Page 7 of Hainn (Sectors New Allies #19)

CHAPTER SEVEN

J ezari had huge butterflies in her gut on the morning of the surfing trip. Equipped with a backpack of essentials, wearing her blaster she reported to the landing field well before dawn as ordered. Hainn broke away from the circle of men standing beside the designated flyer as if he’d been watching for her, which warmed her heart.

“Are you excited?” he asked, taking her backpack and slinging it over his shoulder.

“Scared to death I think,” she said with a laugh. “What have I gotten myself into here?”

“As much fun as it’s possible to have under the wartime conditions.” His response was cheerful as he took her elbow and steered her to the group.

She was surprised to see a human woman there and her heart sank. The woman was probably one of Hainn’s special friends.

“This is Vindy, our pilot,” he said the next minute. “She’s a hotshot like Gabe and Flo and she’ll get us there and back safely.”

“Pleased to meet you,” the woman said extending her hand. “I’m ex-military so yeah, what Hainn says about my flying is true. Push it to the limit and then some.”

Jezari shook hands with a nod and then Hainn introduced her to everyone else waiting. Counting her there were eleven Badari. The other men were all from the South Seas pack and when she commented on the fact, Hainn said, “These northern brothers aren’t enthusiastic about the ocean but we get a few to come with us now and then. Not this time. Skoron here is our spotter and board retriever this trip. He’ll be watching over us as we surf.”

“You’re going all this way and don’t get to surf yourself?” Jezari asked the other pack brother as she boarded the flyer. “How is that fair?”

“Oh, I’ll get in a wave or two and a bit of fishing,” he said. “I had my rotation to surf two months ago and another guy did these tasks. It all works out over time. Getting out of the valley is treat enough, don’t you think?”

She most emphatically did.

“Sit with me?” Hainn invited.

“I’m your guest after all,” she said, pleased by his request.

“Hey, you’re here as a Badari entitled to try out the waves,” was his answer. “Just like the rest of us. Equal footing.”

As she sank into her seat Jezari heard the engines revving up to full power and a moment later the flyer took off at a steep angle, pushing her into the cushions. “You weren’t kidding about her style of flying.”

“She’s good all right. We rescued her from a lab about six months ago and once Gabe heard her background he drafted her to join his team of pilots.” Hainn leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Skoron is kinda sweet on her which is another reason he volunteers for the trips where she’s the pilot. She’s acts pretty reserved though usually so I don’t know if he has much hope.”

Relieved of her fear Hainn might be interested in the human pilot, Jezari relaxed. He’d warned her the flight to the surfing spot was long, especially with the indirect route Vindy had to take to avoid Khagrish detection. They talked easily for a long time, comparing his experiences as a cub in the South Seas lab with her time growing up at the mountain complex. Jezari tried to keep to her best memories and avoid the dark ones revolving around Khagrish experiments and mistreatment. She guessed Hainn was doing the same but the conversation was free wheeling and enjoyable.

Skoron announced a light in-flight meal about halfway through the expected flight time and Hainn went to gather his survival rations and hers. “Once we get to the surfing camp the food improves,” he said as he handed her a selection of the bars and sat. “Sandara sends a ton of food in stasis keepers, which was loaded before you arrived at the landing field. Her being the mate of our pack’s senior enforcer ensures we get the best selection every time. We also fish while we’re there and have cookouts.”

“This excursion is quite a mini vacation,” Jezari said, surprised at the extent of the arrangements.

“Pack leadership tries to make it one, yes. I wish more of the brothers from the other packs would try it out but you have Jamokan stating his wolves don’t surf and of course the Tzibir are desert dwelling. Mostly if we’re going to get other Badari to go they’re from Aydarr’s pack.”

“Jamokan’s wolves seemed to thrive on their long hunting expedition up north,” Jezari said. “I think each Alpha knows what their men require.”

“What does Keshara recommend for you then? She sure wasn’t supportive of you going surfing.”

Compelled to defend her sister, Jezari said, “The idea took her by surprise is all. But I don’t think we Daughters have any environment we prefer. Snow perhaps. I did love the times when we were allowed to go outside at the complex and experience the snow.”

