Greta and the Gargoyle Page 2

  Delight filled her and without considering the consequences, she reached over and hugged him. At which point she realized that he was very large and very warm and she was very naked. She backed away immediately, but even that brief contact had turned her nipples to hard little points. Blushing, she covered her breasts with her arm before sneaking a glance at him. To her astonishment, the tips of his ears had darkened like he was blushing as well. He shifted uncomfortably, and she made the mistake of looking at his lap where a very large and obvious erection had appeared. Another unexpected flicker of arousal hit her before she forced her eyes up to his face in time to see his nostrils flare.

  “Thank you.”

  “I must leave…”

  Their words came out at the same time but before she could get any further, he rose and with a lightning fast movement and a flutter of wings, he was gone, leaving her staring open-mouthed at the closed door panel.

  Mikaroz leaned against the wall outside his female’s cell and tried to get his breathing and his cock under control. Despite his earlier discussion with Jervoc, he had certainly considered having sex since he’d left Dhalgroll. There was a shopkeeper in the market, a tall Moz’ae woman with glowing pink skin and a wicked sense of humor, who had tempted him, but she moved on when he couldn’t bring himself to commit to her. Lord Kievan had once offered him his favorite, and she was a beautiful female, but even if it hadn’t clearly been an offer that would have resulted in his death, Mikaroz didn’t think he would have gone through with it. He didn’t just want sex – he wanted a mate.

  Yet this prisoner tempted him almost unbearably. Her skin felt so soft against his and while she was small, when she pressed her slender curves against him, she was undeniably female. Jervoc’s words haunted him. He would never take an unwilling female, but he had felt the hard points of her nipples and caught the sweet scent of her arousal. Could it be that she was attracted to him despite their differences? Amongst the Dhalgroll he was considered quite handsome, but he hadn’t expected a female from another species to recognize that fact.

  As he stood contemplating such a delightful possibility, he realized that in his rush to leave, he had failed to find out the information for which he had given her the translator bug. He banged his head against the wall in frustration before straightening. At least it was a chance to see her again.

  When he reopened the cell door, she was still curled in her corner, her body half-turned into the wall, and he couldn’t help longing for another glimpse of those beautiful rose-tipped breasts. She raised her head as he entered and studied him with an expression he couldn’t read.

  “I apologize for my hasty departure.”

  “That’s okay.” She tugged her ear. “Thank you for the translator.”

  “You are most welcome. Are you hungry?”

  “Yes, I am. I can’t eat the gruel. Do you have any of those cracker type things?”

  It took a few tries before he figured out that she meant the sandran wafers normally fed to livestock. He barely managed to conceal his horror, but it was something to work with – perhaps another plant-based food would work. He was considering the possibilities when she spoke again.

  “Why did you give me this?”

  “I wished to communicate with you.”

  “Because of the food thing?”

  “Yes.” He ducked his head, feeling ridiculously embarrassed. Something about this woman destroyed all of his usual composure. “And I wished to talk to you.”

  “Thank you.” After a brief, resigned glance down at her lack of clothing, she stood up. Every drop of blood went straight to his cock as he took in the full view of her glorious body. Small, high breasts peeked through waves of dark curls while a smaller patch of curls between gently rounded hips hinted at concealed delights. Even in the harsh light of the cell, the golden perfection of her skin glowed. She took a few cautious steps toward him, her breasts undulating with the movement and he lost the ability to speak.

  Once again, her fingers lightly touched his arm. “You don’t know how much this means to me. It’s not just the translator. You’re the first, um, person who’s actually been nice to me since I was taken.”

  “You… I… You’re welcome.” The words emerged half-strangled and he saw her hide a smile before she patted his arm soothingly.

  “I’m Greta.”

  “I am Mikaroz.” At least he managed to speak this time, although his concentration was mainly focused on his aching cock and the way her fingers were still stroking his arm.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mikaroz.” She cast a rueful glance at the cell. “Although the circumstances could have been better.”

  Before he could respond, the communicator at his waist vibrated.

  “I must go. I’ll try and find you something that you can eat,” he promised, and reluctantly turned to leave. It almost felt as if she were equally reluctant, her fingers lingering on his skin until he stepped out of reach.

  Chapter Three

  As soon as the door closed, Mikaroz took a few deep breaths, trying to clear the sweet scent of his female from his lungs in the vain hope that his erection would subside. When it became apparent that only time and distance would work, he took off for the guard room.

  “What’s happening?” he asked as soon as he opened the door.

  “J’Ssett called a meeting. Captain Bagusim wants you and the other Squad Leaders to join them.”

  “When?”

  “Now.” Jervoc gave him a toothy grin.

  Swearing under his breath, he headed for the lift leading to Lord Kievan’s offices. When he arrived, all four captains and most of the other squad leaders were already assembled. The group was primarily Dhalgroll, only the brown fur of a couple of Bukharans, and the black of an Asing breaking the mass of grey. J’Ssett stood at the front of the room, a small reptilian figure completely at ease in the room of huge warriors twice his size. He cleared his throat and the room fell silent.

