Ash: Love Me Harder - Alien Paranormal Romance (10 page)

Where was she? Looking around, she realized she was alone even though she sat in the middle of a trail. Was this Earth? Had she gone back in time? She blinked unable to see. It was all a dream. An angry tear threatened to fall but she dashed it away. Her heart was being ripped out of her chest at the realization that Ash was just a dream. But where was she? Her parents wouldn’t leave her sitting in the middle of a mud road.

The sound of something big coming her way made her stand. Her ears demanded she run, preserve herself. Her throat ached as she held back the scream of terror on her lips. Her hands were at her side, her legs pumped and her feet moved without her brains permission. She was running a race in which she never wanted to participate.

“I’m going to die,” went through her brain, scaring her more.

“Brook.” She thought she heard her name but she wasn’t stopping.

There were lots of things she didn’t know but she was sure of this one. This wasn’t her world. This wasn’t Earth. Her lungs caught fire as she ran and her legs slowed. No, no, no, she chanted repeatedly. It would get her, harm her. No, she screamed as she tripped over a log—was it a log—and fell face first into the dirt. Dirt that happened to be red.

“Brook.” A red monster stood over her, his voice was soft and sad. “I told you not to run.”

“Ash?” She looked up at him still unable to see clearly.

Was this still part of the dream she had? Had what she lived so far been real and this was somehow an extension of it?

“Shh, let me help…your eyes. Close them, Brook, trust me.”

She trusted him. There would never come a time she didn’t trust him. It was instinctual, this belief that he would destroy the world to keep her safe. She closed her eyes.

A huge weight settled on her eyes pushing her down into the ground then something warm bathed each eye gently. She felt a peace that seeped through her when he finally moved away from her giving her some breathing space.

“Open your eyes, Brook.”

She did taking it slowly hoping to be able to see, but not wanting to expose her healed eyes to too much light. A smile took her lips—she could see. Ash was sitting across from her hunched down ready to chase her down if she ran.

“I won’t run from you.” He settled down relaxing a bit. “Guess I got confused, turned around. I didn’t know what was happening or where I was.”

“You’re in the world of my beast. The dominant portion of my DNA. I wasn’t expecting it either. None of my brothers described it happening like this for them, but they did caution me that it happened differently for each of them.”

“Does this mean anything?”

“Just another confirmation of what I have known for hundreds of years. You are my mate.”

She went to her knees and crawled over to him, with a sigh she settled into his embrace.

“I love lying against this side of you as much as I love lying beside the male.”

“I tease my brothers and call them tame. I went to see Sergey once, he and Lorali were outside. They were lying beside the pond, he was in his beast form, and she simply snuggled up to him.”

“Did it make you sad?”

“Yes. I was happy for them but I wanted that. I wanted you to be by my side and to not fear me.”

“I don’t. I was confused thinking it was all a dream and maybe I was back in Cryo.”

He nodded stroking her body. “Do you want to explore the world?”

“I thought you would never ask.” She tilted her head before lifting up and placing a chaste kiss on his cheek making him growl. She giggled liking the feeling of his growl against her sensitive skin.

“How are we talking?” she asked as she managed to get to her feet.

“We connected, I’m not sure how. You’re in my thoughts, memories that I have of my father. The dominant part of my DNA.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” She placed her hand on his huge forearm and followed him as he led her down the road.

“Created history 101. We are a mixture of one female and several different blends of male DNA. Each group of six share the same DNA but in differing amounts as if the scientist were trying out each blend to make the deadliest warrior possible.”

“Is that why you and your brothers look so different? The same with Dante and his brothers?”

“Yes, in each of us the scientists picked a new DNA specimen to be the primary and added bits of the other to spice up the cocktail before they impregnated the female.”

“How did they get the female to agree to that?”

“She didn’t. They killed her and harvested her eggs and any other DNA material they felt they needed from her.”

“Ash, I’m so sorry. To never know your parents.”

“You miss yours?”

“I do.”

“If you could go back?”

“I would love to go back, Ash, just so I could hug them one last time, but the past can’t be redone and I won’t leave you.”

The trees were giving way to more open areas. In the distance she saw a city of light and wonder.

“Is that where you’re from?” Awe was etched in her voice because it was truly the city of the future that she expected to see on Earth but obviously not yet.