“You’ll have to take me to a winter environment someday then,” he said with a grin. “I don’t promise to love it though—I’m strictly a sunshine and balmy weather guy.”

She was enjoying herself immensely and after the meal the other brothers invited her and Hainn to come play cards with them. Rolling her eyes because this Badari obsession with cards was practically an addiction for the northern brothers, she agreed to participate for a while. She didn’t find it as engaging as the others did and eventually sought her seat to take a nap, having gotten up so early and not slept well the night before.

Hainn returning to his seat and gently tapping her shoulder pulled her from a silly dream where she was romping in fluffy snowdrifts in her alien predator form and she woke with a start.

“We’re about to circle over the sea mount,” he said as she blinked sleep from her eyes. “You don’t want to miss this.”

Taking her by the hand, he led her to the stern of the flyer where the other Badari were clustered and helped her fasten a simple safety harness. “We can’t see this ocean on the vids?” she asked in astonishment when she understood the pilot was going to open the rear ramp.

“It’s tradition to watch the waves for a bit when we first arrive,” said Skoron. “Vids and holos don’t do them justice.”

She wasn’t convinced she wanted to stand precariously in the rear of the flyer and be buffeted by the wind but once the ramp opened and Vindy was hovering over the sea mount, Jezari was mesmerized. The ocean was vast and the giant waves seemed to heave themselves up on a whim, but she remembered what she’d been told about the special geography here, with the sea mount. The sight left her speechless and filled with a desire to leap from the flyer and try her strength against the raging water. Riding the top of such a wave so high in the sky must be like flying. Freedom, it’s freedom .

Windblown, she brushed her hair away from her face as the ramp was closed and she and Hainn made their way to their seats. “I get it now, the allure of doing this. Why don’t we surf today? There’s still daylight left.”

Hainn laughed, a deep sound inviting her to share his good mood. “I like your attitude but it was decided by the Alphas the first day we arrive on scene is for observation and setting up camp. No one needs to try their luck surfing after sitting in a flyer for all these hours. The ocean demands our best and we have to respect the challenge.”

She guessed the answer made sense but she was impatient as the flyer made its way inland, over the coastline and landed in a canyon fairly close to the beach. The group debarked and quickly fell to work unloading supplies under Skoron’s direction. Vindy was the only one not carrying containers and packs and boards. Jezari was pleased to be treated as an equal and given a full set of duties.

She followed the others into a nearby cave and wasn’t surprised to find the inside had been adapted to be a camp, with a big table, a seating area and other amenities. A row of bunks lined the far wall.

“Put the stasis containers over there, by the kitchenette,” Hainn said, “Grab your pack and let me show you to your chamber.”

“I’m sleeping somewhere else?” Not sure she liked the idea of being too far away from her brothers in this environment, Jezari stayed where she was.

He slung his own backpack onto a bunk at the end of the row and then came to take her hand again, which she found she liked a lot. “When MARL came up here to do the renovations, of course it meant Jill came too which meant Aydarr was here. If she’s outside the valley he doesn’t let her out of his sight.”

“Was that when he surfed?”

“Oh yeah and he absolutely nailed it even though he says he doesn’t much like to swim and hadn’t surfed before. Guy’s not the Supreme Alpha for nothing.” Hainn led her across the big chamber toward a side wall with several openings. MARL’s artificial lighting made the place as bright as day. “But Aydarr insisted there had to be a place for his mate and him to be private, and for any other Alpha who might come up. Although Daegan and Flo camped out the first trip as I understand it. So MARL created a separate room, which you get to use. We all thought you might be more comfortable with privacy.” He looked at her face and added, “It’s no reflection on your status as a Badari. We were trying to be considerate.”

“I appreciate it,” she said truthfully. She was thinking it’d be nice to have a private space if she and Hainn decided to sleep together while they were here, which was a distinct possibility in her mind. “Where does Vindy sleep? Am I going to share with her?”

