Page 27 of A Mate for Vasek (Tallean Mercenaries #11)

Dawn

Dawn couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Vasek had just referred to her as his mate. His mate!

That couldn’t be true, could it? Was that why he’d been avoiding her? Because he’d been trying to avoid a mate bond?

That possibility suddenly put a damper on her high of finding out they were mates. If he’d been avoiding it, that must mean he didn’t want it. The mate who didn’t want her but couldn’t let her go. What a horrible life!

“Let me down,” she demanded.

“No. I will not. You are mine, Dawn. I was stupid to try to deny it.” Beautiful green eyes met hers. “I should never have let you out of my sight. I will not make that mistake again.”

And there went the butterflies, throwing a rave in her belly. But the logical and rather annoying little voice in her head insisted she dig a little deeper.

“But you did leave. And you’ve been avoiding me for days. Why would I want that for a mate?”

A low, rumbling growl rattled her body. “I will make it up to you. I promise. And you know I keep my promises.”

They were already outside the hangar door where several guards stood. One of them looked up at them and waved them through, just as the door opened to let them in.

“I should not have left,” Vasek said as he carried her into his newly repaired shuttle.

He set her on the bed, and in the dim light of the shuttle, his eyes seemed to glow. She knew they weren’t really glowing, just reflecting light, but the effect was the same.

“Where are you hurt?” he asked.

“It’s just the skin on my neck,” she said, turning her head to expose her neck to him.

He bent his head and nuzzled her neck gently, like his tender touch alone would heal her. Then he followed the nuzzles with a tenderly applied salve that had the pain almost vanishing immediately.

Dawn knew Vasek was just looking for injuries when he stripped her of her dress and shoes and started running his hands over her skin. But her body had other ideas. Desire started as a tingling in her belly.

She cupped his cheek, catching his attention.

“Vasek.”

It was like he felt everything she did, because the look in his eyes changed, turning hungry.

“You are in need.”

“I can’t help it when you touch me.”

That earned her a smirk as he tugged on her legs.

She yelped as she was suddenly on her back on the bed.

Then Vasek was crawling over her, caging her body.

Fuck! That was hot. And now that the danger was over, she was starting to feel the happy buzz again.

She didn’t want to waste it. Especially now that Vasek was here.

“Is that so?”

She nodded. “Yes. I don’t want to fight right now. I want to fuck.”

The words had Vasek pushing her onto the mattress with a greedy growl. She was glad she was already naked because she was sure the sudden move would’ve had the gems popping off her borrowed dress.

She arched her back, offering herself to him as he licked and kissed a trail down her neck and across her collarbone.

He shoved his pants down his legs and freed his cock.

But the silky shirt he was wearing, so different from his usual clothes, was still in her way.

She clawed at the front blindly, until one of the buttons popped off with a ping.

“Oops.” She followed the golden bauble as it hit the shuttle wall and bounced.

“Doesn’t matter.” Vasek tore the shirt off with a sexy grin that showed his fangs.

Her jaw dropped at the display of firm, perfectly sculpted muscles. Damn, she was one lucky bitch!

But she didn’t have time to marvel at his perfect physique.

Every touch of his firm fingers and skillful lips threatened to set her alight with desire.

She kissed every part of him she could reach, smelling and tasting him, and reveling in his wonderfully masculine scent.

Need was searing through her, and she was ready to beg by the time his hand reached between her thighs.

Then his mouth was there too, and Dawn, needing something to hold onto, undid the thong holding his hair at the nape of his neck. She slid her fingers into the long, dark strands. But now, his mouth was at her mound too.

She moaned at the first lick.

“Fuck. You taste so good, my mate.”

His mate. Why did that make her even hotter?

Then Vasek was devouring her, kissing and licking her clit as he thrust his fingers into her. She panted and grasped for whatever control she could as something inside her tightened and her knees started to shake.

Every thrust of his fingers and exquisite circle of his tongue had her hips jerking.

And when he added another finger, stretching her, she crashed headlong into bliss.

The world exploded around her in sparks of white.

She was still shaking from her release when Vasek flipped her over to her hands and knees.

He pushed her chest down and lifted her hips, supporting her with strong hands. He palmed her ass before leaning in and biting lightly at one cheek and making her yelp.

“This ass is mine, Dawn. You are mine. My mate. And I’m never letting you go.”

In her lust-filled mind, that sounded just about right.

She was sure they’d still need to hash things out, but that was for later.

Right now, she just wanted to get fucked.

She wiggled her ass, then shoved it back at him, trapping his cock between their bodies.

She giggled, satisfied, when he groaned.

Then he was there, spreading her cheeks and lining them up.

He filled her in one fluid motion, and she hissed at the sudden and thorough intrusion.

He filled her so completely that there was no room for air.

Maybe it was the position, but it bordered on pain, and she instinctively tried to crawl away.

“Mine,” he snarled.

She wasn’t really trying to get away. She wanted him. But it was just so much, and she needed—

Then he was fucking her, fighting to pump in and out of her, as her channel gripped onto him despite how wet she was.

Pleasure and pain assaulted her senses, and there was nothing she could do, not even scream, as he pummeled into her with firm, powerful strokes.

She dug her fingers into the mattress, scratching and scraping through the overwhelming sensations.

She finally drew enough air to scream into the mattress.

Then the world seemed to fade away, and it was only them with everything they shared.

One shared breath. Two hearts beating. A silence so loud it was deafening.

Then she was consumed by the fireworks that lit up around her and brought her back into the world.

Vasek

Vasek rejoiced in the sense of ultimate victory. Dawn’s body shook from rapture, her screams filling his ship with proof of her bliss. He continued to fuck her, trying to draw out her pleasure.

