Feral Flaw Read online

  The bluish haze of Titan's thick atmosphere greeted with promise of a gentle world like earth. A wicked mantle of deceit. Nobody could survive outside in its negative three-hundred-and-fifty-five-degree temperature. Except liquid methane. And methane cared nothing about its state of existence. Those methane lakes and rivers were toxic.

  But somewhere in Titan's gentle façade, near the solid frozen water referred to as land on Titan, beyond those thousand-foot high sand dunes belting the moon's equator, The Cause found the brutally frozen and lifeless satellite welcoming.

  No irony today, universe.

  By the time the docking bay's door vented Titan's nitrogen atmosphere from the well-lit manmade cavern, more than hope gleamed upon the metallic rafters and glistening walls. The docking bay's fortification reminded all who entered that The Cause strived to keep more than Titan's freezing atmosphere outside.

  Two white-garbed station workers stepped through the door leading into the compound.

  Docking technicians with a casual all-business stride. Nobody would think the enemy arrived in pod fighters. Or so their countenance revealed. "Open the hatch, computer."

  The men moved toward the pods.

  I thrust up into the cool air and swung a leg down toward the stone floor.

  The crew members halted, shooting a questioning glance between themselves.

  The sight of an Xquine warrior, full mane and weapons, still struck fear among the masses. Xquine was anything but dead.

  "I'm Commander Goro," I announced with my mouth for Darla's sake. Yes, maybe using the military title was a bit premature. I jumped, landing my boots squarely on the solid rocky surface of Titan with a thump. "I've come to commune with the priest."

  Neither lunar-station's worker did anything to indicate the idea was untimely.

  The tallest, a thin redhead, nodded once. "Commander," he replied in English.

  So if they knew I'd lost my command, they were accommodating. Wise given Xquine males were known for fits of rage. Well, those who hadn't trained to fight for Destiny.

  Darla's boots hit the deck with a thump.

  "And this is my charge," I stated in the loudest menacing and commanding tone I could muster. "Nobody touches her."

  * * * *

  Had Goro just protected me? Darla felt strangely warm where she stood beside her mate before the two crewmen in Titan's docking bay. I kind of liked the way he handled that situation. Why did he suddenly behave differently though? Maybe the problem was we were alone before. Maybe when we're alone he's more open? No way. Goro is not vulnerable at the hands of his mate. This could prove an interesting theory to test. Just give me some time, universe.

  Lightheadedness of nausea made me feel like I had to belch.

  Was that the first sign of blood lust? Since we were on Titan, Goro could take care of it. Any way I wanted him to.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The workers pivoted back toward the docking bay's entrance, never relinquishing their gazes on Goro. Well, we would be safe now with food, lodging, and a door to lock, he noted. I can find out what the Jennian priest knows about my position in the fleet too.

  "This way, commander." The redhead pointed toward the exit. "Shandul is in the garden."

  One day, that old priest's meditation would set off a chain reaction and the whole damned moon would turn into a tropical indulging paradise like the not-so-distant Earth.

  Darla walked at Goro's side through the winding well-lit corridors, never inquiring about the Jennian hieroglyphics Shandul's earliest predecessor had carved into the stony inner workings of X3-Beta.

  Perhaps she connected with the curved symbols' message of understanding and harmony on her own? Would that be a miracle given the thick suffocating tension between them? Maybe Titan was the perfect place to bring her since Jennian priests never stopped toiling for peace. Never stopped expressing their goal to bring tranquility to the disturbed.

  The redhead led them toward the door marked with the star-shaped Jennian symbol of serenity.

  The metal sheet slid right.

  Bright light poured through the doorway.

  Of course, brighter than sunlight because the light radiated off the priest, Shandul. He was a gardener of various sorts, laboring to conjure life from the darkest of recesses whether using natural light or his own. By the looks of the blinding rays shooting across the threshold, the Jennian priest obviously struggled to pierce through some shadow with his alien radiance.

  The priest stood in the center of the round cavern, staring overhead at the glass ceiling. His garden was his greenhouse.

