Chapter 16

16

H eat flooded Zara's cheeks as Traax carried her through the corridors of the station. Anticipation and need coiled low in her stomach. A sweet ache and hunger made her press closer to his large, heavily muscled form, seeking the comfort and heat of his body.

As he carried her effortlessly, she rested her head on his broad shoulder, closing her eyes. His scent wrapped around her, a mix of masculinity and pure Traax that made her heart beat faster. She inhaled deeply, locking his scent into her memory. She would know him anywhere.

Her mind wandered to thoughts of what would happen next when he got her back to his quarters. Memories of their night together fueled thoughts of skin against skin, the brush of his lips against her neck and the weight of him pressing her into the mattress. Every imagined touch, every phantom caress sent a shiver of need and heat down her spine to pool between her thighs. The ache in her core grew more insistent, a throbbing need that she knew only he could ease.

By the time they reached his quarters, she was wound tighter than a coiled spring, every nerve in her body alive and singing with anticipation and need. Registering his presence, the door slid open with a soft whoosh, and he carried her over the threshold .

He looked at her, his amber eyes dark with hunger, and her heart skipped a beat. The room was semi-dark, the only light from the stars shining through the viewports, casting an ethereal glow over everything. He carried her right through into the bedroom, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet that covered the floor.

"I wanted this to be perfect. But I can't wait. I have to have you. Now," he murmured, his voice husky with need. The raw desire in his voice sent a thrill down her spine.

"Then take me," she whispered, meeting his gaze and letting him see the heat and need in her eyes. Letting him see she ached for him just as much as he ached for her.

He growled deep in his throat, a sound she'd never heard him make before. It was low and dangerous, primitive and sexy at the same time. A shiver of anticipation rolled over her skin as he slid her down the front of his body until she stood in front of the bed.

Her eyes widened at the feel of him against her, thick and hard. He really wasn't kidding about not waiting.

Words didn't seem enough, not when they could touch. Caress. She wasn't sure which of them moved first to start undressing the other. At least, she tried to undress him, but he pushed her hands gently away as he began to remove her clothes. His touch was erotic and sensual, as if each caress was a promise of what was to come.

"Your skin is so soft, Zara. I need to feel it against mine again," he whispered, his voice rough.

His fingers unzipped her flight suit deftly, and he pushed at it until it slid down her shoulders to pool at her feet. She shivered as the cooler air in the room hit her skin. He stepped back, admiration and dark heat in his eyes as he looked at her in her underwear.

"You are so beautiful," he said, his eyes darkening with need. "And you're mine. All mine."

"Yours," she agreed, her breath hitching as his callused fingers brushed against her skin, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through her.

The raw, primal hunger in his eyes as he looked at her made her feel wanted… desired… like she was the only woman in the universe. His hands moved over her body, exploring every curve and contour, and she reveled in the sensation, feeling more alive than she had in a long time.

She bit her lip as he stepped back and started to strip off his flight suit. His movements were swift and efficient rather than intended to arouse, but the look in his eyes, focused and intent on her, made it the most erotic thing she'd ever seen.

His jacket dropped to the floor unheeded as her gaze swept over the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders. She didn't conceal her expression as she admired the muscular lines of his body, the way the dim light seemed to dance across his skin. He was a warrior, a man whose life had been dictated and marked by battle. His skill and prowess were written in the braids and beads in his long hair as well as the scars across his skin. She stepped forward, needing to touch him as she spotted the new ones from their battle with the Krin.

He shook his head, and she stopped, her eyes drinking him in as he undid his belt and shoved his leather pants down over his hips. His cock sprang free, thick and hard, to slap against the flatness of his toned stomach.

Then he stood before her, naked and unashamed as he watched her expression. "I am not like your weak human men," he growled, holding his hand out for her to take. "I am, and always have been, a warrior. That will not change. Neither will my love for you, kelarris."

Heat surged through her as she stepped forward and placed her hand in his. She wanted him, needed him, and the heat in his eyes told her he felt the same.

"Same…" she whispered, looking up at him as he pulled her closer. "I mean, my love won't change. Now, kiss me."

"As my lady wishes." He smiled, leaning in to claim her mouth with his own. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, her mate, and the promise of the pleasure between them that lay ahead.

His kiss wasn't gentle this time. It was fierce and dominating. He claimed her lips with a kiss that left her breathless and wanting more. Much more. With a groan, he pushed past her lips so his tongue could duel with hers in an erotic dance that sent heat coursing through her veins.

He swept her up again, and she clung to him as he lowered her onto the bed; her heart racing with anticipation. He didn't mess about, following her down a second later and bracing himself over her. A hard knee parted hers, and she opened for him willingly. Trustingly. She bit her lip as the hardness of his arousal pressed against her thigh, her pussy clenching in need.