He loved the sound of her screams. The way she shook and shuddered under him. He loved the feeling of her channel clenching around him, milking him. And he wanted to feel it again and again.

But it was too much. The tingling was starting at the base of his spine, and he knew it was a matter of time before it took over. Jaw tight, he closed his eyes and pumped wildly into her, his movement bordering on erratic. Then he was there, his release pouring from him with a loud snarl.

He was leaning over her, one hand on the mattress, holding himself up, afraid to move in case he collapsed on her. With much effort, he lowered himself to the bed beside her and rolled them so she was lying on top of him.

“I think you tired me out,” she said, yawning.

“Then I consider that a job well done.”

“There’s no doubt about that. I think I might need an encore.” She yawned again. “But maybe after a nap.”

Vasek’s translator paused briefly at the strange word, but eventually filled it in, finding it in another Earth language. “Of course.”

But Dawn was already drifting off. As her breathing slowed, Vasek closed his eyes, praying to the Stars that this would not be the last time they were together.

***

“Good morning, my mate.” The endearment felt so right, and Vasek knew he would never be bored of calling her his mate.

He’d never felt so much joy as he had with her in his arms and his bed. But he wasn’t sure how she’d react when she woke. Afraid that she’d demand he let her go, he’d taken off in the middle of the night, so they were currently above Vosthea, staying synced with Kean’s stronghold.

Dawn reached over, looking for something, and Vasek handed her the glass of nuri leaf tea he’d made for her.

It must’ve been the right thing because she took several large sips before slowing down.

Nuri leaf tea was good any time, but was especially useful after an evening of booze and other recreational substances.

Dawn had added a fight and a kidnapping to her list. Well, technically two kidnappings, one attempted by Morad and one successful by him.

“Morning,” she said after finishing almost half the glass. She looked around his shuttle and Vasek could see all the events of last night, probably hazy through a fog of drink and Euphora, run through her head. She frowned.

“What time is it?”

“Almost midday on Vosthea at Kean’s stronghold.”

Her eyes went wide. “I’m supposed to be at work.”

“On the day after the celebration?”

“It pays twice as much today. And I wanted to build my credits.” She started to get up, but Vasek lightly pushed her back down onto his bed.

“Who are you working with?”

“Ulkin.”

Vasek huffed. He bet Kean had put her with Ulkin, hoping to get Vasek to stay and work for him. The conniving male might just get his way. But first, Vasek had to get Dawn to accept their mating. Last night proved that her body wanted and needed his, but what about her heart?

Dawn tried to get up again, so he moved, straddling her to keep her pinned.

A sudden rush of lust filled the air, but he ignored it the best he could.

He pulled his comm out from the pocket next to his bed and contacted Ulkin.

The older medic sounded like a youngster the morning after he’d had his first encounter with hard drink.

“What do you want, Vasek? This better be you accepting my offer.”

“Unfortunately not.”

“Then how the fuck am I supposed to retire?”

Dawn listened in, amusement on her face.

“I’m just comming to let you know that I have kidnapped your newest recruit, and she will not be in today, or anytime in the near future.”

“Hey, I didn’t—”

Vasek covered her mouth with a palm and delighted in the fiery glare Dawn sent him.

“About time you took a mate!”

Dawn turned her glare on his comm even as the call disconnected from Ulkin’s side.

He replaced his palm with his mouth, and Dawn melted under him, her body softening to press against his.

“You can’t just do that every time I’m angry,” she panted when he finally released her mouth. “And I am still angry at you. Just because we fucked doesn’t mean I forgive you for disappearing. You never even gave me a reason.”

Vasek took a deep, calming breath, then launched into his story, telling her about his family’s supposed curse. He told her about his father and his half-brothers. And finally, about Ranek.

“That’s the man who came in with you to rescue me.”

“Yes. I tried to save Channa, but I couldn’t. He was so angry. He lashed out at everyone and everything. He was already at the edge of sanity after she’d rejected him so many times for another male. She’d told him she’d rather die than be with him.”

“God! That’s horrible. I’ve heard stories of Talleans going crazy because of unreciprocated mate bonds.” Her eyes softened. “So this is why you ran. Because of this… curse?”

“Yes. But that was a mistake.”

Vasek thought of his brother’s words. If Ranek was willing to take another chance on finding his mate, even after all that had happened, then Vasek could do no less.

“Now I wish to fight the curse. You are mine, Dawn. I love you, and I cannot let you go.”

“So you’ve kidnapped me to force a mate bond. You do know I’m human? I can’t form one.”

“But you can love. I wish to earn your love.” He held her tight and looked into her eyes, wishing she could see his sincerity.

“I will do anything for you. Go anywhere for you. If you wish to return to Kean’s compound after our current excursion, I will accept Ulkin’s job offer.

But if you want to travel with me, we can do that as well.

I’ll need to increase security for your safety, but I’ll make it work.

And if Earth becomes safer, I will even take you there. Anything to make you love me.”

The corner of her lip started to shake. Then her whole body was shaking. Her next words came out a small sob. “I already do.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. I do. I love you.”

Vasek wanted to roar at the triumphant feeling that seized him. She loved him!

“I was trying to deny it, but I do. And I don’t need Earth anymore.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I just wanted to go home. But now I realize that home isn’t just a place. It’s a place, and time, and people, and things… all mixed together to form a feeling. I’ll never get that again on Earth.”

Vasek understood. And that feeling had been something he’d been avoiding for far too long. He, too, craved to be home.

“Dawn.” He looked into her vibrant green eyes, his chest feeling warm and full of hope. “Will you make a home with me?”

“Yes, Vasek! Yes, I will!”