  “Lord Kievan has ssent word that there is a possibility of an Imperial battlecruiser attempting to gain possession of Ssigrast Sstation.” The slight hiss underlying his speech was more pronounced than usual, the only sign that he was not quite as composed as he appeared.

  An immediate uproar filled the room but J’Ssett once again commanded silence.

  “All visitors and permanent residents will be notified. Unlesss they are on good-standing with the Royal House…” A few muffled laughs erupted. “I asssume that most will choose to leave. We wish to ensure an orderly evacuation and will require the assistance of the guards. At double pay, naturally.”

  “When?” the Asing asked.

  “It depends on the location of the nearest ship. I would expect no more than a few days.”

  The Bukharans stood. “Our pay cycle ends tomorrow. We will leave after that.”

  J’Ssett nodded. Mikaroz doubted that he was surprised. The Bukharans were completely trustworthy while under contract but had no hesitation about switching their loyalty once the contract period ended. For himself, he did feel a sense of duty to Lord Kievan and to the station which went beyond his paycheck. Not only that, but he couldn’t abandon Greta at such a time. He would stay. Looking around he saw a number of determined faces and realized that most of his fellow guards felt the same way.

  “What of the fighters?” someone else asked. Many of the combatants that fought in the pits were there because they owed a debt to the station and chose to pay it off by fighting rather than hard labor.

  “They will be releassed and may leave. However, if they ever return, they will be expected to fulfill their remaining obligations.”

  “And the prisoners?”

  “If they committed a non-violent crime, they will be releassed also. Violent offenders can wait and face Imperial... justice.” More laughter emerged at that but Mikaroz’s stomach clenched as he realized that it applied to his beautiful female. He couldn’t leave her to face the consequences of killing her owner. How could he get her
to safety?

  “Is Lord Kievan returning?” another man asked, distracting Mikaroz from his attempts to find a solution.

  “Yess,” J’Ssett responded immediately, but Mikaroz didn’t trust the way the man’s eyes had shifted. “However, if the situation deteriorates prior to his return, there will be two ships sset aside for any guards who wish to evacuate.” Approving nods greeted his words.

  “Thiss information has not yet been shared outside of thiss room,” he continued. “I ask that you give me an hour to make the guild massters and the chief merchants aware of the ssituation. If the captains will remain for those conversations, the rest of you may leave.”

  Mikaroz took off immediately; he had stops to make before he could return to the cells.

  Greta stared at the closed door after her guard – after Mikaroz – made another hasty departure. She could still feel the warmth of his skin on her fingers as she raised them to her ear, reveling again in the miracle of the translator. Why was he being so nice to her? The obvious answer was certainly easy to believe – it had been impossible to miss the size of his erection when she stood up and approached him. Her stomach gave a half nervous, half excited flip at the memory and she shook her head. She couldn’t possibly be attracted to a huge grey-skinned alien that looked like an ancient gargoyle come to life. Could she?

  With a sigh, she returned to her bunk and her favorite corner, still pondering his actions. Other than the sizeable physical evidence, he had done nothing to indicate that he was attracted to her. If anything, he seemed almost shy in her presence. She decided that perhaps he was simply a nice guy who would have done the same for any prisoner and chose not to think about why that explanation was so disappointing. Resolving to stop worrying about it, she nonetheless continued to obsess over his motives until the door opened again.

  A genuine smile crossed her face when she saw that it was Mikaroz and she had to refrain from jumping up to greet him. He had seen enough of her naked body for one day.

  “Hi, Mikaroz.”

  “Hello, Greta.” He pronounced her name carefully, the deep rumble of his voice making her stomach flutter, but she refused to acknowledge it. “May I enter?”

  “It’s your cell,” she replied somewhat sarcastically. At his distressed look, she softened her tone. “Yes, of course you can. Did you find some of those crackers?”

  He was carrying a huge basket and her growling stomach hoped that it contained something edible.

  “I have brought several things and…” Avoiding her gaze, he ducked his head. “I have procured some clothing for you.”

  “Clothes, really?” Once again, she almost jumped up but managed to keep still as he sat on the other end of the bed shelf and placed the basket between then.

  “It is not what I would have chosen because it is the attire usually worn by slaves, but I was afraid that any other garment would draw too much attention,” he said as he passed her a small bundle of white fabric. She shook it out to discover a thin shift. It only joined at the point of each shoulder and the side of each waist, but she slipped it gratefully over her head, glad to be covered, however minimally. As soon as it settled in place, she leaned eagerly toward the basket but stopped when she saw that his gaze was fixed on her breasts once more. Looking down, she realized that the thin fabric did very little to actually conceal them, the pink of her nipples clearly visible as they hardened in response to his observation.

  He cleared his throat and finally shifted his eyes up to her face. “I hope that at least one type of food will be suitable. I brought a few different items.”

  Opening the basket, she almost laughed at the understatement. The large container was completely full of packages. Choosing one at random, she tore it open to find small hard pellets in a rather disgusting shade of green. After a cautious sniff, she placed one on her tongue. It dissolved immediately in a burst of meaty flavor that made her moan appreciatively.

