Page 7 of Arakiba (Alien Legacy Brotherhood #3)

Chapter Six

T he next thing she knew, Morgan was flat on her back on the luxurious bed she’d spied earlier, blanketed by Ari’s slick body. Since she couldn’t remember walking from the bath to the bed, she came to a startling conclusion.

“We’re in a Dreamwalk, aren’t we?” She stared at the throbbing pulse at the base of his muscular neck. She fingered his skin as she studied his handsome face. “This isn’t real, is it?”

He pulled back, leaning his upper weight on his brawny arms as he stared down at her. “I don’t know what a Dreamwalk is, but does it matter? It all feels pretty real to me.” He closed the distance between them until the only thing she saw was the burning intent in his gray eyes. “And if it is a dream, I’d rather not wake up.” His lips hovered close.

Energy crawled from the tips of her toes and swirled up her body as she studied his mouth. Her nipples and clit swelled. Damn man hadn’t even touched her yet. The anticipation of his kiss made her mind blank. She couldn’t think, couldn’t move. Just stare into his eyes, her body tight with suspense. Her heart thudded in a hard rhythm as she caught her breath, waiting… waiting for that first touch.

After an eternity, his full lips once again caressed hers. His soft brushstrokes threatened to steal the last of her sanity. Deep inside, her muscles clenched as arousal teased her. To hang on, she wrapped her arms around his neck, entwining one of her legs between his. The action put her throbbing sex in line with his hard member.

Grabbing a bunch of her hair in one fist, he pulled her head to the side as the soft kiss turned into a blazing inferno. He widened his legs, splaying hers. Swallowing her gasp, he danced his tongue with hers, stroking in an all-consuming act. They moved as one. His free hand shaped her body, smoothing down her side, and cupped her butt cheek, bringing their groins even closer. She wiggled to rub his heavy erection against her, desperately trying to get the friction where she craved it.

Ari broke the kiss, closing his eyes with a moan before she once again became the focus of his intense hunger.

A shiver slipped down her spine.

“ Irnini ,“ he groaned. “Have pity on this simple man. I’m having a hard time keeping control when you move against me like that. I beg you, take this slow so we may savor our time together.” He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Let me discover what you like. Allow me to explore you more thoroughly.”

He didn’t wait for her answer as he bent and kissed the side of her neck. That dangerous free hand of his roamed under one of her breasts before covering it. He feathered kisses from her jawline to the underside of her chin.

Lifting himself, he dropped his heated gaze to her exposed breasts. He sucked in a sharp breath. “If there is anything more gorgeous, I’d insist that wasn’t possible.” His reverent whisper was a heartfelt prayer.

Morgan warmed under his regard, feeling sexy and wanton. For this fiercely beautiful man to say something like that was more than she dared to hope from any lover. Reaching up, she traced the minute lines on his face, the shape of his scruffy jaw, before outlining the contour of his luscious lips.

She allowed a sultry smile to peek out, peering at him through her lashes. “It’s hard to believe you don’t know what you’re doing,” she admonished him.

His only answer was to cup one of her breasts, his thumbs brushing her peaked nipples before dipping his head to run a trail of fire from her chin, down her throat, to the tips of her breasts. The erotic action of his mouth tugging and pulling her sensitive nipple caused the puckered skin to harden.

A small keening moan escaped her throat.

He let her breast go with a pop, then feathered kisses down her ribs to her flat stomach, with light licks here and quick nips there. Her muscles quivered and rippled under his masterful ministrations.

“Your skin is so delicious,” Ari growled against her stomach. With almost languid movements, he traveled south to the curls at the juncture of her sex. “What’s this?” he teased. “Must be a lush territory, just waiting to be conquered.”

Oh God . She should tell him his corny words were stupid. Later. Much, much later.

“And what mysteries do we have here?” He breathed on her mound as he used a finger to part the curtain of her sex. “Ah, this little bud. What shall I do with you, my little friend?” He tickled her overly sensitive flesh with his forefinger, nestling his broad shoulders between her thighs, widening the juncture for his pleasure.

If the damn man was any better at this, she wouldn’t survive his so-called fledgling inexperience. Morgan gripped his shoulders and moaned softly, unable to voice those directions she’d promised him. As if he needed guidance from her.

