Celestial Beauty (6 page)

****

“
I knew we couldn’t trust him to keep his hands off
her.” Loc folded his arms, staring at Raz and Celeste as Raz plundered her
mouth. Loc’s rod was already so stiff and aching it had pulled his focus from
his job, and he found he’d had to re-wire the same circuit twice. It would take
a lot longer than a week to get off this rock of a planet if he didn’t find
some relief soon. But the sex droid now stuffed in the maintenance locker held
no appeal. The soft female in Raz’s arms was all he could think about.

Kue nodded towards the table. “At least from the half
empty plate he’s been feeding her properly.”

Loc groaned seeing Celeste press her soft, large
breast mounds against Raz’s chest. “I want the next kiss. You both have gotten
to feel her softness. I haven’t yet, and I want my turn.”

Celeste gasped as Raz let her up for breath, her eyes
wide and utterly dazed as she stared at him. The plump sheen of her lips made
Loc lick his own ready for a taste.
Damn
the Ice Plains!
He wanted her to look at him like that, too!

“
Brother, my turn.” Loc shoved at Raz’s shoulder at the
same time reaching for Celeste. Snatching her from Raz’s lap, in a calculated
move, into his arms, Loc grinned at his stolen prize. “I’ve got you now,
beauty.”

“
What? Oh!” Celeste gasped. She was so light and easy
to hold, with the feel of her chest mounds pressed against his chest, her
fingers gripping at his shirt, her eyes wide in confusion, but she didn’t
struggle. Loc swooped the distance taking up where Raz left off.

“
Damn it, Loc, wait. She doesn’t—”

Kue’s protest fell on deaf ears as the heat of her
mouth swamped him. She tasted oh so sweet, very different from the last female
he’d actually kissed. There was no cold detachment here, only sweet warmth and
soft human female. Oh yes, they’d done the right thing in deciding to make her
theirs.

Some annoying thing was tapping at his shoulders, and
Loc broke the kiss to scowl in irritation. Raz’s fist suddenly planted in his
face sending him reeling backwards. Celeste was snatched from his arms by Kue.

“
You idiot!” Raz raged at him. Loc steadied his feet
while rubbing his jaw, his eyes focused on his lost prize, then an angry faced
Raz. Celeste’s eyes were wide, in clear shock, staring back at him, while being
cradled in Kue’s arms.

“
There was a good reason I kissed her! It didn’t mean
you had to blunder in and act like a primordial bottom feeder!”

****

Shock rolled through her like a bucket of cold water.
What the hell was going on? What on earth was she thinking to let this Raz kiss
her like that? Not that she had been expecting it, or could have protested at
his strength and the utter intoxication of his kiss. Being snatched from his
arms into his brother’s arms, and his having an even worse effect on her
senses, left her utterly bemused.

Yes, that was the problem right there. She hadn’t been
thinking at all, and her body had taken over.

“
It’s okay, sweetness. Are you all right? Did one of
those idiots hurt you?” It took a moment to register she was now nestled into
Kue’s arms again, his golden eyes studying her.

Slowly, she shook her head, unable to find any words
but, “Are you going to kiss me, too?”

His gaze fell to her lips. She could still feel them
tingling from the aftermath of Raz’s exploration and Loc’s full passionate
assault. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but I won’t kiss you, sweetness, until
you ask me to.”

“
Oh, okay.” But the question she couldn’t keep from
blurting out. “Why did they?”

“
Oh I know why.” Kue’s voice dipped into a low growl,
which sent renewed shudders down her spine.

“
I had damn good reason.” Raz shoved Loc off him,
stalking towards her, making the hand resting on Kue’s lapel of his top
tighten. “My brothers and I are many things, and have done many things in our
time, but one thing we never do is tell lies.”

Her jaw dropped at Raz’s fierce words.

“
I am sorry for losing my temper, but when you said you
weren’t lovely, I needed to show you the truth, even if you didn’t believe it
yourself.”

“
I just wanted my turn.” Loc grinned roguishly. “How
can I resist a female so beautiful?”

Ice slid through her veins as it suddenly became very
clear what they wanted. Three large males, no doubt highly sexual, too. She was
nothing but a piece of meat to be used for their pleasure. “Put me down.” She
needed space between her and these men. Alien or not, they were still male,
walking around looking for the nearest thing to stick their dicks. As far as
she could tell she was the only available skirt on this ship of theirs.

Kue obeyed her command, setting her carefully on her
feet, his brow still dipped in concern, as he continued to study her.

Anger boiled through her veins, and her temper rose.
She’d had enough of people in her life using her as if she was nothing, and no
way did she believe Raz’s pretty speech of him kissing her because she didn’t
believe herself to be lovely.

