Page 14 of Charmed by the Alien Warrior (Spirit Mates of the Laediriian Exiles #2)

Mara

Just before sunset, Sorrin looks around and decides we should make camp for the evening. As we’ve walked through the day, the landscape has changed drastically since this morning. The dense jungle I’ve grown accustomed to has thinned out, giving way to a harsher, rockier terrain.

The soil is dark gray and it reminds me of photos I’ve seen of volcanic beaches. Scraggly bushes and vines with needle-like leaves dot the land. With fewer trees and sparser undergrowth, the lack of cover from the dinosaurs that call Laedirissae home makes me nervous.

I can’t help the shudder of apprehension that runs through me as I look up and study the clear sky. But other than the stonelurker from earlier today, we haven’t seen any other predators. Something I’ve been very thankful for.

Sorrin leads us to a small, sheltered area between two massive boulders where we set up our camp. Nearby, a clear stream slowly winds its way over smooth rocks, the gentle burbling sound soothing. The space feels almost cozy.

He announced earlier that it should be safe enough to light a small fire to cook with, and that small luxury fills me with unexpected relief. I never thought I’d be so happy to eat mystery meat cooked over an open fire, but I am.

Sorrin quickly gathers up moss growing on the boulders and piles it up in a small hole he dug. Using the flint all the warriors seem to carry with them, he lights it and within seconds a crackling fire casts a warm glow over our campsite.

Then, he sets off to find us something to eat, telling me he heard a koyo not too far away.

The sound of the stream is too tempting to resist. The thought of being clean is enough to drag me to my feet, despite my exhaustion. I pick my way over to the water’s edge and crouch beside it. The cool water glides past, so clear I can see every detail of the pebbles below.

Glancing around to make sure I’m alone, I strip off my jeans and the supple, blue leather top the tribe gave me, leaving me in just my pink bra and the loincloth panties I started wearing after my old ones disintegrated into a mass of holes. They’re not glamorous, but they do the job.

The water is shockingly cold, and I bite back a gasp as I scoop up handfuls of it and splash it over me. A shiver courses through me, but I don’t stop, scrubbing away the layers of dirt and dried sweat that have clung to me like a second skin. It’s only been a couple of days, but it feels like weeks since I’ve been clean. The grime runs down my arms in dark rivulets.

Once I’m clean, I sit there, letting the sound of the stream and the flicker of the fire lull me into a sense of calm. I catch a glimpse of myself in the water, and I see a woman who looks almost unrecognizable. My hair is tangled, my face lined with fatigue, but there’s a strength in my eyes that surprises me.

The sound of footsteps crunching over rocks pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see Sorrin emerging from the shadows, a koyo slung over one shoulder. He pauses when he spots me, his sharp gaze taking in my bared skin.

I flush, suddenly aware of how exposed I am, and quickly reach for my top. “I was just cleaning up,” I mumble, pulling it over my head.

His eyes linger for a moment longer before he nods and heads to the fire. “The koyo won’t take long to cook. We’ll eat well tonight.” A gentle smile tips up the corners of his lips.

I’m quiet as I watch him work. It doesn’t take long before he has the koyo cleaned, sliced into strips, and sizzling on a rock next to the fire. The smell of the cooking meat fills the air blending with the earthy scent of the moss and the exotic spiciness that seems to be the fragrance of Laedirissae. As I sit there, watching the fire crackle, I realize that for the first time in a really long time, I feel completely safe. I don’t feel like I have to constantly be on guard, ready for the next traumatizing event.

And I know it’s because of the guy sitting just a few feet away from me. It’s like he has a protective aura that surrounds him, encompassing anyone near. And that happens to be me, right now.

“Thank you.” I can feel his eyes on me, but I don’t meet his gaze. “For coming after me. For the knife. For… for everything.” I heave out a sigh. “I haven’t exactly been nice to you, and I’m sorry for that.”

Sorrin is silent for so long that I start to wonder if he heard me, but when he finally speaks his voice is quiet. “You and the other humans have been through so much that I cannot even comprehend. You’ve been ripped away from your home and now you’re here.”

I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat.

Then, after a pause, Sorrin tilts his head and asks a question that catches me off guard. “What is a podcast?”

I blink, momentarily thrown by his unexpected change in topic. He must have overheard me and Isabella talking about my show the other day.

“Um… It’s like a show, like a radio show almost. No, like a recorded book.” He tilts his head in confusion, and I realize I’m explaining this really badly. “It’s a recording of someone talking about a topic, like murders or politics or music or history.”

His face clears and he nods. “Ah, we have something similar. The Ancestors left many audio and visual recordings for us in their ship.”

“Really?”

“They’re about our history and the ancient beliefs of our people.”

“Right. Well, a podcast is sort of like that. Except my podcast was about true crime. Mostly serial killers and other murderers, but I also covered a few missing person cases.”

Sorrin’s broad brow creases in dismay. “Humans enjoy listening to tales about killing?”

“Um…Some do. My listeners are mainly women because I cover a lot of crimes committed against women and other vulnerable groups.” He still looks confused, so I try to explain, “Like women who were murdered by their husbands…I mean, mates.”

