Alkard

ALKARD

Something about her desperate loneliness struck a chord deep in my soul.

I grabbed Tessi's bare shoulders, pulling her in close so I could stare right into her dark eyes.

"Tessi, I…"

My voice trailed off.

I'll protect you, Tessi.

A jolt of anger ran through me.

This was ridiculous. I certainly could do no such thing.

It was this woman. She made me crazy. And now… "Why are you wilting like a flower?"

Her eyes widened, and her mouth flew open as if I'd slapped her cheek.

"I thought you were strong, Tessi. You had the strength of will to sneak into my office like a dirty thief."

Hurt, then anger flashed through her face.

"That's not fair, I didn't steal anything?—"

"Because you hadn't the chance yet."

"I just wanted information?—"

"And you were ready to do anything, anything at all for it," I growled.

Her lips parted, her eyes glazing slightly as I pulled her in tightly to my chest.

"Yes," she whispered, nothing more than a husky murmur escaping her lips. I was thrilled at the feeling of her body against me. Her gaze lifted up to lock with my own. Her hands rested on my chest, fingers splayed wide as if she were on the verge of pushing away from me.

Or an instant away from pulling me closer.

Tessi's heavy pants heaved her chest into me as she swallowed, hard.

"Alkard…" Her tone rode the cusp between teasing and fearful. "What are you going to do?"

"Tessi."

I spoke her name in a hushed whisper. The sound issued not from my lungs or throat but from the depths of my soul.

I hardened my resolve, and slipped my hand around to the back of her head, knotting my fingers in her midnight black mane. She gasped and I pulled back, leaving her hair taut.

"Tessi, do you want me to kiss you?"

She only hesitated for a moment.

"Yes," she said, a pained expression coming over her face and cheeks reddened, that she had to admit to me that's what she wanted.

I wanted it just as bad, if not more.

But I'd made her a promise.

I took her lips in the deepest, hardest kiss possible. I moved my tongue inside, exploring her mouth, exulting in her taste.

The softness of her mouth proved an intoxicant I had no resistance to. I suckled on her bottom lip, exploring its plump softness. I pulled back, biting her just to the point of breaking the skin, but not quite.

Tessi grunted softly before I released her, then dove back in and kissed her again.

We came up for air, our breathing filling the garden air with heat.

"Tessi." I pressed my forehead to hers. "Do you want me to bite your earlobe?"

"Ah," she cried, her body trembling in my grasp. "Yes…"

I moved my mouth over to her ear, tongue darting out to flick against the lobe. I found her ear lovely like a curving sea shell. Being so close to her neck felt heady as a field of wildflowers in full bloom.

She shivered as I seized her ear in my teeth. I put enough pressure that she cried out, a sound that had little to do with pain. I released her and nuzzled the nape of her snow white throat.

"Tessi, do you want me to lick your neck?"

"Yes," she panted out between heavy breaths, her eyes shining.

I found myself consumed by that glow, feeling it tattoo an indelible impression upon my soul.

My mouth moved over Tessi's nape, sliding along the sweet skin as she clutched my vest, fingers locking into the fabric.

Slowly, I lapped my tongue along her hot flesh. The taste of her flooded my senses, making my cock twitch hard.

I tasted her essence in her sweat, in the temperature of her delectable skin, the pulsing of blood through her veins. I didn't just want her, I needed her.

Pressed chest to chest as we were, she could not help but feel it. Her resistance crumbled. Tessi's body molded itself to mine as she gave into her desires at last.

"You taste so good," I growled, sinking my teeth in, but not quite hard enough to break the skin, then I kissed my way down her throat, to the slope of her breast.

My fingers hooked into the thin straps of her dress, smoothly sliding them over the rounded edge of her shoulders and down to her elbows. She made a sound between fear and desire. We were in a public garden, and anyone might come along.

That didn't stop me, or her, for that matter.

I told you, my sweet little human, that you would agree to everything…

"Tessi," I said, the tone of my voice almost a mockery of the question. "Would you like me to worship your breasts?"

"Fuck," she cried, twisting and writhing in my arms. Her whole body spasmed with a powerful contraction which left her half spent and panting, and yet seeming to want more of my touch.

"All in due time," I said with a wink. "No need to rush. When I eat a fine delicacy, I take my time. I might taste you…all night."

I slipped my mouth around her nipple, sliding my lips sensually around her ever hardening flesh. My tongue tasted her skin again, prompting Tessi's eyes to flutter close.

My teeth sank in, hard enough to pinch and she cried out sharply, her hands grasping at my head. Her fingers traced over my hair to the bumps of the small horns above my temples.

I worked my way over to the other side, leaving a trail of sensual kisses and hot caresses, sucking on her pink skin, drawing my head back to stretch her nipples.

Her breast came out of my mouth with a wet pop. I immediately seized on its twin and stretched it as well, mingling sensations of pain and pleasure to drive her wild.

