Mated (The Sandaki Book 1) (7 page)

She kicked the thought aside and slowly climbed to her feet. Moisture ran down her legs, and she looked around for something to wipe herself with. The only thing she had was the strip of fabric she wore and she certainly wasn’t going to use that. She didn’t want to be totally naked in front of the man, which was stupid since she practically was anyway. Hell, she needed to go someplace quiet to think, to get control of herself. She didn’t know what to do now or what this person would do. She hated not being in control but hadn’t been since the Silarin kidnapped her. She looked back at the man who had just given her the greatest sex of her life. He stared at her, almost eating her up with his eyes. She shook her head; she did not need another complication.

Before she could speak, he pulled a cloth from his armor and proceeded to wipe her dry. She tried to stop the shiver but couldn’t help it as his hands roamed her body. He watched her as he cleaned between her legs. She gasped and clutched at his shoulder when another small orgasm rippled through her. If she didn’t get away from him, she was sure she’d drop to the floor and beg him to take her again.

“I’m leaving now,” she said, moving away without meeting his eye. She figured after the sex, she could at least say something to him. She doubted “thanks for the fuck” would go over real well, so just stuck with the first thought that came to mind, feeble as it was.

“You are correct,
talla
, we must go.” He carefully folded the kerchief he’d cleaned her with and tucked it away. Then he swept her into his arms and started from the room. His voice held a low growl that rubbed against her like fine silk. Damn, he probably could make her come again by talking alone.

“Go? Where? And my name isn’t tall-uh or whatever. It’s Laira. You can put me down. I can walk.” She squirmed in his arms, but he just tightened his hold on her.

“Laira.” Growling her name, he nuzzled the soft skin of her neck. “We are going back to my ship.
Talla
means mate’s heart in Sandaki. And I prefer to carry you.”

“What? Why? I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Because you are my mate, by right of claiming, and I refuse to let you go.”

Mate? What the fuck? “Wait a minute there, dude. I don’t even know you. Okay, I fucked you, but it’s not all my fault. I’m sure of it. Ever since I’ve been here…well whatever. Forget it. Just know I don’t normally let some guy screw me from behind, you know. Wait, that didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean fucking me in the butt, I meant…fuck, I have no idea what I meant.”

His eyes darkened. “
Talla
, soon you and I will know each other in every way possible. And you will scream with pleasure.”

Laira wondered what she had gotten herself into.

Rakin,
Taj Katan
of the Sandaki Empire, carried the flame-haired female who was now his mate. His body still hummed from the chase, and he longed to claim her again. Never before had a female made him feel the needs this small alien did. He told himself it was due to finding aliens within their system and capturing them; deep inside he knew this was not so. Only the hunt for a mate gave a Sandaki the rush he was feeling. He knew that it should not be possible an alien was his mate, but it was. She was his, and he would kill any who would dare touch her.

He breathed deep, drawing her scent into his body. She smelled ripe. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her hot sheath again. Unfortunately now was not the time. They would have to wait until they reached his quarters on the
Drakon Scaal
. It would have to be soon though, because he could not delay for long, and judging by his mate’s movements and scent, she could not either.

He found his Second-in-Command, Kavich, with three women. The three of them looked from him to the woman in his arms and scowled. Kavich quickly knelt before him, head bowed.

“What have you done to her?” a woman with ebony skin demanded. “If you have hurt her, we will make sure you pay.”

“She is my mate, and nothing about her is your concern,” he returned with a snarl.

“She is our friend,” a girl covered in blue scales returned. “So everything about her is our concern.”

Laira tried to struggle from his arms. “Knock it off. Dude, put me down. I can walk and talk for myself. I’m sick and tired of being man-handled.”

Rakin looked at the four women so obviously from different worlds. What were they doing aboard a Silarin ship? He had a feeling he knew, but wanted it confirmed before he wiped the vermin from his space.

“Tell me why you are with the Silarin.” He spoke to his mate as he eased her to the floor, ignoring the other women.

“Gosh, I just couldn’t resist the Silarin’s invite.” She rolled her eyes when she was finally on her feet. “What do you think? They kidnapped me, the fuckers. They kidnapped all of us.” She shook her head in disgust. “You just broke up their little auction, as much fun as it was.”

He scowled in anger. Scum like this had dared to enter his space. They would not live to regret it. He turned to the man who still knelt on the floor before him. “Kavich, make sure we rescue every slave and transport them to our ship. I also want all information from this vessel. After that, blow up this piece of junk with the Silarin in it. Have Hadron send a message to the Silarin home world to inform them if any more of their ships end up in our space we will invade in full force.”

“Yes,
Taj
.” Kavich slowly backed away, never once raising his head to look upon Rakin or his woman. To stare at either would have been to issue a challenge, and for that, Rakin would have killed him. No one challenged the
Taj Katan
of the Sandaki and lived.

“Wow, you don’t mess around, do you?”

He turned to find his
talla
watching him. He felt the urge to mount her once again just due to her eyes upon him. An involuntary growl escaped as she licked her lips. He could smell her heat and knew she would want the same. Unless she wished for him to take her here, in front of the Sandaki fleet, he had to get her back to his quarters. Now. He could not rein in the beast he carried for long. It would soon demand the connection to her.

He took her hand and moved off down the corridor, needing to find an open space in which to transport. Sounds from behind indicated the three women followed. Why hadn’t they gone with his Second? Would he be stuck with them forever?

“Dude, where are we going?”

“My name is not dude, it is Rakin, and we going back to my ship.”

