Greta and the Gargoyle Page 4

  “I notice that you didn’t contradict me.” She glanced up at his face. He was watching her with a worried expression, but he shook his head.

  “My understanding is that you are from a pre-spaceflight world, so your planet is off limits. You would not be allowed to travel to it.”

  “That didn’t seem to stop the bastards that took me.”

  “If they had encountered an Imperial cruiser without official records as to your origin, they would have been punished.” He ducked his head, something she was beginning to realize he did whenever he felt uncomfortable. “But it would not have changed your fate. They would not have returned you to your world.”

  “You mean I would still have ended up as a slave?”

  “Yes, dulzurra,” he said gently. “For those without resources, there are not many options.”

  “Why do you keep calling me that? Dulzurra?”

  The pointed tips of his ears darkened. “It is a delicacy on my world, one that is creamy and sweet. Your taste reminds me of it.”

  Unexpectedly happy that he found her just as delicious, she pushed the thought aside and forced herself to focus in more practical matters. “So, what happens now?”

  “I have to remain here until the evacuation is complete. Once we are released, another guard and I have purchased a small ship. I hoped you would choose to accompany me…”

  Amazing how such a menacing face could look so bashful.

  “Of course I will. But what then?”

  “I will find a guard position in another location, perhaps planetside if you would prefer. I cannot afford many luxuries, but I can make a decent living. I will take care of you.”

  A lump filled her throat; no one had ever wanted to take care of her. “Why? Why would you do that?”

  “I hope that you…” He looked down at her face, then cleared his throat and turned away. “I hope that someone would be kind to one of my race if she found herself alone and friendless.”

  She knew that wasn’t what he originally intended to say but she was relieved – and the tiniest bit disappointed – that he didn’t pursue it. It was clear that he was attracted to her, but she suspected that it might go deeper than the obvious physical attraction between them. He moved to a counter on the far side of the room and busied himself doing something she couldn’t see.

  Deliberately keeping her voice light, she said, “I was a bartender before. People always want to drink, maybe I can get a job doing that?”

  His back stiffened. “If you wish.”

  Obviously, she hadn’t helped the situation. With a sigh, she went to him and put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, my captain. I know you want to help me, but I need to be able to take care of myself as well.”

  “It is dangerous for a female alone,” he muttered, his gaze focused on his task.

  “But I’m not alone. I have you.” The words came out automatically and she fought down a sense of panic at what they implied. She knew better than to trust that someone would be there for her.

  A broad, and rather frightening, smile crossed his face as he finally turned to look at her. “Always, my heart.”

  Biting her lip as she looked up at his alien, hopeful face, she knew she should try and put some distance between them, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead, she settled for changing the subject. “What are you doing?”

  “Preparing a meal. I have several different things for you to try so I hope you will be able to eat.”

  He looked worried, so she gave him a reassuring smile. “Thank you.”

  Lord, he really was so sweet. And big. Standing next to him, she was conscious of the fact that her head only reached the middle of his chest – his still naked and very heavily muscled chest. Without his uniform, she could see the intricate tattoos that covered each arm. When he reached past her for something on the counter, his biceps flexed and her mouth went dry. The arousal that had never quite died down since she had put her mouth on him flared back to life. She felt the slickness between her legs just as his nostrils flared and he froze.

  “Um, is it okay if I look around?” Without waiting for a response, she moved quickly away – letting caution overcome desire. He had called his quarters small, but the room was three times as large as her rental unit above the bar back on Earth. Despite the amount of space, there really wasn’t much to see, just a very large, comfortable looking couch facing what she suspected was a type of television screen. Apparently, bachelors were the same throughout the universe. A loft covered the kitchen area and she could see a bed up there but when she looked around, there didn’t seem to be a way to reach it.

  “How do you get up to the loft?”

