Page 15 of Guardian’s Destiny (Space Guardian’s Mate #3)

VRAAX

I wasn't sure what idiotic part of me decided it was a good idea to sit on top of her and massage her back, but it was the worst kind of torture I had ever experienced.

My ass rested right on the swell of hers, hardening my already stiff cock to a painful level as I gently massaged her back. No wonder she was so uppity all the time; the muscles in her back were nothing but one giant knot. No, strike that, an assortment of knots making one big one.

Her soft little groans didn't help matters with my cock whenever they moved through her body. I imagined how it would feel like being buried deep inside her pussy having her scream my name in pleasure. Frygg, my hard-on was on the verge of exploding; already I felt precum leak down my shaft. This female would be the death of me. I was sure of it.

Finally, I moved to her neck and used the soothing rhythm a Hettita had used on me once after an especially arduous criminal hunt. I was glad I had memorized her moves even after all these years. Even Sloane had to give up her stubborn tenseness, and it didn't take long until I felt her body relaxing under my ministrations. Soon, her breathing evened out as she fell into a deep sleep. I didn't stop yet, though. I enjoyed the feel of her soft flesh under my fingers; her hair was just as silky as I had imagined it would be. No matter how torturous it was feeling her luscious ass so close to mine, I wasn't ready to leave the warmth of her body between my thighs.

Not until my cock started complaining more vigorously, only then, with a hesitant sigh, I moved carefully off her. It wasn't easy, given my condition, my dick screamed with every motion and wouldn't even allow me to walk straight to the bathroom, where in the cleansing chamber I took care of it. Faster than I would have liked, but the relief was worth it despite knowing that it would be short-lived. Nothing short of having her body would fully satisfy me.

Unfortunately, with every passing day, my suspicion grew that even once she surrendered her body to me, it would never be enough. She had burrowed under my skin, taken root in my mind, and no amount of touch or taste would ever satisfy the craving she had awakened in me. Every other female would have been lying at my feet by now, eager for my claim. But not her. Sloane was fire and steel, a force entirely her own, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by the way she met me head-on, never yielding, never breaking.

Her strength and resilience didn’t just command my respect—they ensnared me, pulled me in deeper with every sharp retort, every challenge in those fierce eyes. She wasn’t just another conquest, another fleeting indulgence. She was the first person—male or female—who had ever truly impressed me, who made me want more than just submission. I wanted her , all of her, the fire and the fight, the softness she kept so carefully hidden. And that realization hit me harder than any wound ever had.

I wasn’t just obsessed with her. I was falling —and for the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to land.

I contemplated lying back down on the padded chair, but the bed and her were calling to me. I was fairly certain that she would be pissed in the morning, when she found me sleeping on the bed, but it would be worth it. Any attention from her was worth it.

She had passed out in the middle of the bed. Even when I scooted to the furthest edge, our bodies were still touching, and it felt so frygging good. I turned my back to her, felt her knee pressing into my kidney, and it was the most erogenous touch in the universe. She would be beyond pissed, but this was worth her fury. I closed my eyes and fell instantly asleep.

It started like all the other dreams. I was running through the forest while a red sun sat high in the sky. I wasn't afraid; I was furious. I didn't recognize the blade in my hand, a long, broad sword. It was alien to me, but I was ready to impale whoever was attacking my village. My village. I didn't simply just live there; I was the Primarch of our town—a title that was earned, not inherited. It was my responsibility to keep our people safe. Whoever was attacking us, and I had a pretty good idea who, was going to regret it.

The forest seemed never-ending as screams grew louder. A male rushed by me, his face contorted in grief, but I still recognized Tharaax. Part of my conscious mind wanted to stop and stare, but my dream body kept moving. Or was it a dream? It felt more like a memory.

