Alien General's Fated: SciFi Alien Romance (Brion Brides) (15 page)

Aria was ready to apologize when Ryden shook his head.

"No," he said. "I meant I never should have let you be taken to him."

She had no words with which to answer that, but Ryden didn't seem to expect any. The general left her to get Ilotra up and running again. And Aria kept feeling a terrible sense of loneliness every time he went away that she'd never felt before. It was like a part of her was missing and only his presence filled the void.

She worked until she was ready to fall asleep standing. Some functionality was restored. Every console had someone behind it who basically knew what they were doing, as long as they remained in their fixed position. Aria wondered if that was what Ryden felt like all the time, overseeing something so huge that it could scarcely be comprehended.

A warrior who had been following her the entire day approached her. Joya was a female warrior, tall and stern. It amused Aria a bit, since a part of her was sure the general hadn't appointed her a male warrior because he didn't want her around other men.

She'd noticed that when she spoke to a man, Ryden's eyes narrowed. It was endearing, in a way. It was also entirely frustrating, but that was another matter completely.

"Yes, Joya?" she asked, trying to fight back a yawn and failing.

"You should sleep," the warrior said.

Oh, sleep. Sleep sounds nice. I'll sleep when I'm dead.

Out loud, Aria said: "I can't. There is still so much to do."

"If you're this tired, you're doing more harm than good."

Joya's bedside manner could have been better, Aria figured, but she couldn't deny the warrior had a point. Considering what was at stake, she couldn't allow mistakes. Perhaps a little rest might do her good?

"I should tell the general," she said.

Joya shook her head. "The general is aware you are human and you need more rest than we do. He would approve, I'm sure. I'll alert you've left the center right away."

"Why?" Aria asked. "If you think he'd agree, there is no need to bother him. I'll be back in a few hours."

The warrior woman shook her head. She had a wave of dark brown hair, cascading over her shoulders, moving like the ocean when she did so.

"The general ordered me to keep him updated at all times about you," she said. "No exceptions."

Aria didn't respond to that, but she couldn't get the words out of her mind. So even in the middle of running a whole fortress, Ryden still insisted on keeping tabs on her. She didn't know what to make of that, other than the obvious. It was clear the general wanted her safe. And probably not just that. It was getting harder by the hour to deny him the wish she shared.

Aria let Joya lead her back to her rooms. After the martial law and house arrests, Ilotra seemed almost deserted. The corridors usually bubbling with life were empty and cold. On the other hand, everything that moved was under strict control. All of the ambassador's quarters had their elite guards watching out for any sign of the enemy. The news of the massacre had traveled around fast.

I bet they're glad to stay in their rooms now. Not that any of them would ever admit that. Ungrateful bastards.

Joya let her in and remained close by in case she wanted to go back. For a second, Aria considered dropping by Sota's rooms and giving him a piece of her mind, but that could wait. Rest was what she needed.

But Aria couldn't sleep either. As soon as she set her head down on a pillow, she was instantly awake, thinking of consoles and defense arrays and weapons and... No, there was no relaxation in sleep, it seemed.

She drew a bath for herself. Warm water enveloped her, washing even the tense last days from her mind. Her body took in the heat, the hot water having its usual calming effect on her as it drew the chill of exhaustion from her bones.

Aria rested her head against the wall, not moving. She liked staying so still the water no longer moved. It was a child-like play, but she enjoyed it. The game focused her mind, but it didn't burden it. Exactly what she needed.

History repeated itself when the attendant came to call her, telling Aria she had a visitor. She asked no questions this time, because it was clear enough.

Aria got out of the bath, pulling a robe on loosely. It was funny, in a way. For long days she'd doubted if she really wanted him that much, if she was prepared to give in to him barely a week after meeting the man. But in the heat of the moment, the decision was made for her and she let the current drag her along.