  He stepped away from the counter and spread his wings. They were enormous, easily twice as wide as he was tall, and with two quick beats, he rose to the loft. Oh my. Her traitorous pussy clenched. She had been vaguely aware of his wings surrounding them while she was going down on him, but she had been too preoccupied to pay much attention. Actually seeing them in action was awe inspiring.

  “Um. I don’t think that’s going to work for me.”

  Another quick flare of wings and he was on the ground in front of her. “I will carry you.”

  “Or I could just sleep down here,” she said breathlessly. With him standing in front of her like that, his wings still partially spread, her body hummed with desire. Her nipples were so hard they ached, her skin tight and oversensitive. Despite her better instincts, her eyes dropped down his body to where the glistening head of his cock pushed past the waistband of what was left of his pants.

  “You will take the bed,” he insisted, apparently more capable of carrying on a conversation than she was, despite his obvious arousal. Forcing her eyes to his face, she was struck again by the beauty of those emerald green eyes and the obvious tenderness in his expression. Her gaze flittered away, landing on his wings.

  “You...you don’t have feathers.”

  “I am not a bird,” he growled.

  “No, of course not. May I touch them?”

  “Of course.”

  He extended one wing in her direction and she touched it cautiously. Unlike the more leathery skin on his body, his wings were covered with a velvety down. “You’re so soft.”

  “Not as soft as you, my heart.”

  And they were back to her. Once again, she tried to turn the conversation. “Didn’t you say something about food?”

  “Of course. You must be hungry.”

  Actually, she was still satisfied from the contents of his basket, but she seized the opportunity for a distraction. “Yes. Let’s eat.”

  Dinner was surprisingly relaxed. Everything he fed her was quite palatable and he was an entertaining companion, with a quick wit hidden behind that impressive physique. Watching the two suns set over the image from his home world while he told her tales of her childhood made her feel as if she had been there with him.

  “Do you miss flying?” she asked, after one hilarious story involving an egg, five stones, and his cousin.

  “Yes. We train in the fight pit and there is room there to fly but it is not the same as the open air.”

  “So why did you leave?”

  He shifted, eyes looking out across the dark water to the small island, barely visible in the fading light. “My mother died and my father followed her. He could not live without his mate. I was alone. And it is a simple life. When the brokers came recruiting, I was ready for a change.”

  “Do you like it here?”

  “Yes. Lord Kievan can be harsh but he is fair. His rules are reasonable, and I like being in a position to enforce order. Plus, there is always something happening.”

  “Did you have a girl back home?” The question popped out before she had a chance to consider.

  “No.” Looking straight at her, his eyes seemed to glow. “I was waiting for the perfect female.”

  Despite her brain urging her to be cautious, she couldn’t suppress a happy little flutter in her
stomach. Ruthlessly suppressing it, she searched for a way to change the subject. Somewhat to her surprise, he took care of it.

  “What of your parents?”

  “My mother left when I was a teenager. It’s just been me and my dad ever since and I’m worried – ” Her words stopped in mid-sentence when she saw the look on his face. ‘What’s wrong?”

  “Your mother left? She left her child? She left her mate?”

  “Yes,” she said cautiously in the face of his obvious horror.

  “Earth women can do that?”

  “They can. But most of them don’t. Do Dhalgroll women never leave?”

  He looked appalled at the concept. “Never. We mate for life.”

  “Oh,” she said, unable to think of a more adequate response. Jumping to her feet, she started carrying their plates back to the kitchen. He followed more slowly, the troubled look still on his face.

  “You have mated before?” he asked, and the words sounded hollow.

  Sighing, she turned to face him. “If you mean, am I a virgin, no, I’m not.” The tips of his ears darkened. “If you mean, have I been married, the answer is also no.”

  “Ma’reed?”

  “Marriage is where you vow to love, honor, and cherish each other for the rest of your lives.” Somehow, she didn’t have the heart to tell him how frequently those vows were broken.

  “That is mating.” He nodded firmly, relief crossing his face. “I am glad that you are not ma’reed.”