“She sleeps in the flyer, which can be reconfigured to have a bed in there,” Hainn said. “She might want to borrow your refresher chamber though. We have a communal one out here.”

“Of course, no problem.” She was relieved she wasn’t going to have to have the human woman in her space.

When she followed Hainn into the adjoining chamber, Jezari was amazed at how nice it was. MARL had clearly done his best work in here. There was an actual bed, large enough for a Badari and his mate, a small chest of drawers, a desk and as Hainn had indicated another smaller chamber was fitted out as a bathroom, with a refresher. “I guess MARL made it special for Jill, right?”

“You got it. But anyone who uses the place gets to benefit,” Hainn pointed out, seeming a bit puzzled by her tone.

Jezari wasn’t a fan of the alien AI, not after what she’d found at the bottom of the lake in the wreckage of his owner’s ship but she had to admit the accommodations were better than she’d expected. “What’s the agenda for the rest of today?”

“Help Vindy cover the flyer with camouflage, eat dinner, play cards no doubt and sleep. The surf boards need waxing too.”

“Why?”

“To provide better traction and grip so we can keep our balance and stay upright. There’s a whole technique to doing the job and you’ve been assigned a surfboard obviously, so prepare to spend a good chunk of time tonight on the task. I’ll show you how it’s done.”

“Can’t we simply dig in with our talons?” she asked, surprised by the information.

Hainn shook his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Oh no, only in the worst case scenario. MARL made exactly ten boards and then declared he wasn’t a manufacturing robo and he was done. So each individual who comes out here uses one of those ten boards and we have to keep them in good shape for the next contingent of surfers. I’d rather have my own—who wouldn’t? But it’s one of the conditions of doing this activity so no one complains.” He surveyed the room with a practiced eye and seemed satisfied. “Why don’t you stow your stuff and then come join us? We’ll be outside working on the flyer.”

“I’ll be right there.” She wanted to freshen up a bit but moved quickly so as not to be shirking her fair share of the work outside. This whole experience was proving to be more fascinating than she’d expected and she didn’t want to miss a minute.

She slept well after the evening’s activities and in the morning joined the others for a quick breakfast in the main chamber. The valley’s three star chef Sandara had indeed sent along a huge selection of hearty, nourishing food and it was clear she understood what a Badari needed to fuel him or herself with to face a day of surfing monster waves.

“Go change into your swimsuit,” Hainn said as they were finishing up breakfast and the four Badari assigned to cleaning duty for the day began clearing away the mess. The group had been divided into three four-person teams, each of which had the ‘housekeeping’ duties for one day of the trip, none of which were particularly onerous as far as Jezari could see. Vindy was assigned to a team as well since she was eating with them. “We’ll be leaving in about fifteen minutes so join us at the flyer when you’re ready.”

Jezari had gone to see Kelli at Stores once she’d been notified of the impending trip and the Storeskeeper had found her a selection of bathing suits. Normally Jezari swam in a plain black one piece but for the trip she’d wanted something different. When she strolled out of the cave in her two piece red bikini with the hot pink and orange tropical flower print, there were a few dropped jaws and appreciative male stares. There had been a matching coverup too, which Jezari was wearing and she was quite satisfied with the effect. Hainn wasted no time coming to her and she enjoyed the view. Like all the others he was wearing a skimpy, tight black suit that did nothing to hide his physical endowments and she had only eyes for him.

As he approached she caught a whiff of his unique scent, enticing her senses with its clean, fresh, slightly citrus-y note, underlined with a dash of the rich essence of a rare tropical wood perhaps. Danger and sex all wrapped up in one attractive male Badari package. Her inner core throbbed and she had to lecture herself about what the day’s planned activities included and what they did not.

“You look amazing,” he said as he got closer, pitching the words for her ears alone. “Ready for a day on the ocean?”

“Absolutely. Bring it on.” She was eager and not too nervous. Her inner predator was sitting up and taking notice of Hainn and determined they’d do well today and earn his praise for her surfing.

