Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Elaine

I stared up at him, my eyes wide. It took me a moment to realize my mouth was hanging open, then I shut it with a snap.

“I — but — you can’t — ” I shook my head to clear it and started over. “Be your what?”

“You heard me correctly, sweet one.”

“You’re proposing to me? Now? On a fucking maintenance gantry?” My voice sounded rough, choked with laughter or anger — or both. Even I couldn’t tell which. “Who says romance is dead?”

“Only fools. I propose to you here and now, because this is where you are, and having made my decision, I cannot wait another second. We belong together, heart of my heart. You know what I say is true.”

Did I? I raked a hand through my hair, trying to sort through the jumble of feelings that jammed up my heart. My whole body tingled for him, craving his touch. Every nerve screamed ‘yes’ at me, and my heart raced at the thought. I tried to look away. Tried to think past the sound of my pulse, suddenly deafening in my ears.

“You just got done telling me how being royalty is a shit job,” I said, trying to explain my hesitation. “Now you want me to be your queen? That seems kind of messed up. Especially if you just want an emotional support spouse.”

“No.” The word came out hard and fast, an instant response. “It is true, you would keep me sane. But that’s because you mean so much to me, Elaine, not the reason I care. I would gladly be yours, throne or no throne. Luxuries mean little, titles mean nothing, but you are everything.”

Fuck. The raw intensity of his emotion lit me up, a wildfire of desire flashing over me. My head spun and muscles trembled. If I hadn’t already been sitting down, I might have fallen.

My hand gripped the railing tight, and the world shrank down to just the two of us. Speaking was hard, the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I had to share what I was thinking.

“I’m not queen material, Karkonar. You’re amazing, and I’m not sure if I believe in fate, but if it exists, I’ve no trouble believing we’re fated for each other.” I had to fight back tears to speak. “But living in a palace, being watched by journalists and having to, I don’t know, judge village baking competitions or whatever a queen does? Come on, you know that’s a terrible idea.”

Karkonar stared at me, uncomprehending. Under other circumstances, it would have been funny to see the thoughts and emotions cross his face. Today, it was tragic. I felt like I’d been stabbed in the heart, and I knew I was getting the better end of the experience.

“But,” he started, then paused for a deep breath. “You are my mate. We are made for each other, and I will see you safe, happy, and proud to stand beside me.”

“I know! I don’t doubt your intentions, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve spent my entire life fighting for independence. I can’t just drop that and resign myself to being queen, even if it’s your queen. I’ll be tearing my hair out in a week, plotting a coup in a month.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I laid my fingers over his lips, and he fell silent. Even now, his warm breath on my skin made me shiver with desire, but that changed nothing. “If we’re fated to be together, we will be, right? Destiny will bring us back together.”

“It already has. You are here, I am here, that’s all we need.”

“I wish it were, Karkonar, I really do. We’re here, yes, but I can’t leave with you. I mean, just fucking think about how I’d look as your queen. I’m a smuggler, for fuck’s sake! Imagine what the news would do with that once it gets out. It’s not just bad for me, it’s bad for your family too.”

“I will kill anyone who tries to make something of it,” my prince growled, and I had to smile.

“That would look even worse, you realize.”

“Who’ll tell anyone when I’ve just killed all the journalists?” A sad smile played at Karkonar’s lips as he tried a joke. Not a great joke, but he tried. I had to try, too.

“Karkonar, I can’t go with you. That doesn’t mean we can’t see each other. I’ll make Aris part of my route, and I’ll visit as often as I can. I don’t want to lose you.”

It wasn’t enough. I saw it in his eyes and knew it in my heart. But I had to stand firm. I had to.

“You are wrong,” he said. Growled, really. Not angry, but hungry. “I should throw you over my shoulder, take you back to the Rogue, and fuck you into submission.”

Is that an option? If so, can I change my vote? Between his voice, his scent, blazing eyes, and his fierce grip on my hand, the pull he exerted on me was irresistible. The only thing that let me hold back was my certainty about Karkonar’s feelings for me — he would, I knew, hate himself if he made me miserable.

Our gazes locked, and I willed him to understand. Part of me hoped he wouldn’t, but I knew better. If he didn’t respect my independence, he wouldn’t be my mate.

“You are wrong,” he repeated, “but I hope you are also right. Come to me when you can, and we will find our ways into each other’s hearts. I will wait for you to come to your senses.”

He smiled, to show that was a joke. There was nothing funny about the look in his eyes, though. I smiled back, then leaned in for a kiss. He lifted me without effort and kissed me with such passion that I almost couldn’t breathe. When we surfaced, I gasped for air and he kissed my neck, my shoulder, his razor-sharp teeth grazing my skin.

“Before we part ways, one last thing,” he growled into my ear, soft as a whisper. “A reminder of what you’re missing while you stay away.”

With that, he bit harder, wringing a moan from me as I arched my back. I struggled for self-control, my fingers tightening on his suit, legs wrapping around his waist as he held me up.

“And something,” I said in between panted breaths, “something for you to remember me by.”

His growl grew longer, rougher, more urgent. The sound made me melt against him, and his cock, magnificent and diamond hard, pressed against me through both of our suits.

I bit my lip and slid a hand between us. Karkonar lifted me higher, his lips and teeth and tongue trailing down my neck, across my chest, and he groaned into me as my hand found his cock through the fabric. I ached for him, ached to have his hardness inside me.

“The Rogue ,” I gasped out the words. “Get me to the Rogue .”

