Page 20 of Keeping Freya (Warriors of Arracate #3)

Freya

M y shoulders drop. “I can’t be your mate, T’Rak.”

“You are, and there is nothing we can do to change that. I know you are returning to Earth and I will do everything possible to help you get there. I promised you that and I will keep my promise.”

I give him a watery smile, but the mood has changed, and we both get out of bed. T’Rak makes his way to command while I’m going to freshen up in my room.

We meet again at Command. T’Rak has settled at the table in the back, and two mugs of tea and two portions of breakfast are ready for us.

“Come. Sit.” I arch an eyebrow at the command, my prickly side rearing its head, but at the same time, my stomach growls, so I take a seat across from him.

“What’s next? Where are we in our journey, and what will we do once we arrive at Tekrov?”

He takes a sip of his tea before he starts talking.

“This ship already had great shields and cloaking ability. I enhanced those with Arracate technology, which means nobody can see through our shields. I also enhanced the ship’s scanners, so we will be notified if any other ship even thinks about coming near us.

We are also able to get detailed scans of the planet once we are in orbit.

It won’t take more than an hour to get a read on the planet and find the Den. ”

“Wouldn’t the scanners mix up the results with regular settlements?”

“Not necessarily,” he says. “This planet has no indigenous species, so any settlements there are unofficial ones. They are being tolerated as long as nobody gets hurt. I also expect the Den to have a lot of space traffic. Ships leave traces in the atmosphere, so if the scanners locate a lot of different species, combined with a lot of activity, we have a winner.”

I take a sip of my tea and a bite of my breakfast, letting those words run around in my head. “So, what do we do when we find the Den?”

“I am going in to kill the High Commander, you will stay hidden on the ship.”

I snort. “Yeah, no way, buddy. You are not going to leave me behind on this death trap, while you get yourself killed.”

He gives me an indignant look. “I will not get myself killed. I am T’Rak, fiercest Warrior of Arracate. I have never lost a fight in my life.”

I arch an eyebrow. “And what about that run-in with a sword your face had?”

“Ha. That is nothing. I am still breathing, and my opponent is long dead. I am not taking you with me.”

“Well, suck it up, buttercup. You promised we would be a team, and I would have a say. And I say, take me with you.”

Fire blazes in his eyes, and he already opens his mouth to speak, but I’m not having it. He’s not pulling this macho crap on me again .

“No. You’re not leaving me. I’m not saying you should take me with you to witness whatever you are going to do to this High Commander guy.

I am saying, don’t leave me behind on this ship.

All alone and vulnerable. I can handle a gun, a roll of knives.

I am not helpless nor useless. You made sure of that.

As long as I can stay close to you, I can stay hidden or something, just don’t leave me. ”

His shoulders sag, and he gives me a resigned look. “Okay, you can come.”

T’Rak

The words took tremendous effort, but she beams at me the minute they are out. And that makes it the right choice.

“Thank you! You won’t regret it.”

I just grunt, because a part of me already does. I get up and move towards the captain’s chair. It will take us another day to get to Tekrov and I need to be on top of my game.

We spent the day training, working on Fr’Ya’s skills.

She is highly motivated, and that shows in her capabilities.

She gets better every time and has managed to throw and disarm me a couple of times now.

We should see how it all holds together when there is actual danger, but at least I feel better about taking her with me to the Den.

Her knife-throwing skills are excellent. She attributes them to something called darts, a game with little arrows she used to play on Earth. Her eyes get all misty when she brings it up, so I avoid the topic afterwards.

Tonight, she will take the first watch again. She insisted, saying she needed the time to think. I would much rather have her in my arms, sleeping together, but I will give her anything she needs, even if that is time spent apart from me.

I wake up in the middle of the night, hearing nothing but silence. There does not appear to be anything out of the ordinary, but I feel an uncontrollable need to check up on my mate.

Not wanting to disturb her, I pause before I enter Command, but all I hear are her soft snores.

Grinning, I walk inside, finding my mate fast asleep in the captain’s chair.

She is curled up to one side, and her braid softly falls across her shoulder.

She looks mesmerizing like this, and I think I can stay here for hours, just looking at her.

She starts to twist and makes an uncomfortable sound, pulling me out of my admiration.

She would be way more comfortable in a bed.

My bed. I gave her space, and now that she is sleeping, there is absolutely no need for her to be alone.

Gently, I gather her into my arms and take her to my room, safely tucking her into my bed, in my arms.

I wake up to a muffled gasp, putting me on full alert immediately. “What is wrong?”

“I’m in your bed!” Fr’Ya says in slight dismay.

“Yes, is that all?” I bury my face in her hair, cocooning her petite body with mine, making my tail curl around her waist.

“Yes, but…” she begins.

“You were asleep. I did not want to leave you uncomfortable in the chair. So I took you to bed.”

“You could have just taken me to my bed,” she grumbles.

My body tenses. “I did not think. I am sorry. Did I overstep?”

She softens a bit in my arms. “It’s okay, I guess I’m not used to being held anymore. ”

“I will hold you any time you want me to.” The bond pulses, but we stay silent after that outburst.

“T’Rak,” she whispers.

“Yes.”