  “Me too, my captain.” Her confusion over being attracted to an alien would be ten times worse if she had a husband to betray.

  “Your father is alone?”

  “Yes.” Tears threatened again but she pushed them back. “It’s not like I live at home anymore, but I go by and check on him every few weeks. He may not be the greatest father in the world, but I just wish I knew that he was ok.”

  Despite her best efforts, a tear slipped free. Mikaroz didn't say a word, just pulled her into his arms, surrounding her with warmth and the faint smell of cocoa. Her sorrow eased as she relaxed against the massive wall of his chest. His big naked chest. With a start, she realized that she was nuzzling her head between his pecs and contemplating licking one dark nipple.

  She jumped back and he immediately released her.

  “Um, do you have a shower I can use? A place to wash?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  A door to the right of the kitchen led into a large, white tiled room. He showed her how to operate all the features, disappearing briefly to return with a shirt that he bashfully offered her.

  “If you wish to change?”

  It was obviously one of his shirts, the upper back open to accommodate his wings, and about four times too large, but it was better than a slave gown.

  “Thanks, Mikaroz. Now, shoo. I don’t need your help in here.”

  “I could wash your back,” he offered, with such a combination of innocence and deviltry that she almost agreed to let him stay. Instead, she laughed and shook her head.

  “I’ll manage. Go on now.”

  Chapter Seven

  By the time Greta emerged from the bathroom, the window screen was almost completely dark, only a few twinkling stars lighting up the sky. The only other light came from a dim lamp which revealed Mikaroz slumped down on the couch, his weary posture showing his fatigue. A pang of guilt hit her hard. He had been working and fighting the whole time she was in her cell and then he had come and retrieved her, brought her here, fed her, and he hadn’t had a chance to rest.

  Walking up behind him, she slid a gentle hand down his smooth scalp. He tilted his head back and gave her a tired smile, his eyes heating as he studied her. The open back of his shirt came down to the top of her butt but the front covered her down to her knees. The lack of bare skin didn’t seem to dull his appreciation. His gaze stopped at her neck and he frowned.

  “Forgive me, dulzurra. I should have removed the collar sooner.”

  “You can take it off?”

  “Of course.” Before she could respond, he removed a small device from his pocket and pressed it to her collar. The metal parted and he tossed it to one side, before running a careful fingertip along her neck.

  “It has left a mark. I will get some healing gel.” Still stunned at how easily he had removed the horrible thing, she lifted her hand to her throat as he disappeared into the bathroom. Tears were trickling down her cheeks when he returned.

  “Dulzurra, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

  “No.” She managed to smile up at him. “I’m just so happy that it’s gone.”

  “Ah.” He nodded before spreading a cool green gel along the inflamed skin, the lingering soreness disappearing immediately. “Gods damned traders. These are intended for only the most uncontrollable animals, not delicate females.”

  “Well, it didn’t manage to control me.” She wiped her eyes and grinned up at him. “I killed that bastard before he could reach the control.”

  “You have the heart of a warrior, dulzurra.”

  “Never give up, never surrender.”

  “Exactly,” he said seriously.

  She shook her head and smiled. A wave of exhaustion swept over her as the events of the previous hours caught up with her and she yawned.

  “Time for bed, my captain.”

  “Yes,” he agreed. Before she could respond, he stood up in one of his lightning fast moves, then lifted her into his arms and flew her to the loft. The strength in his grasp and the fleeting sense of weightlessness as they left the ground sent a pleasant jolt through her system, and she could only stare at him when he dropped her gently on a large mattress.

  “Go to sleep, dulzurra.”

  “I told you that I would sleep downstairs.”

  “No. You will take the bed.”

  With a sigh, she looked around. It was a very large bed. Surely it wouldn’t be that hard to stay on opposite sides. Is that really what you want? a traitorous little voice whispered, but she ignored it.

