Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Olivia felt bad leaving Rykker behind the way she did, but the way the two men were behaving made it necessary for someone to step in and settle things. Unfortunately, she was the only third party present as well as probably being the only one they would listen to anyway.

So she did what she had to do. Time was of the essence from what they said, and there was simply no way she’d let possessive boy trouble put Harper in any further jeopardy.

And speaking of possessive. The way the two had come to blows over her?

Yeah, that was actually really hot , she was embarrassed to admit to herself. Having the two biggest, strongest Alpha males of the entire city vying for her attention, she couldn’t help but be flattered. Flattered, and more than a little turned on.

Arkness, to his credit, was a complete gentleman once they were away from the ship. Not only was he paying attention to the terrain and their course, but he also kept a wary eye and ear out for any signs of danger. He’d brought weapons, naturally, but it was his brawn and confident way he carried himself that really made Olivia feel safe.

Of course, watching that magnificent ass shifting in his trousers as she followed him, his intoxicating pheromones wafting back to her every time the breeze picked up, was not exactly what she would consider a bad thing either. And, to her pleasant surprise, when they had to scramble up over a rocky area that included some boulders blocking their path, she found her runes had apparently increased her strength more than she’d previously realized. By the time they stopped for a break a good five hours later she wasn’t tired or sore at all.

“Here. You must be hungry. Please, eat,” Arkness said as he unsealed a food package he’d packed for the trip. It looked like an alien version of a sandwich. Or maybe a calzone or Hot Pocket. She couldn’t say for sure what was inside, but it smelled good as soon as he unwrapped it.

Olivia accepted it with a grateful nod and took a bite. “Mmm, that’s really good,” she muttered as the flavors hit her tongue. “What is this?”

“Voxlian allnak, packed into a baked wrapping.”

“Well, I don’t know what Voxlian allnak is, but it’s hitting the spot.”

“I am glad,” he replied, leaning in a little closer and brushing the hair dangling in front of her face behind her ear. “It is always preferable to hit the spot.”

The way his eyes glinted, and the corners of his mouth teased upward in a sexy grin, there could only be one interpretation of that, and combined with just how damn good he smelled now that he was so close, Olivia found herself crossing and uncrossing her legs as happy bursts of heat unexpectedly surged through her bits.

The tattoo on her chest was itching again as well, but now it was becoming a more tolerable feeling, though still not exactly what she’d call pleasant. She glanced down, her eyes catching the thickening of the impressive cock resting against his thigh.

Arkness sniffed the air, his pupils widening slightly and his manhood swelling even more. Interestingly, he actually looked a little confused at the swiftness and visceral nature of his reaction, taking an unsure step back.

“Uh, I’m going to do a quick sighting check. I will return shortly,” he said, his hips moving awkwardly as he shifted the hard length in his trousers then stepped off into the woods.

What was that? Olivia wondered, her pussy positively humming with unexpected arousal of a kind she’d never felt before. This wasn’t just some basic hormones raging sensation. It was far deeper than that. More intense. It was something that felt so powerful that she wondered if she could push it aside. That is, if she wanted to.

For the moment, she decided to allow herself to enjoy the feeling. After all she’d been through, she’d earned it.

Arkness returned ten minutes later, sweaty, and a bit dirty. By the look of it, he’d had some sort of adventure.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine. It is just leaves and sap from climbing the tree.”

“You climbed a tree? Any particular reason I should know about?”

Arkness gulped from his water container, a rivulet of water dripping off his square jaw. He wiped his lips with a satisfied sigh. “I climbed to gain elevation to better see our location. The map is not detailed, and I needed to verify our position as well as see if I could spot the nearest downed compartment.”

“And?”

“And I achieved both ends.”

“You spotted the ship?” she blurted, jumping to her feet.

“That I did. And it is not terribly far from here, though it is still quite a trek.” He tapped his collar, activating his comms. “Rykker, this is Arkness. We have spotted a compartment and are making our way to it. How go the ship repairs?”

Rykker’s voice came through crisp and clear. “Done hours ago. I have already reached the first section of the Raxxian craft on my route, but it was empty. No sign of hostiles as of yet. I am attempting to reach the second before returning to the ship.”

“We will be doing the same on our end. Did you remember to get the shields functional?”

“I wouldn’t fix the drive systems but ignore the shielding, Arkness.”