He picked her up and ran getting them closer to the city with his long heavily muscled legs. She laughed and clutched his neck. When he put her down, she realized they were standing in an area that reminded her of a park. It was on the outskirts of the alien city.

“Are we going in?”

He nodded moving as if he were in a trance.

“Ash,” she shook his arm. “What’s wrong?”

He blinked his eyes and looked at her. “I…I don’t know what happened. There was someplace I needed to be, something I needed to see, but what?”

He held out his big paw and she took it. They walked into the city. The buildings were skyscrapers higher than she could see disappearing into the clouds. The vehicles in the sky were more sophisticated than the hovers she had seen on Earth.

The aliens walking the street looked just like Ash only in a range of colors. They were beautiful with eyes that ran from diamond clearness to black onyx with a sheen that made them glow.

“Do you wish you were here among your people?”

“They are only part of my people, Brook, and no I have no desire to be here except maybe to visit one day when we do a walk about of the galaxy.”

His strides lengthened forcing her to run to keep up with him. They walked into one of the buildings that was elegantly appointed. He stopped at the door holding a finger up to her and motioning her to stay still. One movement from him and they were on a different floor in a room that looked like an elaborate court where royalty met.

“I don’t understand?” The woman speaking was smaller than the male in the room. The hair that covered her body was a soft brown and she had green shimmering eyes.

*~*~*~*

“The A’rouk.”

“What do I care about the A’rouk or some insignificant blue planet. I care about you and the fact that you’re planning to die for something the A’rouk told you. If I could I would wipe them out of the galaxy!”

“Don’t speak like that.”

“Why? It’s ok for them to suggest that the mate of my heart give up his life for their visions, but I’m not allowed to threaten their lives.” She screamed at him kicking a colorful pillow on the floor.

“Please, Akton, don’t do this. I don’t care about the son you will one day father with your death, I care about us and our children. If a war comes to our planet we will survive it and you know it.”

“What about what comes after the war? What about the greed, the overwhelming need to reach out and control? What then, my heart? Should we close our borders and allow the other planets to fend for themselves, or should we send an emissary to help to bring peace back to a dying galaxy?”

She was softly crying this time. “A peaceful galaxy will not negate the fact that you’re not here. It won’t keep me warm or help me with our youth as they grow. Why can’t your brother do it? He is alone with no one to call the mate of his heart.”

“It is my task. Only I can do it.” The door opened as four children ran to them hugging their parents.

“We’re back, we had so much fun. Teacher took us to the new park and explained life before we came together as one,” the tallest one said basking in the spot light.

His father ruffled the fur on his head. “You will have to tell me all about it.”

“Did you know that others died to make our world peaceful?’ The short one spoke, it was the sweet voice of an adorable little girl as she drew out her words. Her wide eyes looked at her mother.

Her mother bent down and picked her up burying her head in her daughter. She whispered, “I know, Emokun—daughter of my heart. Sometimes we have to make the hard choices for peace.”

With a final look at Akton, she walked out taking the children with her. Akton fell to his knees.

“My son, what I give up for you is a good life. I live with the mate of my heart. I love her and my children. You will be my last son. What you bring to your world is necessary and will allow this world to continue to thrive. Do whatever it takes to protect those around you. By doing that you will protect what I no longer can.” He rose and followed his mate.

*~*~*~*

“Ash?” Brook gave him a look not understanding.

“That was my father, Brook. He gave his life so that I may be born, that my brothers may be born because they carry a part of him also. I carry the most.”

“How can we even be here, seeing this?”

“My mother’s contribution.”

“What does it all mean?”

“Long before any of us were created, someone, maybe the A’rouk,put a plan in motion.

“You know the name of the medical center I was revived in is A’rouk.”

“The irony of that is not lost on me. It’s time to go.”

“Ash, do you think he was talking about you?”

“If he was, what could it mean?”

She shook her head and took his hand. It sounded more like a riddle and maybe a warning to do right. Her eyes closed against her will. When they reopened, she was standing in his arms at the point. They were home.

“We never moved.” She looked around just to be sure.

He put her to the side and changed quickly finding the clothes he discarded.

“What’s wrong?”

“We’ve been here to long, unprotected. Time to go home.”

She followed him as they walked amid the trees and across the field with the tall grass. Turning, she shaded her hands looking for their vehicle. A smothered scream of shock went up when she spotted it. Ash’s inhuman growl of anger confirmed what she was seeing. Their hover was on fire. It blazed as if in the center of a bond fire.

