Vados (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 1) (2 page)

Ujals were nasty pieces of business when they were pissed.

Maris stumbled back a step and distanced herself from her guards. When her back struck the end of the hallway, not ten feet from her door, she took a moment to glance at her saviors.

An Ujal—two Ujals—as she’d suspected. The dangerous—sometimes deadly—sounds weren’t directed at her, but at her now ex-guards. Which gave her a moment to recover.

Recover and realize she didn’t recognize one of the males, but the other… Oh, she knew him. Intimately.

“Vados…” she whispered his name, immediately drawing his attention. He was just as beautiful as she remembered—his red scales, deep red hair, the scar marring his face but intriguing her so much…

Some thought of the red coloration as a sign from the devil. Maris cataloged the hues and had only one thought, a thought that’d badgered her from the moment they spoke.

Mine…

Vados was proud he did not kill the humans. He even held pride that he did not drag them into the middle of the gulf and leave them for the ocean beasts. Further pride remained when he discovered he’d only broken six bones in one male and ten in the other. Though that was also clouded by disappointment as he intended to cause at least a dozen breaks. Perhaps the prince would allow him another shot at the men. That thought lifted some of the rage still assaulting him.

They
touched
Maris. They’d spoken to her as if there were something wrong with befriending him—sharing pleasure with him. They intended on taking what Vados himself tasted and enjoyed. Seeing her again, her black hair tumbled around her shoulders from rough treatment and her green eyes consumed by fear… he was overcome with anger.

Yes, he
should
feel pride the humans still lived. He had not seen Maris since that fateful date when they first met and he was enraged by what he found upon his approach.

His thoughts continued to circle, spin through his mind as he fought against the urge to hunt down the guards and visit his rage upon them. It would be within his right. They sought to damage his mate and—

Mate?

Mate. The word resonated in his mind, echoing as if the word was shouted. Was that the reason behind his feelings, the constant sense of loss that only vanished when he was in her company?

Something in his heart said yes.

Once again, his scales stretched against his skin and he fought for calm. From the moment he discovered Maris needed him, they’d been lurking near, high emotions bringing them forward. By the seas, they’d even appeared as he attacked those males. His scales only retreated slightly when he and Niax dispensed with Maris attackers and secured her in her condo. Then, alone with her, save Niax, he’d been able to relax. Been able to breathe.

But knowing she was his mate… changed things.

The shower—true water due to the fact many Ujal would be using the condominiums—pattered against the tile in the bathroom as Maris rinsed herself. He hardened within his UST-issued pants. If he were nude—as was his preference—he would have stroked himself, enjoyed the teasing touch since he could do nothing for his need. Now. He would work to rectify that. She ran from him once. He would discover the cause and then alleviate her worries.

They were meant to be together. She just did not know it yet.

“Niax,” he murmured, drawing the male’s attention from the rolling sea visible through the condo’s windows. “I need you to contact a trusted male.”

Niax frowned. “Why?”

He hated having to depend on another, speak of his suspicions to another, but if what he intended was dangerous. They would go to UST, summon an Ujal physician, and commandeer a room in medical.

“Ask Tave if there are records of humans mating with Ujals. Whether that can be accomplished without medical monitoring.”

Niax raised his eyebrows. “You have something you wish to share?”

No, he did not. Vados tore his gaze from his friend. Emotion left a male vulnerable. No one was more exposed than a mated male.
Is it enough for me to ignore Maris?

No. Never.

He’d spoken of his time during the great storm only once. Long enough to reveal the reason behind his delay—he assisted a human.

“Maris is—we have prior knowledge of one another. We met during Hurricane Claudia.”

“You are the male in the—”

“The images? Yes,” he snapped, hating that his personal life was available for questioning.

“And you left her alone to—”

“I did not leave her alone.” He hissed, finally noting the sounds of Maris’ shower ceased. “I departed to track the storm, and when I returned, she had left.”

“She—”

“That’s not the way I remember it.” Maris’ voice cut through the beginnings of their argument and Vados winced.

Winced. Due to words.
Winced
.

She continued, “I waited over an hour. Your five minutes more than passed and I waited as long as I could. But I was needed at UST…”

Vados pressed his lips together, swallowing his instant denial, and then he turned back to Niax. “Please,” he murmured.

“Of course. I will make a call and—” Niax’s attention bounced between them… from Vados who held onto his control by a thread, and Maris who was clothed in nothing more than a towel. Which caused his grasp to weaken further. “I’ll call and station myself in the hallway.”

Maris’ reply was quick and rushed, “You don’t have to do that. There’s plenty—”

“It is protocol. One guard in the hall and one inside.” Vados was not proud of his lie, but he let it remain.

She raised an eyebrow. “So, he’s the one who has to wait out there? Why not you?”

“You know the answer to the question.” He couldn’t suppress his growl. The female drove him crazy!

She crossed her arms over her chest, the move causing the towel to ride higher and expose her long legs. He desired them wrapped around his waist above all else. He had not sampled her fully, but he had imagined…

“I don’t think I do.” She narrowed her eyes. “Explain.”

Vados called on his warrior training, on the peace that supposedly lived in the heart of every Ujal. It was the soul of the sea and each male was gifted a drop of serenity at his birth. With his anger and frustration rising, he wondered if Maris managed to burn that part of him away with her words. She was being difficult when he was the aggrieved male!

“Vados,” she snapped.

And then so did he.