“I hoped so, but I had to ask.”

Rykker didn’t dignify the snark with a reaction. “Signing off. Hurry back. Tell Olivia I will see her tonight.”

Arkness keyed off his comms and shifted the pack on his shoulders. “We’d best be moving. Follow close. We do not know what might be lurking out there.”

“But Rykker said?—”

“Rykker is not here. He took the easier route. But I am here to protect you. Do not fear. I will protect you with my life.”

Olivia didn’t know how to respond to that. She knew he was interested in her, obviously, but that declaration seemed a little much. Still, it was comforting knowing he felt so strongly. And even with the cliché line, if things did somehow go sideways, she knew he would do all he could to keep her safe.

They trekked hard for several hours, crossing a small river flowing through a slot canyon that wasn’t on the map, forcing a detour which slowed their progress significantly. They then angled their route back on track, but they’d lost a lot of time. It was nearly dusk when Arkness signaled for Olivia to stop. They both crouched low and crept forward. The treetops above were snapped from the descent of the crashed section of the ship but, fortunately, the lush greenery hadn’t caught fire.

“Wait here.”

Arkness dropped his pack and moved surprisingly silently for a man his size, skirting the perimeter before darting to the compartment’s hatch. He drew his weapon then opened the door, charging inside, ready for anything. A moment later he exited, quite calmly.

“Nothing here,” he called out. “Looks like it was empty.”

Olivia felt disappointment wash over her. “Shit. How far is the next one?”

“Close, but too far to reach before dark,” he replied, surveying the area, a new plan forming in his mind. “We don’t have much of a choice. We will need to camp out here and leave at first light if we want to make it to the next crash site and back to the ship before nightfall tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“It is late, and it is growing darker by the minute. Given the new obstacles in our path, it would be foolish to try to traverse them in the dark. And using lights would draw attention to us from all directions. I’m afraid we will have to camp out for the night. At least we can use the crashed ship for shelter.”

Olivia wasn’t thrilled with the new plan, but there really wasn’t anything else to do. “Okay, I guess.”

Arkness shed his pack. “Grab something to eat. You must maintain your strength. I will inform Rykker while setting perimeter alarms.”

Without another word he headed out, deploying a handful of small devices that would notify him if anything came close during the night, carefully setting them up all around their campsite.

Olivia dug through the pack and made herself a little meal. Nothing too heavy, though. She wanted to be sure there was plenty of food for tomorrow. Despite having a healthy stash to eat, Harper would be sick of Raxxian food balls and berries by the time they found her, that much she was sure of.

The reddish-skinned alien strode back into the clearing of the crash site and joined Olivia in a quick meal, sitting close, his proximity making her body react of its own accord. They sat and talked a while, telling stories of their upbringings, the differences between Earth and this world, and all manner of things that two people from such drastically diverse races might have to discuss.

Finally, the evening sky darkened to proper night.

“Should we gather some wood to make a fire?” Olivia asked.

“No fires. It would draw attention. But if you are cold…” he said, putting his arm around her and pulling her in close.

His body heat was delicious, cutting the chill in a flash. That, and a different sort of heat his touch triggered within her. She felt his heart beat a little harder, his pulse thudding comfortingly against her like the soothing familiarity of a favorite song. Arkness looked down at her in the dim light.

“Come. We should turn in. It will be a long day tomorrow.”

“I can’t quite make out the ground. Is it?—”

He rose to his feet, lifting her in his arms with utter ease. “I will help. Your eyes will adjust as your runes strengthen. I am confident of it.”

Arkness then walked into the confines of the downed craft, setting Olivia on her feet once they were safely inside the compartment. She looked around. There was a hint of light from the faintest of emergency lighting, but it was just enough to allow her to make out the familiar layout of a holding cell. This one was not only empty, but it also seemed to have been so for some time prior to the crash. All of the bed cushions appeared to be unused, and there were no signs of personal items anywhere.

She crossed to the bunk indented in the wall but hesitated.

No. I’m not sleeping in there. Not again.

Olivia pulled the cushion free and dragged it to the middle of the room. Arkness, observing her closely, did the same, sliding his own cushion against hers. It wasn’t a proper bed by any means, but it beat sleeping on the hard metal.

He pulled off his shirt and lay down.

“What are you doing?”

“It is dirty. I would much prefer to sleep clean. Do you mind?”