“I think I want to kiss you again.”

I loosen my arms, and she turns around, touching my cheek with the palm of her hand.

I wait until she crosses the space between us, and I immediately open when I feel her lips on mine.

Her soft tongue tangles with mine, and it takes everything in me to keep my control from slipping.

The way she arouses me with just one kiss.

The need to touch her, to pleasure her, is overwhelming. I nip at her lip and gently kiss her jaw, her neck, and her arousal blooms, nearly overwhelming me.

“Please, can I touch you?” I’m not opposed to begging, if I can only touch her, taste her.

She bites her lip. “I want to, it’s just…”

Sitting back on my knees, I look at her, and tears shine in her eyes. “Don’t freak out, okay? Promise me.”

“I promise.” The words leave my lips without thinking.

I will promise her everything she needs.

She takes me by the hand, and I curl my body next to hers as she guides my fingers under the hem of her shirt.

I expect to find smooth skin, but instead I see the jagged edges of a scar.

Fire ignites as I finally understand why she was so hesitant for me to touch her.

My hand slides higher, and I feel stiff skin and raised edges everywhere. I seek out her eyes, asking for permission, and she nods before sitting up and slowly removing her shirt.

She is breathtaking, magnificent—even with the array of scars all over her body.

I cannot control a low growl. “Who hurt you?”

“Sternotheri,” she whispers, before I see her straighten her spine and raising her chin. “They paid for what they did, and I survived. I am stronger than them.”

The bond pulses, and I am filled with awe for this exceptional female. “You are stronger than they will ever be, every one of them combined. You are so strong, Fr’Ya.” I reach out and tentatively touch the biggest scar on her stomach.

“I wish I could kill them all over for you.”

I lay down, pulling myself with her again, and our foreheads touch. “Would you have killed them slowly?” she asks.

“Very slowly.”

Our eyes lock, and fire ignites between us. We kiss, and both our hands are roaming, lust clouding my brain. I kiss her neck and she moans. “Tell me what to do.”

Her eyes snap open. “Will you do everything I say?” A smile plays across her lips.

“Anything.” I am desperate to please her; to pleasure her any way she lets me.

“Touch my breasts, gently squeeze them, not too tight.”

I obey, my big hands enveloping her breasts. They are big and fit my hands perfectly. Fr’Ya moans and throws her head back.

“My nipples are extra sensitive,” she pants. I gently caress them with my thumbs.

“Harder!” she commands, and I obey. She starts writhing against me, and in a flash of instinct, I bow my head down and take one of her nipples in my mouth. She cries out, grabbing hold of my horns while I steady myself with one hand next to her body.

“Yessss,” she moans. “Oh, please, T’Rak. More!”

Her tight grip on my horns makes my cock twitch. I feel myself leaking, but this is not about me. It is about her.

“More, where? ”

“Everywhere,” she whimpers. “But move… down.”

I know what she means by down. I may be a virgin, but that does not mean I am stupid.

I kiss her scars and work my way down her body until I reach her pants. I undo the strings and quickly undress her.

She is a vision, lying naked in front of me. I lean in to kiss her once more, making sure her scent stays the same and she is still feeling aroused.

She wriggles beneath me and slowly opens her legs, placing me in between.

Her arousal hits my senses, and it takes everything to keep my control.

I moan her name and slide down her body, kissing and caressing every piece of her skin.

She is panting and lifts herself on her elbows to look at me.

My hands caress her legs, moving up to her inner thighs.

My tail seems to have a mind of its own, moving towards her pussy and brushing her folds. With a moan, her head falls back.

“Tell me.” My voice is hoarse as the tip of my tail slides through her slit and opens her up to me. Her cunt is pink and glistening, and I lick my lips.

“My clit. There’s a nub at the top of my pussy. For pleasure.”

Her words are clipped, and she is having trouble forming complete sentences.

I move closer, brushing her folds with my thumbs. “Can I taste you?”

“Yes, please,” she moans, and I grin before I lower my mouth and lick her slit.

I am a warrior, and I have always had confidence in my skills, and there is not a tentative bone in my body.

The minute my tongue touches her cunt, I lose control and feast. I lick, nibble, and suck, and when she cries out and arches her hips into me after a particularly long lick, I know I have found the place she told me about .

“Yes! Yes!” she chants. “Right there, oh T’Rak!

” She leans back again and grips my horns so she can grind her cunt against my face.

I feel a hard little nub and twirl my tongue around it, earning me another scream, and a fresh wave of arousal hits my tongue.

I suck, “Gentle!” she chokes out, and I ease up on the pressure, earning me another moan.

My cock is throbbing, and I feel more precum staining my pants.

If she keeps it up with those arousing sounds she makes, I may just cum in my pants like a youngster.

I quickly figure out that soft strokes and gentle sucks make the arousal pour from her, and when all her muscles tighten, I know she is about to cum.

Automatically, I thrust my hips against the edge of the bed, seeking some friction.

Seeing her come undone like this is making me lose every last bit of control I have.

I take her clit in my mouth and very softly bite down.

She tenses up for a moment before she starts convulsing. She screams out my name and I am hit with wave after wave of arousal as she cums apart on my tongue—and I cum apart in my trousers.