A disc-like thing followed Tharaax as he weaved his way through the trees, carrying his new mate, Suahanna, in his arms. A loud droning sound gained in intensity, so much so that I wanted to press my hands to my ears. I looked back over my shoulder and watched Tharaax falter as I pushed on, away from the sound, but I did catch a glimpse of a drone hovering above him.

For a moment, I was torn between going back and helping him or making my way to the town, where it sounded like hundreds were in danger.

The sound was getting deeper; my knees were giving in as a weight settled on my back, pushing me down. I flung my sword uselessly as my legs gave out under me.

"Vraax!" Hands shook me awake.

Disoriented, I stared at Sloane. A headache so strong I feared it would crack my skull tore through me, hard enough to bring up bile through my esophagus. I leaned over the bed and heaved, which only aggravated the pain.

"Vraax?" This time, her voice sounded more concerned, but still, it pierced my head.

I hardly realized Sloane jumping off the bed as I curled into a ball, holding my head in both hands. I did feel her soft hands pressing a cool piece of cloth against my throbbing forehead, and it felt amazing.

I could still see myself running, saw Tharaax's face in front of me as clear as I had in the dream, which only intensified the pain. Was my mind conjuring Tharaax's face up for me because it was familiar? Or was this some kind of memory where we had actually known each other? More bile rose in my throat. I barely pushed Sloane out of the way before I vomited all over the side of the bed.

"Good God, Vraax." She sounded really alarmed now.

There was no way we could have known each other. According to Possedion, we had been bred and grown in a lab. Maybe from training? I forced myself to remember my training days, or at least the other trainees. Had he been there? Impossible, he was older than me. There was no way we had trained at the same time. The other trainees' faces I managed to call up through the pain were all nondescript. They could have been anybody.

"Vraax, stop," Sloane was shouting at me now, and I wanted to shout the same words back at her, but my mind was stuck in a loop, and my head hurt so badly I couldn't form a word or use any of my brain cells to force my lips to. Instead, I vomited again.

"Fuck Vraax!"

She grabbed me by the shoulders and tried to shake me, but I must have been too heavy for her. I was sure I would die; the pain was excruciating, I?—

I spat and sputtered as she threw the contents of a pitcher of cold water into my face. Some got stuck in my nose and mouth. I coughed, and she dumped another over me.

"Vraax!"

I looked up, slowly, ever so slowly, as the pain retreated, and my mind began to focus on her. Some species in the universe believed in demons and angels, if there were such a thing. I was sure she was a demangel or dangel, neither one nor the other but a mix of the two. I was convinced she had just saved my life in the most torturous way she could have thought up. A normal female would have kissed me to distract me. Not her. Her way of saving me was to throw water at my face. I kind of had to respect that.

My head stopped hurting completely when she waved a healing wand over it.

"Damnit Vraax, you scared the bejeebers out of me." She cursed.

I cleared my throat, gagged on the nauseating aftertaste of bile and vomit. My voice sounded hoarse. "Thank you. I think you just saved my head from exploding."

"Here," she pushed a cup of water in my hand and wiped my face again with the damp clothes. Her harsh voice was in stark contrast with the tenderness she showed me and the evident worry in her eyes. She was grinding her jaw hard, giving her already sharp features even more of an edge. However, a slight smile tugging at her lips dimmed the harshness.

I drank the cool liquid down, and my throat felt instantly better.

The opening of the sliding door announced the arrival of the first cleaning bots, and Sloane stepped out of their way.

"You should take a shower," she advised. "Afterward, we can work on our plans."

I had seen GTU and Imperial Forces members salute each other and always thought it was a rather silly notion, but right then, I understood it. I was tempted to do so to her. The tone of her voice was commanding enough for it, plus she was slowly earning my respect.

Many females and even males would have turned away from me, wouldn't have known what to do, let alone empty a pitcher of water onto my face. Sloane had guts, and she had the know-how to back it up. The seven suns help me, but I was falling faster and harder for her than should be possible. I wouldn't have even needed the damn mating marks, I would have picked her to be my mate from millions of others.