Chapter 24

Ontarii stared down at the woman in front of him. She was so beautiful. His heart burned in his chest until he thought his entire body would catch fire. Her golden eyes were vivid in her pale face. Her lips were swollen with his kisses. She was absolute perfection.

For the moment, she belonged to him.

He wouldn't try to convince himself that this was anything more than it was, a much-needed distraction while they hurtled toward their probable doom. What was between them couldn’t last, but it didn’t matter.

Now that they had been taken prisoner by the Hareema, he likely wouldn't live long enough for the mating frenzy to kill him. It was best to seize the chance to love her while he could.

Her lustrous hair tumbled over her left shoulder, a striking torrent of darkness against white skin. He slid his hand over her shoulder, pushing the hair away and planting a soft kiss where her shoulder met her neck.

She shivered under him as he licked his way down from her neck to heavy breasts with their pretty pink peaks. He licked first one nipple then the other, alternating between them until she was trembling, her fingers buried in the tendrils on his head.

"Mmmmm... " she sighed, her head falling back as he continued to suckle her. Then he bit gently on her breast and she let out a moan. He peppered her skin with soft bites, loving the feel of her in his mouth. Every nip was met with another moan.

When he thought she couldn't take any more on her sensitive nipples, he moved down, licking over the smooth expanse of her stomach. Then lower, until he was at the core of her sex.

He loved the exotic, musky smell of her arousal. It made his cock throb, made his senses swim, made his blood ignite with lust. He licked around the outside, teasing her and biting at her thighs gently until she started to shake. Was she nervous? He almost hoped so.

The angle wasn’t favorable in their current position, so he stood and turned his beautiful female around, wondering if she would comply. He bent her at the waist, pushing her torso low so that her back arched and her sexy ass lifted into the air for him.

"Stay still," he ordered, going to his knees and putting his hands on her hips. He leaned forward and buried his face against her wet flesh.

Jennifer cried out loudly, and he knew he could have her beside him forever. Everything about her drove him mad, but her pleasure was intoxicating.

He licked at her slit, up and down, over and over again. She rocked her hips back, rubbing herself against his mouth as he groaned over and over. She tasted like honey, and he craved more, though he wasn’t near done with her.

He used his hands to spread her open and slid a finger deep inside of her.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered worshipfully.

Ontarii set about tasting every inch of her sex, thrusting his fingers into her as he turned his face to continue his assault. He couldn't get enough of her, his hunger for her driving him to new heights. He growled against her and heard her moan in reply.

With savage precision, he proceeded to bring her to climax with a hard suck on her sensitive clit.

She shook around him, screaming in pleasure, her core releasing a rush of moisture which he lapped up greedily.

That rush sent him into a fever, causing him to redouble his efforts. He licked her again, nibbling on her, sucking her clit, even scoring his teeth against it.

She quickly tumbled over the edge again, releasing yet another flood of moisture. He set about licking her clean, but she pulled away, her entire body shaking. She went to her knees in front of him, then splayed out on her bottom, resting on her arms.

"My God." She struggled to catch her breath. "I can't believe how good you are at that."

Ontarii smiled as he licked his lips. "You’re delicious. I couldn't help myself, and I want more of you."

Her cheeks flushed pink, and he was delighted at the display. It seemed humans had a little color-changing ability with their moods. It was sweet and he appreciated being able to see her in a moment of vulnerability.

Captain Brooklyn was a strong woman, one who didn't back down from a challenge. He respected that strength, but some part of him longed to be able to take her worries away, to let her depend on him, to let down that guard and allow him to protect her.

Then he realized that, in this situation, it was likely he could do little to keep her safe.

A riot of emotion overwhelmed Ontarii. He felt helpless, impotent against his enemies. He wanted to wrap the human woman in his arms and never let her go, but not only would that be impossible once they reached their destination, he wasn't sure that she would tolerate it either.

He wanted her, more and more each moment they spent together. His desire was futile, just as their attempts to puzzle out the Hareema controls had been. She had been his, for a few shining moments, but now was the time to let her go.

It frightened him to realize that he wasn’t willing to release her. He didn't want to, and his body ached as she pulled herself away, gathering her clothing and getting dressed again.

He strapped on his own sarong, as he watched her with untapped lust that shouldn’t have existed.

She looked up at him, her eyes full of feeling, but her lips silent. He went to her, pulling her into his arms. She was limp against him, pliant, and he took them to their knees. Then he carefully lowered her to the floor and settled in beside her.

He pulled her against his side so that her head rested on his shoulder. She turned to face him and he could feel her breath on his ear. She felt so good beside him, so right.

Ontarii ran his fingers through her soft hair, wondering if a relationship between them was a real possibility. Although not long ago he'd considered it not only impractical but impossible, when he held her like this, he could almost believe they could make it work.

"Have you ever wanted to have a family?" he asked, his voice low. It was an important question, and her eyes showed that she understood that it was.

"I'm not sure," she said, and he could hear the honesty in her words. "As a spaceship captain, I don't have much spare time. I'm either preparing for a mission, carrying out a mission, or reporting back from a mission. That doesn't leave much room for a family."

His stomach tightened. It was just as he'd feared.

"But," she said, her mouth opening in a yawn that revealed how exhausted she was. "Somehow, despite the nature of my job, I've always assumed that someday I'll find space less appealing, and I'll plant some roots. On that day I think I'd like to have a family. A husband. A child or two that I could watch grow."

Jennifer yawned again, and as he watched, those glowing golden eyes glided closed.

Ontarii was content to let her rest. She would need her strength whenever they reached their destination. Just what the destination would be, he was unsure, but he was certain that, since the Hareema were involved, it would be dangerous.

The ship could be speeding deep into space, with no course in mind, the only intention of the enemy being to get the Zantharian and human captain as far away from the action as possible. They could float there, trapped in the vessel, until they starved.

Or maybe a course had been set that would take them into the center of a star. They wouldn't have to worry about a lack of food and water when they were being burned alive.

Ontarii forced the heinous thoughts from his mind. Brooding on their destination served no purpose. They'd figure things out when they got there. If the trip took longer than another twenty minutes or so, he should be charged up again and able to put up a fight. Until then, it made sense to rest.

Sparing another glance at the woman asleep beside him, he let his eyes drift closed. He felt calm with Jennifer beside him. Although the mating frenzy forced one's emotions into turmoil, a mate could always help calm one. That alone helped him to swallow the fact that Jennifer was his mate, for good or ill. He'd never have another, so he had to seize the chance for happiness. This was all he had, and somehow it was all he wanted.

Despite his earlier reservations, he realized now what the Supreme Regent of Zanthar must have determined as well. Human women weren't like Zantharian women, but that didn't make them inferior. Anyone who said differently was a fucking moron that would get a fist to the face.

Let people talk. I'll demolish anyone who thinks they can disparage my woman. I'd fight any battle, give up everything, just to possess her. What does my career mean, in the face of feelings like these? She is the other half of my soul, and you can't just give up your soul.

You have to fight for it.

Ontarii smiled, glad that he'd reached a decision about his fate. No matter what happened, if they could get away from the Hareema, he would claim Captain Jennifer Brooklyn, the human female, as his mate.

Now, he just had to figure out how to defeat the Hareema on their home turf and get him and Jennifer back to Zanthar.

With this woman by his side, he was beginning to think they had a fighting chance.