Shield [New World Book 1] (5 page)

Rask heard her gasp of surprise and he chuckled. When his shield was up he was very dark black and his fangs protruded. The white fangs against the darkness of his shield was a stunning contrast and very impressive. A mask of impenetrable tattoos shielded his face. The armor covered him from head to toe—encasing him from toenail to the hair on his head. All came down now.

Grace’s lips were trembling. Her hand tentatively reached out to touch his chest. It was like being struck with a jolt of emotion. Her hand looked so white and small next to his darker skin. She felt so soft he wanted the rest of her body pressed against him. His head was reeling. He could feel her fear now, not just sense it and for some odd reason he began to sweat. Droplets of his moisture seeped into her skin as he watched. It was as though his body fluid was drawn to her.

 She blinked. Her fear dissipated and Rask stepped closer.

“Why, you’re not ugly at all,” she whispered and blinked again in confusion. “You aren’t a beast. You’re very handsome.”

Her breathing had increased and her look was amazed when she revealed her information. It was as though she had no control over what she had said.

Rask’s face split into a smile of delight. For some reason her statement made him very happy. He felt his heart rate increase and oddly enough his shield remained lowered and made no attempt to regulate it.

* * * *

Grace couldn’t believe the transformation of the creature. She also couldn’t believe she had just said what she was thinking. She had no control over her words; they just tumbled out of her mouth. It was so strange. He looked like a man, albeit a very large man. Whatever had covered him had disappeared, absorbed into his skin. She had been so amazed her hand had lifted of its own accord. When skin touched skin she felt his moisture invade her body. The being before her was tan, and its long, thick, black hair hung to his shoulders. His eyes were no longer bulging black domes but dark brown. His shield had hugged his body because all of his muscles were still prominent. When his hand reached for hers it was void of the long talons. His touch was gentle yet firm. Openly he examined her fingers, her fingernails.

“These are of no use at all,” he declared.

“You’d be surprised,” she muttered.

“Perhaps on a human male with no shield,” he said.

“What was that on you?”

Rask shrugged. “My Castian armor. I’ve had it my entire life.”

Rask leaned closer and sniffed her. Grace shied back. Handsome he might be, but he had killed two of her crew members. Granted she had only known the men a week; one had been a complete asshole and a killer. But Adams was only trying to protect her. Rask eyed her.

“You smell of fear, but it has lessened. The scent I could not make out but do now is your female scent. Now that my brain has been reminded of it, there are strange feelings awakening inside me.”

Grace could see that. Whereas before he had looked baffled, now a new predatory gleam lit his face. She jumped when his nose nuzzled her neck and his tongue flicked out to taste her skin. He licked at her ear. A deep growling groan was dragged from his throat. Grace’s heart pounded in her chest. His head lifted and his eyes were closed. He looked drunk, with his face flushed. To Grace’s horror, his fangs began to grow. She cried out and his eyes snapped open.

“Don’t be afraid.”

His voice was deep and throaty and sounded like a growl.

“Don’t bite me,” she pleaded.

“I won’t hurt you. I don’t mean to scare you. A male Castian’s fangs grow when they are in must and their armor isn’t needed. Your female scent has triggered it now that I know what it is and what you are. By the Gods of Dargon, you smell so good. Your scent has invaded my entire being like a brand of hot iron.”

He inhaled her again.

“Well knock it off,” she demanded. She knew what ‘must’ was, it was sexual overdrive and he looked like he was ready to devour her.

“I can’t help it,” he growled. “I have never felt this before and it’s so hard to control. Come to me, female.”

Grace yelped when he gripped her. His hand buried into her hair and he pulled her closer, his fingers squeezing her locks. Grace pushed at him. She could feel his fangs at her neck. She was certain he was about to rip her apart. She whimpered unable to break free. A groan or growl erupted from his throat. Rask’s body molded to hers. She could feel his sweat. Droplets of moisture mixed with her own and she could
feel it
seep into her body. Her blood flowed faster through her veins taking his moisture with it, mingling with her, claiming her. And though she still felt a small amount of fear, she had no desire now to move away.

What is wrong with me?
A big horny alien was all over her and Grace felt like a puddle of mush.

Rask’s bare chest was slick and warm when Grace’s hands trailed over him. Every second she was calming further. Once again he inhaled her scent. As she became more compliant, he became more demanding with his touch. Grace was confused. His hands roamed up and down her body, but he made no effort to lay her beneath him or kiss her. He was fumbling with her while she was growing wet between her legs. He made no effort to touch her breasts or remove her clothes.

“Rask?”

Another male alien appeared from the bush. Rask snarled, his eyes went wild and his armor went up.

Grace screamed.

The other man’s armor went up.

Rask yanked Grace behind him. The grip on her wrist was too tight and she pulled against him. As though sensing her distress, he loosened his hold, but she was unable to pull away. Now that their skin wasn’t connected, Grace felt her fear return. She wriggled to get free, but he held her easily.

“Stay back,” Rask growled at the other man.

“Rask, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you speaking the ancient tongue?”

“This is my female,” Rask snarled. “It is how she speaks.”

“Female?”

The other man-creature peeked around Rask as Grace trembled. She yanked her wrist harder.

