Erun (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 4) (18 page)

He glanced at his arm and then back to her, rueful smile in place. “It is the
krilate
.” He shrugged. “It is a daily necessity to keep me healthy and additional doses assist in healing.”

“Will I have to…” She swallowed hard. “I mean, we’re using your genetic material to change me, right? So will I have to…”

“
Lofei
,” he murmured, drawing her attention back to his face. “I would not allow use of my blood if it meant you would be dependent on
krilate
. You will not. Sece has assured me of this.”

Vanessa licked her lips, concern forcing her heart to beat a little faster, just a little harder. Erun followed the move with his eyes, the orbs flaring purple with the move. The skin on his throat pulsed with his scales as well, telling her that he was just as aroused as she was. Another glance—this time to his groin—confirmed her suspicions. He hardened beneath the thin blankets that covered him and she wondered what he wore beneath the thin fabric. If anything.

“You asked her?”

He smirked. “Of course.”

“Exactly how many conversations about this did you have with her without me around?”

“Many.” He frowned. “I want you, Nessa, but I did not want to do
anything
that could harm you. You are the only parent Tabitha has. No matter how selfish I may be. I would not steal a youngling’s
dam
.”

And that right there, even with his growly ways, made her crave him even more. “Okay. Let’s go then.”

His smile was blinding in its intensity, his happiness written plainly across his features. Once she gave the go ahead, there was no stopping him. He had her off the bed, her hand in his, and striding down the hallway within moments. Other UST employees stopped to gape at them as they passed, but one glare from Erun had them scrambling for cover. It would have been funny… if it wasn’t so crazy.

It didn’t take them long to stride through UST, gathering a small group of guards as they went. She recognized several faces of the males. Niax who seemed constantly hanging around. Then Thame whose knuckles looked worse for wear. They were scraped and cut, several wounds bright red with fresh blood. She hated the males who’d attacked her and Erun, but she sure as hell didn’t want to think about what they’d endured. Then there was Rhal who went everywhere they went. At least, it felt that way.

She spied Maru behind them, his bright pink coloring making him stand out. While little girls thought of the color pink as fluffy and fun, Maru looked anything but. When Nessa asked about the male’s constant look of anger, Erun had confided that he always looked angry because he
was
angry. No amount of battle and sparring tired the male. He was not as skilled as Rhal or Erun, but he was fierce and had an unending well of energy. He’d bested Erun in the sphere a time or two merely because he’d been exhausted by the male.

Bikk lingered as well, dark green scales in full view. Not because he lacked control, but because he believed human females liked looking at them. Bikk, apparently, was hunting for a mate.

The rest of their party included Krhe—a male recently appointed to Tave’s guard—and Shon. Shon… who was quick to coax a smile from a youngling and even quicker to bury a blade in anyone who made that youngling cry.

She was pleased he’d decided to like Tabby. He was a babysitter and bodyguard in one.

The sun bared down on them as they left the safety of the station and strode down the path. They were surrounded on all sides, much of the vegetation cut back to improve visibility. Erun didn’t say anything to the guards beyond a few shared looks and a low grunt.

Apparently that was Ujal for “thank you.”

The males remained on alert until they finished their walk to the nearby high-rise. At those doors, Niax placed his hand on a palm pad, granting them access to the building, and then their retinue was traveling down the hallways. It didn’t take long to wind their way to the door of their temporary home.

There, Niax stopped and focused on them. “The doors are restricted to both of you as well as emergency access through an interior door that leads from the apartment to your left.”

“No,” Erun snapped and she gently squeezed his hand.

Grumbly male.
“Who has emergency access and why?”

Niax focused on her. “Sece and Faim are caring for Tabitha as well as monitoring your reactions to the injection.”

One of the males snorted and Nessa nearly did as well. Niax said
injection
.

Erun did not find the double meaning nearly as funny as her and the other Ujal. As evidenced by her mate’s arm shooting out, hand balled into a fist, and striking Shon.

“Very well,” Erun’s words were calm as if he
hadn’t
just sent Shon reeling from the unexpected hurt. “I will allow it.”

