Chapter 13

Elian stirred awake, his body deliciously sore and languid in the aftermath of the previous night. He was smarting in all the right places — the delicious ache of Rael”s claiming touch. The lingering scent of their mingled musk clung to Elian”s skin, only serving to stoke the embers of desire that still banked low in his belly.

For a few blissful moments, he allowed himself to bask in the warm cocoon of the bedroll and simply breathe in the earthy notes of Rael”s scent. His lashes fluttered as he turned his head, seeking out the hard planes of Rael”s form amid the rumpled bedding.

Rael”s sleeping visage stole Elian”s breath. The alpha looked so peaceful in repose, the stern lines of his features softened by slumber. A lock of hair spilled over one high cheekbone, lending an almost ethereal quality to his beauty.

Elian”s chest tightened at the sight, a confusing tangle of emotions swirling in his breast. Part of him yearned to reach out and trace the sharp angle of Rael”s jaw, to commit every detail to memory while he had the chance.

Because despite the blissful interlude they”d shared, a kernel of doubt remained.

Would Rael still claim the bounty on Elian”s head?

The thought was almost too painful to consider, a cold knot of dread that coiled heavy in the pit of Elian”s stomach.

He pushed the doubts aside for now, refusing to dwell on the harsh reality. It would inevitably come crashing back in. For now, Elian simply allowed himself to drink in the sight of his alien lover at peace, cherishing this stolen moment while he could.

It might be the last time he was able to.

All too soon, the quiet was shattered by the distant call of some alien creature. Rael stirred, his piercing gaze flaring open as the vestiges of sleep fell away. Those vivid emerald eyes found Elian instantly.

Heat blossomed in Elian”s cheeks at the naked want in Rael”s stare. Rael”s nostrils flared, no doubt scenting the fresh spike of arousal that Elian couldn”t hide. A low, rumbling growl vibrated from Rael”s chest as he shifted closer, looming over Elian with blatant intent.

”Good morning,” he purred.

Elian”s heart skipped a beat at the seductive promise in that deep voice. He bit his lip, unable to help the way his body responded. ”Good morning. Or, uh, night, I suppose.”

Elian winced as he shifted to sit up. A tremor rippled through his slight frame, the memories of the previous night vivid. Lesson learned: when getting railed by an alien alpha, take things a little slower.

Rael”s gaze sharpened at the movement, those eyes missing nothing as they roamed over Elian in a slow, assessing sweep. Rael rumbled low in his chest. ”You”re sore,” he murmured. There was no judgment or mockery in that rich tone, only a statement of fact.

Heat crept into Elian”s cheeks at the blunt observation. ”I”m fine. I can handle it. Should we get moving?”

For a moment, Rael looked at him, assessing, but then he nodded. Rael moved with his customary, efficient grace as he rose and began gathering their meager belongings. Elian watched through heavy-lidded eyes, unable to resist trailing his gaze over the hard lines of Rael”s form.

He committed every detail to memory: the flex of corded muscle beneath gold skin, the strength in those powerful thighs, the masculine breadth of Rael”s shoulders tapering to the lean vee of his hips…

All too soon, Rael turned back to him with an arched brow. Elian flushed, heat prickling over his skin at being caught staring so brazenly. He looked away, acting innocent.

Rael made no comment on Elian”s ogling, though. With deft movements, he slung his gear over one broad shoulder and extended his free hand. ”Come,” he rumbled, the simple word holding layers of unspoken promise that had Elian”s pulse kicking up a notch. ”Let”s get moving.”

They fell into an easy routine. Rael would walk ahead, his sharp eyes keeping an eye out for any potential dangers in the light of the moons. Meanwhile, Elian followed behind, doing his best to keep up as he picked his way through the darkness. Somewhere along their journey, he began to ask Rael questions about Vasz, and Rael indulged him with patient answers.

Soon, the conversation moved to Rael”s clan. ”They”re good people,” Rael said, a note of pride in his voice. ”Strong, kind, living off the land and keeping it in balance. We have a large territory, but it”s safe and prosperous, thanks to them.”

It was once hard to imagine the gruff, no-nonsense alpha speaking fondly about anything, but there was no mistaking the warmth in his eyes as he described his clan. ”That sounds nice,” Elian said. It really did.

The more time Elian spent with Rael, the more he began to understand him. Yes, he was a fierce and dangerous man, one who would kill without hesitation to protect what was his. But at the same time, he was a leader, fiercely proud of the people under his care. He was a man of honor, with a code that governed his actions — even if that code was sometimes at odds with a human”s idea of justice.