As she entered the flyer and took her seat, he said, “It was decided the best thing would be for me to teach you the rudiments of surfing in a little cove we know of, nearby. It has good waves, about ten feet and you can practice. The boards are engineered for the big waves at the sea mount but hopefully you can get the idea and train your muscle memory.”

Disappointed, she tried not to pout. “I’m game to go straight to the monsters.”

“But I’m not okay with the idea. A morning of practice in the cove and if I decide you’re ready we’ll get you on the big waves once or twice this afternoon.” It was clear from his attitude Hainn wasn’t going to back down and she assumed he had the final say when it came to her surfing so Jezari swallowed her annoyance and didn’t protest further.

The flyer dropped her and Hainn off first before taking the others out to the sea mount off the coast. Hainn carried both of their surfboards and planted them in the sand while Jezari scanned the ocean, hand over her eyes. The cove was actually a large inlet and sets of waves were rolling in, cresting nicely and breaking with a rhythmic pounding.

“So beautiful and wild here,” she said as he came to stand next to her. “But your ocean isn’t like this?”

“We have great waves but our sea is a pretty turquoise blue and the weather is a lot more balmy.” He gave a mock shiver which made Jezari laugh since as Badari they were pretty much immune to cold.

Hainn spent time teaching her the basics of managing the board and then they swam out side by side. She had a little trouble getting beyond the surf line but quickly learned to time the waves and get between them.

“You won’t be doing that at the sea mount,” he said. “We sit before the spot where the waves begin to form and catch them there.”

“I remember from the holo. I only watched it about 100 times,” she confided. “May I try one now?”

“Remember what I taught you and keep your balance,” he said. Waving at the shore, he added, “Be my guest.”

Jezari paddled closer to the spot where the waves would rise and waited. She let two or three good ones pass underneath her before she decided the time was right and paddled as fast as she could to catch the speeding water. Once the board was moving with the rising wave, she cautiously got to her feet for one terrific moment of triumph.

Before falling off to the side and going under the water with a splash.

Surfacing, she was irate at herself and determined to do better. Hainn was already paddling his board to her, towing hers behind him.

“You were a natural on the board,” he said.

Spitting out a mouthful of sea water, she said, “Before I fell off?” She took her board from him and heaved herself on top.

“The good thing about practicing here is you’ll have a lot of chances. Out there we take our turns and you’d only have a shot at about every tenth wave. There’s a lot of waiting but the ride is worth it.”

Determined to succeed Jezari tried wave after wave. Hainn took a few rides when he insisted she rest and watch his form. Soon she managed to stay on the board most of the way to the beach before falling off and then kept extending her runs until she was getting the entire ride and learned to veer her board off to the side at the end so she could step off rather than be caught in the chaos as the wave broke against the beach.

“We’ll take a break and have a snack,” Hainn said, keeping her from heading out again. “I’ve got a few pointers.”

She planted her board in the sand and walked to the spot where they’d set their towels and the stasis container. “Fine with me. I’m hungry after all that exertion.”

Jezari dug through the container and located snacks and two fruit drinks and handed Hainn his share before sitting on the spread out blanket. He joined her and they sat companionably watching the breakers.

“You enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“Immensely. I can’t wait to try surfing one of the big ones though. Am I going to be ready today in your opinion?”

“Absolutely. I asked Stonor to have Vindy come pick us up when the group takes their lunch break. You can probably get in two, maybe three waves out at the sea mount this afternoon.”

Delighted, she tackled him and gave him a big smacking kiss. “Thank you! I thought I’d have to spend all of today on these pokey little waves.” Hainn seemed a bit stunned by her reaction and Jezari blushed. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

“No, I liked it. Want to try again when I’m ready for it?” He gave her a look that set off pleasurable tingles in her inner core and his voice had dipped into a intimate and sensual range.

Setting her sandwich on the blanket, she went toward him on all fours, as if her beast was stalking prey and he waited for her to pounce, which she did, knocking them both to the sand. She was on top of him, skin to skin for the most part, although his suit and hers preserved their modesty but not by much, being damp and clinging to their bodies. He parted his lips in response to her tongue’s urging and his hands roamed over her body as they kissed. His touches stoked the fire blazing higher inside her and as he untied her bikini top, she broke off the kiss to ask breathlessly, “When is Stonor coming?”