A smile played on Niax’s lips. “There will be guards outside the entry to both rooms.
Shon
,” he tilted his head toward the male currently glaring at Erun, “will be stationed outside the youngling’s quarters. We all know he is more youngling than man and Tabby will need distraction should… anything happen.”

Those few words threw the blanket of worry she’d shed back onto her shoulders.
Should anything happen.

“We will leave you now. Call out if you need assistance.” Niax took a step back as if to leave and then stopped, focusing on them once more. He bowed slightly, not looking at them as he spoke. “May the seas bind you, may the seas cradle you, may the seas grant you life and may the seas welcome you both in death.”

With each word, Erun’s grip on her hand tightened and she sensed the emotions clouding the air, but not the reason behind them. No one else said a word, the males dispersing and taking up their posts. The guards disappeared into what could only be the apartments that housed Tabitha, and then they entered their own. The door slid shut behind them, locking them inside… together.

Which she should have expected because it wasn’t as if she was getting mated alone.

But now, with the entire situation planned and monitored… It was just weird.

So instead of staring at each flat surface and weighing the merits of fucking on top of it, she voiced her other thought. “What was that?”

“What?” He feigned ignorance, but she knew
he
knew what she was referencing.

“That.” She pointed at the hallway. “What Niax said. It meant something. You nearly broke my hand.” She padded toward him and didn’t stop until she could touch him. She snuggled against his body and placed her hand on his chest. “What did it mean?”

Erun’s gaze met hers, the emotion swirling in the depths of his eyes stealing her breath. He laid his hand over hers and gently rubbed his thumb over her skin. “I am sorry for hurting you.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“It…” He hesitated and she let him take his time. “It is a blessing. One said to mating couples before they tie themselves to each other. It is a message often repeated by our priests to wish a couple well as they begin their life together. He asked the seas to tie us together, for them to care for us as we go on, to give us younglings, and to take us at the same time so we are not forced to live without the other half of our souls.” His eyes filled with moisture and she felt her own filling as well. The words whispered so low reached inside her and caressed her soul. “I never believed I would ever hear them. Not as I had my mate standing at my side. You, Nessa… You are such a gift to me. You and Tabby. I will thank the seas daily for you both.”

Vanessa leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cloth-covered chest. “I think you underestimate how much we already care for you. And I think it’s time to become yours, Erun.”

His lips twisted in a grimace. “I do not wish to mate you covered in blood. And while I am assured shower lovemaking is enjoyable, I am also told your body’s initial reaction to the transition includes some pain. It is best done in a bed.”

And she was kinda looking forward to shower sex. Maybe later. Vanessa forced herself to step away from him. “So, we’ll shower—separately—and I’ll meet you in the bedroom.” She grinned. “First one there wins.”

He tilted his head to the side, confusion painted across his features. “Wins what?”

“The choice of our first position.”

Erun was waiting for her when she emerged from the bathroom, skin damp and towel snug around her body. She’d taken advantage of the master bedroom’s bathroom while he’d headed to the other, smaller space. He sat on the large, king-sized bed. His own towel was in place at his hips and she took a moment to explore him with her gaze. She stared at the rise and fall of his muscles, the deeply carved lines at his hips and the strength of his thighs. The small covering had her wondering what the fabric hid, but she wasn’t ready to take a peek. Not when the surety she’d been feeling was suddenly coated with nerves and worry.

He liked her with clothes on, but what about when she dropped the towel? Ujal females were strong and trim due to their constant fight with the currents as they swam through the ocean. Land or sea, they had little body fat and muscles Vanessa could never imagine on herself.

But then he did much the same to her, his attention starting at her toes, sliding over her legs and pausing at her towel-covered hips before traveling to her chest. He stared as if he could see through the fabric and she blushed beneath his sexual desire.

“Come,
lofei
.” He held out his hand, beckoning her forward.

Nessa squared her shoulders and pushed away her unease. She wanted him and he wanted her. That was that. He’d touched her, he’d looked at her with a soul-deep need that almost frightened her, and his kisses held more passion than she’d ever experienced. Erun wanted to belong to her and he wanted Vanessa to belong to him. Her worry had no place in the room.

