Chapter 11

She was warm. Not in the uncomfortable, sweating kind of way. But that feeling of being in bed swaddled in soft blankets. Her body felt light, relaxed, her mind peaceful as she dozed in and out. No thoughts penetrated her mind save for that she must be safe because someone had taken great care to make her comfortable.

She stirred, sighing softly, only noticing a small tingling in her left shoulder but the pain was all but gone. Her eyes fluttered open, as if some intuition told her to wake. She saw a dark ceiling high above her, soft orange light barely touching the surface.

She blinked a few times, clearing her vision. She moaned softly, then turned her head one way and saw heat lamps along one wall with a curved window above. There was some sort of basin like a tub to one corner and a table near the window.

Frowning, she slowly lifted herself. She didn't recognize this place, but judging from the view outside the window, she was still in the mountain somewhere. Somewhere high up enough to look down the valley.

She stared at the sky and the sliver of land below, still trying to come to her senses, to understand where she was, when something stirred ever so slightly at the corner of her eye.

She turned and gazed in front of her and the air left her lungs, her heart leaping to her throat.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Draka said softly, his voice laced with something dangerous.

Goosebumps trailed across her skin. He sat only a few feet away, orange light hitting across his back but leaving his face in shadow. Only the glint of green from his eyes could be seen.

He sat in a chair with his hands gripping each thigh, claws fully extended, his stillness unnerving.

Subconsciously, Ria touched her face, as if still expecting the helmet to be there. But of course it was gone. She lowered her hand and stared back at him.

"Where am I?" she whispered.

His claws slipped back a little. "My room," he said matter-of-factly.

She stiffened, clutching the blanket around her, realizing she was naked underneath. She glanced nervously to one side but didn't see her clothes.

"Looking for your things? The helmet is gone, I'm afraid," he said in that husky, dangerous tone. "I don't think you'll be needing it anymore since your skin is hardly burned, wouldn't you say…Oza?"

She pressed her back against the pillows, unable to find the words to defend herself.

"But that's not really your name, is it?" Draka continued when she didn't respond.

She shook her head. "No, it's not."

"You lied to me."

She closed her eyes, her throat tightening. "Yes." Her voice cracked. "I did." Fear started to grip her. She thought of that uugari, the one he and his pack had kicked into the waterfall. Would he now do the same to her?

No, he might do worse.

She opened her eyes in time to see him move ever so slightly, as if to come toward her. Her body responded by sliding even closer to the wall. "You promised." She blurted the words out, unthinking.

He stilled again, his body leaning forward. "Promised?"

"You told me you didn't plan to harm her…to harm me. You said you would be kind and take my advice to heart."

He straightened. "Yes, I did say that, didn't I?"

She stared at him, waiting for him to take it all back.

He got up and turned his back to her, his clawed hand gripping the end of the chair. "Do you think now after you lied to me I still must hold to that promise?"

She bit the inside of her cheek, clenching her jaw, watching him like prey watched a predator. "Yes," she said.

He bowed his head. "Yes," he repeated in a whisper. He went around the chair and came toward her, his face coming into the light. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were bright, fierce. He approached her, then carefully knelt by her side. He studied her for a long moment, then lifted his hand toward her. His claws traced the side of her jaw in a lover's caress, and she only flinched for a second but didn't turn away, didn't dare. "Why?" he said. "Why did you hide from me?"

His hand still lingered on her face and, gods help her, she leaned into it, closing her eyes. "You know why," she said.

He laughed low, his talons slipping back a little save for his thumb which traced over her bottom lip. "You were truly that afraid?"

She opened her eyes to gaze back at him through her eyelashes. "Yes."

She was waiting for him to say, you fucking should have been. But he didn't.

"Oza," he purred instead. "You shocked me to my core." He laughed again softly. "You are truly remarkable."

"You're not…angry?" she asked, timidly.

His hand finally slipped from her. "Oh, no, I'm pissed. But I'm also impressed. You hid from me for so long. I'd be willing to forgive you…if you play nice now, eh?"

What did he mean by that exactly?

His smile dropped when he must have seen the concern on her face. "Sweet female, I won't hurt you. I will stay to my word. But I wish you had told me."

