Chapter 11
Atem
She was nervous, but not unwilling. He could read the desire in her eyes, though it was tempered by no small amount of disbelief and amazement.
She had never met one of his kind before, that had been made obvious when she had been stunned by his reflexive camouflage. They had no way of communicating as she didn't know Standard, and he didn't even recognize her language. Or her species.
There were a lot of species in the deep black of space. However, his position meant that he was familiar with a great majority of them. It was unusual that he didn’t know hers.
The lack of familiarity also made things more difficult in regards to communication as he had to trust that she was going to be open and honest in her reactions to him.
A concept he struggled with at the best of times.
But one he had to explore with the female he already knew he had to claim as his mate.
Even now, he could feel that biological pressure in his brain urging him to steal her away to his den.
But he didn’t know how she would react to that, and he couldn’t mate her that way without her permission and his den wasn’t on this ship.
But they didn't need trust or a proper den or nest to exchange pleasure, and he didn't need to speak her language to recognize the interest gleaming in her eyes.
Her cheeks were pink again, which he was slowly finding more and more endearing.
He could also see the throbbing pulse in her neck getting faster as he stepped closer.
Though, that was as concerning as it was exciting.
Why was such a large and clearly important artery that close to the surface of her skin?
And in such a vulnerable area as the neck?
She had no natural offenses he could see, but it was becoming readily apparent that she had just as few natural defenses.
Soft skin, wide eyes, delicate and exposed neck.
Would her cunt be as soft and warm? What would the softest spot of the softest species feel like? He was eager to find out.
But he had to let her come to him first. The last thing he wanted was to dishonor himself by taking more than she was willing to give. He was duty bound to protect her and the others for freeing him alone. He wouldn't fail in that because he couldn't read body language.
“Turv, vas?” She asked, gesturing towards the data screen.
He was fairly certain that she had been asking where they were going, so he had given her the name of his planet. Part of him had been hoping she would recognize the name of his home, but no luck in that regard.
“Vas,” he confirmed. “Turv. My home planet. I will be able to take care of you and the others there. I'll also be able to upload our language into your mind so we can actually communicate.”
She just blinked at him, not understanding a word. But she did lean in closer, as though drawn to the sound of his voice.
He smirked and kept talking. “Your kindness is not going to be forgotten.
For so long as you are with me, you will want for nothing.
And I will keep you, and the others, with me for as long as you are willing to stay.
You do not know it, but you have earned my loyalty with your gift.
That is not a small thing, I'll have you know. I do not give my loyalty easily. You are one of the rare few. Then again, you are one of the rare few that would offer their precious water to someone potentially dangerous out of the goodness of their heart.”
She was staring at his lips, watching as they formed the individual words. Though he was saying nothing seductive or tempting, his tone was low and hypnotic. Drawing her in closer. He could easily put his arm around her waist now.
If she just gave him permission. If she touched him first, he could take over. Not the amazed touch after seeing his camouflage, nor the playful touch that he had started by continuing to hold her hand there before she pulled away. It had to be a real touch, full of undeniable intention.
“It's all right to slake your lust with me,” he promised, tempting her further.
“I will not hurt you. I will not take more than you are willing to give.
I have no diseases to pass on, nor can I get you pregnant.
It's impossible between different species.
See? Completely risk free. None of which you can understand.
Though if you get closer, I can explain it in ways that don't need words.”
Peony, his sweet green eyes, was very nearly pressed against him. There was a hint of indecision in her gaze. He didn't need to understand her words to read the question on her face.
Was she really going to do this?
Was this right?
“It's more than right, vi seerin,” he promised, his entire body aching with the need to just grab her and close that last remaining distance.
His cock was an obvious bulge in his pants, hard nearly to the point of pain, his knot aching with pent up need.
Desire was always exaggerated after a battle.
But he held himself in check. Without control, power and strength were but broken tools. Another ancient proverb. One that he took to heart. Especially in this moment. Waiting what seemed to be an eternity for Peony to make her decision.
He knew the moment she did.
All the uncertainty vanished with a blink of her beautiful, green eyes.
He smirked in triumph even before her other hand came up to grasp his shoulder.
She lifted herself up onto her toes. She wasn't tall enough to reach his lips without assistance, but the question in her eyes, the eager query, was clear.
She wanted him to lean down towards her.
She needed the confirmation that he wanted it as much as she did.
He should have known she would be so considerate.
He released her hand to wrap his arms around her waist. He didn't lean down. He lifted her up. Brought her face near his, feet dangling towards the ground. Her eyes went wide with surprise just before an eager grin crossed her face.
“Like that, did you?” He asked, teasing her with the movement of his lips, the promise of a kiss, just above hers. “I'll hold you up while I fuck you if you like it so much.”
She didn't understand. Of course, she didn't. But she was grinning as she took his face in her hands, stroking along his jaw, reaching back towards his ears.
He was sure the points of his were as interesting to her as the rounded shell of hers were to him.
She jumped, then giggled, when his tail wrapped around her ankle.
The sound was adorable. He needed to touch her more.
