Chapter 2
Nina Marjorie Sinclair, GCFA Event Coordinator, tucked a loose strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. She stood in the corner of the banquet room with a sigh of relief. Another wedding planned, and once more it wasn’t hers. Normally her single status didn’t bother her, but lately she was feeling lonelier and lonelier.
Most of her friends were married with children. Her mother recently called with the name of another man she thought would be just perfect for Nina. And now, she had three weddings she had to plan after this one — all on board the GCFA ship.
This gig was the pinnacle of her event coordinating career. If she did these three events right, she would be able to write her own ticket with the GCFA. She was one-third of the way there already. The first wedding ceremony for the GCFA fighters Sersan and Ronin went off with hardly any problems. Sure, the flowers had to be dipped with the correct color the night before and she had to express order the special meal for the couple to accommodate both their exotic tastes, but those were just normal issues that come up during events like this one.
Normally she would have to worry that a family member or friend would drink too much and try to do something that would cause embarrassment to the couple. She was pleasantly surprised to find that all of the guests at this wedding were on their best behavior. The only one she kept her eye on was the brother — Esan. She had noticed a few times that Esan would hesitate or take a little longer than necessary to be where he was supposed to be. She chalked it up to him being a male and not caring about being on time for things, but there was darkness in his eyes that bothered her, like he was on the verge of an emotional outburst—or possibly about to commit murder. He had a dangerous vibe. Maybe she it was due to his species and her unfamiliarity with it. Reptans were not usually known for their emotional sides, yet he was only half Reptan, the other half the human.
Sersan and her brother Esan were the first Reptans or Reptan halfsies she had ever met. She expected them to have cold skin and scales all over their bodies. They did have scales on the sides of their scalps but they were mostly hidden when they brushed their hair down. No one would suspect they weren’t fully human just by looking at them, but when they spoke they exaggerated each s sound, making it almost sound like a hiss. That was because their tongues were slightly forked. As a full human, Nina couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a forked tongue or to kiss someone with a forked tongue, but Sersan’s mate Ronin didn’t seem to have any issues kissing her. Her thoughts were interrupted by one of the directors for the GCFA, Nigel.
“Excuse me, Nina, I wanted to tell you that you did an amazing job.”
“Thank you, Nigel. One down and two to go,” she said, smiling up at the very attractive male. His pregnant wife came over with a plate full of sweets. “Amelia, nice to see you.”
“Nina, you have done an amazing job with the wedding. Nigel, did you tell her what a good job she did?”
“Yes, I was just telling her that.”
“I can’t wait to see the next two.”
“You’re excited to enjoy the delicious food,” Nigel teased her as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
Amelia nudged him in the side with her elbow. “After being sick for the first few months of my pregnancy, I’m finally able to eat whatever I want without having to make a dash to the bathroom.”
Nigel chuckled then turned serious as he nuzzled her neck. “I’m relieved to see you eating without getting sick as well. I never want you in that position again. I felt so helpless.”
Amelia smiled as she winked at Nina. “That’s why women are the ones to carry babies instead of men. They can’t handle it.”
Nina laughed as she watched the couple tease each other. The two were obviously in love and happy about expanding their family. Another twinge of loneliness hit her. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on a few last-minute details for the honeymoon suite.”
She quickly moved away, heading toward the door of the ballroom. She stopped at the door and glanced around the room. Everyone was dancing and having a good time. Her staff would take care of the cleanup after the last guest left. She had one more thing to do, then she would be able to head to her own suite to get some rest.
After she got on the lift, she scanned her security ID and pressed the button for the floor where the honeymoon suite was located. The GCFA ship had multiple levels with restaurants, bars, a large gym for the GCFA players to practice, suites where many of the players lived, and suites in which visitors stayed. It also had offices and conference rooms and catered to many venues. Sersan and Ronin lived in a suite on the reserved GCFA floors but they would be spending their first night as a married couple in the honeymoon suite.
As the event coordinator she had access to the honeymoon suite so that she could come in and give a final look before the couple came up. She scanned her ID over the keypass unlocking the door. The room was dark but once the computerized environmental settings recognized her presence the room lit up, becoming very bright.
“Computer, light the room with candlelight.” As soon as she finished speaking, the room dimmed with flickering light shining against the walls. The ambiance imitated candles lit around the room, giving it a romantic glow. “Keep this lighting setting until told otherwise.”
She began walking around the room, inspecting it. A cart in the corner of the room was keeping fruit and cheese and a bottle of champagne chilled. She moved the pillows around on the bed and pulled the covers down a little. Walking over to the wall panel, she looked through the three-dimensional background murals and picked one showing a jungle. The murals came with sound, and she chose a soft lilting of birds. Done. All she needed to do now was check the bathroom for bubble bath then she could — she gasped as someone grabbed her from behind.