Ari turned his head, a lazy, languid motion. Those steel-gray eyes turned a dark shade, now tinged in molten silver. “Your scent has enthralled me, irnini,” he whispered. “If there is anything more riveting in the universe, I would argue it wasn’t possible.” He inhaled deeply, a self-indulgent grin creasing his full lips as he studied her womanhood. Stark, raw hunger stamped on the lines of his face. So seductive.

Her entire body clenched in anticipation as she held her breath. Every word, every touch from him, was killing her. Slowly. Inch by sizzling inch. His kisses. The feel of his hard body against hers.

She burned for him. Right the hell now.

“Please, Ari,” she mumbled, squirming beneath him. Every part of her was trying to force him back up to align their bodies just where she wanted them.

“Now, none of that.” He gave a smart slap to the edge of her butt. “I’m going to make sure you’re ready for me, my beauty. I couldn’t bear it if I somehow fell short of bringing you the ultimate pleasure.”

Morgan gasped at the slight sting and grabbed the top of his head. She tugged his silken strands, trying once again to bring him over the top of her. “No… I’m… ready… now!” She wailed when his tongue swept over her straining bud, causing her to buck mindlessly.

He clamped an arm around her waist to hold her captive for his hedonistic attention.

Another short smack, causing heat to flare. Part pain, but mostly pleasure.

“Don’t be so impatient, irnini . Stay still.”

“I can’t… no… impossible,” she gasped her denial.

His head lifted, his glistening mouth now creased with a stern, reprimanding look.

Morgan’s fingers fisted closer around his captive hair, but stopped trying to move him. She held on for all she was worth as the building pressure strained from her sex outward. It was almost more than she could bear.

Keeping his steely gaze on her, he lowered his head once again, his wicked tongue stroking her nub before stabbing deep inside her.

Morgan convulsed, bucking her hips despite the restraint of his arm. Her womb flexed hard.

He started out slow at first, leisurely assaulting her with his teeth and tongue, driving her insane with need. Masculine sounds of dominance escaped his throat, as if he couldn’t get enough of her taste. His arms tightened, keeping her in place as he licked and suckled to his heart’s content.

She writhed under him, her head tossing as she spilled more of her cream into his mouth. Sharp pleasure gripped her stomach as he inserted one of his thick fingers into her.

Morgan tensed as rapture rolled up. She wouldn’t live through this. This decadent play coiled her body tighter and tighter, threatening to blow her apart.

Just when she was sure nothing would stop the cataclysm, Ari lifted his head, possession glittering in his molten-gray eyes.

He leaned away to sit on his heels. He lifted her hips, positioning himself at her entrance, her legs draped over his elbows, widening her womanhood. Skillfully, he burrowed his wide cock inside her.

Unbidden, her slick channel tightened around him, daring him to leave.

Instead of retreating, his hot, thick, velvet steel pushed in, inch by glorious slow inch, as if to claim his rightful place.

Her breath hitched as she grabbed his forearms to hang on.

His fingers held her hips tight as he relentlessly bore into her. He threw his head back with a low-pitched growl. “ Ninmulmulla !“ His face was a mask of raw intent as his hips plunged his manhood deep inside, reaching the end of her womb, fully embedded.

Morgan’s body bowed. Throwing her legs off the shelf of his arms, she planted the soles of her feet on the firm mattress, finding leverage. She rose to meet the thrusts of his powerful hips, the musky scent of their joining ramping her pleasure to another level. Heat seared her, a scorching blaze she couldn’t run from. The tension was just out of reach, stretching on and on, with no end in sight. She dug her fingernails into his arms and tossed wildly under him.

Surging forward, Ari fastened his mouth on hers.

The steel piston of his living flesh drove into her quivering folds. Over and over. Hard and unrelenting until Morgan’s orgasm ripped through her, causing her to jerk her lips from his as her body clamped down hard on his. She shattered, and her bones and muscles melted under the explosion of shocking pleasure. She absently experienced Ari exploding inside her like a fiery comet, erupting with pulse after scorching pulse.

When breathing became possible once again, Morgan somehow found the energy to lift her hand to his face.

He turned his head to catch her fingers with his mouth, sucking gently. He opened his lips to release them. The slumbering joy in his eyes was an open invitation as he leaned toward her, his expressive steel-colored orbs lowered in half-lidded purpose.

Everything around her dissolved.

Morgan groaned, putting an arm over her eyes to block out the dim light of the Ozevroc engine room. She’d never experienced a Dreamwalk before, but she knew all about them from the way her psychic friends bragged how enjoyable they were. Especially Seren. The woman claimed the best way to judge a potential lover was to see how imaginative they were when they joined on that psychic plane.

