Gwen, Mission Briefing Room, Base 3

Governor Rone sat in one of the large chairs that circled the round table and crossed his arms. He looked entirely too pleased with himself. Smug, even, for getting me mated. And to him that meant subdued. Under control.

Jerk. 

But I couldn’t exactly be mad at him either, not after the night I had. Mak sat next to me, his scent lingering on my skin, my pussy hot and aching and very, very hungry for more. I was a little subdued. Who wouldn’t be after a wild night like ours? 

Mak was an incredible lover. God, I’d lost track of the number of orgasms that he’d wrung from my body. And he hadn’t freaked when I’d used my cyborg strength on him. At one point last night, I’d pressed him against the wall and taken him into my mouth until he came all over me, although I realized he wouldn’t have put up any kind of fight. Not by the way he’d groaned and gripped my head in place until the last second when he pulled out and covered me. That man had so much cum in him, it was like he’d stored it up. We’d been in the bathing tube and I’d rubbed his essence all over my skin just to watch his eyes burn into me like they were doing now. 

When the water washed it away he’d growled, fangs bared, lifted me from my knees and shoved my back against the wall, fucking me standing as the water cascaded down over both of us. 

It had been erotic. The sexiest thing that ever happened to me. So far. 

I wanted more. But I wasn’t going to get it, and my pussy wasn’t too excited about that. It hadn’t ever been an issue before, but now being horny occupied my mind. Which was bad. 

Mak’s arm rested along the back of my chair. I should have protested, but since I was literally counting down the minutes until we’d leave on our mission and he’d leave me, I leaned into him instead, soaking up what I could get. I wasn’t in love with him by any means, my heart not aching for him to stay. But my pussy? She was head-over-heels in lust and wanted more.

Tough sweetheart. You’re not getting it. Get over it. 

“The moon’s atmosphere is highly toxic. Visibility is near zero, the air filled with a white acidic fog. You’ll need to wear full space gear and be prepared for anything.” The governor pointed to a small spot marked on the map of the moon we’d be targeting. A Hive transmission had been caught bouncing off the moon to the surface of the Colony. Which meant the Hive had some kind of base, ship or communications center just over our heads. 

The thought made my skin crawl because that meant they were focused on the planet. And if they were focused on the planet, that meant they might come here. Invade. Capture us. Again. 

Captain Marz was the leader on this mission, and it was all I could do to look him in the eye after the whole pit fighting fuck-up the day before. But I did. In fact, I glared, not quite ready to forgive him yet. But I listened when he spoke because he wasn’t rehashing it all, and so I wasn’t going to either. And I’d follow him on a mission because, well, I wanted to go on a fucking mission, but also because I respected him as a fighter. I wouldn’t let stupid alien mating rituals get in the way of our jobs. 

“We’ll be taking two ships, overlapping our scans. If one of us takes a hit or engages in battle, the other must take out the Hive communications before anything else. That is the first priority. Take down the fucking Hive comm.” 

“Understood.” I couldn’t wait to get up there and kick some Hive ass. I hoped Captain Marz and his Prillon friend, Vance, found the communications gear because I wanted to get down and dirty with some Hive assholes. Crush them. Maybe rip off an arm or two. 

I should have been worn out from staying up half the night fucking, instead, I was energized. 

“I will go with Lieutenant Fernandez.” The Trion warrior seated next to the governor who spoke was not one I knew. But I didn’t care. He was irrelevant. Mak and I had a plan, an agreement. He’d given me what I wanted, his scent all over me and more orgasms than I could count. Plus, I was here for the mission briefing, ready to go out and kick some Hive ass. 

And true to their word, every male on the Colony I’d come across since we left Mak’s quarters now treated me like I was no more or less interesting than any other member of the contaminated. They were honoring Mak’s claim. I refused to think about how they could somehow, in their space alien way, scent his cum all over me—even though I’d washed it off. 

As for our agreement? I’d keep to it, which meant it was time for me to pay up. I looked up at Mak, nodded for him to go ahead, that I was still in this with him. 