She padded forward, grasping his hand and she allowed him to tug her closer. He pulled until she stood between his legs, his thighs spread to give her room. He didn’t stop until she could go no further, their bodies as close as possible. Erun wrapped his arms around her, hands meeting at her lower back.

“Hello, my mate,” he murmured and she gave him a small smile. “Are you prepared for your transition? To be mine?”

“Yes.” More than he knew.

His fingers stroked her, the cloth separating them, but she swore she could feel the heat of his touch. He didn’t move his palms from her lower back, but he could still reach the upper curve of her ass, teasing her with his slow, sensuous strokes.

“Are you ready to show yourself to me?” His hands moved then, brushing her hips and then upper thighs until he teased the hem of her covering. “Are you ready to let me see all of you?” He gently caressed her skin, teasing her with barely there strokes. “Are you ready to let me
touch
all of you?”

Her breath caught and she shuddered, desire unfurling inside her with his words.

“Because I cannot wait to explore my mate,” he whispered and leaned forward.

But instead of kissing her lips, his attention was on her chest, on the skin above the towel. He brushed his mouth over her damp body, leaving gentle kisses along the edge. All the while, his fingers drew small circles on her legs, tormenting her with the soft touch. Her body trembled with the dueling sensations, the careful teasing of her chest combined with the gentle caresses had her heating, her nipples pebbling with the need to be pinched and suckled while her pussy tightened and practically begged to be filled. By his fingers, his cock.

At the moment he didn’t seem too inclined to do anything but torment her.

And what a delicious torment it was.

“Erun…” she whispered. “Why are you doing this to me?”

She needed him higher—or lower. Basically anywhere but
there
. Why didn’t he tear the towel away and do whatever the hell he wanted? It’s what
she
wanted.

“Are you ready,
lofei
?” he whispered against her skin. “For I am aching for you. My cock has been hard from the moment I met you.”

She chuckled. “You were glaring at me.”

“Yet still wanting you even then. Which made me angry. That I could be furious and still wish to sink into you confused me.”

“Sece said we were meant for each other,” she whispered back.

“Which is why my torment is understandable.” He tilted his head and met her gaze. “I wanted my mate even if she angered me.”

Vanessa lifted her hands and slid them into his hair, enjoying the feeling of the purple strands against her fingers. “And now? Are you angry with me?”

“No,
lofei
. Aching for you. Desperate for you. Anger? Never.” Another kiss but this one was followed with a slow lap, his tongue flicking her heated skin. “Unless you torment me further.”

“Me torment you? Your fingers are driving me insane,” she moaned.

“How?”

“I want you to touch me.”

“I am.”

She spied his grin and glared. “You know where I want you.”

“Tell me.” His eyes were full purple and his scales slid from his skin, easing free to coat his chest and shoulders.

“I want you to touch my pussy, Erun.” His grip tightened and she moaned before continuing. “I want you to play with my breasts. I want your mouth everywhere.”

Erun shuddered and his next words came out as a deep rumble. “Anything else?”

“So many things.” His grip tightened, squeezing her hips, and she whimpered.

“Tell me.”

Okay, her mate-to-be liked a little dirty talk. “I want you to fuck me. I want your cock inside me. Need it, Erun. You have barely touched me and I’m on fire for you.” She tugged on his hair and encouraged him to once more meet her stare. “I want you to inject me. I want to be made Ujal. And then I want you to make me yours.”

“The injection will—”

“Biologically, I will be yours. I want you to own every part of me. I want to own every part of you. I want it all.”

“Then let me give it to you,” he murmured, hands on the move once more only this time he tugged the towel free and she allowed it to fall quietly to the ground with a low whoosh. Then those callused hands moved over her body, caressing her yet not touching her where she needed him most. He avoided her pussy and his hands ghosted over her ass. His lips… they didn’t go lower than when she was still covered. “Do you know how beautiful you are? I will thank the seas daily for giving me such a glorious mate.” He sucked on her skin and nibbled the flesh. “And I am thankful you will be mine forever.”