Well, if that was the case, Ari passed with flying colors. She dropped her arm and groaned. And then some. Freaking man was a master. Not only creating several realistic scenes, but, Gods above… if that’s what he did with a limited memory, how devastating would he be once he got them back? She sighed. No sense putting it off. She had to confront this head-on. No need to pretend it didn’t happen.

Morgan frowned. But what if he didn’t realize she was there with him? That the experience was more than just a dream? Should she push the point? To what end? Like she was ready to drop everything to explore a relationship with the guy? As if she didn’t have her hands full with life-and-death issues right now. Getting out of this place alive was the only thing she should focus on. After she saved their lives, maybe she’d consider something different with Ari. That was a big maybe. The man was a walking mystery, and it might be foolish to even consider exploring anything personal with him.

A fleeting memory made her frown. She swore toward the end of their psychic lovemaking, he spoke in an ancient language that she hadn’t heard in a long time. He called her Ninmulmulla, which was an ancient word that meant “lady of many stars.” How was it he spoke in the native tongue of her grandfather, Rummeh, the High Guardian of Aethralis—who was an alien from the planet Akurn? Ari even had the same old-world accent the old man had. What did that mean? The only thing that came to mind was the Adamou created by the Akurn scientists over seven thousand years ago. But they were all accounted for. Weren’t they? Morgan sucked in a nervous breath. Could he be a Titan that escaped their confinement in Aethralis? Her stomach dropped. Did that last invasion attempt by the Akurns somehow set them free?

A strong sense of urgency struck her. She had to get back to Earth, now, more than ever. But first, she’d better confront Ari for more reasons than just their little tryst in the dream world.

Scrambling out of her sleeping alcove, she strode with determined steps to the other side of the room where Ari slept. Only, he wasn’t sleeping. He wasn’t even there. Putting her fists on her hips, she looked around the spacious room. Maybe he was in the refresher unit. No, she didn’t even have to get close.

The door to the room was open, and no sounds came from it.

Okay, maybe he was inside Elemi . With a firm purpose in mind, she marched to the ship. Since the arched doorway was open, she stomped inside and looked around. Nope. Not there either.

Now her sense of urgency took on another twist. He was gone… again? She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Now what? Even if she accessed the ship’s computer to find him, what good would that do? It’s not like she could leave here to find him. She blew out a breath and dropped her arm with a hard swing.

Okay, first things first. She’d be damned if she wasted another second not doing anything. Time to do what she could and not worry about something she couldn’t. Going over to the replicron, she announced, “Display replicron!” The machine waved into sight. Opening the storage unit, she pulled out the food replicator and the small spider-bot she’d put in there for safekeeping.

First off, a cup of coffee. Strong coffee. Yeah, if nothing else, that would set the world right. Then she’d get to work on this droid to see if it could help repair Elemi . Then she’d leave this goddess-forsaken piece-of-shit ship and go home.

With or without Ari.

A brutal squeeze of shattering pain squeezed Ari’s temples. He moaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes before opening them. Instead of enjoying the gorgeous Morgan in a sultry bedroom, he was somewhere dark, cold, and smelly. He sneezed. By Tiamat’s titties! He gagged at a stench so vile, like something died, decomposed, and filed a formal complaint about the accommodations. Even when he’d helped his family rescue humans in a destroyed section of one of their large cities buried under layers of refuse, it wasn’t this bad. The image of dead animals packed along with rotting food swirling in streams of liquid from a broken sewer line popped into his mind. Even that smell didn’t come close to this mind-numbing stink-o-saurus.

Startled at the memory, he tried to grasp it before it floated away. No such luck. He fisted his hand and hammered it on the unforgiving floor in frustration.

Anything loose around him floated up, then crashed hard on the metallic floor.

“Going up. Going down. Make pretty sound.”

Ari twisted to look behind him at the singsong litany of a masculine voice. The room barely had enough light to see anything clearly. He squinted at a large shape across from him several feet away. At first, all he could make out was a huge blob of some kind of humanoid creature. Two legs, two arms, a torso, and one head.

No fur or short stature. Not an Ozevroc then. Ari scratched his head. Didn’t Morgan tell him the only species on the ship were them and those fuzzy, creepy aliens? If that wasn’t an Ozevroc, then what was it?

The dim lights in the room flickered before going out.