"Keep looking at me like that, and I won't be held responsible for my actions," he warned in a rough growl.

Without warning, he slid down between her thighs, his hot breath fanning her core. She gasped as his tongue flicked out, parting her folds to taste her, teasing her as the warm roughness of his tongue flicked over her clit. He growled again, the sound reverberating against her, and his hands gripped her hips. Holding her in place, he feasted on her like a man starved. Nibbles and licks, over and around her clit and then down as he traced the entrance to her body with his tongue.

She moaned, her hands twisted in the sheets as he drove his tongue inside her, tongue fucking her even as he swept his thumb over her clit. Each stroke, each thrust drove her closer and closer to the edge.

When she thought she couldn't take it anymore, he moved, his thumb gone. But then his lips latched around her clit, and he sucked. Hard. She screamed out as her climax hit in a wave of pure ecstasy. It was overwhelming… a flood that threatened to drown her and left her trembling and exhausted beneath him.

But he wasn't finished with her. Wiping his mouth, he moved up over her and covered her with his larger body. He filled her with one quick, hard thrust, and she gasped, clutching at his shoulders.

She'd been ready, but he still stretched her, a tiny bite of pain threading through the pleasure. The feel of him inside her was mind-blowing, his cock stretching and filling her completely.

But he didn't give her a chance to recover. Instead, he braced himself on his forearms, his lips on her neck as he began to move. He pulled back and thrust inside her like a man possessed. Each rock of his hips, each time his cock stroked within her was pure pleasure. She found herself matching his rhythm, her hands smoothing over his heavily muscled back as she moved with him in a dance as old as time.

"You feel so good around my cock, kelarris," he growled, his voice low in her ear. She gasped as he nipped gently at her earlobe, sending a spike of sensation through her blood. "This… you… it's all I could think about since we left that hunter station. If we'd been alone on that shuttle, I'd have taken you against every draanthing surface until we were both exhausted."

His words fueled the fire in her blood, sending her arousal sky-high again. She clung to him, a moan escaping her as her fingers dug into the muscular planes of his back. Each time he bottomed out, he rocked his hips, pressing against a spot inside her that practically made her eyes roll back in her head.

"Next time," she managed. "We can skip the fight with the Krin and just fuck in the shuttle."

He growled and sped up, thrusting harder and faster. She tensed, her muscles tightening as she prepared to go over the edge once more.

Her orgasm hit. She clung to him, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as she rode out the pleasure coursing through her. Every nerve ending she had felt like it was on fire, an explosion of pleasure that made her body hum and feel absolutely, totally, alive .

He tensed suddenly, the smoothness of his movements breaking down as he slammed into her. Once… twice… then he thrust into her a final time and froze, his body stiff as he exploded within her. The cords stood out in his strong neck, a deep groan escaping him as, deep within her, his cock jerked and pulsed. Heat filled her as he bathed her inner walls with rope after rope of his hot seed.

He shuddered, his breathing ragged as his climax took him over. Then his arms tightened around her, and he rolled over and slid from her. She pouted at the loss, but then he pulled her against him so she lay nestled against his chest, protected and cherished.

They lay there in silence for long moments, still intimately connected as their ragged breathing leveled out and they came down from their shared pleasure. She still felt the warmth of him inside her and bit her lip. Even though they hadn't discussed having kids, even though she'd never even thought about it before, a small hope that his seed would find fertile ground lingered at the back of her mind.

She rested against him, her head pillowed on his broad shoulder, and closed her eyes. A sense of peace washed over her. She had never felt so connected to another person before, and it was both terrifying and exhilarating.

His hand traced lazy circles down her back, the steady beat of his heart under her palm in the center of his chest.

After a few moments, he spoke, his voice low and soft. "Zara, there is something you need to know."

She twisted and met his gaze. "What is it?"

"I love you," he said with a smile, and her heart swelled with love and joy.

"I love you too," she whispered back, her voice thick with emotion.

Leaning down, he kissed her forehead and then settled her more comfortably against him. They lay there in each other's arms, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking until sleep finally claimed them both.

Traax stood at the front of the emperor's throne room, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for his mate to arrive. The hall was packed with warriors dressed in their best leathers, their faces alight with curiosity and anticipation. Bonding ceremonies were still rare enough to be a novelty, and they all wanted to see the female who had brought him, the lord starfighter, to his knees.

Zhain stood next to him, a smirk quirking his lips at Traax's nervous fidgeting. Traax shot him a glare, but it lacked any heat. He was too focused on the doors at the end of the hall, willing them to open and reveal his mate. His bride. That's what humans called females about to get bonded.

"What if she doesn't show?" he murmured in a low voice, putting the fear that had been gnawing at his guts all morning into words.