“Not until I tell him to,” Hainn all but growled, rolling them over so he was on top, but holding his weight on his elbows.

His rigid elongated cock pressed against the fabric of his swimsuit and nudged the gusset of hers urgently as he ground his hips against her and Jezari allowed him to toss her top aside. He inserted one talon into the side of her bikini bottom and she stopped him. “I only brought this suit today. I need it to stay intact.”

Impatiently he worked the damp, clingy piece of material down her legs and dropped it on the edge of the towel before stripping himself of his own suit. His shaft stood erect and proud once it was freed from the confinement of the clothing and Jezari gripped him tight, pumping root to tip twice before he stopped her.

“Keep doing that and this will be short and one sided,” he said, voice tight. “I want to be inside you right now, beautiful woman.”

“Lucky for you that’s where I want you,” she replied, nipping his ear with her fangs. She had no experience with making love or foreplay and right now all she wanted was for him to slide home and take her. Her inner predator was snarling its agreement with the plan—they both wanted hard and hot.

Hainn stroked his hand over her mound and ran a finger along her folds, murmuring his approval. “Ready for this, aren’t you?”

Eyebrow raised she laughed. “Watching you parade around all morning, nearly naked was making me hot, South Seas man. Distracted me from my surfing, let me tell you.”

“I did not parade,” he said with dignity.

She slid her hand between them, caressing his arousal. “You didn’t hide yourself either. Kiss me.”

He obeyed her command with a will and they held each other tight as their tongues danced and explored. Jezari thought she might orgasm from the feel of his body on hers and the passion of the kiss and welcomed the idea. Hainn inserted his finger and then a second into her body and began working her while he suckled her breast and soon she was arching her spine and screaming his name as the climax rolled over her.

“Now you’re ready for me,” Hainn said. “I loved watching you—that was beautiful.”

“I need you,” she gasped out, breathing hard. What he’d accomplished with his fingers had been mind bending but she ached to have his thick, long cock buried deep inside.

He lifted up and stared into her eyes. His were glowing hot golden amber and she knew hers must be as well. “Are you—have you ever?—”

“I’m not a virgin,” she said, closing her eyes and trying to blot out the sudden vision of the late Khagrish security chief at the mountain complex. He’d made it his special task to initiate each Badari Daughter into womanhood, as he termed it.

“The Khagrish?” he asked, voice low and tense.

Unable to speak, she nodded and averted her face, a tear squeezing out from under her lashes.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart, there’s no judgment here.” He kissed her eyelids softly and then rubbed his nose against hers. Lips next to her ear, he said, “We all have our bad memories of what the Khagrish did to us.”

“You’re a man,” she scoffed.

“I didn’t give my consent and the damn drug the scientist shot into my veins while I was restrained gave me no choice. It happened to many of us.” He turned her head gently with one fingertip so they were gazing at each other. “We’re survivors, you and I, and we’re blessed by the goddess to have found each other. This will be our first time which is all that matters, right?”

Comforted and touched by his caring, she made a sound of agreement. Running the tip of one talon down his spine she made her voice teasing. “First? You mean we might do this again sometime?”

He lined himself up and pushed the head of his shaft into her. “Count on it.”

“Please.” She put her arms around him tightly and moved her legs to give him better access, urging him to continue.

Hainn didn’t make her wait but continued to work himself deeper into her welcoming body. “You’re so tight, so hot—you’re incredible, sweetheart.”

She moved her hips under him and he slid further, stretching her until she was so full it was nearly painful but not quite. He pulled back and then gave a powerful thrust, bottoming out inside with a move that made her scream again in ecstasy. He kissed her neck and for an instant she expected he was going to claim her and she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to panic and push him off, or to say yes, but his fangs never came into play. What he was doing with his endowment was taking her out of the realm of conscious thought into becoming a being of pure emotion and sensation and Jezari heard herself moaning and begging him to move faster, go harder. Hainn obliged and a moment later she was overtaken by the culmination of his efforts and hers. Pleasure tore through her body and even her inner beast was stunned by how much the orgasm rocked her world. Hainn reared up above her, neck corded with effort, face set in an intense concentration and his hot seed flooded her core, each spasm adding to her own climax.

