Casey's Warriors (Bondmates) (34 page)

“Why would you kill yourself?”

His breathing increased until he was panting beneath her. “Because they took special pleasure from torturing Kadothian males and forcing them to breed. Only once a year do Kadothian males have viable sperm and they are kept alive until their fertile period is reached, though a male’s mind had broken well before that, throwing him into the madness. Matings between a Hive female and a Kadothian male produce stronger than normal Hive females so we had to do everything we could to make sure it does not happen.”

“Oh, God.”

“I was ready to move onto my next life, Casey, I swear I was, but before we could attack Commander Trenzent threw aside his weapon and stepped onto the field of battle alone. He bargained his life for ours.”

“What do you mean?”

“He would surrender to them, knowing what would happen to him, if they agreed to spare our lives. We tried to protest, but he ordered us to stand down. Commander Trenzent is sterile so he knew he could trade his life for ours and not weaken our cause. The Hive accepted his offer and…and…” his voice broke and she silently cried for him, shedding the tears she knew he wouldn’t. “We managed to rescue him before they could leave the planet but in the few hours they had him they had tortured him. Removed pieces of his body while keeping him alive. All they needed was his torso for breeding purposes back on their home planet. I can only thank the Lord of Life they did not have any of their torture masters with them.”

Her stomach lurched as she could all too easily imagine what had happened to the man. “Did he survive?”

A sudden surge of hard male pride burst from Nast. “He did. They may have taken parts of his body, but they did not break him. I have no idea how he managed to stay strong but he did. To this day he still fights the Hive but he kept the portions of his body that had been replaced with cyborg parts in their mechanical state as a reminder to everyone who sees him of the very real threat of the Hive. Some elements of our society have grown complacent living in peace and safety on Kadothia. It is as if to them the fighting that happens so far away is not real, merely a scary story to ensure the Kadothian males continue to rule the planet.” He gave a mirthless laugh. “Commander Trenzent’s body makes them uncomfortable because they cannot ignore the proof of the Hive’s evil.”

She rubbed her face against his chest, wiping her tears against the fabric of his shirt before she looked up at him. “Is that why you keep your scar?”

“Yes. Every Warrior who was there that day forbade the Healers from healing our most visible wounds fully so they would scar. We will never forget the sacrifice the Commander made for us.”

“He sounds like an amazing man.”

“He is.” Nast gave her a sad smile. “Do you think an Earth woman could look past his mechanical parts? Could she possibly love him even though he is no longer what you consider physically appealing?”

“Is he searching for a bride?”

“Yes. But…I fear for his chances. He has not been around women or civilization in a long time. And he scares people.”

She pasted on a big smile even as she tried to imagine a woman’s reaction to a man who was partially a machine try to seduce them. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll find his bride if she’s meant to be. I mean, the Lord of Life wouldn’t hook him up with someone who wasn’t meant for him, right?”

He gave her a disbelieving look then shook his head with a small smile. “If you are going to tell lies to make me feel better, close your side of the bond down first.”

“Oh…damn.” She lowered her head and peeked through her lashes at him, giving him the look that always made Lorn growl, needing to distract Nast from his painful past. “Forgot about that. I was wondering about something.”

His nostril’s flared and the green of his eyes darkened to emerald. “And what would that be?”

“What it will feel like when you make love to me.” She gave him another flirtatious look from beneath her lashes and enjoyed his desire burning away the sorrow.

Shifting beneath her, his erection pressed between her thighs. Lorn had relented and found some panties for her, but both he and Nast believed it was unnatural to cover herself like that. She was pretty sure it was just because they wanted as little clothing between her and them as possible. A decadent frisson of excitement raced through her as she met Nast’s gaze and licked her lower lip, teasing him.

“You are nothing but trouble when you look at me like that,
alyah
.”