“Food. Food. Food. I need. I find.” The deep baritone continued to sing. “Fuzzy no good. Taste bad. Find better food. Follow the light. Follow the light. As’ni follow the light.”

Ari waited. No other sounds. Like the creature vanished. Great, alone in this disgusting place, wherever he was. Goddess, what he wouldn’t give to have some light.

And just like that, his palm raised up, and a shining, rolling a ball of light perched just above his skin. He jumped back with a girly squeal and shook his hand.

Darkness took over again.

What the hell? He raised his hand to look at. Duh, no can do in pitch darkness, moron. Rubbing his opposite thumb against his palm, he was surprised there was no pain. Nothing singed or burned. Okay, he might not have an explanation for what just happened, but he couldn’t stand here with his thumb up his ass all day. Raising his hand palm up again, he concentrated on getting some light.

The illuminating ball of fire returned.

Ari brought it closer so he could study it. His brows raised. Dang thing didn’t generate any heat. Just light. How odd. Well, no telling how long this would last. Shining the light in front of him, it was clear he was still on the Ozevroc ship. In their disgusting garbage holding area. With a grimace, he searched his back pocket for the multicorder Morgan had given him.

Of course, it wasn’t there. He wasn’t wearing his jeans. Just some shorts he’d put on before searching for dreamland in his little niche of paradise in the engine room. Now that he noticed he wasn’t in the climate-controlled engine room, chill bumps broke out, and he shivered. His breath came out in a foggy whisper with each exhale.

Ari turned around, casting the light on the walls to see if he could find a door of some kind. Nothing. The walls were solid. A shrill squeal was the only warning he got when a trap door slid open above his head. Seeing a load of unsavory items ready to tumble down, he leapt out of the way before a mass of garbage rained down, missing him by inches. The air filled with a choking stench—a fresh but nauseating blend of rotting food, burned electronics, and the acrid tang of spilled chemicals. His eyes watered as he surveyed the mess, seeing twisted scraps of metal, broken containers leaking dark, viscous fluids, and a tangle of wires sparking intermittently. The gleam from his ball of light cast eerie shadows on the piles, making them seem alive, like some grotesque, breathing monster.

Sucking in a shallow breath, he closed his eyes and hung his head. His heart raced, making it hard to concentrate. He had to get out of here. He had to…

“Take a deep breath, Ba, and relax.” A distant, familiar memory of a man’s calm voice filtered through. An exercise he’d been through before. Many times.

“All you have to do is relax and envision where you want to be.” The steady tone made Ari’s stiff muscles relax.

“That’s it.” The encouraging voice in his memory continued. “Can you see where you want to be?”

“Yes,” Ari whispered out loud. He wanted to be with Morgan. He yearned to be with Morgan. Back at the chaotic mess of the engine room. He craved to hear the musicality of her feminine voice. To savor the way her body moved in perfect harmony, a person comfortable in their own skin. The intelligent, practical way she tackled everything without a hint of panic.

“Now imagine you are already there…” The name Azazel floated away as his tranquil voice faded.

“Where the hell have you been?”

Morgan’s sharp demand shattered Ari’s serenity.

His eyes popped open.

And… there she was. Standing with her lips pressed into a frown, her fists resting on her trim hips in all her annoyed glory.

Ari did the only thing a man like him could do. He swept her into his arms and kissed the living shit out of her.

Just the feel of holding the pliant, warm woman in his arms made everything fade into the background for Ari. The sensation of her open mouth against his became an invitation to dive deep inside. One he was eager to take, so he didn’t hesitate. Tangling his tongue with hers, he grasped her firm yet supple butt and pulled her against him. He swallowed their dual groans as his hard erection rubbed against her soft belly.

He walked her backward, aiming for the beckoning allure of her makeshift bed just a few steps away.

Then the lights and gravity went out.

Free floating, their bodies separated.

Morgan cursed under her breath, giving him her location. Reaching out, Ari grasped her arm and pulled her close. “What the hell is going on?” he groused close to her ear.

“I don’t know.” Morgan wrapped her arms around his neck. “This is the second time it’s happened in the last hour.” She gripped the back of his head and pulled his hair to force his head back. “Where have you been?”

The lower part of their bodies drifted apart. Ari put his hand back on her ass and pulled her close. “Wrap your legs around my waist. I don’t want you to get hurt when the gravity comes back on.” Okay, that wasn’t the only reason. But still.

Morgan huffed, but wrapped her muscular legs around him.