And when he was kissing Elian, he was surprisingly sweet.

At every difficult patch of terrain, Rael was there to lend a hand. He”d boost Elian up a rock face, his strong grip sending sparks of heat through his body. He”d help him across a wide gap, his arm wrapped firmly around Elian”s waist, pulling him close and keeping him safe. As the dawn broke and the bright Vasz day began, the heat of the suns were nothing compared to the heat of Elian”s cheeks.

At one particularly difficult crossing, Rael didn”t bother helping Elian across the gap. Instead, he simply swept him up into his arms and carried him across, bridal-style.

The moment was over in a heartbeat, but the heat of Rael”s touch seared through the fabric of Elian”s clothes. He clung to the alpha for just a moment longer than strictly necessary, breathing in the clean, masculine scent of him. When Rael looked down at him, his eyes were dark with hunger. Elian knew that the desire between them was mutual, no matter how stoic Rael”s expression was.

And then Rael set Elian back down on his feet, and they continued on their journey as if nothing had happened.

It was the most maddening form of torture.

Finally, after a long walk, with no sign of that damn bounty hunter, Rael finally deemed it safe to take a break. Elian moved to assist without prompting. His hands were steady as he gathered the fruits that Rael had taught him were safe, his movements sure as he filled his arms. What would have seemed like an impossible, alien task mere days ago now felt second nature.

”You”re adapting well,” Rael said. The simple praise sent a tiny thrill zinging through Elian”s veins. ”This world”s perils no longer faze you as they once did.”

It was true. Though the crash site”s devastation would forever be seared into Elian”s memory, the desolation of this alien world no longer felt so stark and hopeless. Vasz didn”t feel like the nightmare world he”d once thought it was.

Even if its snakes were way too big. Urgh.

No, it wasn”t a nightmare world any more — not with Rael to show him how to live in it.

As he picked fruit, Elian”s cheeks heated. He ducked his head to avoid Rael”s too-perceptive stare — and then winced. ”Ow.”

Rael”s expression tightened as he watched blood blossom from the cut on Elian”s hand. Rael reached out, tugging Elian”s hand closer for inspection. ”You”re hurt.”

”This? It”s nothing.” Elian looked at the cut. ”It”s just a scratch.”

”It needs tending. Xirath splinters can lodge deep.” Rael tugged him closer with ease. Rael held Elian”s hand in his with surprising tenderness, a tiny furrow appearing between his brows as he examined the injury with sharp eyes.

Elian”s breath caught in his throat at the unexpected care, at the simple intimacy of Rael”s touch.

He knew he shouldn”t revel in the alpha”s possessive streak, knew he shouldn”t crave the sparks of primal hunger that banked hot and low in Rael”s gaze whenever it swept over Elian”s form. It was stupid.

Rael was his captor, and he was Rael”s captive. That was all they could ever be.

And yet…

Elian couldn”t deny the longing that blossomed warm in his chest, something bone-deep that went beyond just physical desires — though those had definitely been nice, too.

Rael”s proximity was heady, intoxicating in a way that had nothing to do with his strength and everything to do with the fierce protectiveness he exuded. That same protectiveness was in full force now as Rael tended to Elian”s wound with deft, careful movements. His touch was grounding, steadying in a way that threatened to upend Elian”s world.

Elian didn”t know what Rael ultimately intended to do with him — if he”d still turn Elian over for the bounty or not — but right now, Elian didn”t want to think about it.

He wanted more of the way that Rael had made him feel last night. There was something about the way that the alpha looked at him, like he really desired Elian.

No one had ever looked at him like that before.

Before Rael could talk him out of it, Elian ducked in and kissed him.

Rael”s lips were warm and firm against his. Desire curled hot and heavy in Elian”s belly at the touch of their lips, and then at the way that Rael”s arm slid around his waist and pulled him in close.

Rael”s mouth slanted over his, and the alpha”s tongue teased at the seam of Elian”s lips. Elian clung to Rael, unable to get enough of the way that their bodies fit together, the hard planes of the alpha”s chest against his own.

They tumbled back onto the grass, the thick grass cushioning their fall. Fresh dawn sunlight spilled across the clearing, bathing them in pale light. Rael”s golden skin glowed like something otherworldly, a vision from a dream.

It was the most surreal and also the most romantic moment of Elian”s life.

Elian”s wry thoughts were cut off by the press of Rael”s body against his own, the hard lengths of the alpha”s desire unmistakable even through the thick fabric of their clothes. Heat raced through Elian, the heady power of knowing that he was the one to stoke that desire, that he was the focus of Rael”s intense, burning need.