They lay cuddled together for a few minutes and she could hear his heart thudding against his ribs. Her own was pounding as well and she was flooded with pleasurable tingling sensations.

“And Stonor wants to pick us up now,” Hainn said with a chuckle. “He and Vindy are on their way.”

Jezari sat up in a panic. “Stonor will know what we were doing. He’ll be able to scent it.”

Hainn gave her a little push. “Go dip in the ocean, wash off. I’ll pack this stuff up and join you. It’ll be fine and I promise you Stonor isn’t going to pass judgment on what we did or didn’t do. It’s no one’s business but ours.”

She gave him a dubious frown but remembered he was more experienced than she and didn’t find the idea pleasing in the least. Taking his advice, she grabbed the pieces of her suit and ran to the surf, dunking herself under the waves a couple of times and then getting redressed. Hainn waited for her as she emerged from the water combing her hair with her talons.

“Goddess, you’re beautiful,” he said, catching her for a hug and a quick kiss. “If they weren’t on their way already I’d tell them to leave us here in our cove of love for the rest of the day.”

She smacked him on the shoulder lightly and giggled. “Cove of love? Sappy much?” Attempting to look past him, she asked, “Anything else to pack up?”

“No it’s all done. Listen Vindy’s not going to land. I want Stonor to retrieve us with the tractor beam so you can get used to how it works. That’s how it’s done out at the sea mount after a ride ends— he’ll retrieve the surfer and their board with the tractor beam. Don’t worry, he’s a master at it, got a light touch.”

Jezari was dubious but Hainn gave her no choice. Sure enough when the flyer arrived and hovered overhead she watched the two surfboards and then the container with the remnants of their meal and their belongings rise into the sky. She braced herself but the touch of the tractor beam wasn’t too unsettling. Firm, as if she was wrapped in a tightly rolled towel, but not painful. Badari had an instinctive dislike of being confined or kept immobile but before her inner beast could get too worked up she was inside the flyer and free of the pull. Hainn came in right behind her and the portal closed with a snap as the seals deployed. Jezari greeted Stonor and then Hainn led her to their seats.

“Are you sure you’re ready for the sea mount?” he asked when they were seated.

Jezari didn’t hesitate. “Let’s get on with this. I’ve got the principles and had the practice, okay?”

Stonor came up the aisle in time to overhear her remark. “Surfing those little waves isn’t really much practice, my friend. Expect to wipe out on your first few tries.” He didn’t say it unkindly so Jezari held her tongue but his attitude made her all the more determined to succeed on her first attempt.

Vindy brought the flyer to a foot or two above the ocean’s surface and jezari jumped out, going under and resurfacing quickly as Hainn joined her, followed by their two surfboards. She wasted no time in climbing onto hers, sensing the power of the water beneath her. The next wave formed beyond the spot where she waited and she saw one of Hainn’s brothers riding it, whooping and hollering his joy.

“The guys have all surfed several times today so they agreed you can go next,” Hainn said, paddling his board close to hers. “You remember what to do?”

“I’ve got it,” she said, paddling her own board. Now it was the actual moment she wished she could have more time to get used to the ocean but her pride wouldn’t let her back down, so she sent the board surging forward as she felt the incredible power of the wave rising beneath her. The water took her as casually as if she and her board were no more than a drifting splinter and she was high in the sky atop a frothing maelstrom of nature’s power. She got to her feet on the board and had one brief glorious spurt of exultation before she was suddenly tossed into the heart of the wave, her board lost, torn away as she fell. She had a flash of pure panic before she and her inner beast strove to get self control and work with the wave which was tumbling her over and over as it rushed toward the far away shore. She wasn’t going to drown, being a Badari but the situation was distressing and Jezari appreciated the grasp of the tractor beam when it hit.