  “This is silly. Why don’t we both sleep up here?”

  “You would allow that?”

  “Yes. This is just to sleep, right?”

  “Of course. Thank you for allowing me to share your bed. I will cleanse myself and return.”

  With a flutter of wings, he disappeared over the edge of the loft. Wow. Something about the combination of his huge body and those massive wings set off an ache low in her belly. Determined to ignore it, she snuggled into the pillow, but it smelled of him, of dark, rich chocolate, making her mouth water and her nipples tighten. Then she heard the water turn on and she could imagine him standing there naked, water flowing over each highly defined muscle, and the ache in her belly turned into a throbbing pulse. Perhaps if she was very quick, she could take care of her demanding pussy and eliminate the urge to jump him during the night. Her fingers had just reached the slippery warmth between her legs when the water stopped.

  With a guilty start, she yanked her hand back, turned on her side, and pretended to be asleep. Moments later she felt his weight land on the other side of the mattress. She froze but he didn’t reach for her. Neither did he sleep. Her clit ached and she longed to touch herself and relieve the tension but she wasn’t about to take the chance while he was awake. After what seemed like an eternity of small, restless movements from each of them, making it quite apparent that neither one of them was sleeping, she sighed and turned toward him.

  “If I make you uncomfortable, I’m still fine with sleeping on the couch.”

  “No,” he growled, and his deep, rumbling voice did nothing to ease her need. “It’s just that…”

  “Just what?”

  There was a long silence before he spoke. “What you did to me earlier…”

  “Yes?” she asked cautiously. Not that she was opposed to repeating the action, but it would only increase her growing need, and every drop of intuition she had told her that making love to Mikaroz would bind her to him in a way for which she was
not ready.

  “Do your males perform the same action with your females?”

  Surprised, she giggled. “Only the good ones.”

  “I see.” Before she realized what was happening, he had flipped her to her back and pushed up the shirt she was wearing.

  “Mikaroz, what are you doing?”

  “Being a good male,” he said seriously. “I can scent your need.”

  “But your tusks…”

  “I would never harm you.”

  Before she could protest again, he spread her legs apart, his head descended, and a wide velvety tongue stroked her from anus to clit. The power of speech deserted her. His tusks pressed against her, not hurting but holding her legs apart. Grunting impatiently, he used his fingers to part her folds, making it easier for him to reach every crevice as he licked her again and again. What he lacked in experience, he made up for in enthusiasm and her body began to quiver, searching for more. Each time his tongue caught her swollen clit, she shuddered.

  “Ah, you like it when I stroke this spot?” His tongue curled around the hard nub and tugged. Her whole body arched against him and there was a rush of air as his wings lifted.

  “Oh my god, yes. Do that again.” Doubts forgotten, she clutched his head, her fingers slipping over the smooth surface until she grasped his ears. He groaned and for a dreadful moment she thought she’d hurt him, but he resumed his activities with even greater enthusiasm and she realized that he enjoyed her touch. She tugged again, trying to direct him back to her clit but he was still exploring. When he dipped inside her pussy, she could actually feel his tongue swirling around the inside of the tight channel until he found another spot that made her arch and cry out. He hummed with satisfaction and the vibration felt incredible.

  “Please, Mikaroz.” Her breasts ached, and she raised her hands to them, tugging at her throbbing nipples in time to his strokes. His eyes lifted, and she could see them glowing in the dark room. With one hand he ripped the shirt open, humming again when her breasts were exposed. Her touch felt even better against her bare skin and her fingers moved frantically. He kept his gaze fixed on her busy hands as he finally returned to her swollen clit, licking and tugging it with his remarkable tongue while her body tensed. She was so close, she just needed… A large finger forced its way into her pussy and the thick intrusion sent her over. Her body bowed up from the bed as white lights exploded in her vision and waves of pleasures swept over her. Her ears rang and it took her a moment to realize that he had cried out as well.