Текст книги "Wed To The Alien Prince"

Автор книги: January Bell

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

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GEN

“I feel like a clown.”

“Shut up. I barely put any on you.” Bex wields the pot of red-tinted balm like a weapon, and I eye her warily. “It’s literally cheek stain. It’s not like I put falsies on you and airbrushed your skin.”

“I’m glowing already,” I tell her irritably. “Don’t start talking about airbrushing my skin.”

“Yeah, honestly, we could bottle whatever the hell it is you drank, sell it on Earth, and make an absolutely killing in the beauty industry.”

“You said I look like acid trip Tinkerbell.”

“It’s a mood. It’s a look. It’s a lifestyle.”

I glare at her, and she dabs something soft on my lips.

“Okay,” Niki interrupts from where she’s sprawled across something that looks like a sofa, but isn’t quite a sofa. “Let me get this straight.”

She pauses, tapping on what they call a comm tablet, and looks like a futuristic piece of smokey glass. Elon Musk would shit a brick if he saw it. “You fell through a trap door, solved death trap after death trap, and then decided to drink this bioluminescent liquid, and Kanuz thinks it’s the treasure of their goddess?”

“It looked. Like. Water.” I grit out. “It tasted like nothing. It wasn’t like I scooped radioactive looking shit in my mouth, Jacks!”

“For someone who said they were going to try to be nicer, you sure have a weird way of showing it,” Bex pinches my cheeks, and I glower up at her.

Niki snorts from where she’s watching us, her delicate blue slippers dainty and feminine. “And then the dinosaur imprinted on you, because they’re trained with lights as babies?”

“I haven’t quite wrapped my head around that myself,” I tell her.

“And you named him Steve,” Bex crows, clearly delighted with me. “Of all the names, why Steve?”

“I was hungry, tired, and it was the first thing that popped in my head.”

“I love the name Steve for a dinosaur,” Carmen pipes up from where she’s messing with the data she collected from me.

I pluck at the voluminous fabric of the pastel-colored dress that Bex called the shade of a sunrise at the beach. It’s pink. Nothing wrong with pink. I like pink.

It’s aggressively pink.

“This is what their women wore?” My lips twist to the side, imagining this shade of virulent pink on green skin.

“Nah, they mostly had blues and greens and yellows, but I sweet talked the fabric vendor into trying some new shades,” Bex tells me.

“Of course, you did,” I say.

“Pink is great on you, so shut up and let me get my hands on your hair.” She rubs her palms together, a gleam in her eye. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to give you a makeover.”

“There wasn’t anything wrong with how I looked.”

“I didn’t say there was. But your hair is gorgeous, and I was afraid if I told you that, you’d make me run or worse, do plyometrics before giving me demerits.”

I glare harder at her.

“Your face is going to get stuck like that, Princess.” She runs her fingers through my nearly dry hair.

“Our chain of command has disintegrated,” I tell Niki.

“Fuck the chain of command,” she says cheerily.

“Fuck the Federation,” Bex adds darkly.

“Fucking sounds like fun,” Carmen sighs.

We all stare at her. “What’s your story? What happened with your husband?”

She shrugs a shoulder. “I’ve barely seen him since we got to Edrobaz.”

Niki clears her throat. “So, Gen. The warlord trials.”

Carmen shoots her a grateful look.

“Yeah. What’s that all about?” I stretch, grateful for soft, clean clothes, clean skin, and a roof overhead. Bex makes a disgruntled noise, tugging my hair around.

It’s nice though. Sitting here, not worried about getting chomped by a mega snake, or a tentacle monster, with my friends. It’s really fucking nice.

“I wanted to have status here, and not just because of Draz.”

“Good for you,” I say, popping one of the little snacks they brought out while I showered into my mouth.

She clears her throat again.

“Something getting stuck in there?” I narrow my eyes at her.

Carmen laughs.

“I just thought… they’re in two weeks. Fourteen Suevan days. You are the princess now, and still our second in command. But I thought you might want to do the trials. In case you want to lead here, too.”

“Oh.” I pause, blinking at her. “That’s a good idea.”

“Abby and Juls are doing it with me, too.”

“Good for them.” I’m not too surprised to hear the newer recruits are interested in leveling up here. They’re both smart and ambitious, and Niki and I talked at length about their potential before we left for Sueva.

And now that potential will stay on Sueva.

“Niki… you didn’t know, right?”

“I wondered if you’d ask that.” Her face is serious, none of the humor or good-natured warmth she usually radiates present. I glare at my glowing hands. I don’t think I’ll use the word radiate ever again.

“No, I didn’t know. And I was so fucking mad. And worried about all of you. Draz and I were stuck in the jungle until last week, too. I didn’t know where any of you were, and I felt so mad at myself for insisting everyone take part in that ceremony…” Her throat bobs, but she blinks rapidly, keeping the tears at bay. “If you’re angry with me for giving the order, I understand.”