“Yes, female,” Rask replied. He gave his head a hard shake and his armor disappeared. He gasped in a heavy breath. The other man dropped his shield as well.

“Are you all right?” the other man asked.

“I think so, Tosk, maybe,” Rask replied.

He released Grace’s wrist.

“I have never been this close to a female before. My body went into must. What an odd feeling. I have never lost control; my shield has never reacted this way. You know I have never drawn armor on you.”

“Must?”

Rask nodded.

“This is one of the intruders?” Tosk asked.

“Yes. There could be more human females out there. We need to spread the word that these beings are harmless. They have no shield. One blow will kill them.”

“An entire race of females landed?” Tosk looked incredulous.

“No, not all are female. I killed two males who attacked me. I had no idea they were so fragile,” Rask said.

“Perhaps it’s best if we go back to our holding,” Tosk said.

“I don’t think so,” Grace whispered and began to back away.

One lusty alien was bad enough but a bunch was too much. One whiff of her and she would be naked. The other man was just as big as Rask. His hair was the same length, but he was blond and his eyes were a stunning emerald green.

Rask turned to study her. He reached for her and gripped her hand in his own. “It’s all right, Grace. I have control over it now.”

“But will the others? How many of you are there?” she asked.

“There are many at each holding,” Rask said. “You will be safe. Tosk and I are leaders there.”

“You share leadership?” she asked with a sinking feeling in her belly.

“Each Castian is born seeking a partner. Tosk is mine. We lead together, and we battle together. We have to battle back-to-back. When we first train as warriors we are drawn to someone; we have no choice. It isn’t just our way, it’s instinct for survival.”

“You sleep together?” she asked.

“We have separate quarters,” Rask said.

“No,” she mumbled with some embarrassment. “I mean do you, you know, sleep together?”

Rask looked confused. “I just told you we sleep apart.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Grace said.

“Wrong with what?”

“If you have sex with each other,” she muttered.

Rask cocked his head to the side. “Grace, the men here have only come into their prime. The word you use, sex, I’m uncertain of its meaning. It has to do with our maleness, I’m guessing. I have never used my maleness.”

Grace’s eyes rose in surprise.
He’s never had sex before?
She had only assumed because he had never seen a woman that he and Tosk must be lovers. It was apparent they weren’t. Together in battle and life but not love.

“I smell your confusion,” Rask said. “Come with me. I will keep you safe.”

Grace had no choice when Rask wrapped an arm around her and tossed her over his shoulder. His armor went up and with rapid speed, he jumped from tree to ground to tree gaining distance with Tosk only a leap behind. Grace had never moved so fast in her life.

* * * *

Grace looked around the domed primitive-looking cave-like structure. It was at least ten feet high. It was covered with huge intricate light brown branches. The branches looked woven together to form a beaver dam of sorts. But these branches were as thick as tree trunks. Inside was just as amazing. And if the outside looked primitive, the inside was anything but. Panels of flashing lights lit up the entire area. Consoles with lines of buttons bleeped and chirped. It was fascinating. These aliens were far more advanced than the people of Earth.

It didn’t take long before Grace was pressed into Rask’s side as the men left their positions to curiously check her out. Each man was dressed as Rask. Bare-chested, with black pants that hugged their hips to their ankles. None of them wore shoes. All had well-defined penises that strained against the material. Good God, she was surrounded by men who had never had sex or seen a woman. It was a nightmare. Every one of them was massive.

A low growl came from a man who was very close. Grace shuddered. He, too, was dark-haired. His approach was cautious. He was sniffing her. Fearfully, she looked up at Rask then wished she hadn’t—his fangs were back.

“What is this thing?” the close man asked.

“This thing is female, Brack, and she’s mine,” Rask snarled.

“Female?” Brack exclaimed.

“Listen to me!” Rask shouted. “In the woods a vessel has crashed. These creatures are human and they are defenseless against us. There are both male and female of the species still running about. I suggest you go look for them before the other holdings get wind of them.”

“Or a whiff of her,” Brack said.

Grace could hear her teeth clicking together as Brack inhaled her scent. He groaned and then growled deep in his throat. His eyes closed and he inhaled again. His fangs grew and he looked drunk.
Oh oh.
Before his eyes could open, Rask was on top of him. Both men had their shields up in an instant. Tosk separated them.

“Enough,” Tosk snapped. “She belongs to Rask. Go find your own.”

With a roar and a snap of his fangs in her direction, Brack leaped from the holding.

Grace was amazed at the speed with which these men moved. Their claw-like feet, when in armor, gripped the ground beneath them to give them greater momentum. Like a massive, armored lemur that jumped from tree to tree. Every man soon followed. It was unnerving to see so many powerful men under black armor that hugged them like a second skin.

When they left, Rask gripped her elbow and led her to a steel door. With a wave of his hand, it opened. Once inside, the door slammed shut. Grace was trapped. She backed up until she fell onto a bed. Her hands splayed as he approached her. She could once more see his fangs. Grace swallowed hard.

Rask leaped up onto the high bed and sniffed at her.

Grace pushed at him. The man had no sense of personal space. His face buried into her neck.

“Your fangs,” she squealed.

“They show dominance to you and predator to any male who comes near you,” he said.