"I couldn't trust you." Still didn't know if she could. "After the…incident with the pool and you hunting me everywhere, I could only think of one thing."

His eyes drifted down her mouth and neck, and she could see he was already itching to touch her some more, to take her like he'd wanted, but he was keeping himself back for her sake. Remembering what she had told him. "Yes, I see I had come on a little strong. I regret that now. I've never interacted with a human before. Sidonions can be aggressive in our wants, and I was running on instinct, barely able to contain myself." His eyes flicked back up to hers. "What must I do now to keep you from hiding from me?"

She swallowed, letting his face come close to hers. "Let me still be Oza to you in some way. Keep to your word."

His eyes narrowed. "You don't wish, then, to have me any other way?"

She shifted, biting her lip.

"I will take the friend," he said. "But I wish to have the lover too. You know more than anyone here how badly I've wanted you. Have I not proven you are safe here with me? That I will keep to everything I told you, promising this even when not knowing it was you?" He drew a lock of hair from her shoulder, curling it in his fingers. "You said I had a chance if I followed your rules. That I could make you mine if I proved to be gentle and listened. Will you not let me show you now?"

She studied him for a moment and knew her answer. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes."

His eyes glowed, a striking beauty in their darkness. "Tell me what you would have me do," he said.

She thought it over. "I'll tell you first what not to do. Don't throw me over the waterfall."

He stared at her, as if wondering if she was serious. Then he burst out laughing. He covered his eyes with his hand. "Oh, Oza, you are amusing."

"My name isn't Oza. It's—"

"Wait." His hand covered her mouth. "Don't tell me, not yet. When you are willing to let go fully and trust me without question, then I will know, deal?"

She stiffened, then nodded. His hand brushed against her mouth, then dropped.

"With that then, I promise not to throw you off the waterfall."

"How long have I been here?" she asked.

He stood and looked down on her. "I brought you here a night ago when they told me you'd broken out of your fever and would recover."

"And you were here the whole time?"

"Waiting for you to wake, yes."

She pursed her lips. A couple of weeks ago, that might have disturbed her but now it made her pulse race. She didn't feel sore or pained in any way. She could ask him if he'd done anything, but she decided to trust that he didn't. She wanted to trust him.

Releasing another slow breath, Ria allowed herself to relax and lay back on the pillows. He could still be the Draka she'd known as Oza. The sidonion who cared, who didn't want to break her but wanted to make her blood sing.

And she was liking the idea of that more and more.

She watched him move over to the table. He took up a bowl and cup and brought it over to her. "Will you eat?" he asked.

She nodded. Her stomach felt empty and her mouth a little dry. She sat up again as he came to kneel beside her. He scooped some kind of stew onto the spoon, then offered it to her.

She couldn't help but smirk. He really was trying.

Sweet as ketterling, or whatever the hell that was,she thought as she leaned forward and took the bite.

He watched her take full bites in silence before offering her the cup.

"What is it?" she asked, smelling a minty odor.

"Tea."

She took a sip and found it warm and refreshing. "Thank you," she said, wiping her mouth. This wasn't so bad. There was still hope they could keep what they had going when he'd known her as Oza.

He rose and put the cup and bowl back on the table. "One more night," he said absently.

She lay back on her elbows. "Until?"

"Serbril and Timothy said you'd be rested enough to move. They sealed your wound and flushed the infection from your system, but the healing process can still take some time."

She looked down at her shoulder. She trailed her fingers over the fresh new bandage. "Timothy…is he…"

She glanced up and saw him eyeing her. "He's fine. For saving your life, I've allowed him into our pack."

Our pack? she thought, trying to hide her smile. "You really will protect him then?"

"I said I would, and I won't go back on it. He has proved useful at least." He started to take off his clothes, slipping off his shirt and unbuttoning his pants.

Heat flashed across her face. "What are you…"

"I'm tired. It's been a few days since I've gotten sleep."

No thanks to her, though he didn't have to stay up. She could imagine what he must have been feeling when he saw her face, what he had been thinking.

He paused, seeing the look on her face. "Would you have me leave?" He didn't sound hurt, but she saw the flash of pain in his eyes.

