CHAPTER NINE

York

 

Several days later filled with an insatiable combination of fucking and lovemaking, Azan and I are finally ready to leave the room. He hasn’t asked me to stay with him yet, so I’m hardly surprised when he takes me back to the Gathering Room, and others stand fidgeting, waiting to see what’s going on. Hujun narrows his eyes at first but looks pleased when I loop my arm through Azan’s.

“We thought you were dead.” He’s probably teasing, but his voice doesn’t dip or rise at all. I can’t tell how much of a sense of humor the ugly one has, but Ellis looks downright charmed standing next to him.

I look up at Azan, wishing we could go back to his room.

I don’t want our time to end yet.

“I am to assume you have Chosen this one?” Hujun asks, arching a thick eyebrow.

Azan nods once, saying no more, and Ellis leaves Hujun’s side to stand beside me.

“Then what are you doing here?” she asks.

“I… uh…” I shift nervously, unsure how to answer. Does Azan need to talk to Korben about inviting me to stay in his room also? Couldn’t they have covered that possibility earlier? Blythe doesn’t stay in the Gathering Room now that she’s with Korben, so why can’t I share a room with Azan? I look up at him, but he’s already brushing thick fingers against my sweaty back.

I should shower.

I never thought to ask while we were pleasuring each other in the blankets.

I probably smell like sex which means a delectable combination of warm, rainy days, and Christmas.

“Your brother wanted to talk to you,” Hujun says, dipping his chin low. Maybe he’s trying to find a reason to separate us, and I’m stung by this. I’m not sure if I like Hujun, but he obviously has a soft spot for Ellis, and I can’t say that doesn’t win him some popularity points in my book. Ellis is tiny, and it would only take someone pushy like Dolan to think he can have his way with her. The fact that one of the largest and ugliest Sidyths keeps an eye on her gives me a reason to like him a little bit.

That doesn’t mean I like Azan leaving my side and dropping me off like a ten-dollar whore, though technically, I still am.

“I will be back,” Azan says in a low voice, probably uncomfortable with all the eyes watching him warily.

Sloane and Kansas stand next to each other, and surprisingly Alaska’s nowhere in sight. The work out twins are in the corner, talking in hushed voices and paying no attention to anyone else, but that’s nothing new.

“I must talk to Dolan.”

“Of course,” I grumble, not wanting to come across as a needy bitch because I’ve Chosen a Sidyth as a mate.

Still, I’m lonely when his massive frame retreats, and I’m left back in the room where this whole assignment started.

“Dolan’s having problems,” Ellis whispers once Azan’s out of earshot. “He keeps bothering Layla, but she’s not interested. I guess he thinks if his brother can find a mate, then he must have some tips on winning one over for himself.”

“He could try some tact,” Hujun rumbles. “Nothing is less attractive than arrogance.”

My eyes widen up at the massive Sidyth.

He’s not wrong, but it’s odd to hear a Sidyth say something so profound.

Several more Sidyths wander down to the Gathering Room after a while, and I can’t help but wonder if the timing is coincidental. They look at me as though there’s something hanging between my legs, and then I remember they can smell my arousal. They want to know what magic Azan performed for me to choose him.

One of the most beautiful Sidyths I’ve seen so far seems to be the most interested in catching my attention, and Ellis whispers that his name is Exer. Apparently, he doesn’t come to the Gathering Room often because he likes to be alone, but when he comes come here, it’s only to talk to Sloane.

“When Layla’s not hounding him for attention.”

She starts to point out a few of the others who have been hanging around, other than Dolan, and I can’t help but notice Taylis – the grumpy looking one – is missing from the room as well. Ellis shrugs it off, but I’m pretty sure there’s something she’s not telling me, and I let it go, for the time being, happy to see most of the girls again. Kansas seems to be dealing with a Sidyth problem of her own, narrowing her eyes at one as he kneels before her like Azan did a few days ago.

“They think that’s the way to get a mate.” Ellis rolls her eyes.

“They’re all coming down here and getting down on one knee?” Ellis nods, and the thought makes me smile.

“Any takers?”

She giggles. “Not exactly. I feel bad for Azan’s little brother though. My God, he made such a fool of himself. And when she rejected him? He started blathering about how we should be grateful for any sort of attention. It’s like seriously dude? You think that’s going to get you a girl?”

Hujun leans into our conversation as I start to laugh. “Dolan has much to learn about women. All women.” He lands a smoldering gaze down towards Ellis, and she flushes, looking down at her bare feet. I can’t imagine she finds him that attractive, but who am I to judge when I’m mated to a poisonous one?

Conversation lulls for a few hours similar to this, and I can’t help but become more and more disappointed that Azan hasn’t come back yet. I’ve showered, and my hair looks pretty fierce considering I’ve showered under a bag with holes punched through it. Would have been nice to have someone to show it off to.

