Helion (14 page)

The tent was quiet when Nathal left. Gwen stared at her hand
Helion still held in his. She was a little surprised he wasn’t ranting and
raving at her. Sure, it wasn’t his style. He was more the coldly furious type.
But she hadn’t thought ranting was Steven’s style either and when she’d told
him about her pregnancy, he completely lost it. He’d called her a whore and
accused her of trying to trap him and bleed his bank accounts dry.

It had been hard to accept she’d been totally deceived about
what kind of man Steven was. Loneliness could make a person believe the most
unlikely things. It made them accept as true words of love that never even came
close to being sincere. For her desire to be close to someone she’d suffered
through bad dates, worse sex and a terrible relationship. But even for all
that, Gwen didn’t regret it. Evelyn was the light of her life and she’d never
regret having her, no matter Steven was her father.

This situation though…could she have made her life any more
complicated? Now she was going to have an intergalactic baby daddy? Would he
just hop a starship a couple weekends a month to check on the baby? This was
bound to be a terrible inconvenience for him.

But, really, how was she to know? That they could be genetically
compatible for having children had never even occurred to her. The Keepers were
so…other. From their size to their coloring to their strange abilities, they
were nothing like humans. Helion being able to impregnate her was like a
panther knocking up a field mouse.

“Helion, I’m…I’m so sorry,” she stuttered, not meeting his
eyes. Her pulse was racing and she felt a little sick. That last ugly scene
with Steven kept replaying in her mind over and over and she knew a scene with
Helion would be so much worse. Helion was more, well, everything, than Steven
had been.

“Sorry, little mother?” Helion asked, his voice mild. “Why
should you be sorry?”

His grip didn’t change but Gwen felt something go through
the connection. Something that made her tense.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t even know this
could happen. I’m just… I don’t know. I’m sure this will inconvenience you, but
I won’t make any demands. I know you won’t be here for very long.”

Silence stretched in the tent. Gwen could feel Helion’s eyes
boring into her but this time she wasn’t brave enough to stare back. If he told
her he didn’t want anything to do with their baby, it would crush her. He didn’t
know she loved him and probably wouldn’t care if he did know but if he
repudiated their child, those tender, new feelings would be crushed like a
flower under a boot.

This was her child…their child. If she never did anything
else with the rest of her life, she just hoped she could be a good mother to
Evelyn and the new baby for as long as she was able. Already there was a
connection there, though she’d known about her son for literally minutes. Gwen
wondered if he’d have green eyes and white hair and if he would grow as big and
strong as Helion. No matter what happened with Helion, her son would get all
the love she had to give. It probably wouldn’t be able to make up for not
having Helion around but she’d do her damnedest.

Helion released her hand and Gwen tensed, expecting the
cruel words to start. But she heard nothing except quiet rustles and clinks. A
quick look told her Helion was removing his armor. He didn’t speak, just
methodically divested himself of all that golden plate until his body stood
naked in the sunlight.

And what a body. In full daylight, bared fully, Helion was a
stunning sight indeed. All that towering, rippling muscle. That incandescent
glow of his skin that magnified in the sun…it made Gwen want to lick every
exposed inch. Especially his cock. His fully erect, fierce-looking cock. It
made her weak just looking at it, remembering his mastery over her the night
before. Obviously he planned to take her again but Gwen couldn’t tell what his
mood was.

“Get on your hands and knees, Lady Gwen,” came his voice,
whipping out the command.

Gwen’s head jerked up from its fixation on his cock, her
gaze jumping up to his in mild shock. Would she ever get used to how crude
Helion could be? How arrogant he was, to just assume she’d do what he told her,
as if she was some sort of puppet? Her own heated reaction to his commands
infuriated her even while her pussy dampened. She wanted to do what he said,
had to fight not to.

“I will not. I just found out I’m going to be a mother again—I
don’t want to have angry sex right now.” It was a lie. She really did want to
have angry sex right now.

