Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) (7 page)

Thorn knew he couldn't wait much longer. He couldn't ever remember being this aroused by a female. A blue mist rose from his body, surrounding him and the female in his arms. Hot flames rushed through him, heating his body and urging him to take her. He stroked his tongue into her mouth as he pushed a second finger into her, stretching her, readying her. When she tightened around his fingers he grasped her thigh and pulled her against him then thrust into her. She gasped and tried to jerk away but he held onto her, rocking against her. He slid his fingers over her clit, stroking her until she moaned and rocked against him, silently urging him to continue.

Daria tightened her arms around his neck and kissed him, stroking his tongue with hers, again and again. His mouth ravished her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. He drove into her, hard and deep as he lifted her buttocks higher against him. She met his deep thrusts.

Thorn groaned with pleasure. She was hot and perfect for him. The fever in his blood built urging him to increase his thrusts. To go deeper, harder, faster. She pulled him closer and tightened around him.

Daria became aware of that she was no longer dreaming and that the man in her bed was real. For a fleeting moment she thought she should push him away. The thought was replaced with a need she knew only he could fulfill. She dug her nails into his buttocks and returned his thrusts. "Please, please."

"Not yet. Soon," he promised her. He rose to his knees, pulling her hips up toward him. She stroked her hands over his hard belly. Their eyes met and held as he thrust into her.

She tightened around him as he drove into her, rocking against her. A deep moan of pleasure escaped her lips. She arched her back, pushing against him as she closed her eyes.

"No. Open your eyes. Look at me. Look at us," Thorn demanded.

Daria forced herself to obey him, looking down to where they were joined. He rocked harder against her, urging her higher. Suddenly, he pulled back until only the head of his cock remained in her then thrust in again, hard, deep. Unbearable heat burned through her belly and into her breasts, tightening her nipples until they ached. Her eyes met his and she fell into his fire, a soft wail of pleasure leaving her lips as ecstasy pulsed through her.

Thorn growled with passion then dropped down and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as he continued to pump into her. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her, devouring her mouth as if he'd never get enough of her. Out of control, belly to belly he licked and nibbled a path over her neck to her ear where he nipped the lobe then whispered, "Come with me."

She did and the blue mist flowed from his body and ran along hers, surrounding them. Ignoring the warning in his head, he jerked her hips against his, holding her tightly as he thrust into her as close to her womb as possible. A savage shout of pleasure echoed in the room as he flooded her with his seed.

The bonding took him by surprise.

When the tremors of pleasure slowed, and he was able to think again he cursed, jerked away from her and threw himself from the bed. His hand slammed onto the switch, activating the bedside lights.

"Who the hell are you," he demanded angrily.

Daria stared at him and tried to slow her breathing. She should be terrified but her brain felt drugged. Her body burned, her breath harsh as her heart still beat out of control. She drew in several deep breaths and even then all she could think was 'wow'. He was gorgeous. His face was a sculptor's dream with a square jaw and high, chiseled cheekbones. Black brows made angry slashes over narrowed eyes and even angry and frowning she wanted to grab him and suck on his beautifully sculpted lips. His hair was cut in the fashion of a warrior's with the sides shaved and tattoos indicating his warrior status.

Naked, except for the two golden armbands, he could have made a fortune as a model. Hysterically, she wondered if he was photogenic. If she had her camera with her, she'd find out. She swept her eyes down his body until she reached his cock. It was as amazing as the rest of him. Long and thick and very hard. She swallowed and felt herself becoming aroused again as her nipples hardened.

"Answer me. Now!" He leaned over her, grabbed her shoulders and squeezed them. His eyes stabbed into hers.

She licked her lips and tried to scoot away. A huge hand pulled her closer to the light.

Thorn stared at her. "Aulunson was right. Your eyes are the color of a wolfen's." He pushed her down onto the bed, and began gathering his clothes. He stepped into his pants and laced them.