"Tessi," I purred into the softness of her belly. "Do you want me to use my lips and tongue on your hot little pussy?"

She arched her body against me, twisting and writhing on her perch on the stone garden bench.

"Yes," she cried, a desperate sound.

"You have no idea how much I love hearing you say that word," I said, hiking her dress up until it reached her waist. The fragrant aroma of her desire wafted into my nostrils, and I took a moment to savor it. "It makes me want to give you anything, everything."

My eyes widened at the sight of her lace undergarment. The material was translucent, giving me a sneak preview of what I was going to soon devour.

Like reading the menu before you order.

I slipped her panties off, her perfume assaulting my nose with delectable temptation. I thrust my head between her legs, kissing the inside of her creamy thighs. I felt the blood rushing through her femoral artery, and hungered to taste it once more.

All in due time , I told myself. Now, I was going to taste something delicious. I was going to taste Tessi's nectar.

A bead of moisture shivered on the bottom of her inner folds before dropping off. I caught it on my tongue. My eyes went wide as my body fired up. Yes, this was what I wanted.

I bit her gently on her inner thighs, then soothed the red skin with a kiss. I licked my way to her love cradle, latching onto her outer lips with my mouth. I suckled her juices from the throbbing, swollen flesh, savoring it as it went down my throat.

Tessi's fingers tore my hair as her body jerked and writhed beneath me. I pinned her down with my arms a bit more firmly, holding her in place for my ministrations. The cacophony of cries, moans, and shouts coming from Tessi's throat filled the garden air.

I gave each side loving attention as her soft cries grew ever more heated. Tessi's fingers curled into my hair, tugging hard and egging me onward.

At last, I traced my tongue in a circle around her clit, her little nub begging for attention. I slithered my tongue about until I just barely nicked it. She gasped, rearing up to clutch at me with her hands and body.

I exulted in the moment. Swaddled in her flesh and scent, her taste strong on my palette, I slowly licked her clit, prompting another high pitched wail that had nothing to do with pain or despair, her passion the sweetest music I'd ever heard.

Tessi twisted sharply to the side, then shook as her nectar released. I greedily lapped up as much as I could, not wanting to waste a drop, until she collapsed back onto the bench, whimpering as her body shivered with aftershocks.

"I don't know about you," I said, gathering her into my arms. "But I think that was well worth waiting for?—"

Afterward, I could never be sure exactly what made me move when I did. Maybe I sensed the air currents. Maybe I saw a reflection in the depths of her eyes. Or maybe the Night Mother, the Vinduthi patron goddess, had my back like she did in the war.

All I knew was every fiber of my being screamed move at the same time. I pulled Tessi tighter against me and twisted to the side, shielding her with my body.

Sizzling heat bubbled up on my back as an electrical crackle raised hackles on my neck. I pitched into a somersault, taking the brunt to protect the precious bundle cradled in my arms as I caught glimpses of a line of blinding white stretching out like the finger of an angry god from the catwalk circling the translucent dome.

I stopped our tumble and kicked out with my right foot, shattering the base beneath a stone statue of a beetle faced humanoid. The statue tilted over and thudded to the ground, giving us cover from the energy blast.

The beam ceased its assault at last.

"Tessi?" Her eyes remained closed, and my breathing was so loud, I couldn't tell if she respired or not. "Tessi?"

Had she been hit? Had I hurt her during our escape?

Her eyes opened, full of fear but to my surprise, very little panic.

"What the hell is going on? Are we under attack?"

"I'm afraid so."

I tested the wind, picking up the scent of a Volek and my nose wrinkled in disgust. They were notorious mercenaries, willing to do any job if the price were right. Makar hated them the most of all, calling them dinner killers, since it seemed they'd take any contract for the price of a meal.

While I admired the ruthlessness, I abhorred the lack of ambition.

"I believe I have located the assassin," I said as she covered her nakedness with the remains of her dress as best she could. My voice sounded loud, reflecting off the nearby stone pillar shielding us from more energy fire.

"How? How can you see anything behind this stupid statue?"

"I smell him, hear him. I taste him on the wind, feel the saliva rushing around in his mouth."

She turned white.

"I think I'm sorry I asked. Do you have a weapon on you?"

I gave her a smirk.

"I'm the leader of the most powerful syndicate on the station. There are dozens of sentient beings who want nothing more than for me to suffer the most painful death imaginable. Of course I have a weapon."

I twisted my wrist, and a palm sized, silver pistol landed smoothly in my hand.

"Where did that come from?"

"It was hidden in a mechanism in my sleeve, sheathed in a holster impervious to N ray tech. Otherwise they would not have allowed it in the restaurant."

Her brows climbed high on her face.

"Then how did our friend the assassin get his weapon inside?"

On one hand, I felt a swell of appreciation at her quick wit. On the other, it was hard not to be angry.

Not at her of course.

