14 Cylene

Whatever male has taken me carts me several turns through the maze and tucks us into a corner. When I'm lifted to my feet and can look the male in the eyes, I discover it's the winged prince from the knowledge game.

"How do you know so much about my kind?"

I shake my head when he won't peel his hand from my mouth.

"Don't scream."

But all I can think about is feeling safe and in control again. I try to fight, but I'm weak from the dye's influence.

He grabs my throat and licks his teeth with a black tongue. "So few know about my planet or my kind. I must have you."

I can't yell under the pressure of his grip, and I can't reach my wristband with the way he has me pinned against the hedge.

He grinds into me. "I'm bigger than a Nytheralian. It always takes some stretching on your part. But I guarantee you'll like it better than his scales."

I wonder how many women he's been with. I'm not interested either way.

A blue blur tackles the male to the ground. I collapse against the hedge and fall backward, tumbling through a hole.

"Vitus?"

He scrambles through the tunnel and onto my side. One of his hands is covered in creamy blood. "He won't bother you again. Are you okay?"

"Fine."

I point to the egg at the end of the narrow opening.

Vitus picks me up with a hand. "Can you run?"

"I'll do my best."

We make a break for the egg when another couple comes out of the hedge and into where we are.

"I've got them. You get the egg!" Vitus lifts his dye gun and pelts everyone that comes out of the hedge with impressive accuracy.

I sprint to the end, leap up the steps, and land on the platform where the golden egg sits in the challis. I carefully pick it up with both hands and watch the base of the podium turn green.

"I got it!"

Vitus straightens from his kneeling position and stops firing. Other couples throw their hands in the air and then seem to succumb to the dye's effects. A few part ways to join others.

Vitus walks up to me, hesitantly slides an arm around my waist, and looks me in the eyes. "Good job."

"Nice shooting."

He gives the maze a glance and then hangs his head. "It was just war with hormones instead of war with pain—a game here."

I realize he may have had old memories resurface during the race to the egg.

I lift his chin so his eyes meet mine. "Thank you for protecting me from that guy."

"Whether you choose me or not, no one will harm you ever again." He is persistent.

I have never felt quite so wanted or cared for. Perhaps it's the dye, but I rise on my toes and sweep my lips over his.

Vitus inhales sharply in surprise. His breathing speeds up, and his eyes brighten. The quiver in his tensing muscles tells me just how turned on he is. It isn't just the one part of him that wants me, even as his rigid shaft presses into my navel, it's all of him.

I take his mouth with tender force and taste the sweet dye that's tainted his skin.

The announcer sets down on a hover pad atop the podium. "Congratulations. Your win has been recorded, General Vitus and Cylene."

I hand her the egg as the doors open and let us all leave the maze.

Vitus hangs his head with a bashful glance at me as we walk out.

The male who dragged me off gets a warning from Abr officers, who until now, I hadn't really taken the time to notice. A camera circles them in the maze. When he sees me looking, his posture hunkers in an aggressive way that Vitus doesn't like either.

"Talhuskins are new to our federation of planets," Vitus explains. "They're still on the watch list because they've been known to make deals with shadow soldiers."

We meet up with the others in the group for an ice cream social outside. But as Vitus and I get our desserts, the moans and cries of pleasure from couples on the field become distracting, so we walk toward the complex. The reader board outside the building shows Vitus and I connected again, with several more couples crossed off of the list.

"Ginarigons are rarely ever crossed off," Vitus offers as he slurps up something dark green from a paper cup. "They always wait until the end, then snatch up every female willing to share. Some species mate for life. The rest of us who can choose often stay on the board for a while. While we tend to pick one, I recently was reminded we are capable of moving on if necessary."

He doesn't seem thrilled, and I think he's trying to rationalize moving on from me.

"So no pressure."

I toss my empty ice cream cup in the trash and wonder what it would be like to have such a loyal lover. After the way I've been harassed by other males, I'm starting to see how different Vitus is.

He licks his cup clean. The movement of his tongue makes my breath catch in my throat.

Vitus freezes when he sees me staring at his tongue. His gaze darkens, and he finishes cleaning his cup with slow, deliberate strokes.

My pussy slicks, hungry for another round with him.

An attendant motions everyone toward an array of outside showers. "Please wash and dry before entering the building."

I grab Vitus by his uniform top and encourage him into a shower stall. The water switches on, soaking us as I sling the curtain shut. Vitus slumps against the wall as I bond my mouth to his.

He growls in lust and plunges his forked tongue inside my mouth. It tickles as he explores. He tastes of something minty yet smoky—a curious flavor.

The dye and sugar wash away with ease, leaving me expecting him to wonder what's gotten into us. But my desire doesn't fade, and as he grabs me by the hips and lifts me to his waist, I don't think his has either.

Vitus holds me up with one arm and braces the back of my neck with the other, his thumb sweeping over my skin. His cock swells, grinding into me. A feverish rush through my body makes me grip him tighter. I want him. Now.

"Inside?"

I like the sound of that. "Yes, please."

Vitus lets out a breath. "Really?"

"Don't make me wait."

He slings the curtain aside and carries me through the drying room that blasts us with hot air. He doesn't put me down as we ride the elevator to his room.

Vitus keeps me close, nibbling at my neck and grinding against me the whole way up.

When we step off onto his level, his wristband buzzes.

Vitus slows and reads it over my shoulder.

"What is it?" I ask, my high simmering.

"My uncle." He rasps and stops. "He's been injured in battle. Returned home unconscious. Took a heavy compression wave."

I run a hand over his muscled back, hoping to comfort him. The intensity of my need eases.

Vitus braces his head. "I knew I should've stayed."

Climbing down from his grasp, I guide him to his room with a hand. I'm not ready to leave him just yet, not when he's so upset, and I'm still falling from my lustful high.

"I'm sorry, Cylene. I didn't mean to interrupt us."

"He's hurt, and he's clearly important to you," I offer.

"He's the only family I have left besides my cousins." Vitus gets a call on his wristband. "The timing is just—"

"Can I stay with you?"

He winces at me as he unlocks his door. "While I'm on the holo?"

"Is it allowed?"

"It can be, but I didn't think you were that interested."

I wrap a hand around his arm and tell him the truth. "I'm just not ready to let go of you yet."

He scans my face, then takes me in his arms and kisses me with passion and regret. "We're going to miss the formal dinner."

"Don't care."

I let him lead me into the room. "Just want to sit with you. I'm sure you can order room service with your clearance." Deep down, more than anything, I want to be with others who care like I do. I ignore my protesting pussy as it cramps in frustration.

Some things are just more important.

He sits on the bed, leaning up against the wall, and waves me onto his lap. I climb over to him and curl up against his chest while he answers the call.

"Thank you for staying." Vitus nuzzles my cheek. "I'm sorry we got interrupted."

"There's still time." I rest my face in the nook of his neck, mildly relieved to have a break. Coming down from the high of the dye has made me wonder if it's me that wanted him or the dye's influence. I'll find out once I've got my feet back on the ground.