“Who are you?” a deep male voice asked, squeezing her bare arms a little tightly.
“Nina Sinclair. Who the hell are you?” She tried to turn around and get a look at the man holding her but she couldn’t see him because he pulled her even more tightly against his chest, then wrapped a large muscular arm around her waist. She was held so rigidly she wasn’t able to get much air in.
“Be ssstill and anssswer my quessstionsss. Why are you here, Nina Sssinclair?”
“I — can’t — breathe.”
“Anssswer me!”
“I’m ... coordinator. My job…”
He eased up his hold, allowing her to breathe. “You’re what?”
“The event coordinator, Nina Sinclair.”
Finally, he released her and she turned to yell at him only to be struck silent for a moment. It wasn’t a perpetrator but Sersan’s older brother. “What in the hell are you doing attacking me like that?”
Esan crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly. “Why were you sssneaking around in a poorly lit room?”
“I came up to make sure the honeymoon suite was ready for Sersan and Ronin. Why the hell are you here?”
“I wasss leaving a traditional Reptan mating ceremonial gift.”
“There are several tables in the ballroom where the gifts for the couple are to be left.”
“Thisss isss ssspecial.”
She crossed her own arms over her chest, lifting her ample bosom. “What is it?”
Esan ignored her question and picked up a box that was the size of a shoe box and placed it on the end of the bed. “Thisss isss for Sssersssan and isss none of your busssinesss.”
Her phone vibrated, letting her know she had a message. She glanced down and frowned. “We need to leave. Sersan and Ronin have left the ballroom early.”
“After you,” Esan motioned for her to go ahead of him toward the door.
Nina opened it and started to walk out into the hallway but froze. Esan had closed the door and ended up bumping into her. “What’sss going on?”
“Shhh! I think they’re getting off the elevator. We need to hide.” Nina grabbed his arm and started to pull him down the hall to an alcove.
“I don’t sssee the need to hide,” Esan stated.
“Shhh..” Nina placed her hand over his mouth. She leaned close to his ear to whisper, “If I saw my brother standing outside my honeymoon suite, it would totally kill the mood.”
“Really?” Esan looked way to pleased about the idea of interrupting the honeymoon. She would not let that happen. She had to distract him and do it quickly, because she heard Sersan giggling as they approached their suite.
Just as Esan began to move away as if he were going to step out into the hallway, Nina reached for the lapels of his suit and pulled him down to her and kissed him. She expected it to shock him and that he would push her away. What she didn’t expect was that he would kiss her back.
*****
Esan was surprised at the boldness of the curvy female, but also pleased. He claimed her plump lips in a deeper kiss, coaxing her to open up to him. As she did, he entered her and dueled with her tongue until she gave in to him. She moaned sweetly against his lips. The spark that lit up the moment she touched him suddenly turned into bright flames. Those flames traveled down his spine and settled in his cock, which was hard and ready for business. Never before had a kiss done this to him, making him lose control. At least he wasn’t the only one affected.
When he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up his body, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He liked the feel of her against him; the taste of her was addictive. He nearly growled with desire when she grabbed his hair with her hands. He could feel her nipples through their clothing, and her breasts felt heavy. He loved how she was so ... substantial. He normally went for tall or very muscular females. Nina was sweet and soft and he couldn’t get enough of her.
Plunging his tongue deep inside her mouth he stroked in and out, taking her mouth as he wanted to take her body. His forked tongue split and he double his strokes. She was the one that made a growling sound when he lifted her up by her lovely plump backside. Forgotten was the fact that they were but a few feet away from his sister’s honeymoon suite or that they were in a hallway where anyone could walk by and see them. He wanted her so badly that his hands trembled as he explored her figure. She didn’t seemed bother by the difference with his tongue or feared the way he pressed her back agains they wall so that he could have better access to her. She wanted him as much as he wanted her in that moment and he knew that she would not have put up any resistance if he had his way with her right then and there. As hot as that would be, he didn’t want to put on a show for everyone else. Reluctantly, he lowered her to her feet and held on long enough to steady her. She was swaying a bit. He felt a little light headed himself which was a first for him.
“I think the…coassst isss clear. Thank you for your ssservicesss rendered.” He chose to walk away before he gave in to his instincts and took her back into his arms. That female, a small curvy human, was unsettling. Nina had gotten him to almost completely lose his self-control and that was unacceptable.
*****
What the hell just happened? Nina asked herself as she watched the infuriating but sexy male walk away. What an ass … he has the most amazing one ever. Shit! Get it together, Sinclair. He’s not the first man you’ve ever kissed. He wasn’t, but there was something about Esan’s brooding manner that made her want to ruffle his feathers. That kiss of his, his tongue splitting had her panties wet. This was no good. She didn’t know the guy, didn’t even think the guy liked her. At least she wouldn’t have to face him again after tonight.