A deal was a deal, no matter how much it sucked balls and made my hungry body want to weep. One night was not enough, and I had a feeling I was ruined for all other guys—not that they’d get near me now that I had Mak’s scent all over me. 

“I will accompany my mate,” Mak said, giving the Trion fighter the Vulcan death stare. “I will keep her safe. I do not trust these weaklings to ensure her safety.” Mak made the declaration with a cold, quiet voice that spoke more loudly than a shout would have. 

The Trion looked to Governor Rone for guidance and kept his mouth shut, but I could see he was angry in every line in his body. 

The governor leaned forward, his elbows on the table, hands clasped as he tilted his head, staring at both of us like a curious bloodhound sniffing out a lie. “I can scent your mating from here. Of that I have no doubt.” 

“Then what’s the problem?” I asked, and I refused to think about the blush creeping into my cheeks at him sniffing out all the sex Mak and I’d had. “You said choose a mate. I chose Mak. Now you can deal with the consequences. If he is adamant about going with me, I will not sway him otherwise. You all wanted me to understand your customs, the way you’re all so darn bossy, to go along with them.” I shrugged. “I am. If he wants to go, then who am I to stop him?” 

“You aren’t,” the governor said. “I’m the one to stop him.” 

The Prillon shook his head after the governor finished. “It’s too soon for you to leave the planet, Makarios.” 

Mak rose to his full height and I sat back and grinned. God, he was magnificent. Truly. 

“I don’t give a shit what you think about me. Things have changed. She is mine!” His voice was a roar now, fangs fully extended as Mak pointed at me. Like there was any doubt who he was talking about. Two more guards rushed into the room at the outburst, but the governor raised his hand and they held back, waiting to see how this mess played out. 

I was interested in seeing that myself. What I’d thought of as alien posturing before, I saw now as hot as fuck. At least with Mak all growly and alpha. I wanted to drag him out of the room and have my way with him. 

“Calm down.”  

“She is mine,” Mak repeated. “Mine! She does not go into battle without me. She is mine to protect. Mine.” He was going full beast, or whatever alien version of it he possessed. I knew his fangs were down. Knew, from seeing him fight back the instinct to bite me last night that his eyes were probably glowing, that his muscles swelled, his fangs dripping with venom.  

Leaning back, I put my feet up on the table, crossed my ankles and literally twiddled my thumbs. I wanted to laugh at the horrified expression on the governor’s face. He soooo deserved this little Hyperion display of rage. I knew Mak was acting, but they didn’t. All they knew was they could smell us on each other. 

Such simple-minded males. As if that was the end of the discussion. 

“Mak—” the governor began, but Mak was having none of it. 

He leaned forward, put his hands on the table and glared at everyone around it. “I will kill anyone who tries to stop me. It is my right to protect her. I have no doubt if she’d chosen Marz or Tane they’d feel the same. And with Tane, you’d be dealing with an Atlan beast right now. Be thankful I’m only Hyperion and Forsian. She. Is. Mine.” 

The governor sat back in his chair and ran a hand through his dark hair. I almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost. 

“By the gods, I thought the Atlans were bad.” The words were mumbled, then he sighed, motioning Mak to sit back down. “Fine. Marz and Vance will take the first section. You two will cover the second,” he said, referring to me and Mak. “We don’t know what we’ll find, so this is recon only. If you have an open shot at destroying their comms, take it. Otherwise, note the location and return here so we can plan a full strike op. Got it? We’re only going to get one chance at destroying it or the Hive will know we’re on to them—and I don’t want you to fuck it up.” 

“Yes, sir.” I knew I looked like the Cheshire Cat about now. Knew, and didn’t even try to hide the smug smile I felt tugging at the corners of my lips. We were going on a mission. Together. Our plan had worked. Mak and I, well, we were good at more than just fucking each other’s brains out. I didn’t have to look at him to know what he was thinking, feeling. And we could work this room like putty in a preschooler’s hands. I hadn’t felt this… connection to anyone in a long time. If ever. 