“Don’t be an idiot, Niki.” My voice is soft, and my chest squeezes. “The Federation fucked us all over, but you especially.” I shake my head. She was so proud and happy to have been picked to head up this mission, only for them to throw her away at the Suevans like so much garbage. “You should have been next up for a huge career bump, and instead they sold you off.”

“And you, too.”

“Yeah, but I’ve always been an asshole and a thorn in their side. I bet I was first on their list of women to sell off.”

Niki snorts, but we both know it’s true.

“How are the rest of the crew handling it?”

“Everybody’s still adjusting,” Bex says, combing her fingers through my hair. “It would be easier if our husbands weren’t acting so fucking weird about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“When they found out we’d been tricked, they refused to get near us. Besides, most of us still can’t communicate.”

“I want you to do the Warlord Trials with me, Gen,” Niki interrupts, her attention focused on me. “I think it will be good for the crew to see us both in action again. Good for morale, and it might help everyone settle into their new lives here more easily. Going back isn’t an option.”

“She needs to take it easy,” Carmen says.

“She’s fine,” Niki replies, arching an eyebrow at me. “Aren’t you?”

“Nothing a good night or two of sleep can’t fix.” And some rigorous talk therapy, but I know that’s not what she’s asking about. “When are they, again?”

“Two weeks. Two weeks to train and get ready. We work as a team.”

“Warrior princess Genevieve Durand,” Bex interrupts, tugging at my hair.

“What do I have to do?” I say, because I can’t say I’m not all in on this idea.

Niki’s lips curve into an evil smile, and I grin back at her.

We’re gonna kick some Suevan Warlord ass.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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GEN

After dropping by the main crew’s myza and taking stock of how everyone’s doing, Niki walks me through the streets of Edrobaz, pointing out the market and stopping to buy me a delicious, fizzy drink.

“I had a team sent to prep a myza for you and the prince to stay in,” she says. “Just in case you weren’t Stockholmed into liking him.”

I roll my eyes at her. “Thanks, Jacks.” I sip the drink, savoring the refreshing taste. “This is good.”

“It’s not all bad here,” she says quietly, rubbing her arm. “I know that all of this is… horrible, frankly, but I want to help the women carve out a life here, with or without their husbands. It’s the least I can do.”

“Niki, stop.” I take her by the arm, locking eyes with her. “None of this is your fucking fault. Those assholes at the Federation are the ones who take the blame.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to just forget about the crew and gallivant around Sueva with my hot husband while they suffer.”

“Obviously not, but that doesn’t mean you have to beat yourself up over a situation you had no part in.”

“I am the captain. They are under my command. And their lives were ruined under my command.”

“Because of our superior officers,” I say softly, shaking her arm. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

She inhales, and it’s a shaky breath. “Okay. I know you’re right…”

“But it’s hard. I hear you.” We lapse into silence, the sound of muttered Suevan conversations babbling around us like water in a stream. As we walk, my glow draws a lot of irritating attention from the few Suevans shopping.

“Are you okay?” I finally ask her, as we round a corner to a quieter street. Lightning bugs the size of hummingbirds flit overhead, bobbing illumination that casts a soft light.

She heaves a sigh, then smiles. “I am more okay now that you’re here. I was literally sick with worry over you. But I love Draz.” She shakes her head, her expression rueful. “I never would have imagined this life for me, but I do love him. We’ll figure the rest out as it comes.” Her hand goes to her stomach.

“Here it is,” she says, and my gaze flits to the myza in front of me. “And look, here they come.”

Sure enough, two hulking Suevans stride toward us. Draz, with his huge sword and devilish scar, and my Kanuz, smirking and swaggering beside him. They’re deep in conversation, but when Kanuz glances up and sees me, he does a double take, standing still as his gaze rakes over me.

Warmth heats my cheeks and chest, and Niki lets out a low laugh.

“I’ll go ahead and leave you two, for now. There’s a comm tablet in there with my info programmed in it already. I’ll call you in the morning and we can train for the Trials together.” She gives me an exaggerated wink, and I shove her shoulder as she laughs. “Don’t get too frisky, Durand. We have work to do!”

With that, Draz scoops her up in a hug, and Kanuz finally gets a grip of himself, walking towards me as the oversized fireflies dip and swirl overhead.

“My flower,” he says quietly, tucking a strand of stray hair behind my ear. I lean into the touch, smiling up at him.

He pushes the arched door open, and I sigh with relief at having him near again.

“The Roth is going to help,” he says, closing the door softly behind us as though he hasn’t just dropped the nuclear bomb of information.

“He what?!” I explode, my heart rate spiking as I stare, open-mouthed, at Kanuz. “You know as well as I do they can’t be trusted.”