“No. But won’t you get cold?” she asked laying down on her pad with her back to him, trying to put his distracting scent out of her head.

He shifted, getting comfortable. Comfortable and closer. “Not in this weather. My kind tend to run rather warm.”

I noticed , she thought, feeling his heat radiating from behind her. Olivia shivered in spite of herself.

A warm arm gently draped over her. “You are cold. Allow me to share my warmth with you.”

“I really don’t think I should?—”

“I will not do anything you do not wish me to. You have my word.”

“Well…” Her words faltered, her body taking over and nestling close to the radiant big spoon behind her.

Olivia’s Infala tingled, her body jerking slightly with an electric pulse running from her nipples to her toes. She felt his heart thudding harder in his chest pressed against her back, his hot breath tingling on her neck as he held her close.

What is happening to me? she wondered as her ass slowly moved against the rapidly growing hardness behind her. It’s—I don’t know why…how ? —

Her thoughts trailed off as a primal ball of want churned in her belly like a beast rattling its cage, desperately needing to break free. She ground harder against his crotch, his cock hard and hot against her ass.

Arkness groaned low and breathy with barely contained desire. He was incredibly aroused, clearly, but he still respected his promise. Her boundaries. Nothing without consent. But that didn’t mean he would not test the waters a little.

His hand slid up from her waist, teasing her body until he cupped her breast, giving her nipple a little squeeze that lit up Olivia’s clit like a fireworks show on steroids.

“Is that okay?”

“Oh God, yes,” she groaned.

Arkness leaned closer, his lips latching onto her neck, his hot, wet mouth teasing that spot below her ear and making her entire body erupt with goose flesh. He was positively radiating heat now, and his cock? It felt like an iron pipe, hard, long, and rigid, pressing firmly on her ass as she rubbed harder against him.

Olivia snaked a hand behind her and slid it into his waistband. His cock was so long it was already poking out the top, warm and slick pre-cum coating her hand as she grabbed his length, the pulsating ridges running from base to tip reacting to her touch, churning even harder.

“Mmmmh,” he groaned with delight.

Olivia moved her hand firmly, sliding up and down his shaft, circling the head and coating her hand with more pre-cum with every other stroke. She nearly cried out when he slipped his hand down from her breast and into her bottoms, reciprocating the pleasure. She was absolutely dripping wet, her juices coating his fingers without him even penetrating her.

He began teasing her clit, sliding his meaty fingers along her vulva in the most delightfully teasing way, grazing her engorged clit, but only barely, making her arch her back involuntarily as her body strained for more contact until, finally, her wish was granted.

“Is this what you want?” he asked as he began rubbing circles on her clit, his voice raspy and his breathing ragged in her ear. “Tell me what you want, and I will do it.”

“That’s–that’s amazing,” she managed to articulate as she felt the heat swelling up in her belly.

Olivia’s hips were moving in a steady rhythm as he stroked her clit, the sensations spreading from her pussy like wildfire in her body. Her hand squeezed his cock hard as her climax approached, making him throb even harder in her grip.

“Yes, like that,” he groaned. “You’re so good…” His words trailed off as his passion grew even more intense.

Olivia trembled from the pleasure. It was so good it was almost painful. Then, without warning, Arkness stopped, moving away from her, his slick cock slipping from her grip.

“Wha—where are you—” she began to say only to find her bottoms deftly pulled off, the sensation of his full lips hot on her inner thighs.

“I want to taste you when you come,” he growled, latching his mouth on her clit and sliding his fingers inside her pussy, pressing on her G-spot just right. Then he gently pressed another finger against her ass, just until the tip was inside, slowly moving it, teasing her sensitive nerve endings while his other hand worked her G-spot as he sucked and licked her clit like it was a dying man’s last meal.

Olivia nearly blacked out as her orgasm rocked her body, every muscle clenching hard as wave after wave of bliss slammed through her.

It was simply too much. Too good. The sensations overwhelmed her senses as she came again and again in what felt like hours of climax, though in reality it was only a few minutes. “How the fuck?” she managed to mumble as her senses slowly returned. “Holy hell. I’ve never had anyone do that before.”

“I am pleased you are pleased,” he replied, gently sliding his fingers out, making her entire body shake and quiver all over again as another series of small orgasms rippled through her.