He swallowed a happy groan and nuzzled the side of her neck. Being in the dark brought all sorts of good things, as far as he was concerned. Holding her like this… breathing in her musky, womanly scent made his head spin. The tantalizing recollection of what they shared in that bedroom wouldn’t leave.

“Hey.” She tugged a little harder. “Answer the question.”

“Hmm? What question?” Ari whispered, pulling her lower body tighter. Her covered breasts smashed against his naked chest. He ignored the slight tinge of pain from her tugging at his hair.

“Where have you… ah!” Morgan didn’t get to finish her sentence before the dim lights blinked back on and gravity took hold.

Ari had just enough presence of mind to roll as they hit, making sure he took the brunt of pain the landing caused. Thank the goddess he’d cleaned the floor the other day. Landing on those hard metal rejects would’ve made things worse.

They ended up with her on top.

Morgan put her palms against his chest and pushed up, flinging her curly golden mop over her head and out of her face. She glanced down at him, then at where her hands were on his pecs. With a hiss, she jerked her hands off him.

He smiled, grasping her trim hips to keep her in place. Yeah, her sex was now snug in line with his. He bent his legs to give her a comfortable backrest.

Not that he expected her to take advantage of it. Which she didn’t. She dismounted like he was some stallion. Now, there was a thought…

Her gaze flickered to his straining erection, tenting his snug briefs.

No way to hide that bad boy. He laced his hands behind his head and gave her a huge grin.

She snorted and stood over him with her hands on her hips.

He half expected her to wag a finger at him.

“Ari, get up,” she admonished. Her no-nonsense tone made up for her lack of gestures.

“Spoilsport,” he muttered with a provocative smile. Well, guess playtime was over. He rolled to stand before her.

“Now, look.” Morgan crossed her arms. “Just because we ah, met in a Dreamwalk, it doesn’t mean…”

“A what?” He cocked his head. “What’s a Dreamwalk?”

“It’s a psychic plane where people can meet to do, um, personal things if they want.” The caramel skin across her cheeks darkened. She waved her hands. “But that’s not what’s important. What’s important is…”

Ari’s whole body tensed, spiking awake. “You created some kind of dream world where we could be together?” He reached for her. “Not that I mind, but I’d rather do what we did in real life.”

“I did no such thing!” She scowled, twisting away, exasperation stamped firmly on her face. “Even if I wanted to, which I don’t!” She waved a hand to warn him off. “I couldn’t. I don’t have that kind of psychic power.”

Ari rubbed his scruffy jaw. One of these days, he’d find the time to shave. “Well, if you didn’t, then who did?”

Morgan threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, for God’s sake. Isn’t it obvious?” She pointed her forefinger at him. “You did, you big lummox. You obviously have some psychic abilities.” Her green-gold eyes narrowed. “So, the question is… what or who are you? Where did you come from? Why are you going around killing Ozevroc, and what did you do with their relic?” She moved in and poked his chest with her finger. “Are you here to enslave the galaxy like you guys tried to do before?”

Enslave the galaxy? Ari’s stomach hardened. What kind of thing was that to accuse him of? First she claimed he was some kind of murderer and thief, now she was saying he’s a tyrant poised to take over the galaxy. What the everlasting fruk?

Ari crossed his arms. Any warm, fuzzy feelings he’d had dissipated with each ridiculous accusation. Shaking his head, he lowered his eyes and studied the woman. He couldn’t believe she had all these pent-up accusations without a shred of proof. The thought crossed his mind to tell her where he’d awakened, hoping it might convince her to help him figure out why these things kept happening.

Ari studied her mulish bearing. Like she’d be open to that now. Not with the mistrust written all over her face.

“Look, if I was the psychic you claim I am,” he growled. “I sure as hell wouldn’t stand here and listen to this bullshit.” He’d had enough. If there was one thing he knew about himself, it was he hated it when people made assumptions about him—just like she had. The woman hadn’t even bothered talking to him first before spewing stupid crap that had nothing to do with him.

“You may not have known me for very long…” Ari started. “Hell, I haven’t known myself for very long.” Face and neck heating, he leaned into her stiff finger. “But it should be obvious I’m nothing like what you accuse me of.” With an impatient glare, he swung around and headed to the refresher unit, locking himself in. It wasn’t until he stepped into the sonic cleanser that he realized he hadn’t brought in any clothes.

Well, too bad. She could just suffer all his naked glory when he strode to his alcove to put clothes on when he was done.