Zhain chuckled.

"Humans are fierce and independent," he said with a shrug. "If she doesn't show up, what can you do?"

Traax snarled, his hands clenched into fists so tight that his bones creaked. He was about to lock Roic in a headlock, decorum be damned, but then music… human music… filled the air. He whirled around as the doors swung open.

"But I never doubted she would be here," Zhain murmured, but Traax wasn't listening to him anymore.

All he could see was the female walking toward him.

Zara.

His mate, his heart, his everything .

His breath caught in his throat as she glided up the aisle toward him, her violet eyes locked with his. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, a goddess in the flesh, and his heart swelled. This woman, this fierce, brave, incredible female, a warrior among her own kind, had chosen him.

Him, out of all the males in the universe, she had chosen him.

She was a vision, her gown clinging to her curves like a second skin. The pale fabric shimmered as she moved, and her auburn hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate human style with flowers woven through the curls.

But the necklace around her neck caught his eye. He'd had his family's bonding necklace recovered from the vault and sent over for her this morning along with a selection of other jewels. He smiled as he saw it was the only jewelry she'd chosen to wear, showcasing it… showing it off. It was a delicate piece made of precious metals, studded with glittering gems that winked and sparkled with every step she took. But it was more than a simple necklace. It marked her as his… and a princess of the empire.

Behind him, he could hear the warriors' whispered conversations, their voices low and appreciative as they took in the bridesmaids, Zara's fellow pilots.

"So beautiful…"

"Forget this nonsense of the mating program… we should just spirit them away like in the ancient times."

"They're not registered with the program. We could just take them. Who would stop us?"

Then with a clatter of metal against metal, Zara's drakeen followed the bridesmaids into the hall. Traax smothered his grin as the conversations behind him went silent. No warrior, no matter how brave or foolhardy, would dare take on even one drakeen, never mind three.

But Traax barely spared the combat bots a glance. His eyes were all for his mate as she came to a stop before him. She turned and handed her bouquet of Herris blossoms, traditional for a royal bride, to one of her attendants and then turned to face him, a soft smile on her lips.

"You are so beautiful, kelarris ," he murmured as he took her hands in his, marveling at the softness of her skin and the delicate strength in her fingers.

"You clean up pretty well yourself, handsome," she teased, her voice low and her eyes sparkling with love and happiness.

A hush fell over the hall as the emperor stepped forward. He was resplendent in his formal robes, the rich fabrics a stark contrast to his usual warrior attire, and the unadorned iron crown of the empire lay on his brow.

"Blood calls to blood and soul to soul," he began, his deep voice carrying to the back of the hall. "Soul calls to skin, woman to man, binding the halves of a whole together for all eternity."

He turned to Zara, his eyes softening. "Lady Zara, do you take this warrior who bears your marks on his skin to bond-mate? To support and honor him for the rest of his life?"

Her voice was clear and strong, ringing through the hall. "I do."

Relief washed through him at her words. That was it. She was his, now and forever.

Daaynal turned to him, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Lord Traax, prince and duke of the empire, do you take this female who has called marks in your skin to bond-mate? To protect her and honor her for the rest of your life?"

"Absolutely. I do." His words were a vow, a promise, an unbreakable oath. He would give his life for her without a second's hesitation.

Zara's hand trembled in his, and he tightened his fingers around hers to reassure her. The emperor reached for their joined hands and bound them with a sash the color of the midnight sky.

"Then, as emperor of the Lathar, I bless your bonding. May it bring much solace and be fruitful."

Removing the sash, he stepped back, and a broad smile spread across his face. With a wink, he said, "And out of respect for human tradition, this is where you kiss the bride."

Traax didn't need telling twice. Pulling Zara into his arms, his lips found hers in a kiss that was both tender and fierce, a demand and a vow all in one. She melted against him, lifting her arms to wrap them around his neck. Her body pressed against his, molding against him as if they were two halves of a whole.

United… at last.

The hall erupted in cheers and applause around them, but he barely heard it. His world had narrowed down to the female in his arms, the feel of her, the taste of her, the knowledge that she was his, now and forever.

When they finally broke apart, he leaned down to rest his forehead against hers.

"I love you," he whispered. "My kelarris , my protector, my mate."

Her eyes shone with unshed tears.

"I love you too," she breathed, her fingers sliding through the braids at the nape of his neck. "My warrior, my heart, my mate."

They stood there, lost in each other for the moment as the air filled with cheers and congratulations.

Then, together, they turned to face their guests, their hands clasped tightly and their faces aglow with joy and love.

The future stretched out before them, bright and full of promise. But he knew down to his soul that whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever battles he and his mate would face in the years to come, they would face them side by side.

As a team… as partners.

As equals .