“Yes, you’re going to be a mother. Again. Whereas this is
the first time I’ve ever been told I’m going to be a father. You’ve lived only
a fraction of my own years, yet you’ve been doubly blessed with children to
love and raise. And now with your words you try to cut me out of my only child’s
life, as if I’m not even a part of it. But I am going to be a part of it. That
is my son and he needs my essence to fuel his growth. Hands and knees, now.”

“You just want to control me. Nathal said the baby was
content and satisfied right now and we don’t even know if he actually needs
essence. How are we going to find out if you won’t leave me be?”

The whole idea of essence was so strange. How did it give
vitality to the mother? Why did Keeper children need it? What happened if they
didn’t get it? Clearly Gwen needed to make a list of questions for Nathal. She
didn’t want to risk involuntarily hurting her child with her ignorance.

“That is my son. He needs essence, and a lot of it, to grow
healthy and strong. I won’t wait for my son to suffer in need so you’ll believe
the truth.”

“What truth, Helion?” she asked warily, not liking the hard
look in those swirling eyes.

“The truth that you’re mine now. That we’re a pair, a mated
pair. You insult me by suggesting I would leave you and my child behind in this
decrepit backwater. We will stay only long enough to secure this region against
the Scourge. Then you and I will be traveling together with our children to
Arloren.”

While Gwen gaped at him in shock, Helion moved in on her, forcing
her flat on her back under him. She was too stunned by his declaration to fight
when he powered over her and thrust her legs apart to get between them. He
didn’t lie on her stomach, though, sending more confusion through Gwen. Helion
was already that considerate and conscious of the child resting within her.

“Wait, wait, Commander! Are you telling me you think just
because I’m pregnant we’re what, going to be married? And live on your planet,
together? I’m not agreeing to that. Earth is my home; Kentucky is my home. I
was born here and I’ll die here.”

Gwen pushed futilely at the broad shoulders hovering over
her chest. Helion’s presence was too suffocating, in fact too much everything.
Too handsome, too commanding, too big. This close to him, Gwen could smell his
delicious musk too and could feel his long hair dancing over her skin like
silk. It was heavenly but she couldn’t give in to it, not when his words were
so alarming. Especially when his eyes were jade fire and totally serious.

“You will neither live here any longer nor die here, little lady.”

And apparently that was that in Helion’s mind. He swooped
his head down and caught Gwen’s lips before she could protest further,
thrusting his tongue inside. He used one hand to hold her head still for his possession
and the other to stimulate her pussy. Gwen was quickly overwhelmed by Helion. It
was as if he was possessed, that knowing his son was inside her was driving him
into a frenzy. He thrust two fingers inside her channel, his groan sounding as
loud as hers when he felt her hot and wet and ready for him.

Gwen had never been with a man who could wring a response
from her so completely, so quickly. She dampened for him with just a look, her
body always primed and ready for him to take her. There was satisfaction in
knowing he was as helpless as she was in this attraction. Being so out of
control was humbling, especially when she was used to being in control at all
times.

“Wait, Helion,” Gwen gasped as she finally pulled away from the
Keeper’s drugging lips. “We have to talk about this.”

“No more talk, my lady,” he said, releasing her head and
pulling back so he could grab her ass in his hands. Gwen gasped as he lifted
her high before lining her up and slowly, ever so slowly impaling her on his throbbing
erection, groaning in unison with her as he pushed inch after inch inside her.
There was no stopping until he was fully seated inside her heat and her ass was
resting on his balls.

Gwen was incapable of speech now, discarding thoughts of
setting him straight to focus on the feeling of Helion powering in and out of
her so unhurriedly it was driving her mad with the need to come. He was too big
inside her but hit every nerve-packed spot as he thrust in and out in such a
way that her body helplessly lifted toward him over and over, seeking her
release. Her back was arched and her rock-hard nipples swollen and begging for
Helion’s attention.

Attention he was all too happy to provide. He released her
ass with one hand to grab her behind the neck instead, pulling her upward until
Gwen’s nipples were right before his mouth for a proper feasting. Her gasps and
moans rang through the tent like erotic music, urging Helion to thrust into her
harder and to suck more strongly.