Amusement mixed with lust completely replaced the anger and pain in Nast and she almost sighed with relief. Knowing someone hurt and feeling empathy for them was one thing, but to actually experience their pain put a whole new spin on how she saw the world. In some ways Nast was more fragile than Lorn. She had a feeling Nast didn’t have a lot of happiness in his life and from what she knew of his past she was surprised he had survived with his innate goodness intact.

While he might not have had much to be happy about in his past, he did now and she was going to make sure the rest of this trip was one he would remember fondly. Lorn had tipped her off that Nast enjoyed a bit of roughness with his sex, that he liked to play dominance and submission games. While she’d let a past boyfriend tie her up she’d never gone as far as for-real BDSM, but she had to admit the idea of letting Nast loose to do whatever he wanted to her was more than appealing. He was so hungry for her—and she had to admit she wanted him as well—but she also wanted to draw their desire out. For some reason teasing Nast really turned her on. Some kinky part of her psyche really liked the idea of driving this controlled man so wild that he would snap beneath the sexual tension.

A small shudder went through the ship and she looked up with alarm. “What was that?”

“We’ve entered the atmosphere of Kadothia. Only a few more minutes until we arrive at your new home.”

Their breath mingled as she leaned forward and brushed her lips over Nast’s firm mouth. “Nast?”

“Yes, Casey?”

His voice came out rough and strained, turning her on even more.

“When we get to
our
home, I have a proposal for you.”

Even if she hadn’t been partially bonded to him she would have felt his pleasure. “What is that?”

Feeling incredibly wanton she rocked her pussy over his hard cock, a soft moan escaping when he tilted his hips so he ground into her clit. “Oh God.”

“Casey, talk to me,” he chided in a soft voice all while continuing to slide her pussy over his leather-covered dick.

“I can’t, feels too good.”

“Yes, you can.” He moved one hand up and gripped her hair in a painful hold that only made her moan harder. “Mmm, you like some spice with your pleasure, don’t you?”

“She does,” Lorn said from somewhere behind her.

Embarrassment and a trace of guilt made her try to pull away, but Lorn moved behind her and braced her back, holding her on Nast’s lap. “No, Casey, do not move. I want to feel you enjoying Nast.”

Cupping her chin, Nast tilted her face up so she had to look at him. “Are you embarrassed to touch me?”

“No,” she said right away. “It’s just…having my husband walk in on me straddling another man is difficult to get used to.”

“Do not worry,
alyah
,” Lorn crooned, “I was aware the whole time. I felt what you felt, and it was hard to keep command of my voice and expression during my meeting with the head chef and grounds keeper of our home knowing that you were back here giving my blood brother pleasure. Not because I was jealous or angry, but because you were going to make me spill in my pants.”

The men chuckled while she flushed then Nast returned his grip to her hair. “Now, what was it you wanted to do when we get home? And do not lie to us, we will know and you will be punished.”

The hot flare of desire from both of them made her raise her eyebrows. “Punished how?”

Nast flashed his fangs at her and she shuddered. “Curious, little bride?”

“Very,” Lorn answered for her as he stroked her shoulders.

“Mmm, interesting. Now Casey, tell me what you want.”

“I would…well I’d like to watch you kiss each other.” The last words came out in an embarrassed whisper.

“Just kiss?” Lorn said with an amused smile.

She frowned at him, not liking how both men seemed to be laughing at her. “I’m sorry, but on Earth it’s kind of a big deal to ask my husband to kiss another man.”

“Shhh, Casey” Nast said in a soothing voice. “We would be honored to fulfill any desire you might have, and I will confess that kissing Lorn would be no hardship. Let us take care of you; be honest with us about your needs, and I promise you the rewards will be beyond anything you’ve ever imagined.”

Figuring this was a win-win situation she gave a wanton moan when Nast gripped one nipple between his fingers while Lorn tormented the other. Soon she was squirming between them, crying out as they twisted and pinched her sensitive nubs and making her desperate for a cock inside of her. Then they both stopped, leaving her straining and panting.

“Noooo….Why did you stop? Keep going...please.”