She'd nearly died. Not once, but three times during the past week Aria had stared a very possible death in the face. She hadn't liked any of them; they made her crave for something real and warm and true. Ryden's words had scared her the last time, but being near the general made it seem like his view of the world was contagious somehow.

What he'd said about making memories, getting to enjoy something good before the danger... Aria wanted it, wanted it badly with all the passion in the world. She'd tried to block the general out from her mind, but it simply wasn't working. Even when she was sitting in that damn cell, her mind kept wandering back to him first and foremost.

She found him waiting as he had before. Only this time, there was no intimidating approach, no nothing.

"I came to see if you were all right," Ryden said.

She could see his eyes traveling across her barely covered body. Only this time, Aria was presenting herself on purpose. His voice betrayed the edge of lust, but he remained standing where he was.

"I am, thank you," Aria said, her own voice shaking a bit.

They said before a person died, they regretted not doing the things they had wanted to the most. Looking at Ryden, Aria knew what she wanted.

"You're taking your rest, I see," the general said. "I will not disturb you."

She had made her decision, but Aria was still surprised when she heard her own voice say, so quietly she could barely hear it:

"You could join me."

Ryden heard it too, bless that warrior hearing. For a moment he searched her eyes for any trick and then the grin was back on his lips, feral desire in his eyes. Aria retreated into her rooms and the general followed. The doors had barely slid closed when Aria felt the robe pushed off over her shoulders to fall before her feet.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Aria

 

I can't believe it's really happening. It's really happening.

Aria's thoughts were tumbling all over each other, trying to maintain some semblance of control. Her mind knew it was futile, at least. Her body was acting purely out of instinct and desire; giving in to Ryden felt like the most natural thing to ever happen.

She couldn't deny she wanted it to happen, wanted it so badly it ached not to be touched by him. Aria had never felt such blinding desire, the kind that refused to listen to logic or modesty or anything resembling decency. All it wanted was to let the general fuck her until she screamed. It was so sudden and sharp a part of her wondered if it was a trick of some kind.

In the heat of the moment, it seemed much simpler to push all her concerns away and let Ryden's amazing, strong hands steal the robe off her body and stand there, naked before his gaze.

Instinctively, Aria tried to cover up again, reason distracting her from her desire, but the general caught her hands before she could do that. He kept them gently but firmly spread apart, making her feel like a sacrificial virgin inspected by a warrior god. It was close, but Aria wasn't exactly a blushing virgin, even if she still felt heat coloring her cheeks red like a schoolgirl.

She was comfortable with her body, had always been, but Aria felt every woman would have been a tad self-conscious about being watched like
that
. The general hadn't even blinked since he let the robe drop to the floor. He was taking in every inch of her skin until he finally lifted his gaze back to her eyes.

The magnitude of emotion Aria saw there took her breath away. There was no doubt left in her mind that the general definitely liked what he saw. She only got a moment to gather her senses before Ryden scooped her up in his arms and turned toward the bathroom.

Oh God, I'm going to be fucked like a war trophy
, Aria thought, carried in his strong grip.

She found that she didn't mind the idea at all. Ryden was still dressed in his full armor, but she could hear his breathing growing quicker. His fingers slid over her flesh, even the smallest touch impossible to resist. Aria swallowed. The rational part of her was screaming that she had no idea what she was getting into.

A very unwelcome part said that she owed Sota an apology for the slap she'd dealt him before.

The bathroom was steaming hot when Ryden put her down again. It was her favorite thing about her quarters. Everything else was tiny and cramped, a necessity of so many people living on a
single tiny moon
, but she'd asked for this small luxury. The bath was cut right into the floor, big enough to swim a few strokes if she wanted. It was deep and filled to the brink with steaming hot water. She had been relaxing like she'd intended, but now—

Aria turned to see Ryden unclasping his armor, his eyes never leaving her naked form. The maddening, seductive smirk on his lips was a perpetual presence now. She didn't doubt he could read her desire for him loud and clear; that was why he'd been so insistent. The bastard
knew
there wasn't a single inch of her that wanted to say no.