Ellis and Hujun are still standing around the front opening, either because Hujun’s too nervous to take Ellis back to his room, or because she’s already rejected him.

Some of the others are talking to me – even the workout twins seem interested – but pussy pillow chat seems like such mindless chatter now. Back in Azan’s lair, back in his cave, things were so private and quiet. I miss it a lot. Absently, I wonder if I can have some books delivered here with Korben’s connections. I imagine sitting in Azan’s tiny little cave, nestled between his legs as he rests his chin on my head, and I read out loud. Rain falls gently beyond the mouth of the cave, and it’s such a beautiful image. I sigh loudly, hardly noticing if I’ve offended anyone.

“Girl, you got it bad,” Devyn says, shaking her head.

“I don’t have anything.”

“You’re as starry-eyed as Blythe now,” Rene says. “Falling for one of these big guys is like a drug. I can’t help but wonder if there’s some pheromone thing at work here.”

I scoff. “I don’t think pheromones have anything to do with anything.”

“Please,” Rene continues. “My mom watched Sex and the City growing up, and some old chick said we’re all animals, humping the air to find each other’s smell.”

“That’s not how the saying goes,” Devyn grumbles.

“Whichever, you all get the idea.”

I sigh again as they argue, still wondering what it would be like to live with Azan. Not only sharing his private lair but going out to that little cave at night. The scent and sound of rain are something I’m longing for almost as much as him right now, and I can’t help but shame myself. It’s barely been a few hours. Maybe the workout twins are right. Maybe my attraction for Azan does have something to do with pheromones.

I pout, and eventually, the others circle around like we used to do a few weeks ago, and I’m still bitter that Blythe isn’t here and Alaska’s missing. Ellis stays at the door, but I can tell she’s listening in.

“So.” I try not to sound as bored and lonely as I feel. “It’s just Blythe and me so far?”

They all exchange glances with one another.

“What? What aren’t you guys telling me?”

“Dolan wants me to choose him,” Layla says. “I’m not interested, you know? Is that a crime?”

“He’s coming across as too needy?” I guess.

“Hardly. He thinks I should be needy for him.” She starts to chew on her full lower lip. It’s incredibly sexual considering she has the face of a teenager. “Besides, I think the other one is cute. He doesn’t look like an alien.”

Sloane’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything. I can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with Exer. Oh shiza, we’re going to have a love triangle on our hands, and it’s sad because the first thought I have is that I don’t want to be in the Gathering Room when the shit hits the fan. But I can’t ask Azan to let me stay in his room. I’ve already taken his virginity. Do I want to take away his bachelor status too because I don’t want to do girl talk every night anymore?

How does one take a bachelor status away from an alien anyway?

“Dakota comes from time to time,” Sloane says, frowning when Kansas shoots her a look. “Arizona and she are still staying at the other lair, but Dakota comes to see Cade.” She lowers her voice. “For pleasure.”

My eyes widen. “Just pleasure?”

“Not all of us are looking to fall in love,” Kansas snaps. “Some of us are looking to have a good time.”

Right. I try not to look weirded out by the idea of fucking exiled Sidyths for pleasure. For years, that’s all I’ve done, and now I’m getting super judgmental. Not cool, York. I continue to glance around, realizing that someone else has also gone missing from our group and turn towards Ellis.

“Where’s Celeste?”

She smiles from across the room. “She’s at the lair opening. With Glykoran.”

Glykoran. Ahh, the older one with the white man bun who let me out of the lair a few days ago without so much as a batted eye. That would be an interesting development.

Rene and Devyn (the workout twins) don’t have much to offer, and Aoi, Krista, and Rhyan sit in on the conversation, not participating. And though Phoebe’s with us in the first lair now, she’s quiet. Most of the girls who were lodged in the second lair aren’t here, so they’re either there because they want to stay, or they don’t want to come here.

I turn towards the hottest chick on our assignment – Lacey – and wave awkwardly.

She waves back, frowning.

“What about you? You… uh… you find anyone?” The question sounds forced and awkward on my tongue, but I don’t want Lacey to feel like she doesn’t belong even if she’s using every trick in the book to keep herself separated from the rest of us. I still can’t get over how fucking pretty she is, but she never smiles, and her eyes are downright cruel as she purses her lips.

I guess she doesn’t want to say anything.

What-the-fuck-ever.

I put on a fake smile. “I guess things haven’t been too bad the last few days. Has anyone seen Blythe?”

“She never leaves Korben’s room,” Layla says. “Maybe the prince knocked her up.”

I laugh. Layla’s not the brightest bulb on the chandelier, but that’s plain stupid. “We haven’t been here for a whole month, Layla,” I say, explaining as patiently and slowly as I can manage without laughing. “Blythe’s not pregnant.”