He moved and she glanced up at his face. Silvery gray eyes stared back at her. She shivered, noted his dark hair and swept her eyes to the armband on his left arm. Gold and platinum with red stones. Her first instinct was to scream for help. Was he the Zarronian warrior who'd been at the meeting with Senator Martin?

He stared back at her while activating his communicator. "Tell Dag Cameronson that I want him, Aulunson and a security detail on the fourth floor." He glanced at the door and added, "In Section five, room seven."

"Yes, Commander Valanson."

The name startled her. So, this was Dane and Dev's father. They looked just like him. Same face, same eyes, same hair but in a masculine body that made everything feminine in her tremble. Feeling the need to put a barrier between them she pulled the sheet over her and watched as he pulled on his boots, then turned to face her.

"Get dressed. Now."

Terrified, and realizing she was about to be arrested, she scrambled from the bed and ran into the bathing chamber. Before she could close the door, he was there blocking it.

"My clothes are in here." Embarrassed, she grabbed one of his shirts and put it on. "I can explain everyth—

"Yes. I'm sure you can. You can begin by telling me your name and why you're on my starship."

"My name is Daria." She smoothed the shirt over her hips stalling for time while she tried to decide what she could tell him other than the truth. If he was the traitor then she was screwed. If he found out she was a reporter he might execute her. Either way it wouldn't end well for her.

"I asked what you're doing on the Invincible." His voice demanded an answer.

Scared she said the first thing that popped into her head. "I'm looking for my sister—I mean a friend's sister. She said she was going to sign up to go to Zarronia. I snuck on board to find her but before I could you left Earth and I was stuck here."

"What's her name and birth cycle? I'll find her for you."

"What?"

"Her name? What is it?"

"Penelope," Daria said, giving him her middle name.

"Her birth cycle?" he asked, his voice frightening.

"I don’t know, uh, but she's seventeen." Against her will she reached out to touch his arm, feeling the need to have contact with him and not knowing why.

He intercepted her hand, pushing it away. "She won't be on this starship or any other. We wouldn't accept a female that young."

His answer sparked her curiosity. "What if she lied about her age?"

He ignored her question as the door behind him opened and two warriors entered. He acknowledged them. "Aulunson, I've caught our spy. Take her to the brig. I'll question her in the morning."

"Yes, Commander."

Daria recognized Aulunson as the warrior she'd flirted with in the transfer room. He walked toward her with two metal bands in his hand. She backed away from him. "Commander? I'm not a spy."

"You are as far as the Zarronian Council is concerned." Thorn nodded at Aulunson. "Continue."

Aulunson reached for her arm and she pulled away from him.

"Commander, please?"

Aulunson grabbed her. She shifted her weight and flung him away from her. The bands flew from his hand and rolled across the floor as he landed at her feet. Immediately, he jumped up, his face red with embarrassment as he came at her again.

"Stay back. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you touch me," she warned him, as she moved into a more open part of the room.

He rushed her and she tried to knee him in his groin. He blocked her move and closed his hand around her throat and squeezed. She brought her arm up, broke his hold then whirled and punched her elbow into him where she hoped his kidney was located.

While her back was turned, Thorn grabbed her, enclosing her in his arms and lifting her from the floor. "Give me the bands Aulunson." After taking them, he lowered her to the floor then slid his hands down her body, holding her in place "Be still."

The tone of his voice froze her in place as he knelt in front of her. When he tried to lift her right foot she shifted away from him. He squeezed her ankle, sending her a silent warning.

She placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her. For a moment their eyes met and held then he broke the contact. She balanced herself with her hand on his shoulder while he placed the metal band over her foot and around her ankle. He repeated the process with the second band.

A moment later he slid his finger across the top of her right foot to the small tattoo on her big toe. Two red roses, one in full bloom and one a small bud covered the top. They were attached to a green stem with three spikey thorns, one much larger than the other two. He lifted her foot and saw that the stem went all the way around. . He stroked his finger over it. "What does this mean?"

Daria blushed with embarrassment as he rubbed the tattoo she'd gotten while she was in college. "Nothing."