Sorrin shakes his head in astonishment. “Human males do that? I do not understand. Laediriian males would never harm a female or anyone smaller than them, but especially a mate. They’re to be cherished.”

“Yeah, it happens more than people realize. Most murder victims are killed by someone close to them.” I clear my throat before continuing, “My mom was killed by her boyfriend. Her death is what lead me to become a podcaster.”

I don’t know why I’m telling him this, but the words are spilling out before I can stop them. Maybe it’s because he’s watching me and listening with his full attention, like every word that comes out of my mouth is precious. Or maybe I’m just tired—tired of the walls that I’ve built around myself. Tired of keeping people at arm’s length.

Whatever it is, now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to stop.

“She was young when she had me, and my dad didn’t stick around. She always believed she’d meet Prince Charming, and he’d sweep her off her feet. But that didn’t happen.” I glance down at my hands, clutched together in my lap. “When I was nineteen, she had this new boyfriend, and she thought he was the one.”

I roll my eyes as bitter memories resurface. “And he put on a good show. He was nice and he acted like he loved her. Even Maddie liked him.”

“But you didn’t?” Sorrin’s voice is soft, almost coaxing.

“I…I wanted to like him, but I don’t know.” I shake my head, feeling the familiar sting of tears. “It was hard. I wanted my mom to be happy, and she was. For a time.”

My vision goes blurry as the tears finally break free, and I don’t notice Sorrin sliding closer until he’s so near I could touch him, so I do. I reach out and take his large hand in mine, clinging to it like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded.

His hand engulfs mine, and the feel of his rough skin against mine feels comforting and protective. This is a man who wields a sword like it’s a toy. A man who fights hard, even though he acts like it’s a game. But with me, he’s always been gentle.

I swallow hard before continuing, “Then, one day she went missing. He claimed she was having an affair and ran off with the new guy.” My voice trembles as the words leave my mouth. “But I knew better. My mom wouldn’t do that. And she definitely wouldn’t have left me and Maddie behind.”

“But the police believed him. No one would listen to me. So, I started a blog. I wrote about my mom and her disappearance, anything to get attention to her case to try to get the police to take it seriously. And after two years, it worked. A woman who dated the boyfriend contacted me and said he threatened to kill her. She said he told her he’d already gotten away with it once.”

Sorrin’s hands tighten around mine, his eyes never leaving my face.

“The police finally started investigating the case, and they found my mom’s body.” My voice drops to a whisper on those last two words. I take a deep breath and force myself to continue, “He confessed, but it didn’t make any of it easier. After he was sentenced to prison, I kept blogging. Then I started my podcast. I wanted to understand why someone kills a person they love. And I guess, I wanted to give a voice to the people who couldn’t fight for themselves anymore. Like my mom.”

There’s a long silence after I finish, broken only by the sounds of the night around us and the crackling of the fire. Sorrin’s thumb strokes the back of my hand. His touch is gentle, almost reverent, and my heartrate speeds up as I stare at his large hand.

“I’m sorry,” Sorrin murmurs. His words are so low they’re almost a whisper. “Your mother deserved better from her mate. And so did you.”

“Yeah,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “She did.”

I finally look up and meet his gaze. Sorrin’s eyes are a golden glow so intense that my breath stutters in my chest for a split second. It’s almost like he feels the pain just as intensely as I do.

He takes a deep breath, then he speaks, “You have been through more than any one person should have to bear, but you survived and still, you fight. You honor your mother with your fight. That strength is something to be proud of.”

A self-deprecating laugh escapes me. “I don’t feel strong. Just the opposite.”

“Strength isn’t about never feeling weak.” His tone is gentle, but firm. “It’s about pushing forward even when you don’t think you can. Even when you’re frightened or tired or weak.”

A smile tugs at his wide mouth. “And you, delicate human though you are, are as strong and courageous as any warrior I have seen.”

His words take my breath away. I’ve never been good at accepting compliments, but there’s something about the way he says it that makes me believe he truly means it.

I squeeze his hand, grateful for his reassurance and his kindness. I never would have thought the carefree, grinning guy I called the village fool would be someone I’d have a deep conversation with, but here we are.

“Thank you, Sorrin, for listening to me. For being here.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Mara,” he replies softly. “I’m here because I want to be. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”

His words settle around me like a warm blanket, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I don’t feel so alone. I don’t feel like I have to take on the world by myself. Maybe, just maybe, I can lean on him a little.

I eye his muscular frame—he’s certainly big enough for me to lean on. My hand is still held in his, but now, the feel of his skin against mine is less comforting and more…something far more energizing. Even seductive.

Our gazes meet again, and heat rises to my cheeks as a tingle of arousal shoots through me and heads straight to my pussy. He takes a deep breath, and his nostrils flare out wide.

Before I can second-guess myself, I shift, closing the distance between us. His breath hitches when I reach my hand up to run it along his wide jaw. His skin is much thicker than my own, but it’s still surprisingly soft.

