Vados (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 1) (4 page)

That meant… he really did want her.
Her
.

“Maris?” The deep rumble of his voice nudged her from her musings, and she gave him her attention.

“Yes?”

His gaze was inscrutable, intent on her, as if he were trying to read her mind. As if he sought what made her tick. Well, if he figured that out, she’d love to know as well.

“Come.” He held out his hand for her. “I have made you coffee. Further protocol indicates I should feed you a
morning after
breakfast as well.”

She couldn’t hide her smile then. Yes, he was gruff and rough around the edges—he’d warned her of that when they’d spent those hours together—but he was sweet as well. He was a guard, a male who earned his living through protection and violence when needed. But, he still found a way to be soft and caring for her. Even if there was a slight miscommunication.

Maris padded forward and readily placed her palm in his, allowing him to lead her toward the small table near the kitchen. “I’ll take you up on the coffee and maybe some toast, but a morning after breakfast usually comes
after
.”

Vados nudged her toward a chair before going into her kitchen. Her position allowed her to watch his brisk and efficient movements, the flex of his muscle as he went from cabinet to cabinet. She could tell him where she kept her bread. But then he bent down, his uniform pulling taught against his ass, and she figured she’d stay quiet a little longer.

He was gorgeous, delectable, and lickable. And she knew from experience. An experience they’d soon repeat if she got her way.

He finally found her bread in the pantry and held it carefully as he faced her. “What after are you speaking of? The database stated that after a male and female slept together, the male should prepare coffee if it is a beverage she enjoys, and then he is to make her a meal appropriate for the time of the day.” He looked out the massive window that made up one wall of the condo. “It is morning. Breakfast occurs in the morning. I shall make you breakfast.”

She wondered if she should tell him but banished the thought. Teasing was one thing, lying through silence was not. Dammit.

“I think the database meant a different kind of sleeping.” A grin teased Maris’ lips and it blossomed with his confused frown. “It was a euphemism for sex. And even then, it’s only the good guys who do that sort of thing.”

He straightened his spine and pressed his shoulders back, his pride and determination wrapping around him. “I am a good male. I will do this.” He pressed his lips together, confusion still skirting around his expression as he frowned. “But we did not enjoy sex. Although, I do not believe that is the only time I may cook for you. I shall do it now in hopes you will gift me with your body…” His eyes heated. “Soon.”

Oh.
Yes, very soon, please.

Maris’ face warmed beneath the sexual desire in his gaze, his need easily seen in his features, the tautness of his body and… the bulge pressing against his pants. She’d been a week without his touch, the taste of him, and the feel of his skin on hers. Back then, she’d been embarrassed at her quick hop into intimacy with him, but knowing she was his mate soothed some of those feelings. It made sense mates would crave each other, would want to consummate their connection as soon as possible.

“We could skip breakfast and…” She raised her eyebrows, eyes flicking toward her bedroom door, and then back to him. Her skin itched, her body seemed to call for him, and she somehow knew she wouldn’t be satisfied until his hands—his lips—were on her body.

Another one of his frowns. It was wrong that she found that expression sexy as hell, wasn’t it?

“I wish to care for you, my Maris.”

Okay, that was sexier.

“I desire you, but I must prove I shall be a good mate, a good male.”

The tone, the hint of a lost boy that filled his voice, had her pushing to her feet and going to him. When he was within reach, she carefully tugged the bread from his hands, setting it on the table before wrapping her arms around his waist. She rested her head on his chest, her ear just over his heart.

“You are a good male, Vados. You wouldn’t be one of the prince’s trusted guards. You wouldn’t have helped your friend when he was injured, if you weren’t.”

“If I hadn’t helped him, I would not have lost you.”

She tilted her head back and rested her chin on his chest. “If you hadn’t helped him, I don’t think I would have wanted you.”

Vados brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, carefully tucking it behind her ear, and then cupped her face. “I would not have been worthy of you.”

“It’s in us both to care for others. You’re not the only one who left, Vados. If I hadn’t gone to help him, I would have been there when you returned.”

“The heart of the seas truly knows us both,” he murmured then lowered his head.

Her lips tingled in anticipation, anxious for even that small connection.

He brushed his mouth across hers once, twice, and on the third pass, he remained in place, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue. He silently asked for entrance and she immediately opened for him. He delved into her and she welcomed him, accepted the salty sweetness of his innate flavors. She slid her tongue along his, letting the taste of him blossom over her taste buds, slide into her, and it felt as if she was coming home. He was comforting, arousing, making her need and welcome him without reservation.

As the kiss progressed, his touch transformed from one of gentle caring to increasing passion. It stoked their desires, urging her to change her hug to a passionate embrace. She caressed his back, fingers tracing the smooth line of his spine. She knew that by the time they were naked, his scales would be out and beckoning for her, his excitement pushing them to the surface. She reveled in the way he responded to her, the visible evidence of his need. It wasn’t relegated to his thick length, but the emergence of his water-based nature as well.

His hands drifted, tracing her back, fingers exploring her sides as he traveled south… and then he was cupping her ass. He kneaded her flesh, squeezing gently, and each press transferred to her inner-thighs, tormenting her with his indirect touch. She felt empty, desperate to be filled by him. She ached and her core clenched, silently begging for him. Even her clit twitched, tingling in anticipation of his fingers, his mouth.

Above all… she wanted his cock. Thick and hard, deep and firm, within her sheath.

He nibbled her lower lip, tugging on the bit of flesh with his teeth, and she whimpered with the tiny stinging pain.