“You leave in an hour. Head down to the hangar for flight checks.” The governor’s gaze met mine and I could have sworn I saw a glint of amusement there. “Earth females. I should have known you’d be trouble, even after picking a damned mate.” 

“The best kind of trouble.” I hopped out of my chair, slapped Mak on the arm and tugged him along behind me. “Let’s go, Mak. We’ve got a job to do.” 

Mak was on my heels. I could feel him hulking behind me like a storm cloud as we walked down the twisting corridors of Base 3. But it didn’t bother me, it made me feel safe. Even if he’d been acting for the crowd in there so he could get sent on this mission—so he could leave me—even I’d believed he had some kind of primal urge to protect me. Just for a moment. 

We’d accomplished our goal. I was heading out on a mission. My pussy no longer felt abandoned and neglected, I had the governor and all the males on the planet off my back and Makarios of Kronos was going home to Rogue 5. 

Win-win. Just like we both wanted. So why did my feet grow heavier with every step toward the shuttle hangar? Toward good-bye. 

God, this sucked. I didn’t want a brooding, controlling, dominant Neanderthal for a mate. And yet, I wanted Mak. And he was all of those things. Every. Single. One. 

I could hear him breathing, but he didn’t speak. Didn’t say a word. Didn’t touch me. He was a shadow behind me and I wondered if he felt the same way. Were we both just shadows of our former selves? Not really living? Not really dying, either? Going through the motions until we got what we wanted—off this fucking planet? 

And that was depressing as fuck because last night felt like living. I’d felt for the first time in a long, long while. Mak would head off to roam the galaxy like Han Solo and I’d return here, go on missions, but would I be able to feel again? My hand wouldn’t give me the orgasms Mak could. And that was the kicker. I had exactly what I’d wanted. A life—while being on the Colony wasn’t exactly home sweet home—with missions, with purpose once again. 

Now I’d have that, thanks to Mak. Because since I chose him, he wanted me to go on missions, to do what I was supposed to do with my life. As long as my goal wasn’t to be officially claimed by him, he was fine. He was leaving. 

But somehow, over the course of one night, I wanted a tiny bit more. No, not tiny. Huge. I wanted Mak’s huge cock. What hot-blooded female wouldn’t? One taste—and I did mean taste—and I knew I’d ache for more. My pussy clenched at the thought of never being filled with his enormous cock. 

Shaking my head to clear it, because I was being all girly and ridiculous, I stopped cold in the deserted hallway and turned around. “Thanks, Mak. That was perfect. You should win an Academy Award for that performance.” 

He stopped and frowned. “What is this award?” 

I studied him. His fangs were still down. His skin flushed. His hands were in fists at his sides and his chest was heaving. What the hell? “It’s an award given to actors back on Earth. What is wrong with you? Are you all right?” I reached up and placed my palm on his cheek. I couldn’t reach his forehead, but I’d take what I could get. 

He was hot to the touch. Burning up. “Are you sick? Do you guys get a fever?” 

He lifted one hand and wrapped it gently around my wrist, holding my palm to his skin. “I was not acting, female.” 

It was my turn to frown. He hadn’t been acting? “What? But everything went according to plan. You’re going with me to the moon. We’ll destroy the Hive up there and then you can go back to roaming the galaxy or whatever it was you’d been up to. Rogue 5, Forsia. Wherever it is you want to hang your hat.” I used my thumb to pet him, because I could, and because standing so close to him made me want stupid things. Like to be more. But more what? Normal? Beautiful? Helpless? Perfect? 

I didn’t know what Mak wanted in a woman. But apparently, even after several rounds of fucking, I wasn’t it. If I had been, those fangs would have been buried deep last night and I would have been screaming in pleasure as he made me his forever. Because the way Rachel and Kristin had said, their men had looked at each of them and wanted to claim them on the spot. There wasn’t any of this one night stand stuff. It was forever with them. 

But not Mak. It had been a trade. A bargain, with hot sex thrown in. 