Stonor lifted her clear of the ocean and she saw her board rising into the air from hundreds of feet away. He brought her to the flyer and she had no choice but to collapse on the deck as her legs were too shaky to hold her.

“Doing okay?” he asked with a touch of worry.

“I’ll be fine, just gotta catch my breath.”

“I’ll let Hainn know. You want to stay up here with me for a while or drop back into the queue?” He nodded toward the ocean where the small line of waiting Badari sat on their boards. As she watched the next man began paddling as fast as he could and caught the wave, riding it magnificently, easily remaining on top of the chaos and then surfing the face in a bravura performance.

“Set me in the ocean again, please,” she said, going to pick up her board.

“You’ve got grit, girl,” Stonor said with admiration.

Soon she was in the ocean again, close to Hainn. “It wasn’t a bad first attempt,” he said, “But your foot placement was a bit off and your timing on standing upright wasn’t quite what it should have been. Tune up the details and you should handle your next wave fine. Are you okay?”

“I’ll have bruises,” she said with a shrug. “Already healing. Thanks for the tips.”

“Don’t overthink it though. You were doing great this morning in the cove so try to recapture the muscle memory,” he advised.

When it was her turn again she refused to be intimidated by the monster wave she was trying to ride. She took Hainn’s advice and didn’t think through her moves at all, letting her body go through the sequence of what needed to happen and it was with triumph she managed to ride the foaming water all the way to the end. Her dismount wasn’t a thing of beauty by any means but Jezari told herself she’d recouped her honor with the second ride.

“One more today?” Stonor asked when he picked her up and Vindy sent the flyer winging out to sea again. “There’s time.”

Absolutely.” Her second ride had been so exhilarating Jezari craved another chance to repeat the thrill.

She had to wait a bit before her next chance to ride and as she drifted on her board she thought about the sea mount below and the promised diving experience. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I’ll take a break and explore below . She couldn’t go back to the lake without having seen at least a bit of the ocean environment. Hainn had told her it was lightyears of difference from the muddy freshwater lake. The fact it was a body of water was the only common point in her mind.

For her third ride Jezari was in control and assured and recaptured the thrill of her previous trip on a monster wave. The other Badari were waiting for her on shore and applauded as she left the water. Hainn had already retrieved her board for her. She made a mock bow to acknowledge the support and the men crowded around as they waited for the flyer to land, talking over their various experiences on the waves and sharing tips on how to enhance the performances tomorrow. She enjoyed the comradery and secretly had to admit she was enjoying the eye candy—Badari Warriors were uniformly 7’ of chiseled muscle and handsome, which was the way the Khagrish scientists had genetically engineered them to be. As a Daughter, she was a foot shorter and softer with her curves, although the hard muscles were there as well. The genetic material used to create her kind was basically Generation One and the men were Gen Eights, so she speculated whether the females would have also sized up if the lab she’d been created in had performed enhancements.

But they were all Badari and it was amazingly good to be standing with only her own people, no humans. To be courteous to her since her telepathic skills hadn’t returned, the brothers conversed aloud and she felt very much a part of the group.

Despite the abundance of goodlooking males, she was only attracted to Hainn and her desire for him was strong. He came to her side and chatted easily about the surfing, keeping up the conversation on the flyer until reaching the camping area.

Dinner was taken from the stockpile Sandara had sent although Hainn promised her the Badari would be doing serious fishing tomorrow and would prepare a feast in the evening. After dinner the surfboards needed attention to be ready for tomorrow and then of course the obligatory game of cards broke out. Jezari played a few hands to be polite before excusing herself to her own chamber. She wondered if Hainn would follow and hoped he would.

About five minutes passed and he was there, knocking politely with his knuckles on the rock wall. “Came to check on you, make sure there’s nothing you need.” He stepped into the chamber and Jezari’s heart beat faster as his scent came to her.

“So solicitous—I’m honored,” she said, rising from her chair and walking toward him. “How about we finish the conversation we began today at the beach?” She gave him a wink.