She glanced at the side of the bed. This was his room after all, but she had a feeling if she told him yes, he would go without question.

"No," she said. She shifted over a little. Her heart fluttered thinking of him lying next to her, how the idea was starting to excite her more than scare her. She really was starting to let him in. She hoped she didn't regret it.

He took off the rest of his clothes and put them on top of a chest against one wall. She forced herself not to stare as he came around to her naked. Still, she caught sight of the monster between his legs just like she had back at the pool. Her stomach tightened, her legs clenching together as a dull ache pulsed between her thighs. The thought of taking him made her squirm, warmth spreading along her center.

Slow, Ria, chill out, she warned herself silently. But her body had other ideas. So this is what that hunger felt like. She'd never responded this…intensely to an alien. Not even her human lovers.

She wanted him. Even her fear couldn't keep her sane.

He knelt down before her and drew back the blankets. His eyes latched to hers as he smirked, showing her he'd be sweet and not even look down at her naked body next to him. Though she suspected that didn't help because she saw that hunger now in his own eyes.

"This should be a fun little challenge," he said as he lay down next to her and covered them both.

"How so?" she asked, licking her lips.

He smirked. "I'm in heat. I have you to thank for that, my sweet Oza. A pain only you can take away. Yet, I have promised to be sweet unless you say otherwise. So there is the challenge. I pride myself on being strong, but this might just be my greatest challenge yet." He laughed softly. He lay on his side, his gaze lingering on her face, his eyelids lowering, as if he were ready to sleep at any second. "But, if you are curious, you may touch me in any way that pleases you as I rest. If that will ease your anxiety of me."

She stared at him. "Are you…suggesting I play with you while you sleep?"

The wicked look in his eyes told her enough. "I will be at my most vulnerable and not as easily susceptible to breaking my promise. So, I'm granting you permission. Do as you like." He reached out his hand, carefully tracing a taloned finger across her cheek. "Explore me," he said in a gentle voice. "And see what I have to offer. You might just like it." He turned onto his back and closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened one and looked back at her. "Of course, be careful if you wake me. I can't guarantee I will be able to hold myself back if you do."

She lay next to him staring up at the ceiling.

This guy was crazy.

And so was she because for the last half hour, she'd been considering his offer.

She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, breathing in and out, trying to clear her head.

What was she so afraid of? She'd had sexual encounters before. Done all sorts of things.

But not like this. Not while someone slept. Not with an alien.

Not with someone like Draka.

She turned her head and glanced at him. His eyes were closed, his face tilted away from her. His chest rose and fell, a soft rumble heard every time he exhaled. His hands twitched every so often, his claws slipping in and out. One fang slid out from his upper lip.

She shook her head. She turned her body away from his and curled in a fetal position. She still felt the dull throbbing between her legs up to her ears.

She lay there pretending to sleep, her mind racing.

Last chance,a devious little voice said. He might wake up at any moment. Who knows how long sidonions need to sleep, but it's probably less time than you.

No, she didn't need to go there. Maybe it would be better to wait until he woke up.

"If you wake me, I can't guarantee I will be able to hold myself back..."His words penetrated her skull, making her shiver.

She closed her eyes. It was fine. She wasn't that curious really…

"Explore me and see what I have to offer…"His voice whispered in her mind, tempting, seductive.

She opened her eyes and stared at the door. Her hands gripped the blanket.

Lying right there next to you and you can't even grow a pair and—

"Fine!" she hissed. She turned back, lying on her other side so that she faced him. She watched him for a moment, waiting for any signs of him waking. He seemed to be in a dead sleep.

Carefully, she peeled back the blanket, exposing them both. She dropped it just past his legs, then she sat up to look down on him.

When she'd first seen him, she'd found him utterly terrifying. He still was. But in a way now she saw the beauty of his horrifying physique underneath. His skin appeared smooth like hers. If she looked close enough, she could see tiny scales, tight-knit across his body, that sometimes shone in the light. She could see his rib cage, thick and wide underneath the skin, and she could see his heart pumping. That part kind of creeped her out, but there were other parts of him she liked—his large muscular body, his strange otherworldly face that was harsh but also, in a way, beautiful. And his ears, pointed at the ends. She found she really liked those.