His rough, hungry voice sent a shiver through me, an aching pulse of need that almost drowned his reply. “No. No time. I need you now.”

I drew a breath to object, then let it out in a gasp as he popped the clasp on my suit top and peeled it away from my breasts. His other hand held me, steadied me, as he stood and carried me back into the shadows of the machinery. Out of sight of anyone passing below, I relaxed and let myself enjoy his attention, his mouth dancing on me, his hand slowly, so fucking slowly, opening my pressure suit.

With every bit of skin he revealed, his cock pulsed in my hand, hardening and growing. I squirmed, stroking him with slow, deliberate intent. If he could tease me, then it was only fair.

“If you keep that up, there will be consequences,” my devilish lover snarled, and I felt his words deep inside.

“What kind of consequences?” I asked, my voice low and husky and eager. I couldn’t have pretended to be frightened of him if I tried.

Karkonar snarled and pulled my pressure suit wide, the last fastenings popping open. The t-shirt I wore underneath lasted moments longer, torn away from my body in one smooth movement. Then he was on me, a ravening beast, frightening and exhilarating. I gasped and writhed as he kissed my body, lifting me to bite and kiss and lick.

I lost track of myself when his mouth reached my breasts and he sucked, teeth scraping across my hard nipple. He moved from one breast to the other, never stopping his desperate assault, and somewhere in there, somehow, he undressed me without putting me down.

The first I noticed was when he tore my panties off and cast them aside, baring my wet sex to the air. My face and chest flushed as his dark, primal growl filled me with longing. He bore me down to the floor, using my pressure suit as padding, and lifted my hips so only my shoulders rested on the ground. I squirmed, trying to reassert some control, but Karkonar would not allow it. My legs slipped over his shoulders, and he grinned down my body at me, glowing eyes blazing.

Sharp carnivore’s teeth scraped over my inner thigh, and clawed hands roamed my body, pressing just hard enough that his claws scratched me without causing pain. My breath raced, and I reached for him, stroking his cheek, running my fingers through his hair. His burning kisses made me ache for him as he slowly and deliberately kissed his way closer and closer to my core.

At last, I could take it no longer. Grasping his horns, I pulled him against me, guiding his mouth to me. He could have fought, resisted, held back. Instead, he went with me, diving in to kiss and lick and worship at my altar.

I writhed and moaned as he held me down, pleasuring me mercilessly, his tongue parting my folds and lapping at my clit. My first orgasm came fast, hard, almost brutal, slamming into me and shaking me wildly. I bucked under him, biting back a scream of joy in case someone heard.

But he didn’t care who heard me, and he didn’t stop. His passionate tongue drove me back to the edge of an orgasm, and I panted for breath, knowing I couldn’t control myself this time. Karkonar could, though. He paused just as I was near, lifting his face to grin up at me. I mewled, thighs clamping around his head, trying to draw him back to me, to finish what he’d started.

“Consequences,” he said, purring the word.

“Oh no, no no no,” I whimpered, my pussy clenching in frustrated need. “You can’t stop now.”

“Oh? Why not?” With every word, his hot breath washed over me, and I shook with the sensations he woke in me.

“I need — I can’t — ” Words failed me, and when I tried to compose myself, he blew across my clit, the hot air almost painful. All my thoughts turned to mush, and I arched my back, desperate for more. “Please!”

His tongue darted out, whip-fast, and I bucked under him, my fingers gripping his horns and my muscles shaking. Being helpless had never felt so good, so right. I screamed as I came, and came, and came. Came until I was reduced to a whimpering, mewling puddle of joy.

But we weren’t done with each other yet. My devilish alien lover lowered me to the deck, and I pulled him up over me, his hard cock thrumming as I reached for it, stroked it, guided it to my opening. His thrust drove hard into me, and I moaned as he buried himself deep.

With slow, gentle, but forceful thrusts, he pushed me back toward another orgasm. His cock grew inside me, filling me perfectly. Wordlessly, we moved together, exploring each other, loving each other. Our bodies fitted like we were made for each other, and the waves of pleasure built in both of us, lifting us together until we crashed down in a climax more powerful than anything I’d ever experienced.

It was hard to tell, in that moment, where I ended and he began. Was there even a difference? I wasn’t sure. We were, for a beautiful, ecstatic moment, one.

We laid there, shuddering and naked, entwined in each other, our bodies sticky and weak, our minds blown by the incredible heights we’d reached. I trailed a finger down his chest, the heat of his crimson skin a perfect counterpart to the cool air the airmaker beside us vented in our direction. I couldn’t say how long we laid there, my mind quiet for once, but eventually, reality intruded again. Sitting up, I reached for my clothes.

“Don’t,” Karkonar said, catching my wrist in a gentle grip. “Stay.”

“I wish I could,” I told him, my heart aching. “But if I stay now, I’ll never leave. We’ll break each other, Karkonar, and I never want to feel sorry we met.”

“Fuck.” His hand dropped away as he spoke, and he sat up against the airmaker, watching as I pulled on my pressure suit. My ex-pressure suit, rather — in his haste to get at me, he’d broken two seals, and I wouldn’t trust it in a vacuum anymore. I blushed at the memory of him pulling it open and feasting his eyes on me.

Yeah, if I don’t go right now , I’ll never leave. The effect he had on me was too strong, like I was a ship caught in the gravity well of a black hole. Once I passed the event horizon, escape would be impossible.