Hainn lost no time in meeting her halfway, picking her up and carrying her into the bedroom. “I was hoping our minds were running along the same lines tonight. I didn’t get nearly enough of you this afternoon.”

He deposited her on the bed and started stripping out of his clothing as she did the same. “Your brothers will talk,” she said.

“I told you before they’d be careful not to embarrass you. The others can see plainly how attracted to you I am and none of them would give us a hard time over it.” His eyes glowed golden as he looked her up and down.

Jezari reclined on the pillows. “Don’t keep a lady waiting, she might get cold and change her mind.”

“Can’t have that.” He pulled her by the ankles closer to the end of the bed, knelt and spread her legs firmly with his huge hands. “Wanted to taste you tonight—your scent drives me crazy.” Running his tongue over her soft folds, he let the tip penetrate her body and then proceeded to do a series of amazing things to her with his tongue and his hands, bringing Jezari to a heart pounding climax in short order. She clutched at the sheets, her talons making a mess of them as the orgasm took her. Attempting to keep herself quiet distracted her a bit from the full effect of the release, which made Hainn frown. “They can’t hear you out there, don’t worry. MARL constructed this suite of rooms for Jill and Aydarr and you can bet the Supreme Alpha didn’t want to be overheard. Feel free to scream my name next time.” His grin was wide.

Jezari threw a pillow at him, which of course he ducked and then was on the bed looming over her in a flash. He gave her a kiss before directing his attention to her breasts, kneading and suckling and teasing the hard points, which were incredibly sensitive. To her surprise she came again in response to this foreplay, with no penetration at all, although he did play with her clit. Hainn held her while she savored the afterglow and then he rearranged them again, coming between her legs and sliding deep into her core with one powerful thrust. Jezari hung on, deploying her talons ever so slightly to make light scratches on his back, which of course would be healed before morning, but in the moment served to stimulate him to greater efforts. She tried to keep her focus on using her internal muscles to massage his cock as he went deep and Hainn groaned with pleasure.

“So tight on me, sweetheart, you’re going to make me come before I get you there.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, smiling as the satisfaction of having this giant male at her mercy in their mutual game.

Then he was pounding in and out with a force that shook the bed and Jezari hung on through not one but two climaxes, while Hainn held her tight and pumped his release at her core, where the hot seed stimulated her almost beyond bearing. Jezari blacked out and when she regained consciousness she thought he might have passed out as well from the force of their connection. Hainn rolled onto his back, hand across his eyes and said, “Goddess! You’re the most exceptional, most perfect woman, Jezari. We’re like two halves of a whole when we get together here in the bedroom.” He studied her anxiously. “Do you feel the same way? Did I—did you?—”

She scooted herself closer and he enfolded her in his arms, pulling her close. “It was spectacular. I like the way we are together.” A little shy all of the sudden, she couldn’t put into words what she was thinking. Words are so inadequate for the way he makes me feel.

Exactly , he said in her head, shocking her. I think I’ve been waiting for you my entire life and the goddess finally blessed me.

Are we telepathing? She sent her words cautiously. Can the others hear us?

Hainn stared at her. “It’s a tight band,” he said out loud, easing her fear. “I don’t get any sense you broadcast to anyone but me. When did you get the telepathy back?”

“I didn’t know it was,” she said honestly.

With a male smile of satisfaction, Hainn hugged her. “I guess I was the fix for what ailed you there, sweetheart.”

He went to clean himself up and brought a warm washcloth to tend to her, which pleased her.

“You’ll stay the night with me, won’t you?” she asked.

“It would take a Khagrish attack to drag me away,” he said. “But that was only round one. We’ll take a rest and then see if you have the energy for more.”

Tapping him lightly on the chest, she scoffed. “Speak for yourself, healer. I have plenty of reserves to use later tonight but if you have a problem?—”

“No problem.” He rolled her over and his already hard cock pressed into her belly. “A Badari doesn’t need much recovery time or didn’t you know?”

I’m going to be sore tomorrow, she knew, But I don’t care .