilled, breathed deeply. Right now, he wanted to end Garret. It was like a drug, calling to him with a siren’s voice.

  A sound echoed through the room. Gia sobbed, and for a second longer the pain squeezed his heart and demanded that the creature they knew as Garret should be put down like a rabid dog.

  Slowly, he released Garret and watched as he fell to the floor. The stench of urine invaded his nostrils, and his contempt for the cowering creature grew.

  One step back then another, each was difficult. He spun and there was Gia, curled up in a fetal ball, Valerie’s arms around her shoulders. The tattered remnants of clothing covered her heaving body. He shook, hoping that he hadn’t been too late. That she wouldn’t cringe from him. Cedun’s heart shriveled at the sounds she made. They were the noises a desperate and helpless woman made.

  He advanced and dropped to the floor beside her, and for a moment she cringed then launched herself into his arms. His enfolded her.

  “I was not too late?” he asked. She shivered in his arms, and his heart cracked just a little more.

  “No. You saved me.” Her fingers dug into his shirt.

  He let go of the anger and breathed in her scent. “Then let me take you home.” He slid careful fingers under her body as the door was shoved open and his own guard arrived.

  * * * *

  Gia stepped into the shower. The need to wash away Garret’s touch had been a palpable force. Her stomach remained touchy and food carried no interest right now.

  He’d been taken away. Joruzan had assured her that Garret would receive psychiatric care before facing the judicial gathering, where he would answer for his crimes. A modicum of sympathy raised its head. Gia supposed somewhere deep within, he knew he’d done the wrong thing. Then she filed that knowledge away. It wouldn’t help her now.

  Her hands splayed on the shower walls as she welcomed the pelt of hot water. Now she could cry and let go of the fragile barrier she’d somehow forged. Cedun had walked cautious circles around her, and that hurt almost as much as the scrapes and abrasions that decorated her body.

  Had she somehow caused Cedun to find her less than what he wanted? Had Garret’s touch shattered the connection between her and Cedun?

  “It’s not fair!” Her wail was lost in the torrent of water as was the sound of the door opening. A gentle touch on her shoulder had her flinching and throwing herself to the side. She slipped and nearly hit the floor but Cedun was there, his arm slung around her waist, stopping her fall.

  “You are well? Unhurt?” Such uncertainty threaded through his voice, and it sliced at her.

  Gia raised her eyes to his for the first time since he’d found her in the room. “I… Yes. I’m fine.” She felt anything but. The chasm between them scared her silly. Had she lost him?

  Shaking
hands raised her until she stood before him, the water sluicing down both their bodies. He was still fully clothed while she was naked. Disadvantaged.

  Devastated.

  Gia gathered what remained of her dignity and stepped back, sliding her arms around herself. “Why are you here?” She searched his face but found no hint of what was going on. His face was an inscrutable mask.

  His gaze traveled over her, stopped on her defensive stance, and his shoulders drooped. “I was worried about you.” The strangled tones in his voice shook her. “I nearly failed you, Gia. I…”

  How could she answer him? “You came looking for absolution?” She bit her lip to suppress the moan of pain.

  “No. I…” He stopped and shook his head. “I needed to know… You said he did not hurt you.”

  “He hurt me, but not physically. Not really. But I need to know why you are here. Why now, Cedun?”

  “Because I could not stay away!” He surged forward, winding his arms around her. “He took you. Meant to brutalize you, and I did not… I couldn’t find you. I have never felt so scared.” Cedun shuddered. “I nearly lost you, and that is… It is not acceptable.” His voice thickened on the final word.

  Gia realized he’d been holding his own emotions inside, not building a wall around himself. Not pushing her away. Relief and love swelled. “I love you, Cedun. I always will. You saved me. In every way that counts.”

  His mouth crashed down on hers, every bit of restraint scattered to the winds, and he pulled her closer. When he tugged away they were both heaving. “Come.”

  A terse word turned off the stream of water and he pulled her from the stall, then folded a fluffy towel around her.

  His own wet clothes he discarded and pulled a towel around his waist while she watched him in silence. Then, grasping her hand, they left the bathroom and he led her to the bed. It dipped as she settled herself on the side. What is he up to?

  With a careful movement he dropped to one knee and she stared at him. “What…”

  Cedun slipped a finger over her lips. “I believe this is the custom?” He winked, and she barely breathed. “Gia, I wanted to do this somewhere beautiful, to give you your dreams, but this is right. Because it is about you and me. Our future together. I have spoken with De’ Valerie, and she is agreeable.” He shook his head. “This is not the words…” He growled his frustration and a smile blossomed on Gia’s face. The slow rhythm of her heartbeat sped up. Was he…was he proposing to her?