Chapter 15 Zoey

Protected by the two other shuttles, we made it to the tropical island in the middle of the ocean without issue. The island was still being set up with a temporary lab to analyze the fragment. The humans walking out of the trailers wore unwieldy hazmat suits with helmets. They were more interested in the fragment than they were in us.

However, they insisted that I spend time in one of the medical units since they detected trace amounts of the scourge’s fungus on me, and I’d sustained several scrapes and bruises over the last few days. The second I heard the word fungus, I was ready to jump into any medical unit they wanted.

That shit was no joke.

“Alright, you’re good to go. Thank you for getting us this sample,” said a woman with her face hidden behind a mask as she helped me out of the full-body medical unit, and into a hospital gown.

“You’re welcome,” I said, yawning.

I felt exhausted, even though I’d been in a sort of half-sleep for the past hour or so. All the little aches and pains that had been bothering me were gone, though. I hadn’t realized my muscles were so sore until they weren’t.

“But if you start feeling sick or odd in any way, please alert someone, and we will get you help immediately.”

“Got it.”

I was grateful to find my clothes neatly folded and smelling fresh. Harb’k gave the woman his contact information. We went back to the shuttle, only to realize it had been temporarily grounded. The researchers wanted to observe the vessel for a few hours, just in case. It was probably for the best.

“You can stay in your shuttle if you wish while we run some diagnostics,” said a man in one of those suits.

The second the door closed, I flopped down on the sleeping platform. “Hazmat suits? Isn’t that overkill?” I yawned. “And why am I so tired? Didn’t I just take a forced nap in that machine?”

“Accelerated healing is tiring. Even for Xarc’n warriors. Sleep.”

“But how can I sleep when there’s so much happening?”

“You will not miss anything important. I will wake you.” He lightly pushed me down to a lying position, then produced a blanket and tucked it around my body.

I tried to sleep. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw the mutated bugs. Then my brain started imagining more of them, worse ones.

After a few minutes of tossing, I sat up again. “I’m exhausted!” I whined. “Why won’t my brain shut up?”

“I will help.” He climbed under the blanket with me, reminding me of how we’d slept on the bed all cuddled together.

His body was warm as he pulled me into the cocoon of his arms. Mmm. Maybe this will help. He’d given me a head rub that evening in the townhome, and it had put me right to sleep. But as I cuddled back against him, I realized the feel of flesh extended much lower than his chest and abs.

“You’re naked!”

“I have already seen you naked. It is only fair.” He was right, he had seen me naked right before they put me into the healing unit. “And you like my body. You react to it, and I can smell your desire.”

I shuddered at his accurate words. Neither confirming nor denying, I asked, “How is this going to help me sleep?”

Then his strong fingers were working out the knots in my shoulders and I forgot my question. I sighed and closed my eyes.

His fingers strayed from my shoulders and neck, skating down my back and around to the front, and my brain—primed with the idea of his masculine body, strong and virile—imagined those firm fingers touching lower.

“Zoey.” My name was nothing more than a low growl. I momentarily felt the sharp sting of claws, then they were gone.

His warm breath caressed the shell of my ear, making me shiver. Every place we touched seemed to glow with awareness, and anticipation hung thick in the air. Something rigid pressed against my ass, and I snuggled back, wiggling my hips against his erection.

“Krux! You’re burning me up, Little Star!”

I pressed back and wiggled my ass again. I’d read somewhere that Xarc’n warriors didn’t have the same equipment, and by the feel of it, that was correct. It was bumpier, almost like it had thicker and narrower sections. Curious, I reached back to touch it, but Harb’k caught my wrist, shackling it.

“You’re trouble,” he growled.

“You like it.” I couldn’t believe the breathy, needy voice was mine.

I twisted around trying to free my hands, but Harb’k flipped me over and pinned my wrists to the sides of my head as he climbed over me, caging my body. He plundered my mouth, his tongue sweeping in to duel with mine. Demanding but gentle, dominant but vulnerable. I wanted to give in to all the sensations he was making me feel. Why hold back now when everything felt so right?

I didn’t care anymore that he was an alien. I wanted him with every fiber in my body and I didn’t want to wait anymore.

His cock pressed against my thighs. I wanted to reach down to touch it and find out exactly why people said Xarc’n warriors were so different, but my hands were trapped.

He nibbled his way down the sensitive column of my throat before shoving my shirt up over my breasts so he could cover a tightened nipple with his mouth. I moaned and arched into him, hissing when his hands joined the exploration, gently rolling the other nipple between the pads of his fingers.

He released my hands as he continued down to my belly, and I instinctively put my hands on his horns and gave them a squeeze. He snarled. Ooh, he liked that. I did it again, this time adding some nails, and was rewarded again with another feral sound before he dragged his fangs down my front. I gasped at the feel of sharp points as they trailed all the way past my belly button, and then his mouth was hovering by my mound.

Large hands gripped my thighs, spread my legs open, and he kissed my inner thighs. I only had a split second to feel self-conscious before his tongue and lips were exploring my folds, and he moaned like he was savoring a delicacy. A whimper escaped my lips when his tongue brushed over my clit, and I slammed my knees shut, only to have them held open by his horns.

Gripping my ankles and holding me open, he circled my clit slowly, deliberately. I clawed at his scalp, and the resulting growl added extra vibrations. He circled it a few more times, clearly enjoying my reaction before sucking the little nub into his mouth. I cried out, my head popping off the sleeping mat.

“You’re so perfect,” he murmured, lifting his head to glance at me.

I’d lost all words so I did the only thing I could. I grabbed his horns and shoved him back down with a needy whine. He chuckled, like he was enjoying himself far too much, but then covered my clit again.

A thick finger slid in my juices before pushing past my lips. I moaned and bucked my hips. He took that to mean I wanted more. He withdrew, and when he entered again, it was with two generous digits, spreading me open. I cried out at the sudden and unfamiliar fullness. Before I even had time to get used to it, he was pumping them in me while he continued to suckle on my clit.

I was gripped by a blinding pleasure that burned through me like flames. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I let out a string of incoherent moans and cries.

“Krux! You make it hard for me,” Harb’k murmured against my cunt.

White-hot pleasure built with every thrust of his fingers. Something inside tightened and tightened until it felt like it would break. Then the pressure released, and I was shuddering as euphoria cascaded down to every finger and toe.