“He has two brothers,” Kanuz continues, running his hands through his hair. “They are entering Suevan territory now, in a small freighter. He bargained to help us save their lives.”

“It’s a trick,” I exclaim, angry. I tug at the cropped, silky pink top they dressed me in, feeling stupid for being made up and draped in this silly dress. No wonder I stopped caring what I looked like. I don’t feel like I can be taken seriously in all this, even though it made me feel pretty and put together for the first time in years.

“I understand your apprehension, Gen.” He shakes his head slowly.

“You promised you’d rip out his spine for me!” I poke at his bare chest, and he catches my hand in his, some humor returning to his face.

“And you politely declined, if I recall correctly.”

“That doesn’t mean I think we should make an alliance with the Roth!”

“We are not making an alliance with the Roth. We are allowing one Roth’s brothers to leave our space with their lives in exchange for strategic information against the Roth Overlord’s operations.” His lips purse, and I stand still, letting the information compute, letting it get through the cracks in my initial anger.

“I didn’t think a Roth would even care about their family.”

“I was likewise surprised. Perhaps, next time, you will accompany me on business and I will be spared your anger because we can decide together.”

“Deal.” I heave a sigh, finally taking in the interior of our temporary home. “This is nice,” I say, changing the subject. I don’t want to think about the Roth. Not right now, at least. Right now, I want to hang out with Kanuz. I want to sleep. I want to sleep with Kanuz as part of our hanging out.

“It is nothing compared to my palace at Perzivor, but it will do. Were your companions safe and sound?”

“They are… Kanuz, what do you know about the Warlord Trials?”

“They are the ultimate test of strength, courage, and intellect for our people. Those who make it to the end become the leaders of our cities.”

“Niki is taking part in it. In two weeks... and I’m joining her.” I narrow my eyes, waiting for him to say he doesn’t want me to do it, that I’m a princess now or some other nonsense.

But Kanuz only grins wider, then clasps me to him. “I would be honored for my mate to be a warlord of Sueva. A princess and a warlord. Yes. I like that very much.”

“You’re not upset?”

“Why would I be upset?”

“Because… I didn’t talk about it with you first?” I’m grasping at straws.

“You do not need to discuss every decision with me. I am honored to hear out any problems you have, but your life is yours, as much as you are my mate, you are still your own person, are you not?” He scratches his chin. “I am more and more concerned about what your marriages look like on Earth.”

“I just thought you would be mad.”

“Did you want to have a fight?” He raises one eyebrow, perplexed.

“No,” I say, not sure what to do with my hands. “Of course, I didn’t.”

Suddenly, he slams me against the walls of the myza, caging me in with his broad arms on either side of me. “If it is a fight you want, my golden flower, I am happy to oblige your every whim. I did not know your passions had this edge, but I am more than willing to test how sharp you are.”

My heart speeds up, and I’m suddenly wet with desire. His mouth ravishes mine, and when I reach up to cup his face, his hands circle my wrist. Before I can react, he’s pressed them over my head, pinning them to the wall with one hand.

His other hand makes small circles on the exposed skin of my abdomen, his talons tickling at the seam of the blouse. “I like this outfit very much.”

“It’s different,” I say, my eyes closing as he kisses the sensitive flesh of my neck. A shiver runs down my spine, and I let out a soft moan.

“You like it when I’m firm with you. When I’m in charge. I can tell. I can smell it on you. I can smell the greediness from that wet cunt of yours.” His nose presses against the juncture of my neck and shoulder, and he inhales deeply, challenge in the statement.

My eyes fly open, and I’m more than game to rise to his challenge. “You want it like that, huh? You want to be in charge?”

“Are you going to let me, little flower?” His fangs graze my skin.

“Yes,” I say, and then jerk my hands from his loosening grip. Or, at least, I try to.

“Ah, ah, ah,” he murmurs. His lips curl into a smile against my neck, and then the pressure from his fangs increases. “You said you would let me.”

His hand slips under the fabric of my blouse, and he growls in approval as his fingers caress the pointed tip of my breast.

I let myself sag against him, more excited than I’d ever imagine I’d be by this little roleplay. His fingers loosen slightly on my wrists, and I grind against him, searching for more. Needing him.

His grip loosens even more, and then I yank my hands away, slipping under his arm and laughing wildly as my feet pad against the wood floor. I’m not fast enough though, not by far, and before I hit the doorway to the bedroom Kanuz is on me, his hands on my waist as he throws me over one shoulder.

I squeal, caught between laughter and arousal, and enjoying myself way too much. It’s like a wildfire, this thing between me and Kanuz. I keep expecting it to burn out, to be all smoke, but it burns hard and fast and catches everything in its wake.

With one arm around my waist, he strides through the door, then slaps my ass, hard enough to make me cry out in surprise.