“Fuuuuuck. How many women have you been with? Those are some top-tier, A-level moves you’ve got there.”

Arkness let out a little chuckle that made her stomach flip in the most delightful way. Her runes felt positively abuzz as well, and his scent was like breathing pure sexual energy with every inhalation.

“None. But we train. Learn the ways in preparation for one day meeting our mate. You recall, there are so few women in our city, so we must vie for the opportunity to travel and mate elsewhere.”

A moment of clarity pushed its way into Olivia’s consciousness. “Hang on. You’re telling me you’re a virgin?”

“Yes. You act as though that is unusual.”

Olivia’s mind raced. “All of you are like this? I mean, haven’t been with a woman?”

“Yes.”

That means absolutely no chance of STIs , she realized with delight. And Zoldana said only bonded people could get pregnant. The implications were both shocking as well as delightful.

She rolled over and pushed him on his back, pulling his trousers all the way down, his glorious cock hard and tall, gleaming with slick pre-cum.

“What are you doing?” he asked, this insanely manly specimen so vulnerable, but only for her.

“I’m gonna show you a thing or two,” she said as she straddled him, pressing the head of his pulsing cock against her desperate hole, her juices mixing with his pre-cum, making the most wonderful feeling lube she’d ever experienced.

“Are you sure you—” he started to say.

His words turned to gibberish as Olivia slid down onto his length, the sheer girth of him stretching her almost to her limit. It was so intense. There was so much pressure. And yet her body was positively thrumming with joy as she lowered all the way down, bottoming out as she somehow took every inch of him all the way to the hilt.

“Oh, God,” she groaned as she started riding him, rocking just right so her clit pressed perfectly against his pubis. She hadn’t noticed it before, but there was a raised area that actually seemed to be buzzing as she made contact. Apparently, when his kind got really aroused, they had all sorts of amazing little tricks. And the rippling sensation of his shaft pulsing inside her only increased the ecstasy, caressing her insides incredibly as she rode him harder and harder until she was slamming against him.

He reached up, cupping her breasts, breathing hard, his cock so rigid it could cut diamonds. He squeezed her nipples, sending waves of tingling joy to her clit even as she worked herself closer to the edge, riding him like there was nothing else in the galaxy but the two of them right here, right now.

Arkness’s head began thrashing from side to side, his chiseled abs clenching hard. She felt his cock swell even more and knew he was about to come.

“Yesssss!” he gasped, exploding wave after wave of hot come inside her, his entire cock vibrating from the force of his orgasm.

It sent her right over the edge, the heat inside, the sensations, the sounds and smells. All of it was so forceful. So perfect. Olivia tried to speak, tried to think, but all she could do was be one with the ether, her body and mind totally out of her control as her orgasm washed over her like she was but a tiny grain of sand set loose in a deep, vast sea of pleasure.

She lay atop him a long while, breathing hard, glistening with sweat, semi-conscious, impaled on his massive cock. A magnificent beast that, despite the force of his climax, was not going down.

“That was incredible,” she managed to say as she regained the ability to speak.

“ You are incredible,” he replied tenderly, an enormous hand caressing her cheek ever so gently. “And I want to give you more.”

He rolled her onto her back, cupping her ass with one huge hand, his other running his fingers through her hair, holding her head tight.

“I don’t know if I ca—” she started to say, her words cut off by the incredible sensations churning in her pussy.

He moved slow and steady, thrusting in and out, maintaining just the right angle to stimulate her more than she knew was possible. And as he thrust, the rippling action of his cock carried on, relentlessly coaxing her to another climax, the building pressure rapidly mounting like a champagne cork ready to pop.

“Ohhhh fuck. Ohhh fuuuck!” she gasped, her teeth latching onto his shoulder hard as her body erupted in an explosion of pleasure, her lover’s cock gushing out another climax in unison, sending her right over the edge.

This time it was too much, and Olivia actually did pass out, and out she stayed for several minutes. Arkness shifted to the side, remaining inside her as he held her close, his heart beating harder than he’d ever felt.

She woke, slowly. Groggily, she tried to say something, but her mouth couldn’t form words. Not yet, at least.

“Shh,” he soothed quietly. “Sleep.”

She didn’t need to be told twice, relinquishing her grip on consciousness with a contented sigh. He lay there like that, holding her gently in his arms until he too drifted off to sleep, a virgin no more.