  "Leave us," Shandul ordered in mindspeak, without tearing his gaze from his vigil.

  The workers left us squinting in the wake of the priest's brilliance.

  What was Shandul's point for privacy? "Thank you for seeing us so quickly, Shandul. I ask you not speak with mindspeak given my companion cannot." I bowed the obligatory greeting in which one honored a Jennian priest.

  "Very well." The Jennian's form radiated so much white light that its body merely took the shape of a shaft with a thin neck and upturned face. A shaft anchored to the stony spot where he stood. Shandul lowered his gaze, turning his pointed nose toward Darla. "So much has happened since you disappeared, Goro."

  Something accusatory danced among the Jennian's carefully-selected words. A point that omitted any note of my rank. But nobody is going to slit my throat for saving my mate. "Who else would have saved my mate?"

  Shandul's light dimmed enough so that the meditating manner in which he held his hands clasped before him could be seen. He nodded his smooth hairless head and blinked his clear blue eyes. "I wondered if the universe would have to wait forever until you embraced your destiny."

  Another invisible blow. But who could fault a being who strived to bring peace to free thinkers? Whether an insult or merely a point for my personal reflection, Shandul's comment was worth contemplating.

  Shandul's gaze slid to Darla. "What does the future hold?"

  He probably spoke of the child of legend.

  "Are you telling me some psychics are soothsayers?" Darla snapped.

  Her rudeness was best kept in check.

  Shandul's mouth twisted with a smile. "Can you imagine how the powers of the universe would shift given that psychic gift?"

  Hopefully, Darla took that as a no.

  "I've been dragged all over the universe by more than one nutcase, thank you. Please just get to the point," Darla demanded.

  My heart sank at the rudeness.

  She no longer harbored any fear. Who was the Xquine warrior now?

  Shandul slid his cutting gaze back to meet mine. "I can see Destiny matched you both well."

  Truth. He nodded instead of throwing oil on Darla's fire.

  "After you've sought accommodations for your layover, I will speak with you privately, Goro."

  Blessed Devros, that was the only way I'd be able to carry on a thought provoking discussion and learn if there was any chance in having my command reinstated.

  * * * *

  Back in their quarters, Goro took the full force of his mate's disgust while ignoring the nagging itch of blood lust beneath his hide. Would Darla not calm down and speak sensibly yet, he wondered. How long would she carry on with this anger? I caused her resentment though. I had to deal with the consequences of my actions. Even when blood lust muted all of my patience into irritation.

  "Just who does that glowing bastard think he is forbidding me from attending your private meeting?" She whirled to face me in our personal quarters.

  Was her irrational behavior had to be more a reflection of her rising blood lust? The tingling under my skin was only the first symptom. And if I felt it, she did too. Would she listen to reason now under the influence of anger? Or lies fabricated to soothe her anger? "Jennian priests think their interrogation tactic of separating people is far superior to group interrogation." That half truth might work on my behalf.

  Her brow furrowed. "
He thinks he's going to catch us lying? What do we have to lie about? After the sex spy issue, there's really nothing left to hide." Her straightened spine seemed to relax a fraction of a fraction.

  That jab wouldn't pierce my armor. She should try to focus on serious issues. Like maybe the way we played my crew for three years. Or the skull. "We will never know. I'll tell him anything he wishes. His rank requires we give him that respect. All was done for the greater good of The Cause. You should do the same."

  Her noisy exhalation only expressed her unwavering disgust. She turned, crossed her arms, and paced a bit along a long solid smooth rock wall away from the only piece of furniture in the space, the standard bare bones bed with thermal cover.

  My mate will always be frustrated. If only she would react to my touch. Calm herself from the blood lust. Lovemaking did that for mates. Oh to nibble on her white neck. Sweet salty skin.

  His mouth drooled.

  The hunger. That had to be her problem. And the solution was even more obvious. I followed her.

  Grit ground beneath the soles of his boots.

  She turned to me, arms crossed defensively over her breasts.