My fingers glide over his face, up his prominent cheek bone and to the thick ridge where his eyebrows would be if he was human. A groan erupts from his mouth. I’m not sure exactly who makes the first move, but suddenly our mouths are fused together in a kiss.

The kiss starts off soft and tentative, as if we’re both testing the waters, but before long, it’s not enough as we give in to the pull between us.

His hand releases mine and slides up to cradle the back of my head, holding me gently but firmly, as if I’m something precious he never wants to lose. I melt into him, feeling the strength and warmth of his body against mine, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself just be—no walls, no defenses, no voice in the back of my head. It’s just me and Sorrin in this moment.

Another groan rumbles through his chest when my tongue swipes along the seam of his lips. He opens and I sweep in, our tongues tangling together. His is long and rough with little bumps all along the length of it. A shiver goes down my spine as the bumps massage along my tongue.

The spicy scent that is unique to Sorrin surrounds me, and it only makes me want him more. My arms go around his neck, and I shamelessly cling to him. Our kiss continues, taking us higher and higher, and before long, his hands begin to wander. Over my back and down to clutch at my hips, drawing me closer against his body. And that’s when I feel it.

His cock is a hard bar of need pressing against me. A very large, very hard bar.

My pulse picks up speed until it’s pounding in my ears and drowning out everything else. Everything except for the incredible way this man makes me feel. The very heated way he makes me feel.

My chest feels hot and almost itchy as if it’s on fire. The heat spreads outward through my veins, leaving my skin burning with desire and shooting straight down to my throbbing clit.

God, I want him. I want this crazy, goofy, smiley alien who makes wisecracks and fights like he’s playing a game. I want to tear my clothes off and throw myself at him. I want to feel his hard body pressed against me. I want his amazing tongue to lick me from top to bottom, not missing a single spot.

A shudder ripples through me and my pussy clenches in need as I move closer, grinding against his hard cock. Sorrin’s breath comes in harsh pants as he trails his lips down my neck and lower, nipping and licking me through my shirt until he reaches the curve of my breast. He hesitates for just a split second as if waiting to see if I’ll stop him before he covers my hard, beaded nipple with his hot mouth. A moan tears from me as I throw my head back and close my eyes.

His mouth feels so good, his rough tongue swirling around my nipple as his teeth graze against the sensitive flesh through the material of my shirt. The contrast with the night air and the warmth of his mouth heightens every sensation. And it feels like my skin is electrified with sharp tingles of pleasure shooting through every inch of me.

With a wet plop, he releases my nipple and moves to the other, his teeth nipping at the sensitive bud through the fabric before sucking it into his mouth. I gasp and squirm against him. I don’t know how it happens but the next thing I know, I’m flat on my back and Sorrin is leaning over me, his amazing mouth still torturing my nipple.

Meanwhile, his hands continue to roam over me, tracing every curve and dip as if he’s trying to memorize my body. His hands are everywhere, touching me like he can’t get enough. And I don’t want him to stop. I want more. So much more.

Before I can even voice my need, he moves lower. I suck in my stomach as his mouth skates over it, his hands moving my shirt up so he can nip and lick every inch of skin he reveals. He looks up at me with hot eyes filled with desire and I can’t help the low moan that escapes my lips. I want him, want him so badly that it’s a physical ache, a burning need that’s consuming me.

When he finally reaches the waistband of my jeans, he looks up at me as if he’s asking permission before making the next move. Permission absolutely granted .

I reach down and quickly unbutton my jeans, shimmying them down over my hips and tossing them and my panties aside leaving me bare in front of him. Sorrin's eyes heat, turning even more golden, and he groans as his gaze roves over my pussy.

I can feel the wetness between my thighs, and I know I’m dripping for him.

But I don’t have time to think about that because Sorrin’s mouth is on me then, hot and demanding. He swipes his rough tongue from the bottom of my slit to the top, ending with his tongue running over my clit and making me jerk at the sensation.

“Oh, God,” I whimper, my hips bucking against him, desperate for more. “Please.”

He growls, the vibration hitting my clit just right and sending shockwaves through me. And that’s all it takes. My orgasm hits me like a freight train, and I’m gone, lost in the pleasure that suddenly crashes over me leaving me a quivering, gasping mess.

When I finally open my eyes, he’s looking down at me with a satisfied smirk on his face, and I can feel the warmth of his body surrounding me, his hard length pressing against my thigh.

Holy shit. I just let an alien go down on me, and I enjoyed it. And I wouldn’t mind doing it again. My eyes drop to his full lips. Like right now. But the ever-present voice of reason—the party pooper inside me—is already back.

No matter how much I enjoyed the far-too-brief moment of throwing caution to the wind, it’s not who I am. I’m responsible. Careful. Always thinking ahead. And yet, it felt so good. Being wrapped in his strong embrace, I felt safe, protected, even cherished—emotions I haven’t felt in a long time. Far too long.

But I can’t let myself go down that path. I don’t want to be like my mom, chasing after a man to fill the void, to make me feel whole. I won’t let this happen again. I can’t.