Gwen’s hand dared him on, tangling in his hair to hold his
mouth hard to her nipple. She used her other hand to give herself leverage to ride
him, lifting herself up until only the head of his cock remained inside her
before dropping back down and filling herself to the hilt, increasing the speed
to satisfy her need for a harder and faster ride. Before long they were in a
frenzy, Helion powering in and out hard and deep, straining them both toward
their peak. The friction was delicious, so amazing they got lost in it.

Too soon Gwen could feel her orgasm approaching like a
freight train, and increased her frantic little motions to signal how close she
was and how desperate she was to come. Helion responded, quickly laying her
flat on the bed before raising her legs to his shoulders. Then he moved even
more frantically, furiously pumping inside Gwen until they were both lost to
reason, climaxing simultaneously in an explosion of pleasure that shattered
them both.

His mate had passed out again. It gave Helion a primitive
satisfaction to know he gave Gwen so much pleasure she literally blacked out
after her orgasms. His mate. His son. And his daughter. Helion wrapped his body
around Gwen, keeping himself tucked securely in and around her so not even one
drop of essence was wasted. He had to marvel at how changed his life was now.

What had before seemed like an endless stretch before him of
ruling his people and fruitless attempts to have a family, now everything was different.
He was a father and a mate and obsessive and protective and a host of other
things, other emotions he couldn’t put a name to. A son and a daughter and a
wife. It felt so good he was almost too paranoid to believe it was actually
happening. Never in a million years would he have thought this would be the
outcome of his campaign to eradicate the Scourge. New life while on a campaign of
death and destruction.

“
Healer Nathal, I’ve just given my son a dose of essence.
I want you to come and examine the results.
”

After his summons went through to Nathal via the mind link, Helion
looked down at Gwen. He didn’t want to leave the sweet haven of her body but he
would preserve her modesty. He withdrew and covered her with a thin blanket,
with just enough time to throw a robe over himself before Nathal came striding
into the tent. He certainly didn’t waste any time, not that Helion could blame
him. This was an exciting event for their race, a successful breeding with
another species. There was no doubt this pregnancy would be closely monitored
by many.

Nathal walked up to the resting Gwen and hovered his hands
over her abdomen.

“There can be no doubt, Commander, your essence has
transmitted much vitality to your son. He was fine before but now he’s humming
with energy and contentment. I think it’s safe to say your essence is required
for this pregnancy to succeed. That means of course you can’t go too far afield.
No more missions that will take you days away from your mate.”

Helion nodded, already having thought of that difficulty. He
hadn’t been happy being separated for days from Gwen even before he’d mated
with her. Now there was no force on this planet that could keep him from her
for long. His mission on this planet remained to be accomplished though; the
Scourge still had their talons deep into this planet. Meaning he had to stay
and he needed to keep his mate close to him.

The danger was something to consider, however. Helion couldn’t
forget there was a traitor in his camp, one who had targeted Gwen and more than
likely killed Mithrain. To make sure Gwen was safe while he completed his
mission, he needed more men. And he needed to root out the traitor in his camp.
Asking for help hurt his pride but nothing would stop him from protecting what
was his.

“Keep an eye on the lady for me, Nathal. Verdun will return
with my daughter momentarily and I want you both to stay here and watch my
family while I’m gone.”

“Gone, Commander?” Nathal questioned, surprised.

“I need to report to High Commander Bron on our situation.
And then I’ll be humbling myself before Commander Melithan and requesting to
join our forces permanently.”

When Verdun arrived, he handed Evelyn to Nathal and quickly
helped Helion dress and arm. Helion requested a meeting with Commander Melithan
and the High Commander Bron, receiving permission to gate to Arthaneas to see
both at Bron’s war headquarters. Helion put Tohran in charge during his absence
before briefly kissing the still-sleeping Gwen on her soft, sweet lips. He
kissed Evelyn’s downy red head and left the tent.