Before she wimped out, she reached across and let her fingers trail lightly along his skin. He was smooth just like she had thought, and warm. Solid but in a way soft. She moved her hand across his chest, then down his stomach, watching him for any signs of waking.

He hardly stirred which made her more bold. She leaned in and touched his face, studying those fascinating teeth. She traced along his jaw and up to the little point of his ear that wiggled a little at her touch. That gave her the urge to lean closer and kiss it, having to stop herself from biting down.

Her blood throbbed at the thrill of touching him. And knowing he would want every single part of it.

She glanced back down his body, and her eyes lingered just below his stomach. She took a deep breath, then glided her hand downward. He was so solid, she could feel his power underneath her hand, like stroking a large predatory beast. She might have imagined it, but she thought she heard him growl softly. She gazed back at his face, stilling her hand for a second before moving lower.

She paused before exploring the lower half of him, planting her gaze on the thick specimen between his legs.

His cock was already erect, and she didn't know if that was how they always were or if it had to do with him being in heat. Besides that he looked hard, there was nothing in him that was human. He wasn't just smooth skin but a whole lot more. Ridges formed along the bottom of the shaft and at the head. The middle bulged out slightly like a knot. At the tip were two pieces of skin protruding like a prong, reminding her of a forked tongue.

She squeezed her fingers into a fist, then unfurled them. She moved to sit on her knees close beside him, still facing him so she could watch to make sure he was still sleeping.

She slid her index finger along the underside of his shaft first to see how he reacted. His mouth twitched, but the rest of him didn't change. She waited, then gently stroked along the ridges and bumps, circling her thumb around the knot.

He stirred, but only a little. Something in the skin must have changed because he was quickly growing slick with some kind of natural lubricant the more she explored him. She curled her hand around him. He was so thick at the middle she couldn't wrap around him all the way. She trailed her hand upward and stroked his tip with her thumb, sliding slowly in and out between the prong.

His body tensed and a soft hiss escaped him. She waited for him to wake, but he only turned his head the other way, exposing his silver fangs in a pained grimace. She did it again, moving her thumb along the head, and he growled softly, his talons sinking into the covers.

He really liked that. She moved her hand down and began to pump, at first slow, her hand slick now with his oil. She circled her thumb around the ridges and his cock twitched, growing harder.

He started to stir more, as if he might wake, but she couldn't bring herself to stop. His toes curled, his legs twitched, and his breath quickened as she stroked him faster.

She could see his blood swelling inside his cock, could see what had to be his cum beginning to rise from the base up his shaft.

She watched, fascinated, hypnotized even. His cock was hot under her hand. It felt surreal to play with him like this, but also so exhilarating. Her own body responded in kind, aching heat pulsing between her thighs, goosebumps trailing along her flesh.

Draka hissed again, his expression twisted, his back arching off the bed. Then the hiss turned into a groan.

"Oza," she heard him growl as he tilted his head back.

His release came not without warning, but she was still caught off guard. His cock pulsed and cum shot from the tip to land on his stomach.

Unprepared, and unthinking, she lowered her head to him and covered his tip with her mouth, sucking gently as she took him in, tasting him on her tongue. He tasted better than she could have ever guessed.

He groaned again, his body shuddering, and she took his fire, swallowed it down like she was starving for it.

She sucked him and drank him, afraid he might never stop. Oh, gods, how much more did he have? This was more than any human guy.

When she thought she couldn't take any more, his release began to slow.

She flicked her tongue out to savor the last bit, teasing him just a little more as she still held on to him. When she was sure he was done, she slid her mouth from him.

She made the mistake of glancing upward and caught his eyes.

They were no more than slits as he watched her. But he didn't seem all there.

"Your mouth is incredible," he whispered, so low she almost didn't hear him.

He didn't say anything else as he lay back. A minute later he was out again.

She let the air out of her lungs and sat there for a long moment in shocked wonder at what she'd done. When the shock wore off, she lay back down beside him, curling up a little closer than before.

She closed her eyes and focused on the memory of his taste, on the feel of him, and this time it made her shudder. But she couldn't hold back the smile.