Ash grabbed her hand and they ran.

She panted as her legs pumped trying to keep up with his long stride. He slowed down long enough to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder caveman style then his legs picked up their Earth eating rhythm.

Cinching her arms around his middle, she hung on for dear life as her body bobbed up and down and her head tried to swing in an unnatural direction. Were they being chased? Better yet was that laser fire, because no one was stupid enough to shoot a gun at them, projectile weapons were no longer in fashion.

They moved into a small alley between two buildings. Without realizing it, she found herself holding her breath. Ash put her down on her feet while they waited to see if their hiding place would be discovered. She could hear the shouts of men looking for them.

There was a shout of ‘fan out’ followed by running feet on the street in front of them. She put her hand to her mouth not wanting to make a sound to give them away. The footsteps faded and she turned wide-eyed to look at Ash. He shook his head and she nodded, pressing further back onto the wall and keeping silent. They waited another few precious minutes before he headed further into the alley with her making a conscious effort to put her feet in his footsteps.

They peaked out when they reached the back of the alley. Not finding anyone chasing them, he led her cautiously across the street to what looked like an unmarked building. Quickly they crossed the wide open space between the two buildings and disappeared into a door that opened for them.

Ash shut the door beside them and leaned against the wall.

“Are we safe?” Brook whispered, not feeling safe at all.

“No,” he shook his head.

Pushing off the wall, she looked around the room. The space was smaller than she thought given the size of the building on the outside. It had several chairs that had seen better days as well as two tables and what looked like an ancient cell phone.

The walls looked like brick but felt smooth to the touch; they were some sort of an illusion being generated but she couldn’t figure out what it was.

Ash nodded his head as if he was satisfied with what he was seeing and directed her to a chair. He sat and pulled her down onto her lap. There was no complaining from her, she had the best seat in the house.

“This used to be an interrogation room.”

“Who was being interrogated?”

“Aliens, humans, hybrids, anyone the military deemed threatening.”

“That’s good; our military would never hurt us.”

“I’ll let you talk to Sergey and Lorali about that someday.”

She nodded confused. “Why do the walls look like one thing but feel like another?”

“They act as a damper. No signal can get out of here and none can get in. They’re also sound proof so unless you know where this room is you won’t be finding it.”

“So we can’t contact anyone while we are in here?”

“No.”

She sat back in his lap absorbing that bit of news. How would they get out if they couldn’t reach the outside world? She thought of Jaz. Was she wondering where she was? Had she tried to call her and reached nothing but silence? What if they didn’t make it out alive? That really seemed highly unlikely but the Patron had proven he would not give up. Her life meant nothing to him. All he wanted was her money, something he didn’t need, but she didn’t need it either.

“Ash, what if I just gave the Patron my money? Turned it over to him lock, stock, and barrel. He would have no reason to come after me or you or the others. We would all be safe and free of him.”

“You would do that?” He looked at her his eyes glowing red as he studied her face.

“Yes, if it meant we would all be safe.” She smiled as she watched him warming up to her plan.

She could go to school. She had always wanted that. College. She would be a married college student but people did that all the time. She would maybe do what Jaz was doing and help others who had been frozen like her. She could see it now, Ash could teach her how to drive. She wouldn’t tell them she lived on the actual ground and she would commute. She hugged him tight and told him her plans.

“I love your plans and if you want to go to college that will be arranged, but it’s a no to giving your money to the Patron.”

“Why?”

“You would be simply feeding the beast. Once he beat you into submission, he would simply move onto another family or families to beat into submission. In addition, he will not allow you to live unless you bow down to him. The only thing he admires is power and the only thing that can stop someone like him is power. He’s chasing us because we have the power. The minute we let him get close enough to think he has the power we will both be dead.”

“I don’t like dead and neither will the Patron. I can think of nothing worse than Aran and Dante hunting me. Which is what will happen to the Patron if something happens to either one of us.”

“Get comfortable, we may have a long wait.” He shifted her in his arms bringing her closer.

“What are we waiting for?”

“Our ride.” His voice was close to her ear causing it to tingle as his breath blew across it. He nipped her earlobe drawing a low sultry sound from her lips.

His tongue came out to lick the shell of her ear while her hand found his head allowing her fingers to comb through his long red hair.

“Beautiful, mate,” he whispered coming in for a kiss.