Aria slipped back into the warm water, cold without her robe as she watched Ryden rip off his armor. When the general set the final chest piece aside, her mouth fell open.

Sure, she'd read and heard about the Brion men. Perfect warriors, trained from when they were children like in ancient Sparta, genetically gifted to grow better, stronger, and faster than even the other Brions. So it was natural that they were in great shape. As Aria found, knowing something theoretically and seeing it were two entirely different things.

General Ryden was divine. Aria had no doubt that there were some gods out there who were jealous of that body. His tall frame was perfect to the point of it being ridiculous how good it looked. Strong, lean muscles gleaming in the steam, tight under his skin.

Every time the general moved, his deep green eyes never leaving Aria's, his amazing body showed off effortless strength. His arms were solid and firm, his biceps so thick he could barely cross his arms in front of his washboard chest and stomach.

Aria stared, because it was impossible not to do so. She couldn't believe a man like that existed. Much less that he was in her bathroom. With her. Naked.

Fuck, this is either my best or my worst idea. Maybe both. Definitely the sexiest.

She actually let out a startled gasp when the general stood naked before her. He stopped for a moment before getting in the water. Possibly—probably—so she could get a good look at him. Aria had several snappy comments about that sort of arrogance, but damn, he had something to be so proud of.

His legs were as muscled as his arms and the rest of him, but Aria's eyes were fixed on his cock. She knew she was shamelessly ogling, but there was no helping it.

His cock was
huge
, already fully hard, thick and long between his legs. Aria had never even seen a cock that big, let alone been fucked by one. So she had no idea why her mouth was watering, why she suddenly longed to see how much of it she could fit into her mouth. And to hear what Ryden's groans sounded like.

The general remained silent. He got into the water with her, somehow sliding into the bath without disturbing the water. Aria would have been impressed as hell if she hadn't been so turned on. Some of the heat she felt had to be the temperature in the room, right? Right?

She doubted it. When Ryden pushed her against the bath wall, his huge cock pressing against her belly, Aria knew she was hopelessly lost. There was no way she could say no to Ryden, no way she could ever
tire
of the way his hands grabbed, groped her body, pulling her more tightly against him.

Small sounds were the only form of communication left to her. Forming words seemed like a very complicated and unnecessary thing to do when she could be kissing him, feeling the heat envelop them both. She felt him grow even harder, throbbing in anticipation.

Honestly, she wasn't sure if all the water and her wetness would help her take a cock that huge. Ryden would rip her in two, but even that didn't bother her. She was on another plane of ecstasy, caught in the general's arms, letting his hands map and touch her body wherever he wanted.

When he slipped a finger inside her, Aria moaned long and loud. It felt
so good
, the first finger quickly joined by the second. The general expertly scissored them inside her, stretching her pussy open for him. Looking up, Aria saw deep desire in his eyes, burning with a passion that both excited and terrified her. His lips were parted, his breathing uneven. The general's strong, powerful body was heaving against hers, keeping her securely in his embrace.

Aria had never considered fear to be an aphrodisiac, but there she was proven wrong all over again. Seeing Ryden like that, away from the public eye, freed from his armor and his control, she wondered if she was seeing the real him. The man before her wasn't the one who had saved her life, not even the one giving commands. It was a beast of a man, a force of nature unleashed upon her, unstoppable and dangerous.

She moaned, pleading with her eyes, because her voice was betraying her. Somewhere deep inside her, desire raged. A desperate, shameless
need
to be taken, to be claimed. She wanted to submit, be fucked by that man over and over again as long as he wanted her. Aria felt her orgasm approaching, his fingers knowing exactly what to do with her, recognizing the tumbling, ravenous desire of being so close to the edge.

Everything made sense in that moment, everything was allowed. If Ryden had asked her to leave it all behind and come with him to live on Briolina as his to use whenever he pleased—she would have.