“She’s been sick the past few days. Korben’s with her all the time.”

This catches my attention. “Seriously? You don’t think she ate anything weird, do you?”

“I’m telling you, she might be pregnant.” Poor Layla, she sounds so sure of herself. “I think Korben’s going to tell the next delivery guy to send some information about human doctors and anatomy.”

Some of the others nod, but I can’t bring myself to take anything they say too seriously. Still, I’m a bit fascinated. I’ve seen shows about chicks getting knocked up on the first try – it made them famous – but an alien’s baby? Seems impossible for one of these guys to knock us up within the first month.

“Why does he wear a mask?” Sloane asks, breaking my concentration. Some of the girls who were talking, stop to listen. “None of us could figure it out, and Hujun won’t tell us. We were hoping you would.”

“Are his fangs too big?” Layla asks. “Is that why? Is it like having too big a dick? Is he embarrassed?”

“No.” I don’t mean to sound rude, but this conversation is fucking ridiculous. I don’t want them to know why Azan wears the mask. One, I don’t like the idea of sharing a secret that isn’t mine to tell, and two, I don’t want the other girls to judge him because he’s poisonous. I would hate to see the look of fear on Layla’s baby face every time Azan comes around because she worries he’ll hurt her… or me.

I don’t care about the risk. I don’t care that carrying Azan’s child could kill me.

I like different, and I love him.

I still miss him like crazy. When the hell is he coming back? I hope he’s not going to leave me here for the night.

“It’s obvious he wears it for a reason,” Kansas says, frowning in my direction. “Whether you want to tell us or not, it can’t be good. I hope it’s nothing too dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Sloane squeaks.

“It’s not dangerous.”

“Whatever.” Kansas rolls her eyes, stands, and retreats to a private corner of the room, probably already bored by our conversation. I can’t blame her.

Hell, I’m starting to get bored.

“Hey, York! Your hubby’s back,” Ellis calls from the doorway, and I immediately stand, happy to find Azan standing in the doorway. He looks uncomfortable at first, and I rush towards him, happy to have an excuse to leave this damn room—

“I wanted to say goodnight,” Azan says, holding me at arm’s length.

“Wait, what? You’re not taking me with you?” I can hardly hide the shock on my face, and I swear one of the girls laughs at me.

Rejected by the masked one, that’s got to be a life low for me.

Azan looks puzzled though, and it’s a little annoying. I pull away and put my hands on my hips, glaring up at him with as much confidence as one can look at a seven-foot-tall muscled alien.

“You do not wish to stay with the other women?” he asks.

I glance over my shoulder. I don’t want to make it seem like I don’t enjoy hanging out with Kansas, the workout twins, or Lacey the bitch, but no. I don’t want to stay with the other women.

“I thought you dropped me off to talk to your brother,” I say in a low voice, hoping no one’s eavesdropping. I grab Azan by the arm anyway and lead him out of the doorway, so people don’t try to listen. “I wasn’t aware you wanted me to stay here for the rest of the night.”

“I thought perhaps you had grown tired of me. I didn’t want you to think I was keeping you from the others.”

“You’re not keeping me,” I hiss, angry he’s losing his confidence.

Ellis and Hujun aren’t paying attention, and the halls are clear, so I reach out and grab his dick, stroking it a few times. He crumples, lowering his face close enough that I’m able to grab it and press the tip of my nose against his. “Does a woman who’s sick of you stroke your dick like this?”

He swallows hard. “No.”

“Take me back to your room. Our room.” Azan stumbles back a few feet, already growing hard.

“Our room,” he breaths, and there’s a trace of excitement in his voice. “You heard me…”

Turns out, I can’t wait until then. I take his length between my fingers and back him into the nearest open space.

“This… this isn’t my room…” he stammers.

“I can’t wait.” I plant my hand against his firm chest, so he doesn’t try to move me. I’m greedy with need, and I’ve got to make my alien come right now. He needs to know what he’s missing, and sadly enough, I need to get out of that room before all the girl talk makes me sick. Through his shorts, I stroke his length, and his eyes light up with lust and excitement.

“Someone could come,” he manages to gasp.

“Someone is going to come,” I tease, stroking him harder until I notice a damp spot in his shorts, “and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be you.”

“Ohh… fuck,” he mutters, making me laugh.

“Your English is getting better.” I stroke him harder and faster, hardly caring about the voices beyond the privacy curtain. Who cares? I’ve got him by the dick; he’s not going anywhere.

“Let me… we should go back,” Azan growls, trying to slow me down, but when I pump harder, he groans and arches his back, banging the back of his head against the wall.