  My breasts. If those treasures trapped any love for me inside her heart, those barrier arms didn't show it. What lay therein? I stopped a step from the scuffed black toes of her boots.

  "Darla, I'm sorry I brought you here. I'm sorry you're scared and confused. But this place isn't about us breaking any free-thinking law in finding ourselves through sacred marriage. This place is only about me and my command. I came here to get that issue clarified as soon as possible. I want my command back. I want you safely by my side where I can protect you. And we will defeat Voldon."

  Her jaw dropped. "You're serious? You marry me then plan to go chasing Voldon all over the universe? Drop me right into his bloody hands? What'll he do to me the minute he finds out I've mated with you? And what am I supposed to do alone? I don't know anything about the freaking universe."

  The rapid rise and fall of her breasts only warned she was on the verge of yelling. Nothing productive would spring from that behavior. She needed a distraction. Something to change the tone of our relationship. A peace offering. I nodded the obligatory exit bow and hustled to the door before she exploded.

  "Where are you going? You didn't answer me. And I didn't say you could leave."

  She didn't? Should I laugh? I pivoted to face her.

  She walked toward me, eyebrows pinched, arms swaying near her sashaying hips.

  The blood lust had to be talking.

  She walked up to me, slid her palms up my chest, grabbed my cheeks, and pulled my lips down to her warm soft mouth.

  How timely.

  All the blood in my body raced to my loins.

  Well, chores would have to wait. I grabbed her ass and crushed her soft curves to my chest. Against my aching arousal.

  She gasped into my mouth. "Goro."

  This was no time for talking. I sucked my name into nothingness with one deep breath and thrust my tongue into her demanding mouth.

  Her hands worked at my pants.

  We'd get nowhere without stopping to undress. I pushed her away and focused on stripping.

  How she undressed herself before I yanked off my shirt and pulled my manhood free would remain a mystery. But some mysteries didn't need solving the way her palms raced across my ass. She lured my shaft up from an at-ease position to standing at attention without nary a touch, and she stood there watching it bob in full extension while she squeezed my butt.

  Darla should have been a sex spy.

  Her fingers curled around my engorged shaft and pulled me with a gentle firmness that somehow led me to the bed because I found himself lying on my back with my mate riding my ballooning penis. And I so wanted to just let her take what she wanted. But she had to be safe.

  "Darla, you must stop," I gasped.

  "Why?" she groaned, rising and squeezing my eyesight into failure. "I just want to ride you." Her hot moist silkiness sank back down to my lap. Again. And again. "If I'm your wife, I get to," she gulped with her eyes shut, "enjoy this."

  Did she really mean enjoy something? I opened his eyes to find her smiling like the huntress who'd made her first kill. So, I'll let her have what she wants this time. Appease her. And in the end, we both get our blood lust satiated for a while.

  * * * *

  Darla thought the universe would explode in one enormous gush of brilliant stars as she gyrated her hips on her mate's lap. He was trapped inside of her, enormous, firm, and his cock was doing that vibrating-tickle thing. Pulsing. Over and over. She bit back her cries and just worked his hardness in amazing circles.

  If sex was all I would get out of this relationship, I'm taking whatever I can. Even if it felt like I suffocated when I desperately tried to gasp for breath during sex. It wasn't like I was going to die from it.

  Goro's neck arched back with his chest, and he roared another deep dark jungle sound.

  The sound of triumph.

  Glad I could make your day. I raised up along the solid length of him that would allow for some movement and contracted her vaginal muscles one last time.

  His hands slid around her waist and pulled her down atop his drumming chest. "Dear Gods, Darla, you are truly magical." He pumped and pumped her, slamming his soft body right up against her tender vagina.

  Why don't I feel magical? I just feel like a woman who got lucky. Very lucky the way he keeps pumping me, slowly easing off as if he couldn't stop but had to. Like he treasured being inside me. I snuggled into his beating heart and ran a fingertip around the silky ring encircling his beaded nipple.