His lips moved between hers like a heat seeking missile. She pulled him into her mouth sucking on his tongue as the intoxicating taste of honey swam through her senses.

She slipped her hands under his shirt feeling his heated skin as her eyes focused on his hard nipples that she could just see through the tee he had on. They were stiff begging for her touch. She kissed him again as her fingers stroked him turning up the heat. Their tongues did a dance as old as time, making them pant their pleasure.

“Your kisses are so intoxicating.” His words had her heart beating double time.

Could she die from pleasure? Had it ever happened before? Because he had her flying high. For a minute the thought of falling from this high seized her, then she dismissed it. Something’s were worth the risk and Ash was one of those things.

She took his nipple into her mouth shirt and all. His hands clenched around her hips when she bit him. Air hissed out and he pressed her head closer to his chest so she did it again. Punishing the small peak, she rewarded it by sucking on it before laving it with her tongue.

His hand moved to her breast making them look small in his big hands. He took her shirt off and this time not fooled he pulled the invisible bra off also. Tossing them to the side, he ran his hands over her breasts soothing them when she wanted to feel his fingers pinching, pulling and tugging at them. She threw her head back, arching her neck and back as she pushed her breasts closer for his examination.

“Needy mate,” he chuckled, “is there something you want?”

Her voice came out in a strangled moan as she pressed her breast nipple first into the palm of his hand. He grasped around her nipple and pinched it.  Pleasure speared through her, encompassing her belly and moving down to her empty pussy that was clenching and unclenching, looking to be filled.

“You make me feel like the most desirable woman in the world.”

“You are the most desirable woman in my world, Brook. There’s no one in the galaxy who compares to you.”

She smiled pulling his shirt up until she was able to get it over his head. All she needed was to be the center of his world. It was more than enough. She licked her finger and played with his nipple while he sucked hers deep into this mouth making her open wide on a small O. He knew what he was doing with his tongue and teeth on her.

She bent her head, using her hands to caress him as he placed kisses on her forehead. Her hips arched as her pussy seeped and her body became his. He looked up at her the red in his eyes consuming the white of them. Her body went still as she understood he was showing her all of him hiding nothing. She would either take him or leave him.

With incredible tenderness, she cupped his face giving him long drawn out kisses before she kissed each eye as he closed them for her.

“Your eyes turn me on as much as the rest of your body does.” She latched onto his nipple pulling it into her mouth and licking at his skin.

“You taste like honey but there is no sweetness overload with you. Every lick gives me just enough, increasing the hunger never dampening it.”

She licked him again and allowed her hand to fall to the thickness hidden behind his jean-clad lower body. A small growl came from him before he flipped her on his body. She was now lying on her back with her head supported by his bent knees and her rear lying against his chest.

The smile on his face was sinister in the most erotic way. His hand flipped to the button on her jeans, undoing them. The rasp of the zipper filled the small room as she stared into his eyes.

He was promising her bliss and she wanted him to deliver. He put his hands on either side of her jeans and tugged them off together with the panties she was wearing. She felt wicked lying there on his lap exposed for his pleasure while he was still clothed.

He flicked her clit making coils of sensation whip through her body as her head felt like it belonged to a rag doll lulling to the side.

“Again,” she pleaded as bliss tore through him when he did it again.

Her body shook; her status as boneless rag doll was noted and posted for the world to see. There was nothing she could do but ride the high he was giving her. He tweaked her clit between his fingers eliciting a gasp from her lips that echoed around the room.

Taking his time while she squirmed on his lap, he inserted a finger into her. She was still tight and needy. When he inserted a second finger, little sounds of need came out. She shifted her hips riding his fingers. It felt so good to be full but she wanted more. Wanted his thick cock in her, pounding into her. Her hands went under her touching him, rubbing the ridge. He was thick and hard. She rubbed her rear against him as he worked his fingers into her.

“You’re trying my resolve, Brook. This is for you.”

“Mmm,” she replied as she worked the crack of her rear over his large thick erection.

“Watch out, Baby. You might find me buried deep back there one day.”

The thought of that sexy picture combined with his fingers curled deep within her made her body convulse. A scream tore from her lips as she fell over a cliff offering her a beautiful free fall into a pool of sensation. Her body sank deep until she finally drifted slowly to a stop.

“Soon,” she whispered, “I’m going to take you on this journey with me.”

He turned her around and held her tightly in his arms. She closed her eyes enjoying the peace.