“Because you are mine, and I will kill any male who goes near you!”

* * *

Maris’ hands shook as she prepared coffee, Vados’ words still echoing in her head.

Because you are mine and I will kill any male who goes near you!

Intellectually, she understood the words strung together to create the sentence. But what did it mean to an
Ujal?

That was the scary part. Because it pushed forward all kinds of ideas she wanted to embrace and hold onto as tightly as she could. Even after…

She wasn’t going to think about that now. She didn’t even want to
talk
about it. She hadn’t said a word to UST or the press. She didn’t want to drag the heartache and pain back up now. Not when the cause was standing in the other room.

She poured water into the coffee maker, trying her best not to spill too much, which was hard considering how much she shook. But she managed to get enough in there, get the ground beans into the filter and pushed into place before she pressed the
“on” button. The appliance burst into action, heating the water and working to brew the bitter drink. She didn’t think Vados would partake—Ujals tended to shy from mood-altering foods, which left soda out in the cold as well.

Coffee maker in motion, she took a deep breath and turned toward the kitchen’s exit. She couldn’t hide forever and she no longer had an excuse to stay away from him. Besides, the only way to get to her bedroom was through the living room, which was where he stationed himself.

His gaze was intent on the water, and she wondered if he was already missing the sea. She regretted that their time together had such lasting repercussions and she regretted it even more since he was forced to be in her company. No matter what he said, there was no denying the truth. He’d left and didn’t return.

Though, he believed he’d returned and she’d already left.

Who was wrong?

She had no idea, and as far as she was concerned, it didn’t matter. It’d been fun, but it was done and over with. Now she dealt with the aftermath.

Maris cleared her throat. “Would you like some coffee?”

Vados slowly turned his attention to her. Those red eyes focused on her, and she squirmed beneath his intent stare. His eyes drew her in once before, made her feel—want—things she hadn’t even realized she craved. Then his voice rolled over her. He’d shouted at her above the whip of wind and lashing rain, berating her for being out in the storm.

It’d been sexy as hell.
He’d
been sexy as hell with his scales ranging in hue from the bright color of fresh blood to the deepest red that neared black. His hair, whipped and snagged by the wind, blew with the speedy air. He’d continued his approach as he shouted at her for female stupidity. The closer he came, she began to realize he was nude. Gloriously bared for her. She also recognized his lack of clothing meant he’d just risen from the sea.

A furious Ujal fresh from the ocean… and focused entirely on her. It was stupid now that she thought back on it, but between the danger of the storm and his gorgeous form, she’d become aroused. Anxious to reaffirm life with the male.

So she had, in a way. They hadn’t
consummated
anything, but they had enjoyed one another’s bodies. Folding down seats and making room to stretch out in the massive SUV had taken some wiggling, but by the time they were done, they had enough space to explore. And they had. For hours.

Then he was gone.

“No, thank you,” he rasped.

He tore her from the past, and she had to recall she’d offered him coffee.

“Oh.” It was the answer she’d expected. She tried to think of what else she could offer. “I might have juice. Or bottled water?”

The Ujals at UST didn’t care for any water that didn’t come from the sea, but every human was different. It’d make sense if Ujals were the same.

“
Nothing
.” He spat the word. “I want the truth. I want this settled, Maris.”

The last time he’d said her name on
that
day, it’d been with an almost loving purr.

So different from today.

Maris shook her head. “I waited for you, Vados. I counted the minutes. You said you’d be back in five, a quick dash up the coast to check things out. After over an hour, I left. People were stirring, officials were coming out to evaluate damage, and the police were on the move. Cell service came back, and I was told UST had some injured Ujals, but the closest doctor was too far out. I’m not a medical doctor, but…” She sighed. “I
am
trained as a nurse.” She shrugged. “It’s helpful when you’re doing research in the middle of the ocean and someone is injured.” Maris ran a hand through her hair, wincing when her fingers got caught in the strands. “It doesn’t matter. I had to go somewhere and UST needed me, so I went there to help how I could.”

Vados clenched his jaw, muscles flexing. “I did not realize I was gone for so long. I did intend to come back immediately. I wanted nothing more than to return to you, but I came upon Rhal and…”

Maris remembered Rhal. He was a nearly all black Ujal and had been brought in for treatment after being cut up from a shattered, loose boat in the ocean. “His chest was split open.” She traced a long, slashing line across her body. “And when his legs reappeared, he’d sliced one down to the bone.”

Vados grimaced and nodded. “Yes, I hauled him to UST and immediately returned to you.”

“And I was already gone. Off to help how I could.” Maris met his intent stare, unwilling to believe they’d been like ships in the night, passing without knowing the other was near. How close had it been? Did they miss each other by seconds? Minutes?

Did it matter? Her body said no. Her body told her he was the one male in the world it would welcome rather than reject.

She only had one last question. “Where does that leave us? You said…”

Dare she let her thoughts go there?

“We…” He took a step toward her, no more than two feet, and froze in place. He cocked his head to the side and then slowly panned his attention back to the sea. A second passed and then two before he opened his mouth, releasing a quick series of noises, which reminded her of dolphins and whales. That done, he looked at her once again. “Now, if you are willing, we explore what remains between us.”

“Vados…” She shook her head, stepping away from him. But he didn’t let her move far. He jolted forward, rapidly consuming the distance between them, and wrapped his arm around her waist. He hauled her against him, their fronts snug, and her body reacted to him in an instant.