  Would I ever feel like he was more than the boss? With mind-blowing sex, I can forgive him soon. But I want more. I want him to love me in his actions.

  * * * *

  I'll be back he said, Darla recalled, pacing back toward the bed, past a large circular fire pit composed of something that had to be ceramic. Goro could have answered some questions about our future before just leaving. Before walking his sexy body away after taking care of the blood lust his actions instigated. God how the sex felt amazing.

  My heart melted.

  How he could warm up my soul. My gaze slid to the pit holding large crystals that glowed a bright orange. As orange as Goro's eyes. But not as warming.

  Oh the way he looked at me when those eyes flared while they were making love. Can sex be called love? Sex with Goro? At least the sex makes it worth my time spent in his protection.

  So, I'm trapped underground on a freaking moon with a man who drives me crazy with anger until he starts looking at me with those flaming eyes. And we do the wild thing. What have I gotten myself into?

  Well he is just going to start having to do more. More than sex, universe. He's going to have to wine me and dine me. If that's even possible underground on Titan. Something's going to have to give if he wants to get some respect. Because I'm about to siphon all of his respect off onto me. And he can start by marching those clickety clacking boots back in here with answers. Or at least confess the great mystery behind his departure.

  * * * *

  Nobody needed to inform Goro how his mate needed more than his touch. He knew that much from focusing on Earth cultures in his studies to choose a were-mate. She needed a gift. A peace offering. I clutched the wisp of long Nirvellan silk in my hands that I had replicated in Titan blue, the color of the moon from space. A bit of a memory she could easily stuff into a storage compartment inside her pod fighter. Or don to feel as exotic as the gown.

  The gown was long, fluid, light as mist that hugged a stream. And Darla's curves were that stream. And the color was so soothing, healing, calming. Perfect for her. If only she'd accept the gown as a peace offering. We could begin the discussion of our future once again. In gentle rational terms.

  Or so gifts of fine textiles worked on other females in the universe. If not, I'd just go about sex and blood libation the way things seemed to be working. Mask the
blood lust with mating. I stepped toward the sliding doorway to our personal quarters.

  She stood by the orange heating crystals.

  Our gazes met.

  "I've found what I was looking for." I crossed the rocky floor between us.

  She quietly watched as if she wondered why I returned.

  So she was somewhat cooperative. I extended the silk.

  "What is it?" She just looked at the cloth.

  "A gown. A gift for you. A peace offering." Hopefully, she would take the gift.

  She sighed and reached for the dress. "I just want some answers. Can you provide some answers?" She eyeballed me with a weary mask.

  Was her blood lust already bothering her? Well, the gown might work after satiating the blood lust. I could use some touch of creamy pale skin.

  Xquine women were tanned. Sun-kissed the way Darla had been when I brought her aboard. Something about her softened coloring had to be a sign. An omen of some sort, perhaps, to be gentle with her. But the gown would fit her coloring perfectly. And she wasn't running the other direction. I slid my fingers against her firm jaw line.

  She clenched her teeth.

  Stubborn little thing.

  Her pale skin was so warm.

  All of my blood drained to my loin.

  What thoughts whirled behind those deep dark brown eyes?

  "Don't you dare shave your head," she said.

  So she had a preference? "If that is your wish." If only she would press her velvet lips to mine of her own accord.

  Those lips parted.

  Oh to touch them. I traced a thumb across the soft edge of her lower lip, circling around the upper lip's edge to where the pad began its journey.

  "I don't want to go back to being a rat in your cage. I don't want to be your pawn in some ridiculous game anymore. I can't. I don't trust you." Her gaze slid to my lips. "Kiss me, Goro."

  Gods to dip between those lips. To take my time. Only a fool would. Shandul was waiting. And Devros knows how a Jennian priest's sight can peer into a person's soul, knowing what they've been up to. Going to Shandul after mating once was risky, but twice might make me look like I'm not serious enough about reclaiming my command because I'd rather be mating. My gaze met her glinting eyes. "I have to see what Shandul wants first. Then, I am yours."