“
I see very clearly, all you boys want is to fuck
anything female and available. Well you can all go fuck yourselves!
 
I’m not that kind of female, so go find
someone else to stick your dicks into!”

With a huff she stomped towards the door and passed
through it when it automatically opened for her.

“
Damn the fucking Ice Demon, Raz! This is how you go
about our big plan to win her?” She knew it was Kue who growled at Raz. She
heard that much before the door hissed closed.

Celeste stood in the corridor, barefooted, staring at
the long corridor, not knowing what to do or where to go. Her whole body
trembled as a new kind of fear swamped her senses, those feelings of being
hopeless. It was even worse than being on this planet by herself. The kind of
dark stomach gnawing feeling, of being in a crowd of people, but still utterly
alone. The urge to break down as her emotions hung by a thin thread. She balled
her fist and huffed out.
No, I’m not
going to cry again. I am sick of crying all the time, sick of being the victim!

The door opened. “Lovely, we are sorry. Please, come back
in. We don’t just want you for pleasure. Even if Raz has it on his mind more
than the rest of us.”

She spun on Kue, her anger and frustration boiling
over. “I am not here for your or anyone’s amusement or fuck toy. Get that into
your big heads right now!”

His eyes widened at her outburst. He opened his mouth,
but Raz suddenly shoved him out the way. “You’re not a toy, Celeste. Please let
us explain. Yes, we want to fuck you, but there is a lot more to it than that.
We want you to be our
sheraz.”

“
Are you slower than a glacier? You don’t just blurt
out your intent like that.” Kue shoved back at his brother. Chest to chest they
glared at each other. For some odd reason a renewed flare of heat wound through
her at the sight of them trying to stare each other down.

So masculine, so alpha, so… She shook her head,
shoving down those thoughts, focusing back on her anger. She didn’t know what a
sheraz
was, but wasn’t waiting around
to find out.

“
I really don’t care anymore. It’s clear you don’t care
what I want.”

“
What do you want, lovely?” Kue got in first.

“
To be left the hell alone!” She glared at each of them
before spinning on her heel and marching down the corridor before turning
right.

After her first efforts, it wasn’t long before she
caught and followed the familiar scent and breeze of the planet’s air. It led
her to the ramp of this huge ship. She surveyed the area round them, then
glanced over her shoulder, half expecting one of them to be following her
around, half glad they hadn’t. She sighed, not actually wanting to leave the
safety and comfort these aliens had offered, even if they did only want to get
into her pants. Her mind spun with confusing, conflicting thoughts.

Would it be so
bad?
They were strong, and far sexier than any human man
she’d ever seen past a leading Hollywood actor, even if they were candy red.
They had every appearance of wanting to take care of her. She shuddered,
despite the warmth in the air. Everything in her life had come with a price to
pay. She searched her memory as she walked barefoot down the ramp and climbed
up on to a large rock to sit and mull things over. No matter how she tried, she
could not recall ever receiving a genuine, loving touch from anyone. Not any of
those who cared for her since her mother left her. She was a burden, passed on,
and only used if someone wanted something. Why would these large red men be any
different? All they wanted was to use her and abuse her like everyone else.

Chapter Five

Zeb paused at the ramp of the ship. Celeste sat on the
top of a boulder, her back hunched. He admired the curve of Celeste’s feminine
form, sitting crossed legged, showing the creamy white of her legs. He mentally
growled at his wayward rod as it lengthened and hardened at the sight. He
shoved the thoughts deep down, even if his body refused to cooperate.

What was she doing out here, rather than within the
safety of the ship? Why weren’t one of his foolish brothers watching over her?
He scowled, assuming they had to have done something to drive her off the ship.

With practiced stealth, he moved up to stand behind
her. The fading sunlight picked up rich highlights of gold and red in her clean
hair, and her pale neck tilted to one side, showing an elegant grace.
 
She stared off into the distance, clearly
lost in thought. Her chest heaved in a sad sigh.

Not wanting to startle her, he cleared his throat. She
stiffened. Her head lifted, the curtain of her hair rippling as she turned to
stare at him. Her shoulders visibly relaxed, and she turned her head away. Yes,
his brothers had done something to make her want to leave the ship.

****

"Be at ease, Celeste." A deep voice rumbled
making her freeze and turn.

Relief flooded through her, seeing it was just Zeb.
This was one brother who didn't seem in a hurry to jump her bones. He looked
calm and collected, his eyes curious.
 
It
made her relax somewhat.

He sat down on the rock beside her, not touching,
joining her in watching the purplish haze of dusk spread across the land as the
planet’s sun sank behind the horizon.

“
I honestly don’t understand your brothers.” Her words
came out in a sigh, as she suddenly felt the need to talk to someone.

“
What have they done this time?”