“Okay, well you need to slow down. After all the shit that’s gone down today, I refuse to run anymore.”

“We are going with you.” One of the other women spoke up. “We are friends and stick together.”

His first inclination was to destroy this being who dared to speak to him. He stopped himself since obviously they knew his mate, and she liked them for some reason. He nodded. “Fine. You may follow, but keep up.”

The need in him to claim her again increased his footsteps, causing the women behind him to break into a trot. Once again, he stopped and pulled his mate into his arms. She squirmed and complained, but he didn’t want her to run. He started off again at a fast clip. He could hear the other women close behind, but did not slow. Either they would keep up or not. It made little difference to him.

Reaching a more open area, he stopped and settled his woman more comfortably in his arms. He then spoke without even looking at any of the out-of-breath women. “Touch my armor,” he ordered them.

Tentatively, they edged forward and placed hands on his arm. Nodding sharply, he spoke aloud. “
Krich ta
.” The air shimmered around them, and when it cleared, they were standing within his quarters on the battle cruiser,
Drakon Scaal
. The cabin was large and spacious, befitting one of the rulers of the Sandaki Empire. Ignoring the opulence of his surroundings, he carried his other half into his sleeping chambers to lay her on the bed.

She looked right sitting amid the rich fabrics woven on his home world. He knew she would look even better spread out under him as he drove his cock deep within her body. Rakin retracted his armor, leaving only a small square strapped to his back. He pulled it off and hung it on a hook by the bed. He began to shed the fabric shell he wore, but stopped at the indrawn breath behind him. He turned to find the three women staring at him. God’s teeth, would he have any peace?

“Haldise, come attend your
Taj
,” he demanded in a rough voice.

In a flash, a tall, fine-boned woman stood before him. She was dressed in flowing robes, her face obscured by a filmy hood. She bowed low. “How may I serve
Taj
Rakin?”

“Take these women, and get them food and clothing.”

“Yes,
Taj
.” The High Priestess bowed to leave, but hesitated. “You have found your heart mate.”

He nodded sharply. “Yes, among the slaves the Silarin were selling. I have claimed her as is my right. We are bringing all the slaves on board, so make sure they are all seen to.”

“What is to become of the Silarin vessel?”

“Destroyed.”

She nodded. “Before it is, may I go aboard? I want to see the ship.”

Rakin studied her closely. She never made an idle request, so obviously she was looking for something. “I will have Kavich escort you.”

“That is unnecessary,
Taj
,” she said, softly. “I do not want to pull your Second from his duties.”

“It is necessary, since you are important,” he countered. “You will have Kavich and a full armed escort, or you will not be allowed to leave this craft.”

“As you wish.” She bowed low. “We have much to speak of,
Taj
. Please summon me when you are unoccupied.”

He looked back over his shoulder to the nearly naked woman sprawled across his bed. If he were lucky, he might make it out of his quarters by the time the ship docked at the home world. She eyed him with a slight smile on her lips…or not.

“
Taj
, I would also council you to contact
Taj
Dev.”

The High Priestess would not meet his eye and he sensed the anxiety in her at the mention of his
Kalkan Arkadasi
—his shield mate. Dev did that to people, even when he wasn’t on the same ship. Hell, he could do that even when he wasn’t on the same planet.

“I will,
Preestrinna
. Now, leave me with my mate.” His fangs extended, the beast so close to the surface it rippled right under his skin.

She bowed and quickly ushered the women from his rooms. Turning, he found Laira leaning back on her elbows watching him intently. Her eyes, as richly purple as priceless
kozana
stones, entranced him. He wanted to cover her with his scent and fuck her until she could think of nothing but him filling her.

Laira watched as the man before her slowly stripped off his clothing. Her mouth watered at his broadly muscled shoulders and lean six-pack abs. Across the expanse of his chest was a black tattoo that made her think of the tribal tats back on Earth. The tattoo looked, to her, like two stylized dragons facing one another. They started at each of his shoulders and moved down his body, around his pecs, and finally ended right at his pelvis. She glanced down his body and found a cock large enough to choke a horse. Fuck, what the hell? The man was hung. She studied him. She knew his dick had fit earlier, maybe it hadn’t been this large. Whatever, while there was no way that thing was going to be comfortable in her body, at this point she was ready to try and take one for the team. It was the least she could do for the female species.

He brushed his dark brown hair over his shoulder and the beads danced and clacked together. She figured they probably meant something, but the size of his dick had chased the ability to talk right out of her. All she could do was lay dumb-founded and gape. She tried to gather her scattered thoughts and appear semi-intelligent. It was difficult with the large member staring at her.

She cleared her throat and pushed her hair from her face. “Who is
Taj
Dev?”

“He is my
Kalkan Arkadasi
.”

She had no clue what that meant, but decided to push on since this man was right in front of her. “Who the hell are you?”

He smiled, baring fangs. “I told you, I am Rakin,
Taj Katan
of the Sandaki, your master and mate.”

“Master? Mate?” She quirked an eyebrow. “Aren’t you getting a bit full of yourself?”

He gave a small smile. “Soon, mate, you will be full of me.” He lowered himself to the bed to crawl toward her.

She backed up from him. “Look, you’re really yummy to look at and everything. And I know I already had sex with you, but we don’t even know each other. Hell, I just found out your name, no offense, not like it means anything to me.”

“What would you like to know before I mount you?” He grabbed her ankle to pull her toward him.

“You’re not married or anything, right? Like, there’s not a Mrs. Katan waiting somewhere? Because, dude, I am so not doing that. I hate cheaters.”