“Is that what you want, Gen? You want that?” His voice is husky and raw, and my amusement at our little foreplay turns molten and dangerous.

Before I can answer, he tugs the fabric from my hips, exposing my bare ass, the pink garment falling to the floor. He rubs the palm of his hand against it, and I moan softly. His hand leaves my skin, and for a moment, I tense, thinking he’s going to spank me again.

But he doesn’t. Instead, his talon-less finger slips inside me, and I go still against him, savoring the sensation.

“So fucking ready for me.” He pulls his finger out, then tosses me on the bed, which I sink into, staring up at him as he licks my wetness from his hand.

He watches me with an avid gaze. We stay like that, waiting to see what the other will do. His chest rises and falls quickly, and I drink in the sight of him, his thickly muscled chest, the masculine set of his jaw, the full lips.

And then slowly, I spread my naked legs wide, daring him to touch me again. He’s on me in seconds, his mouth pressed against my pussy, his blunt fingers sliding inside me as he teases all around my clit.

I grind against his face, already near senseless with pleasure, and my orgasm comes so quickly it takes me by complete surprise.

Kanuz stands and rips his pants off. “I fucking love that. I love you, Gen. I love the noises you make when I make you come. I love how fierce you are, how soft for me you become. I will never have enough of you.”

“Kanuz,” I say, holding my arms out to him. He pulls me to the edge of the bed, thrusting inside me quickly, filling me up so hard and fast that I have no time to adjust to his size, no time to get ready for the overwhelming pressure and vibrations of his xof as it continues to stimulate my clit.

His hands bracket my hips, and he slams into me, a feral look on his face, his eyes locked on mine. He bends down, sucking my nipple into his mouth, and I arch into him.

“Yes,” I moan, “more.”

“More,” he growls, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin there, his hand slipping down the curve of my ass. I tense, but he makes a soothing noise, and then his fingers pressing against the tight pucker there, and as his xof vibrates, his mouth working my nipple, his cock deep inside me... It’s too much.

It’s enough.

I shatter, coming so hard that the world seems to fracture around me.

“That’s right, my flower, come for me,” he urges, releasing my breast and claiming my mouth with his, devouring my moans and incoherent sounds. “Come again. I know you can.”

I don’t think I can, but he slows his thrusts, laying me back on the bed and trailing small kisses over my face and neck, before flipping so I’m on top of him.

“I like this,” he growls, holding me upright as I writhe, blissed out yet building towards more. He fondles my breasts, his xof vibrating so hard that it’s all I can do not to fall into a limp orgasmed out puddle on top of him.

Instead, I lean forward and ride him, rising to his challenge.

“Now it’s your turn,” I whisper, closing my eyes as I lose myself to the rhythm of our bodies.

“Gen,” he moans, and I finally slump over, worn out, as he continues to thrust, his cock jerking as he comes deep inside me.

We stay like that for a long while, until our breath evens out, until I can form coherent thoughts again.

“I love you.” I kiss him slowly, and he returns it sweetly, cradling my head in his hands.

“I love you, too. Now you must get some sleep,” he says, tugging me off him and placing me on the bed. He gets up gracefully, walking away.

“Where are you going?” I ask, sitting up abruptly.

“To get a cloth to clean you off with,” he says, a confused look on his face. “Where else would I be going?”

“Oh. I don’t know.” I bite my lip, Niki and Bex’s words of warning crashing through my head.

“You are lying,” he says, irritation plain in his tone.

“Fine.” I lie back, and he returns a moment later, wiping off the evidence of our sexcapades with a cool, wet cloth and gentle hands.

“Are you going to tell me what you were thinking when you made this face?” He scrunches up his face, puckering his lips, looking for all the world like he’s just bitten into a lemon.

I burst out laughing. “I did not look like that.”

“Well, you were also glowing,” he says seriously, “but I cannot make my skin do that.”

I whack him with one of the little pillows littered on the bed.

He waits, one eyebrow raised.

“Fine,” I repeat, blowing out a breath. “The girls were telling me you have some kind of a reputation. They were worried about me.”

“And do you care that your husband has a past?” His features are arranged in careful neutrality. “I already told you as much.”

“Do you care that your wife has one?” I retort.

He takes my hand in his, pressing a kiss across my knuckles. “I only care that our future is together, my flower.”

I crawl onto him, hugging him to me as he runs his fingers across my bare skin.

“I am proud of you for joining the Trials,” he said. “No matter what happens.”

“No matter what happens?” I ask, jerking my head up to look at him. “What, you think I survived the temple but can’t survive a little Warlord Trial?” My chin juts out aggressively, the effect somewhat ruined by the fact he’s jiggling my ass with his hands.

“Oh, I know for a fact you can and will. I just like it when you get mad, Indiana Jones.”

I blink at him, then burst out laughing again, nestling under his chin. When I fall asleep in his arms, I’m smiling.

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