And as for claiming? God, I would have let him. I knew the truth. Couldn’t lie to myself about my newfound weakness when it came to him. He was like a drug. I was hooked. What was wrong with me? Was there some kind of Forsian brainwash? Did his cock have magical powers? Something with his cum like I’d heard the Vikens had? Seed power? 

I yanked my hand away, disgusted with myself. I was not the kind of woman who trapped a damn man. Not my game. Never had been, never would be. Mak wanted to fuck and he wanted to leave the Colony. He’d been honest with me from the start. Being upset about it now was beneath me, especially since that was what I’d wanted, too. Me on missions. But that had been yesterday. “Let’s get you home, Mak. You don’t belong here any more than I do.” 

“Is this how you say good-bye, female?” 

I frowned. “What do you mean?” 

He looked over his shoulder at someone who passed by us in the hallway, but Mak was too big for me to see who it was. Gently, he cupped my biceps and led me into a briefing room, let the door slide closed behind us. It was identical to the one we’d just left, except this one was empty. His hand slapped against the wall, pressing the lock. 

“We have an hour. What do you usually do before a mission?” 

“Talk with my teammates.” 

His eyes drifted to my lips. “I have much better uses for your mouth than talking.” 

Oh. 

Oh. 

Holy. Fucking. Oh. 

He dropped his hand and I stepped back. While I liked sucking his cock, I couldn’t get much more in my mouth than that flared crown. And I’d tried. I undid the clasp on my pants, let them hang loose on my hips as I turned about and bent over the large table. Settling on my forearms, I glanced over my shoulder in invitation. 

Mak watched my every move and his gaze settled on my upturned ass. 

Between one second and the next, he was behind me. Fingers tugged at the top of my pants and yanked them down so my ass was bare. 

I expected him to tug open his own pants and fuck me. Instead, he spanked me. 

I startled, felt the sting as it spread through my body. Pushing off, I spun around to face him. Big mistake. He was huge, hot, sexy and smelled like heaven. Instead of arguing, I wanted to touch. Sheesh. Pathetic. Still, I worked up the willpower to protest the heat spreading on my bottom. 

“What the hell was that for?” 

“Your mind wandered, worried,” he said, cupping his cock that now stretched his mission pants to capacity. “Now you are here, with me. And while taking you from behind appeases the Hyperion in me, the Forsian is angry.” 

He opened his pants. Finally. Pulled out his cock, stroked it once. 

Stepping into me, the backs of my thighs pressed into the hard table. I had nowhere to go. 

“You have too many personalities to keep up with. Just tell me what you want.” 

“And you’ll give it to me?” 

I licked my lips, realizing the answer was yes. I’d give him whatever he wanted. After the previous night, I knew he might get what he wanted, but he’d give me what I needed. “That’s my job as your mate.” 

For only a little while longer. So I’d take it. This last hour. 

“A Forsian likes to fuck so he can see his mate’s face. To watch as she comes. To see how he can destroy her for all others. Ruin her. Possess her. Pleasure her.” 

Oh god, my panties were ruined. 

With a hand at the center of my chest, he pushed me back so I lay sprawled across the table. Hooking the backs of my knees, he held me open. His hands slid beneath my butt and tugged my pants down my legs. When he followed to settle on his knees before me, I whimpered. 

Quickly he stripped me of everything below the waist, even my boots and socks. And then he put my legs over his shoulders, settled between my parted thighs and looked his fill. 

“Mak,” I moaned. He hadn’t even touched me yet. 

“You’ll give me this. Your pleasure. I want it all over my face, your scent, your taste, as we go on this mission. And after you come I will lick your desire all up. Only then will I fuck you.” 

I whimpered, tensed my leg muscles in the hopes of pulling him closer. There. 

“You want my cock, don’t you?” His finger swirled at my entrance and my hips bucked. 

“Yes. Please. Anything. Just touch me.” 

“Ah, you beg so sweetly. I wonder if you taste as sweet.” 

It was then that he lowered his head. Made me come. Made me forget about everything but his wicked skill to ruthlessly rule my body.