He wanted to curl his entire body around hers, to cover and conquer her.
To have her trembling with need, then quivering with pleasure until his name was the only intelligible thing to cross her lips.
But he held back as he waited for her to show him what she wanted. How she liked to be held. How she liked to be kissed. He would take over the moment she did, but without the words, his female must be the one to initiate so he could know for certain that he had her permission.
His sweet, water eyed Peony was cautious, moving slowly, looking deep into his eyes as she closed the last of the distance. Making sure she had his permission. Making sure that, despite their communication barrier, there was no miscommunication.
The first kiss was a question. A soft brush of her lips against his. The barest hint of a caress. Her eyes didn't close. She watched him as she pulled back. Just far enough that she could check that she hadn't overstepped.
She wasn't cautious or afraid. She was considerate and kind. Even from the first she had been understanding. She wanted him, but she had to be sure he wanted her too.
The second kiss was his. An answer to her question.
It lasted longer this time. Just enough for him to feel the impossible softness of her luscious lips molding to his.
Enough for him to taste her clear, pure sweetness.
He ended it with a tiny nibble to her bottom lip.
A promise of more. Then, he pulled back and looked into her eye, smirking.
She giggled again, her fingers playing with the nape of his neck, twirling through his hair.
She was more confident when she came back this time.
Her eyes fluttering closed as she claimed his lips.
He only allowed her control for a moment before he buried a hand in her hair, tilting her head into the position he wanted.
He had his permission. He took control. And the soft squeak followed by the way her fingers clung to his shoulder, to his neck, told him she approved.
He nibbled at the corner of her mouth before slipping his tongue past her eager, parting lips.
She tasted fresh and clean. Pure and simple.
Like a breath of fresh air. The warmth of sunshine of his face when his skin was cold.
Her tongue was small, slippery, and soft.
It moved against his with complete confidence, no hesitation.
She traced his fangs, and a shiver of excitement wracked her frame.
She had no fear of him. More than that, she had no shyness of herself or her sexuality.
She kissed him like she had the right to do so.
And it was probably the sexiest thing he had ever felt.
Females would usually submit to him, hoping to appeal to his dominating nature.
It was either contrived and unappealing or a little too genuine and tiring.
Peony met him as an equal, not unwilling to submit to his control, but making him work for it.
Making him understand that, if she didn't choose to submit, he could not force her.
She kissed like an adassani.
He growled, surprised by the burn of heat that raced through him. He knew what his body wanted, what his instincts said was his, but in this kiss, he could see it for himself.
This female. This female was the one. His mate. Here in his arms at last.
The hard length of his cock pressed against her belly, and he rocked into her, making her whimper with excitement.
But it also made her break the kiss. He had to force himself not to growl at the loss of her as she leaned back, looking down with wide eyes. She couldn't see anything, their bodies still pressed together, but she was stunned.
Was she surprised by his cock? Did her males not have one? Was she unsure what to do with it? Or maybe had never felt one before? He wasn't afraid to teach, but he didn't want to scare her.
She said something, her face burning so pink it was nearly red. There was a knowing look in her eyes that made him think she wasn't completely unaware of what a cock was and what it was for. But there was something about his that startled her.
He ran his hand down from her head, along her back, to caress the round globe of her ass.
He squeezed, just barely, massaging it with a growl of approval.
She was so delectably soft. He could too easily imagine holding that round, delicious ass in his hands as he pulled her up and down on his cock.
Even now, he used his grip to pull her in tighter.
“Atem,” she whispered his name like a prayer, her eyes starting to close.
There was no doubt in his mind that she was his.
He could have her. He would have her. He didn't think he could make it to the captain's quarters, but the captain's chair was right there, and he wanted nothing more in that moment than to see her gorgeous, curved body bouncing atop his thighs, her eyes rolled back in ecstasy.
He only managed to take a single step before-
“Peony?”
He growled, frustrated. He recognized the voice as belonging to the blood haired Scarlet. She didn't sound panicked, but it was a near thing.
And his sweet female jumped at hearing her, face and her neck all turning red. She wiggled in his grasp, making it clear that she wanted down. He reluctantly lowered her. She took a hasty step back, reaching up to try to tame her hair.
A moment later, Scarlet walked quickly into the room. She looked between them, her sharp eyes tracking from Peony's kiss plumped lips, to his mussed hair, down to the bulge in his pants that hadn't gone down, to Peony's reddened face that was probably far easier to read for her own species.
Scarlet said only a single word, filled with dull incredulity.
Peony beamed sheepishly, shifting her weight between her feet. She made a kind of half shrug as she said something back. She didn't sound like she was making excuses for what she did, even as Scarlet asked pointed questions.
Atem couldn't defend their actions, nor would he even if he could communicate. There was nothing to defend.
So, while they talked, he returned to the captain's chair and their route.
Flying a ship without an auto-navigator wasn't difficult, just tedious, especially when going somewhere he was so intimately familiar with.
It was something to do to pass the time anyway, until Scarlet would leave him alone again with his pretty green-eyed female – the same green as the oceans of home.