Chapter 4

Rurick

Lexi was a tad skittish as I started guiding her across the street to where I'd parked my hover-cycle in a nearby alley. A nice dark parking spot out of the way of any prying cameras. It wasn't lost on me how dark alleys were not exactly a place Lexi would want to go to, but I wasn't going to give her any options.

"Where are you taking me?" she said quietly. She sounded calm, not frightened, but I could tell she was feeling uncertain from the worried look in her pretty gray eyes. I cast a look over my shoulder to make sure we weren't being followed from the office building, but all was clear. Sliding my hand along her lower back, I curled it around her waist and tugged her into my side, matching my stride to her much shorter one.

"I'm taking you home," I said, and when that made her gasp, I ventured a clarification. "Your home. My hover-cycle is over here." She sighed, her breath shuddering out of her as tension released. She leaned into me, her hip brushing against my thigh, and her head tilted against me.

"Okay, you really meant it, didn't you? You aren't going to hurt me?" she sounded incredulous and that stung a little. I was her mate, not that I'd told her that, but she should be feeling the bond just like I did. Hadn't that kiss back in the office meant anything to her? Then I had to laugh. Look at me, going all soft already for my girl. No wonder the mate bond was talked of in hushed tones of excitement by young Terafin boys, eager to one day find their fated, their Tally.

We ducked into the alley where my prized hover-cycle was waiting. The black and chrome frame mutely glowing in the barest of light that touched this place. "I would never hurt you, Lexi," I said solemnly, and then I lightened the mood with an irreverent grin. "I'm no shining knight, but I know how to treat a lady."

A blush spread across her cheeks, giving them a soft, rosy glow. I liked it very much, and I was eager to figure out how else I could make her blush. With a flick on my com device, I disabled my bike's alarm systems and then I had my mate by the waist, swinging her onto the leather seat. She clutched her large, pink leather satchel to her chest, her eyes huge as she looked over her shoulder at me.

I climbed on behind her, eager to feel her curves settle against my front. It did not disappoint, her curvy rear pressing against my groin, my cock growing hard in seconds. She froze, still staring at me and I cupped her hips and pulled her just a little closer. "Oh," she said, a smile starting to curl the corners of her mouth, a little hint of mischief appearing. "Guess you are packing more than one gun, aren't you?"

Tossing my head back, I laughed out loud. "One for business, one for pleasure," I agreed, and I patted the gun holstered at the small of my back. The metal briefcase with my tools mag-locked to the side of my hover-cycle, one arm circled her waist, and then we were lifting up into the air. "Engage shielding," I said, voice-activating the safety net that would hold us in place on the bike, and protect our fragile bodies in case of an accident. Not that there would be any, I was a really good driver.

When we hovered high above the buildings I instructed my mate on how to lock her address into the bike's navigational system and off we were. The ride was sadly short but still exhilarating as I darted us through the night sky. My mate pressed against my body as she laughed from the rush was the best feeling ever. Maybe, one day, I could convince her into some aerial shenanigans.

Not long after I'd landed I was standing in the hallway to her tiny apartment, in a low-rent, rundown apartment complex. "Don't you get paid better than this?" I asked out loud, staring suspiciously down the hall where I was fairly certain I'd seen some large earth bug scuttle off. This place was a fire trap, a health hazard, and a junkie motel all rolled into one. I could hear moaning coming through the thin walls, and some kind of heated domestic further away.

Lexi's cheeks were pink again, but I didn't relish this blush nearly as much as the other. She rolled her shoulders up against her ears as she leaned over the flimsy lock to her door and worked to open it. "I had some really bad debts to pay, medical bills for my dad that fell to me when he passed away."

I curled my lips and silently snarled. And this was what the UAR wanted to bring to all corners of the Alpha Quadrant? That kind of misery and exploitation? No wonder so many of the Terafin joined the Clade to fight against their expansion and oppression. Honestly, it'd taken jobs on Earth, on Dragna, and even one bizarre one on the homeworld of the Praxidar themselves, just so I could see it with my own eyes.

My friend with the bar, Mads, the one who wanted me to buy in and settle down, had been one such rebel. He'd given up on trying to convince me to use my skills for the cause but meeting Lexi was making me rethink. I glanced around with narrowed eyes, noting the water damage on the ceiling, and the rude graffiti that covered most of the walls.

My plan had been to leave Lexi alone in her home, where I figured she'd be safe. Now, I wasn't so sure if that was the case. Did I tell her to pack up her things so I could fly her to my ship first? I didn't want to rush her, and I didn't like the idea of abandoning her aboard the Striker. Right as I started to reach for her arm, intending to pull her away from her door, it sprung open.

Beyond the portal was a single room, neat, clean, and uncluttered by much furniture or belongings. The closet had no door and seemed rather bare and empty, considering that my mate seemed to like pretty, pink things and very little of that was present. The locks on the door were very adequate however, on this side I could see several deadbolts, low-tech but efficient. The windows were covered with bars too.

She turned to me, barring my way inside but she was smiling, her hand landing on my chest. "Thank you for rescuing me, and for bringing me home." Ah, she thought this was goodbye. I cupped the back of her neck with my hand, pulled her close, and covered her pink mouth with my own. Claiming her with a fierce, passionate kiss. She sighed, then moaned when I pressed my tongue into her mouth, tangling it with hers.

Pinning her in place with that hand around her neck, I curved the other over her waist beneath her coat, then dipped it down to cup her luscious ass. With the tiniest bit of maneuvering, I had my thigh between her legs, pushing her until her back hit a wall. Now she had nowhere to go but closer to me, and I made sure to use my hand to leverage her against my thigh. Her skirt riding up, her damp heat sliding along my leg.

She smelled so good, and her mouth tasted even better. Each little hitched breath, each sultry moan, it was like fire to my blood. My cock strained against my pants and pressed against the zipper and her belly. "Come for me, Tally," I said, letting the word for beloved mate slip easily from my mouth.

Her body arched, a moan ripped from her throat, and her features flushed as her orgasm hit her. Yes, perfect. I caught her sounds with my mouth, fighting to stave off the desire to shut the door and lose myself in her arms for a few hours. I couldn't; I had a mobster waiting for me. But it wouldn't take more than an hour, I'd be back, and then I'd never let her go.