Maris moaned against his mouth. “Vados…”

His hands remained in place as he released her mouth. “I believe we should find your bed, my Maris. Do you agree?”

Her nod was immediate. “Yes.”

Yes, yes, and yes again with an occasional
ooh baby, ooh baby, do it harder.

Vados balanced on the edge, his body threatening to spill like a youngling. When had he ever been so out of control?

Never.

He’d never been with his mate, either. Her touch, her scent, was enough to send him spiraling into pleasure, swept away in the currents of ecstasy. But he needed to regain his focus. He could not take his pleasure before Maris. He would never do such a thing… on purpose. If she did not stop tormenting him with her lush body, he did not know if he could restrain his release.

“Yes,” she whispered again.

Even that single word had him balanced on the edge. This female taunted and tormented him.

And he loved every moment.

With her agreement, he quickly swung her into his arms, removing the temptation of her curves against the hardest part of him, and forcing her lips away from his. Her touches were relegated to his chest now. He could withstand her sensual assaults if all she could caress was…

Vados groaned. The little sea anemone nibbled on him, her blunted teeth biting through fabric and assaulting him. His cock throbbed, the threat of him spilling rushed forward once again. If she did not stop soon…

“Maris…”

She hummed, the little sea witch.

He almost dropped to his knees in a prayer of thanks when they reached her bedroom and he was able to separate her from him. At least, for a moment. Because the moment her feet touched the ground, she was upon him once again. Her mouth, her hands, both working to drive him mad.

He needed to take control. They could not mate without the words, and he refused to move forward unless he heard them from her lips.

“Maris… my mate… please…” Her hands slid beneath his shirt and he wondered again why he delayed.

The ceremony. The words. Yes.

Unwilling to go further without her agreement, he quickly repositioned them, snatching her questing hands in one fist while he gently urged her to recline on the large bed. Their gazes locked, he slid between her thighs, his hardness snug against her damp warmth. Cloth separated them, but her heat seared him, taunting him.

“My Maris…Do you, Maris Xayer, desire me above all others?”

Maris whimpered and nodded. “Of course.”

“Do you pledge your loyalty to me above all others?”

Her gaze softened, some of her need banking. “Yes.”

“Do you pledge your heart to me before all others?” She tugged against his grip, but he could not resist her touch. He did not want this to be over before he began. “Maris?”

“Always, Vados. Always.”

He grunted. “As it should be.” He stared down at this female, the one who would be his, and his heart tightened. This was it. She would belong to him until they drifted into the seas in their final sleep. And he would belong to her. He had no illusions that the mating would be one-sided. Already he sensed her possessiveness and he was pleased by it. “I, Vados fa Kotan, desire you, Maris Xayer above all others. I pledge my loyalty to you above all others. I pledge my heart to you above all others.”

Her gaze softened further, caring—love?—replaced her burning desire.

“Vados,” she whispered his name and stretched, raising her head in an attempt to kiss him.

He leaned in closer and brushed his lips across hers.

“You are mine, my Maris. We are bound as Ujal. We can be married as humans require at a later time, but every Ujal will recognize our joining,” he murmured and took her mouth again, releasing her hands as their connection deepened. “Mine,” he mumbled against her lips. “All mine.”

Vados did not restrict her movements then, allowing her to stroke and caress him as he did the same to her. She was like the sun beneath his hands—bright and hot, wild and uncontrollable, but no less beautiful.

And his.

“Maris, I must…” He reached between them, gathering the hem of her shirt and tugging it up. “I must feel you bare beneath me.”

“Yes.” She hissed and yanked at his clothing as well.

They became a tugging, yanking mass of limbs, the two of them working toward the same goal—skin on skin. Or scales on skin.

Soon it would be scales on scales.

With them focused on the same task, Vados soon found himself staring down at her pale skin, the expanse of flushed flesh that beckoned him. He did not wait for an invitation, but instead immediately began his sensual tasting of her. Sweetness clung to her, the light flavor offset by the saltiness from a thin sheen of sweat coating her neck. He began there and lapped at every inch of her. He suckled her breasts, laving them and flicking his tongue over the hardened nubs. He listened to her every sound, finding the places that caused her to gasp… and those that made her moan. When she tugged on his hair to the point of pain, he discovered she
really
enjoyed those sensations. He wanted to gift her with every morsel of pleasure he could.

And still he continued south, heading straight for the part of her body he loved most. It was like tasting a sweetened remnant of the sea, as if she were the embodiment of the tumultuous oceans. It did not take him long to reach his ultimate destination, his mouth hovering over her most intimate place. Her legs were splayed wide for him, her wet entrance exposed, and her human
clit
swollen and ready for him.

“My Maris…”

Maris propped herself on her elbows, staring down at him with passion-glazed eyes.

“What do you wish, my Maris?” He ran his fingers down her flesh, smiling when she trembled. “What shall I do? My mouth sucking you? My fingers filling you?” They’d begun this sensual game a week ago, one he’d enjoyed immensely. Teasing and taunting until they both broke. “Maris?” he murmured.

“I…” She gasped when he lowered his head and blew a puff of warm air across her wet pussy. “I want you. However, I can get you. I just want you, Vados.”

Maris would kill him.

* * *

Vados would kill her, murder her with anticipation and pleasure because the man just…
Wasn’t. Moving
. His red eyes were trained on her, his long hair flowing over her legs, and his deep-red scales were a stark contrast to her pale skin. He stared and remained motionless, mouth poised above her center, and then slowly, ever so slowly, he flicked his tongue out. The touch was ghostly, hardly even a touch at all, but it was enough.