Celeste hesitated, unsure. He was calmer and more in
control than the other three, and she felt she could rely on his calm patience.

Drawing in a deep breath she drew up her knees. “Not
what they’ve done, it’s what they keep saying to me.”

“
Forgive me, but I doubt they would set out to insult
you.”

“
They haven’t. It’s just…”

He glanced down, his black eyebrow cocked on his red
forehead as he remained silent, waiting for her to continue. “They keep saying
stupid things like I’m lovely, beautiful, but it’s not true.” There, the facts
of the situation were laid out on the table.

“
The last part is possibly true. My brothers do wish to
pleasure you, but I am puzzled. Why don’t you believe you’re beautiful?”

Why indeed.
Oh, Celeste knew she was like so many human women,
their self-images trodden in the dirt by the considered “norms” of society,
thin and model perfect looks. Of course when told something long enough you
start to believe it. When you combine that with an upbringing of being passed
on like someone’s unwanted shoes, it wore at a person’s soul.

“
Look, I’ll be straight with you. I’m fat and ugly for
a human, okay? I’ve been nothing but a burden since my birth. I get in the way
and always get things wrong. Hell, I killed everyone on that ship. I am nothing
special, and if I stay with you I’ll end up getting in the way.”

He was silent, simply staring at her, before climbing
slowly to his feet before offering his hand to help her down.

“
It’s growing dark and is unsafe out here. It’s best I
get you back to the safety of the ship.”

Her heart stuttered in her chest. Did he get it, get
her and what she believed? It seemed so. Warmth spread through her fingers and
down her arm putting her hand in his. His grip was firm but gentle, and he
helped her off her perch.

“
You know, Celeste, perhaps you should stop listening
to what you think is truth and listen to the real truth of how others really
see you, especially my brothers and I. My brothers, as foolish as they are
sometimes, only ever speak the truth. To us you are beautiful. Belief doesn’t
always equal truth. I would like to rip apart the one who made you feel ugly and
a burden, because you’re not.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but the firm squeeze on
her hand and his hard glare stopped her. “If you tell me I’m a liar, I will not
be pleased. Accept what is, see things our way for a while, then re-evaluate
how you feel, all right?”

She swallowed and nodded, her mind spinning over Zeb’s
words. Her pulse upped its tempo, as a small part of her still not dead,
pounded at the walls of her heart, wanting to revel and roll in the sunshine,
in wonderful feelings of believing, of being adored and thought beautiful.

She at least could try. There was nothing left of her
life to lose anyway.

But there was one niggling question. If Zeb was
planning to pass her off at the next star port, why did he bother telling her
this in the first place?

****

Zeb stared at the closed door, his mind going over
their conversation that showed so much of the human female’s character. Enough
to have conflicting emotions warring within him.

Indeed she was the complete opposite of any female
he’d ever encountered, let alone their first
sheraz
. A complete lack of confidence in her outer appearance,
mixed with a sweet caring nature. She’d also demonstrated a courage and inner
strength you would find in a strong Demos soldier. Why couldn’t she accept her
own worth and beauty? What kind of fucked-up planet was Earth to treat their
females as nothing? Perhaps their race was going about this whole Jorval
abduction racket wrong. Instead of outlawing it, they should be paying the
Jorval to rescue these human females.

Zeb scratched his chin and moved to walk down the
corridor. The females of Galafrax were pampered and selfish creatures. It could
be a good thing that they now had human females living among them, to
demonstrate a selfless behaviour, to teach consideration and kindness. With
each step the desire to keep Celeste grew. He wanted to win her trust, show her
that she mattered, not just in their eyes but her own. A growl rumbled from his
throat as his mind turned towards his brothers and how they’d almost fucked it
up, by moving in on her too fast.

He wasn’t too proud to admit that he’s been a blind
fool, letting his prejudice stand in the way of an opportunity to have
something wonderful. Any set of quads who encountered Celeste could see she was
indeed something special and would snap her up in a heartbeat, so why not them?

The pace of his steps grew as he stormed through the
ship in search of the idiots he called his brothers.

Countless, dangerous missions had they been on, deadly
situations where their lives hung in the balance. They were smart, decisive,
and always knew how to stay calm under pressure. Put one little human female
amidst them and it seemed they’d all lost their common sense, even at their
advanced age.

He could admit that he had been wrong. To even compare
Celeste to the last female in their lives—Zeb stopped at that rampant thought,
now pounding in the back of his brain, and he felt close to losing it as his
brother had.
Their female
.

Had all the other quads felt like this, upon meeting
their
sheraz
? Such a powerful pull,
the sudden need to protect her, soothe all her wounds and make her happy for
the rest of their natural lives.

