Page 18 of Prison Moon
Chapter Seven
The scent of an ogthath this close to where he’d made a nest for his Sarra tore every bit of pleasure he’d found when his mate came in his hand right out of his head. Her scent, as strong and pleasant as it was, was overpowered by a creature stealthy enough to get too close. The stink their furry hide held was the only way one had to know they were near. The beasts were deadly fast, talons long and sharp enough to pierce skin, and a mouth full of teeth strong enough to chew bone in half.
He spotted it near the river’s edge, all four of its feet on the ground. He watched it long enough to know it didn’t know he was there. He roared at it, then charged. Instead of running away, it stood up on its hind legs, talons out ready to strike. As deadly as the ogthath was, he was at the top of the food chain and he’d protect what was his any way he had to. He roared again, shifting enough his claws broke free of his skin and used them to clamp down on the thing’s head. It roared in pain as he dug his claws in deeper, blue-black blood coating his hands as he twisted, then jerked on its head until it pulled loose from its body. It fell into the river, the water current dragging it away.
Toren tossed the head into the water and surveyed the surrounding forest, then the sky. Clouds hung heavy, blocking out the light of the stars and the glow of the moon. Would he be seen if he took flight under the cover of darkness? One of the orbs that captured every movement on the planet shot over the trees. He hunkered low and watched it hover, scanning the area—he had no doubt—before it flew away.
He pushed his hair from his face and looked at the river. They couldn’t stay here. They were too close to the black forest and the creatures that roamed there were deadly and the food scarce. Come first light, he’d move Sarra someplace safer. Somewhere he could provide food enough to fill her belly and keep her hidden from view.
He headed back to where he’d left Sarra, trying to remember all the places he and his brother had played. There were ground level caves in the mountains. If they could make it that far on foot, they could rest, eat enough to restore their energy, then continue on to the mountain range his lair was hidden. He’d risk shifting and carrying Sarra up to his lair once they made it. He could defend it well and no one would be able to take her from him then.
* * *
Fear crawled along her skin and left goosebumps in its wake by the time the trees near the waterfall moved. Sara sucked in a breath and shrank back against the wall as a figure moved toward the water. Shadows hung heavy where it squatted. The moment it stood, the clouds shifted enough a shaft of moonlight lit its features. It was Toren. She released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and sent up a thankful prayer he’d come back.
He stalked the distance between them, the moonlight creating shadows across his skin. He was completely naked and didn’t look hurt. Not a mark marred his muscled torso or arms. She looked him over head to toe, pausing briefly on his groin. The shadows concealed him enough she couldn’t see much.
“I won’t let anything harm you.”
Sara raised her eyes to his face as he approached and she tried not to look when he sat down beside her, his back to the rock wall. He didn’t sound winded, so she didn’t think he’d encountered whatever had been out there.
They sat in silence, staring out at the darkened forest. She wanted to ask what he’d seen but knew he wouldn’t understand her. Besides, she wasn’t at all sure she really wanted to know what was out there. She’d seen enough science fiction movies to know what sort of things might be lurking in the shadows.
She remembered the cloth Toren had worn around his waist—that she now clutched to her chin—and lowered it, tossing it over his lap. The shadows were deep where they sat but it still felt weird sitting beside a naked alien. Why, she had no clue. It wasn’t like she hadn’t just ridden his hand into a screaming orgasm. Her face burned and she was glad it was too dark for him to see.
Toren picked the cloth up and tucked it back around her shoulders. “You keep it.”
Sara opened her mouth to protest but Toren tugged on her shoulders until she was again lying down. “Sleep. I’ll keep watch. Nothing will harm you, my Sarra.”
He stood and walked a few feet away. Was he really going to stand there while she slept so nothing would get into their shabby little camp? He took a dozen steps to the left, then came back, his head turned to the forest. She wasn’t sure how much sleeping she’d be doing with a naked alien pacing a few feet away.
She watched him make short laps, the moon’s light chasing those deep shadows away when he turned and gave her a clear view of that bit of flesh that had been biting into her hip. It wasn’t hard now but even soft it was impressive. They certainly didn’t make them like that at home. Well, none she’d ever seen anyway. If whatever had come too close hadn’t shown up when it did, she had no doubt she’d be on her back, her legs thrown over Toren’s shoulders and that massive cock filling her to bursting.
A shiver raced up her spine. She hadn’t missed it when Toren saidmy Sarrabefore walking away. He’d already staked claim on her. For reasons she didn’t want to examine at the moment, the thought wasn’t as unappealing as it should have been.
* * *
She was the most beautiful thing he’d seen in centuries. Toren shifted from where he was squatted down in front of Sara and pulled the length of material he’d taken off one of the others back up over her shoulders. It took her a long while to fall asleep and knowing she’d done so with him there told him she trusted him and filled him with hope. He’d been alone for so long, finding her made the ache in his chest ease a bit. The loneliness he’d felt when he crawled into the temple ruins forgotten in her presence. He pushed a lock of her hair away from her face and tried to memorize every inch of it.
Looking at her made him long for things that would never be and filled his heart with a sorrow so profound the pain was a living thing in his chest. His people were gone. Those that were left—if there were any—now in hiding, and the life he’d once known was over. This new world he’d woken to was ugly and harsh. The mountain he’d once called home, a paradise of lush vegetation, food enough to feed hundreds of Draegon, probably gone as well. The cave entrance had been hidden when the war started and giving away its position by entering from the top of the mountain was the only reason he hadn’t been back. If their oasis still stood and the clouds ringing the crest were thin enough, those orbs flying over would see it and like everything else on the planet, they would destroy it and anyone they found there.
Sara shifted in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping. She would like Dra’lera. If there was any chance of getting in without being seen, he’d take her there and live out the remainder of his life with her. She wasn’t Draegon but it did not matter. He’d take her as a mate and do so with pride.
Legend told of lost souls finding one another and many claimed they’d found their match but he’d never believed it. He’d hoped to find a mate willing to have him without some mythical connection to tether them together. He wanted a mate who wanted him for him, not because some unseen force told them they were destined to be together and he could have that with Sarra. Her hungry kisses and the slick dew he’d found between her legs told him she found him pleasing. He could still scent the musk clinging to the inside of her thighs. The small taste he’d licked from his fingers hadn’t been enough. Had the ogthath not come so close, he would have tasted her properly by now, her slick juices coating his tongue.
He hardened just thinking about it and had he not been worried something would come to close, he’d take himself in hand and relieve the pressure. It had been too long and the sight of Sarra—his chosen mate—caused the longing to ache more fiercely.