  “Mmm. That’s so good.” Forcing herself to pause and see if her stomach objected, she looked back up at Mikaroz only to find him studying her mouth this time. Her mouth went dry and her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. His eyes closed and she heard a soft growl. The noise sent another flick of arousal over her and she felt her already taut peaks stiffen even more. Ignoring the reaction, she reached for another pellet.

  “Once you have eaten, we need to talk.”

  Her stomach dropped. Here it came. This was where Mr. Nice Guy revealed his true colors. Her appetite suddenly gone, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

  “Tell me now.”

  “You should eat first.”

  “I’m not hungry.” She shook her head when he started to protest. “You want to talk, so talk.”

  “The station will be evacuated.”

  That wasn’t what she was expecting, and she blinked at him a few times before she responded. “The station?”

  “You know you are on Sigrast?” When she shook her head, he continued. “Sigrast is the space station where we are located.”

  “I’m on a space station?” The thought had never occurred to her. She had assumed she was on an alien planet. “How big is it?”

  “Very large. There are thousands of people on board.”

  “Really?” The concept was mind-boggling. “But you said it is being evacuated?”

  “Yes. An Imperial ship is being sent to take possession.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” she asked cautiously.

  “Yes. Most of the people who are here have chosen to operate outside of Imperial regulation. They would not be treated kindly.”

  “But what about me?” Wasn’t regulation a good thing? “I only acted in self-defense when that bastard tried to rape me.”

  To her horror, he was shaking his head. “I understand, Greta, but an act of violence against your master is punishable by death.”

  Despair washed over her, and the tears couldn’t be suppressed. She had suspected all along that she might be executed, but to hear it actually spoken aloud made it only too real.

  “Ssh, Greta.” Mikaroz lifted her into his lap, big arms surrounding her and pulling her close. Her previous concerns about his motives no longer seemed important, and she curled against him as she cried. She could feel his rigid shaft beneath her hip, but he only held her and stroked her hair in long soothing caresses. He might look like he was made of stone, but his huge, warm body made her feel protected. When she finally cried herself out until only a few hiccupping sobs remained, she swiped at her nose and eyes and reluctantly lifted her head from the broad expanse of his chest.

  Emerald eyes glowed at her and he looked as soft as his hard features permitted. Driven by a sudden impulse, she stroked a finger along the surprisingly full bottom lip between those fearsome tusks.

  “Do your people kiss?”

  “Keess?” he asked, and then his tongue came out and brushed against her finger, damp and oddly velvety against her skin and the arousal that had been muted by sorrow came rushing back.

  “Press your mouths together.”

  “No.” He shook his head, looking puzzled.

  “That’s a shame.” Her curiosity got the better of her, along with a sudden reckless impulse. If she was going to die anyway… “Would you like me to show you?”

  His eyes never left her face. “You may show me anything you wish.”

  Turning so that she straddled his lap, she still had to lift up on her knees before she could reach his mouth. As soon as she moved over him, his body turned rigid, although his wings arched upward behind his back. She put one hand on his massive shoulder and the other on his face before leaning forward and letting her lips brush against his. Her mouth was small enough to fit between his tusks and his lips were warm and surprisingly soft. Gathering her courage, she let her tongue sweep along his full lower lip. He shuddered. Encouraged by his reaction, she probed along the seam but he didn’t respond.

  “Open for me,” she whispered.

&nb
sp; His lips parted and her tongue slipped into the heated depths of his mouth. He tasted like rich, dark chocolate and she moaned happily as she went deeper, encouraging his tongue to play with hers. His first tentative response made her moan again and the sound seemed to release him. One big hand cupped her head, holding her firmly in place as he took over, exploring every inch of her mouth with hungry intensity and an amazingly agile tongue that twisted and tugged at hers. When at last he raised his head, she was shaking.

  “Wow.”

  “Keess is wow? I like this keess very much.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Now that they were no longer kissing, her cheeks flamed as she realized how aroused she had been by the experience. She was uneasily conscious of the fact that she had been rubbing both her breasts and her aching pussy against him. Using the hand on his shoulder, she pushed back slightly and he immediately released her. Forcing her mind away from the throbbing ache between her legs, she found the courage to return to their previous conversation.

  “How long do I have?”

  “How long?”

  “Before they execute me.”

  Chapter Four

  Mikaroz stared down at the female in his arms, trying to make his brain function after the ecstasy of having her small mouth open to him. The keess would never have worked with a Dhalgroll female but it had been extraordinarily pleasurable. His aching shaft reminded him of just how pleasurable before her words finally penetrated. Every atom of his being rebelled at the idea of her death.

  “You will not be executed.” He spoke the words as the vow he intended. No harm would come to his female while he was alive to prevent it.

  “I don’t understand.” She settled back down in his lap as she frowned at him and he barely repressed a groan as the hot, damp heat of her cunt brushed over his throbbing cock. Judging by her startled expression, she felt his immediate response but she didn’t move away. “You said the Imperial ship is on its way.”

  “It is, but it’s not here yet. I will find a way to protect you.”