All too easily his thoughts again turned carnal.
Desire like a slow burning fire grew. His body began to throb, and he tried not
to think of the sudden urged to map out every curve, dip and hollow of her
soft, delicate body, have her lips puff from slight bruises of his dominating
mouth, after he’d thoroughly kissed her.

He stopped short, realizing he had no idea how to
pleasure a human female. If the rumours were true, it would be a lot easier
than pleasuring a Demos female.
Damn the
ice plains
. He’d have to find those reports on humans again and study. The
last thing he or any of his brothers wanted was hurt to her.

He shook his head. One thing at a time, and the first
thing on his mind was to pull his stupid brothers back into line.

****

A door slid open on his right, and Loc walked absently
his gaze fixed on a data pad. Zeb grabbed his younger brother’s top, bringing
him to a sharp halt. Loc reacted, ready to defend himself, but stopped himself
seeing it was Zeb. His eyes gleamed with an indignant “what the fuck”?

“
Meal room, now! And tell the others, it’s time for a
fucking family meeting. That’s not a request, it’s a fucking order, got it,
soldier?”

Loc’s eyes narrowed on him. Angered at being handled
so roughly, he shoved back from Zeb, before Loc glanced around.

“
Where’s—”

“
She is back in Kue’s cabin, resting. I brought her
back inside after finding her outside, alone and unguarded.”

Clear worry instantly replaced Loc’s indignation.

“
I’m in no mood to play games, Loc. Get the others
together now.”

“
It’s about Celeste—is she all right?”

“
No, it’s about the fucking rocks on this damn planet.”

Loc rolled his eyes, but moved to comply. “Keep your
damn boots on,
gheesh
.” Loc marched
away, scowling.

Satisfied his orders were being carried out, Zeb made
his way back to the meal room, ordering a drink from the food modulator before
sitting down to wait.

It wasn’t long before the footfalls of all his
brothers could be heard, just before the door slid open. Raz glared at him as
he entered first, then marched up to stand over Zeb. The other two entered and
stood back waiting with pensive frowns.

“
If you’ve done something to Celeste…” began Raz.

Zeb shot to his feet, shoving Raz back. “Don’t you
fucking dare after what you did to
her!
”

Confusion furrowed his brother’s brow. “What I did? I
did what she asked—what she wanted was to be left alone.”

“
You did come on a bit strong and kissed her,” Kue
added.

“
And blurted out you wanted her to be our
sheraz
,” said Loc.

Raz turned to glare at Loc.

“
What you did was scare her, make her believe all you
want to do is fuck her. And by leaving her alone, she left the ship unguarded,”
Zeb informed them.

Raz mouth formed an O of surprise, before his brow
dipped in worry. “I didn’t know she’d leave the ship. Is she all right?”

Zeb nodded and stepped back. “I talked with her and
brought her back inside.”

Raz’s shoulders slumped in relief.

“
But she’s not all right.” Kue moved to one of the
seats. “It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you before you two let your rods
rule your brains.” Kue glanced between Raz and Loc. “While she is strong on the
outside, surviving alone on this planet as she has, Celeste has deep wounds, in
here and here.”
 
He pointed to his chest
and then head.

Zeb nodded. “While I at first thought it a bad idea to
ever have another
sheraz
, after
talking with her, I have changed my mind. I know Celeste is nothing like
Nazzara.” Zeb took a moment to analyse his feelings, and the bitterness and
anger of Nazzara’s betrayal seemed a lot more distant, melting into a past that
had already started to fade, now he’d come around to wanting Celeste as theirs.
“I want her just as much as you all do, but I also feel protective and want to
help heal the pain and mistrust I saw her eyes. Her life has clearly been
hard—to the point she sees herself as less than her true value. Kue is right in
saying she is wounded.”

Raz opened his mouth, but Zeb glared at him. “Celeste
is not a fuck droid, nor is she just some passing fancy or fad you can use and
just discard. Enough of your way, Raz. This time we do things my way and united
as it should be. If we pursue Celeste then it is for keeps. This is a full commitment,
and there will be no pleasuring if you or she is not fully committed. Don’t
forget we are older, fully fledged Demos males and have already had a
sheraz
.”

His brothers understood loud and clear. If any of them
pleasured her they ran the risk of implanting her with their seed.

Kue’s lips curved up into a grin, along with all his
brothers, at the mere thought of Celeste carrying their young, and their eyes
gleamed with a new determination.

“
I never started this with anything but the intent of
making her ours. If we can implant her with our young…” Raz nodded.

Zeb shot him a “don’t even go there”
glare. Raz simply grinned in response.
“Ah, you have a plan, don’t you? You wouldn’t call a meeting like this unless
you already had one.”

Zeb nodded, keeping his face perfectly straight. “I am
laying down several rules. Break one of them and you’ll find yourself in the
brig for a long Galafraxian month.”