“Am I allowed to go back to your room?” I’m thoroughly enjoying his helpless groans and hisses of pleasure as an orgasm builds. God, I love this. The power of bringing a massive alien to his knees, though he’s got two feet of height on me. I lift my chin towards his face. “Are you going to leave me in the Gathering Room?”

“No.” He punches the wall before fisting my hair. The contrast of these two touches makes my thighs damp. Hard and soft.

Hard for me.

Soft with me.

“I want you with me… of course…”

“For how long?”

“Forever! I want you with me forever!”

His body spasms as he climaxes into his shorts, and collapses to the floor with a heavy thud, sweaty and glistening. I take a seat next to him, smiling triumphantly, feeling like a fucking badass vixen as he steadies himself, stroking out the last of his seed to the floor. Someone’s going to have quite a surprise later. I pat his arm. “That wasn’t fair of me. Making you say stuff like that in the heat of the moment.”

“No.” He takes in a full breath and releases it slowly. “It certainly was not, but I shouldn’t have left you like that. It shouldn’t take you stroking my cock to say what needs to be said.” He bows slightly like I’ve seen him do with Korben. I blush slightly, straightening my spine.

“And what needs to be said?”

“I don’t want you to stay in the Gathering Room.”

I suck in a breath. “You don’t?”

He shakes his head hard, turning towards me. There’s a hint of lust in his eyes, and like a magnet, I spread my legs to him, knowing his intent. Sure enough, a single finger dips between my folds, and I’m about to get lost in my pleasure before I remember we’re supposed to be having a conversation.

“I said this isn’t fair,” I gasp as the thick, slapping sound of my arousal hits his fingers as he pounds into me slowly.

“It’s not, but if you’re going to ask me a question while I’m coming, it’s only fair for you to answer my question while you’re coming.”

Nasty, sexy bastard. I smile like an idiot as he continues to push into me with those magical fingers. Finger fucking is where he’s most confident. There’s no way he can hurt me when he fingers me, and I don’t force him to kiss unless we’re completely alone.

“What’s the question?” I manage to gasp.

He lowers his face, brushing his nose against mine like an Eskimo kiss, though I’m sure he doesn’t have the slightest idea what an Eskimo is. His cool skin brushing against mine is an incredible feeling, and it belongs only to us. I’m getting wetter by the moment, feeling my arousal pulsing deeper and deeper with each delicious thrust.

“I want you to stay with me. Forever.”

“That’s… not… a question…” I gasp.

“Will you stay with me?” His voice lowers to something like if a hiss and a growl had a baby, and I’m so turned on, I pinch my legs together, so I don’t accidentally come. I need to answer. I need to.

“Stay with me… in my room… as my mate.”

“Azan, please,” I gasp. I’m close, but I need to hear this. “Say I’m not a whore.”

“What?”

“My… my line of work—”

Horror hits his face, but his fingers don’t stop moving. “Not a whore,” he mutters. “Not anymore—”

“Oh God!” An intense orgasm pulses through my body like I’ve been electrocuted, and my vision blurs in and out with Azan’s beautiful face as I put it all together. Living with him. I’ll be Azan’s Chosen mate. Officially. To carry his baby… babies… he calls them sprogs?

After a few moments, both of us happily sitting in our aftershocks, Azan turns to me fully.

“You never answered my question.” And though I can’t see his mouth, I know he’s teasing me. I grab his face and pull him towards me, pressing our foreheads together until I hear the unbuckling of his mask and it falls away from his face. He fists my hair and takes his mouth to mine, smiling into the moment. Beautiful bastard.

He says I haven’t answered him yet, but he already knows what my fucking answer is.

“I love you,” I say when our lips are apart long enough for me to stay anything. “I fucking love you, Azan.”

“Love. You love me?”

There’s such a relief across his face, I almost start stroking his dick again, but there will be plenty of time for that. Now that I’m going to stay with him, I’ll be able to suck his dick from sunrise till sunset if I want. I’ll be able to stay in his room, and I’ll beg him to take me to the cave when it rains. Or when it’s sunny. Whenever.

“And you?”

“York.” He swallows hard. “You are the reason my heart beats. Of course, I love you. Does this mean you will…”

“Carry your children?”

“My what?” His eyes dart back and forth. “Oh! Sprogs. So, you wish to build a family with me?” His hand grips more tightly around my hair, as though he can’t believe it.

How can I not love this alien when he makes it seem like being with me is like winning the fucking lottery?

“I wish to build a family with you,” I repeat his exact wording, leaving no place for any misunderstanding. “How many kids are we talking?”

He shakes his head. “Whatever you want, York. I will always take whatever you are kind enough to give me.”

“Well then,” I say, pulling him into a standing position. “Let me give you something right now.”

“Pleasure?” he asks, looking like a complete dork. A complete sex God dork.

“You know it.”