"I do not know," I said icily. "But when I find out…and I assure you I will find out…"

I flicked the button on the side of my gun that powered up its internal battery. Lights blinked three times along the barrel, which extended with a mechanical snick.

"Heads are gonna roll?" she finished for me before I could speak.

I gave her a look, unsure if she was messing with me or not.

"Yes, something like that. Now excuse me. I have a hitman to wound."

"Wound? Why not kill him? He's trying to kill us, right?"

"Because no matter how subtle the interrogator, if his subject is dead it will impede his work."

She nodded calmly, and a small flash of wonder rushed over me.

"That makes sense."

I threw a fist sized chunk of rubble over the garden statue. The laser started up again, obliterating the stone to powder.

In that instant, I rose to my feet, eyes tracing the white beam back to its source, trusting in the speed and skill of my kind. I spotted my target, a caterpillar-faced humanoid roughly six feet tall in dark gray battle armor.

I aimed carefully, because with only the head to aim at, a disabling shot would be tricky. Not impossible, though. I fired my shot, and a tiny sliver of metal no bigger than a grain of rice shot out of the barrel at twice the speed of sound.

The Volek howled as two of its four mouthpart pedilaps fell to the garden floor amid a spurt of sickly white blood. I cursed as it turned and fled, staggering out of sight. I could not get a clear shot.

"Damn it all, I will hunt him to the ends of the station if I…"

My voice trailed off as I gazed at Tessi. She had held herself together quite well under the circumstances, but…

I couldn't abandon her while I went tripping off after the assassin.

"Come on," I said, offering her my hand. "It's safe now. I don't sense any other beings out in the garden now but you and I."

"I thought you were going after him?"

I couldn't bring myself to reveal my real motives.

Such a weakness could never be allowed.

"There's a possibility that the assassin was never supposed to kill me, but rather tricked me into chasing him. It's twisty, but that's the way things are on Thodos III. If I pursue, I might run into a trap."

Her eyes held a skeptic's energy, but she said nothing.

We started to leave, but she cried out and almost collapsed. I caught her under her shoulder before she skinned her knees on the rough garden path.

"Tessi, what's wrong?"

"It's my ankle," she said. "I guess I twisted it during our tumble."

My eyes narrowed to slits when I saw the purple, swollen mass of her ankle. I trembled with rage.

Not twisted. Broken.

Tessi, hurt.

Tessi was hurt because of some trigger happy assassin. Guilt and rage warred within me. I promised myself, that Volek would die slowly, screaming, praying for an end that would only come when I decided.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I don't think I can walk. Can you get me a crutch or something?"

"No need for a crutch."

She cried out as I lifted her into my arms.

What could I do? I couldn't leave her at the restaurant. It may have been compromised.

The hover car made for poor cover.

There was only one thing to do.

Call for backup.

I took out my percomm and sent a message to the circle. It was a simple message, and coded in case of interception.

I need all the kids to help Dad with dinner.

It was a summons for the entire brotherhood. They would ping my location from the message and come loaded for bear.

I crept to the edge of the garden and peered out. My lips peeled back into a sneer. The dining room was empty, chairs toppled over and food half eaten left on elegant plates.

Apparently, the gunman had run wounded, right through the dining room and scared everyone out of their wits. The well-heeled denizens had scattered, leaving everything behind in their flight for safety.

I peered out the glass panels forming the restaurant front fa?ade and grimaced at the sight of no less than ten more Voleks, scattered around the edge of the hover car platform.

I had twelve shots total in the holdout pistol. It was possible I could take them all out with one shot a piece, but not likely. Like the others, they had armor.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"There are more of them. But don't worry, help is on the way. We just have to hold out until then."

A message dinged on my percomm. I checked it.

You boil an egg for eight minutes, right?

I knew it would be eight minutes or more before they arrived.

Faster is better.

No response. Hopefully that meant they were on their way and had no time for messages. I saw the Voleks massing up, preparing to storm the restaurant.

I gently carried her to a dense Zelderberry bush.

"Here, if you hide among the fronds, it will mask your heat signature if they try scanning for you."

"Okay…hey, what the heck?"

The fronds wrapped around her body, draping over her shoulders, arms and even her head.

"Don't worry. That means it likes you."

"It's not going to eat me, is it?" She seemed dubious.

"It's very fragile. You could tear it to shreds with your bare hands, so be careful not to harm it."

"You want me not to harm it ?" she sputtered.

"Shhh. Now is the time to be quiet, my sweet."

I leaned in and kissed her. The fronds all retreated from my presence, shrinking away like grease before detergent in the dishwater.

"Don't get yourself killed," she said. "I'm just starting to?—"

"Like me?" I asked with a grin.

"I was going to say find you tolerable."

I gaped in astonishment, until she thrust her tongue out.

"Kidding. Go kick some ass and try not to die."

And with that brave grin, all of my doubts faded away.

She was the woman for me.

She was mine.

Just as soon as I destroyed the fools who had tried to harm her.