And he wanted to make that desire burn even hotter.

Elian found himself grinning against Rael”s mouth. He”d been thinking about a certain something ever since he”d learned that Rael”s species had two cocks. He hadn”t had time to test it last night — Rael had kept him busy for hours, unceasing, and there hadn”t been time to experiment.

Borraq had sharp teeth. That had to impact what they could and couldn”t do.

Humans, however…

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Elian sank to his knees between Rael”s legs.

Rael looked down at him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. ”What are you up to?” he asked, his voice low and gruff.

Elian”s smile widened. ”I want to try something.”

”Try what, exactly?”

”Let”s call it a little interspecies diplomacy.” Elian lay down between Rael”s spread thighs, his fingers deftly undoing the fastenings of Rael”s pants.

Rael”s eyes narrowed as Elian pulled out his two cocks, already hard. ”What are you doing?” he asked, wary.

In answer, Elian leaned in, his tongue darting out to tease the head of one of Rael”s cocks.

Rael cursed, his hips bucking involuntarily. ”Elian—!”

It was music to Elian”s ears. Emboldened, Elian took the head of one cock into his mouth, laving it with his lips and tongue. He could feel Rael”s muscles tensing, and he knew that Rael was already struggling to maintain control.

Yeah, Elian was going to see about that. With one hand, Elian began to slowly jerk off the other cock, his movements steady and sure.

”Elian,” Rael groaned, his voice ragged. ”What—”

Elian pulled back, his eyes sparkling with mischief. ”I”m showing you some human diplomacy,” he said, his voice low and husky.

Elian didn”t know how long he stayed there, taking his fill of Rael. He”d never been able to do this back in human space, never letting himself trust someone else enough to open up — so it only made sense for him to do it now, getting twice as much experience at once, right?

Finally, Rael”s breathing turned to rough, low panting. Elian quickened his pace, his mouth and hand working in tandem to drive Rael wild. Rael”s cocks were slick with saliva and precome, the taste of the alien”s arousal heady and intoxicating on Elian”s tongue, the feel of him hot and hard in Elian”s hand. Elian”s own cock ached beneath him, already hard.

With a guttural groan, Rael”s control finally shattered. His hips bucked as he spilled into Elian”s mouth, his come hot and thick and strangely sweet. Elian swallowed it down, his cheeks hollowing as he milked every last drop from the alpha”s cock. Meanwhile, his hand continued to work Rael”s other cock, stroking it in firm, steady movements until it too erupted, spattering Elian”s cheek with warm, sticky release.

Elian sat back, his heart pounding and his chest heaving. He felt elated, powerful even, as he looked up at Rael through hooded eyes. The alpha was breathing heavily, his golden skin slick with sweat and his eyes dark with desire.

”You sneaky little human,” Rael growled, though there was no real heat in his words. ”What am I going to do with you?”

Elian grinned, feeling bold and reckless. ”I can think of a few things.”

Rael chuckled, the sound deep and rich. He reached out, his calloused fingers gripping Elian”s chin. He turned Elian”s head, admiring the sight of his own claim marking Elian”s face. ”You”re a menace, you know that?”

Elian”s grin widened. ”But you like it.”

Rael”s response was to haul Elian into his lap, his strong arms encircling his waist. ”You”re right,” he said, his voice low and rough. ”I do.”

Then his hand was on Elian”s cock, stroking it in firm, steady movements that had Elian gasping and whimpering. Rael”s touch was rough, almost punishing, but Elian didn”t care. He wanted this, needed it.

”This is your punishment,” Rael growled, his teeth nipping at Elian”s throat. ”For being such a devious little human.”

Elian moaned, his head falling back as pleasure coursed through his body.

”You”re lucky I don”t lock you up for your own good,” Rael muttered, his voice low and dark. ”If others knew what you could do with that mouth of yours...”

Elian whimpered, the words sending a thrill of fear and desire through him. He felt that Rael would never hurt him, but there was something undeniably hot about the alpha”s possessive streak.

Then Rael licked the come from Elian”s face, his tongue rough and insistent. The gesture was primal, almost animalistic, and it sent Elian spiraling over the edge. He came with a strangled cry, his body shaking as pleasure washed over him.

Rael”s hand continued to stroke him through his orgasm, drawing out every last shudder and gasp. Then the alpha was pulling him close, his arms tight around Elian”s body as they both caught their breath.

”You”re dangerous, little human,” Rael murmured, his voice low and rough. ”Do you know that?”

Elian smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at the words. He knew that he should be afraid, that this couldn”t last — but he couldn”t help it.