Lorn lifted her from Nast’s lap and gave her a toe-curling kiss before setting her on her feet. “I know you are shy about your desires in public. We have arrived on Kadothia and I thought you might want to meet your new household without scenting like sex. You will still smell of arousal because of your sweet, wet pussy but that is considered a good and normal way for a Matriarch that has just been bonded to smell.”

“Everyone can smell my pussy? Seriously? Shit, shoot me now.”

Laughing, Lorn tapped her nose gently with his finger. “It is not a bad thing, Casey. You are a Matriarch on Kadothia. The rules of your restrictive society no longer apply.

“Thank the Lord of Life,” Nast added as he stood next to Lorn and looked down at her, reminding her how tiny she was compared to them. “Sex is not taboo in our culture, but a natural part of living.”

Part of her wanted to reach out and grab their cocks and make them fuck her, but she was grateful for their sensitivity to her needs. “Thank you.”

They each took one of her hands and smiled down at her. Nast leaned down and gave her a quick, heated kiss before standing again. “Come on, Matriarch of House Westfall, it is time for you to meet your people.”

Chapter Sixteen

Casey pressed her hands against her eyes and took a deep breath, totally overwhelmed by the house…no, mansion…no, palace she now evidently owned. She’d spent the last three hours being shown around the massive residence that boasted four floors, three kitchens, and well over one hundred bedrooms. And that was just the inside of the place. She still had to tour the village attached to the manor as well as the fields and orchards that supported them. Then there was the fishing village farther down the river, beyond that some outlying villages that raised animals, and beyond that the people who chose to live in isolation and safety on her land. They were all under the protection of House Westfall. Shit. In a way she felt like she was back in the middle ages on Earth and suddenly found herself as part of a royal family.

She’d been shocked to see women among the servants, but Lorn and Nast explained to her that many people came to Kadothia seeking work or asylum. The planet was so massive that without the immigrants it would be a desolate place. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the concept that Kadothia was twenty-eight times as big Earth. On the ride to the home from the space port in a weird egg-shaped vehicle that floated off the ground, she caught glimpses of children playing in the village as they drove through it and had feebly waved back at the cheering reception she’d gotten everywhere they went. Lorn and Nast had found her bemusement funny, but she wasn’t sure how to process all of this.

The duties she would eventually take on were staggering and she would spend a portion of each day with her different advisors going over the estate and learning how it was run. She was the head of House Westfall now. How could she be expected to govern these people and tell them how to live their lives when she couldn’t even handle her own? Overwhelmed didn’t even begin to describe her state of mind at the moment.

As a result she shut down her end of the bond between the men with the excuse she needed to concentrate on her surroundings. Lorn and Nast had been understanding and solicitous as always, but she’d also noticed how reserved they were with the people who worked for them, or served them, or whatever. She’d felt like a child next to them as their experience and maturity gave them a social grace she totally lacked. More than one servant had gasped in shock and nearly fainted when she smiled at them or held out her hand for a handshake out of habit.

The more stressed out she’d become, the more Nast and Lorn hovered over her to the point where she closed her shields so only the tiniest hint of their presence remained in her soul. She knew it hurt their feelings, but she didn’t want them to think she was unhappy because of them. They’d obviously gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable, as had the servants and the members of the household, but everyone looked at her with something bordering on awe and she just didn’t know how to deal with it. The men had wanted to come with her but she’d asked them for some time alone to rest and they reluctantly agreed.

Now she was hiding in one of the bathrooms in the family wing of the manor while Nast and Lorn attended to some business in the stables, though she had no idea what the heck the stables actually housed. All she knew was that the building was really, really tall, at least four stories, and she was more than a little apprehensive at the roars and chirps coming from inside. The men offered her a tour but she pleaded exhaustion. Lorn had given her a concerned look but let her go with a brief kiss before she was escorted to the family wing by one of her guards. She could tell Nast wanted a kiss as well but she didn’t feel comfortable with everyone watching them. They’d been followed around by a dozen people during her tour and the way they all watched her like she was some kind of celebrity only added to her discomfort.