He squeezed her toe and looked up at her. "Tell me."

His eyes mesmerized her and without hesitation she said, "A psychic at a fair predicted that someday I'd meet the other half of my soul. She said that love would be my only weapon."

Thorn grunted then stood up. "A female's weapon—love, deception, lies."

Daria wondered who had hurt him in the past then curious, she bent and examined the bands on her ankles. They felt wrong and she wanted them off. She pulled on one, it stretched slightly, then tightened again to a perfect fit. Astonished, she tried to stretch it enough to remove it and couldn't. She raised puzzled eyes to his then glanced at his armbands and stroked her hands over her upper arms.

He stepped away from her. "Take her to the brig, Aulunson."

"Yes, Commander."

Daria looked at him over her shoulder as Aulunson escorted her from the room. With each step away from him her anxiety grew until she felt paralyzed by it. Aulunson poked her in the back and she twisted away, turning back toward the Commander. He stood in the doorway watching her. She took a step toward him but Aulunson grabbed her arm and hauled her along the corridor and into the elevator. A soft cry of distress left her lips when two of his guards stepped in behind them blocking her view of the Commander.

She shook off Aulunson's arm and moved into the corner away from the warriors. She didn't know what was wrong with her but she couldn't seem to get a breath. As the elevator began to move, she wrapped her arms around herself and slowly inhaled. After several breaths she felt more in control. Aulunson reached for her and she jerked away. "There's no need to get rough, Aulunson. I'm not going anywhere."

"Except to the brig," he arrogantly told her.

"But, not for long," she shot back and grinned just to irritate him. "Commander Valanson will release me in the morning."

He laughed. "There's no way Commander Valanson will do that. He hates spies, especially female spies." Aulunson turned to his companions. "Do you think the Commander will release her in the morning?"

They shook their heads and sent her solemn looks.

Daria started to protest then she thought about the notes she'd taken from the Zarronian discs she'd watched and the information the boys had told her. She'd have to do some fast explaining if he found her notebook. Thankfully, she hadn't mentioned Dane and Dev. She didn't think the Commander would appreciate the fact that she'd used his sons as a source of information. No matter how innocently it had been done.

The elevator doors slid open and Aulunson led her to another room with the two guards behind her. Once inside he pointed to a small room at the far end and shoved her into it. It was very similar to a jail cell on Earth except there weren't any bars. There was a bunk and an opening in the far wall that led into a small bathing chamber. Smiling, she turned around and faced him.

"Just like home," she said, wiping the smug grin off his face.

He reached over to the wall and activated a switch. A network of red beams appeared in the opening between them. He sent her a gloating smile before he left.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to tell me not to touch them or something? Don't you care about safety?" Daria laughed. She'd bested him in front of Commander Valanson and he was ticked off about it.

She used the bathing chamber then slid onto the small cot. In the morning she'd convince Commander Valanson that she was telling the truth then when she reached Zarronia she'd ask to speak to Ambassador Eirikson.

As she fell asleep images of the way he'd held her and made love to her filled her thoughts but her dreams turned into nightmares of a land on fire, but cold. So cold.

# # #

A different guard woke her when he brought her breakfast. She accepted the tray thankful they didn't intend to starve her. After eating, she went into the bathing chamber and showered. There wasn't a comb or brush so she smoothed her wet hair as best she could. When she left the room Aulunson stood on the other side of the security beams, waiting for her. He deactivated them, motioned for her to follow him and led her to a larger cubicle where Commander Valanson sat behind a long table in the only chair in the room. He looked angrier today then he had the previous night. When she saw her notebook on the table in front of him she knew why. Not a good sign, she thought.

"That will be all, Aulunson. I'll call if I need you."

"Yes, Commander."

When they were alone Thorn said, "I've read your notebook. Who sent you?"

Daria thought quickly and decided to use part of the truth. "Nobody sent me. When I got trapped on the starship I decided to use the time to learn about your people."